Betterman: Difference between revisions

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{{work|wppage=Betterman (TV series)}}
[[File:betterman1_4818.jpg|frame| This is Lamia, two seconds before he kicks your ass.]]
 
[[Ordinary High School Student]] Keita Aono [[Falling Into the Cockpit|falls into the cockpit]] of a [[Humongous Mecha]], copilotedco-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, [[Fan Service]], and [[Body Horror]] ensue. The anime consist of 26 episodes. It was aired in Japan on TV Tokyo from April 1,1999 to September 30,1999. The series made it's North American debut on the [[G 4 TV]]G4TV's (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 with ''[[Gao Gai GarGaoGaiGar]]'', despite the two being very, very different.
[[Ordinary High School Student]] Keita Aono [[Falling Into the Cockpit|falls into the cockpit]] of a [[Humongous Mecha]], copiloted 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, [[Fan Service]], and [[Body Horror]] ensue. The anime consist of 26 episodes. It was aired in Japan on TV Tokyo from April 1,1999 to September 30,1999. The series made it's North American debut on the [[G 4 TV]]'s (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 with ''[[Gao Gai Gar]]'', despite the two being very, very different.
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=== ''Betterman'' provides examples of: ===
 
{{tropelist}}
* [[Action Survivor]]: Keita Aono when he is not piloting the Neuronoid. Episode 8 "Poison" is a prime example as Keita is pretty much running for his life while avoiding attacks from that episode's enemies.
* [[Almost Kiss]]: There are three instances in which Keita has come close to locking lips with Hinoki.
** {{spoiler|The first instance occurs when Hinoki visits her own house only for both of them to be restained by an old monk. Hinoki is too distraught to kiss but ends up with a nice scene between the two.}}
** {{spoiler|The second instance occurs in a dream in which Keita attempts to kiss Hinoki only to have her turn into his best friend at the last instance. (The friend is from the [[Gao Gai GarGaoGaiGar]] series.)}}
** {{spoiler|The last instance occurs at Keita's home and ends up with Hinoki being kidnapped.}}
* [[Anime Hair]]: Hinoki's multicolored bangs are out of this world. Betterman has a similar deal going on. [[Long Lost Sibling|Hmm...]]
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* [[Cleavage Window]]: Some of Sai Hinoki's outfits fit this trope.
* [[Clothing Damage]]: Keita and Hinoki's dive suits from the beginning episode and final episode.
* [[Distressed Damsel in Distress]]: Miyako Asami, Kaede Kurenai, Hinoki Sai, and Sakura Akamatsu. For some reason, the three well endowed girls get mutiple episodes to be saved while the loli of the group gets only one.
* [[Eldritch Abomination]]: True to being a bio-horror series, there's a ton of nightmare inducing monsters. Kankel takes the pick, being a being that seeks to assimilate all Earthy life.
* [[Evilutionary Biologist]]: The main reason why the antagonists are doing the things they do is to ensure the survival of humanity.
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* [[Faceless Masses]]
* [[Fan Service]]: This series had plenty of it.
* [[Faux Action Girl]]: Hinoki Sai. She pretty much gets torched at, is almost eaten by worms, is attacked by out of control machines, is chased by a bipedal elephant type monsters, and survives most of the show's enemies until she is made into a [[Distressed Damsel in Distress]] near the end of the series.
** But see Chandi for a real [[Action Girl]].
* [[Form -Fitting Wardrobe]]: Fits mostly all the females in this series, but most notable goes to Hinoki. Take your pick out of the outfits she has worn. Her {{[[media|:betterman-38_7221.jpg| school uniform}}]] consist of a very tight fitting shirt that shows off her body accompanied by a very short skrit that leaves alot to the imagination. Her {{[[media|:betterman-46_5054.jpg| devil costume}}]] from the festival episode would make any angel sin. Her {{[[media|:betterman-43_5444.jpg| white dress}}]] was hugging her body so tightly that it was amazing that the viewers did not see what color bra and panties she was wearing when it rained. Her {{[[media|:betterman-45_1874.jpg| camping outfit}}]] consisted of a light blouse that showed off her back, a black sports bra, and skin hugging shorts that were so tight one could have thought that Hinoki goes no-pan since there were no indication of a panty outline.
* [[Genetic Engineering Is the New Nuke]]: Prof. Umezaki's monsters are the result of genetic modification.
* [[Go -Go Enslavement]]: Hinoki suffers this in the final episodes of the series. She is tazed by Mamon and later wakes up in her dive suit. She is then taken and used as bait for Betterman, all while still dressed in her dive suit.
* [[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]]
* [[Hey, ItsIt's That Voice!]]: In the english dub, Keita is voiced by [[Matthew Erickson]], causing people to either mistake him as [[Crest of the Stars|Jinto]] or [[Gundam Seed Destiny|Shinn]]. To a lesser extent, journeyman VA Andrew Love as Akamatsu.
* [[Hot Scientist]]: Asami
* [[Irony]]: Both Tragic and Dramatic. {{spoiler|Asami of the protagonist group has worked her entire career on solving the Algernon problem only to find out that she part of the cause and creation of the virus. She is killed off near the final of the series by Chandy who was hunting down those who were carriers. Also, Dr. Umezaki created Chandy and is killed of by his creation.}}
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* [[Magic Skirt]]: Sai Hinoki. Hell, it's amazing with all the running and explosions she goes through that her skrit has yet to be torn or blown off.
* [[Make Me Wanna Shout]]: The main weapon of Betterman Nebula, which is capable of targeting only specific enemies without damaging anything nearby.
* [[Male Gaze]]: Pretty much Hinoki Sai from the series gets this treatment throughout the show. Episode 18 "Hunger" is known for such {{[[media|:snapshot4.JPGjpg| scenes}}]] and has the most blatant use of this trope as the viewer is treated via {{[[media|:snapshot5.JPGjpg| Keita's}}]] perspective of seeing Hinoki's {{[[media|:snapshot-redone1.jpg| legs}}]] {{[[media|:snapshot-redone3.jpg| and}}]] {{[[media|:snapshot-redone4.jpg| butt]].{{context|reason=How are these images examples of the trope as written?None of them appear to show a male gazing.}}.
* [[Meganekko]]: Asami, again.
* [[Mega Corp]]: 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]].
* [[The Merch]]: This series has spun off two drama cds, one set of anime trading cards, various resin kits that involve the girls, statues based of the different forms of Betterman, a manga, and a garage kit of one of the neuronoids. Not to mention two hobby magazines that give information about the show itself.
* [[Moment Killer]]: Keita Aono is a constant victim to this trope when he is alone with Hinoki Sai.
* [[Nightmare Fuel StationattendantStation Attendant]]: Sakura Akamatsu.
* [[Non -Action Guy]]: Keita is what you would call... a loaner hero that you use until the real one shows up. That never happens.
* [[Real Robot]]: The "Neuronoid" mecha.
* [[She's Got Legs]]: This show really loves showing of Hinoki's legs as much as possible. Hell, out of all the females of the group, Hinoki is the only one that does not own an outfit that covers up to her knees.
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* [[Tyke Bomb]]: Chandi, who is a result of Prof. Umezaki's attempts to create a Superhuman.
* [[Super Robot Wars Compact 3]]: Both "Neuronoids" are playable in the game.
* [["The Reason You Suck" Speech]]: In one episode, Kaede, Shu, Asami, Sakura, and Mr. Akamatsu are all confronted by mirror imags of themselves who rattle off on all their faults and weaknesses.
* [[The Stinger]]: {{spoiler|Keita and Hinoki are still alive}}
* {{spoiler|[[Together in Death]]}}
* [[The Virus]]: "Algernon", which induced [[Brainwashed and Crazy|homicidal madness in its victims]], among other things.
* [[Waif Prophet]]: Sakura Akamatsu.
* [[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.
* [[You Gotta Have Blue Hair]]: Half the main cast have blue hair. Sakura has bright pink hair (true to her namesake), but subverts [[Rose -Haired Girl]] by being introverted and sickly. Par for the course, Asami is the [[Shy Blue -Haired Girl]].
* [[Zettai Ryouiki]]: Sai Hinoki
 
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