11 years ago, the series Tiger and Bunny produced by the Sunrise studio landed on Japanese channels. A clever tale mixing mecha, superhero and political and family intrigue, it quickly conquered fans. The end of season 1 answering only part of the questions, it augured further developments. However, if two feature films, a manga were released later, the second season was desired until Netflix decided to produce it and expand its offer in anime. Confident in the potential of the work, the streaming giant ordered 25 episodes broadcast in two parts. Strategy paid off given the quality of this first half of the season.
A New Beginning
In Stern Bild City, huge megacities, superheroes are TV stars. Every night the inhabitants follow Hero TV, a popular show where the interventions of these heroes are filmed in real time. Confronted with normal criminals but also with next, humans also endowed with superpowers, the heroes must attract the favors of the public and sponsors. The more popular they are, the more spectators award them popularity points in order to designate the king of heroes. Following the events of season 1 and feature films, the production of Hero TV decided to change the rules of the show to continue to attract the audience. No more solo competition, the heroes must act as a duo like the duo Tiger and Bunny. In addition, new heroes are appearing and it is up to the veterans to train them. But it is not always easy to team up especially when next have decided to challenge and defeat all the heroes of the world. 
Tiger and Bunny: an intelligent evolution
The creators have perfectly used the time between the two seasons to evolve their concept. The heroes indeed evolved in the image of Tiger and Bunny who became real accomplices. They now work completely as a team and understand each other perfectly. This evolution changes the balance of power. They are no longer the exception but the norm. But the first part of this half-season insists on the difficulty of creating duos ex nihilo. Tiger and Bunny observe with interest the difficulties faced by other teams who act as reflections of their past. How to deal with celebrity? How to learn to trust? How to avoid jealousy? So many questions that weaken the heroes and to which Tiger and Bunny try to provide answers fruit of their experiences and mistakes. 
A long format ideally exploited
It is one of the great qualities of this beginning of the season to rely on a narrative that ideally presents its characters. We must congratulate Netflix for ordering a long season, 25 episodes, which is rather rare today in the world of animation. But this format is perfectly suited to what the writers have to say. Indeed all the new characters have their personal history well developed without the Old ones being forgotten. This contributes to feeling immense sympathy for our heroes when the hour of difficulties arrives and when cornelian choices will arise. This long format also ideally serves the dramaturgy. Indeed, while taking his time, this first half of the season gradually immerses a new antagonist during strong post-credits scenes. Gradually the latter comes out of the shadows. At the same time, the writers expand the universe of their series summoning heroes, past criminals or presenting mysterious scientists engaged in research on the next. All his narrative threads converge in a spectacular climax that is only a step towards a larger confrontation. 
Tiger and Bunny: ourabouros never die
Mysterious organization at the center of the first season, Ourabouros points his nose again. The writers exploit the full potential of this nemesis still shrouded in mysteries. The size of this organization never ceases to surprise. A real criminal octopus, she takes an increasingly central place in this second season while her project becomes more and more clear and terrifying. This supports a discourse on the world of heroes much less Manichean than one might think. The series emphasizes iconic figures, revered by the general public. But it also presents behind the scenes through the figure of LL Audun, the greatest opponent of superheroes whose career would have been quite different if his free will had been respected. Through these shades of gray, the influence, the aura of Ourabouros become more palpable. 
Excellent animation
The first season was unanimously praised for its technical quality and visual richness. This sequel to Tiger and Bunny continues this momentum. Indeed the graphics are still beautiful, colorful, rich in details. Stern Build City remains a beautifully imaged metropolis mixing styles: contemporary architecture, colossal statues and New York inspiration. Everything agrees to make the story that is told to us epic. The other technical quality is based on the design of the superheroes. Tiger and Bunny works as a syncretic work between the comic book style, the magical girls, the shonen spirit and the mechas. Each superhero has his own universe that reflects on his powers, his armor. Rock Bison is a tribute to the Golden Knight of the Saint Seiya Bull while Sky High is inspired by the hero of Rocketeer. The whole forms a whirlwind of colors in the service of striking and original action scenes. With this first part of the season, Netflix will delight fans of the series Tiger and Bunny. This suite respects the original work while cleverly making it evolve. Eagerly the sequel.
