Kamen Rider Series

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A statue of Kamen Rider 1 outside of Bandai Corporate Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan
A statue of Kamen Rider 1 outside of Bandai Corporate Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan

The Kamen Rider Series (仮面ライダーシリーズ Kamen Raidā Shirīzu?, translated as Masked Rider Series) is the overall name of a franchise of Japanese tokusatsu. The franchise began in 1971 with a show titled Kamen Rider which followed college student Hongo Takeshi and his quest to defeat Shocker. Over the years, the popularity of the franchise has grown and the original series has spawned many television and theatrical sequels.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Shōwa era

The Kamen Rider Series originally began under the title "Masked Hero Project". Produced by Toru Hirayama (平山 亨 Hirayama Tōru?), the series spent nearly five years on hold while Hirayama worked on other shows and searched for a proper character designer. In 1969, Shotaro Ishinomori, who was a known face in Tokusatsu at the time, was approached by Hirayama to have his Skull Man manga adapted for the Masked Hero Project. Originally the project was rejected due to criticisms that it was too violent for the timeslot it was given. After the duo reworked the story and designs, the final Kamen Rider design, a grasshopper, was chosen by Ishinomori's son. This drawing would go on to become the original Kamen Rider 1, after some modification.

Kamen Rider premiered in April 1971, to lower than expected ratings, and verged on the brink of cancellation. During the filming of episode 10, Fujioka Hiroshi, the actor of Kamen Rider 1, was thrown off of his motorcycle during the filming of a stunt. Crashing into a telephone pole, he shattered both his legs. Toei then went through many methods to have Hongo appear less and less until episode 13, when Ichimonji Hayato was introduced. Until episode 52 when Fujioka Hiroshi returned, Ichimonji Hayato was Kamen Rider 2 and the star of the show. Upon his return in episode 53, Hongo became the main character once more. Both Kamen Riders 1 and 2 would go on to appear in every show in the first half of the Shōwa era. The continuous run from April 1971 to January 1976 distinguished itself by featuring the recurrent mentor character, Tobei Tachibana (立花 藤兵衛 Tachibana Tōbei?).

After a four year hiatus, the series returned to television broadcast in October 1979 for two years. In these new shows, the role of Tachibana was replaced by a similar character named Genjiro Tani (谷 源次郎 Tani Genjirō?). Airing in 1984, the Kamen Rider ZX special, Birth of the 10th! Kamen Riders All Together!!, became the last show in the franchise to be produced by Hirayama.

Kamen Rider Black was the first series that neither indicated nor hinted at any relationship with its predecessors. Kamen Rider Black was the first show in the franchise to feature a direct sequel, Kamen Rider Black RX, the basis of Saban's Americanized Masked Rider. RX's finale showed the ten previous Riders return to help Black RX defeat the Crisis Empire, this is the last time any Rider from a previous show would appear in another series. Kamen Rider Black RX was the final show to be produced during the Shōwa era.

[edit] Heisei era

Being completely absent from television during the 1990s, the franchise was kept alive mainly by stage shows, musical CDs, and the Shin, ZO, and J movies. Toei announced its new project, Kamen Rider Kuuga, in May of 1999. Kuuga was part of a Kamen Rider rebirth that Ishinomori had worked on in 1997, planning for a leadup into the 30th anniversary. However, Ishinomori passed away before he could see these shows materialize. During the summer of 1999, Kuuga became publicized through magazine ads and commercials. On January 30th, Kamen Rider Kuuga premiered to high ratings, which would throughout the anniversary series, Kamen Rider Agito.

The third series in the Heisei era was Kamen Rider Ryuki. Using the concept of 13 Riders, Ryuki took a turn away from previous series, however, resulting in lower than expected ratings. The series and franchise as a whole was helped to continue in large part due to the toy sales of Kamen Rider Ryuki. The next series, Kamen Rider 555 (pronounced Phi's), continued with strong toy sales and slightly lower ratings than Ryuki.

The fifth and six series were plagued with behind the scenes problems. Kamen Rider Blade has become the second lowest rated Kamen Rider series as well as being noted for poor toy sales. During the course of the series, the main writer and director crew were fired to allow franchise veterans to return as main writers. Kamen Rider Hibiki, the sixth series, became one of the most controversial series in the history of the franchise. Introducing new themes and taking on a different look, while the series broke the chain of each series having lower ratings than the last since Agito, its toy sales were relatively low. As with Blade, a new directing and writing team was brought onto the show during the midterm of the series.

Later on in 2005, Kamen Rider The First was produced. The movie was an original reimagining of both the manga and original television series. Various characters from the original series had their storylines altered to fit the time span of the movie.

Kamen Rider Kabuto, the seventh series, celebrated the 35th anniversary of the show. It was the first show in the Heisei era to use the trademark attack, "Rider Kick". The series brought back many conventional aesthetic conventions of the Kamen Rider legacy such as bug-like motifs and weapons. The series suffered from low ratings, causing it to become the lowest rated series in the franchise to date.

Kamen Rider Den-O, the eighth and current series, takes a turn from past Kamen Rider series, introducing a Kamen Rider that is completely unsure of himself. The series marks the first time a mecha has been used in the franchise, the DenLiner; a bullet train that can travel through time and take on various forms to fight against monsters called Imagin.

The year 2007 will also see a sequel to Kamen Rider The First entitled Kamen Rider The Next. It will feature Kazuki Kato (previously Kamen Rider Drake in Kabuto) portraying Kamen Rider V3, the title character of the second television series.

[edit] Series overview

Although each entry in the series is different, each one shares similar traits with one and another. All generally involve at least one young adult male transforming into a Kamen Rider to fight various monsters and organizations linked to that specific Kamen Rider's origin. As the series progresses, the Rider often learns more about the monsters in the series, other Kamen Riders or the origin of his powers. Early Kamen Riders were generally based on grasshoppers, but this practice has only been done twice in the newer set of shows. Usually referred to as Rider Machines, motorcycles are an integral part of the series. Early Kamen Riders wore scarfs along with their costumes, but this practice was dropped after Kamen Rider Black.

A trait shared among recent Kamen Riders is their ability to change forms and become stronger versions of themselves. The first power up appeared in Kamen Rider Stronger which was used by the title character. Kamen Rider Black RX had multiple forms, Roborider and Biorider. Since then, every title Kamen Rider in the Heisei era has had at least one power up with Kamen Rider Kuuga having the most, 11.

All Shōwa era Riders gained their powers through some form of surgical alteration to their bodies, a practice seen only once in the current era with Kamen Rider Dark Kabuto. The Heisei era of Kamen Rider varies greatly in its use of Kamen Riders. Whereas all early Kamen Riders fought on the side of justice and peace, there have been numerous Kamen Riders in the Heisei era that have fought for personal reasons such as greed, revenge and the personal enjoyment of battle. Because of this, recent Kamen Riders have become less eager to immediately join the battle of justice.

[edit] Rider finishers

Main article: Rider finishers

Combat techniques generally remain somewhat consistent between series. The "Rider Kick" has become known as the signature attack for Kamen Riders. Although no Heisei era Kamen Rider before Kamen Rider Kabuto named their Rider Kick, it has still been a staple for every Kamen Rider series. Other variations include the Rider Chop and Rider Punch.

[edit] Productions

Various lead Kamen Riders through Kamen Rider Kabuto
Various lead Kamen Riders through Kamen Rider Kabuto

[edit] TV series

[edit] Shōwa era

Kamen Rider (仮面ライダー Kamen Raidā?)
Kamen Rider was the very first show in the franchise, airing from 1971 to 1973, the series set up many themes that are still used today. The series followed the battles of the first two Kamen Riders against Shocker and later Gelshocker. The series ran for 98 episodes, making it the longest series to date.
Kamen Rider V3 (仮面ライダーV3 Kamen Raidā Buisurī?)
Airing from 1973 to 1974, the series ran for 52 episodes and followed Shiro Kazami on his quest to gain revenge against the group that murdered his family. Later on, Riderman, the fourth Kamen Rider is introduced as the first long term villain Kamen Rider. The original Kamen Riders also make various appearances over the course of the series to help Kazami.
Kamen Rider X (仮面ライダーX Kamen Raidā Ekkusu?)
The series aired in 1974 and ran for 35 episodes. Keisuke Jin and his father Kentaro Jin are attack by the Government Of Darkness, Keisuke and his father are both mortally wounded in the attack, but before he dies, Keisuke's transforms his son into Kamen Rider X. Many of the monsters Kamen Rider X faced were based on Greek mythology and later on various animals.
Kamen Rider Amazon (仮面ライダーアマゾン Kamen Raidā Amazon?)
Kamen Rider Amazon aired from 1974 to 1975, airing just 24 episodes, it is the shortest Kamen Rider series to date. Daisuke Yamamoto, an orphan lost in the Amazon has grown up with an Amazon tribe and lead a peaceful life until his tribe was attacked by Gorgos. Before dying, his tribe elder turned Daisuke into Kamen Rider Amazon. This was the first Kamen Rider not to use a belt to transform and the first series not to have any previous Kamen Riders appear, although Amazon meets his seniors in the next series.
Kamen Rider Stronger (仮面ライダーストロンガー Kamen Raidā Sutorongā?)
Airing in 1975, this was intended to be the final Kamen Rider series and aired 39 episodes. Shigeru Jou joins Black Satan after the murder of his best friend and mentor. Knowing the organization to be the culprits, he allows himself to undergo an operation that changes him into Kamen Rider Stronger. Later on, Black Satan is defeated and a new group known as Delza becomes the series enemy. Stronger is later joined by Electro Wave Human Tackle, a female warrior who is later killed. This was also the first series to have a temporary power up for the main character.
Kamen Rider (Skyrider) (仮面ライダー（スカイライダー） Kamen Raidā (Sukairaidā)?)
Airing 54 episodes from 1979 to 1980, Kamen Rider was supposed to be a series reboot. Intended to be a remake of the original series, the idea was slowly phased out as references to the past were made and senior Kamen Riders made guest appearances. Hiroshi Tsukaba is kidnapped and transformed into Kamen Rider as a means to help Doctor Shiro escape Neoshocker. During the course of the series, former Kamen Riders appear and Kamen Rider is dubbed Skyrider by Kamen Rider Stronger to differentiate him from the original Kamen Riders.
Kamen Rider Super-1 (仮面ライダースーパー1 Kamen Raidā Sūpā Wan?)
Airing from 1980 to 1981, the series ran for 48 episodes. Wanting to become an astronaut, Kazuya Oki undergoes an operation that allows him to survive in space. The area were he is operated in is attacked by the Dogma Empire and Kamen Rider Super-1's peers are all killed. Super-1 has special gloves that allow for different attack types.
Kamen Rider Black (仮面ライダーBLACK Kamen Raidā Burakku?)
Airing from 1987 to 1988, the series ran for 51 episodes. After being kidnapped by the cult Gorgom on the night of their 19th birthday, step-brothers Kotaro Minami and Nobuhiko Akizuki are submitted to a mutant surgery with the purpose of becoming the candidates to be the next Creation King. Kotaro escapes before the brainwashing, with help from his foster father, and turned against Gorgom. He soon finds out the horrific truth from his step-father: Gorgom originally killed his true parents. Later on, Kamen Rider Black must battle with his brother, who has become the trump card of Gorgom, Shadow Moon.
Kamen Rider Black RX (仮面ライダーBLACK RX Kamen Raidā Burakku Aru Ekkusu?)
Airing from 1988 to 1989 for 47 episodes, Kamen Rider Black RX is the ninth and final show in the Shōwa era of shows. Years after the defeat of Gorgom, Minami Kotaro is kidnapped by the Crisis Empire. After refusing to join them, he is thrust out into space where he undergoes the change to become Kamen Rider Black RX. This series marked the end of the Shōwa era of shows.

[edit] Heisei era

Kamen Rider Kuuga (仮面ライダークウガ Kamen Raidā Kūga?)
Airing from 2000 to 2001 for 49 episodes, this was the first Kamen Rider series in 11 years and the start of the Heisei era of shows. Yuusuke Godai finds an ancient artifact that allows him to transform into Kamen Rider Kuuga to battle the Grongi forces. Having 11 forms, this series had more power ups than any before or after.
Kamen Rider Agito (仮面ライダーアギト Kamen Raidā Agito?)
Kamen Rider Agito ran from 2001 to 2002 for 51 episodes. This was the first series to feature more than one Kamen Rider as the main character at the same time. Shouichi Tsugami has lost his memories, he lives with a foster family and fights against the Unknown as Kamen Rider Agito. Looking for the origin of his power and his lost memories, this series follows Kamen Rider Agito, G3, Gills and Another Agito. This was the last series to have any form of continuity with a previous series.
Kamen Rider Ryuki (仮面ライダー龍騎 Kamen Raidā Ryūki?)
Airing from 2002 to 2003, Kamen Rider Ryuki ran for 50 episodes and drastically changed the mold of Kamen Rider. Shinji Kido, a reporter, forms a bond with a creature known as a "Contract Beast". Becoming Kamen Rider Ryuki, Shinji joins the war of the 13 Kamen Riders. All fighting for various reasons, the winner of the war will be granted a single wish. Due to low ratings, this series was on the verge of cancellation for a time.
Kamen Rider 555 (仮面ライダー555 Kamen Raidā Faizu?)
Airing from 2003 to 2004, Kamen Rider 555 aired for 50 episodes. A group of evolved humans known as Orphenochs are starting to take control of the world. It is unknown how much of the human population is not an Orphenoch. The Orphenochs are protected by a company called Smart Brain, the creators of the three rider belts. A young loner, Takumi Inui, is unwillingly drawn into the conflict between the Orphenochs and humans and becomes Kamen Rider Faiz to save the life of Mari Sonada. Among the Orphenochs are renegades who wish to fight to protect humans rather than kill them. The series follows Takumi, the renegade Orphenochs and two other Kamen Riders who are both enemies upon their entrance to the series.
Kamen Rider Blade (仮面ライダー剣（ブレイド） Kamen Raidā Bureido?)
Airing from 2004 to 2005 for 49 episodes, Kamen Rider Blade returned to the card motif introduced in Kamen Rider Ryuki. Kenzaki Kazuma has just recently become the user for the Kamen Rider Blade system. Months after becoming a Kamen Rider, the BOARD agency that he is apart of is attacked and nearly wiped out. Trying to discover the reason behind the attack, Kenzaki unwittingly becomes part of the Battle Royale. Later joined by three Kamen Riders, Kenzaki ultimately has to make the toughest decision in his life and make a choice between his friends' happiness and the safety of the human race.
Kamen Rider Hibiki (仮面ライダー響鬼（ヒビキ） Kamen Raidā Hibiki?)
Airing from 2005 to 2006, Kamen Rider Hibiki ran for 48 episodes. Kamen Rider Hibiki's main focus is the story of the teacher and apprentice-like relationship of Adachi Asumu and the title character. Adachi Asumu is a young boy who is unsure of his own skill and worth, and at a crossroads in his life as he transitions to high school. As the series progresses, he learns what it is to be a man, more confident in his own power. The secondary focus of the series is the age old battle of the Kamen Riders (referred to as Oni in this program) and the Makamo, demons that can only be defeated using "pure sound". The series follows the training and changes of the four main Oni, Hibiki, Ibuki, Todoroki and Zanki. The series was plagued by controversy behind the screen, starting with the firing of the principle writers and directors and later leading to drastically altered stories.
Kamen Rider Kabuto (仮面ライダーカブト Kamen Raidā Kabuto?)
Airing from 2006 to 2007 for 49 episodes, Kamen Rider Kabuto was seen as a "return to the basics" after years of new styles and themed gimmicks. Kamen Rider Kabuto revolves around the story of a man named Souji Tendou. He has trained his entire life while waiting for the Kabuto Zecter so that he may properly take up the name of Kamen Rider Kabuto. Making many enemies while at the same time meeting other Riders with mysterious origins, Tendou attempts to accomplish his goal at all costs; Protecting Hiyori by destroying all other Worms that would make life difficult for her. Making a friend in Arata Kagami, who later becomes Kamen Rider Gatack, the two work together and protect Hiyori along with humanity from the alien Worms that arrived from a meteorite seven years ago.
Kamen Rider Den-O (仮面ライダー電王 Kamen Raidā Den'ō?)
Airing in 2007, Kamen Rider Den-O is the current entry in the franchise. It follows the story of Ryotaro Nogami, a young man with incredibly bad luck who is discovered to be a Singularity Point, a human who can exist outside of time itself. When he is possessed by a future lifeform called an Imagin, he reluctantly becomes Den-O to fight the more malignant Imagin that travel back in time to 2007 to grant the wishes of weak-hearted humans so they can travel back further and alter the course of history. He also tries to protect his sister Airi from the past that she cannot remember. He boards the time-traveling train DenLiner and meets the brash and tomboyish Hana, the eccentric Owner, the waitress Naomi, and his own Imagin: Momotaros, Urataros, Kintaros, and Ryutaros. Soon enough, a man named Yuto Sakurai appears and is another Kamen Rider who fights to protect time with the aid of his Imagin Deneb and the ZeroLiner. Yuto is somehow connected with Airi's fiance who mysteriously disappeared.

[edit] TV Specials

Shōwa era
Heisei era

[edit] Theatrical films

Shōwa era
Heisei era

[edit] Original video releases

Original video releases began appearing during the Heisei era of the franchise. Previously depicting independent Riders and storylines, current releases have been shorts part of the series that was currently airing.

Heisei era
Main article: Kamen Rider Hyper Battle
  • 2000: Kamen Rider Kuuga: Versus the Strong Monster Go-Jiino-Da
  • 2001: Kamen Rider Agito: Three rider TV-kun Special
  • 2002: Kamen Rider Ryuki Hyper Battle: Kamen Rider Ryuki Versus Kamen Rider Agito
  • 2003: Kamen Rider 555: The Musical
  • 2004: Kamen Rider Blade: Blade vs Blade
  • 2005: Kamen Rider Hibiki: Asumu Henshin: You can be an Oni too
  • 2006: Kamen Rider Kabuto: Birth! Gatack Hyper Form!

[edit] Motifs

The most commonly seen theme in the Shōwa era was the grasshopper, a symbol that early Kamen Riders have become synonymous with. The Heisei era, however, explored other insects and sometimes even more extreme motifs such as other animals, greek letters, card suits, and musical instruments.

[edit] Shōwa era

[edit] Heisei era

[edit] American adaptations

In 1995, Saban produced the first American Masked Rider series after his success adapting Super Sentai into Power Rangers and Metal Heroes (VR Troopers & Beetleborgs). In 2008, a new series will be broadcast and produced by Steve and Michael Wang.

Saban's Masked Rider
Originally presented as a spin-off of Mighty Morphing Power Rangers. Dex, prince of Edenoi, fled from his planet to the planet Earth at the request of his grandfather. Count Dregon soon followed after in an attempt to steal the Masked Rider powers from Dex. The Masked Rider powers have been passed down through the ages to warriors of immense courage and purity and would bring about the end of the world if they ever fall into the wrong hands. On Earth, Dex poses as a high school student while living with the Stewarts, a family that has agreed to take him in. The footage in this series came from Kamen Rider Black RX as well as the movies, Kamen Rider ZO and Kamen Rider J.
Kamen Rider Dragon Knight
Searching for his father, Kit Taylor has been chosen to become Kamen Rider Dragon Knight. Kamen Riders are an ancient order of protectors who long ago defeated General Xaviax in the Mirror World, a dimension opposite our own. Now, years later, General Xaviax has returned to the human world in his quest to conquer it again. Another Kamen Rider named Len will fight alongside Kit as Kamen Rider Wing Knight. Together, the two will fight to defend the world and find the Advent Cards that General Xaviax spread throughout the world before they can fall into the hands of those who would use them to become Dark Kamen Riders. The footage in this series will come from Kamen Rider Ryuki.

[edit] Homages and parodies in popular culture

The Kamen Rider franchise has been parodied in various productions, both in and outside of Japan. One of the main trademarks being parodied is the Kamen Rider henshin pose. In video games, Skullomania (from Street Fighter) and May Lee (from King of Fighters) are some examples of Kamen Rider parodies, as well as Viewtiful Joe. In anime, various aspects of Kamen Rider are noticeable. Examples range from Tokyo Pig to My-HiME and its sequel My Otome to Dragonball Z; either being used as a comical parody or homage. Live Action wise, known parodies of Kamen Rider include Kamen Renaider, which is a parody skit of Kamen Rider Ryuki, Kamen Zaiber a parody of the original, Kamen Norida a parody of Ichigo and the first series, Kamen Rider HG Hard Gay's parody of the original for a Japanese TV show, and Ridermen a short skit of a man called Ridermen (an obvious parody of the Riderman) on the set of Kamen Rider Kuuga.

[edit] External links

[edit] TV Asahi

[edit] Toei

[edit] Others

v • d • e
Kamen Rider Series
Created by Shotaro Ishinomori and Toru Hirayama
Shōwa TV series: Kamen Rider • V3 • X • Amazon • Stronger • Skyrider • Super-1 • Black • RX
Heisei TV series: Kuuga • AgitΩ • Ryuki • 555 (Φ's) • Blade (♠) • Hibiki • Kabuto • Den-O
Specials: Birth of the 10th! (ZX) • Prologue (Shin) • SD • Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider • Hyper Battle series
Original films: ZO • J • World • The First • The Next
Heisei films: Project G4 • Episode Final • Paradise Lost • Missing Ace • Seven Fighting Demons • God Speed Love • I am Born!
Manga and Books: Spirits • Card Warrior • Kamen Rider Eve -Masked Rider Gaia-
American series: Saban's Masked Rider • Kamen Rider Dragon Knight
See also: Super Sentai • Metal Heroes
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamen_Rider_Series"
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