Tatsuhito Saotome, son of Getter Robo inventor Dr. Saotome, serves as a test pilot for prototype Getter units at the Saotome Institute. He stands at average height with short brown hair and brown eyes, typically clad in a pilot suit or formal business attire. Demonstrating strong family loyalty, Tatsuhito consistently trusts his father's judgment over his sister Michiru's skepticism regarding the Getter project.

As a test pilot during the Prototype Getter Robo's early development, Tatsuhito nearly succumbed to the Getter Ray source beneath the institute during an experiment. This incident inflicted lasting physical damage, reducing his piloting capabilities and forcing his transition to an instructor role. There, he trained potential pilots like Ryoma Nagare. Despite his experience, Tatsuhito lacked the physiological resilience to endure high Getter Ray exposure—a limitation documented during his test tenure. Yet he exhibited exceptional willpower when infected by Oni creatures during an institute assault. To prevent harming others mid-transformation, he stabbed himself while pushing Ryoma into the Eagle Getter Machine, dying during the launch sequence.

In the manga continuity, Tatsuhito similarly trained pilots. While assisting Ryoma Nagare, he became infected by evolved newts infiltrating the institute. During the infection, he attacked his family and Ryoma, prompting Dr. Saotome to burn him to death to neutralize the threat. This death deeply affected his father and sister while motivating Ryoma to combat the invading forces.

Across all depictions, Tatsuhito's death consistently catalyzes the main pilots' involvement. His legacy centers on sacrifice, with his final actions directly enabling the next generation of Getter Robo pilots to confront extraterrestrial or supernatural threats.