History Anime / Betterman

* ThoseTwoGuys: Yamaji and Li-chan become this [[spoiler: after Heichin contracts Algernon and is committed]].

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Several characters, but Li-chan is the most prominent. Her name is Ritsuko, but her nickname sounds like "Li-chan" instead of "Ri-chan".

** [[WhatCouldHaveBeen If Chapter Z wasn't canceled,]] It would have fully connected both shows to the logical end: [=GaoGaiGo=], which is basically a ''Neuronoid [=GaoGaiGar=]''.

* KilledOffForReal: Lots of people, fitting for an anime series of this genre. [[spoiler: Out of the main characters, only Keita, Hinoki, Shigeru and Sakura survive. Most of these deaths happen in the final few eipsodes.]]

* KilledOffForReal: Lots of people, fitting for an anime series of this genre. [[spoiler: Out of the main characters, only Keita, Hinoki, Shigeru and Sakura survive. Borders on KillEmAll, since most of these deaths happen in the final few eipsodes.]]

* FanService: This series has plenty of it, a stark contrast from ''GaoGaiGar,'' bleeding over into ''GaoGaiGar FINAL.''

* FanService: This series has plenty of it.

* KilledOffForReal: Lots of people, fitting for an anime series of this genre. [[spoiler: Out of the main characters, only Keita, Hinoki, Shigeru and Sakura survive.]]

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: From what we see from flashbacks, Hinoki's older brother, Mario was one. On one hand, he tended to [[BigBrotherBully tease Hinoki and call her an idiot.]] However, Hinoki states that he was also a CoolBigBro who always willingly to help her when she got into trouble. [[spoiler:It's also implied that Lamia may have inherited his BigBrotherInstinct towards Hinoki after eating his Animus Seed.]]

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: From what we see from flashbacks, Hinoki's older brother, Mario was one. On one hand, he tended to [[BigBrotherBully tease Hinoki and call her an idiot.]] However, Hinoki states that he was a CoolBigBro who willingly to help when she got in trouble. [[spoiler:It's also implied that Lamia may have inherited his BigBrotherInstinct towards Hinoki after eating his Animus Seed.]]

OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Keita Aono [[FallingIntoTheCockpit falls into the cockpit]] of a HumongousMecha, co-piloted by his childhood friend, Hinoki Sai. After getting beaten up by a giant animatronic fish-man, our heroes are saved by a shapeshifting {{Bishounen}} called Betterman. Jungian symbolism, {{Fanservice}}, and BodyHorror ensue. The anime consists of 26 episodes. It was aired in Japan on TV Tokyo from April 1, 1999 to September 30, 1999. The series made its North American debut on Creator/G4TV's (then Creator/TechTV) Anime Unleashed block on December 30, 2002.

On par with ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' as the darkest mecha anime of the 1990s. It shares a universe (courtesy of sharing a lot of ''production staff'') with ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'', despite the two being very, ''very'' different. In fact, it got a light novel crossover with [=GaoGaiGar=] that pits the two against each other, ''Literature/KingOfKingsGaogaigarVsBetterman''.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: From what we see from flashbacks, Hinoki's older brother, Mario was one. On one hand, he tended to [[BigBrotherBully tease Hinoki and call her an idiot.]] However, Hinoki states that he was a CoolBigBro who willingly to help when she got in trouble. [[spoiler:It's also implied that Lamia may have inherited his BigBrotherInstinct towards Hinoki.]]

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Half the main cast have blue hair. Hinoki's (and Betterman Lamia's) multicolored bangs particularly stand out, as does Sakura's bright pink RapunzelHair.

* ItIsPronouncedTroPAY: The "Mode" in Mode Warp is pronounced "MO-de".

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/betterman_main02.png]]

[[quoteright:232:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/image_501.jpeg]]

On par with ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' as the darkest mecha anime of the 1990s. It shares a universe (courtesy of sharing a lot of ''production staff'') with ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'', despite the two being very, ''very'' different. In fact, it got a light novel crossover with [=GaoGaiGar=] that pits the two against each other, [[http://www.yatate.net/gaogaigar/ggg.html ''Hakaiou: [=GaoGaiGar=] vs. Betterman'']].

* RealRobot: The ''Neuronoid'' mecha.
** AppliedPhlebotinum: The Linker Gel, which allows operators to pilot the Neuronoids with their thoughts.
** AwesomeButImpractical: Useful in fighting monsters, getting data, and protecting people from harm. But they're extremely convoluted (requiring two Dual-kind operators, flipping over to change modes, needing to recharge its gel, etc.) for conventional use.
** BlackBox: According to the "Mode Warp Files", there are mysterious "Black Boxes" that act as computers for the mechs. The company is reluctant to discuss what's in the boxes. [[spoiler: It turns out that they contain [[WetwareCPU brains]].]]
** CallingYourAttacks: '''SYNAPSE ATTACK!''' Justified, as several of the Neuronoid's actions are voice activated.
** DualModeUnit: Has an "Accept" and "Active" Modes. Accept is used for gathering data and analysis, and uses less linker gel. Active increases the mecha's speed, agility, and allows for the Synapse attack. The down side is that it uses more gel.
** ImprovisedWeapon: Being used for investigation of hazardous areas, Neuronoids carry no conventional weapons. But being giant mecha, they can basically pound anything with their limbs. In addition, there's the Synapse Attack - using collected molecules in the air, the mecha can create any chemical to strike back with.
** RollerbladeGood: In its action mode, the mecha can move fast using wheels on their legs. Useful in battles, and to avoid falling debris.

** RedShirtArmy: Mode Warp's support personnel. And when the military tries to help they don't last long either.

** Taking in the architecture of the Superhuman Federation's headquarters in episode 19, Akamatsu muses "this must be one of those [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Geofronts]] that are so popular these days".

* {{Stripperiffic}}: Amusingly averted; Head Diver suits are skintight see-through affairs with little black bits that cover the nipples and genitalia for both men ''and'' women.

* TechnoBabble: It's a spin-off of Gaogaigar, it's to be expected. The series is infamous for the overuse of this. Oddly enough, the technobabble makes some sense, if you've taken College Biology. Not that it matters, most of the fictional elements seem to work based on plot than actual science.

* UltimateLifeForm: The purpose of the Best Man Project [[spoiler: and the reason why everything is going wrong.]]

* UnwantedRescue: A minor example. When Keita first meets Sakura, she appears to be restrained to a machine. When he tries to take it off, Sakura quickly explains that she's not in danger - the chair is a medical device, and she can leave it by herself.

* TheVirus: "Algernon", which induced [[BrainwashedAndCrazy homicidal madness in its victims]], among other things.

* WeHaveReserves: With Cactus dead, Asami suggests using Keita as a replacement. An annoyed Akamatsu lampshades the implications, to her immediate remorse - she hadn't meant to sound callous.

On par with ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' as the darkest mecha anime of the 1990s. It shares a universe (courtesy of sharing a lot of ''production staff'') with ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'', despite the two being very, ''very'' different. In fact, it's getting a light novel crossover with [=GaoGaiGar=] that pits the two against each other, [[http://www.yatate.net/gaogaigar/ggg.html ''Hakaiou: [=GaoGaiGar=] vs. Betterman'']].

* AirVentPassageway: The heroes end up traveling in some very tight vents at one point. However, it not because they're trying to hide, but the only thing that's keeping them safe is effective in enclosed spaces.

* InfantImmortality: [[spoiler: DoubleSubverted tragically. Despite this tropes being Invoked by Sou, a pregnant Kaede was overtaken by Algernon and ended up killing them both. In the end though, their unborn child somehow survived. Justified since the tyke was hinted at having inherited PsychicPowers from both of its parents.]]

* StarCrossedLovers: [[spoiler:Shou and Kaede. Neither of them survive the final battle.]]
** [[spoiler: TogetherInDeath]]
* TheStinger: [[spoiler:Keita and Hinoki washing up alive on a beach]]
** [[spoiler: BookEnds]]

* MysteryArc: The first half of series had these arcs. It begins with an investigation of mysterious events. Once it's clear something strange is going on, Keita and the team end up investigating (or finding themselves in the middle of) the issue, were they come across data and plenty of bad guys. After some fighting, the group then [[TheSummation discuss their findings]].

** [[WhatCouldHaveBeen If Chapter Z wasn't canceled,]] It would have fully connected both shows to the logical end: GaoGaiGo, which is basically a ''Neuronoid GaoGaiGar''.

On par with ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' as the darkest mecha anime of the 1990s. It shares a universe with ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'', despite the two being very, very different. In fact, it's getting a light novel crossover with [=GaoGaiGar=] that pits the two against each other, [[http://www.yatate.net/gaogaigar/ggg.html ''Hakaiou: [=GaoGaiGar=] vs. Betterman'']].