TIGER & BUNNY is an anime produced by Sunrise that first aired in 2011, and though it's been 10 years since it ended, it's still a popular anime! Furthermore, the long-awaited Season 2 is scheduled to begin streaming in April. Tiger & Bunny follows the hero duo of Kotetsu T. Kaburagi (Wild Tiger) and Barnaby Brooks Jr., who gradually become a great duo despite their various challenges and clashes as a duo. Behind the scenes, the story unfolds with Kotetsu facing a crisis as a hero and Barnaby's past becoming involved, creating a hugely popular story. In this article, we'll take a look back at the journey of the duo of Kotetsu T. Kaburagi and Barnaby Brooks Jr.!
Kotetsu T. Kaburagi faces the risk of going out of business after his sponsor unexpectedly sells the business!?
It's been 45 years since the supernatural power NEXT emerged in humanity. In the metropolis of Sternbild, heroes with NEXT powers arrest criminals and rescue people from accidents and disasters. However, these heroes are supported by corporate sponsors, carrying their logos and acting as poster boys, and they also have the side of corporate warriors. Meanwhile, 10 years after his debut, the hero "Wild Tiger" has fallen into decline. He learns that his sponsor has sold the business. Wild Tiger, also known as Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, will be working under a new sponsor, Apollo Media.
The Encounter Between Kotetsu T. Kaburagi and Barnaby Brooks Jr.
At the request of his sponsor, Kotetsu changes from his ugly, crappy suit to a functional powered suit and is marketed as the first buddy hero in history. His partner hero is Barnaby Brooks Jr., the hero who previously saved Wild Tiger. Barnaby is handsome, rational, reveals his true name, and solves everything efficiently. He's the opposite of Kotetsu in every way, from his personality to his beliefs as a hero, making him a young man with whom he simply doesn't get along. However, Barnaby possessed the same One Hundred Power NEXT as Kotetsu.
Tiger and Bunny-chan Don't Get Along
They had a terrible chemistry, and when they first formed, Tiger was holding Barnaby back and they didn't work well together. Furthermore, Tiger constantly provoked Barnaby by calling him Bunny-chan, which caused even the calm Barnaby to become heated and start arguing. Barnaby, who is always rational about earning points and working as a hero as a business, and Kotetsu, who believes in being a hero and being close to people, met and formed a duo that began with disappointment for both of them.
Tiger and Barnaby Get It Right
Tiger was always busybodied and cold towards Barnaby, but somehow they got along well as a duo. Regardless of the process, the results were in line with the sponsor's wishes, but they also made a lot of mistakes. Barnaby was rational and got it right, while Wild Tiger sometimes did reckless things but used his experience and ideas to overcome situations. Despite their complaints and mistakes, they got along well.
Why did Barnaby become a hero?
One day, Kotetsu learns that Barnaby's parents were killed by an organization called Ouroboros and that he became a hero to find his parents' killer. He believes that his work as a hero might yield valuable information. Upon learning this, Kotetsu becomes even more meddlesome with Barnaby. While there are some advances in his work as a hero, such as the appearance of the dark hero "Lunatic" who brings evildoers to justice and the discovery of a criminal bearing a snake mark, he is unable to obtain any conclusive information. One day, Barnaby spots the face of the person who murdered his parents and set fire to his house among the inmates.
The worst terrorist bombing has occurred! The perpetrator's demand is the release of the most dangerous prisoner!?
The perpetrator of Barnaby's parents is Jake Martinez, a criminal serving a 250-year sentence. Then, a massive terrorist bombing strikes, engulfing the entire town of Sternbild, and all its citizens are taken hostage. The perpetrator, a member of Ouroboros, a group bearing the snake's birthmark, demands the release of prisoner Jake Martinez. With civilians facing serious danger if their demands are not met, the higher-ups decide to release Jake.
Showdown with Jake Martinez! Tiger & Barnaby's Teamwork
After Jake Martinez, the most powerful and dangerous criminal, is released, he challenges the heroes to a one-on-one battle. Refusing would leave civilians in danger, so the heroes must face Jake.
However, both Sky High and Rock Bison are easily defeated by the Barrier's powers. The third challenger is Wild Tiger. Tiger's attacks miss Jake completely, leaving him severely injured. However, Tiger discovers Jake's abilities during the fight: a barrier and the ability to read minds. Jake's next challenger, Barnaby, is initially overwhelmed by Jake, but Tiger's strategy turns Jake's abilities against him and defeats him.
Wild Tiger Joins the Ranks of Popular Heroes
Jake is defeated, and the danger to Sternbild is averted. Barnaby is praised by the citizens, but no one knows that Tiger's efforts were a major factor. Even so, Tiger managed to win Barnaby's trust. From then on, they performed well together as a well-coordinated team, and Tiger even rose to fourth place in the popularity rankings. That's why his sponsors were so pleased. At first, they treated him roughly, thinking he was just an extra for Barnaby, but then they did a complete 180-degree turn. But then Tiger faced his greatest crisis as a hero. Tiger's abilities began to gradually decline.
And it turns out that Mr. Legend, who had the same abilities as Tiger, was also declining in the same way, and that in his later years he was racking up points by fixing matches.
Wild Tiger decides to retire...but
After wrestling with his declining abilities, Tiger decides to retire. However, he is unable to tell Barnaby about this. Furthermore, it turns out that Barnaby's memories of Jake are significantly different from the truth. Meanwhile, Barnaby accidentally discovers his intention to retire, and the duo is on the verge of collapse! However, shortly thereafter, Barnaby's former housekeeper, Samantha, testifies, leading him to the mastermind behind his parents' murder. It turns out to be Barnaby's guardian, Albert Maverick. Maverick, a NEXT user with the ability to manipulate memories, was using Barnaby for his own purposes. After Barnaby discovered the truth, he brainwashed him again and attempted to silence Kotetsu.
Criminal Kotetsu T. Kaburagi is cornered by heroes!
Kotetsu accidentally escaped Maverick's clutches, but Maverick murdered the housekeeper, Samantha, to eliminate Tiger, who might discover the truth. He then pins the crime on Kotetsu T. Kaburagi and brainwashes the other heroes in an attempt to eliminate Kotetsu. The heroes, who were a bit unreliable when they were allies, now stand in Kotetsu's way as his worst enemies and corner him, but they are saved by Lunatic, who quickly realizes that Kotetsu was framed, and by Ben, and by his daughter Kaede, who learns Tiger's true identity, who uses her abilities to break the brainwashing. Barnaby then breaks free from the brainwashing on his own and heads off to find Maverick, the mastermind behind it all.
Retirement...and the heroes return!
After crushing Maverick's ambitions to usher in an era in which heroes replace androids, Tiger also learns of Barnaby's declining abilities and his subsequent plans to retire from heroism. After the final battle, Tiger retires from heroism. Barnaby, who had continued as a hero due to Maverick's machinations, also retires. However, a year later, Tiger publicly announces his declining abilities and returns to the second division as Wild Tiger One Minute. During this campaign, Tiger is rescued from a difficult situation by Barnaby, who has also returned as a hero.
【TIGER & BUNNY 2】Summary of Kotetsu T. Kaburagi and Barnaby Brooks Jr.
Here's a summary of the journeys of Tiger & Bunny's Wild Tiger, Kotetsu T. Kaburagi and Barnaby Brooks Jr.! Wild Tiger made a different choice than Mr. Legend did, and I've been looking forward to seeing what would happen next. Following the theatrical release, the long-awaited Season 2 will be available starting in April, so be sure to tune in!
