Kamen Rider // So You Want To Watch...
While long-running science-fiction franchises are nothing new to America (hello, Star Trek!), we at YDRC would be remiss not to also acknowledge one of the longest running sci-fi franchises in Japan also reaching a milestone year. In this case, the children’s program Kamen Rider has reached its 50th year of existence, and Toei has gone crazy advertising it worldwide. In fact, if you look around on YouTube, you can see that they’re currently uploading the first couple episodes of each season of the franchise. But with 31 seasons of content, dozens of movies, a handful of online original spinoffs, and even manga all from another country in a different language… where do you even begin?
Luckily, there are three shows that you can find either right now, or very soon.
We’ve talked about the original 1971 Kamen Rider series before. It’s currently licensed by Shout! Factory, and can be seen on their streaming channels Shout! Factory TV and TokuSHOUTsu. It can also be found on TubiTV’s free streaming service as well. Sadly, there is no actual physical release yet, but hope remains eternal.
To reiterate what we’ve talked about, the original Kamen Rider is a highly episodic adventure series featuring one of two main characters fighting Nazi remnants across Japan. Episodes have the super-science organization Shocker sending out a new mutant monster to assault the innocent population of Japan, only to come under the attention of the titular Rider. At that point, a massive old-school fistfight with costumed stuntmen beating the crap out of each other across the landscape of the local quarry.
The first episodes focused on Takeshi Hongo, played by Hiroshi Fujioka. A man forcefully turned into a cyborg by Shocker, a guilt-riddled scientist freed him before they could brainwash him. The man did all his own stunts, both in and out of the Kamen Rider costume owing to both the low budget of the show and the sheer manliness of Fujioka. However, he would shatter his leg in a motorcycle accident while filming episode 10, requiring a drastic change.
Enter Hayato Ichimonji, played by Takeshi Sasaki. Another man forcefully converted by Shocker and escaping before being brainwashed, he would fight on and do his own stunts as well. As the series entered its second year, the main actors would swap once more, with Hongo returning after Hiroshi Fujioka’s leg had healed. The show would nickname them the “double Riders” and much kicking of Nazis would happen. It lasted a total of 98 episodes, with three movies being crafted out of episodes for the big screen.
The writing is schlocky, and we mean that in the best way. Shocker is comically evil, and their mooks dress like knockoff Mexican wrestlers while making high-pitched shrieks during combat. Both Riders are stoic men who can admit their emotions, but embody all aspects of justice that a child can identify with easily. As such, there’s little in terms of complex morality, and you really won’t see anyone other than that one scientist feeling guilt over the evil deeds of Shocker. The show doesn’t pretend to do anything else, and it’s hard to expect it when one of their villains is literally named Doctor Death (one translation of the name Shinigami Hakase). Who, again, is a Nazi.
Kamen Rider Kuuga came out in 2000 after the series had been slumbering for almost a decade. As such, it experienced a massive bump in quality and storytelling. You can currently find it on the same previously mentioned streaming services as well, but it also lacks the home release fans crave.
The story of Kuuga actually takes some inspiration from another show popular at the time in Japan: the American series X-Files. An ancient species called the Grongi have become awoken from an archeological dig, and the inhumans are decidedly unhappy that mankind has risen in their place. What happens is a slaughter as the police are helpless against the Grongi and their murderous games. Keeping them mysterious, even the audience doesn’t get to understand them, as their Grongi language isn’t even subtitled!
Luckily for mankind, we have Godai Yusuke, played by Joe Odagiri. Godai is a man who is a literal jack of all trades, a handyman who claims 2000 talents to his name. During a Grongi attack on a study of the artifacts where Godai is also visiting his friends, he accidentally activates an ancient belt that enables one to transform into the warrior of legend: Kuuga. There’s just one problem:
The belt didn’t come with instructions.
Luckily, some of Godai’s friends are those archeologists who accidentally unleashed the Grongi and survived. Their research and translation of ancient texts allow Godai to unlock the belt’s various transformations, and also help explain what happened between mankind’s ancestors and the Grongi.
This series was also still aimed for kids, airing alongside the Japanese source material for Power Rangers: Time Force during its original run. However, it’s shot much like a drama series of the time, with a heavy focus on character development rather than selling toys of the week. Another unexpected twist despite the audience is that the series does not shy away from the violence. Many people die in horrible ways that are still TV friendly, but blood can frequently be seen when you would expect sparks, explosions, or nothing at all.
Kuuga is also right in that weird spot when CGI was becoming affordable, but still didn’t look that good yet. A lot of the special effects focus on the physical, but then you also have early examples of CGI that have aged hilariously bad. It really adds to the charm of the series in this case, however, and becomes just something you don’t notice as episodes roll on.
The latest complete Kamen Rider series, Kamen Rider Zero-One isn’t available legally quite yet. However, Shout! Factory and Toei recently made the announcement that Zero-One would become one of two series to be licensed for more American releases. Filmed in 2019 and 2020, Zero-One has some of the best effects the franchise has seen, but also has a reduced episode count thanks to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s the vague future, and the company Hiden Intelligence has rolled out actual artificial intelligence. The HumaGear is an autonomous human-looking artificial being that is intended to assist mankind, either in assistance or as a working class. However, actions taken in the past to make the HumaGears are coming back to bite mankind in the ass, and it’s up to the grandson of Hiden Intelligence’s president to save the day.
Played by Fumiya Takahashi, Hiden Aruto is forced into the position of President of Hiden Intelligence with the death of his grandfather. A remarkably large goofball who has dedicated his life to comedy, he finds himself trying to prove his grandfather’s dream of man and machine living in harmony. In a way, Aruto feels like a combination of Spider-Man and Iron Man: a super-rich man who has a multi-million dollar company and a suit of armor… who also happens to feel heavy responsibility due to the circumstances in his life.
Unlike the previous two shows we mentioned, however, Zero-One actually features a lot of character work that explores the idea of humanity as a whole. The series revels in asking if artificial intelligence can exist on the same level of mankind, as well as if it’s possible for machines to possess a soul. The series also takes the time to address what trauma can do to a person, with some major characters making it their entire arc for the series. There’s even a bit of body horror, as some of the villains hijack HumaGears, corrupting their bodies beyond repair. It does all of these in uncomplicated terms at first, and will make both kids and parents think.
Zero-One also comes from the era of the franchise where selling toys is a high focus, on top of telling a good story. As such, there are about a dozen different brightly-colored Riders and tons of additional forms, all intricately designed and spectacular in motion. At the very least, each episode is going to have something new shown off, be it the newest form Aruto uses as Zero-One, or a new villainous rider. It’s a careful balancing act for a series to walk, and the crew of Zero-One did it fantastically well.
Aside from the also-announced Kamen Rider Ryuki, that covers the current and soon to be available shows in America. However, Toei has also been putting out shows on their YouTube channel. While most of them have been completely obscure live action shows so far, there’s also been that sampling of other Rider shows we mentioned earlier. Of the shows available, which ones are also good to get in on?
And, should you not mind the less than legal route of obtaining content, what would be great to start off?
Kamen Rider W (pronounced “Double”) focuses on the detectives Hidari Shotaro and Phillip, as they investigate and combat crime throughout the city of Fuuto. A crime syndicate has been distributing Gaia Memories, USB drives that seem to corrupt their user and transform them by sliding into the body. Shotaro and Phillip make use of their own Gaia Memories and a transformation belt to stop them as the two-in-one detective of Double.
The show is fairly episodic, being told as two-part adventures throughout the run. This makes the two episodes Toei have posted a great sample of the series. It also loves to sell toys, but puts thought into what’s being done, so the series simply gives the main Kamen Riders multiple alternate forms and gadgets to fit the situation. One of the better stand-alone shows, W is one that is not to be missed.
Kamen Rider ZO is a stand-alone movie released in 1993 to keep the franchise alive while it was falling into obscurity. The 48 minute movie focuses on Aso Masaru, played by Domon Ko. He was forcibly altered into a cyborg as a test for a mad scientist. However, when the latest creation by the mad scientist threatens the scientist’s son, it’s up to Masaru to become a Kamen Rider and save the day.
ZO is best-known in the franchise for having some of the most terrifying monster designs around. Stop-motion effects are used to great effect with a spider-monster, while the suit effects look amazing. You’re not gonna get a lot of in-depth character work here, just an awesome guy punching awesome monsters. But that’s really all you’ll need.
Kamen Rider J was the other stand-alone movie released in theaters to keep the franchise remembered by the kids, this time in 1994. Segawa Koji is a nature photographer, as played by Mochizuki Yuta. Yuta is more often remembered, however, for playing the Red Ranger in the source material later used in Power Rangers: Dinosaur Sentai Zyuranger. When aliens invade the Earth and kidnap a young girl that Koji is looking after, the Earth itself grants power to Koji to literally save the world.
J is a weird little movie, with the plot being about on par with the old arcade game Double Dragon: girl kidnapped, go save the world. However, the fights are truly amazing. J has to fight a giant alligator man in a river, a bee-woman in a quarry, and a cobra demon in the middle of the alien spaceship using a lightsaber. If you can put aside 46 minutes on a lazy weekend, you’re not gonna regret it.
Kamen Rider is a massive franchise with a ton of variety focused around guys in armor beating the crap out of one another. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s almost guaranteed an aspect of the franchise for you. It’s not always easy to get your hands on, nor always legal, but this is one of those franchises that will gladly repay you for the time dedicated to it.
