Betterman

y' know.. this is the best mecha I've ever senn far more better than NGE NGE in my opoinion was pretty booooooring.. but in betterman there was action giong on all the time.. thats why i love this anime.. but there was one thing that reaalyy pissed me off. KEITA AONO that guy is one of the most hated anime characters of mine.. in my opinion he is such a @#$%...but story line is very well made-orirginal plot...

While I will not spoil all the events of the series, I will state the concluding moral of the narrative, including slight reference to some particular events. So, if you want to hear that from the show rather than from here, I'd say end reading here. I have a beef, and I'm going to vent. Story: Betterman is a Sci-fi/Horror series set in the Gao-Gai-Gar setting taking place a few years after that series conclusion. From its roots in that franchise it retains the same level of varied and well designed but not well developed characters, heavily detailed but not well researched or internally consistent technobabble, andwell engineered but quickly and jarringly switched tones and atmospheres. Where GGG explored physical and technological sci-fi concepts, BM similarly explores biological and transhuman concepts. What BM does not carry over from its preceding story, however, is an attitude that the exploration of these concepts is a good thing. Where GGG played with the ideas of the awesome things people could do with technologies like AI, space travel and physics bending machines, BM will go at lengths, stumbling at every turn, to show you how only petty people will actively explore biological technologies that veer things off the "natural course". It ends in a moral that trying to use life sciences to do honest good is likely futile, and anyone who tries to explore such venues for any other reason is explicitly doing so for terrible reasons. At only one point, during the final fight, does it even suggest an idea contrary to this narrative, but this was but a one-time gimmick to defeat the final enemy. Whatever ideas that could have been developed with that instance, of working together to ensure that mankind can surpass the limits of its own hubris and slippery slopes of technology misuse while still embracing the technology, were quickly ignored for returning to its narrative of leaving life alone. Instead of showing the hope of what mankind could someday achieve by following through with exploring the sciences depicted as GGG did, it attempts to spin a tale of how altering the organism is inherently wrong, and to interfere with the natural order or improve yourself in any way will only bring catastrophe. It ends with a message that if you just give up trying to improve yourself, and just embrace being an unaltered cog in the natural process, you'll be happy, without very strong exploration into the contrary, despite GGG having a variety of transhumans or otherwise augmented individuals with no detriment to their character or antagonism to their existence. While GGG depicted bad people using technology for evil, they never once really depicted any technology itself as inherently evil, instead playing with the motivations behind the uses for or against good, and I think that's where my beef here lies. GGG had fun with its science, while BM antagonized it, and I don't really think that should ever be cool. In reference to an earlier statement, the series completely ignores or omits things like the Evolders or cyborgs to promote its anti-transhuman narrative, despite the former being well known figures in the world at this time, and the latter being something not uncommon at this point in time, supposedly. These are not the only things BM seems to forget, and in fact references the preceding franchise so rarely that it almost appears as though the references they do make are there solely to remind you that they are supposedly related. If I am to be honest, it almost feels forced, like with the Cloverfield films that weren't originally supposed to be Cloverfield films, and I have to wonder if the references are there for the same reasons. Beyond the less than savory moral about augmentive technology, the story is your standard "mosnter of the week with overarching mystery and light romantic subplot" story, with little if anything new to add. If you like those kinds of stories, you'll like this, but if you don't like those, you're going to get nothing out of this besides horror. Horror, I would like to comment, that it does well. While the motives and morals behind why some of the things depicted in the show are "horrific" do not sit well with me, the spookiness, tension and grotesque designs are often quite on point, so I guess that's fine. Art: Really solid art. Looks older than it is, but this does not actually detriment for its art quality. I've complained a lot, but I can't complain at the way it looks. That, and them monster fights where hella rad, despite the sour narrative context. Only negative is the use of still frames was sometimes a little too noticeable, but honestly everything looks pretty swell. Sound: Some audio was fine, some sound effects were cheesy, and some of the music was better than average. Very little to comment here. Characters: The characters were quite diverse, and very few really fit into any specific stereotypes, but beyond that damn near none of them got any development, and the main character was of almost as little use to the plot as Indie was for Raiders of the Lost Ark. The cast functions better as a showcase for interesting and rarely used character concepts to be applied elsewhere than it does as the driving force behind this show. The only really distracting thing in the characters was the implication that Betterman's fucking pangolin hair was something inherited, but by that point the character could in no way be taken seriously, so it only added to the humor value. Enjoyment: Was down for the horror, and the humor of each episode having a goddamn dinosaur come out of nearly nowhere to save everyone, but as soon as it tried to articulate a message, and struggle to explain why its anti-science angle was totally right, my enjoyment started to dip, and after the very end it had me sitting there with a very sour taste in my mouth, especially after having watched GGG immediately before it. But hey, if you share its moral opinion I'm sure you'll have a blast. In that case, I'd also recommend Earth Girl Arjuna, for a similar story, despite a dramatically different selection of genres.

Betterman is a show that crosses sci-fi tech, supernatural elements, and at times, straight up magic. I'll be reviewing Betterman with my personal rating system consisting of rating five categories out of 100 points, and then multiplying them out by a weighting factor to get a score between 0, and 100. The categories are Acting/Characters, Plot, Enjoyment, Atmosphere/Theme/Setting, and Visuals/Audio/Effects. Acting/Characters The show consists almost entirely of a central cast of characters you'll be seeing a lot of. Most secondary characters that don't become major later in the plot aren't shown in detail. While the characters are not particularly complex, none of them are played upfor a single trait. Each has several traits, and are, within reason, believable. The characters are also used well, and in balance, with some acting as comedic relief, but also being serious as the situation requires. While some of the characters can seem annoying or flat, you learn more and more about them as time goes on, and they become far more likable. The characters were solid, and enjoyable, but nothing special, and that's why I gave this category 75 points. Plot The plot of Betterman is perhaps one of the best, and one of the worst traits of the series. Betterman will leave you constantly guessing as it does not try to explain the majority of what's going on. While the series does bring everything back to a solid conclusion which ties together all the confusing elements throughout the show, and resolves the central conflict, it can be a deal-breaker if you're not the type of person who is willing to wait 26 episodes to get a firm grip on what's going on. At the same time, the entire show has a multitude of themes running through it, about genetics, evolution, spirituality, and so on, that are enjoyable, and occasionally make you stop and think. Another complaint about the series is that while everything ties in at the end, there's still a huge variety of threats, and elements to the plot that are largely disparate logically, if not thematically. One might, perhaps, see this as someone having a lot of ideas, and just tossing them all in and trying to make them fit together after. Whichever it is, they are linked together competently, and so it's not a major concern. Be advised, however, that some things may not be explained satisfyingly, such as the Animus flowers. While the plot itself seems like a tangled mess as you go through it, it wraps up and clarifies in a way that makes sense when you look back on it. Still, this leads to a less enjoyable experience, as well as there being other weak points. I gave this category 70 points. Enjoyment While this wraps up enjoyably, though, perhaps, to a slightly unsatisfying conclusion, Betterman's seemingly tangled plot lead me to not enjoying a fair amount of the series, especially early on, as much as I would have liked. Characters are solid, and pleasant. Comedy is sufficient to not make the series dry. At the same time, it stays serious when it needs to. While Betterman had the potential to be far more enjoyable, the plot issues definitely brought down the enjoyment. 65 points. Atmosphere/Theme/Setting The setting is... well, it's all over the damn place, and doesn't really result in any cohesion. At the same time, I had nothing bad to say about most of the locations. The theme of the show, however, was a solid and enjoyable look at Humanity's goals, and the role of evolution and, to an extent, spirituality. The atmosphere of the show was very creepy. The show plays a lot on things happening in the mind, and raises creepy concerns that are never really resolved. The way they portray a lot of characters is disturbing, and is used to creepy effect both when it is something, and when it isn't. A lot of the locations are dark and creepy, as are a lot of the events, and plot elements. Perhaps the most creepy part of the series is a flashback that occurs later on in the series that takes the hiding of faces to a whole new level. The atmosphere and themes were pretty solid, while the setting could have used more work. Overall an 80. Visuals/Audio/Effects These are lumped because they're things I don't generally care as much about unless they're extremely good, or extremely bad, and they all run along the same vein. The visuals and effects were enjoyable. The animation was at no point disturbing, and the visuals and audio really played into the creepy atmosphere. At the same time, a lot of the attacks and the like in the show seemed very same-y and could have benefited from a little more variety. The voice acting seemed decent, though at times the analytic monotone of Miyako became somewhat annoying. Where the visuals fall short, the audio backs it up making this a solid 75 points. Overall a solid show. It's not great, but it's very good, and unlike pretty much any other series I've seen. Definitely worth a watch if any of the themes running throughout the show interest you. Betterman is a solid 73/100 or 7/10.

This is hands-down one of the strangest, most twisted anime I’ve ever watched—and in a medium like this, with the sheer volume of shows I’ve seen, that’s saying something. But I mean that in the best way possible. This title deserves way more love than it gets. There’s nothing else out there quite like it. This is a spoiler-free review. Story At its core, it follows a couple of teens who join a mysterious organization to pilot clunky, barebones mechs and battle bizarre creatures they know zilch about. Oh, and there’s a macho pretty boy with rainbow hair who turns into a giant monster when he eats fruit.No, I’m not making this up—pretty sure no one was high during production either. Joking aside, the first thing that hits you is the vibe. It’s this wild mix of lighthearted cartooniness and dark, creepy undertones. That oddball atmosphere is probably why it’s not more popular, but for me, it’s a breath of fresh air. I can’t name another show that nails this exact tone—it’s unsettling in a way that sticks with you. The reason it works is simple: it never gets overly dramatic or tries too hard to be edgy. The goofy, playful bits coexist with the eerie stuff without clashing, and it makes the characters feel more human in the process. Don’t expect a mech-heavy focus either. This is more sci-fi with horror vibes, tracking a group of kids as they stumble through encounters with the unknown. It’s like the creator dumped all his childhood nightmares into a blender and spun them into a sprawling story with some seriously rich lore. The big theme here is genetics and evolution—hinted at by the title—pushing humanity toward its “next stage.” The science isn’t just window dressing either; everything from the mechs’ mechanics to the creatures’ origins gets explained with legit-sounding terminology, often tied to real-world biology via clever analogies. The exposition is a standout. It’s always character-driven, tied to what’s happening, and sticks to explaining the science (not the plot, which unfolds visually). It never feels forced or drags on, thanks to slick visuals and lively character banter. The story itself is intricate—early moments that seem minor end up sparking huge payoffs later. It’s complex but not impenetrable; they explain enough to keep you on track. Some episodes might throw you for a loop, but the confusion doesn’t linger. The show constantly raises questions, answers them, and ramps up the stakes, wrapping up in an epic, airtight finale that ties every thread together. It’s not flawless, though. The pacing can get hectic—major events sometimes pile up too fast. There’s subtle visual foreshadowing that’s neat but might trip up first-timers. And the rainbow-haired Betterman swoops in to save the day a bit too often, giving the weaker mains a whiff of plot armor (though there’s a solid in-story reason for it). Still, these are minor gripes for a narrative this bold. Characters The cast is a vibrant bunch: a military nerd, a grizzled old dude, a sexy scientist, a troubled teen girl, and the manliest pretty boy in anime history—Betterman himself—plus a few others. Their interactions are a blast, with chemistry that carries them far. It’s a big group, each with a role to play. The major players get full arcs, and we dig into their relationships and backstories—stuff that actually ties into the plot. That said, the show’s focus on atmosphere and events sometimes overshadows their personal depth. There’s drama, but it’s low-key, sprinkled through subtle hints about who they are and how they connect. They get along well for the most part, and any friction resolves fast due to the constant crises. That can make it tricky to bond with them on a first watch. They react to the chaos around them believably enough, though they’re not exactly traumatized by it—which might’ve fit at times. Betterman’s a crowd-pleaser with his flair and swagger, but his true motives stay under wraps until late, keeping him static for most of the ride. The villains, meanwhile, are chilling and memorable. They’re not deep, but their mirrored motivations reinforce the show’s themes. Overall, it’s a solid crew—fun solo and as a team, swinging from campy to serious with fitting closure for all. Art: One of the last cel-animated shows before the digital shift, this has a semi-cartoonish style with colorful, slightly goofy character designs that scream personality and pop with expression. The dark, creepy settings contrast nicely, balanced by sharp shading and lighting. Animation and detail are decent—not groundbreaking—with some reused shots (done intentionally, though). But the freaky creatures, spot-on expressions, and action sequences shine. The mechs look janky, but Betterman’s monster forms are a visual treat, especially when he’s brawling with beasts, mechs, or tanks. The eerie imagery stands out, with bold framing and creative editing that make it instantly recognizable. Fun fact: Betterman was the first TV anime in widescreen (16:9), rare for its time. Maybe it’s to amp up the horror and scale—or maybe just a tech flex. Either way, it’s got a distinct visual identity that outshines most modern anime and matches its weird tone perfectly. Sound The Japanese voice cast is stacked with recognizable talent, delivering everything from geeky to sultry to downright creepy. It’s peak anime-style acting—exaggerated but fitting—and shines with emotion when it counts. It only dips during heavy technobabble, but that’s rare. The ominous sound effects and tracks amplify the mood, though some feel dated and might not hold up solo. The OP is a soft, soothing lure before the weirdness hits, and the ED? Intense, bizarre, and the best I’ve ever heard. You’ve got to experience it. Enjoyment I’m obsessed. After years of anime, this felt like a throwback to my newbie days—unique, creepy, thought-provoking, action-packed, with a dash of tasteful fanservice. The weirdness won’t click for everyone, but if that’s a dealbreaker, why bother with anime? I’m here for the wild stuff you can’t get elsewhere. Overall Writing this was tough—this show’s so bizarre it’s hard to pin down. Betterman is one of a kind. I wouldn’t blanket-recommend it, but you’ve got to see it to believe it.

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