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.
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
Pleased to Meet You, Kabu! (よろしくカブー！,Yoroshiku Kabū!)
Let a Miracle Happen, Kabu (メークドラマだカブ,Mēku Dorama da Kabu)
Devoted Cuisine, Kabu (料理はまごころカブ,Ryōri wa Magokoro Kabu)
The Peking Man Panic!! (北京原人パニック！！,Pekin Genjin Panikku!!)
Lucky Pulling Technique of the Girl (お嬢の福引き必勝法,Ojō no Fukubiki Hisshōhō)
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)
Human Feelings Time Slip (人情タイムスリップ,Ninjō Taimu Surippu)
Fighting Illness Last Demon Revolution (闘病トベマセンカイ,Tōbyō Tobemasenkai)
Difficult Problem Strange Question Cult Quiz (難問奇問カルトクイズ,Nanmon Kimon Karuto Kuizu)
Calling Luck to Suppress the Red Ogre (福を呼ぶ赤鬼退治,Fuku o Yobu Akaoni Taiji)
Tokyo University Straight Over the Line! (譲の東大一直線！,Yuzuru no Tōdai Itchokusen!)
Chocolate-Guy of the Pure-heart (チョコは男の純情,Choko wa Otoko no Junjō)
The Judge Robot's Unexpected True Identity (審判ロボ意外な正体,Shinpan Robo Igai na Shōtai)
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.
