Bud Bison

Bud Bison, known as Gonta Ushijima (牛島ゴン太) in Japan, is a character in the MegaMan Star Force series. He's a big guy who is one of Luna Platz's lackeys. He can turn into Taurus Fire at will because of the Hunter VG that Bud owns in MegaMan Star Force 3. Proud to be like MegaMan and Harp Note, when Bud is Taurus Fire, he helps MegaMan defrost himself and others in the Diamond Ice conflict. Although somewhat indirectly and not as accurately, he replaces Dex Oyama's role.

Personality
Bud is shown to be a tough guy and a gruff bully, but he's actually pretty lonely in the inside. The BrotherBand with Luna helped him out with his loneliness. However, he can be idiotic and a regular "dumb, tough guy" most of the times. He also is a fan of Sonia Strumm (Sonia Sky) in both the games and the anime.

Game History
Bud is almost never seen without Luna Platz and Zack Temple. He seems to be more friendly with Zack, possibly due to the fact that they both are lackeys. During one of Omega-Xis' reckless moments, Geo accidentally punched Bud, which knocked him out and humiliated him. Luna threatened him to act better or their BrotherBand will be cut, which put Bud to depression. Taurus took the chance to manipulate Bud and for about 3 days, Bud, influenced by Taurus, trampled over anything red. One night, while Geo was walking home from Vista Point, Taurus convinced Bud to EM Wave Change with him, and the two became the EM life form Taurus Fire. Fortunately, MegaMan defeated Taurus Fire and Bud returned to normal.

For the rest of the game, Bud is shown as nothing more than an innocent bystander, being caught up in Cygnus Wing's Swan Dance, being turned into an EM Wave human experiment, and being captured by Jammers. He looked up to MegaMan, and when Geo (as MegaMan) saved Bud, Luna, and Zack, he asked Geo to make a BrotherBand with him.

In MegaMan Star Force 2, he is shown to be a fan of a pro skier named Amy Gelande. Trying to impress her, Bud accidently turns into Taurus Fire, without the help of Taurus himself. We later see Bud Bison in as Budicus, for he doesn't remember anything until he remembers his favorite eating habit. The Shaman of Whazzup Village persuades his people to think he is god to attract tourist. Because of this, MegaMan had to save Budicus from Rogue.

In MegaMan Star Force 3, Bud shows that he knows about the forbidden art of "Boxers Off", which Dex used in MegaMan Battle Network 5. Geo, Bud and Zack explain it to Jack while at the beach in Alohaha. Just like in Battle Network 5, the screen goes black and you hear a ripping sound, which probably meant that he failed and ripped his underwear.

Anime History
Bud is shown to be a regular tough guy most of the times, and will use violence to solve problems, which didn't work on Geo. He also seems to be more independent on the anime than the games, but still follows Luna around.

When Geo first went to school, he was jealous of Luna showing Geo around. When Taurus attacked Omega-Xis, he coincidentally found Bud and forced an EM-Wave Change. Fortunately, Luna's comments left him unguarded and Taurus Fire was defeated, leaving Bud no memory of what happened.

Bud, along with Zack and Luna, saw with their own eyes that Geo is MegaMan and the existance of Omega-Xis. However, only Luna refused to believe it, untill the end of the Tribe series, and even then only to herself.

Manga History
Bud encounters a gang of street thugs who decided to bully him and an innocent puppy. Afterwards, Bud decided he wanted to protect the puppy and get payback at the bullies, drawing Taurus to him. Taurus tricked him once again and merged with him, turning into Taurus Fire. He got revenge with the bullies, yet when MegaMan appeared, he was defeated. He later continued to be dragged in situations caused by the FM-ians, and became friends with Geo.

Name origin
English

Bud is the shortened form of the name and term Buddy, which can be used in either way to mean "friend." Bison is the formal name for cattle, which is a reference to Bud being the match for Taurus.

Japanese

The reference to bison is also made in his Japanese name, Ushijima, which uses the Kanji "ushi" (cattle) and "shima" (island).