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 kids 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 Kouenji 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" (スターピース, Sutā Pīsu) that had been hidden across the planet. If one should obtain all the Star Pieces, any wish could be granted. To that end, Dr. Kouenji 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 Kouenji, Dr. Kouenji'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.

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 prototype, his Super Mode can only last for 3 minutes. In Super Mode, he wields a weapon called Bilit Stick (ビリットスティック, Biritto Sutikku), which is transformed from his helmet in "normal mode". To transform into Super Mode, he needs Yuzuru's Friendship Commander (友情コマンダー, Yūjō Komandā), a comm-link-like device.
  • Buttobi Kabutack (ブットビカブタック, Buttobi Kabutakku): Kabutack's flight form which combined with Tobimasky via Buttobi 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 the Kabutack Final Crush (カブタックファイナルクラッシュ, Kabutakku Fainaru Kurasshu) attack.
  • 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 fire a torpedo called Bilit Missile (ビリットミサイル, Biritto Misairu).
• 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 wields a weapon called 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. 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. 6 Dangoron (ダンゴロン): 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): 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 Jakushi Bomber (ジャクシーボンバー, Jakushī Bonbā).
• 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 Vute (コブラビュート, Kobura Byūto) whip.
• 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) sword and an attacking machine named Kobunzame (コブンザメ).
• 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. Her weapon is the Rina Stick (リーナステッキ, Rīna Sutekki).

A-Robots

They appear in the Kabutack Christmas special.

• Earth Dragon (アースドラゴン, Āsu Doragon): Leader of A-Robots.
  • Combined Earth Dragon (合体アースドラゴン, Gattai Āsu Doragon): The combination of Earth Dragon, Sky High, and Sea Gaia. It can use an attack called Atric Hurricane (アトリックハリケーン, Atorikku Harikēn). It is finally defeated by Kabutack, Blue Beet, and B-Fighter Kabuto.
• Sky High (スカイハイ, Sukai Hai): He has the flight ability.
• Sea Gaia (シーガイア, Shī Gaia): A squid-type robot. She has stretchable tentacles and is armed with a sword.
• A-Robo Army (Aロボ軍団, Ē Robo Gundan): cockroach-type robot foot soldiers.

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 into Super Mode. Super Mode's weapons are the Bilit Scop (ビリットスコップ, Biritto Sukoppu) and the Dodeka Shield (ドデカシールド, Dodeka Shīrudo).
• 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 into Super Mode. Super Mode's weapons are the Fin Blade (フィンブレード, Fin Burēdo) sword, Jaws Shield (ジョーズシールド, Jōzu Shīrudo), and Giza Head (ギザーヘッド, Gizā Heddo) saw.

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.
• 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-Robots 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 (スターピースモドキ, Sutā Pīsu Modoki)). Because he's powerful, everyone has no choice but to play a game of his choice to win the Star Piece. His body becomes red in autumn. He has the Captain Stick (キャプテンスティック, Kyaputen Sutikku) with a dragonfly-shaped microphone. During games, he forms a ring with four dragonfly-type machine named Tosenbo (トーセンボ, Tōsenbo).
• Star Mind (スターマインド, Sutā Maindo): The person who appeared when all Star Pieces were collected. He later becomes his true form named Star Mind S (スターマインドS, Sutā Maindo Esu).
• Junichiro Kunitachi (国立 順一郎, Kunitachi Jun'ichirō): He is a music teacher of Yuzuru's elementary school, but he resigned to become a singer. His voice is very similar to Kabutack.
• Dr. Ushimatsu Tsudanuma (津田沼 丑松, Tsudanuma Ushimatsu): He is the main antagonist of the Kabutack Christmas special who was once an authority on robotics and is the creator of A-Robots. He is jealous of Dr. Kouenji who is always one step ahead of him.
• 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

1. Pleased to Meet You, Kabu! (よろしくカブー！, Yoroshiku Kabū!)
2. Let a Miracle Happen, Kabu (メークドラマだカブ, Mēku Dorama da Kabu)
3. Devoted Cuisine, Kabu (料理はまごころカブ, Ryōri wa Magokoro Kabu)
4. Umeboshi One-Armed Shoulder Throw!! (ウメ星一本背負い！！, Umeboshi Ippon Zeoi!!)
5. Tracking!! Drunken Tire (追跡！！酒飲みタイヤ, Tsuiseki!! Sakenomi Taiya)
6. Fickled Detective Kabutack (浮気探偵カブタック, Uwaki Tantei Kabutakku)
7. The Cursed Time of Weakness (弱り目にタタリじゃ, Yowarime ni Tatari ja)
8. Blessed Red Postbox (幸せの赤いポスト, Shiawase no Akai Posuto)
9. Right This Instant!! (飛びますトビマス！！, Tobimasu Tobimasu!!)
10. The Monster That Disappears With the Sunset (夕陽に消える怪獣, Yūhi ni Kieru Kaijū)
11. The May Koinobori Tournament!! (鯉のぼり五月場所！！, Koinobori Gogatsu Basho!!)
12. A Cleaning Pair (お掃除ふたりぼっち, Osōji Futari Botchi)
13. Iron Fist of Indisputable Anger (問答無用怒りの鉄拳, Mondō Muyō Ikari no Tekken)
14. Deliver to the Stars, My First Love (星に届けボクの初恋, Hoshi ni Todoke Boku no Hatsukoi)
15. Mystery of the Riddle Mummy (なぞなぞミイラの謎, Nazonazo Miira no Nazo)
16. Tasty Companion's New Appearance (美味しい仲間新登場, Oishii Nakama Shin Tōjō)
17. 100 Rounds of Sparring of Friendship!! (友情の百人組手！！, Yūjō no Hyakunin Kumite!!)
18. The Great Prediction of the Annoying Doctor (迷惑博士の大予言, Meiwaku Hakase no Dai Yogen)
19. Infiltration!! Dancer Boy Party (潜入！！踊り子少年隊, Sennyū!! Odoriko Shōnen Tai)
20. Companion Crack Serious Game!! (仲間割れ真剣勝負！！, Nakama Ware Shinken Shōbu!!)
21. The Snail That Falls in Love (恋するかたつむり, Koisuru Katatsumuri)
22. Swim Suit Attack Number One (水着でアタックNO. 1, Mizugi de Atakku Nanbā Wan)
23. Aim For the Ace of Flames (炎のエースをねらえ, Honō no Ēsu o Nerae)
24. Papa's Foolish Fishing Diary (パパの釣りバカ日誌, Papa no Tsuri Baka Nisshi)
25. The Power of the Silent Running Man (男は黙って全力疾走, Otoko wa Damatte Zenryoku Shissō)
26. The Ghost Likes Watermelons (幽霊はスイカ好き, Yūrei wa Suika Zuki)
27. The Assignment Is Gang Suppression (宿題はギャング退治, Shukudai wa Gyangu Taiji)
28. Shark Robot's Tooth of Life!? (サメロボは歯が命！？, Same Robo wa Ha ga Inochi!?)
29. The Release of the Mystery of the B-Robots (大公開ビーロボの謎, Dai Kōkai Bī Robo no Nazo)
30. String Out! A New Finisher!! (飛び出せ新必殺技！！, Tobidase Shin Hissatsuwaza!!)
31. Invasion!! Big Jaws (襲来！！巨大ジョーズ, Shūrai!! Kyodai Jōzu)
32. Amazing! Giant Confrontation (凄いぞ！！ドデカ対決, Sugoi zo!! Dodeka Taiketsu)
33. All-Inclusive Ripening!! Red Judgment Soul (完熟！！赤い審判魂, Kanjuku!! Akai Shinpan Damashii)
34. Ogre Baba Pulling Out of Love (愛情の鬼ババ抜き, Aijō no Oni Baba Nuki)
35. B-Robot's Great Fall Game (秋のビーロボ大運動会, Aki no Bī Robo Dai Undōkai)
36. The Song of Battle!! Everyone Is Gathering (歌合戦だ！！全員集合, Uta Gassen da!! Zenin Shūgō)
37. Brilliant Inference!! The Secret Of K.T. (名推理！！ＫＴの秘密, Mei Suiri!! Kē Tī no Himitsu)
38. Reckless Driving!! Labour Appreciation Day (暴走！！勤労感謝の日, Bōsō!! Kinrō Kansha no Hi)
39. Technique of the Frog's Patient Hibernation Method (カエル忍法冬眠の術, Kaeru Ninpō Tōmin no Jutsu)
40. Retribution Golf Showdown (抱腹絶倒ゴルフ対決, Hōfuku Zettō Gorufu Taiketsu)
41. Impersonator Kabutack's Appearance (偽者カブタック出現, Nisemono Kabutakku Shutsugen)
42. The Peking Man Panic!! (北京原人パニック！！, Pekin Genjin Panikku!!)
43. Lucky Pulling Technique of the Girl (お嬢の福引き必勝法, Ojō no Fukubiki Hisshōhō)
44. Celebration!! The New Year Kite Lifting World Cup (祝！！新春凧あげW杯（ワールドカップ）, Shuku!! Shinshun Takoage Wārudo Kappu)
45. Human Feelings Time Slip (人情タイムスリップ, Ninjō Taimu Surippu)
46. Fighting Illness Last Demon Revolution (闘病トベマセンカイ, Tōbyō Tobemasenkai)
47. Difficult Problem Strange Question Cult Quiz (難問奇問カルトクイズ, Nanmon Kimon Karuto Kuizu)
48. Calling Luck to Suppress the Red Ogre (福を呼ぶ赤鬼退治, Fuku o Yobu Akaoni Taiji)
49. Tokyo University Straight Over the Line! (譲の東大一直線！, Yuzuru no Tōdai Itchokusen!)
50. Chocolate-Guy of the Pure-heart (チョコは男の純情, Choko wa Otoko no Junjō)
51. The Judge Robot's Unexpected True Identity (審判ロボ意外な正体, Shinpan Robo Igai na Shōtai)
52. 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 クリスマス大決戦！！, Bī-Robo Kabutakku Kurisumasu Dai Kessen!!) 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 Tadashiku 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)
• 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)

The Epic Christmas Battle cast

• Mother: Rika Kishida (岸田 里佳, Kishida Rika)
• Store worker: Sayuri Uchida (内田 さゆり, Uchida Sayuri)
• Citizen, Blue Beet (ブルービート, Burū Bīto, Voice): Daisuke Tsuchiya (土屋 大輔, Tsuchiya Daisuke)
• Citizen, B-Fighter Kabuto (ビーファイターカブト, Bī Faitā Kabuto, Voice): Omi (オミ) (Played as Hideomi Nakazato (中里 栄臣, Nakazato Hideomi))
• Santa Claus: Ayako Fujitani (藤谷 文子, Fujitani Ayako)
• Ushimatsu Tsudanuma (津田沼 丑松, Tsudanuma Ushimatsu): Takashi Matsuo (松尾 貴史, Matsuo Takashi)

Voice actors

• Kabutack (カブタック, Kabutakku): Takeshi Kusao (草尾 毅, Kusao Takeshi)
  • Takeshi Kusao appeared on screen in episode 36 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): Kōichi Tōchika (遠近 孝一, Tōchika Kōichi)
• Gerotan (ゲロタン): 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)

The Epic Christmas Battle cast

• Earth Dragon (アースドラゴン, Āsu Doragon): Shunsuke Sakuya (咲野 俊介, Sakuya Shunsuke)

See also