Kamen Rider
The Kamen Rider Series, also known as the Masked Rider Series, is a Japanese superhero media franchise consisting of tokusatsu television programs, films, manga, and anime, created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. Kamen Rider media usually revolves around the titular defined group of motorcycle-riding superheroes with an insect motif who fights supervillains, often known as kaiju.
The franchise began in 1971 with the Kamen Rider'' television series, which followed college student Takeshi Hongo and his quest to defeat the world-conquering Shocker organization. The original series spawned television and film sequels and launched the Second Kaiju Boom on Japanese television during the early 1970s, impacting the superhero and action-adventure genres in Japan.
Bandai owns the toy rights to Kamen Rider in Japan and other Asian regions. Bandai Namco Toys and Collectibles America, a subsidiary of Bandai, distributes Kamen Rider merchandise in North America.
Series overview
The entirety of the Kamen Rider franchise revolves around the exploits of the various enhanced superhumans and cyborgs bearing the title of the "Kamen Rider" and their one-man war against a multitude of opposing enemy factions seeking to take over the world for nefarious intentions, usually an evil organization responsible for their augmentation. Barring a few entries, each series' Rider utilizes a transformation belt commonly known as a "Driver" to transform into their enhanced Rider form — usually activated with the transformation phrase "Henshin!" — to fight against various kaijins on a "monster of the week" basis, each armed with a multitude of different combat forms of varying destructive potential and a sizable array of abilities and weapons, with the notable part of their arsenal being their respective "Rider Machine" motorcycle to drive around with, though certain entries of the franchise uses other forms of vehicles as substitutes such as Kamen Rider Drive with the "Tridoron" sports car, Kamen Rider Revice uses an hoverbike via one of Kamen Rider Revi and Vice's forms, and Kamen Rider Gavv's titular Rider conjures a candy-themed buggy as a combat vehicle. Typically, a kaijin is usually defeated either through the Kamen Rider's signature weapons or with the "Rider Kick", a powerful flying dive kick only used when the Kamen Rider deemed their enemies weakened enough to be destroyed that would result in an explosive finish.A recurring theme of the franchise is how any Kamen Rider's powers are derived from a power source and/or technology being used for less noble intentions and the internal turmoil that comes with protecting humanity through violence, as evident by the "tear lines" in the Rider's helmets to represent the agonizing sacrifices made for committing to such a noble cause. Another recurring theme in the franchise is that it portrays how some kaijins, cyborgs and other monstrous beings can also show some degree of humanity to their interaction with mankind, as well as equally portraying how humanity can be ironically seen as radically evil compared to the kaijins and other beings through the various human antagonists of varying maliciousness and cruelty, often displaying their misanthropy towards humanity by becoming monsters themselves. Additionally, unlike its Super Sentai counterpart, most if not all Kamen Riders are morally grey in terms of their respective reasons to fight, usually clashing with other Riders over their ideals and their justifications to accept such power.
Each Kamen Rider series takes place in a standalone continuity within the same universe, the exceptions to this rule being Kamen Rider Decade, Kamen Rider Build, Kamen Rider Zi-O and Kamen Rider Gotchard, with each often crossing over to fight against a common foe in their summer-billed movies taken place somewhere before/after the events of their respective series primarily through the yearly Kamen Rider Movie War film series and/or with the Super Sentai franchise through the Super Hero Taisen film series.
History
Shōwa">Shōwa era">Shōwa era
In 1970, Toei producer Toru Hirayama proposed a "Masked Hero Project", which he approached Shotaro Ishinomori to provide character designs for. This became Kamen Rider, which premiered on April 3, 1971, initially intended as an adaptation of Ishinomori's Skull Man manga. He and Hirayama redesigned the main character to resemble a grasshopper. The hero Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider, played by actor and stuntman Hiroshi Fujioka, was described as a transformed human. During the filming of episode 10, Fujioka was thrown from his motorcycle during a stunt and broke both legs. Although most staff wanted Takeshi to be killed off, Hirayama opposed it, saying "We can't destroy the children's dreams of being almighty." His character was thus temporarily phased out until the introduction of another transformed human, Hayato Ichimonji/Kamen Rider 2 in episode 14. Takeshi was reintroduced in episode 40, and by episode 53, had fully replaced Hayato's character until the two were united in episodes 72, 73, 93, 94 - and the series finale - episode 98.The series from April 1971 to January 1976 included a recurring mentor, Tobei Tachibana, and also featured regular team-ups with each protagonist, with the exception of Amazon, with Hirayama stating "I was planning to save it until the next development, so I thought it was not necessary for a while, but the cancellation was decided." After a four-year hiatus following the finale of Kamen Rider Stronger, the series returned to broadcast television in October 1979 for two years with The New Kamen Rider and Kamen Rider Super-1. This was initiated by Hirayama studying the recent trend in science fiction productions and discussing ideas with fans. In these shows, Tachibana was replaced by a similar character named Genjiro Tani. The annual new shows ended briefly during the 1980s, punctuated by the 1984 Kamen Rider ZX special Birth of the 10th! Kamen Riders All Together!!.
Kamen Rider Black premiered in 1987, the first series since Amazon not hinting at a relationship to its predecessors. Black was the first show in the franchise with a direct sequel: Kamen Rider Black RX, the basis of Saban's Americanized Masked Rider. In RX finale, the ten previous Riders returned to help Black RX defeat the Crisis Empire. Kamen Rider Black RX was the final show produced during the Shōwa era, with the franchise resuming production by the end of the 20th century. A manga of Kamen Rider Black was a novelization and reimagination of the Black-''RX series' continuity. Absent from television during the 1990s, the franchise was kept alive by stage shows, musical CDs, and the Shin, ZO, and J'' films.
Heisei">Heisei era">Heisei era
Phase 1
Toei announced a new project, Kamen Rider Kuuga, in May 1999. Kuuga was part of Ishinomori's 1997 Kamen Rider revival in preparation for its 30th anniversary, but he died before the shows materialized. During the summer of 1999, Kuuga was promoted in magazine advertisements and TV commercials. On January 30, 2000, Kamen Rider Kuuga premiered with newcomer Joe Odagiri. Following Kuuga 2001 sequel Kamen Rider Agito, the series deviated into a series of unconnected stories starting from Kamen Rider Ryuki in 2002 to Kamen Rider Kabuto in 2006.In 2005, Kamen Rider: The First was produced. Written by Toshiki Inoue, the film reimagines the manga and original television series and characters from the original series had their storylines altered to fit the film's time span. Masaya Kikawada played Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider 1 and Hassei Takano was Hayato Ichimonji/Kamen Rider 2. This was followed in 2007 by Kamen Rider The Next, an adaptation of Kamen Rider V3 starring Kazuki Kato as Shiro Kazami/Kamen Rider V3 and with Kikawada and Takano reprising their roles.
The eighth series, Kamen Rider Den-O, followed in 2007. It differed from past Kamen Rider series with the main protagonist being unsure of himself and uses a large vehicle, the DenLiner: a time traveling bullet train. Although the series has only two riders, they have multiple forms similar to Black RX, Kuuga, and Agito. Due to Den-O popularity, a second film crossover with the 2008 series Kamen Rider Kiva was released on April 12, 2008. The top film in its opening weekend, it grossed ¥730 million. In addition, Animate produced an OVA, Imagin Anime, with SD versions of the Imagin. A third film, Saraba Kamen Rider Den-O: Final Countdown serves as a series epilogue. According to Takeru Satoh, who played the titular protagonist in the television series and first three films, Den-O was successful because of its humor.
The 2009 series, Kamen Rider Decade, commemorated the Heisei run's 10th anniversary with its protagonist able to assume the forms of his predecessors. Japanese recording artist Gackt performed the series' opening theme, "Journey through the Decade", and the film's theme song and jokingly expressed interest in playing a villain on the show. Also announced in 2009 was a fourth Den-O film, starting with Cho Kamen Rider Den-O & Decade Neo Generations: The Onigashima Warship. In the March 2009 issue of Kindai magazine, Decade star Masahiro Inoue said that the series was scheduled for only 30 episodes.
Phase 2
Advertisements in May, June, and July 2009 promoted the debut of Kamen Rider W, who first appeared at the 10th-anniversary Masked Rider Live event and was featured in Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker. The staff of W said that they planned to make 10 more years of Kamen Rider, differentiating subsequent series from the Kuuga through Decade period. The hero of Kamen Rider W is the first Kamen Rider to transform from two people at once, and the series premiered on September 6, 2009. Continuing into 2010 with Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider W & Decade: Movie War 2010, W ran from September 2009 to September 2010 instead of from January to January. The second, third, and fourth films of the Cho-Den-O series, collectively known as Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider The Movie: Cho-Den-O Trilogy, were also released in 2010. Late 2010 brought the series Kamen Rider OOO to television after Ws finale, and 2011 observed the 40th anniversary of the franchise. Festivities that year included the Kamen Rider Girls idol group, the film OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders and OOOs successor, Kamen Rider Fourze, which references the previous heroes in its characters' names and its plot. A crossover film, Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen, was released in 2012 featuring the heroes of all Kamen Rider and Super Sentai series to date.With Fourzes run complete in 2012, Kamen Rider Wizard premiered; its protagonist was the first Kamen Rider to use magic. Wizard additionally had the first homosexual character and cast member with Kaba-chan. Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z, a sequel to 2012's Super Hero Taisen with the revived Metal Hero Series characters from Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie and other characters created by Shotaro Ishinomori appearing in Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Wizard & Fourze: Movie War Ultimatum, was released in 2013.
On May 20, 2013, Toei filed for several trademarks on the phrase. Kamen Rider Gaim previewed on July 25, 2013, revealing a Sengoku period and fruit-themed motif to the series' multiple-rival Kamen Riders and Gen Urobuchi as the series' main writer. The third entry in the Super Hero Taisen film series, Heisei Rider vs. Shōwa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai, marked the 15th anniversary of the Heisei Kamen Rider era and revolved around a conflict between the 15 Heisei Riders and the 15 Showa Riders with Kamen Rider Fifteen, and a cameo appearance by the ToQgers and the Kyoryugers. It also marked the start of a yearly involving each year's Kamen Rider teaming up with the current Super Sentai team in a story tying into that year's entry in the Super Hero Taisen movie series. Gaim was followed in 2014 by Kamen Rider Drive, the first Kamen Rider since Kamen Rider Black RX, to use a car instead of a motorcycle. The fourth Super Hero Taisen, Super Hero Taisen GP, marks Kamen Rider 3 first live-action appearance after the Showa Kamen Rider manga. Kamen Rider Ghost was introduced in 2015. In 2016 the Kamen Rider series celebrated its 45th anniversary, and Toei released the film Kamen Rider 1 on March 26, 2016. Kamen Rider Ex-Aid was introduced in 2016 and was the first Rider series to have a character, Kiriya Kujo, portray the main Rider's motorcycle. A Movie War film known as Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Rider was announced for December 10, 2016, featuring Bandai Namco Entertainment's original character created by Namco prior to merging with Bandai in 2006, Pac-Man. Following up Ex-Aid's finale, Kamen Rider Build premiered on September 3, 2017. The twentieth and last series of the Heisei era, Kamen Rider Zi-O, which commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Heisei era, premiered on September 2, 2018. On December 22, 2018, a film commemorating all the Riders of the Heisei Era titled Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Forever premiered in Japanese theaters.