Warning: All spoilers are unmarked. Read at your own risk.
This is the Recap page for the Anime series Tiger & Bunny, a tribute to American Superheroes.Sometime in the future, superheroes have become corporate mascots. Wild Tiger, an old-fashioned hero, is forced by his sponsor to team up with Barnaby (whom Tiger nicknames 'Bunny'), a new hero with an attitude of indifference.
Note that the episode titles are English proverbs.
Ep. 1: All's Well That Ends Well
Bank robbers are chased across the city by all of the heroes, who are trying to win a popularity contest. Later on, Tiger finds out that he has been "bought" by a new company, is given a new costume and finds out who his new partner is.Ep. 2: A Good Beginning Makes A Good Ending
The duo investigates why statues are coming to life in the city. And will Tiger make it to his daughter's ice skating show in time?Notes: We find out who inspired Tiger to become a superhero.
Movie: Film/Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning
A partial Compilation Movie of Season One’s first two episodes, followed by storyline involving the heroes facing a NEXT with teleportation abilities.Ep. 3: Many A True Word Is Spoken In Jest
The heroes must deal with a time bomb crisis, while also having to tolerate being followed around by a camera crew.Notes: Tiger's inspiration to becoming a hero is an important and well-remembered enough figure to have a statue built in the lobby of a newly constructed building. Also, we have a flashback of Barnaby's past, shedding some light on his motivations for becoming a hero.
Ep. 4: Fear Is Often Greater Than The Danger
Blue Rose decides to quit being a hero, while the others deal with a fire at an oil rig.Note: This counts as A Day in the Limelight for Blue Rose.
Ep. 5: Go for Broke!
The heroes try to throw Barnaby a surprise birthday party, but run afoul of thieves, including one with superpowers.Note: Tiger and Bunny get a Mid-Season Upgrade this episode... of sorts.
Ep. 6: Fire is a Good Servant But a Poor Master
Fire Emblem is suspect of murdering three criminals who were killed by superintense flames. While Tiger tries to help him prove his innocence, Barnaby continues to research on "Ouroboros."Notes: The mysterious figure from the opening credits, Lunatic, finally appears in the show.
Ep. 7: The Wolf Knows What The Ill Beast Thinks
Barnaby gets angry at Tiger for interfering with his personal quest. Then all of the heroes join forces for a raid on a criminal syndicate, when the vigilante hero Lunatic strikes again!Ep. 8: There Is Always A Next Time
Tiger, Bunny and Ivan, the ninja hero Origami Cyclone, visit the Hero Academy as part of a publicity campaign to offset Lunatic's popularity. But Ivan runs into an old friend with a grudge, attracting Lunatic's attention.Note: More facts about Lunatic emerge.
Ep. 9: Spare The Rod And Spoil The Child
Pao-Lin, Dragon Kid, ends up helping Kotetsu babysit the mayor's baby, who has NEXT powers. When Pao-Lin and the baby are then kidnapped by a trio of female villains, T&B must rescue them.Note: Barnaby starts sharing his secrets with Kotetsu in this episode, explaining he is researching a terrorist group called Ouroboros that is tied to his parents' murder.
Ep. 10: The Calm Before The Storm
The heroes are given paid vacations but before they can enjoy them, the city is hit by a major terrorist attack as Barnaby finally recognizes his parents' killer as Jake Martinez, an imprisoned member of Ouroboros.Ep. 11: The Die Is Cast
Ouroboros threatens to collapse the city unless Jake is released, leading to Ivan undertaking his most dangerous mission yet.Note: Barnaby's past story with Jake is revealed to the public.
Ep. 12: Take Heed Of The Snake In The Grass
With the city still held hostage, Jake challenges the heroes to fight him (one at a time) on live television.Notes: Sky High, Rock Bison, and Wild Tiger are curb stomped by Jake, with Kotetsu receiving possibly lethal injuries and being rushed to the ICU.
Ep. 13: Confidence Is A Plant Of Slow Growth
While Barnaby takes up the fight with Jake, Kotetsu figures out a crucial piece of information about Jake's powers and rushes to the scene.Notes: Conclusion of the four-episode battle with Ouroboros. Also, Kotetsu shows a new way to use his power.
Ep. 14: Love Is Blind
Bunny, Tiger and Blue Rose are forced by their sponsors to put out on a show together and she must teach them how to dance; in the process she realizes that she has a crush on Tiger. Meanwhile, the Second League - a group of novice heroes- tries to capture a stalker with NEXT powers and an obsession for Rose.Notes: This episode takes place 10 months after the last one. Also something strange happens with Tiger's powers.
Ep. 15: The Sky Is The Limit
Sky High feels depressed after losing in popularity to Tiger and Bunny- until he meets a mysterious young woman, and begins to fall for her.Notes: Barnaby learns something about his dead parents' scientific research, and Kotetsu discovers that he may be losing his powers.
Also, the name of the android's creator, Rotwang, is taken from the movie Metropolis.
Ep. 16: Truth Lies At The Bottom Of A Well
We learn Lunatic's origin, and his relationship with Mr. Legend. Also, Kotetsu's powers fail him while dealing with a Serial Killer.Ep. 17: Blood Is Thicker Than Water
Worried about his future as a hero, Kotetsu visits his family, but his 10-year-old daughter is not too thrilled to see him.Notes: Kotetsu uses his power to increase his hearing in this episode. Also, Kaede turns out to be a NEXT as well.
Ep. 18: Ignorance Is Bliss
Kriem awakens from a coma, reveals her personal backstory that confirms Jake didn't kill Barnaby's parents before she dies. This makes it hard for Kotetsu to announce that he's decided to quit being a hero.Notes:
- It's revealed this episode that Kaede's power is the ability to copy other NEXT's powers.
- Kriem reveals that she and Jake are only one branch of Ouroboros.
Ep. 19: There's No Way Out
Barnaby and Kotetsu have a falling out over his quitting being a superhero. Barnaby then finally finds out who the real killer of his parents is only to have his memory of it about to be changed again.Notes: Mr. Maverick is revealed to be a NEXT who can alter memories, along with having dealing with Ouroboros that forced him to kill Barnaby's parents when they confront him about it.
Ep. 20: Full of Courtesy, Full Of Craft
Maverick repeatedly attempts to get rid of the evidence of the truth about him murdering Barnaby's parents. At the very end he frames Kotetsu for the murder of Barnaby's maid, Samantha, and changes Barnaby's memories (and those of every other hero and Hero TV staff member) so they don't recognize Kotetsu anymore.Ep. 21: Heaven Helps Those Who Help Themselves
Kotetsu barely escapes being captured by the other heroes (and a mysterious new Wild Tiger) thanks to help from Lunatic. Also, Kaede finally learns her father's secret and takes off to Sternbild without permission.Notes: Kotetsu recovers his original costume (from his former manager, Ben Jackson) and dons it this episode.
Ep. 22: Bad Luck Often Brings Good Luck
Just as the situation looks hopeless, Kaede appears and restores the memories of the heroes and Doc Saitou... save for Barnaby, who chases Kotetsu across town. Kaede and said heroes confront the fake Wild Tiger, all shocked when Sky High unmasks him.Ep. 23: Misfortunes Never Come Singly
Kotetsu and Barnaby fight before the latter's memories are restored upon being called "Bunny." The two, Ben, and Saitou go to Justice Tower to defeat Maverick, learning that he recruited Dr. Rotwang, the man responsible for Cis, to create the fake Wild Tiger. As Kotetsu and Barnaby battle the Wild Tiger android, the captured heroes sans Kaede are given an impossible choice by Rotwang to sacrifice the others to survive.Ep. 24: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
The heroes refuse to kill each other, Rotwang having lied that they could disarm the bombs to save the others, with Kaede rescuing them using the powers she copied from Blue Rose. But Tiger appears to have been killed while defeating the super-robot.Ep. 25 Eternal Immortality
Maverick and Rotwang activate more Wild Tiger robots to fight the heroes but their safety override is activated by Dr. Saito. Maverick's attempt to take Kaede hostage while trying to reactivate the robots is foiled by Kotetsu, who had just been unconscious. Exposed by Hero TV, Maverick erases his own mind to keep silent about Ouroboros and he is later killed by Lunatic on route to prison. Both Tiger and Barnaby quit being heroes, only to make a comeback a year later. After the ending credits we see a shot of the Stern dollar becoming soaked in water, revealing the Ouroboros emblem on it.Notes: Rotwang appears to fall to his death, but we don't see the body.
- Agnes was only pretending to not have recovered her memories.
- Tiger's powers eventually are reduced to only one minute of use.
