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(Top)

1Plot

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1.1Shared continuity with The King of Braves GaoGaiGar

2Characters

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2.1Protagonists

2.2Antagonists

3Betterman's Transformations

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3.1Betterman NEBULA

3.2Betterman AQUA

3.3Betterman TURBA

3.4Betterman LUME

3.5Betterman FORTE

3.6Betterman OLTUS

4Glossary

5Episodes

6Releases

7References

8External links

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Betterman (TV series)

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Japanese anime television series

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Betterman" TV series – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

For other television series, see Better Man (disambiguation).

BettermanCover art for the DVD release of the Betterman series by Bandai Entertainmentベターマン(Betāman)GenreAction, horror, mecha[1]Created byHajime YatateYoshitomo Yonetani

Anime television seriesDirected byYoshitomo YonetaniProduced byHiroyuki OrukawaShinichiro KobayashiWritten byHiroshi YamaguchiMusic byKohei TanakaStudioSunriseLicensed byNA: Sentai FilmworksOriginal networkTXN (TV Tokyo)English networkUS: TechTV (Anime Unleashed)Original run 1 April 1999 – 30 September 1999Episodes26

Betterman (Japanese: ベターマン, Hepburn: Betāman) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise's internal "Studio 7" and JVC. It is a spinoff of The King of Braves GaoGaiGar, produced under the direction of Yoshitomo Yonetani and writer Hiroshi Yamaguchi. It aired on TV Tokyo from April 1, 1999 to September 30, 1999, and was the first anime to broadcast in widescreen, though it was letterboxed.

Plot[edit]

The year is 2006, a series of seemingly random terrorist attacks rock the globe. Dubbed "Algernon", normal people suffer psychotic breaks and begin murdering everyone around them - often in profoundly disturbing fashion. In the wake of traditional law enforcement's failure to turn up any link between these incidents, a private contractor known as Akamatsu Industries is brought in to explore if Algernon is a disease, an unknown terrorist group, or even more exotic possibilities.

Meanwhile, a mysterious mass fatal accident occurred while preparing for the opening ceremony at the geofront type underground amusement park "Bottom the World". Asami Toko of the Algernon research institute "Modi Warp" who visited the investigation with the authorities, concluding that the accident was caused by Algernon. Around the same time, high school student Keita Aono accidentally stumbles inside the prototype Neuronoid Kakuseijin 01 in which is piloted by a girl named Hinoki Sai, his childhood friend he hasn't seen in years, and on board the cockpit as a rare "Dual Kind" head diver. In their exploration in the "Bottom the World" in hopes for them to escape, they both find out the mystery behind the Algernon phenomenon and the mysteries surrounding the mysterious man named Lamia who is classified as a "Betterman".

Shared continuity with The King of Braves GaoGaiGar[edit]

Betterman takes place in the same world as The King of Braves GaoGaiGar, predominantly before the events of The King of Braves GaoGaiGar FINAL, though only a few minor links are visually made within the series itself. The novel series King of Kings: GaoGaiGar VS Betterman fully explains the connection between two series and how both events overlap each other.

Characters[edit]

Protagonists[edit]

Keita Aono (蒼斧蛍汰, Aono Keita) - The main human protagonist of the series, whose point of view most of the story is seen from. Keita is a seventeen-year-old high school student who, through a chance reunion with his childhood friend Hinoki, finds himself recruited as a Head Diver for Akamatsu Industries. He is quite different from the typical mecha pilot seen in most anime, being rather awkward and prone to panicking easily. However, on multiple occasions, he shows his willingness to place himself in danger to protect those he cares about. He has especially high readings as a Dual Kind, and at one point is even able to pilot a Neuronoid by himself. This is a result of a transplant of dura mater he received as an infant, due to a serious head injury, from a woman named Laurier Noir. Although he shows an attraction to several girls throughout the series, he is especially fond of Hinoki, and makes no secret of his desire to pursue a relationship with her, despite the rather apathetic attitude she often displays towards him. Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi (Japanese); Matthew Erickson (English).

Hinoki Sai (彩火乃紀, Sai Hinoki) - The daughter of a famous paleontologist, who was orphaned when her parents and older brother vanished during an expedition to the Ajanta Caves in India four years before the start of the series. She was recruited as a Head Diver by Akamatsu and Mode Warp shortly thereafter. Hinoki acts in a sullen manner a majority of the time, and often derides her own intelligence when asked questions that she can not, or does not wish to, answer. She is a childhood friend of Keita, but had not seen him in some time before their reunion in the first episode. Although she usually acts uninterested in his romantic advances, she shows on several occasions that she cares more for him than she lets on. She also refers to him affectionately as "Kei-chan". She, like Keita, is seventeen when the series begins. Voiced by: Kyōko Hikami (Japanese); Onalea Gilbertson (English).

Shigeru Akamatsu (阿嘉松滋, Akamatsu Shigeru) - The founder and president of Akamatsu Industries. His company worked with Mode Warp in developing the Neuronoids, and he actively assists in their attempt to eliminate Algernon. He has an extremely inventive mind, and many of his company's products, which range from toys to military weapons, were his own ideas. His dedication to his company, however, caused his wife to leave him some time earlier, which still bothers him on occasion. Voiced by: Chafurin (Japanese); Dave Pettitt (English)

Sakura Akamatsu - Shigeru's fifteen-year-old daughter. She was born with the ability to tap into the "Limpid Channel", allowing her to pick up the waves of consciousness in the air around her. By picking up the random thoughts of other beings, she is able to give useful, seemingly precognitive, information, though often in a cryptic manner. However, she was also born with extremely poor health, and she spends much of her time confined in a special chair, known as a "Manage Machine". Although she is a Dual Kind, she only is used as a Head Diver in emergency situations, due to her weak constitution. Voiced by: Junko Iwao (Japanese); Mariette Sluyter (English).

Miyako Asami (都古麻御, Miyako Asami) - A Bio-medical Engineer who works for Mode Warp. She works closely with Akamatsu Industries in trying to understand and eliminate Algernon. She was recruited by the mysterious "Director" to take part in the Dive Inspection several years earlier, and thus is familiar with several of the antagonists in the series. She is killed shortly after learning that she, as a survivor of the Dive Inspection, is a carrier of Algernon. Voiced by: Houko Kuwashima (Japanese); Meredith Taylor-Parry (English).

Shou Yanagi (八七木翔, Yanagi Shō) - A 24-year-old Head Diver, who is usually partnered with Kaede. Although he often shows a collected personality in front of others, he suffers from psychological trauma from when his younger brother was killed in an accident while testing early Neuronoid models. Seeing Keita reminds him of his brother, causing him to break down on several occasions. He is a powerful hypnotist, and is able to hypnotize others merely by looking into their eyes. He is devoted to his partner Kaede, and after announcing her pregnancy, marries her before the final battle. He is tragically killed along with his new bride when she seemingly succumbs to Algernon and kills them both. Voiced by: Shinichiro Miki (Japanese); Jonathan Love (English).

Kaede Kurenai (紅楓, Kurenai Kaede) - Shou's partner, and a powerful psychic. Her dowsing abilities are a great asset in her role as a Head Diver. She has a past connection with Mammon and the Superhuman Federation, and much of the latter part of the series deals with their attempts to harness her powers. She marries Shou before the final battle, but seemingly contracts Algernon and kills both of them. Their unborn child somehow manages to survive and is rescued by one of the "lizard girls". Voiced by: Yuko Minaguchi (Japanese); Colleen Blackmore (English).

Ritsuko Fuchu (府中律子, Fuchū Ritsuko) - Ri-chan is Voiced by: Tomoko Kawakami (Japanese); Christy Greene (English).

Yamajii (山じい, Yamajii) - Yamajii is Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu (Japanese); Ben Jeffrey (English).

Lamia (ラミア, Ramia) - The Betterman who the series in named for. Lamia often shows up when the human protagonists are in danger, transforming into one of his fighting forms to save them. He seems especially intent on saving Hinoki, whose brother he bears more than a passing resemblance to. It is later explained that by eating the Vivele Fruit that grew from Hinoki's brother, he inherited his memories, as well as some of his physical attributes. His ultimate goal is to defeat Kankel, the enemy to all life on Earth and protect Hinoki, whom he believes may also produce the revolutionary Vivele Fruit. Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu (Japanese); Jonathan Love (English).

Seeme (セーメ, Sēme) - Lamia's constant companion, who usually takes the form of a large, yellow, moth-like creature. She occasionally is seen in a larger, four-legged form as well. In extreme situations, she takes the form of Betterman Lume by consuming pieces of the seed that came from Hinoki's mother, appearing as a glowing female figure. Voiced by: Tomoko Kawakami (Japanese); M.J. McCann (English).

Bodaiju (ボダイジュ, Bodaiju) - Another Betterman who appears later in the series. He has a much darker skin tone and dresses in the raiments reminiscent of a monk. Like Lamia though, he has the tell tale characteristics of his species with red sclera, telepathic communication, and, of course, the ability to take on different fighting forms. He first appears to confront Lamia. Bodiju chastises the latter for twice breaking the taboo regarding Forte (Lamia transformed into Forte twice by then when his people regard the Forte Seed as weapon reserved for the use of a "leader"). He is also critical of Lamia's quest to protect Hinoki, thinking such efforts would be better spent in the fight against the force named Kankel. The confrontation turns into a battle between Lamia's Nebula form and Bodiju's Turba. The fight ends in a draw, but Bodiju confronts Lamia once more. After working together to survive a psychic's illusion, Bodiju agrees to assist Lamia and Seeme. The alliance is short lived as he is later slain by Kankel. Later on he psychically aides Lamia, bringing him the necessary components of the seed of Oltus (elaborating on his rivalry with Lamia by asking the latter if he can handle Oltus). Voiced by: Kazuki Yao

Yakusugi (ヤクスギ, Yakusugi) - A mysterious priest, rumoured to be over a hundred and twenty years old, who appears to offer aid to the protagonists at unexpected times. Through his extreme physical and psychological training, he has managed to become the pinnacle of human ability. As such, he was selected as the test subject of the Dive Inspection. However, he vanished when the experiment went wrong. Kankel was born from him as a result, and though he is connected to the creature, even Yakusugi can not keep it contained. When Lamia destroys Kankel, Yakusugi dies along with it. Voiced by: Yusaku Yara (Japanese); David Kelly (English)

Chandi (チャンディー, Chandī) - A mysterious girl, though not having a large part in the series, she's one of the lizard girl experiments. She gained her own will and appears on a few occasions to save Keita. Voiced by: Houko Kuwashima (Japanese); Onalea Gilbertson (English)

Antagonists[edit]

Kazuho Heichi (平地一穂, Heichi Kazuho)- An employee of Akamatsu Industries, who attempts to kill his co-workers on several occasions after contracting Algernon. He reprograms various types of machines and robots to attack his former friends, which results in the battles of the first several episodes. After being apprehended, he is later killed and used to grow an Animus Flower by BPL. Voiced by: Houko Kuwashima (Japanese); Dan Gascon (English)

Prof. Umezaki (梅崎, Umezaki)- The head scientist of BPL, who took part in the Dive Inspection several years ago. Although his laboratory is said to be developing new food sources, he is actually developing various biological monsters, which he uses to attack Mode Warp and Akamatsu Industries' employees. His biological creatures, which range from massive beasts to killer insects, are the primary threat of much of the first half of the series. He is killed during the protagonists' attempt to attack his lab when one of his own creations, which has gained self will, turns on him. Voiced by: Osamu Ichikawa (Japanese); Steve Olson (English)

Mugito Mamon (魔門麦人, Mamon Mugito)- A powerful psychic, and the leader of the Superhuman Federation. His attempts to harness Kaede's powers are the main threat faced by the protagonists in the second half of the series. Mamon is a survivor of the Dive Inspection who still hopes to create a superior human being through psychic powers. He eventually does harness Kaede's powers long enough to transform himself into the powerful Brahman, though he still falls to Lamia during the final battle of the series. Voiced by: Mugihito (Japanese); Doug McKeag (English)

Kankel (カンケル, Kankeru)- A mysterious, incredibly powerful being, which appears as a somewhat effeminate, shadow-like creature. It is the unexpected result of the Dive Inspection, made up entirely of cancerous cells. As such, it seeks to consume all other life and assimilate it into itself, beginning with the Bettermen, which it recognizes as its biggest threat. It is Lamia's ultimate goal to defeat this creature, which he manages to do only by transforming into the ultimate Betterman, OLTUS.

Algernon (アルジャーノン, Arujānon), the name of which itself derives from the book "Flowers for Algernon", is never completely understood until the final moments of the series. Even then, it is left to the viewer to deduce what Algernon exactly is. Algernon seems to be, as mentioned, either a virus, or a sort of mutation. Victims of Algernon show symptoms like those in the end chapters of "Flowers for Algernon," (loss of intellect and emotional control) but on a larger, more violent scale. Rage isn't the only symptom, as insanity and bodily mutation are evident in many cases.

Betterman's Transformations[edit]

Betterman NEBULA[edit]

Distinctly recognizable by its massive forearms which serve as highly resilient guards against enemy attacks. Nebula's form grants Lamia aerial capabilities and allows him to fly at high-velocity speeds. The signature ability of Nebula, Psycho Voice, first allows Lamia to analyze his opponent’s complete physical structure and to retaliate with a high-pitched voice attack which uses the same wavelength as his enemy's composition, thus eliminating it. This is the most frequently used transformation by Lamia and has shown itself to be the most versatile.

Betterman AQUA[edit]

This is an underwater form that can achieve a speed of 600 knots (1,100 km/h). In this form Betterman can inhale and analyze his opponent’s bodily liquids and attack with similar Psycho Fluid, breaking down the opponent's DNA structure.

Betterman TURBA[edit]

This orange form of Betterman uses compressed air and razor sharp wind as weapons. Turba's capability is Psycho Calm. In this attack, wind and sound are compressed into a small spherical area. This makes attacks such as Psycho Voice ineffective. The same organs can be used for jet propulsion. It should be also noted that this is a form that Betterman Lamia does not use. Instead it was used by Bodiju (he specifically chose it to counter Nebula).

faced with the truth

Betterman LUME[edit]

This bright yellow female form of Betterman uses electromagnetic radiation (electricity and various rays) as its weapons. Seeme transforms into this form by consuming pieces of the seed that came from Hinoki's mother.

Betterman FORTE[edit]

This is the strongest type of body that Betterman can obtain with common seeds. In this form Betterman greatly increases in height. Forte's method of defeating an opponent involves seeing an opponent's "breaking point" and using the Sliding Saber on his head to strike in this location (referred to as Psycho Glory). Opponents are then reduced to ash. It is also notable that Forte-type Betterman should be used only by "a leader," but Betterman Lamia has broken this rule more than once.

Betterman OLTUS[edit]

This the final and ultimate form which Lamia adopts in the final episode. Like "Forte," Betterman grows in size and gains a dark brown color opposing the white "Nebula." Using the ultimate power of "Psycho Burst," Betterman can regenerate his cells indefinitely; even if thrown into molten lava. Lamia gains the power of Oltus when his Master, friend, and his companion give him three seeds, which combine into one. After this, Lamia confronts the final enemy, "Bestman."

Glossary[edit]

Animus Flower A strange flower that grows from the heads of those who died while infected with Algernon. The fruit that these flowers bear is what a Betterman consumes to transform. Animus as Jungian term means "true inner self," more precisely women's inner masculinity. Animus seeds in Betterman are physical methods of releasing one's inner self in various forms.

Best Man Project A project, organized by a man known only as "Director", to create a perfect, immortal human. Specialists from various fields were gathered for this project, which culminated in the Dive Inspection. After the experiment's failure, the survivors of the project split up, creating various organizations to continue the pursuit of human perfection on their own. Mode Warp, BPL, and the Superhuman Federation were all founded in this manner.

BPL One of the spinoffs of the Best Man Project, founded and headed by Prof. Umezaki. Although its original intent was to create new food sources, it wound up only creating biological horrors.

Dive Inspection The ultimate goal of the Best Man Project, where scientists and other experts attempted to create a perfect, immortal human. Using Priest Yakusugi as a test subject, they attempted to rewrite his DNA to cause his cells to reproduce infinitely, effectively making him immortal. However, something went wrong during the experiment, and many people present were killed. Unknown to the participants, their experiment resulted in the creation of the destructive being known as Kankel.

Dual Kind Individuals who can connect their minds to another using a special substance known as Linker Gel. By combining their neural energy, two dual kind can create a large amount of power. Aside from this, dual kind have no other special powers or abilities. It can be argued that Dual Kinds have limited access to the collective unconscious.

Head Diver Dual Kind that pilot Neuronoids.

Mode Warp One of the groups that splintered from the Best Man Project. Mode Warp works closely with Akamatsu Industries in creating the Neuronoids and battling the threat of Algernon. The only notable member of this group is Miyako Asami.

Neuronoid Robots jointly created by Akamatsu Industries and Mode Warp. As the machine is powered by Linker Gel, two Dual Kind are required to pilot it. Each Neuronoid has two forms: The "Accept Mode", which is equipped with a variety of sensors used for surveying and analysis, and the "Active Mode", used in combat situations. A Neuronoid's most powerful ability is the Synapse Attack, where particles from the environment surrounding the machine are drawn in, and then unleashed in a powerful blast. Due to the rate at which Linker Gel becomes unusable, the Neuronoids can only remain active for a short time, which is one of their major handicaps. Neuronoids use living brain matter in their construction. Although human brains were originally used in early models, the current Neuronoids piloted by the protagonists use the brains of primates and dolphins.

NEO New Environment Organization, parent company of Mode Warp.

Superhuman Federation One of the groups that splintered off from the Best Man Project, made up of individuals with psychic abilities. Although they use their abilities for business purposes, their true goal is to continue the work of the Best Man Project, and create a superior being. Bakuto Mammon, the leader of the organization, is especially interested in recruiting Kaede for this.

Episodes[edit]

No.

Title

Directed by

Written by

Storyboarded by

Original air date

1"-DARK-" (Japanese: 闇-YAMI-)Yoshitomo YonetaniHiroshi YamaguchiYoshitomo YonetaniApril 1, 1999 (1999-04-01)

2"-VOICE-" (Japanese: 声-KOE-)Takeshi YamamotoHiroshi YamaguchiYoshitomo YonetaniApril 8, 1999 (1999-04-08)

3"-SKY-" (Japanese: 宙-SORA-)Akira YoshimuraHiroshi YamaguchiHiroshi NishikioriApril 15, 1999 (1999-04-15)

4"-WAKE UP-" (Japanese: 醒-MEZAME-)Kunihisa SugishimaYuichiro TakedaKunihisa SugishimaApril 22, 1999 (1999-04-22)

5"-HELL-" (Japanese: 冥-ZIGOKU-)Yasuhiro MinamiYuichiro TakedaAkira KusuneApril 29, 1999 (1999-04-29)

6"-SPIRIT-" (Japanese: 霊-KODAMA-)Ikuro SatoHiroshi YamaguchiKazuyoshi KatayamaMay 6, 1999 (1999-05-06)

7"POWER -FORTE-" (Japanese: 力-FORTE-)Akira YoshimuraHiroshi YamaguchiMasamitsu HidakaMay 13, 1999 (1999-05-13)

8"-POISON-" (Japanese: 毒-DOKU-)Takeshi YoshimotoYuichiro TakedaTakeshi YoshimotoMay 20, 1999 (1999-05-20)

9 (Japanese: 海-AQUA-)Ikuro SatoHiroaki KitajimaKoji MasunariMay 27, 1999 (1999-05-27)

10"-INSECT-" (Japanese: 蟲-MUSHI-)Hirokazu YamadaHiroshi YamaguchiShinichi WatanabeJune 10, 1999 (1999-06-10)

11 (Japanese: 霧-NEBULA-)Ikuro SatoYuichiro TakedaYoshitomo YonetaniJune 17, 1999 (1999-06-17)

12 (Japanese: 龍-DRAGON-)Akira YoshimuraYuichiro TakedaMasamitsu HidakaJune 24, 1999 (1999-06-24)

13"-NECTAR-" (Japanese: 蜜-MITSU-)Sumio WatanabeHiroaki KitajimaTakeshi YoshimotoJuly 1, 1999 (1999-07-01)

14"-HEART-" (Japanese: 魂-KOKORO-)Akihiko NishiyamaHiroaki KitajimaMasamitsu HidakaJuly 8, 1999 (1999-07-08)

15"-SHADOW-" (Japanese: 翳-KAGE-)Akira YoshimuraHiroshi YamaguchiYoshitomo YonetaniJuly 15, 1999 (1999-07-15)

16"-REALITY-" (Japanese: 現-UTSUTSU-)Hirokazu YamadaHiroshi YamaguchiYukio NishimotoJuly 22, 1999 (1999-07-22)

17"-DREAM-" (Japanese: 夢-YUME-)Ikuro SatoYuichiro TakedaMamoru HamatsuJuly 29, 1999 (1999-07-29)

18"-HUNGRY-" (Japanese: 飢-KAWAKI-)Atsushi TakadaHiroaki KitajimaYasuchika NagaokaAugust 5, 1999 (1999-08-05)

19"MIRROR -LIE-" (Japanese: 鏡-ITSUWARI-)Sumio WatanabeHiroshi YamaguchiSumio WatanabeAugust 19, 1999 (1999-08-19)

20"-TRICK-" (Japanese: 罠-WANA-)Akira YoshimuraHiroshi YamaguchiYoshitomo YonetaniAugust 26, 1999 (1999-08-26)

21"-DESTROY-" (Japanese: 亡-HOROBI-)Ikuro SatoYuichiro TakedaYasuchika NagaokaAugust 26, 1999 (1999-08-26)

22"RAW -OVERGROWN HEDGE-" (Japanese: 生-MOGAKI-)Hirokazu YamadaYuichiro TakedaUmanosuke IidaSeptember 2, 1999 (1999-09-02)

23"OFFERING -MITSUGI-" (Japanese: 贄-MITSUGI-)Atsushi TakadaHiroaki KitajimaShinichirō WatanabeSeptember 9, 1999 (1999-09-09)

24"DEATH -FAREWELL-" (Japanese: 死-WAKARE-)Sumio WatanabeHiroaki KitajimaShinji HiguchiSeptember 16, 1999 (1999-09-16)

25"BRAIN -MEMORY-" (Japanese: 脳-KIOKU-)Akira YoshimuraHiroshi YamaguchiYoshitomo YonetaniSeptember 23, 1999 (1999-09-23)

26 (Japanese: -MU-)Yoshitomo YonetaniHiroshi YamaguchiYoshitomo YonetaniSeptember 30, 1999 (1999-09-30)

Releases[edit]

Betterman is composed of 26 episodes, first aired on TV Tokyo from April 1, 1999 to September 30, 1999. It was licensed and released in the USA (on DVD) by Bandai Entertainment. The series was dubbed by Ocean Productions at their Blue Water studio in Calgary, Alberta. The dubbed English version from this DVD release has also aired on the US cable network G4TV (Known as TechTV at the time of its airing) during the "Anime Unleashed" rotation, premiering on December 30, 2002. Despite this exposure, it is still a fairly unknown series to American audiences. This is perhaps due to its plot, as it is generally considered quite difficult to understand. Also, many different terms are used that are never explained, but these terms are scientifically based and often require broader knowledge concerning biology and other sciences. Following the 2012 closure of Bandai Entertainment, Sunrise announced at Otakon 2013, that Sentai Filmworks has rescued Betterman, along with a handful of other former BEI titles.[2]

References[edit]

^ "Betterman - Complete Collection - Complete Collection". Bandai Entertainment. Archived from the original on November 22, 2005. Retrieved January 7, 2020.

^ "Sentai Filmworks Adds Sacred Seven, The Big O, Kurokami, More". Anime News Network. Retrieved 11 August 2013.

External links[edit]

Betterman (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

Preceded byThe King of Braves GaoGaiGar

Brave series 1999

Succeeded byThe King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final

vteBrave seriesAnime series

Exkaiser

Fighbird

Da-Garn

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Betterman

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Betterman

6.57Ranked #6270Popularity #5321Members 15,387Spring 1999TVSunriseAdd to My ListWatchingCompletedPlan to WatchSelect(10) Masterpiece(9) Great(8) Very Good(7) Good(6) Fine(5) Average(4) Bad(3) Very Bad(2) Horrible(1) Appalling

Episodes: /26PV 1playMore videos

EditSynopsisA deadly virus known as "Algernon" has attacked humanity with vicious meaning. At the forefront of the battle is the mystifying Akamatsu Industries—disguised as a heavy machine factory in Tokyo, this undercover organization uses neural enhanced weapons known as NeuroNoids to battle Algernon. Also helping with their secret efforts is the mysterious mutant who is only known as "Betterman."

(Source: ANN)EditBackgroundNo background information has been added to this title. Help improve our database by adding background information here.

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EditRelated AnimeAdaptation:BettermanAlternative setting:Yuusha-Ou GaoGaiGar Final Grand Glorious GatheringMore charactersCharacters & Voice Actors

Betterman, Lamia

Main

Koyasu, Takehito

Japanese

Sai, Hinoki

Main

Hikami, Kyouko

Japanese

Aono, Keita

Main

Yamaguchi, Kappei

Japanese

Sakura

Supporting

Iwao, Junko

Japanese

Yanagi, Shou

Supporting

Miki, Shinichiro

Japanese

Chandy

Supporting

Kuwashima, Houko

Japanese

Asami, Miyako

Supporting

Kuwashima, Houko

Japanese

Akamatsu, Shigeru

Supporting

Chafurin

Japanese

Bodaiju

Supporting

Yao, Kazuki

Japanese

Kaori

Supporting

Tenjin, Umi

Japanese

More staff

Staff

Sasaki, Shirou

Producer

Kobayashi, Shinichirou

Producer

Kouchiyama, Takashi

Assistant Producer

Yonetani, Yoshitomo

Director, Episode Director, Storyboard, Theme Song Lyrics, Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Performance, Planning, Original Creator

Edit

Opening Theme

Preview

Spotify

Apple Music

Amazon Music

Youtube Music

"Yume No Kakera (ユメノカケラ)" by Wuyontana

Edit

Ending Theme

1: "Chin: Requiem (鎮-requiem-)" by Mai

2: "Dou: Revelation (導-revelation-)" by Mai

Reviews

Write review

Recommended

Mixed Feelings

Not Recommended

All reviews (7)

Oct 4, 2014

Hatul

Recommended

This is one of the weirdest, most screwed up anime I've ever seen. And in a medium such as this (plus, considering the amount I've seen), that's saying a lot.

But I mean that in the most positive way and I think this title deserves far more attention than it gets. There's simply nothing else I can think of that's quite like it.

This is a spoiler free review.

*Story* 9/10

Down to it, It's about a couple of teenagers who join some secret organization to pilot crude looking mechs and fight against weird creatures they know nothing about, alongside a macho pretty boy with rainbow colored hair who

...

transforms in to a giant monster when he eats fruits...

I'm sure that no drugs were consumed during the making.

Alright, In all seriousness, the first thing you'll notice is that the atmosphere in this show is very weird. It's somewhat lighthearted and cartoony, but very dark and creepy at the same time. I'm gonna guess that this is the primary reason this series isn't popular, but I for one found this atmosphere to be very refreshing and exceptional. I can't think of anything that's quite like it and it made me feel all weird inside... The reason this tone works here is because it rarely becomes particularly dramatic or edgy so the lighthearted silliness that while creepy things are going down doesn't have much to clash with and it also helps humanize the characters in various ways.

Another thing you'll notice is that it's not focused as much on the mecha as you'd expect, it's a lot more about its science fiction which also happens to have horror elements in it, while we follow a group of characters in their journey of encounters with the unknown. It feels like the creator threw all of his childhood nightmares in to it and was able connect all of them in to a pretty massive story with rich lore behind it.

The main theme here revolves around genetics and evolution and as implied by the title, making humanity "better" by stepping in to its next stage of evolution. The story also has a strong scientific foundation where nearly everything from how the mechs function to where the creatures came from can be explained through scientific terminology that gets thrown around and is usually excused with some analogy to a fun fact from real life biology.

Although there is a lot of terminology used here, the exposition delivery of it is fantastic. It's always motivated by the characters delivering it and the context of events, it is used exclusively for explaining the science (as opposed to events, which are always shown, NOT told) never feels forced, or like it overstays its welcome and is accompanied by great visuals and fun character interactions.

In terms of the actual story that unfolds, everything that happens eventually feels significant, since many early events that don't seem that important end up triggering ones that come much later. It is pretty complicated, but it's not that hard to follow since they explain most things pretty well.

Some episodes might confuse the hell out of you, but it won't leave you confused for long. It does an excellent job of consistently raising and answering questions as the scope and scale of the series keeps growing. In the end it also wraps things up in quite an epic and solid manner while leaving no loose ends behind and connecting everything that happened previously.

It isn't without its issues though.. It does get a tad chaotic in terms of pacing at certain points (seriously, sometimes major events happen within minutes of each other). Another thing that could be troubling for some is that there's subtle foreshadowing that is purely visual from time to time, which is cool, but might make things confusing for first time viewers. Lastly, the Betterman character interferes in many battles which also means that the weak main characters seem somewhat safe or plot armored, while very narrowly escape death in some cases (there is an ability as well as a motivation that allows him to do this though).

With that said, I think all this is just a small price to pay for such an outstanding narrative.

*Characters* 8/10

It has a fairly colorful cast consisting of a military geek, some cool old man, a hot scientist chick, some disturbed teenage girl and of course the manliest pretty boy anime has to offer - Better-man himself (and a few others).

The character interactions are quite fun and they generally have very good chemistry together which is what really pulls the characters through in the end.

The cast is a little big and they all play certain roles in the story. All of the major characters have complete arcs and we delve in to them pretty nicely as well as develop their relationships while making them feel more comfortable with one another. Eventually they also have backstories which are revealed that are actually very relevant to the story as well.

With that said, I would still argue that the roles they play do seem to overshadow who they are as characters to an extent because the priority of this show seems to be more on the atmosphere and the events themselves and doesn't bother much to give character drama which normally results in more character defining moments. There is some drama, sure, but it's fairly subdued since a lot of it comes in the form of subtle hints throughout the series about the nature of these characters and their relationships with one another. They usually get along with each other pretty well and the instances in which they don't are resolved fairly quickly because of the urgent situations they're in.

So it may be a little more difficult to connect with some of them in your first viewing.

They generally seem to react accordingly to the bad things surrounding them, but I wouldn't say they're particularly scarred that badly by anything they see. Which may have been warranted at points.

Better-man himself is a cool character that is easy to get behind because of his mannerisms and appearance. But we don't discover what his true motive is until it is revealed late in the series which means we only discover who he is and so he remains fairly static throughout the whole thing.

The series also shows off some disturbing and memorable villains that may not have that much depth but they come off as quite menacing and each of them have motivations that mirror each other and further compliment the central theme of the series.

All in all, this is a great cast of characters. Each one works on their own as well as in a group. They can be campy, they can be serious and each one has a wide range of emotions. They also all get fitting closure by the end of the series.

*Art* 8/10

As one of the last examples of cell animation before everything went digital, The art-style here has a semi cartoonish look to it and with character designs all looking quite colorful and with somewhat silly designs which give you a clear idea of their personalities and allows for them to be very expressive. There's a large variety of creepy and dark locations that contrast a bit with the characters, and yet still fit perfectly due to an excellent use of shading/lighting effects. In terms of animation and the level of detail it's pretty solid but nothing particularly special and there's even a little reused footage a couple of times (that are used purposefully btw) . On the other hand, it has quite a variety of weird looking creatures, character expressions that are always on point, as well as a great deal of action.. The mecha designs are pretty crappy, but when Better-man himself shape shifts in to his different forms, each of his designs look really cool and you get a lot of opportunities to see him duke it out with other monsters/mechs/tanks and whatnot. The creepy imagery in general is stunningly shot with very unique compositions and creative editing techniques to the point where you can easily recognize this anime and distinguish it from others just by watching it for a few seconds.

I should also mention that Betterman is a landmark series since it is the first tv anime to be shown in widescreen or 16/9 aspect ratio, something that was unheard of at the time of its release and didn't become commonplace until the late 2000s. I have a theory for why it had this privilege and it has to do with its horror elements and a possible desire to make the locations look bigger in relation to the characters. But it may just be a simple tech demo with no deeper reason for it.

So overall it really has its own visual identity which is more than I can say about most modern anime and its visual style compliments the bizarre tone of the series perfectly.

*Sound* 8/10

In terms of the (Japanese) voice acting there's an excellent cast here with some famous voices that seasoned anime fans should be familiar with. a wide range of fitting voices, everything from the geeky , to sexy, to incredibly creepy to the badass and the acting is always on point (it's also pretty anime-ish and doesn't attempt to sound too realistic). The only time it might feel a tad dry is in some instances when there's a lot of technobabble, but there's also a great deal of emotion when it needs to be there and that includes pretty much all the characters. The creepy sound effects and the mostly ominous sounding tracks play a significant role in the atmosphere, so it generally sounds very nice, with some outdated effects here and there. Though as effective as it is for the series, I'm honestly not sure how well some of these tracks hold up on their own.

The series also eases you in masterfully with a very quiet and soothing OP song just to make sure you're comfortable before the mind frak kicks in. And the ED song (much like the series as a whole) is weird, intense and simply one of a kind. I can confidently say that it is THE BEST ED song I've ever heard! I can't even describe it, you have to listen to it for yourself.

*Enjoyment* 10/10

Love it to the point of obsession! I've been watching anime for a very long time so coming across something like this made me feel like I was still in my early days because of how unique and strange it is. It was creepy, thought provoking, weird, action packed and it even had some light and tasteful fan-service. The weirdness might not be for everybody.. But seriously, if this turns you off why are you watching anime in the first place? For the cute girls? Well then frak you! I'm watching it for weird stuff that I can't find in western mediums, thank you very much.

*Overall* 9/10

Honestly, this review was quite difficult for me to write since this is a very tough series to review properly and do it justice.. It's just strange to such a degree that makes it hard to talk about it.

All in all, Betterman is one of a kind. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to anybody, but it's really something you have to see to believe.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Jun 28, 2023

ThatAnimeSnobRE

Mixed Feelings

A brainchild of the late 90s, Betterman is a dark sci-fi about a very bleak future engulfed by twisted technology. Like most b-grade anime of that time, the budgets were not the best and the animators were often resorting to simple tricks such as using live action footage instead of bothering to animate something. It’s why the opening looks so weird, combining the actual ocean with generic anime designs. And yes, they are generic despite having weird multi-colored hair like Yugioh characters. It was a trend at the time.

Following the path brought forth by Neon Genesis a few years back, whenever you don’t have the

...

money to show something, go for minimalism and keep things vague or unfocused. The lead monster definitely looks and usually moves around amazingly, but everyone else is very cartoony with very choppy animation. The addition of low brow fan service and slapstick humor don’t help either, since they are used to chew time and excuse the lack of fluent animation by making it seem it is some sort of gag comedy. When it isn’t; it’s psychological horror.

It excels at maintaining a thriller atmosphere for as long as it’s keeping the monsters hidden from the viewer. Remember how creepy the fog effect was in the first Silent Hill games? Well, think of something similar but with darkness. You never see something as it really is because it is either hiding in the dark, behind a wall, or looks intentionally blurry. It makes it ten times scarier, and adds to the dementia. Unfortunately this trick is ruined when eventually they show the monsters, and they are not that scary in broad daylight.

The characters are as I mentioned already overall plain. So are their designs. The protagonist is your generic beta male dork with glasses, paired with a tom boy girl, whose only distinctive feature is a multi-colored lock of hair, that is somehow an inherited trait, since her brother has it too. The same plainness extends to how all other characters and monsters look. They are also so colorful compared to the mostly dark sceneries and stick out like a sore thumb. They also do typical anime ero-crap that feel very out of place with the eerie tone of the story.

The plot is all over the place. The set up is quite generic; teenagers with sexual awkwardness and a dramatic past, become part of a secret organization that fights genetic freaks with a mecha. On one side it is usually semi-episodic, meaning that elements from one event cross over immediately to the next one, like a slowly developing detective mystery. On the other hand, the majority of the duration is spent on silly school comedy and battles with monsters of the week, which almost always have a very predictable outcome; this macho dude always pops up and saves the good guys when they are in trouble. Also most of the cool ideas don’t last more than a single episode. Here you are with a great bio-ultra-killing worm that can annihilate all life on Earth and you hardly see it for more than two episodes. There are a hundred awesome concepts for recurring villains and world threats that last less than 30 minutes each. Meaning that the mystery part is done quite well but there is very little of it as a whole.

The themes of forced evolution of life and its dehumanizing effect are also looked into to a satisfying degree, I remember my pretentious overthinking younger self having a blast with the way they kept bringing up mythology, science, religion, and philosophy into the mix, making it feel far bigger than how it actually plays out. What can make a man better than he already is? The initial approach is genetics; enter gruesome biological experiments. Then there is the state of mind. You can’t have a great body without an appropriate mind to come along. Revelations and master plans come up. And then we have the perfection of the soul, so here comes enlightment, shedding of the physical boundaries, and disgust for inferior beings by ascended beings. Really, the story gives a lot of food for thought, and it’s almost sad to see how they are treated as an afterthought for comedy and battles.

At least they bother to explain and explore all that, plus the ending is solid. Ok, it’s also vague since you are not exactly sure what happened to most of the characters, but it definitely wraps up all major plot threads. But I can’t defend the writing as crafty either; Betterman is a walking plot devise that exists to save the heroes in almost every episode with hax powers. There will always be a way to beat a super monster in 5 minutes, the villains appear and disappear at will, stunts get killed in a flash, but the main characters survive more effectively than cockroaches.

Not a great show by any means, it’s worthwhile for its atmosphere and philosophical concepts and passable for everything else.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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Mar 19, 2022

Zanryu1337

Not Recommended

It is honestly astounding how self-secure and pretentious one anime can be while simultaneously crash-landing so hard as a flaming hot soup of mumbo jumbo. Betterman tries to juggle so many different topics, genres and minor plot lines that all of them fall out of their hands, creating an inconclusive something of a story with more questions than answers.

Possibly the biggest problem for this Anime was in how inefficiently every minute was used as most of the episodes follow a clearly distinguished pattern. First of all, most of the episodes are mini-arcs as they follow certain events. Some of them are only one episode but

...

some are two or more.

I'll start with the middle section where usually the stuff happens. Action, Drama, et cetera. Now comes the first interesting part. Most of the episodes lack an ending. More often than not a minor cliffhanger is placed at the very end before the ending song (with no after credits whatsoever). The very next episode usually has a summary at the beginning of what transpired between the end of last episode and the beginning of the next. This is absolutely considered as one of the worst offenders against Show, Don't Tell. Because the characters tell us everything, often over the course of 5 to 10 minutes. Most of the time, they could just skip the section and have us watch what happened, but that covers the next problem this Anime has.

Betterman loves to TRY to explain everything. Extra emphasis of try, as most of the time they just spout random nonsense trying to make sense of it. And I leave the fantasy word names of abilities aside here, as most of them could come out of a Harry Potter Book. One of the weirdest moments came at end of the first season when out of nowhere this statement was made: "Plants can read minds of humans like a polygraph."

A bit of minor context: The first season big bad utilized plant pheromone to control an insect army. After stopping of machinery behind the plant that statement was made out of nowhere. There was no further reason to elaborate this, except to sound smart. This feature is prominent throughout the whole series. Really simply things are explained often in such a convoluted manner that the viewer can hardly follow them. Controversially the cast often make the right assumptions out of nowhere, often accompanied with attempts of scientifically explaining them, especially when they are in dire situations. It artificially extends the scene and diminishes the tension severely as all of the battles in the series are won by brawn and not by brain.

The brawn aspect has such a prevalent presence in this anime, that I mostly call this Anime Betterman Ex Machina, as in every single occasion the assumed main-cast fails, Betterman (the character) comes to the rescue and the day is saved, most of the times if not, even he gets saved by another person and the enemy flees.

While I mention the main-cast: One day, Keita stumbles through an unopened theme park where he's assaulted by the park robots. And because a mass murdering has happened the night before an specialized robot enforcement team tries to find out why and by whom. As one of the pilots has died Keita fills the unoccupied seat and literally falls into the story of this Anime.

Everything about this feels contrived. First of all the robots, have to, for some reason, be controlled by two persons at the same time, one for the bottom and one for the top half. It is never really explained of why and is just so weird. Especially when they start to shout at the bot for voice commands, which must be the single most dumbest idea in the whole anime, but I digress. Aside the voice commands, the bot also features a mind-reading particle converting ability which basically can do everything and more. Melt robots? Yes. Create an ice-storm? Of course. Electrify the water? Surely. The robots itself are such a big Deus Ex Machina device that more isn't really needed.

Ironically the story proves us wrong at every single instance, because Betterman has to show up. He is the namesake after all. Betterman basically are an old lifeform which can transform with the help of certain flowers which grow on freshly departed people. Those transformation cover a small range, from dragon to manta ray and rhinoceros. If one doesn't do the job, he is most likely to switch to another one until he succeeds. The strangest about his character is that he almost has none. Despite the fact that he is somehow connected to the secondary protagonist. But that is also never explained. His sole motivation lies in the protection of his "hope", which encompasses the two main characters, but those didn't do anything at the end, except getting smacked into a wall.

The secondary cast is similar to the main cast. Most of them seem to be involved in the plot, somehow, but don't contribute anything meaningful to it, besides commentary and stalling time.

Especially with some members having, lack of a better term, superpowers, which mostly range in premonition and dowsing (way finding), the prominence of topics this anime tries to handle is far beyond their capabilities. Super Powers, Mecha, Science, Drama, Mystery, Horror, Action, Adventure, School Life. And I probably have forgotten some of them. Not to mention the psychological aspects many of the cast go through. "Verbally abusing their child" and "living with ADHD" are touched upon, but never really addressed.

In many regards, especially with the wide arrange of topics, themes and especially the time this was made: There are many overlaps between Betterman and Neon Genesis Evangelion, whose Anime aired 4 years before the former. At first glance they may seem similar but the difference become apparent fast, as Betterman simply lacks the vision, direction and the nuances NGE had.

Betterman is a weird anime with so many technical terms, fantasy words and explanation that you quickly forget that there is something of an underlying plot in all of this. It mostly covers the hubris of humans in their search for immortality. But everything falls flat in this mess of genres and Deus Ex Machinas. It is an interesting premise dumbed down by its attempts to sound smart without knowing what it wants to do with the words except stringing them together.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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Betterman (TV Series 1999) - IMDb

erman (TV Series 1999) - IMDb

MenuMoviesRelease CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie SpotlightTV ShowsWhat's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsWatchWhat to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb PodcastsAwards & EventsOscarsSXSW Film FestivalWomen's History MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll EventsCelebsBorn TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity NewsCommunityHelp CenterContributor ZonePollsFor Industry ProfessionalsLanguageEnglish (United States)LanguageFully supportedEnglish (United States)Partially supportedFrançais (Canada)Français (France)Deutsch (Deutschland)हिंदी (भारत)Italiano (Italia)Português (Brasil)Español (España)Español (México)AllAllTitlesTV EpisodesCelebsCompaniesKeywordsAdvanced SearchWatchlistSign InSign InNew Customer? Create accountENFully supportedEnglish (United States)Partially supportedFrançais (Canada)Français (France)Deutsch (Deutschland)हिंदी (भारत)Italiano (Italia)Português (Brasil)Español (España)Español (México)Use appEpisode guideCast & crewUser reviewsTriviaIMDbProAll topicsBettermanTV Series1999TV-PG25mIMDb RATING6.9/10102YOUR RATINGRatePlay trailer1:381 Video14 PhotosAnimationActionAdventureThe enigmatic Akamatsu Industries, disguised as a heavy machine factory in Tokyo, is a clandestine organization that uses neural enhanced weapons known as Awakeners to battle a mysterious vi... Read allThe enigmatic Akamatsu Industries, disguised as a heavy machine factory in Tokyo, is a clandestine organization that uses neural enhanced weapons known as Awakeners to battle a mysterious virus.The enigmatic Akamatsu Industries, disguised as a heavy machine factory in Tokyo, is a clandestine organization that uses neural enhanced weapons known as Awakeners to battle a mysterious virus.StarsKappei YamaguchiKyôko HikamiJunko IwaoSee production info at IMDbProIMDb RATING6.9/10102YOUR RATINGRateTop creditsStarsKappei YamaguchiKyôko HikamiJunko Iwao3User reviews10Critic reviewsSee production info at IMDbProEpisodes26Browse episodes1 Season1999Videos1Trailer 1:38Watch BettermanPhotos14Top castEditKappei YamaguchiKeita Aono26 eps • 199926 episodes • 1999Kyôko HikamiHinoki Sai26 eps • 199926 episodes • 1999Junko IwaoSakura26 eps • 199926 episodes • 1999Matthew EricksonKeita Aono26 eps • 199926 episodes • 1999Onalea GilbertsonHinoki Sai26 eps • 199926 episodes • 1999Carol-Anne DayHinoki's Friend…2 eps • 19992 episodes • 1999Dan GasconHeichin1 ep • 19991 episode • 1999Takehito KoyasuBetterman LamiaDave PettittAkamatsu ShingeruShin'ichirô MikiYanagi ShouYûko MinaguchiKaedeHouko KuwashimaMiyako AsamiMark GathaCactusJonathan LoveBetterman Lamia, Shou YanagiTomoko KawakamiSeemeChristy GreeneLi-ChanMariette SluyterSakuraByron CloseMode Warp OfficerAll cast & crewProduction, box office & more at IMDbProMore like this8.0Shin kidô senki Gundam W7.5Kidô Senkan Nadesico6.5Sôsei no Aquarion7.2Koi wa Sekai Seifuku no Ato de7.3Flame of Recca7.0Sabikui Bisco7.2Hakuouki8.1Serial Experiments LainStorylineEditDid you knowEditTriviaThe first television anime to be created in a 16:9 format.QuotesKeita: It's been such a long journey. But you know, finishing all the levels means that's the end of the game. That's everything. Imagine something so perfect that it doesn't have to evolve anymore.ConnectionsSpin-off from Yûsha ô Gaogaigar (1997)User reviews3ReviewReviewFeatured review Ultra Cool!When I first started watching this series on TechTv's "Anime Unleashed", I think it was cool. It had lots of action, this series was one of the best sci-fi anime I have ever seen. I really wanted this series for my collection and I did. My mother bought me the entire collection for Christmas, and I got to see all the episodes in order. It was pretty cool all right. I think all of Lamia's forms of BetterMan are cool. They are:Nebula, Dragon-like form of Lamia,Aqua,SuperSonic Water form of Lamia,Forte,Second most powerful form of Betterman, and Oltus,Ultimate form of Betterman. Another thing that is cool about the show. Keita get to pilot the mighty Kakusajin along with Hinoki, when they are together. They sometimes take control. And when Hinoki tells Keita that he has control. Keita yells:"I HAVE CONTROL". The Kakusajin transforms, it also uses a special technique called Synapse Attack. It's a very powerful technique. I think the rest of the series is kinda cool. The series features the voices cast famous for Fancy Lala,Crest of the Stars, Jubei Chan, Angel Links, G-Gundam, and others. In closing, if you've seen it on TechTV and like it. Add it to your DVD collection, you will see what I mean.helpful•14TimothyMcKannFeb 9, 2005Top picksSign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendationsSign inDetailsEditRelease dateApril 1, 1999 (Japan)Country of originJapanLanguageJapaneseAlso known as進化戰記Production companiesOcean GroupRCA Victor Company of JapanSunriseSee more company credits at IMDbProTechnical specsEditRuntime25 minutesColorColorSound mixStereoAspect ratio1.85 : 1Related newsContribute to this pageSuggest an edit or add missing contentTop GapBy what name was Betterman (1999) officially released in Canada in English?AnswerSee more gapsLearn more about contributingEdit pageAdd episodeMore to explorePhotos2024 Oscars Red CarpetSee the galleryListIMDb Staff's Favorite FIlms Directed by WomenSee our picksListHillary's 6 Picks for March and BeyondSee the full listRecently viewedYou have no recently viewed pagesGet the IMDb AppSign in for more accessSign in for more accessGet the IMDb AppHelpSite IndexIMDbProBox Office MojoIMDb DeveloperPress RoomAdvertisingJobsConditions of UsePrivacy PolicyYour Ads Privacy ChoicesIMDb, an Amazon company© 1990-2024 by IMDb.com, Inc.Back to top

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Ordinary High-School Student Keita Aono falls into the cockpit of a Humongous Mecha, 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 Body Horror 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 G4TV's (then Tech TV) Anime Unleashed block on December 30, 2002.On par with Neon Genesis Evangelion as the darkest mecha anime of the 1990s. It shares a universe (courtesy of sharing a lot of production staff) with 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, King of Kings: GaoGaiGar vs. Betterman.Not to be confused with Pearl Jam's song, "Better Man."Betterman provides examples of: Action Survivor: Akamatsu Industries, mostly. Whereas everyone else is dropping like flies, Akamatsu employees (especially Li-chan and Yamajii) manage to stay alive. Air-Vent Passageway: The heroes end up traveling in some very tight vents at one point. However, it's not because they're trying to hide, but the only thing that's keeping them safe is effective in enclosed spaces. All There in the Manual: The "Mode Warp Files" on the DVD extras, plus the supplementary leaflets accompanying the DVD volumes. A defunct website once provided background info on the characters. All Your Base Are Belong to Us: Akamatsu Industries gets attacked twice by their enemies. Fortunately it's after hours, and most of the employees have gone home. Almost Kiss: A total of three times between Keita and Hinoki. They never actually kiss for real, either. The closest they ever get turns out to be All Just a Dream. Amusement Park of Doom: Bottom World, after its employees go insane and reprogram the attractions to be hostile. Applied Phlebotinum: The Linker Gel, which allows operators to pilot the Neuronoids with their thoughts. Artistic Title: The opening consists of Live-action footage of a coral reef, with images of the characters superimposed. Assimilation Plot: Kankel. Attack of the Killer Whatever: The series loves these. Crash test dummies, worms, insects, animatronic fish people, and much more. Awesome, but Impractical: Neuronoids are 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. Awesomeness by Analysis: Both the Betterman and the Neuronoid analyze their enemies to customize their attacks to match. Battle Couple: This occurs when the Dual Kinds couples are piloting their Neuronoids. (Kaede and Shou, Hinoki and Keita.) Kaede and Shou become this literally after tying the knot near the end of the series. Bittersweet Ending: A good chunk of the main cast is dead, as is Yakusugi and most of the Bettermen. However, they managed to succeed in saving humanity, and Kaede's and Shou's preborn child is saved by Chandi. Black Box: 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. It turns out that they contain brains. Body Horror: Naturally for a bio-horror anime. Brainwashed and Crazy: Anyone infected by Algernon including most of the antagonists. Bug War: Professor Umezaki has a legion of insects and other horrors at his control, which he uses to carry out his schemes. Our heroes end up fighting them. Calling Your Attacks: SYNAPSE ATTACK! Justified, as several of the Neuronoid's actions are voice activated. The Cavalry: Betterman Lamia for the most part. Yakusugi and Lume for Lamia. Chandi for Keita. Chekhov's Gun: Several in the series - dams, wooden bells, insect repellent devices, etc. Clothing Damage: Keita and Hinoki's dive suits from the beginning episode and final episode. Also happens to Asami in the final episode. Cool Old Guy: Yakusugi, who saves the entire cast on several occasions. Akamatsu could count too, even though he's not quite as old as Yakusugi. To be fair, nobody's as old as Yakusugi. Cryptic Background Reference: In episode 2 while watching footage of Betterman, Asami makes a reference to "The cry heard when the Aryan people ate the Soma!" Other than referencing "Soma" occasionally, Asami never elaborates on this. Dead Hat Shot: After Kaede succumbs to Algernon and causes the mecha she and Shou are in to explode, her cracked hair barrette is seen floating away in the water. Death World: The setting is becoming this - Algernon is causing mass insanity (though not quite pandemic). Biological horrors and runaway machinery create havoc, and even hospitals and amusement parks are not safe. The heroes barely survive, and need Betterman to have a fighting chance. Things get so bad that even Betterman falls prey, and another Betterman or Yakusugi has to save the day. And even those backup heroes end up kicking the bucket! Distress Ball: Passed around among all the female leads throughout the course of the series. "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: The ending theme, Chin Requiem, is sung by the show's director, Yoshitomo Yonetani under the name Mai. Dream Weaver: One of Mamon's agents. Using a charm given to Keita, a psychic causes our heroes (even Lamia and Bodaiju) to fall into a long and confusing dream state. Drowning My Sorrows: After surviving yet another horrific monster attack, Yamajii and Li-chan cope with the stress by drinking lots of beer. Dual Mode Unit: All Neuronoids have an "Accept" and "Active" mode. 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. Eldritch Abomination: True to being a bio-horror series, there's a ton of nightmare inducing monsters. Kankel takes the cake, being an entity that seeks to assimilate all Earthly life. Empty Promise: When Hinoki is worried about Keita joining the team, Sakura assures her that he'll be alright. She really has no idea if he'll survive, and was likely trying to assure herself as well. It's also implied that she just wants to be close to kids her own age. Enemy Within: Kankel. Yakusugi is connected to the monster, as he was the subject of the Dive Inspection. Though he attempts to stop it, Yakusugi ends up being taken over. Evilutionary Biologist: The main reason why the antagonists are doing the things they do is to ensure the survival of humanity. Subverted - it turns out they were afflicted by Algernon, and the resulting insanity causes them to go such extreme, crazy lengths. The Faceless: Many background characters who form the Faceless Masses. Fanservice: This series has plenty of it, a stark contrast from GaoGaiGar, bleeding over into GaoGaiGar FINAL. Genetic Engineering Is the New Nuke: Prof. Umezaki's monsters are the result of genetic modification. The Glasses Gotta Go: A variation with Asami in the final episodes - she gets rid of them not because they make her look better, but because they were broken. Groin Attack: In the first episode, Keita happens to fall down an elevator shaft only to roll out and land groin first into the "Neuronoid" mecha. Hall of Mirrors: Episode 19 has Keita and Hinoki's class building a house of mirrors. Naturally, things go awry. Heroes "R" Us: Mode Warp is a heroic organization - having Keita and friends investigate, while support personnel are to provide back-up. Heroic Sacrifice: Seeme, in her Lume form, jumps in front of Lamia to take a hit from Kankel, and is killed instantly. Heroism Incentive: Keita's reason why he's risking his life fighting man-eating horrors? So he can go and date Hinoki. High-Tech Hexagons: Our heroes encounter a number of strange hexagonal walls while dealing with Umezaki. They're really aligned giant bugs created using biotechnology. Hope Spot: Heichin may be insane, but they may be able to save his life... until he gets kidnapped and stuck in a holding tube. But wait, he's still alive! Until he disappears, and his ultimate fate is revealed. In one of the last few episodes, just when it looks as though Shou has managed to stop Kaede from succumbing to Algernon, she orders her Giant Mecha to essentially self-destruct...with both of them still inside. Damn. Horror Hunger: Episode 18 has most of the heroes subjected to a chemical attack that makes them experience this. Human Resources: Everyone seems to be using people for one reason or another. The Animus Fruit that give the Betterman power? They come from an Animus Flower, which only grows from the brains of dead humans. Serious Spoilers In fact, Animus Fruit are (maybe? probably?) the end result and ultimate purpose of Algernon itself, which is actually the manifestation of human apoptosis. Algernon is the response to encounters with "perfect"/"evil" beings like Kankel, and the resulting Animus Fruit powers up a Betterman to combat the threat. Human brains are used as processors in many of the robots in the series. Mode Warp actually Averts this at the time of the series; the Neuronoids are built using the brains of more intelligent animals, to avoid the issue where the original-model Neuronoids, built with eight human brains, eventually became self-aware and independent. Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: "Night", followed by the episode number and title. I'm a Humanitarian: Sort of. Those Animus seeds that Lamia eats to transform, the ones that feed his species, are from flowers that grow from dead humans. In other words, Somniums eat people. The squick is not lost on Akamatsu and one antagonist later calls Betterman out on it. This is also part of Dr. Umezaki's plan to solve world hunger by using the Animus flower, which grows only from dead people. Improbable Infant Survival: Double Subverted 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 Psychic Powers from both of its parents. Improvised Weapon: 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. Irony: Both Tragic and Dramatic. Asami, who has spent years trying to find a way to stop the Algernon virus from spreading, finds out that she is in fact a carrier of the virus. She's then killed by Chandi, who is hunting down the carriers of Algernon. Chandi had also killed her creator, Dr. Umezaki, (who was yet another carrier) several episodes earlier. Jerk with a Heart of Gold: From what we see from flashbacks, Hinoki's older brother, Mario was one. On one hand, he tended to tease Hinoki and call her an idiot. However, Hinoki states that he was also a Cool Big Bro who was always willingly to help out her when she got into trouble. It's also implied that Lamia may have inherited his Big Brother Instinct towards Hinoki after eating his Animus Seed. Kaiju: Betterman's combat forms and several of the horrors he faces. Killed Off for Real: Lots of people, fitting for an anime series of this genre. Out of the main characters, only Keita, Hinoki, Shigeru and Sakura survive. Most of these deaths happen in the final few episodes. Laughing Mad: If you're possessed by Algernon, you're probably going to be doing this a lot. This happens to almost the entire main cast at one point, due to Dr. Umezaki's pheromone attack. Locked in a Freezer: Happens offscreen to Shou and Kaede in episode 18. They're rescued thanks to Keita and Hinoki. Madness Mantra: Heichin endlessly repeats the number 26 after being afflicted with Algernon. Magical Girl: Sakura herself. MegaCorp: Mode Warp, which has enough resources for building high tech robots, easily acquire advanced military equipment, and has Special Forces on hand for emergencies. Not that it matters, as anyone from Mode Warp that's not Asami is fated to be a Red Shirt. Midair Repair: In episode 3, our heroes are stuck on a falling airplane. Fortunately, Betterman can use his powers to pilot the aircraft and keep it flying. A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Read: A psychic condition called the Limpid Channel allows you to... read the thoughts of everyone around the world. Sakura can't control hers, and is mentally bombarded by the thoughts of everyone around her 24/7 unless confined to a special chair called the Manage Machine. Moment Killer: Keita is a constant victim to this trope when he is alone with Hinoki. Moment of Silence: When Shou and Kaede die in an explosion, all sound is completely stripped away from the scene. Monumental Battle: The Ajanta Caves. While not as well known as other world landmarks, the caves are a real world Buddhist cave complex. N.G.O. Superpower: The Next Environment Organization. (NEO) is the parent organization of Mode Warp BPL, and the Superhuman Federation. Nonstandard Character Design: Keita and Hinoki have very different designs from each other. However, the show manages to integrates the designs well enough that it isn't distracting. On the Next: The previews at the end of the credits has Sakura provide a haunting narration. During the Tech TV broadcast, the Announcer would state "On The Next Betterman" before the preview was shown. Powered by a Forsaken Child: In one episode, while fighting off an "unmanned mecha", Shou discovers it's controlled by the brain of his "deceased" brother. The "Mode Warp Files" are even more disturbing. The Neuronoids first built by Mode Warp requires eight human brains each to operate. Rollerblade Good: In their action mode, Neuronoids can move fast using wheels on their legs. Useful in battles, and to avoid falling debris. "The Reason You Suck" Speech: In one episode, Kaede, Shou, Asami, Sakura, and Mr. Akamatsu are all confronted by mirror images of themselves who rattle off on all their faults and weaknesses. Red Shirt: The main characters are often the only survivors of whatever horrific events they witness. It's rare to see anyone who's not part of Akamatsu Industries or a Betterman last more than a few moments on screen. Red Shirt Army: Mode Warp's support personnel. And when the military tries to help they don't last long either. Rescue Arc: Sometimes overlaps with the Mystery Arcs. Running Gag: Keita being late for school, and then running into something. Scary Shiny Glasses: Asami and Keita have plenty of these moments. In fact, any character who wears glasses is bound to display this trope at least once. Science Hero: The mundane main characters, who use technology and science to investigate Algernon and stop the antagonists. Shared Universe: Is set in the same world as GaoGaiGar, but appears to take place a year later (Keita's date/time display in the first episode gives the date as May 12, 2006). Keita goes to Kamome #2 High School with Tsuguo Ushiyama (who also gets the "Usshi" nickname), and there are other minor references here and there for the fans. (This applies to the anime; the novelizations make it clear that the characters from both shows have interacted.) Shout-Out: As part of the above, there are a number of elements that are similar to GaoGaiGar. The "Bottom The World" supercomputer, for example, isn't too far off from what Pazdar was doing, and Betterman Nebula's "Psycho Voice" is an extremely localized Solitary Wave Riser. The Akamatsu Industries Company shares the initials of animation company AIC. Taking in the architecture of the Superhuman Federation's headquarters in episode 19, Akamatsu muses "this must be one of those Geofronts that are so popular these days." Single-Target Sexuality: Shou only has eyes for Kaede. Star-Crossed Lovers: Shou and Kaede.Neither of them survive the final battle. The Stinger: Keita and Hinoki washing up alive on a beach. Storming the Castle: About three times in the series, the heroes decide to take the fight to their enemies. Strapped to an Operating Table: Happens to Sakura in episode eight. Stripperiffic: Amusingly played with; Head Diver suits are skintight see-through affairs with little black bits that cover the nipples and genitalia for both men and women. Swiss-Cheese Security: The Superhuman Headquarters appears to be this, with no security personnel at all. However, the building is filled with traps and Mamon wanted them to get in anyway. Techno Babble: 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 more on plot than actual science. There Is No Kill Like Overkill: It seems like a bit much to use two giant robots to investigate a medical epidemic, and ones that require a rather convoluted scheme to function, at that. But as the series continues, it's clear that even the mecha are not enough. Those Two Guys: Yamaji and Li-chan become this after Heichin contracts Algernon and is committed. 20 Minutes into the Future: Set in the far off future of 2006. Ultimate Life Form: The purpose of the Best Man Project and the reason why everything is going wrong. Unnecessarily Large Interior: There's a surprising amount of Mech-sized areas for the Neuronoids to operate. Unwanted Rescue: 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. Vagueness Is Coming: Algernon, which doesn't get a decent explanation until many episodes latter. The Virus: "Algernon," which induces homicidal madness in its victims, among other things. Voodoo Shark: One episode featured a Principal who went on a rampage turned out to be under mind control. The welding mask he wore contained a device that resulted in his behavior. Of course, that does bring up the question of what would the school Principal be doing with a welding mask in the first place. Or how he would not notice the large spike on the interior of the mask. Or not question why a welding mask would be filled with electronics... Wartime Wedding: Shou and Kaede have a somewhat hastily-thrown-together one near the end of the series, after announcing that she's pregnant. We Have Reserves: 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. Weird Trade Union: The Superhuman Federation, consisting of people with Dowsing abilities. Overtly, they exist to use their powers for business purposes. Wetware CPU: Dual Kinds arguably function as both this and a Living Battery, as their combined neural energy both powers and controls a Neuronoid unit. And then there's the Neuronoid control computers... What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway??: Other than being able to pilot a Neuronoid, Dual Kinds don't have any other special powers. Unless they happen to be psychic already.

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Betterman (TV)

Have you seen this?

want to /

seen some /

seen all

Related anime: Brave King GaoGaiGar Final Grand Glorious Gathering (TV)

Alternative title:

ベターマン (Japanese)

Genres:

action,

adventure,

drama,

horror,

mystery,

psychological,

science fiction

Themes:

mecha

find similar anime based on genres & themes

Objectionable content:

Significant

Plot Summary:

A deadly virus known as "Algernon" has attacked humanity with vicious meaning. At the forefront of the battle is the mystifying Akamatsu Industries – disguised as a heavy machine factory in Tokyo, this undercover organization uses neural enhanced weapons known as NeuroNoids to battle Algernon. Also helping with their secret efforts is the mysterious mutant who is only known as "Betterman".

User Ratings:

436 ratings have been given [details]

Masterpiece: 22 votes (sub:13, dub:8, edit.dub:1)

Excellent: 40 votes (sub:21, dub:16, edit.dub:2, ?:1)

Very good: 65 votes (dub:37, sub:24, edit.dub:2, ?:1, raw:1)

Good: 107 votes (dub:67, sub:34, edit.dub:3, ?:1, raw:1, others:11 Spanish subtitled)

Decent: 64 votes (dub:41, sub:21, edit.dub:2)

So-so: 41 votes (dub:23, sub:16, raw:1, ?:1)

Not really good: 32 votes (dub:18, sub:12, edit.dub:2)

Weak: 33 votes (dub:18, sub:12, edit.dub:3)

Bad: 15 votes (dub:8, edit.dub:4, sub:2, ?:1)

Awful: 9 votes (dub:7, sub:2)

Worst ever: 8 votes (dub:3, sub:3, ?:1, edit.dub:1)

Seen in part or in whole by 1184 users, rank: #1025 (of 9543)Median rating: GoodArithmetic mean: 6.202 (Decent+), std. dev.: 2.2869, rank: #6624 (of 9642)Weighted mean: 6.109 (Decent), rank: #6842 (of 9642) (seen all: 6.54 / seen some: 5.50 / won't finish: 3.38)Bayesian estimate: 6.151 (Decent), rank: #6104 (of 7240)

Running time:

half hour per episode

Number of episodes:

Episode titles: We have 26

Vintage:

1999-04-01 to 1999-09-30

Opening Theme:

"Yume no Kakera" by Uyontana

Ending Theme:

#1: "Chin~requiem~" by *~mai~ (eps 1-25)

#2: "Dou~revelation~" by *~mai~ (ep 26)

Official website:

TechTV | 'Betterman'

Links: We have 2

Trivia: We have 3

Reviews:

Betterman DVD 3 (Apr 3, 2003)

Betterman DVD 1 - The Awakening (May 20, 2002)

News: Show: 2 +4 ref. +33 unverified

Super Robot Wars 30 RPG's New Video Unveils More Titles in Lineup, October 28 Launch (Jul 11, 2021)

Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, April 22-28 (Apr 30, 2019)

Nadesico and Food Wars Released Monday (Aug 26, 2017)

SCREEN mode, nano.RIPE Perform 2nd Food Wars! Anime Season's Themes (May 22, 2016)

Food Wars: Shokugeki no Sōma's 6th TV Ad Promotes April 3 Premiere (Mar 27, 2015)

Food Wars: Shokugeki no Sōma Anime's Video Unveils More Cast Members, Songs (Mar 22, 2015)

Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma Anime's TV Spot Has Narration by Erina (Mar 1, 2015)

More of Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma Cast, Spinoff Manga Unveiled (Feb 12, 2015)

Tiger & Bunny - The Beginning Standard Editions Delayed (Feb 3, 2015)

Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma's New Video, Cast, Theme Performers Unveiled (Dec 21, 2014)

Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma's April Premiere, Designs Unveiled (Dec 20, 2014)

Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma's Teaser Video, Main Cast Unveiled (Nov 16, 2014)

Risa Taneda, Shizuka Ishigami, Minami Takahashi Join Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma Anime's Cast (Nov 14, 2014)

J.C. Staff's Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma Anime Casts Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Nov 9, 2014)

Sentai Filmworks Adds Sacred Seven, Big O, Kurokami, More (Updated) (Aug 10, 2013)

Tiger and Bunny: The Beginning Dublin Screening on September 29 (Sep 18, 2012)

Tiger and Bunny: The Beginning Screening in Edinburgh September 22 (Aug 30, 2012)

Tiger and Bunny Film London September Screening Details (Aug 6, 2012)

Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning London Cinema Screening on September 23 (Jul 30, 2012)

Tiger and Bunny Film U.K. Premiere September 22 (May 25, 2012)

Project MP, Shōchikubai Novels to Get 2009 TV Anime (Oct 13, 2008)

Amuri in Star Ocean DVD Commercials Streamed (Jun 11, 2008)

Amuri in Star Ocean Anime's Promo Video Posted Online (Mar 10, 2008)

Bandai Discontinues Collections (Jan 11, 2005)

Otakon 2004 - Bandai Entertainment (Aug 12, 2004)

Tech TV Staff Laid Off (May 7, 2004)

Yet More Anime at Metreon (Mar 26, 2003)

Tech TV Anime Unleashed Schedule (Dec 6, 2002)

Tech TV Anime Block Details (Nov 29, 2002)

Jan/Feb 2003 Release Dates (Sep 30, 2002)

A-Kon loses Guest of Honor (May 8, 2002)

A-Kon loses Guest (Apr 24, 2002)

New Guests for A-Kon (Apr 8, 2002)

Lots of Bandai News (Apr 5, 2001)

Otakon 2000 Report (Aug 8, 2000)

Anime Expo 2000 Day 2/3 (Jul 8, 2000)

FEATURE: Anime Expo Days 2 and 3 (Jul 3, 2000)

Upcoming Bandai Releases (Jun 29, 2000)

May TV and OAV roundup (May 10, 1999)

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