Let Out a Wild Roar!

After seeing quite a bit of Tumblr pages devoted to the relatively new anime Tiger & Bunny, I decided to check it out.  After scrounging around the internet and finding a copy with English subtitles, I finally found the time to watch it.

Tiger & Bunny is a unique blend of the comic book superhero and anime.  This anime embodies one of the first real attempts of Japanese popular culture to create superheroes using Western conventions.  While Japan has plenty of its own superheroes, they all differ from Western superheroes in many ways (I can definitely go into more detail on this if people would like; however, for the time being, I'll leave it at that).  Tiger & Bunny, however, features around half a dozen superheroes who fit rather well into the Western idea of costumed heroes (aside from the mech use, which is a very Japanese twist).

Rather than spoil the anime for anyone who might be interested in watching it, I'd just like to point out a few of the things I greatly enjoy about it.  First of all, it's an anime about superheroes.  Who wouldn't love that?


Secondly, Tiger and Bunny are two of the coolest characters ever.  They're amazing partners (even if their partnership is reluctant at first) who show that teamwork and friendship are incredibly important.

And Kotetsu T. Kaburagi (Wild Tiger) is one of the best fathers in any medium of popular culture.  No joke.  He loves his daughter so much it's not even funny.  Sometimes I wish Kotetsu was my dad!

Kotetsu and his daughter, Kaede

Tiger & Bunny is currently being released in English on iTunes (sixteen episodes currently released).  However, I recommend the original Japanese with English subtitles (if you don't mind reading subtitles).  You can stream subbed episodes of Tiger & Bunny at VIZ Anime.  There's also a manga (which I haven't gotten around to reading yet), although the manga came out after the anime (which is somewhat strange; it's usually the other way around).  You can find the manga at mangareader.net.


The show is currently only one season long, but there's a movie that's already been released (Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning) and another movie in the works (Tiger & Bunny: The Rising) set to be released in Japan in Fall 2013.  The first movie will be released on Blu-Ray/DVD with English subtitles and will be on sale February 22, 2013. (Anime News Network)

The above examples are only a few reasons to watch Tiger & Bunny.  Honestly, getting into anything else would lead to spoilers, and I don't want to spoil anything.  I'll just leave it at this: anime + superheroes = AWESOME.  So go catch an episode and see what I'm talking about!  "It's time to let out a wild roar!"