Kamen Rider Zi-O
Kamen Rider Zi-O is a Japanese tokusatsu drama produced by Toei Company and part of the Kamen Rider franchise. It is the twenty-ninth television series in the franchise and the twentieth and final installment of the Heisei period. The series premiered on September 2, 2018, following the conclusion of Kamen Rider Build. It aired alongside Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger and later the miniseries Super Sentai Strongest Battle, before being joined by Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger in the Super Hero Time programming block.
The series incorporates a time travel and multiverse motif, serving as a tribute to the preceding Heisei-era Kamen Rider productions and functioning as a spiritual successor to Kamen Rider Decade. The series and its related films also feature returning actors reprising their roles from earlier Heisei entries.
Plot
Sougo Tokiwa, a high school senior born in 2000, dreams of becoming a king. He encounters Tsukuyomi, a mysterious girl from the year 2068, who warns him that he is destined to become Ohma Zi-O, the tyrannical "Overlord of Time." Despite his unease about this possible future, Sougo assumes the mantle of Kamen Rider Zi-O to protect the space-time continuum from the Time Jackers, a group attempting to alter the history of the Heisei-era Kamen Riders for their own purposes. He is assisted by Geiz Myokoin, a resistance fighter from 2068 who transforms into Kamen Rider Geiz and initially seeks to kill Sougo to prevent his rise to tyranny, and by Woz, a self-proclaimed prophet who supports Sougo's path toward becoming Ohma Zi-O and later becomes Kamen Rider Woz. Along their journey, Sougo and his allies encounter past Kamen Riders and their companions, earning their trust and acquiring their powers.After graduating from high school, Sougo learns that Swartz, the leader of the Time Jackers, is Tsukuyomi's older brother and has been manipulating both Riders and his fellow Jackers in a plan to merge the entire Kamen Rider multiverse into a single world, which he intends to destroy in order to save his own. Sougo and his allies ultimately fail to prevent Swartz's scheme until Sougo embraces his destiny as Ohma Zi-O to defeat him. However, rather than ruling as foretold, Sougo sacrifices his powers to reverse the damage caused by Swartz, creating a new reality where he lives peacefully with Geiz, Tsukuyomi, and the remaining Time Jackers.
Production
The trademark for Kamen Rider Zi-O was registered by Toei on April 12, 2018.Episodes
As the series pays tribute to the Heisei-era Kamen Rider productions, each tribute episode title includes a short phrase referencing a specific Heisei Kamen Rider series along with a year associated with it. The involvement of Zi-O's predecessor, Kamen Rider Decade, gradually becomes more prominent throughout the show. An asterisk denotes episodes where his appearance, or that of his ally Kamen Rider Diend, coincides with another Rider's tribute episode.The series is divided into four narrative arcs:
- Episodes 1–16 – Birth of Zi-O: Introduces the main characters and overarching plot while paying tribute to Kamen Rider Build, Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, Kamen Rider Fourze, Faiz, Kamen Rider Wizard, Kamen Rider OOO, Kamen Rider Gaim, and Kamen Rider Ghost*.
- Episodes 17–30 – Ohma's Day: Centers on White Woz, who seeks to create Geiz Revive using the powers of three future Riders, while building toward the prophesied Ohma's Day. This arc also includes tributes to Kamen Rider Ryuki and Kamen Rider Blade*, and explores Sougo's past.
- Episodes 31–40 – Road to the King: Focuses on Tsukuyomi's past as she regains her memories. It features tributes to Kamen Rider Agito, Kamen Rider Hibiki, Kamen Rider Kiva, Kamen Rider Kabuto*, and Kamen Rider Den-O.
- Episodes 41–49 – The New Lord*: Reveals Swartz's true plan and depicts Sougo's transformation into Ohma Zi-O. This arc includes tributes to Kamen Rider Drive and film-exclusive Riders.
Films
Heisei Generations Forever
Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Forever was released on December 22, 2018, as part of the Movie War series. It featured the casts of Kamen Rider Zi-O, Kamen Rider Build, and Kamen Rider Den-O. Actor Shunsuke Daitō portrayed the main antagonist, the Super Time Jacker Tid, while Kenichi Takitō provided the voice of the Imagin Futaros.In addition to the Build cast, several former Kamen Rider actors returned, including Toshiki Kashu, Takamasa Suga, Masahiro Inoue, and Shun Nishime, who reprised their roles vocally. Takeru Satoh reprised his role as Ryotaro Nogami in person. The film serves as a shared tribute to Kamen Rider Kuuga, Kamen Rider Den-O, and Kamen Rider W.
Over Quartzer
Kamen Rider Zi-O the Movie: Over Quartzer was released on July 26, 2019, as a double feature with Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger the Movie: Time Slip! Dinosaur Panic. The film featured Japanese boy band Da Pump as the Quartzers, the main antagonists. Da Pump vocalist ISSA portrayed Kamen Rider Barlckxs, while choreographer Papaya Suzuki and actor Syuusuke Saito portrayed Kamen Riders Zonjis and Zamonas, respectively.Additionally, Kamen Rider Drive actors Yu Inaba and Chris Peppler reprised their roles. The film serves as a shared tribute to Kamen Rider Drive, the Heisei-era Kamen Rider productions with Showa-era themes, and the entire Heisei Kamen Rider Series. It also introduced Kamen Rider Zero-One, the first Rider of the Reiwa period. The film takes place after episode 43 and provides an alternate ending to the series.
Reiwa The First Generation
Kamen Rider Reiwa The First Generation was released on December 21, 2019, featuring the casts of Kamen Rider Zi-O and Kamen Rider Zero-One. The film serves as a shared tribute to Kamen Rider Zero-One, the original Kamen Rider, and the entire Heisei Kamen Rider Series. Its events take place after the conclusion of the television series.Special episodes
Kamen Rider Zi-O: Supplementary Plan
Kamen Rider Zi-O: Supplementary Plan is a web-exclusive series released on the Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club. Each episode was made available the day after the corresponding broadcast of the main series.| Episode | Title | Original title | Romaji |
| 1.5 | Mystery of Naming | ネーミングの謎 | Nēmingu no Nazo |
| 2.5 | Rules of the World | 世界のルール | Sekai no Rūru |
| 3.5 | Regal Spoilers | 王位なるネタバレ | Ōi Naru Netabare |
| 4.5 | Confession from A-Legends | Aレジェンドの告白 | Ē Rejendo no Kokuhaku |
| 5.5 | Sougo Tokiwa and the Mysterious Phone | トキワ荘ゴと謎電話 | Tokiwa Sōgo to Nazo Denwa |
| 6.5 | The Secret of Fourze 555 | フォーゼ555の秘密 | Fōze Faizu no Himitsu |
| 7.5 | Who Is the Worst Black? | 最悪のブラックは誰だ | Saiaku no Burakku wa Dare da |
| 8.5 | The Terrifying Time Paradox! | 恐怖のタイムパラドックス！ | Kyōfu no Taimu Paradokkusu! |
| 9.5 | The King, God, and Adult | 王と神とオトナ | Ō to Kami to Otona |
| 10.5 | Mouri vs. Shimoyama | モーリ対シモヤマ | Mōri Tai Shimoyama |
| 11.5 | Mysteries of 95DO! | 謎の95DO！ | Nazo no Kujigojidō |
| 12.5 | Interview With Future People | インタビュー・ウィズ・未来人 | Intabyū Wizu Miraijin |
| 13.5 | Ghost Teacher | ユーレイの先生 | Yūrei no Sensei |
| 14.5 | Pink Devil | ピンクの悪魔 | Pinku no Akuma |
| 15.5 | Supplementary Plan Forever: Part 1 | 補完計画よ永遠に（前編） | Hokan Keikaku yo Eien ni |
| 16.5 | Supplementary Plan Forever: Part 2 | 補完計画よ永遠に（後編） | Hokan Keikaku yo Eien ni |
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Rider Time: Kamen Rider Shinobi
Released on the Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on March 31, 2019. Written by Kaori Kaneko and directed by Takayuki Shibasaki. The theme song is "IZANAGI", performed by Sakuramen feat. Hideya Tawada.| Episode | Title | Original title | Romaji |
| 1 | First NinPow!: Hattari's Love Is Unrequited | FIRST 忍POW！ハッタリの恋はイッポウ通行の巻 | Fāsuto Ninpō! Hattari no Koi wa Ippō Tsūkō no Maki |
| 2 | Next NinPow!!: Yaminin's Assassination Technique | NEXT 忍POW!!闇忍の暗殺殺ポウの巻 | Nekusuto Ninpō!! Yaminin no Ansatsu Sappō no Maki |
| 3 | Last NinPow!!!: Dead End and Close Call | LAST 忍POW!!!八ポウ塞がり危機一髪の巻 | Rasuto Ninpō!!! Happō Fusagari Kikiippatsu no Maki |
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Rider Time: Kamen Rider Ryuki
Released on Video Pass on March 31, 2019. Written by Toshiki Inoue and directed by Takayuki Shibasaki. The theme song is "Go! Now! ~Alive A life neo~", performed by Rica Matsumoto.| Episode | Title |
| 1 | Advent Again |
| 2 | Another Alternative |
| 3 | Alive a Life |
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Kamen Rider Zi-O vs. Decade: 7 of Zi-Os!
Released on Telasa on February 9, 2021. Written by Toshiki Inoue and directed by Satoshi Morota. The theme song is "INSIDE-OUT ZI-O ver.", performed by So Okuno and Masahiro Inoue.| Episode | Title | Original title | Romaji |
| 1 | The Drifting School | 漂流学園 | Hyōryū Gakuen |
| 2 | Eve of the War | 戦争前夜 | Sensō Zen'ya |
| 3 | The Last Sougo | 最後のソウゴ | Saigo no Sōgo |
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