The Metal Heroes just got cuter.
B-Robo Kabutack is the sixteenth Metal Heroes series, airing from 1997-1998.It's the story of Kabutack, one of ten "B-Robos" created by Dr. Torahiko Koenji. The good doctor discovered the existence of the thirteen Star Pieces, which grant any wish to those who get 'em all. For this reason, Koenji created the B-Robos. But some of the B-Robos aren't very nice and turn against Koenji. So, it's up to the good B-Robos to trounce the bad ones week after week.
B-Robo Kabutack provides examples of the following tropes:
- The Ace: Kuranosuke Kichijouji. Class president, good samaritan and expert player in several sports.
- An Ass-Kicking Christmas: The aptly named The Epic Christmas Battle special, which features Kabutack teaming up with previous Metal Heroes Blue Beet and B-Fighter Kabuto (albeit they are toys brought to life though).
- Animal Motifs: Each of the B-Robots, save for Tobimasky, is themed after a different arthropod, reptile, amphibian or aquatic mammal.
- Awesome, but Impractical: Tentorina has a permanent Super Mode but doesn't have combat abilities and consumes too much energy.
- Crossover: Kabutack teams up with Blue Beet and B-Fighter Kabuto in the aforementioned Christmas Special.
- Dismantled MacGuffin: The Star Pieces, which need to be brought together to form a bigger Star Piece.
- "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: Takeshi Kusao, who voices Kabutack, also sings the opening theme, "Kiyoku Tadashiku Kabutack."
- Fun with Acronyms: The "B" in B-Robot is really short for Battle Elementary Electronic Transform Locomotive Eexivision System.
- Giant Space Flea from Nowhere: Captain Tomborg is a neutral version. In most episodes he just shows up out of nowhere whenever Kabutack and the Enemy B-Robots are fighting over a Star Piece and warps the environment into a plce for a competition to settle the dispute.
- Gotta Catch 'Em All: Catching all the Star Pieces is the purpose the B-Robots were created for.
- Hour of Power: The B-Robos can only stay in Super Mode for a matter of minutes. Sharkler, one of the evil B-Robos, can stay in Super Mode for 15 minutes, the longest for any B-Robo. The only one who has a permanent Super Mode is Tentorina, but it consumes too much energy and has completely no combat ability other than having a combat stick, which may or may not be very useful at all.
- Lighter and Softer: To the entire Metal Heroes franchise. Kabutack is purely a kids' show, with fun and light-hearted episode plots, goofy villains and lots of comedy.
- Power Makes Your Voice Deep: Kabutack's voice deepens whenever he enters Super Mode.
- The Smurfette Principle: The sole female B-Robo, Tentorina the ladybug.
- Super Mode: Their super robot alternate modes are literally called Super Mode. Even the aforementioned DodeKabutack has one too!
- Super Prototype: Subverted. Despite him being the titular protagonist, Kabutack's Super Mode lasts three minutes, the shortest of any of the B-Robos.
- Team Switzerland: Captain Tomborg, a neutral referee who judges each competition Kabutack and the good B-Robots have against the evil B-Robots.
- That Syncing Feeling: Episode 36 features the B-Robos in a singing contest judged by Captain Tonborg. During the bad B-Robos' song, Gerotan realizes something's not right, and confronts them from back stage. Cobrander accidentally reveals the ruse when he talks back to Gerotan, who pulls back the curtain to reveal them lip-syncing to none other than Takayuki Miyauchi.
- Threatening Shark: Sharkler, who is even more threatening than Cobrander.
- Wingding Eyes: Whenever Kabutack gets low on energy, the kanji for "kufuku" (空腹), Japanese for "empty stomach" or "hunger" appear in his eyes.
- Your Princess Is in Another Castle!: Most of the time, the Star Piece Kabutack and his friends obtain at the end of the episode is really a fake.
