Big Bad Beetleborgs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Bad Beetleborgs |
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| Genre | Action/Adventure Comedy horror Science Fiction Superhero |
| Created by | Haim Saban Shuki Levy Toei Company |
| Based on | Juukou B-Fighter & B-Fighter Kabuto by Toei Company |
| Starring | Wesley Barker Herbie Baez Shannon Chandler Brittany Konarzewski Billy Forester Vivian Smallwood Kim Delgado Channe Nolen Christopher Cho Claudine Barros Marshal Hilton Blake Torney David Fletcher Joe Hackett Frank Tahoe Lina Godouse |
| Theme music composer | Jeremy Sweet Billy Forester |
| Composer(s) | Jeremy Sweet Barry Trop Inon Zur Shuki Levy Kussa Mahchi |
| Country of origin | United States Japan |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 88 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Haim Saban Shuki Levy Lance H. Robbins |
| Producer(s) | Robert Hughes |
| Production location(s) | California (Santa Paula & Los Angeles) Japan (Kyoto, Yokohama and Tokyo) |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Saban Entertainment Renaissance-Atlantic Films Toei Company, Ltd. Bugboy Productions, Inc. |
| Distributor | Saban International |
| Release | |
| Original network | FOX (Fox Kids) |
| Original release | September 7, 1996 – March 2, 1998 |
Big Bad Beetleborgs (later called Beetleborgs Metallix) was an American live-action TV show. It was made by Saban Entertainment and aired on Fox Kids. The show ran for two seasons from September 7, 1996, to March 2, 1998.
This series used action scenes from Japanese superhero shows called Juukou B-Fighter and B-Fighter Kabuto. Unlike other superhero shows like Power Rangers, Beetleborgs focused more on funny situations and less on fighting a new bad guy every week.
Contents
What is Big Bad Beetleborgs About?
How the Kids Became Beetleborgs
The story starts in a town called Charterville. Three friends, Drew, his sister Jo, and their best friend Roland, take a dare. They go into the spooky Hillhurst Mansion. It turns out the mansion is full of real, goofy monsters!
While running from the monsters, the kids accidentally free a friendly ghost named Flabber. He was trapped inside a pipe organ. To thank them, Flabber offers to grant them one wish. They wish to become their favorite comic book heroes, the Big Bad Beetleborgs!
But there's a problem! Their wish also brings the Beetleborgs' enemies, the Magnavores, to life. The Magnavores are led by the evil Vexor. Now, the kids have to fight these villains who come right out of their comic books.
The Magnavores often summon new monsters from the comics to fight the Beetleborgs. In one big adventure, Vexor creates a powerful evil Beetleborg called Shadowborg. Shadowborg even steals the Beetleborgs' powers for a short time! The kids get help from a temporary hero, Josh Baldwin, to get their powers back.
Near the end of the first season, the Magnavores bring a new villain, Nukus, to life. Nukus helps them at first, but he secretly plans to get rid of them. He creates a super monster called Borgslayer. Nukus tricks some rich bullies, Trip and Van, into telling the Beetleborgs how to defeat Borgslayer. When Borgslayer is destroyed, the Magnavores are sent back into the comic books.
Beetleborgs Metallix: New Powers, New Villains
At the start of Season 2, Nukus challenges the Beetleborgs. He is too strong and destroys their armor, weapons, and powers. This leads to the second season, Beetleborgs Metallix.
Nukus finds out his creator is Art Fortunes' brother, Les Fortunes, who is in prison. Nukus breaks Les out and uses his drawings to create new villains called the Crustaceans. Les now draws new monsters for Nukus to use.
To fight back, Art Fortunes creates new powers, armor, and weapons for the kids. Flabber brings these to life, and the kids become the Beetleborgs Metallix!
The Lost Comic and Roboborg
The battle gets even bigger when the Fortunes brothers find a time capsule. It contains a "Lost Comic" they made as kids. This comic features a powerful Astral Sword that can summon a giant robot called Roboborg.
Nukus creates his own evil team from the Lost Comic, the Mantrons. But the Beetleborgs get help from the Astral Borgs. After many fights, the Beetleborgs get the Astral Sword and summon Roboborg. Roboborg helps send the Mantrons back into the comic.
The Crustaceans then create their own giant robot, Boron. Nukus and Vilor also get stronger "Mega" forms. In response, Roboborg upgrades the Beetleborgs to their Mega Spectra forms.
The series ends with Boron becoming an ally to the Beetleborgs. Les Fortunes decides to go back to prison, which stops Nukus from creating new monsters. The Crustaceans are left without a way to return to the comic world, leaving the final battle unfinished.
Who are the Main Characters?
The Beetleborgs Heroes
- Andrew "Drew" McCormick (played by Wesley Barker) – He is the leader of the team. First, he is the Blue Stinger Beetleborg, then the Chromium Gold Beetleborg. Flabber gives him the power of telekinesis, which means he can move things with his mind. His armor looks like a Japanese rhinoceros beetle.
- Roland Williams (played by Herbie Baez) – He is the Green Hunter Beetleborg, then the Titanium Silver Beetleborg. His family owns the comic book shop where the friends hang out. Flabber gives him super speed. His armor looks like a stag beetle.
- Josephine "Jo" McCormick (played by Shannon Chandler, then Brittany Konarzewski) – Drew's younger sister. She is the Red Striker Beetleborg, then the Platinum Purple Beetleborg. Flabber gives her super strength. Her first armor looks like a female Japanese rhinoceros beetle, and her second like a ladybug. Jo's appearance changed during the show due to a magic spell.
The Hillhurst Mansion Monsters
These goofy monsters live in the supposedly haunted Hillhurst Mansion. They often try to eat humans who visit, but they never succeed!
- Flabber (played by Billy Forester) – A friendly ghost who was trapped in a pipe organ. He grants the kids' wish to become Beetleborgs. He is like a helpful advisor and friend to the kids, often using his magic to help them.
- Mums (voiced by Michael Sorich, played by Blake Torney) – A 5,000-year-old Egyptian mummy. He used to be a prince. He can unwrap his bandages to look like a "Grim Reaper."
- Frankenbeans (played by David Fletcher) – A big, clumsy monster like Frankenstein's monster. He doesn't talk much and isn't very smart. He literally has no brain, which sometimes helps him!
- Count Fangula (played by Joe Hackett) – A vampire who is a bit silly. He seems to be the only one who understands what Wolfie, the werewolf, is saying.
- Wolfgang "Wolfie" Smith (played by Frank Tahoe, voiced by Michael Sorich and Scott Page-Pagter) – A werewolf who acts more like a family dog. He's often the bravest of the Hillhurst monsters.
- Little Ghoul (played by Lina Godouse) – A small, hooded ghoul who joins the Hillhurst group later. She lives in the basement and loves collecting things. She has a short temper!
Helpful Friends and Family
- "Nano" Williams (played by Vivian Smallwood) – Roland's cool grandmother. She is a trained martial artist and rides a motorcycle. She often helps the kids.
- Aaron Williams (played by Kim Delgado) – Roland's father who runs Zoom Comics.
- Abbie Williams (played by Channe Nolen) – Roland's mother. She takes over running Zoom Comics when Aaron is away.
- Arthur "Art" Fortunes (played by Rigg Kennedy) – The creator of the Beetleborgs comics. He often helps Flabber create new powers and weapons for the kids.
The Villains
- Magnavores – The first group of bad guys the Beetleborgs fight. They come from the comic books.
- Vexor (voiced by Joey Pal) – The leader of the Magnavores. He gets very annoyed with his team's mistakes.
- Typhus (voiced by Dave "Foots" Footman) – A strong, beast-like monster. He has an extra mouth on his head!
- Noxic (voiced by David Umansky) – A robot with coils for hair. He can control machines by attaching his head to them.
- Jara (voiced by Rajia Baroudi) – A female monster with a white mask. She speaks with a Russian accent.
- Shadowborg (voiced by Bob Papenbrook) – An evil black Beetleborg created by Vexor. He is very powerful and can cut through anything.
- Crustaceans – The second group of villains, created by Les Fortunes.
- Nukus (played and voiced by Christopher Cho) – The main villain of the second season. He is a powerful overlord who comes from Les Fortunes' drawings. He destroys the Beetleborgs' original powers.
- Horribelle (played and voiced by Claudine Barros) – Nukus's right-hand woman. She is an insect-like fighter with two swords.
- Vilor (voiced by Dave "Foots" Footman) – A fish-like fighter with a trident. He is also created by Les Fortunes.
- Lester "Les" Fortunes (played by Marshal Hilton) – Art Fortunes' older brother. He is a talented artist who creates all the Crustacean monsters for Nukus.
Beetleborgs Gear and Vehicles
Big Bad Beetleborgs Gear
- Beetle Bonders – These devices let the kids transform into Beetleborgs. They shout "Beetle Blast!" to change.
- Sonic Laser Saber – A powerful weapon made by combining the Sonic Lasers (fire-arms) and Pulsabers (small swords).
- Beetle Battlers – Each Beetleborg has their own special weapon:
- Stinger Blade – Drew's weapon.
- Hunter Claw – Roland's weapon.
- Striker Blaster – Jo's weapon.
- Attack Vehicles (A.V.s) – Big vehicles the Beetleborgs use in large battles. They can combine to form the Gargantis Mega Cannon.
Beetleborgs Metallix Gear
- "Bug Out" – A special ability that lets the Beetleborgs shrink down to the size of insects. They can do this in human or Beetleborg form.
- Data Bonders – The new transformation devices for Metallix. Kids insert cards to transform.
- Metallix Battlers – New main weapons for the Metallix team:
- Metallix Lancer – Chromium Gold Beetleborg's weapon.
- Metallix Grappler – Titanium Silver Beetleborg's weapon.
- Metallix Baton – Platinum Purple Beetleborg's weapon.
- Sector Cycles – The Beetleborgs' new bikes. They can turn into powerful Mega Spectra Sector Cycles with laser beams called Spectra Fire.
- Astral Sword – A special sword that can summon the giant robot Roboborg.
- Astral Blaster – A powerful combined weapon.
- Mega Spectra Weapons – New weapons for the upgraded Mega Spectra Beetleborgs.
- Battle Vehicles (B.V.s) – New heavy vehicles for the Metallix team to fight large enemies.
Giant Robots
- Roboborg (voiced by Michael Sorich) – A giant robot summoned by the Astral Sword. He helps the Beetleborgs fight big monsters.
- Boron (voiced by Y.I. Otta) – Roboborg's evil counterpart, created by Les Fortunes. He is summoned by the Astral Axe. Later, the Beetleborgs trick the villains and Boron switches to the good side!
Behind the Scenes
Big Bad Beetleborgs and Beetleborgs Metallix ended because the creators ran out of Japanese footage to use. Many monster costumes from the show were later used in other Power Rangers series. For example, Shadowborg's suit became General Venjix in Power Rangers Wild Force.
The show's theme music was created by Jeremy Sweet and Billy Forester. A new version was made for the Beetleborgs Metallix episodes.
Images for kids
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The logo for Big Bad Beetleborgs.
| Big Bad Beetleborgs | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Genre | Action/Adventure Comedy horror Science Fiction Superhero |
| Created by | Haim Saban Shuki Levy Toei Company |
| Based on | Juukou B-Fighter & B-Fighter Kabuto by Toei Company |
| Starring | Wesley Barker Herbie Baez Shannon Chandler Brittany Konarzewski Billy Forester Vivian Smallwood Kim Delgado Channe Nolen Christopher Cho Claudine Barros Marshal Hilton Blake Torney David Fletcher Joe Hackett Frank Tahoe Lina Godouse |
| Theme music composer | Jeremy Sweet Billy Forester |
| Composer(s) | Jeremy Sweet Barry Trop Inon Zur Shuki Levy Kussa Mahchi |
| Country of origin | United States Japan |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 88 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Haim Saban Shuki Levy Lance H. Robbins |
| Producer(s) | Robert Hughes |
| Production location(s) | California (Santa Paula & Los Angeles) Japan (Kyoto, Yokohama and Tokyo) |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Saban Entertainment Renaissance-Atlantic Films Toei Company, Ltd. Bugboy Productions, Inc. |
| Distributor | Saban International |
| Release | |
| Original network | FOX (Fox Kids) |
| Original release | September 7, 1996 – March 2, 1998 |
