B-Robo Kabutack
B-Robo Kabutack is a Japanese television series and is the sixteenth series as part of Toei Company's Metal Hero Series franchise of tokusatsu programs. It aired from February 23, 1997 to March 1, 1998. It is the first of the kids shows made by Toei in the Metal Hero Series line. it joined Denji Sentai Megaranger. Kabutack bears some similarities with Robocon, other Toei's series, particularly in characters and themes styles.
Plot
Dr. Torahiko Kouenji is an eccentric genius who dug out the ancient writings from the oldest layer of the earth. He translated the writings and learned the existence of 13 "Star Pieces" that had been hidden across the planet. If one should obtain all the Star Pieces, any wish could be granted. To that end, Dr. Kouenji built search robots, known as "B-Robots", to find the Star Pieces. However a trio of such robots, led by Cobrander, were activated without their sleep-education program being completed and thus started to commit bad deeds across the town.Fortunately, a team, composed of three "good" B-Robots, had completed the whole course of sleep-learning, and befriended Yuzuru Kouenji, Dr. Kouenji's grandson. With Yuzuru, and his friends Sayuri Mitaka and Kuranosuke Kichijouji, the three good B-Robots and the gang begin their search of the "Star Pieces" while overcoming the misdeeds of the three "bad" B-Robots.
Characters
Short for "Bio Elementary Electronic & Transform Locomotive Eexivision Robot," the B-Robots are able to transform into the fighting Super Mode. However, the time limit the mode longs on depends on the B-Robo as the earlier models have shorter timespans compared to the later ones.B-Robots
- No. 1 Kabutack: The first B-Robot and the prototype model, built with a rhinoceros beetle-like appearance and a biochip based on the insect. Being the prototype, his Super Mode can only last for 3 minutes. In Super Mode, he wields a weapon called Bilit Stick, which is transformed from his helmet in "normal mode". To transform into Super Mode, he needs Yuzuru's Friendship Commander, a comm-link-like device.
- * Buttobi Kabutack: Kabutack's flight form which combined with Tobimasky via Buttobi Formation.
- * Drillut Kabutack: Kabutack's digging form formed by combining Kabutack with a set of upgrades known as Drillut Parts. So in Super Mode, Kabutack is equipped with four sets of wheels and a drill in his hand, and can use the Kabutack Final Crush attack.
- * Zabut Kabutack: Kabutack's diving form formed by combining Kabutack with another set of upgrades known as Zabut Parts. So in Super Mode, Kabutack is equipped with propellers on his feet, fins on his arms and a torpedo-launcher in his hand, he can also fire a torpedo called Bilit Missile.
- No. 2 Kuwajiro: A stag beetle-type robot with a stag beetle biochip. His Super Mode can last for 5 minutes. In Super Mode, he wields a weapon called the Hasamic Cutter. To transform into Super Mode, he needs Kuranosuke's Friendship Commander.
- No. 3 Tobimasky: The first robot who can do Super Change by himself. He transforms into Jet Mode by uniting with Kabutack, and gives flight capability. The continuation time of Super Mode is 7 minutes. The motif of his biochip is unknown.
- No. 4 Ganirun: A coconut crab-type robot with a horseshoe crab-type biochip, but his ability close to that of a crab. Cobrander's henchman. The continuation time of Super Mode is 9 minutes. Super Mode's weapon is the Gani Boomerang.
- No. 5 Spidon: A spider-type robot with a spider-type biochip. Cobrander's henchman. The continuation time of Super Mode is 11 minutes. Super Mode's weapon is the Claw Anchor.
- No. 6 Dangoron: A pill bug-type robot with a pill bug-type biochip. He can transform into a tire form other than Super Mode. The continuation time of Super Mode is 13 minutes. Super Mode's weapon is the Dango Saucer.
- No. 7 Gerotan: A red eyed tree frog-type robot with a frog-type biochip. He has a tadpole-type machine for search named the Jakushi. The continuation time of Super Mode is 13 minutes. Super Mode's weapon is the Jakushi Bomber.
- No. 8 Cobrander: A komodo dragon-type robot with a cobra-type biochip. The continuation time of Super Mode is 13 minutes. Super Mode's weapon is the Cobra Vute whip.
- No. 9 Sharkler: A shark-type robot with a shark-type biochip. The most evil and powerful of the evil B-Robots. The continuation time of Super Mode is 15 minutes. Super Mode's weapons are the FukahiRazor sword and an attacking machine named Kobunzame.
- No. 10 Tentorina: A ladybug-type robot with a ladybug-type biochip. She is the newest robot which is Super Mode from the beginning, but she consumes energy highly and does not have combat ability. Her weapon is the Rina Stick.
A-Robots
- Earth Dragon: Leader of A-Robots.
- * Combined Earth Dragon: The combination of Earth Dragon, Sky High, and Sea Gaia. It can use an attack called Atric Hurricane. It is finally defeated by Kabutack, Blue Beet, and B-Fighter Kabuto.
- Sky High: He has the flight ability.
- Sea Gaia: A squid-type robot. She has stretchable tentacles and is armed with a sword.
- A-Robo Army: cockroach-type robot foot soldiers.
Support Machines
- Denden Roller: A snail-type giant wheel vehicle with a snail-type biochip, it is piloted by Kabutack.
- DodeKabutack: A giant robot created by Kabutack with the Star Piece of Sagittarius as countermeasures to TondemoJaws, it is piloted by Kabutack. It transforms from Normal Mode into Super Mode. Super Mode's weapons are the Bilit Scop and the Dodeka Shield.
- TondemoJaws: A giant robot created by Dr. Kouenji with the very first Star Piece of Scorpius he founded, it is piloted by Sharkler. It transforms from Normal Mode into Super Mode. Super Mode's weapons are the Fin Blade sword, Jaws Shield, and Giza Head saw.
Others
- Yuzuru Kouenji: He is Kabutack's partner and is Torahiko's grandson. He transforms Kabutack from Normal Form into Super Mode using the Friendship Commander.
- Kuranosuke Kichijouji: He is Kuwajiro's partner and is the son of the vice president of Kichijouji construction company. He transforms Kuwajiro from Normal Form into Super Mode using the Friendship Commander.
- Sayuri Mitaka: She is a friend of Yuzuru and Kuranosuke and lives in the same apartment as Tentorina.
- Masatora Kouenji: He is Yuzuru's father and is Torahiko's son. He treats Torahiko and B-Robots as a nuisance.
- Madoka Kouenji: She is Yuzuru's mother. She as well as Masatora treats Torahiko and B-Robots as a nuisance.
- Reika Ookubo: She is Sayuri's rival and is a multimillionaire's daughter. She has two elder sisters named Reiko and Reina.
- Akira Ogikubo: He has a sense of rivalry to Kuranosuke.
- Miki Nakano: She is a rookie policewoman who patrols Asahi.
- AP717: It is a robot which patrols Asahi with Miki, and the body is similar to Tentorina.
- Taro Koganei: He is a greedy storekeeper of an antique shop.
- Dr. Torahiko Kouenji: He is Yuzuru's grandfather who created B-Robots.
- Captain Tomborg: A strange dragonfly-type judgement robot who appears whenever both sides battle for a Star Piece. Because he's powerful, everyone has no choice but to play a game of his choice to win the Star Piece. His body becomes red in autumn. He has the Captain Stick with a dragonfly-shaped microphone. During games, he forms a ring with four dragonfly-type machine named Tosenbo.
- Star Mind: The person who appeared when all Star Pieces were collected. He later becomes his true form named Star Mind S.
- Junichiro Kunitachi: He is a music teacher of Yuzuru's elementary school, but he resigned to become a singer. His voice is very similar to Kabutack.
- : He is the main antagonist of the Kabutack Christmas special who was once an authority on robotics and is the creator of A-Robots. He is jealous of Dr. Kouenji who is always one step ahead of him.
- Takuya Kai/Blue Beet: Leader of the original B-Fighter team from Juukou B-Fighter, aides Kabutack and B-Fighter Kabuto during the Kabutack Christmas special.
- Kouhei Toba/B-Fighter Kabuto: Hotheaded leader of the second generation of B-Fighters from B-Fighter Kabuto, worked alongside Kabutack and Bluebeet during the Christmas special.
Episodes
- Pleased to Meet You, Kabu!
- Let a Miracle Happen, Kabu
- Devoted Cuisine, Kabu
- Umeboshi One-Armed Shoulder Throw!!
- Tracking!! Drunken Tire
- Fickled Detective Kabutack
- The Cursed Time of Weakness
- Blessed Red Postbox
- Right This Instant!!
- The Monster That Disappears With the Sunset
- The May Koinobori Tournament!!
- A Cleaning Pair
- Iron Fist of Indisputable Anger
- Deliver to the Stars, My First Love
- Mystery of the Riddle Mummy
- Tasty Companion's New Appearance
- 100 Rounds of Sparring of Friendship!!
- The Great Prediction of the Annoying Doctor
- Infiltration!! Dancer Boy Party
- Companion Crack Serious Game!!
- The Snail That Falls in Love
- Swim Suit Attack Number One
- Aim For the Ace of Flames
- Papa's Foolish Fishing Diary
- The Power of the Silent Running Man
- The Ghost Likes Watermelons
- The Assignment Is Gang Suppression
- Shark Robot's Tooth of Life!?
- The Release of the Mystery of the B-Robots
- String Out! A New Finisher!!
- Invasion!! Big Jaws
- Amazing! Giant Confrontation
- All-Inclusive Ripening!! Red Judgment Soul
- Ogre Baba Pulling Out of Love
- B-Robot's Great Fall Game
- The Song of Battle!! Everyone Is Gathering
- Brilliant Inference!! The Secret Of K.T.
- Reckless Driving!! Labour Appreciation Day
- Technique of the Frog's Patient Hibernation Method
- Retribution Golf Showdown
- Impersonator Kabutack's Appearance
- The Peking Man Panic!!
- Lucky Pulling Technique of the Girl
- Celebration!! The New Year Kite Lifting World Cup
- Human Feelings Time Slip
- Fighting Illness Last Demon Revolution
- Difficult Problem Strange Question Cult Quiz
- Calling Luck to Suppress the Red Ogre
- Tokyo University Straight Over the Line!
- Chocolate-Guy of the Pure-heart
- The Judge Robot's Unexpected True Identity
- If There's Friendship in Your Heart
Special
Cast
- Yuzuru Kouenji: Futami Kazuki
- Kuranosuke Kichijouji: Miyabi Kimura
- Sayuri Mitaka: Yuka Koide
- Torahiko Kouenji: Kageki Shimoda
- Masatora Kouenji: Yousuke Ishii
- Madoka Kouenji: Aki Mukai
- Miki Nakano: Sachiko Kokubu
- Taro Koganei: Hiromitsu Suzuki
- Reika Ookubo: Aoi Inoue
- Reiko Ookubo: Hiroko Aya
- Reina Ookubo: Maiko Kouda
- Akira Ogikubo:
- Mother: Rika Kishida
- Store worker: Sayuri Uchida
- Citizen, Blue Beet: Daisuke Tsuchiya
- Citizen, B-Fighter Kabuto:
- Ushimatsu Tsudanuma: Takashi Matsuo
Voice actors
- Kabutack: Takeshi Kusao
- * Takeshi Kusao appeared on screen in episode 36 as Junichiro Kunitachi
- Kuwajiro: Daiki Nakamura
- Tentorina: Hikari Tachibana
- Cobrander: Dai Matsumoto
- Ganirun: Hisao Egawa
- Spidon: Chafurin
- Denden Roller: Kazuki Yao
- Sharkler: Shigeru Chiba
- Dangoron: Kōichi Tōchika
- Gerotan: Motoko Kumai
- Tobimasky: Satoko Kitō
- AP717: Narumi Tsunoda
- Capten Tomborg: Daisuke Gōri
- Star Mind S: Takuma Suzuki
- Earth Dragon: Shunsuke Sakuya
Songs
- ;"Kiyoku Tadashiku Kabutack"
- *Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
- *Composition & Arrangement: Keiju Ishikawa
- *Artist: Takeshi Kusao
- ;"Gyakuten Rock 'n' Roll!!"
- *Lyrics: Tamanosuke Ōga
- *Composition & Arrangement: MASAKI
- *Artist: Takeshi Kusao