B't X

Infobox animanga/Header
name = B't X


caption =
ja_name = ビート・エックス
ja_name_trans =
genre = MechaInfobox animanga/Manga
title =
author = Masami Kurumada
publisher = flagicon|Japan Kadokawa Shoten
publisher_other = flagicon|Brazil Editora JBC
flagicon|Germany Planet Manga
flagicon|USA TOKYOPOP
flagicon|Mexico Grupo Editorial Vid
flagicon|Spain Otakuland
demographic = Shōnen
magazine = Shōnen Ace
first =
last =
volumes = 16Infobox animanga/Anime
title = B't X
director = Mamoru Hamatsu
studio = TMS
network = flagicon|Japan TBS
network_other = flagicon|Mexico TV Azteca
flagicon|Philippines ABS-CBN, Hero TV
flagicon|United States of America Anime Network
first = 6 April 1996
last = 21 September 1996
episodes = 25Infobox animanga/OVA
title = B't X Neo
director =
studio = TMS
episodes = 14
released = 21 August 1997

nihongo|"B't X"|ビート・エックス, pronounced "beat X", is a sci-fi mecha manga and anime series created by Masami Kurumada, author of Saint Seiya. It ran for 16 volumes in manga and became an anime with 25 episodes, concluded with an 14 episode OVA (called B'T X Neo). The manga was released in America by Tokyopop because it was published by Kadokawa Shoten instead of Shueisha (as Shueisha's Digimon Next manga is about to be released by TOKYOPOP). The anime was released in America by Westlake Entertainment. When released in America by Tokyopop, all the sound effects in the manga are all in Japanese only, just like in the original version and even in most of the other Tokyopop Manga.

Plot

Teppei ("Tepp") Takamiya is the caretaker of a farm located in Kamui Island, north of Japan. His older brother, Kotarou 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 Kotarou is to announce his latest breakthrough in artificial intelligence. The convention goes awry when Kotarou 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 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, Kotarou 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 Kotarou and to resolve the mysteries of their intertwined past.

What is a B't?

A B't (pronounced "beat") is the ultimate form of artificial intelligence robotics 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 fuelled 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