Tiger & Bunny Forum

Truth be told, I wasn’t too intrigued about TIGER & BUNNY when I first saw some promos for it. I’m never keen on the integration of 3D characters into 2D animation, and the cel-shaded armor models were getting paraded around in the aforementioned previews like there was nothing else in the show. Some of you lunatics suggested I check it out because of my background in American superheroes, and that was actually a funny request. I’ve been up in the respective universes of Marvel and DC so solidly for so long that I have a reflexive disinterest in any superheroes not produced by either company. It’s about as fast-acting as my aversion to the classic monsters. I’ve just that I've seen every angle, so many times already, and I roll my eyes any time somebody comes along with the bright idea that self-parodying superheroes is an idea that hundreds of haven’t already come up with.

Of course, I get proven wrong every so often by flicks like THE INCREDIBLES, and I’ll readily add TIGER & BUNNY to that echelon as well. Oddly enough, it’s not actually that interesting as an “outside looking in” take on the American idiom of the superhero (which really shouldn’t be novel anymore since Japan's been doing its takes on Spider-Man and Batman, et al, since the 60s, at least.) Aside from the very JRPG-like points system, I can break down where a lot of the ideas have been done before - - superhero celebrities in YOUNGBLOOD, reality show coverage of their antics in X-STATIX, corporate sponsorship in MYSTERY MEN - - but the execution’s sharp as a fang and claw.

Actually, this was one of the finest pilots I’ve watched throughout the course of this column. It takes care to actually set its cast up and make them clearly identifiable. It throws its hook in quickly and reels it while its plot is moving. It sets up a larger story while having an arc contained in this one episode. It actually even seems to be aware of the spoiler-y expectations you might have from the intro (and, hell, the title itself) and plays with those in the cliffhanger. This was made by people who know what they're doing.

More importantly, it’s a show that’s already good, not one that needs six more episodes to get good. Count me in for more.

Watch this episode "All’s Well That Ends Well" below, decide for yourself.

Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE. Order them on Amazon here & here. Follow him on Twitter: @tompinchuk

I didn't find this to be good, steins gate was better and I am sorry that you are not going to continue it.  They definitly have a story they want to tell, but used the first episodes to show the world and get you to care about the characters.  The things C didn't do.  But enough on that show will comment more there.  This show I dropped, the idea is cool superhero's that have to worry about sponsors and the conflict that creates but the characters did not catch me and I dropped the show after 3 episodes.  I would give steins gate a few more episodes not exactly sure where you are on 7 but things get very interesting after a few more d-mails are sent.

Is a cool show

I was wondering when you would get to this. You'll probably like what will go on in later episodes since it does deal with the meaning of being a superhero. 

Although it would have been nice to see discussion continue on Steins Gate, Tiger & Bunny is also a great show to get into. If you're limited on the amount of time you have to spend watching anime or are just too impatient to deal with the slow build up of a series like Steins Gate then Tiger & Bunny is a better choice for a show. Even though there is an overall story arc for the season, the individual stories within each episode are very satisfying on their own. Tiger & Bunny has more instant gratification that Steins Gate does.

For those who hate cgi in their anime ...Odds are more modern anime uses some cgi for animation. At least characters an the cars etc.What cgi in Tiger&Bunny is not overboard like some other anime . You may have watched some computer animation an not known it!
 
For every one else.The worst thing about Tiger&Bunny is the name.Wish it was even Hero TV . Tiger & Bunny sounds like a little kids show.An yes i understand im talking about cartoons .Not every episode is perfect.But then again not every one of Cowboy Beebops was either.Blasphemy i know. 
 
As the story plays out ,Theirs more to things than they apear. 
 
Think Bubble Gum Crisis Tokyo 2040 should be a watch an learn to.  http://www.hulu.com/bubble-gum-crisis-tokyo-2040  at least because the intro is cool an the comerical musical rift is to. 
 
Tom Pinchuk is not the only one that  had the same reaction. When i saw this anime advertisedi had litle hope of it being intresting But gave it a try an it gets better than the pilot...This an http://www.hulu.com/blue-exorcist have been rather good.

not bad

@Dunchad: 
Yeah i think its one of those things that your mileage may vary.Im reading subtitles so 1st watch  will miss a bit here or their .But shows like say Sacred Seven  cgi is used an at times it does stick out like porcupine at a peting zoo.But shows like Daugther of 20 faces its used an its not as jarring imho. 
 
With cars etc it sticks out to me.But i used to work on cars for a living to.In movies Ill pick apart the paint jobs/body work or if the wheels on the car would be around for the time period.Friend of mine picks apart guns an shots fired with round capacity.But cgi gets only better as the years roll on.An far less noticable. If done right.
 
By no means am i saying just get over it.Im saying its goten so good when used right one may not know its in their anime now.Cgi is like any art form .Used right it helps move the story .Used wrong it is the story.That aplies to big screen movies an anime equally.