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It's difficult to write about "Tiger & Bunny", since I've read Vrai Kaiser's reviews and fear my own must be heavily influenced by theirs. Nevertheless, no one else on SIMKL has written a review yet, and this is such a good superhero show that it deserves a little love.
I'm going to avoid most of the plot in this review. Part of the pleasure is in finding out the twists and realizing how well they were foreshadowed. Instead, I'm going to make a list of things I like, and another list of things I had trouble with. Before that, the barest of plot structure bones: in a city that looks like an alternate New York, some people who are born with special powers choose to use them to fight crime. Unfortunately, capitalism gets in the way and crime-fighting gets sponsors, quotas & incentives - and so actual interest in saving people pales next to the appeal of financial payoffs. Kotetsu, the "Tiger" of the title, is firmly of the old school and struggles to care about property damage or personal image when he works. He ends up involuntarily partnered with Barnaby, the up-and-coming "Bunny", who's been raised under the new rules and who seems ruthlessly practical. It takes months of partnership, and the uncovering of a conspiracy, to get these two to share more than a common employer.
***SPOILERS BELOW***
Things I liked:
1) The characters were distinct and memorable, enough so that it wasn't difficult to see how the various superheroes had been too independent in the past to work together, but were now growing closer and becoming able to work as a team despite the financial incentives against it. Kotetsu is a reasonable example of a failed parent. He made his best efforts, and he still screwed things up; his mistakes are ones the viewer can see from miles away, but it's understandable that he can't. In the same light, Barnaby makes sense as a traumatized twenty-something who doesn't quite know how damaged he is (for plot spoilers, I won't say any more). His obnoxiousness tones down quickly and he becomes more likable. Even though the other heroes don't get too much screen-time in comparison, some get Day In The Limelight episodes, and Karina in particular gets a rounded characterization. The anime also resists taking potshots at the gender-queer character, and allows Nathan to be a successful business owner & hero.
2) Powers exist in this universe, there's discrimination, end of plot thread. The characters never sat down and wondered about the origins of their powers. That is so refreshing, after series upon series where the origin story is the only story.
3) Sometimes, when shows are set in countries where the characters should not be speaking Japanese, I like to listen to the dub - it helps me with immersion. The English dub is not bad! There's a decent effort to match up voices and characters for personality and age, and the translations were fairly smooth (with one exception).
Things I didn't like:
1) Ultimately, for having a mixed ensemble cast, and with some of the better/more versatile powers belonging to women, it's still the case that the men are running the show. Karina can't even convince her sponsors that a teenage girl needs armor & weapons, not a dominatrix stripper outfit, when she's fighting criminals. Multiple episodes feature encouragement for the female heroes to become "more feminine", whether to appeal to sponsors or because there's an assumption that tomboyish-ness is unnatural. It's lampshaded but never overcome.
2) It's clearer in the original Japanese that Kotetsu & Barnaby are leading up to becoming a gay couple. The dub removes or downplays any affectionate language. In both versions, there's no obvious resolution - "Yuuri on Ice!!!" this is not. It comes off a bit like queer-baiting.
My reviewing system for films and shows that are NOT anime: 1-5: I hated it. I also don't think it has redeeming qualities, so you shouldn't watch it either. 6: I didn't like it. It's not my thing, I didn't like the execution, I don't want to see it again. However, I don't think it is a BAD film or show - it has qualities that will recommend it to those who like that kind of thing. 7: It was fine. I didn't love it, and I don't need to see it again. I won't be sad if I never see it again. 8: I liked it. I didn't love it, and while I'd like to see it again, I wouldn't want to see it often. 9: I loved it. I would be sad if I never saw it again. I might want to see it every few years. 10: I loved it beyond description. I wouldn't mind re-watching it every year.
********************************* Clarifying my Anime rating system: My number key below is an attempt to parse the small differences between 5 and 6, 7 and 8, & 9 and 10. When I rate, I consider my own enjoyment, the characterization and the plot, the appearance of the animation, and occasionally the soundtrack - in roughly that order. An anime will lose at least 1 point for presence of deal-breaker tropes (for example, comedic pedophilia), and more if the trope(s) ruined my enjoyment. On the other hand, it will gain at least 1 point for artistry in animation or sound. I don't expect to rate anything 1-4, as I would probably never finish watching something in this range of rating.
Cautious Recommending: 5: In this case, it started out with a higher score and slipped over time... because I normally don't watch anything that I would score below 6, except for movies (small time commitment). 6: I may or may not have watched the whole show, but I recognize deal-breaker issues in it, and I'm unlikely to rewatch. It just wasn't enjoyable enough for me to forgive its flaws. There would be huge caveats to any recommendation.
Likely to Recommend: 7: There's two types of 7s (ideally I could rank the second one 7.5). For the first, I didn't like it enough to think I would rewatch it, but also didn't see huge problems in the plot, characterizations, etc. and thought it was worth finishing. I might suggest it to someone if I know they like the specific sub-genre or other work by the studio. For the second, I recognize shows/movies that have high quality but just aren't my cup of tea. Not my thing, but usually I at least respect the work. 8: I had a good time watching it, but it didn't move me the way a 9 or a 10 does; it's possible that over time I would upgrade it if I liked it more on reflection. I would be willing to rewatch it if a friend wanted to watch it with me. I may or may not buy the DVDs (I'm more likely if there's something unique about it). I'd recommend it with the occasional caveat.
Highly Recommend: 9: I enjoyed it very much. It may have had one or two issues, but not enough to diminish enjoyment. It's possible that over time I would downgrade it to an 8 (changing tastes) or upgrade to a 10 (realize it's never left my mind). I'm likely to rewatch, and likely to buy the DVDs. I'd recommend it to most audiences. 10: Virtually flawless. I'd definitely rewatch, and definitely want to buy DVDs. I would shill this to anyone.
EDIT: for years when I'm participating in the MAL Anime Challenge, any anime in the Completed section with a * in the note was watched for the challenge. Similarly, if I'm participating in the MDL Drama Challenge, any drama with a * in the notes was watched for the challenge. Previous years' challenges will have their * removed.
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