, is a 1995 Japanese tokusatsu television series. B-Fighter is short for "Beetle Fighter". It was part of Toei's Metal Hero Series franchise. It dealt with three members of the prestigious fighting against the evil forces of the otherworldly Jamahl Empire. The action footage and props were used for Big Bad Beetleborgs and it has a sequel called B-Fighter Kabuto.
Storyline
Insects all over the world begin to swarm for unknown reasons, with other animals and plants acting strangely as well. To investigate this, Takuya Kai is dispatched with an Earth Academia group. Investigating independently, Takuya encounters the insect elder Guru, who reveals that insects are preparing for battle against invaders from another dimension called the Jamahl. Offering their aid, the Earth Academia create suits of armor to combat the threat as the Jamahl arrive to Earth to enslave humans. Though they have trouble perfecting the Bio-Machinery, Guru arrives to infuse the armor with the life force of many insects. Once the suits become the B-Commanders, one suit chooses Takuya while the other two bond to Daisaku Katagiri and Rei Hayama. With their newfound power, the B-Fighters fight to drive back Jamahl's forces.
Characters
The B-Fighters
The members use Bio-armor developed by the Earth Academia's brightest and infused with the life force of insects.
is a 23-year-old entomologist at the Earth Academia Japan Branch and is the team leader. He is very tender-hearted. His sense of responsibility is very strong. The first to meet Guru in the South American rainforest, he was also the first to gain a B-Commander and use his suit. As Blue Beet, his armor was modeled after a male Japanese rhinoceros beetle. His blood was used in the creation of his "evil twin", Shadow. After learning the true colors of the shadow, he feels responsible and goes missing. In the second half of the series, Blue Beet gained the ability to evolve into by the command . at 23, is an impetuous but nature-loving man. A tree doctor, Daisaku claims to be able to hear trees and plants when they are dying. He was captured along with Rei by the Jamahl during the start of the invasion of Earth. Upon receiving his B-Commander, Daisaku made quick work of Jamar soldiers. He was aquaphobic until he overcame his fear to save his father Daitetsu Katagiri, a fisherman, from a trap laid by the Ebikaania. As the most physically powerful of the B-Fighters, G-Stag's armor is modeled after a stag beetle. G-Stag is strong enough to lift the Jamar soldiers and toss them around like rag dolls. is the moniker of the lone female B-Fighter in red armor modeled after a female Japanese rhinoceros beetle and the fastest and most nimble of the B-Fighters assumed by its original user and her successor. is a 22-year-old animal instructor at Earth Academia's Aquarium. Captured along with Daisaku at first and receiving her B-Commander at the same time, she demolished the Jamar soldiers before joining forces with Takuya and Daisaku. She eventually left for the South American branch of Earth Academia to do research and help with protecting the wildlife there. is Rei's successor, a young and cheerful 19-year-old student who was "chosen" by Rei's B-Commander as the next Reddle. Mai has a positive look on life and tries to see the good in everything. She also has a love for Daisaku Katagiri and animals.