Betterman
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Betterman | |
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ベターマン (Betterman) |
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Genre | Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Horror, Mecha, Mystery, Psychological |
TV anime | |
Directed by | Yoshitomo Yonetani (under the name "Yoshitomo Kometani") |
Studio | Sunrise (Studio 7) |
Network | TV Tokyo |
Original run | 1 April 1999 – 30 September 1999 |
No. of episodes | 26 |
Betterman is a Japanese anime television series begun in 1999, created by Sunrise's internal "Studio 7" under the direction of Yoshitomo Yonetani. It revolves around the psychological and emotional consequences of the main characters due to the threat of "Algernon,” a mutation in the brain which causes an accelerated alteration in the sensory, neural and nervous faculties. Those subjected to the phenomenon become violently hostile and suicidal, while showing traits of a hive mind collective with those who share the disease.
The protagonist of the series, Betterman, is a life form of superior physical and mental capabilities via adaptation of 'seeds'. Through the resulting consumption of these plants, Betterman can metamorphose into situational combat forms, his default being the humanoid "Betterman Lamia." Each transformation allows Betterman to attain distinct physical-, psionic-, and mobility-related abilities.
Contents |
[edit] Composition
Betterman is composed of 26 episodes, first aired on TV Tokyo from April 1, 1999 to September 30, 1999. It has been released in the USA (in DVD format) by Bandai Entertainment. The dubbed English version from this DVD release was 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, however, it is still a fairly unknown series to American audiences. This is perhaps due to its plot, as it does not underestimate the viewer and is generally considered quite difficult to understand. Also, many different terms are used that are never explained, but these terms are from real life and sometimes require broader knowledge concerning biology and other sciences.
More information including characters and story about Betterman at [Betterman]
[edit] Shared continuity with The King of Braves GaoGaiGar
It should be also be noted that Betterman takes place in the same world as The King of Braves GaoGaiGar, as characters from both series make guest appearances in the story but not in the series.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Betterman
[edit] Betterman's Transformations
[edit] Betterman NEBULA
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.
[edit] Betterman AQUA
This is an underwater form that can achieve a speed of 600 knots. In this form he can inhale and analyze his opponent’s bodily liquids and retaliates with similar "Psycho Fluid" to destroy the opponent's DNA structure.
[edit] Betterman TURBA
This an orange colored form of Betterman that uses compressed air and razor sharp wind as weapons. Turba's capability is "Psycho Void," in which wind and sound is compressed into a small spherical area, making attacks such as Psycho Voice ineffective. In this state, Turba can attack as it likes, since the same organs that compress air can give great boosts of speed by making the compressed air gush out from the back of Betterman. It should be also noted that this is a form that Betterman Lamia does not use.
[edit] Betterman FORTE
This is the strongest type of body Betterman can use. In this form Betterman greatly increases in height. Forte's method of defeating an opponent is seeing an opponent's 'breaking point' and using the "Sliding Saber" on his head to strike there, turning his opponent to ash. It is also notable that Forte-type Betterman can be used only by "a leader," but Betterman Lamia has broken this rule more than once.
[edit] Betterman OLTUS
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 opposed the white in "Nebula." Using the ultimate power of "Psycho Birth," Betterman can regenerate his cells indefinitely, even if thrown into molten lava. In the series, 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."
[edit] Algernon
Algernon, the name of which itself derives from the book "Flowers for Algernon", is never completely understood until the final moments of the series and even then the viewer has to deduce what it was all about. Algernon seems to be, as mentioned, either a virus or a mutation. It is not entirely impossible that Algernon is everything they theorized it to be. 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 scale and more violently. Rage isn't the only symptom, as insanity and bodily mutation are possible in some cases.
[edit] External links
- Ex-Anime: Betterman
- Betterman (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia