B't X

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B't X
Cover of B't X volume 1 as published by Tokyopop
ビート・エックス
(Bīto Ekkusu)
GenreAdventure, science fiction[1]
Manga
Written byMasami Kurumada
Published byKadokawa Shoten
English publisher
MagazineShōnen Ace
DemographicShōnen
Original runOctober 1994 – January 2000
Volumes16
Light novel
Written bySukehiro Tomita
Illustrated byMasami Kurumada
Published byKadokawa Shoten
ImprintNewtype Novels
Original run20 July 1996 (1996-07-20) – 28 February 1997 (1997-02-28)
Volumes2
Anime television series
Directed byMamoru Hamatsu
Produced byTadahito Matsumoto
Kenji Mizunuma
Written byMamoru Hamatsu
Music byAkira Senju
StudioTMS Entertainment
Licensed by
  • NA: Anime Midstream
Original networkTBS
English network
Original run 6 April 1996 – 21 September 1996
Episodes25
Anime television series
B't X Neo
Directed byHajime Kamegaki
Produced byKazuo Yokoyama
Yuji Morioka (1-14)
Tetsuya Watanabe
Tadahito Matsumoto
Kenji Mizunuma
Written byYoshiyuki Suga
Music byFumitaka Anzai
StudioTMS Entertainment
Original networkTBS
Original run 21 August 1997 – 20 November 1997
Episodes14

B't X (Japanese: ビート・エックス, Hepburn: Bīto Ekkusu), pronounced "beat X" and stylized as B'T X, is a manga series, written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada. It was serialized in Shōnen Ace from 1994 to 2000. The series is set in a fictional universe where science has progressed to the creation of mechanical AI creatures known as Bt's. An anime adaptation containing 25 episodes was aired in Japan between April and September 1996, followed by a second season containing 14 episodes called B't X Neo (ビート・エックス・ネオ, Bīto Ekkusu Neo) which aired between August and November 1997. The anime series strayed off from the manga series in Neo, giving its own conclusion to the show.

The anime series was animated by TMS Entertainment; a total number of 39 episodes was produced.

Series Overview

Setting

B't X is set on an alternate Earth, where a faction known as the Machine Empire rules a significant large piece of land known as "The Area" in the Gobi Desert. The Machine Empire invests highly in scientific advancements and schools children from an early age to become striving scientists. Mechanical engineering have culminated in the creation of cyborgs and most recently mechanical beasts, powered by human blood, the Bt.

The series mostly takes place in the Machine Empire, but also on Kamui island, where the main characters were born. An island that was created from a crashed meteor and contains a piece of a sun, far underground.

A B't (pronounced "beat" in the Japanese version and "bit" in the English dub.) 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 "mecha" 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.

Synopsis

Teppei Takamiya is the caretaker of a farm located in Kamui Island, north of Japan. His older brother, Kotarō Takamiya, leaves to study robotics in Germany 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".

Teppei manages to hitch a ride on his brother's capturer and reaches the Machine Empire, 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.

Teppei's main goal is to save his brother, but as he and X venture further into the Area and learn more about the Machine Empire they start to fight for the survival of the human race. On the way to the center of the Empire they gain allies that help them prevail over the guardians of the empire.

The ultimate B't eventually finalizes its evolution and the Machine Emperor appears. Before the emperor can fuse with Raffaello, Teppei and his allies confront him.

Voice cast

Character
English[2]
Teppei Takamiya Eric Vale
Kristen McGuire (child)
Kotaro Takamiya Josh Grelle
X Jeremy Inman
Karen Morgan Garrett
Aramis Caitlin Glass
Metal Face Tyson Rinehart
Madonna Rachel Robinson
Fou J. Michael Tatum
J'Taime Tia Ballard
Hokuto Chris Bevins
Max Clarine Harp
Ron Ian Sinclair
Raido Marcus Stimac
Kari Joanna Grelle
Misha Alison Viktorin
Nasha Natalie Hoover
Gaku Amber Lee Connors
Big Rock Amber Lee Connors
Captain Hook Robert McCollum
Groupie Chuck Huber
Camilla Meli Grant
Mirage Melissa Sterenberg
Misslim Curtis Arnott
La Lainya Alex Moore
Cyber Whip Alex Moore
Marcello Justin Briner
Amigo Chris Rager
Juggler Mike McFarland
Zaji Nick Landis
Kaos Bruce Carey
L'Amour Jason Marnocha
Balzac Mark Stoddard
Mira Gianni Matragrano
Leon Brandon Potter
Rai R. Bruce Elliott
Savannah Zach Bolton
Maria Alexis Tipton
God of Death Tyler Walker
Aleph Tyler Walker
Bem Alejandro Saab
Cancer Ricco Fajardo
Crow Daman Mills
Falcon Chris Guerrero
Lena Jad Saxton
Nitzin Howard Wang
Bat Scott Frerichs
Teppei's father Kent Williams
Teppei's mother Marissa Lenti

Production

In May 2012, Kurumada wrote in his blog that they were recording a new theme song for B't X which was later revealed to be for a B't X themed Pachinko game.[3]

Release

It was serialized in Shōnen Ace from 1994 to 2000, with the 63 individual chapters published into 16 tankōbon volumes by Kadokawa Shoten. An anime adaptation containing 25 episodes was aired in Japan between April and September 1996, this series adapts the first six tankōbon volumes of the manga. A second season containing 14 episodes and called B't X Neo (ビート・エックス・ネオ, Bīto Ekkusu Neo) was aired between August and November 1997, this season adapts some chapters of the manga but has a derivative storyline and an alternate ending.

The manga was released in North America by Tokyopop. 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.

The anime adaptation was licensed in North America by Illumitoon Entertainment in 2006 and published on DVD via Westlake Entertainment.[4] Two dual-audio DVDs got released by them, covering the first eight episodes, before being cancelled. The first 14 episodes, the only ones to be dubbed, were available on-demand via the Anime Network. In 2016, the anime was relicensed by Anime Midstream.[5] They released the series on DVD with both English subtitles and a new English dub on August 3, 2018.[6]

Manga

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
01 March 1995 (1995-03)40471310246 January 2004 (2004-01-06)159182639X
02 July 1995 (1995-07)40471310912 March 2004 (2004-03-02)1591826403
03 November 1995 (1995-11)40471312104 May 2004 (2004-05-04)1591826411
04 March 1996 (1996-03)404713131813 July 2004 (2004-07-13)159182642X
05 June 1996 (1996-06)404713143114 September 2004 (2004-09-14)1591826438
06 October 1996 (1996-10)40471316609 November 2004 (2004-11-09)1591826446
07 April 1997 (1997-04)404713177611 January 2005 (2005-01-11)1595323775
08 August 1997 (1997-08)40471319388 March 2005 (2005-03-08)1595323783
09 November 1997 (1997-11)40471320127 June 2005 (2005-06-07)1595323791
10 March 1998 (1998-03)404713211X10 January 2006 (2006-01-10)1595323805
11 June 1998 (1998-06)404713225X3 July 2006 (2006-07-03)1595323813
12 October 1998 (1998-10)40471323819 January 2007 (2007-01-09)1595323821
13 February 1999 (1999-02)40471326913 July 2007 (2007-07-03)159532383X
14 June 1999 (1999-06)40471328452 January 2008 (2008-01-02)1595323848
15 October 1999 (1999-10)40471330277 July 2008 (2008-07-07)1595323856
16 February 2000 (2000-02)404713326430 November 2010 (2010-11-30)1595323864

The series was also republished by Home-sha, a Shueisha company, in an edition of more than 300-pages per volume.

  • Home-sha (Home-sha manga bunko) (2002)
# Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
1 September 2002 (2002-09) 4834272400
2 September 2002 (2002-09) 4834272419
3 October 2002 (2002-10) 4834272427
4 October 2002 (2002-10) 4834272435
5 November 2002 (2002-11) 4834272443
6 November 2002 (2002-11) 4834272451
7 December 2002 (2002-12) 483427246X
8 December 2002 (2002-12) 4834272478

Anime

Originally licensed by Texas-based anime licensing company Illumitoon Entertainment,[7] the license was eventually transferred to Anime Midstream after Illumitoon went defunct.[8] Anime Midstream announced on August 14, 2016 during their panel at the AnimeFest convention in Dallas, that they will redistribute the whole series with the Japanese language track, subtitles, and an English dub.[9]

TV Series (1996)

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# Title Episode Director Screenwriter Original air date

OVA (1997)

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Reception

Critical Response

Chris Beveridge of Mania.com reviewed the first DVD volume of the anime series by Illumitoon Entertainment and gave the volume a "C" grade citing that "due to age there isn't a lot to expect" in regards to both audio and visual quality. Beveridge continued to praise the story but also said that it was sometimes confusing. Ilumitoon's decision to use their dubbed script as subtitles for the Japanese audio was heavily criticized as they did not match up.[7]

Other Media

A B't X themed Pachinko game was released in 2013, with newly recorded music and animation done by TMS.[3][10]

Two toy-lines were produced by Takara in conjunction with the broadcast of the series. The first series consisted of 5 models of four of the main Bt's, and where marketed with the term "Solid Scan". Each Bt had removable armor and an accompanying figure to ride them. A wield-able "Messiah Fist" was also produced with sound-effects and light-up features. The second toyline was produced as action figures and included 14 Bt's with an accompanying smaller figure. 8 non-articulated figures were also released of several main characters under the term "Donor".

References

  1. ^ "Saint Seiya's Kurumada to end Ring ni Kakero 2 Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  2. ^ "B't X TV Anime's English Dub Cast, Trailer Unveiled". Anime News Network. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b "New B'tX music being recorded". Kurumadapro.com. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  4. ^ "ILLUMITOON LICENSES THIRD ANIME". Icv2.com. 18 September 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Anime Midstream Licenses B't X TV Anime Series". AnimeNewsNetwork.com. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  6. ^ "B't X DVD". www.rightstufanime.com. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  7. ^ a b Beveridge, Chris (24 May 2007). "Beat BtX Vol. #01". Mania. Demand Media. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Anime Midstream Acquires 'B't X' Anime License". The Fandom Post. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Anime Midstream Licenses B't X TV Anime Series". Anime News Network. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Official Bt'X Pachinko website". Pachinkovista.com. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2016.

Further reading

  • Gifford, Kevin (March 2007). "B't X Volume 1". Newtype USA. Vol. 6, no. 3. p. 149. ISSN 1541-4817.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=B%27t_X&oldid=863025827"