B't X

B't X
Cover of B't X volume 1 as published by Tokyopop
ビート・エックス
Genre	Mecha
Manga
Written by	Masami Kurumada
Published by	Kadokawa Shoten
English publisher	Tokyopop
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Shōnen Ace
Original run	1994 – 2000
Volumes	16
Light novel
Written by	Sukehiro Tomita
Illustrated by	Masami Kurumada
Published by	Kadokawa Shoten
Imprint	Newtype Novels
Original run	July 20, 1996 (1996-07-20) – February 28, 1997 (1997-02-28)
Volumes	2
Anime television series
B't X
Directed by	Mamoru Hamatsu
Studio	TMS
Network	TBS
Original run	6 April 1996 – 21 September 1996
Episodes	25
Original video animation
B't X Neo
Directed by	Mamoru Hamatsu
Studio	TMS
Released	21 August 1997
Episodes	14

B't X (ビート・エックス), pronounced "beat X" and stylized as B'T X, is a science fiction mecha manga series, written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada. It ran for 16 volumes in manga and was later adapted to anime with 25 episodes, then concluded with a 14 episode OVA (called B't X Neo). The manga was released in America by Tokyopop. The anime was released in America by Westlake Entertainment. When B't X was released in America by Tokyopop, all of the sound effects in the manga were printed in Japanese, just as in the original version and in most other Tokyopop Manga, with the addition of English captions. In May 2012, Kurumada wrote in his blog that they are recording a new theme song for B't X but for what purpose is currently to be revealed.

Plot

Teppei ("Tepp") Takamiya is the caretaker of a farm located in Kamui Island, north of Japan. His older brother, Kotarō Takamiya, leaves to study robotics in Germany and becomes one of the most brilliant scientists in the world.

Five years later, the two brothers reunite at a robotics convention in Mechatopia, China, where Kotarō is to announce his latest breakthrough in artificial intelligence. The convention goes awry when Kotarō is captured by the malevolent Machine Empire and taken to "The Area", a mecha base hidden within the sandstorms of the Gobi Desert.

By the means of a mysterious weapon called the Messiah Fist, a cybernetic gauntlet with various technological powers and options, Teppei manages to pursue the kidnappers by grappling onto their "transport", a giant insectoid mecha that is later revealed to be one of the Machine Empire's prized AI machines (known as a B't). Upon reaching the Area, Teppei is attacked by Metalface, one of the Empire's soldiers. Unable to win, Teppei is thrown, bleeding, in the Empire's junkyard. His blood reaches the trashed body of X, who was once considered one of the strongest B't of the Empire, and the disgruntled B't awakens. Faced with unanswered questions and imminent destruction, X reluctantly saves Teppei, and the pair flee the Area with soldiers of the Empire in hot pursuit.

Meanwhile, inside the Area, Kotarō discovers that he has been summoned by another of the Empire's soldiers, Major Aramis, to find a way to stop the ultimate B't - a creation known as Raffaello (ラファエロ) that has begun a terrifying and uncontrollable evolution.

As the series unfolds, the headstrong X and equally brash Teppei develop a brotherly bond, squabbling as much as they look after each other. They slowly uncover the Machine Empire's diabolical plan as they travel through strange lands and battle other B'ts loyal to the Empire, all the while trying to save Kotarō and to resolve the mysteries of their intertwined past.

B't

A B't (pronounced "beat") is the ultimate form of artificial intelligence mechanoid (they are NOT "robotics" since in the Machine Empire, "robot" are considered obsolete terminology that has been replaced by much more modernized terms such as "mecha" and of course the terms "B't" itself) designed for fighting - the B stands for Brain, Blood, Bravery and Battler. They have different forms and powers, usually based on mythological creatures. The B't's source of power is a device called BreakHeart, which is fueled by human blood. Once the BreakHeart is inserted into the B't's body, it creates a link between the blood donor and the B't. A B't is also outfitted with The Guard System, which protects its donor from various dangers and environment changes, such as volcanic heat, the crushing pressures beneath the ocean, or even the depths of space. However, the donor must be in physical contact with his or her B't for the system to work for them. Teppei is able to manifest a suit of protective armor called Battle Gear, through use of the Messiah Fist. This has the additional benefit of activating the usually dormant wings on X's sides, enabling him to reach even greater degrees of speed and mobility.

Characters

Media

Manga

The series was also republished by Home-sha, a Shueisha company, in an edition of more than 300-pages per volume.

• Home-sha (Home-sha manga bunko) (2002)

Anime

TV series

OVA

See also

• Illumitoon Entertainment
• Saint Seiya

References

Further reading

• Beveridge, Chris (May 24, 2007). "Beat BtX Vol. #01". Mania. 
• Gifford, Kevin (March 2007). "B't X Volume 1". Newtype USA 6 (3): p. 149. ISSN 1541-4817. 
• Carlos, Ross. "B'tX". T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews. 

External links

• B't X (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia