B't X
Encyclopedia
, pronounced "beat X", is a science fiction mecha manga
series, written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada
. It ran for 16 volumes in manga and was later adapted to anime
with 25 episodes, then concluded with a 14 episode OVA
(called B'T Neo). The manga was released in America by Tokyopop. The anime was released in America by Westlake Entertainment. When B't X was released in America by Tokyopop, all of the sound effects in the manga were printed in Japanese, just as in the original version and in most other Tokyopop Manga, with the addition of english captions.
and becomes one of the most brilliant scientists in the world.
Five years later, the two brothers reunite at a robotics convention in Mechatopia, China
, where Kotarō is to announce his latest breakthrough in artificial intelligence. The convention goes awry when Kotarō is captured by the malevolent Machine Empire and taken to "The Area", a mecha base hidden within the sandstorms of the Gobi Desert
.
By the means of a mysterious weapon called the Messiah Fist, a cybernetic gauntlet with various technological powers and options, Teppei manages to pursue the kidnappers by grappling onto their "transport", a giant insectoid mecha that is later revealed to be one of the Machine Empire's prized AI machines (known as a B't). Upon reaching the Area, Teppei is attacked by Metalface, one of the Empire's soldiers. Unable to win, Teppei is thrown, bleeding, in the Empire's junkyard. His blood reaches the trashed body of X, who was once considered one of the strongest B't of the Empire, and the disgruntled B't awakens. Faced with unanswered questions and imminent destruction, X reluctantly saves Teppei, and the pair flee the Area with soldiers of the Empire in hot pursuit.
Meanwhile, inside the Area, Kotarō discovers that he has been summoned by another of the Empire's soldiers, Major Aramis, to find a way to stop the ultimate B't - a creation known as Raffaello (ラファエロ) that has begun a terrifying and uncontrollable evolution.
As the series unfolds, the headstrong X and equally brash Teppei develop a brotherly bond, squabbling as much as they look after each other. They slowly uncover the Machine Empire's diabolical plan as they travel through strange lands and battle other B'ts loyal to the Empire, all the while trying to save Kotarō and to resolve the mysteries of their intertwined past.
" and of course the terms "B't" itself) designed for fighting - the B stands for Brain, Blood, Bravery and Battler. They have different forms and powers, usually based on mythological creatures. The B't's source of power is a device called BreakHeart, which is fueled by human blood. Once the BreakHeart is inserted into the B't's body, it creates a link between the blood donor and the B't. A B't is also outfitted with The Guard System, which protects its donor from various dangers and environment changes, such as volcanic heat, the crushing pressures beneath the ocean, or even the depths of space. However, the donor must be in physical contact with his or her B't for the system to work for them. Teppei is able to manifest a suit of protective armor called Battle Gear, through use of the Messiah Fist. This has the additional benefit of activating the usually dormant wings on X's sides, enabling him to reach even greater degrees of speed and mobility.
company, in an edition of more than 300-pages per volume.
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series, written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada
Masami Kurumada
is a Japanese manga artist and writer, known for specializing in fighting manga featuring bishōnen and/or mahō shōnen. He is famous as the creator/author of popular manga, such as Ring ni Kakero, Fūma no Kojirō, Saint Seiya and B't X. His male protagonists are a reflection of the classical and...
. It ran for 16 volumes in manga and was later adapted to anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
with 25 episodes, then concluded with a 14 episode OVA
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
(called B'T Neo). The manga was released in America by Tokyopop. The anime was released in America by Westlake Entertainment. When B't X was released in America by Tokyopop, all of the sound effects in the manga were printed in Japanese, just as in the original version and in most other Tokyopop Manga, with the addition of english captions.
Plot
Teppei ("Tepp") Takamiya is the caretaker of a farm located in Kamui Island, north of Japan. His older brother, Kotarō Takamiya, leaves to study robotics in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and becomes one of the most brilliant scientists in the world.
Five years later, the two brothers reunite at a robotics convention in Mechatopia, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, where Kotarō is to announce his latest breakthrough in artificial intelligence. The convention goes awry when Kotarō is captured by the malevolent Machine Empire and taken to "The Area", a mecha base hidden within the sandstorms of the Gobi Desert
Gobi Desert
The Gobi is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai Mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Hexi Corridor and Tibetan Plateau to the...
.
By the means of a mysterious weapon called the Messiah Fist, a cybernetic gauntlet with various technological powers and options, Teppei manages to pursue the kidnappers by grappling onto their "transport", a giant insectoid mecha that is later revealed to be one of the Machine Empire's prized AI machines (known as a B't). Upon reaching the Area, Teppei is attacked by Metalface, one of the Empire's soldiers. Unable to win, Teppei is thrown, bleeding, in the Empire's junkyard. His blood reaches the trashed body of X, who was once considered one of the strongest B't of the Empire, and the disgruntled B't awakens. Faced with unanswered questions and imminent destruction, X reluctantly saves Teppei, and the pair flee the Area with soldiers of the Empire in hot pursuit.
Meanwhile, inside the Area, Kotarō discovers that he has been summoned by another of the Empire's soldiers, Major Aramis, to find a way to stop the ultimate B't - a creation known as Raffaello (ラファエロ) that has begun a terrifying and uncontrollable evolution.
As the series unfolds, the headstrong X and equally brash Teppei develop a brotherly bond, squabbling as much as they look after each other. They slowly uncover the Machine Empire's diabolical plan as they travel through strange lands and battle other B'ts loyal to the Empire, all the while trying to save Kotarō and to resolve the mysteries of their intertwined past.
B't
A B't is the ultimate form of artificial intelligence mechanoid (they are NOT "robotics" since in the Machine Empire, "robot" are considered obsolete terminology that has been replaced by much more modernized terms such as "mechaMecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
" and of course the terms "B't" itself) designed for fighting - the B stands for Brain, Blood, Bravery and Battler. They have different forms and powers, usually based on mythological creatures. The B't's source of power is a device called BreakHeart, which is fueled by human blood. Once the BreakHeart is inserted into the B't's body, it creates a link between the blood donor and the B't. A B't is also outfitted with The Guard System, which protects its donor from various dangers and environment changes, such as volcanic heat, the crushing pressures beneath the ocean, or even the depths of space. However, the donor must be in physical contact with his or her B't for the system to work for them. Teppei is able to manifest a suit of protective armor called Battle Gear, through use of the Messiah Fist. This has the additional benefit of activating the usually dormant wings on X's sides, enabling him to reach even greater degrees of speed and mobility.
Characters
| Main Characters | |||
| Name | B't and B't species | Description | Voice Actor (Japanese) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teppei "Tepp" Takamiya | X, Kirin Qilin The Qilin is a mythical hooved Chinese chimerical creature known throughout various East Asian cultures, and is said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a wise sage or an illustrious ruler. It is a good omen that brings rui . It is often depicted with what looks like fire all over... |
Main character | Nobuyuki Hiyama Nobuyuki Hiyama is a Japanese voice actor currently affiliated with Arts Vision.-Profile:* Sometimes credited as: Shuji Hiyama , Osamuyuki Hiyama * Year Enrolled into the Voice-Acting Industry: 1987... |
| Kotaro Takamiya | n/a | Scientist. Older brother of Teppei | Nozomu Sasaki Nozomu Sasaki is a Japanese voice actor. He is a client of the voice actor management firm, 81 Produce. In 1988, he voiced the well known character, Tetsuo Shima, in the movie, Akira, which was adapted from the manga of the same name. He also performed the role of Yusuke Urameshi in the popular anime adaptation... |
| Karen | X, Shadow X (Twin to X, female kirin) | Spirit Knight of the West. Trained and taught Teppei any knowledge regarding combat skills, and technologies | Megumi Ogata Megumi Ogata is a female seiyū and singer from the Tokyo Metropolitan area. As a singer, she goes by the name em:óu. She attended Tōkai University, but left due to lack of interest. She is also best known for voicing Sailor Uranus, Kurama and Shinji Ikari.... |
| Fou Lafine | Je T'aime, Phoenix Phoenix (mythology) The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians.... /Suzaku |
Spirit Knight of the South. An ordained priest whose base of operations is a small church near the Machine Empire's capital. | Kazuya Ichijou |
| Ron(=katakana spelling for Chinese name 龍 Long, means "dragon") | Raidō (mandarin: 雷童 Lei Tong, means "Thunder Child"), Chinese Dragon Chinese dragon Chinese dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology and folklore, with mythic counterparts among Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Bhutanese, Western and Turkic dragons. In Chinese art, dragons are typically portrayed as long, scaled, serpentine creatures with four legs... /Seiryuu |
Spirit Knight of the East. Childhood friend of Aramis | Keiji Fujiwara Keiji Fujiwara is a Japanese voice actor from the Tokyo Metropolitan area who is affiliated with Air Agengy.His best known projects include Crayon Shin-chan as Hiroshi Nohara, Eureka Seven as Holland, Fullmetal Alchemist as Lieutenant-Colonel Hughes, Zoids: Chaotic Century as Irvine, Final Fantasy VII Advent... |
| Hokuto | Max, Turtle Turtle Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield... /Genbu Genbu Genbu can refer to:* Black Tortoise, a Chinese constellation symbol* Genbu , a fictional character in the series YuYu Hakusho* Genbu , a fictional character in the series Fushigi Yūgi... |
Spirit Knight of the North. Known as "Master Doc" for his principle of repairing any injured human or mecha he comes across | Osamu Sakuda |
| Metalface | Madonna, Triceratops Triceratops Triceratops is a genus of herbivorous ceratopsid dinosaur which lived during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period, around 68 to 65 million years ago in what is now North America. It was one of the last dinosaur genera to appear before the great Cretaceous–Paleogene... |
A lieutenant to the Machine Empire and an almost persistent annoyance in Teppei's way. Old friend of Karen. | Kenyû Horiuchi |
| Secondary Characters | |||
| Captain Hook | Groupie, Worm Worm The term worm refers to an obsolete taxon used by Carolus Linnaeus and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck for all non-arthropod invertebrate animals, and stems from the Old English word wyrm. Currently it is used to describe many different distantly-related animals that typically have a long cylindrical... |
First point soldier that Teppei encounters | |
| Camilla | Mirage, Butterfly Butterfly A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured... |
Second point soldier, grows medicinal flowers for Nasha | Kappei Yamaguchi Kappei Yamaguchi , better known by his stage name of , is a Japanese voice actor and actor from Fukuoka, affiliated with Gokū and 21st Century Fox.He is best known for the roles of Ranma Saotome , Jackson Neil , Tombo , Yattaro , InuYasha , Ryuichi Sakuma , L , Usopp... |
| Kaos | Lamu, Japanese rhinoceros beetle Japanese rhinoceros beetle The Japanese rhinoceros beetle, Japanese horned beetle, or , Allomyrina dichotoma, is a species of rhinoceros beetle found in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China... |
Third point soldier, an old veteran and was once one of the four Spirit Knights. | Osamu Kobayashi Osamu Kobayashi Osamu Kobayashi is the name of:*Osamu Kobayashi , animation director and founder of Ajia-do Animation Works*Osamu Kobayashi , director of BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad and Paradise Kiss... |
| Death, Aleph | unknown, Bat Bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,... |
Fourth point soldier, perceived as a Shinigami (Death God) | |
| Vem | Cancer, Crab Crab True crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" , or where the reduced abdomen is entirely hidden under the thorax... |
Fifth point soldier, was easily crushed | Hideyuki Umezu Hideyuki Umezu is a Japanese voice actor and member of 81 Produce.-Anime:* Bakugan Battle Brawlers * Blood+ * Bonobono * Death Note * Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood... |
| Rai | Falcon, Falcon Falcon A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.... |
Member of the Dark Knights | Sho Hayami |
| Leon | Falcon, Falcon | Member of the Dark Knights | |
| Miru | Falcon, Falcon | Leader of the Dark Knights | Takehito Koyasu Takehito Koyasu is a Japanese voice actor.-Career:Koyasu is part of the voice actor quartet Weiß consisting of Weiß Kreuz voice castmates Shinichiro Miki, Tomokazu Seki, and Yuuki Hiro... |
| Balzac | Savannah, Myrmekoleon (also known as mermecolion; a mythical depiction of the antlion Antlion Antlions are a group of insects in the family Myrmeleontidae . The most well-known genus is Myrmeleo. There are about 2,000 species... ) |
Sixth point soldier | |
| Lycaon Troops | Lycaon class B'ts, winged panthers | Generic army troops of the Machine Empire | |
| Imperial Spies | Spy class B'ts, black Crows | Imperial spies and executes traitors | |
| Juggler | Vanilla Fudge, Harpy Harpy In Greek mythology, a harpy was one of the winged spirits best known for constantly stealing all food from Phineas... |
Took over the role of Commander Aramis when it was clear that she was a traitor to the Machine Empire | Issei Futamata Issei Futamata is a veteran seiyū who was born on March 15, 1955 in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. He graduated from Towada Technical High School. He is a member of the Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society.... |
| Myslim | Lalaynya, Hydra Hydra Hydra is the name of the Lernaean Hydra, a many-headed serpent in Greek mythology."Hydra" may also refer to:- Astronomy :* Hydra , the largest of the modern star constellations* Hydra , a satellite of Pluto... |
Capable of regenerating lost limbs, member of the 7 Evil Knights | Jūrōta Kosugi Jurota Kosugi is a Japanese voice actor. His deep voice is often used for rough and imposing characters. He is well known for playing the role of Sukashii from Kyattou Ninden Teyandee and Asuma Sarutobi from Naruto.... |
| Meimu | Halloween, Baku Baku (spirit) are Japanese supernatural beings that devour dreams and nightmares. They have a long history in Japanese folklore and art, and more recently have appeared in Japanese anime and manga .... |
Uses nightmare manipulation as a weapon, secretly Hokuto's elder brother Subaru. Also a member of the 7 Evil Knights | Shinichiro Miki Shinichiro Miki is a Japanese voice actor. He is a member of 81 Produce.Miki is most known for the roles of Kojiro , Takumi Fujiwara , Kisuke Urahara , Akira Yuki , Lockon Stratos , and Roy Mustang .According to the Anime News Network, as of Spring 2007, Miki is... |
| Quattro | Loreso, Griffin Griffin The griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle... |
An old friend and Acquaintance of Fou, who he blames for the death of his sister Lily. Also a member of the 7 Evil Knights | Toshihiko Seki Toshihiko Seki is a Japanese voice actor and member of 81 Produce. Apart from voice actor work, Seki sometimes does live action drama stage work. He is sometimes mistaken for another voice actor, Tomokazu Seki, sharing the same last name but are unrelated.-Person/Career:... |
| Salome | Halcyon, Unicorn Unicorn The unicorn is a legendary animal from European folklore that resembles a white horse with a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead, and sometimes a goat's beard... |
She uses music as hypnotic, and is one of the machine empire because she lost faith in humanity. Also a member of 7 Evil Knights | |
| Sapphire | Eroica, Basilisk Basilisk In European bestiaries and legends, a basilisk is a legendary reptile reputed to be king of serpents and said to have the power to cause death with a single glance... |
He adores gems and uses Eroica's abilities to turn people into crystals. a member of the 7 Evil Knights | |
| Dr. Poe | Cadenza, Chimera | He was Hokuto's rival in the academy, and is one of the 7 Evil Knights | |
| Gai | Shendu, Garuda Garuda The Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.From an Indian perspective, Garuda is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila and... |
The philosopher of the Empire, and a member of the 7 Evil Knights | |
| Aramis | Rosemary, Wasp Wasp The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their... |
Commander of the Area. Disguised herself as a man and was later revealed that she was the legendary warrior who never lost a battle before the time of the Four Knights, the Rose Knight | Atsuko Yuya Atsuko Yuya is a Japanese voice actress who works for Gekidan Subaru. Atsuko Yuya is originally from Nagasaki. She is the official Japanese voice dub-over artist for actresses: Angelina Jolie and Natasha Henstridge.-TV anime:*Angel Heart ... |
| Nasha | Theta, Dog Dog The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in... |
Representative of the Emperor. Misha's younger sister | Kyôko Hikami Kyoko Hikami is a Japanese voice actress who was born in Kobe. She is part of the voice actress trio Furil which also consists of Wedding Peach voice castmates Yūko Miyamura and Yukana Nogami.-Notable voice roles:*Sudou in Atashinchi... |
| Misha | Zeta, Dog | Representative of the Emperor, appears to be the second in command | Ai Orikasa Ai Orikasa is a popular Japanese voice actress and singer from Tokyo. She works for Production Baobab. Orikasa is also the Japanese dub voice for Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Her debut work was Shoukoushi Cedie in 1988... |
| Marcello | n/a | Underhell warden, he wields an electric whip | Naoki Tatsuta Naoki Tatsuta is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with Aoni Production.He is most known for the roles of Buta Gorilla , Daima Jin , Oolong , Ashibe's Father , and Scoop-kun .... |
| Amigo | n/a | Marcello's massive assistant, he assists Kotaro in his escape | Shinpachi Tsuji Shinpachi Tsuji is a Japanese voice actor.-Anime:*Arc the Lad *Berserk *Brain Powered *Code Geass *Digimon Tamers *Fairy Tail *Fantastic Children... |
| Raphael | n/a | Ultimate B't, created to grow by absorbing other life forms | |
| Lisa Marie | n/a | A fellow scientist prisoner that helped Kotaro Takamiya solve the formula on how to defeat Raphael | Yumi Touma |
| Karin | A Lycaon class B't | A Warrant Officer of the Machine Empire, and very close to Fou. She is later revealed to be Karen's sister, who lost her memory when attacked by Raphael | Chisa Yokoyama Chisa Yokoyama is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Tokyo. She is founder and head of her own voice company called Banbina after leaving Arts Vision. When she was a high school student, she was an assistant of Jump Broadcasting Station of Weekly Shōnen Jump... |
Manga
The series was also republished by Home-sha, a ShueishaShueisha
is a major publisher in Japan. The company was founded in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The following year, Shueisha became a separate, independent company. Magazines published by Shueisha include Weekly Shōnen Jump, Weekly Young Jump,...
company, in an edition of more than 300-pages per volume.
- Home-sha (Home-sha manga bunko) (2002)
# Japanese release date Japanese ISBN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
TV series
| # | Title | Director | Writer | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
OVA
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