B-Robo Kabutack
B-Robo Kabutack (ビーロボカブタック, Bī Robo Kabutakku?, Beetle Robo Kabutack) is a Japanese television series and is the sixteenth series as part of Toei Company's Metal Hero Series of tokusatsu programs. It aired from February 23, 1997 to March 1, 1998. It is the first of the kiddie shows made by Toei in the Metal Hero Series line. Its opening theme is "Noble Honest Kabutack" (清く正しくカブタック, Kiyoku Tadashiku Kabutakku?) sung by Takeshi Kusao who voiced the character Kabutack. The program is a partial sequel to B-Fighter Kabuto, as the B-Fighters show up in the series.
Plot
Dr. Torahiko Koenji 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. Koenji 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 Koenji, Dr. Koenji'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 Beetle-Robots, or B-Robot for short, 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.
Good B-Robots
- No. 1 Kabutack (カブタック, Kabutakku?): The first B-robot and the prototype model, built with a rhinoceros beetle-like appearance and a biochip based on the insect. Being the protoype, his Super Mode can only last for 3 minutes. In Super Mode, he wield a weapon called Shock Stick (ビリットスティック, Biritto Sutikku?), which is transformed from his helmet in "normal mode". He needs Yuzuru's Friendship Commander, a comm-link-like device, to transform into Super Mode.
- Flying Kabutack (ブットビカブタック, Buttobi Kabutakku?): Kabutack's flight form which combined with Tobimasky by Flying Formation (ブットビフォーメーション, Buttobi Fōmēshon?).
- Drillut Kabutack (ドリルットカブタック, Dorirutto Kabutakku?): Kabutack's digging form formed by combining Kabutack with a set of upgrades known as Drillut Parts (ドリルットパーツ, Dorirutto Pātsu?). So in Super Mode, Kabutack is equipped with four sets of wheels and a drill in his hand, and can use Kabuto Final Crush (カブトファイナルクラッシュ, Kabuto Fainaru Kurasshu?)
- Zabut Kabutack (ザブットカブタック, Zabutto Kabutakku?) :Kabutack's diving form formed by Combining Kabutack with another set of upgrades known as Zabut Parts (ザブットパーツ, Zabutto Pātsu?). 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 use an attack called Bilit Torpedo (ビリット魚雷, Biritto Gyorai?).
- No. 2 Kuwajiro (クワジーロ, Kuwajīro?): A stag beetle-type robot with a stag beetle biochip. His Super Mode can last for 5 minutes. In Super Mode, he has a weapon weapon is the Hasamic Cutter (ハサミックカッター, Hasamikku Kattā?). To transform into Super Mode, he needs Kuranosuke's Friendship Commander.
- No. 3 Tobimasky (トビマスカイ, Tobimasukai?): The first robot who can do Super Change by himself. He transforms into Jet Mode (ジェットモード, Jetto Mōdo?) 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. 6 Dangoron (ダンゴロン, 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 (ダンゴソーサー, Dango Sōsā?).
- No. 7 Gerotan (ゲロタン, Gerotan?): A frog-type robot with a frog-type biochip. He has a tadpole-type machine for search named the Jakushi (ジャクシー, Jakushī?). The continuation time of Super Mode is 13 minutes. Super Mode's weapon is the Bomber Jakushi (ボンバージャクシー, Bonbā Jakushī?).
- No. 10 Tentorina (テントリーナ, Tentorīna?): 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.
Evil B-Robots
- No. 8 Cobrander (コブランダー, Koburandā?): A cobra-type robot with a cobra-type biochip. The continuation time of Super Mode is 13 minutes. Super Mode's weapon is the Cobra Whip (コブラビュート, Kobura Byūto?).
- No. 4 Ganirun (ガニラン, Ganiran?): A horseshoe 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 (ガニブーメラン, Gani Būmeran?).
- No. 5 Spidon (スパイドン, Supaidon?): 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 (クローアンカー, Kurō Ankā?).
- No. 9 Sharkler (シャークラー, Shākurā?): 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 (フカヒレイザー, Fukahireizā?) and Kobunzame (コブンザメ, Kobunzame?)
Notes: These four robots teamed up with the good B-robots to fight the Keeper of the Star Pieces and his "henchmen" (non-sentient beings previously possessed by Star Pieces) in a match of American football.
A-Robots
- Earth Dragon
- Sky High
- Sea Guyver
- A-Robo Army
Support Machines
- Denden Roller (デンデンローラー, Denden Rōrā?): A snail-type giant wheel vehicle with a snail-type biochip, it is piloted by Kabutack.
- DodeKabutack (ドデカブタック, Dodekabutakku?): 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 type to Super Mode.
- TondemoJaws (トンデモジョーズ, Tondemojōzu?): 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 type to Super Mode.
Others
- Yuzuru Kouenji (高円寺 譲, Kōenji Yuzuru?): He is Kabutack's partner and is Torahiko's grandson. He transforms Kabutack from Normal Form into Super Mode using the Friendship Commander (友情コマンダー, Yūjō Komandā?).
- Kuranosuke Kichijouji (吉祥寺 蔵之助, Kichijōji Kuranosuke?): 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 (三鷹 小百合, Mitaka Sayuri?): She is a friend of Yuzuru and Kuranosuke and lives in the same apartment as Tentorina.
- Masatora Kouenji (高円寺 正寅, Kōenji Masatora?): He is Yuzuru's father and is Torahiko's son. He treats Torahiko and B-Robot as a nuisance.
- Madoka Kouenji (高円寺 円, Kōenji Madoka?): She is Yuzuru's mother. She as well as Masatora treats Torahiko and B-Robots as a nuisance.
- Reika Ookubo (大久保 麗香, Ōkubo Reika?): She is Sayuri's rival and is a multimillionaire's daughter. She has two elder sisters named Reiko (麗子?) and Reina (麗奈?).
- Akira Ogikubo (荻窪 明, Ogikubo Akira?): He has a sense of rivalry to Kuranosuke.
- Miki Nakano (中野 美樹, Nakano Miki?): She is a rookie policewoman who patrols Asahi (朝日町, Asahi-chō?).
- AP717: It is a robot which patrols Asahi with Miki, and the body is similar to Tentorina.
- Taro Koganei (小金井 太郎, Koganei Tarō?): He is a greedy storekeeper of an antique shop.
- Dr. Torahiko Kouenji (高円寺 寅彦, Kōenji Torahiko?): He is Yuzuru's grandfather who created B-Robots.
- Captain Tomborg (キャプテントンボーグ, Kyaputen Tonbōgu?): A strange dragonfly-type judgement robot who appears whenever both sides battle for a Star Piece ( or Fake Star Piece ). Because he's powerful, everyone has no choice but to play a game of his choice to win the Star Piece. He becomes red Super Captain Tomborg (スーパーキャプテントンボーグ, Sūpā Kyaputen Tonbōgu?) in autumn.
- Star Mind (スターマインド, Sutā Maindo?): The person who appeared when all Star Pieces were collected.
- Junichiro Kunitachi (国立 順一郎, Kunitachi Jun'ichirō?): He is a music teacher of an elementary school, but he resigned to become a singer. His voice is very similar to Kabutack.
- 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
- Please to Meet You, Kabu! (よろしくカブー!, Yoroshiku Kabū!?)
- It's a Machine Drama, Kabu (メークドラマだカブ, Mēku Dorama da Kabu?)
- Devoted Cuisine, Kabu (料理はまごころカブ, Ryōri wa Magokoro Kabu?)
- Umeboshi Ippon Shoulder Throw (ウメ星一本背負い!!, Umeboshi Ippon Zeoi!!?)
- Tracking!! Drunken Tire (追跡!! 酒飲みタイヤ, Tsuiseki!! Sakenomi Taiya?)
- Fickled Detective Kabutack (浮気探偵カブタック, Uwaki Tantei Kabutakku?)
- The Cursed Time of Weakness (弱り目にタタリじゃ, Yowarime ni Tatari ja?)
- Blessed Red Postbox (幸せの赤いポスト, Shiawase no Akai Posuto?)
- Right this Instant! (飛びますトビマス!!, Tobimasu Tobimasu!!?)
- The Monster that Disappears with the Sunset (夕陽に消える怪獣, Yūhi ni Kieru Kaijū?)
- Koinobori Gogatsu Basho!! (鯉のぼり五月場所!!?)
- Osōji Futari Bocchi (お掃除ふたりぼっち?)
- Mondō Muyō Ikari no Tekken (問答無用怒りの鉄拳?)
- Hoshi ni Todoke Boku no Hatsukoi (星に届けボクの初恋?)
- Nazonazo Miira no Nazo (なぞなぞミイラの謎?)
- Oishii Nakama Shin Tōjō (美味しい仲間新登場?)
- Yūjō no Hyakunin Kumite (友情の百人組手!!?)
- Meiwaku Hakase no Dai Yogen (迷惑博士の大予言?)
- Sennyū!! Odoriko Shōnen Tai (潜入!! 踊り子少年隊?)
- Nakama Ware Shinken Shōbu!! (仲間割れ真剣勝負!!?)
- Koisuru Katatsumuri (恋するかたつむり?)
- Mizugi de Atakku Nanbā Wan (水着でアタックNO.1?)
- Honō no Ēsu o Nerae (炎のエースをねらえ?)
- Papa no Tsuri Baka Nisshi (パパの釣りバカ日誌?)
- Otoko wa Damatte Zenryoku Shissō (男は黙って全力疾走?)
- Yūrei wa Suika Zuki (幽霊はスイカ好き?)
- Shukudai wa Gyangu Taiji (宿題はギャング退治?)
- Same Robo wa Ha ga Inochi!? (サメロボは歯が命!??)
- Dai Kōkai Bī Robo no Nazo (大公開ビーロボの謎?)
- Tobidase Shin Hissatsuwaza!! (飛び出せ新必殺技!!?)
- Shūrai!! Kyodai Jōzu (襲来!! 巨大ジョーズ?)
- Sugoi zo!! Dodeka Taiketsu (凄いぞ!! ドデカ対決?)
- Kanjuku!! Akai Shinpan Damashii (完熟!! 赤い審判魂?)
- Aijō no Oni Baba Nuki (愛情の鬼ババ抜き?)
- Aki no Bī Robo Dai Undōkai (秋のビーロボ大運動会?)
- Uta Gassen da!! Zenin Shūgō (歌合戦だ!! 全員集合?)
- Mei Suiri!! Kē Tī no Nazo (名推理!! KTの秘密?)
- Bōsō!! Kinrō Kansha no Hi (暴走!! 勤労感謝の日?)
- Kaeru Ninpō Tōmin no Jutsu (カエル忍法冬眠の術?)
- Hōfuku Zettō Gorufu Taiketsu (抱腹絶倒ゴルフ対決?)
- Nisemono Kabutakku Shutsugen (偽者カブタック出現?)
- Pekin Genjin Panikku!! (北京原人パニック!!?)
- Ojō no Fukubiki Hisshōhō (お嬢の福引き必勝法?)
- Shuku!! Shinshun Takoage Wārudo Kappu (祝!! 新春凧あげW杯(ワールドカップ)?)
- Ninjō Taimu Surippu (人情タイムスリップ?)
- Tōbyō Tobemasenkai (闘病トベマセンカイ?)
- Nanmon Kimon Karuto Kuizu (難問奇問カルトクイズ?)
- Fuku o Yobu Akaoni Taiji (福を呼ぶ赤鬼退治?)
- Yuzuru no Tōdai Icchokusen! (譲の東大一直線!?)
- Coco-Guy of the Pure-heart (チョコは男の純情, Choko wa Otoko no Junjō?)
- The Judge Robot's Unexpected True Identity (審判ロボ意外な正体, Shinpan Robo Igai na Shōtai?)
- If There's Friendship in Your Heart (心に友情あるかぎり, Kokoro ni Yūjō Aru Kagiri?)
Special
B-Robo Kabutack: The Epic Christmas Battle (ビーロボカブタック, Bī Robo Kabutakku: Kurisumasu Daikessen?) is a special that features cameos by Blue Beet from Juukou B-Fighter and the title hero from B-Fighter Kabuto.
Songs
- Opening theme
-
- "Kiyoku Tadashuku Kabutack" (清く正しくカブタック, Kiyoku Tadashiku Kabutakku?, "Noble Honest Kabutack")
- Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude (八手 三郎, Yatsude Saburō?)
- Composition & Arrangement: Keiju Ishikawa (石川 恵樹, Ishikawa Keiju?)
- Artist: Takeshi Kusao (草尾 毅, Kusao Takeshi?)
- Ending theme
-
- "Gyakuten Rock 'n' Roll!!" (逆転ロックンロール!!, Gyakuten Rokkun Rōru!!?, "Inversion Rock 'n' Roll!!")
- Lyrics: Tamanosuke Ōga (大賀 玉之輔, Ōga Tamanosuke?)
- Composition & Arrangement: MASAKI
- Artist: Takeshi Kusao
Cast
- Yuzuru Kouenji (高円寺 譲, Kōenji Yuzuru?): Futami Kazuki (二見 一樹, Futami Kazuki?)
- Kuranosuke Kichijouji (吉祥寺 蔵之助, Kichijōji Kuranosuke?): Miyabi Kimura (木村 雅, Kimura Miyabi?)
- Sayuri Mitaka (三鷹 小百合, Mitaka Sayuri?): Yuka Koide (小出 由華, Koide Yuka?)
- Dr. Torahiko Kouenji (高円寺 寅彦, Koōenji Torahiko?): Kageki Shimoda (志茂田 景樹, Shimoda Kageki?)
- Masatora Kouenji (高円寺 正寅, Kōenji Masatora?): Yousuke Ishii (石井 洋祐, Ishii Yōsuke?)
- Madoka Kouenji (高円寺 円, Kōenji Madoka?): Aki Mukai (向井 亜紀, Mukai Aki?)
- Miki Nakano (中野 美樹, Nakano Miki?): Sachiko Kokubu (国分 佐智子, Kokubu Sachiko?)
- Taro Koganei (小金井 太郎, Koganei Tarō?): Hiromitsu Suzuki (鈴木 ヒロミツ, Suzuki Hiromitsu?)
- Reika Ookubo (大久保 麗香, Ōkubo Reika?): Aoi Inoue (井上 碧, Inoue Aoi?)
- Reiko Ookubo (大久保 麗子, Ōkubo Reiko?): Hiroko Aya (彩 ひろこ, Aya Hiroko?)
- Reina Ookubo (大久保 麗奈, Ōkubo Reina?): Maiko Kouda (幸田 まいこ, Kōda Maiko?) (Played as "幸田 磨衣子")
- Akira Ogikubo (荻窪 明, Ogikubo Akira?): Yasushi Ishii (石井 寧, Ishii Yasushi?)
- Star Mind (スターマインド, Sutā Maindo?): Lucky Ikeda (ラッキィ 池田, Rakki Ikeda?)
Voice actors
- Kabutack (カブタック, Kabutakku?): Takeshi Kusao (草尾 毅, Kusao Takeshi?)
- Takeshi Kusao appeared on screen as Junichiro Kunitachi (国立 順一郎, Kunitachi Jun'ichirō?)
- Kuwajiro (クワジーロ, Kuwajīro?): Daiki Nakamura (中村 大樹, Nakamura Daiki?)
- Tentorina (テントリーナ, Tentorīna?): Hikari Tachibana (橘 ひかり, Tachibana Hikari?)
- Cobrander (コブランダー, Koburandā?): Dai Matsumoto (松本 大, Matsumoto Dai?)
- Ganirun (ガニラン, Ganiran?): Hisao Egawa (江川 央生, Egawa Hisao?)
- Spidon (スパイドン, Supaidon?): Chafurin (茶風林, Chafūrin?)
- Denden Roller (デンデンローラー, Denden Rōrā?): Kazuki Yao (矢尾 一樹, Yao Kazuki?)
- Sharkler (シャークラー, Shākurā?): Shigeru Chiba (千葉 繁, Chiba Shigeru?)
- Dangoron (ダンゴロン, Dangoron?): Kōichi Tōchika (遠近 孝一, Tōchika Kōichi?)
- Gerotan (ゲロタン, Gerotan?): Motoko Kumai (くまい もとこ, Kumai Motoko?)
- Tobimasky (トビマスカイ, Tobimasukai?): Satoko Kitō (木藤 聡子, Kitō Satoko?)
- AP717: Narumi Tsunoda (津野田 なるみ, Tsunoda Narumi?)
- Capten Tomborg (キャプテントンボーグ, Kyaputen Tonbōgu?): Daisuke Gōri (郷里 大輔, Gōri Daisuke?)
- Star Mind S (スターマインドS, Sutā Maindo Esu?): Takuma Suzuki (鈴木 琢磨, Suzuki Takuma?)
Suit actors
- Kabutack: Chie Tanabe (田邊 智恵, Tanabe Chie?)
- Kabutack (Super Mode): Hideaki Kusaka (日下 秀昭, Kusaka Hideaki?)
- Kuwajiro: Toshihiro Ogura (小倉 敏博, Ogura Toshihiro?)
- Kuwajiro (Super Mode): Kouji Matoba (的場 耕二, Matoba Kōji?)
- Tentorina: Keiko Hashimoto (橋本 恵子, Hashimoto Keiko?)
- Cobrander: Masaru Ōbayashi (大林 勝, Ōbayashi Masaru?)
- Cobrander (Super Mode), Capten Tomborg: Yasuhiko Imai (今井 靖彦, Imai Yasuhiko?)
- Ganirun: Minoru Watanabe (渡辺 実, Watanabe Minoru?)
- Ganirun (Super Mode): Takeshi Miyazaki (宮崎 剛, Miyazaki Takeshi?)
- Spidon: Kotaro Fujimoto (藤本 幸太郎, Fujimoto Kōtarō?)
- Sharkler: Kenjiro Fujita (藤田 健次郎, Fujita Kenjirō?)
- Sharkler (Super Mode): Kenji Takechi (武智 健二, Takechi Kenji?)
- Dangoron: Masahiko Akimoto (秋本 雅彦, Akimoto Masahiko?)
- Dangoron (Super Mode): Naoki Ōfuji (大藤 直樹, Ōfuji Naoki?)
- Gerotan: Takeshi Mizutani (水谷 健, Mizutani Takeshi?)
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Rescue Police Series
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B-Fighter Series
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