B-Robo Kabutack Explained

Genre:	Tokusatsu Comedy Superhero fiction Science fiction
Runtime:	30 minutes
Country:	Japan
Network:	TV Asahi
Num Episodes:	52
Creator:	Toei Company
Developer:	Takashi Yamada Satoru Nishizono
Director:	Taro Sakamoto
Starring:	Kazuki Futami Miyabi Kimura Yuka Koide Kageki Shimoda
Voices:	Takeshi Kusao Daiki Nakamura Hikari Tachibana
Related:	B-Fighter Kabuto Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack

is a Japanese television series and is the sixteenth series as part of Toei's Metal Hero Series franchise of tokusatsu programs. It aired from February 23, 1997, to March 1, 1998. It is the first of shows made by Toei in the Metal Hero Series that was aimed at children. It aired alongside Denji Sentai Megaranger on TV Asahi. Kabutack bears some similarities with Robocon, as well as other Toei series, particularly in characters and themes.

Plot

Dr. Torahiko Kouenji is a fictional character renowned for his archaeological achievements in uncovering ancient writings from the Earth's deepest layers. These writings revealed the existence of 13 mystical artifacts known as "Star Pieces" (スターピース, Sutā Pīsu), believed to possess wish-granting abilities when gathered together.

In his quest to locate the Star Pieces, Dr. Kouenji developed a series of search robots, referred to as "B-Robots". However, an unforeseen complication arose when a trio of these robots, led by Cobrander, were prematurely activated before completing their sleep-education program. Consequently, they embarked on a spree of misdeeds within the town.

Fortunately, another team comprising three fully trained "good" B-Robots had completed their sleep-learning curriculum. These robots, along with Yuzuru Kouenji, Dr. Kouenji's grandson, and his companions Sayuri Mitaka and Kuranosuke Kichijouji, united forces to search for the elusive Star Pieces. Together, they navigated through challenges posed by the rogue B-Robots while striving to achieve their goal.

Characters

Short for "Bio Elementary Electronic & Transform Locomotive Eexivision Robot", the B-Robots 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 : The first B-Robot and the prototype model, built with a rhinoceros beetle-like appearance and a biochip based on the insect. He usually ends his sentences with "kabu". Being the prototype, his Super Mode can only last for 3 minutes. In Super Mode, he wields a weapon called, which is transformed from his helmet in "normal mode". To transform into Super Mode, he needs Yuzuru's, a comm-link-like device.
  • : Kabutack's flight form which combined with Tobimasky via .
  • : Kabutack's digging form formed by combining Kabutack with a set of upgrades known as . In Super Mode, Kabutack is equipped with four sets of wheels and a drill in his hand and can use the attack.
  • : Kabutack's diving form formed by combining Kabutack with another set of upgrades known as . 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 .
• No. 2 : 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 . To transform into Super Mode, he needs Kuranosuke's Friendship Commander.
• No. 3 : The first robot who can do Super Change by himself. He transforms into 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 : 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 .
• No. 5 : 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 .
• No. 6 : 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 .
• No. 7 : A frog-type robot with a frog-type biochip. He has a tadpole-type machine for search named the . The continuation time of Super Mode is 13 minutes. Super Mode's weapon is the .
• No. 8 : A cobra-type robot with a cobra-type biochip. The continuation time of Super Mode is 13 minutes. Super Mode's weapon is the whip.
• No. 9 : 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 sword and an attacking machine named .
• No. 10 : A ladybug-type robot with a ladybug-type biochip. She is the newest robot which is in Super Mode from the beginning, but she consumes energy highly and does not have combat ability. Her weapon is the .

Support Machines

• : A snail-type giant wheel vehicle with a snail-type biochip, it is piloted by Kabutack.
• : 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 and the .
• : 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 sword,, and saw.

Heroes

• : He is Kabutack's partner and is Torahiko's grandson. He transforms Kabutack from Normal Form into Super Mode using the Friendship Commander.
• : 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.
• : She is a friend of Yuzuru and Kuranosuke and lives in the same apartment as Tentorina.

Others

• : He is Yuzuru's father and is Torahiko's son. He treats Torahiko and B-Robots as a nuisance.
• : She is Yuzuru's mother. She as well as Masatora treats Torahiko and B-Robots as a nuisance.
• : She is Sayuri's rival and is a multimillionaire's daughter. She has two elder sisters named and .
• : He has a sense of rivalry to Kuranosuke.
• : She is a rookie policewoman who patrols .
• AP717: It is a robot which patrols Asahi with Miki, and the body is similar to Tentorina.
• : He is a greedy storekeeper of an antique shop.
• : He is Yuzuru's grandfather who created B-Robots.
• : A strange dragonfly-type judgement robot who appears whenever both sides battle for a Star Piece (or). 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 with a dragonfly-shaped microphone. During games, he forms a ring with four dragonfly-type machines named .
• : The person who appeared when all Star Pieces were collected. He later becomes his true form named .
• : He is a music teacher of Yuzuru's elementary school, but he resigned to become a singer. His voice is very similar to Kabutack.

Episodes

1. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Taro Sakamoto
2. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Taro Sakamoto
3. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Katsuya Watanabe
4. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Katsuya Watanabe
5. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Hidenori Ishida
6. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Hidenori Ishida
7. : written by Yoshio Urasawa, directed by Taro Sakamoto
8. : written by Nobuo Ogizawa, directed by Taro Sakamoto
9. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Katsuya Watanabe
10. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Katsuya Watanabe
11. : written by Yoshio Urasawa, directed by Naoki Iwahara
12. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Naoki Iwahara
13. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Hidenori Ishida
14. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Hidenori Ishida
15. : written by Junichi Miyashita, directed by Taro Sakamoto
16. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Taro Sakamoto
17. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Katsuya Watanabe
18. : written by Nobuo Ogizawa, directed by Katsuya Watanabe
19. : written by Yoshio Urasawa, directed by Hidenori Ishida
20. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Hidenori Ishida
21. : written by Yoshio Urasawa, directed by Naoki Iwahara
22. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Naoki Iwahara
23. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Naoki Iwahara
24. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Taro Sakamoto
25. : written by Junichi Miyashita, directed by Taro Sakamoto
26. : written by Yoshio Urasawa, directed by Hidenori Ishida
27. : written by Nobuo Ogizawa, directed by Hidenori Ishida
28. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Hidenori Ishida
29. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Naoki Iwahara
30. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Naoki Iwahara
31. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Taro Sakamoto
32. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Taro Sakamoto
33. : written by Junichi Miyashita, directed by Hidenori Ishida
34. : written by Yoshio Urasawa, directed by Hidenori Ishida
35. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Katsuya Watanabe
36. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Katsuya Watanabe
37. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Naoki Iwahara
38. : written by Junichi Miyashita, directed by Naoki Iwahara
39. : written by Yoshio Urasawa, directed by Taro Sakamoto
40. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Taro Sakamoto
41. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Hidenori Ishida
42. : written by Junichi Miyashita, directed by Hidenori Ishida
43. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Katsuya Watanabe
44. : written by Nobuo Ogizawa, directed by Katsuya Watanabe
45. : written by Yoshio Urasawa, directed by Naoki Iwahara
46. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Naoki Iwahara
47. : written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Hidenori Ishida
48. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Hidenori Ishida
49. : written by Yoshio Urasawa, directed by Satoshi Morota
50. : written by Junichi Miyashita, directed by Satoshi Morota
51. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Taro Sakamoto
52. : written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Taro Sakamoto

Special

is a special that features cameos by Blue Beet from Juukou B-Fighter and the title hero from B-Fighter Kabuto.

Cast

• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• : (Played as "幸田 磨衣子")
• :
• :

Voice actors

• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• :
• AP717:
• :
• :

Songs

Opening theme

• • Lyrics:
  • Composition & Arrangement:
  • Artist:

Ending theme

• • Lyrics:
  • Composition & Arrangement: MASAKI
  • Artist: Takeshi Kusao

Insert song

• • Lyrics:
  • Composition:
  • Arrangement:
  • Artist: Takeshi Kusao

Home Video and Streaming

The entire series is available as a 12-volume VHS (from March 1998 till February 1999 by Toei Video.

In December 2023, the series received a High Definition remaster for the Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club channel.

International Broadcasts, Home Media & Streaming

• In Thailand, the series was released on home video under Kabutack Transforming Insect Robot. (หุ่นยนต์แมลงแปลงร่างคาบูทัค) by TIGA Company with a Thai dub.
• In Indonesia, it aired on RCTI with an Indonesian dub in 2001/2003.
• In South Korea, the series had a Korean dub under B-Robo Gabutak (B-로봇 가브타크) on JEI TV in 2006.
• In the Philippines, it was aired on ABC 5 (now TV5) from 2000 to 2001 with a Tagalog dub.
• In Hong Kong, it aired on with an Cantonese dub in 2000.
• The entire series is available as a 12-volume VHS (from March 1998 till February 1999 by Toei Video. In December 2023, the series received a High Definition remaster for the Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club channel.