B-Robo Kabutack

Plot

Dr. Torahiko Kouenji is a 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

B-Robots

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.

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. 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 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). 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). 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 Kuwagiro (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.

Other 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 machines named Tosenbo (トーセンボ, Tōsenbo).

Support giant robots

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).

Tondemo-Jaws (トンデモジョーズ, Tondemojōzu): A giant robot created by Dr. Kouenji with the very first Star Piece of Scorpio 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.

People in Asahi

Yuzuru Kouenji (高円寺 譲, Kōenji Yuzuru): Kabutack's partner and 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): Kuwagiro's partner and the son of the vice president of construction company Kichijouji Koumuten (吉祥寺工務店, Kichijōji Kōmuten) named Ryunosuke (龍之介, Ryūnosuke) whose wife is its president. He transforms Kuwagiro from Normal Form into Super Mode using the Friendship Commander.

Sayuri Mitaka (三鷹 小百合, Mitaka Sayuri): A friend of Yuzuru and Kuranosuke who lives in the same apartment as Tentoleena. She has a younger brother named Mitsuo (光夫).

Dr. Torahiko Kouenji (高円寺 寅彦, Kōenji Torahiko): Yuzuru's grandfather who created B-Robots.

Masatora Kouenji (高円寺 正寅, Kōenji Masatora): Yuzuru's father and Torahiko's son. He treats Torahiko and B-Robots as a nuisance.

Madoka Kouenji (高円寺 円, Kōenji Madoka): Yuzuru's mother. She as well as Masatora treats Torahiko and B-Robots as a nuisance.

Taro Koganei (小金井 太郎, Koganei Tarō): A greedy storekeeper of an antique shop.

Akira Ogikubo (荻窪 明, Ogikubo Akira): Kuranosuke's rival.

Reika Ookubo (大久保 麗香, Ōkubo Reika): Sayuri's rival and a multimillionaire's daughter. She has two elder sisters named Reiko (麗子) and Reina (麗奈). She also has many servants, including butler Toyoda (豊田).

Miki Nakano (中野 美樹, Nakano Miki): A policewoman who patrols Asahi (朝日町, Asahi-chō). She later resigned and returned to her hometown because she wanted to work in the fields.

AP717: A robot which patrols Asahi with Miki. Its body is similar to Tentoleena.

Guest characters

Junichiro Kunitachi (国立 準一郎, Kunitachi Junichirō): A music teacher of Yuzuru's elementary school whose voice is very similar to Kabutack. He resigned to become a singer. Portrayed by Takeshi Kusao (草尾 毅, Kusao Takeshi), who also voices Kabutack.

Star Mind (スターマインド, Sutā Maindo): The god of Earth 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). Portrayed by Lucky Ikeda (ラッキィ池田, Rakkyi Ikeda) while Star Mind S is voiced by Takuma Suzuki (鈴木 琢磨, Suzuki Takuma).

Episodes

Pleased to Meet You, Kabu! (よろしくカブー！, Yoroshiku Kabū!): written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Taro Sakamoto

Let a Miracle Happen, Kabu (メークドラマだカブ, Mēku Dorama da Kabu): written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Taro Sakamoto

Devoted Cuisine, Kabu (料理はまごころカブ, Ryōri wa Magokoro Kabu): written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Katsuya Watanabe

Umeboshi One-Armed Shoulder Throw!! (ウメ星一本背負い！！, Umeboshi Ippon Zeoi!!): written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Katsuya Watanabe

Tracking!! Drunken Tire (追跡！！酒飲みタイヤ, Tsuiseki!! Sakenomi Taiya): written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Hidenori Ishida

Fickled Detective Kabutack (浮気探偵カブタック, Uwaki Tantei Kabutakku): written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Hidenori Ishida

The Cursed Time of Weakness (弱り目にタタリじゃ, Yowarime ni Tatari ja): written by Yoshio Urasawa, directed by Taro Sakamoto

Blessed Red Postbox (幸せの赤いポスト, Shiawase no Akai Posuto): written by Nobuo Ogizawa, directed by Taro Sakamoto

Right This Instant!! (飛びますトビマス！！, Tobimasu Tobimasu!!): written by Takashi Yamada, directed by Katsuya Watanabe

The Monster That Disappears With the Sunset (夕陽に消える怪獣, Yūhi ni Kieru Kaijū): written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Katsuya Watanabe

The May Koinobori Tournament!! (鯉のぼり五月場所！！, Koinobori Gogatsu Basho!!): written by Yoshio Urasawa, directed by Naoki Iwahara

A Cleaning Pair (お掃除ふたりぼっち, Osōji Futari Botchi): written by Satoru Nishizono, directed by Naoki Iwahara

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.

Cast

Yuzuru Kouenji: Kazuki Futami (二見 一樹, Futami Kazuki)

Kuranosuke Kichijouji: Miyabi Kimura (木村 雅, Kimura Miyabi)

Sayuri Mitaka: Yuka Koide (小出 由華, Koide Yuka)

Torahiko Kouenji: Kageki Shimoda (志茂田 景樹, Shimoda Kageki)

Madoka Kouenji: Aki Mukai (向井 亜紀, Mukai Aki)

Masatora Kouenji: Yousuke Ishii (石井 洋祐, Ishii Yōsuke)

Akira Ogikubo: Yasushi Ishii (石井 寧, Ishii Yasushi)

Reika Ookubo: Aoi Inoue (井上 碧, Inoue Aoi)

Miki Nakano: Sachiko Kokubu (国分 佐智子, Kokubu Sachiko)

teacher: Yōhei Tadano (多田野 曜平, Tadano Yōhei)

Mitsuo Mitaka: Yōsuke Mitsuhashi (三觜 要介, Mitsuhashi Yōsuke)

Taro Koganei: Hiromitsu Suzuki (鈴木 ヒロミツ, Suzuki Hiromitsu)

Junichiro Kunitachi: Takeshi Kusao (草尾 毅, Kusao Takeshi)

Voice cast

Kabutack: Takeshi Kusao (草尾 毅, Kusao Takeshi)

Kuwagiro: Daiki Nakamura (中村 大樹, Nakamura Daiki)

Tentoleena: Hikari Tachibana (橘 ひかり, Tachibana Hikari)

Denden Roller: Kazuki Yao (矢尾 一樹, Yao Kazuki)

Tobimasky: Satoko Kitō (木藤 聡子, Kitō Satoko)

Dangoron: Kōichi Tōchika (遠近 孝一, Tōchika Kōichi)

Gerotan: Motoko Kumai (くまい もとこ, Kumai Motoko)

AP717: Narumi Tsunoda (津野田 なるみ, Tsunoda Narumi)

Cobrander: Dai Matsumoto (松本 大, Matsumoto Dai)

Ganiran: Hisao Egawa (江川 央生, Egawa Hisao)

Spydon: Chafurin (茶風林, Chafūrin)

Captain Tomborg: Daisuke Gōri (郷里 大輔, Gōri Daisuke)

Sharkler: Shigeru Chiba (千葉 繁, Chiba Shigeru)

Songs

Opening theme

"Kiyoku Tadashiku Kabutack" (清く正しくカブタック, Kiyoku Tadashiku Kabutakku; "Noble Honest Kabutack")

Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude (八手 三郎, Yatsude Saburō)

Composition & Arrangement: Keiju Ishikawa (石川 恵樹, Ishikawa Keiju)

Artist: Takeshi Kusao

Ending theme

"Gyakuten Rock 'n' Roll!!" (逆転ロックンロール!!, Gyakuten Rokkun Rōru!!; "Inversion Rock 'n' Roll!!")

Lyrics: Tamanosuke Ōga (大賀 玉之輔, Ōga Tamanosuke)

Composition & Arrangement: MASAKI

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 2002/2003.

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 with a 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.