Kamen Rider

For other uses, see Kamen Rider (disambiguation).

The Kamen Rider Series (Japanese: 仮面ライダーシリーズ, Hepburn: Kamen Raidā Shirīzu), also known as Masked Rider Series (until Decade), is a Japanese superhero media franchise consisting of tokusatsu television programs, films, manga, and anime, created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. Kamen Rider media generally features a motorcycle-riding superhero with an insect motif who fights supervillains, often known as kaijin (怪人, mystery people).

Kamen Rider
A statue of Kamen Rider 1 outside of Bandai Corporate Headquarters in Taitō, Tokyo
Created by	Shotaro Ishinomori Ishimori Productions Toei Company
Original work	Kamen Rider
Owner	Ishimori Productions Toei Company MBS/NET (1971–1975, up to Amazon) MBS/TBS (1975–1989, from Stronger up to Black RX) TV Asahi (2000–present) ADK (2000–present)
Years	1971–present
Films and television
Film(s)	See below
Television series	See below
Games
Traditional	Rangers Strike
Video game(s)	Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbaride Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes All Kamen Rider: Rider Generation Kamen Rider: Battride War
Audio
Original music	Rider Chips Kamen Rider Girls
Miscellaneous
Toy(s)	DX Henshin Belts Complete Selection Modification Super Imaginative Chogokin Souchaku Henshin Series S.H. Figuarts Rider Kick's Figure Series
Mainly sponsored by	Bandai McDonald's Seiban Ltd. (for Seiban-branded backpacks) Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company (for Oronamin C) Shogakukan Kodansha
Official website
www.kamen-rider-official.com

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 (also known as the Henshin Boom) on Japanese television during the early 1970s, impacting the superhero and action-adventure genres in Japan.^[1]

Bandai owns the toy rights to Kamen Rider Japan (and some Asia regions). Bluefin Distribution, a subsidiary of Bandai Namco, distributes Kamen Rider merchandise in North America.^[2]

Series overview

The Kamen Rider franchise primarily revolving around the eponymous Kamen Rider, a superpowered vigilante who mostly resembles a grasshopper and rides a motorcycle, and their one-man war against an ever-larger malevolent force, usually a terrorist organization bent on world domination. A common running theme in the franchise is that the Rider's power derived from the same source and technology used by malevolent forces, thus forming a moral vow for the protagonists to use this power to fight against evil.

Similar to its counterpart, each series focuses on a different Rider, a new set of characters and a different story set in its own universe, though there been multiple instances of past characters from previous Kamen Rider series crossing over to team up against a common foe.

The Kamen Riders

The Kamen Rider (Japanese: 仮面ライダー, Hepburn: Kamen Raidā, translated as "Masked Rider"), also known as simply Rider (ライダー, Raidā), is a collective name referring to the eponymous heroes and numerous individuals of the series. Usually resembling a grasshopper-themed masked superhero or a similarly-looking vigilante in spandex, the Riders are enhanced humans with superhuman strength, resilience and agility, specifically modified to fight an entire army. Originally created by the terrorist organization known as "Shocker" as a means of creating super-soldiers, one of these potential soldiers, biochemistry lab student and motorcycle enthusiast Takeshi Hongo, escaped from captivity and has since been fighting against Shocker, often recruiting similar individuals to fight alongside him.

Each Rider, whose appearance varies per series, has a full set of arsenal and equipment in their disposal, coined as the Rider System (ライダーシステム, Raidā Shisutemu), consisting of their Rider Belt (ライダーベルト, Raidā Beruto, also known as a "Driver") (a transformation item that allows a Rider to transform), its associating Rider Items (ライダーアイテム, Raidā Aitemu) (which can be used in conjunction with the Rider Belt to gain access to multiple forms) and Rider Weapons (ライダー兵器, Raidā Heiki) (auxiliary items serving as optional weapon of choice for the Riders), and their mode of transportation known as a Rider Machine (ライダーマシン, Raidā Mashin). A common theme amongst the Riders is that the Rider System's power was derived from the same technology/power source used by the villains, ironically using it fight against evil to such extent. From Kamen Rider Kuuga onwards, each Rider has multiple different forms, often divided into six tiers: the default Base Form (ベースフォーム, Bēsu Fōmu) and its multiple alternate Extra Forms (エクストラフォーム, Ekusutora Fōmu), the Mid-Season Form (ミッドシーズンフォーム, Middoshīzun Fōmu), the penultimate Super Form (スーパーフォーム, Sūpā Fōmu), the optional movie-exclusive Movie Form (映画フォーム, Eiga Fōmu) and the powerful aptly-named Final Form (ファイナルフォーム, Fainaru Fōmu).

Every Rider has a selection of powerful finishing moves, either accessible through their respective Rider Weapons and/or through other forms, though the most commonly-used finishing attack is the Rider Kick (ライダーキック, Raidā Kikku), a dive kick capable of destroying most enemies in a single strike by infusing it with such strength that it causes the opponent to violently explode.

History

Showa era

Produced by Toru Hirayama (平山 亨, Hirayama Tōru) and designed by Shotaro Ishinomori (creator of Cyborg 009), Kamen Rider premiered on April 3, 1971 initially intended as an adaptation of Ishinomori's Skull Man. 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 (改造人間, kaizō ningen) (cyborg). During the filming of episode 10, Fujioka was thrown from his motorcycle during a stunt and broke both legs. His character was temporarily phased out until the introduction of another transformed human, Hayato Ichimonji/Kamen Rider 2 (played by Takeshi Sasaki) was introduced in episode 14. Hongo (Fujioka) was reintroduced in episode 40, and by episode 53, had fully replaced Ichimonji'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 (Kamen Rider, V3, X, Amazon, Stronger) included a recurring mentor, Tobei Tachibana.

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 (featuring Skyrider) and Kamen Rider Super-1. In these shows, Tachibana was replaced by a similar character named Genjiro Tani (谷 源次郎, Tani Genjirō). 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!! (Hirayama's last project for the franchise).^{[citation needed]}

Kamen Rider Black premiered in 1987, the first series 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's 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.^{[citation needed]}

Heisei era

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.^[3] Following Kuuga's 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 (previously Miyuki Tezuka/Kamen Rider Raia in Kamen Rider Ryuki) 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 (previously Daisuke Kazama/Kamen Rider Drake in Kamen Rider Kabuto) as Shiro Kazami/Kamen Rider V3 and with Kikawada and Takano reprising their roles.^{[citation needed]}

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 (Den-O and Zeronos), they have multiple forms similar to Black RX, Kuuga, and Agito. Due to Den-O's 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,^[4] it grossed ¥730 million.^[5] In addition, Animate produced an OVA, Imagin Anime, with SD versions of the Imagin. A third film, Saraba Kamen Rider Den-O: Final Countdown (with two new riders) serves as a series epilogue.^[5] 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.^[6]

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 ("The Next Decade") and jokingly expressed interest in playing a villain on the show.^[7] Also announced in 2009 was a fourth Den-O film^[8] (later revealed as the beginning of the Cho-Den-O Series of films),^[9] 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.^{[citation needed]}

Advertisements in May, June, and July 2009 promoted the debut of Kamen Rider W,^[10] who first appeared at the 10th-anniversary Masked Rider Live event^[11] 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 (including a new broadcast season from September of one year to about August of the next). The hero of Kamen Rider W is the first Kamen Rider to transform from two people at once,^[10] and the series premiered on September 6, 2009.^[12] 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.^[13] Late 2010 brought the series Kamen Rider OOO to television after W's 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 (released on April 1) and OOO's 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.^[14]

With Fourze's run complete in 2012, Kamen Rider Wizard premiered; its protagonist was the first Kamen Rider to use magic.^[15] Wizard additionally had the first homosexual character and cast member with Kaba-chan.^[16] 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.^{[citation needed]}

On May 20, 2013, Toei filed for several trademarks on the phrase Kamen Raidā Gaimu (仮面ライダー鎧武（ガイム）).^[17] 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.^[18][19] 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 Haruyasumi Gattai Supesharu (春休み合体スペシャル, Spring Break Combined Special) 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 (who also used a motorcycle), to use a car instead of a motorcycle.^{[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]} The fourth Super Hero Taisen, Super Hero Taisen GP, marks Kamen Rider 3's 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.^[29] 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.^[30] 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.

Reiwa era

On May 13, 2019, Toei filed a trademark on the phrase Kamen Rider Zero-One (仮面ライダーゼロワン, Kamen Raidā Zerowan), which premiered on September 1, 2019.^[31] It is followed up by Kamen Rider Saber (仮面ライダーセイバー/聖刃, Kamen Raidā Seibā) on September 6, 2020, It is followed by Kamen Rider Revice (仮面ライダーリバイス, Kamen Raidā Ribaisu) on September 5, 2021 . In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Kamen Rider series, Neon Genesis Evangelion director Hideaki Anno was announced as the writer and director of Shin Kamen Rider (シン・仮面ライダー, Shin Kamen Raidā), a reimagining of the original 1971 series. It is planned for release in 2023.^[32]

The franchise's current entry in the Reiwa era is Kamen Rider Geats, which debuted in September 2022 following the finale of Revice.

Production

Main series

 

A 205 series train on the Senseki Line with Kamen Rider and other Shotaro Ishinomori character livery. The Senseki Line has a terminal in Ishinomori's hometown of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture.

The following is a list of the Kamen Rider series and their broadcast years:

Series	Show	Episodes	Broadcast date
Showa Era
1	Kamen Rider	98	April 3, 1971 – February 10, 1973 (1971-04-03 – 1973-02-10)
2	Kamen Rider V3	52	February 17, 1973 – February 9, 1974 (1973-02-17 – 1974-02-09)
3	Kamen Rider X	35	February 16 – October 12, 1974 (1974-02-16 – 1974-10-12)
4	Kamen Rider Amazon	24	October 19, 1974 – March 29, 1975 (1974-10-19 – 1975-03-29)
5	Kamen Rider Stronger	39	April 5 – December 27, 1975 (1975-04-05 – 1975-12-27)
6	Kamen Rider Skyrider	54	October 5, 1979 – October 10, 1980 (1979-10-05 – 1980-10-10)
7	Kamen Rider Super-1	48	October 17, 1980 – October 3, 1981 (1980-10-17 – 1981-10-03)
8	Kamen Rider Black	51	October 4, 1987 – October 9, 1988 (1987-10-04 – 1988-10-09)
9	Kamen Rider Black RX	47	October 23, 1988 – September 24, 1989 (1988-10-23 – 1989-09-24)
Heisei Era
10	Kamen Rider Kuuga	49	January 30, 2000 – January 21, 2001 (2000-01-30 – 2001-01-21)
11	Kamen Rider Agito	51	January 28, 2001 – January 27, 2002 (2001-01-28 – 2002-01-27)
12	Kamen Rider Ryuki	50	February 3, 2002 – January 19, 2003 (2002-02-03 – 2003-01-19)
13	Kamen Rider 555	50	January 26, 2003 – January 18, 2004 (2003-01-26 – 2004-01-18)
14	Kamen Rider Blade	49	January 25, 2004 – January 23, 2005 (2004-01-25 – 2005-01-23)
15	Kamen Rider Hibiki	48	January 30, 2005 – January 22, 2006 (2005-01-30 – 2006-01-22)
16	Kamen Rider Kabuto	49	January 29, 2006 – January 21, 2007 (2006-01-29 – 2007-01-21)
17	Kamen Rider Den-O	49	January 28, 2007 – January 20, 2008 (2007-01-28 – 2008-01-20)
18	Kamen Rider Kiva	48	January 27, 2008 – January 18, 2009 (2008-01-27 – 2009-01-18)
19	Kamen Rider Decade	31	January 25 – August 30, 2009 (2009-01-25 – 2009-08-30)
20	Kamen Rider W	49	September 6, 2009 – August 29, 2010 (2009-09-06 – 2010-08-29)
21	Kamen Rider OOO	48	September 5, 2010 – August 28, 2011 (2010-09-05 – 2011-08-28)
22	Kamen Rider Fourze	48	September 4, 2011 – August 26, 2012 (2011-09-04 – 2012-08-26)
23	Kamen Rider Wizard	53	September 2, 2012 – September 29, 2013 (2012-09-02 – 2013-09-29)
24	Kamen Rider Gaim	47	October 6, 2013 – September 28, 2014 (2013-10-06 – 2014-09-28)
25	Kamen Rider Drive	48	October 5, 2014 – September 27, 2015 (2014-10-05 – 2015-09-27)
26	Kamen Rider Ghost	50	October 4, 2015 – September 25, 2016 (2015-10-04 – 2016-09-25)
27	Kamen Rider Ex-Aid	45	October 2, 2016 – August 27, 2017 (2016-10-02 – 2017-08-27)
28	Kamen Rider Build	49	September 3, 2017 – August 26, 2018 (2017-09-03 – 2018-08-26)
29	Kamen Rider Zi-O	49	September 2, 2018 – August 25, 2019 (2018-09-02 – 2019-08-25)
Reiwa Era
30	Kamen Rider Zero-One	45	September 1, 2019 – August 30, 2020 (2019-09-01 – 2020-08-30)
31	Kamen Rider Saber	47	September 6, 2020 – August 29, 2021 (2020-09-06 – 2021-08-29)
32	Kamen Rider Revice	50	September 5, 2021 – August 28, 2022 (2021-09-05 – 2022-08-28)
33	Kamen Rider Geats^[33]	TBD	September 4, 2022 (2022-09-04)-TBD 2023

Television specials

Show	Year
All Together! Seven Kamen Riders	1976
Immortal Kamen Rider Special	1979
Birth of the 10th! Kamen Riders All Together!!	1984
This Is Kamen Rider Black	1987
Kamen Rider 1 through RX: Big Gathering	1988
Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider	1993
Kamen Rider Kuuga: First Dream Of The New Year	2000
Kamen Rider Agito Special: Another New Transformation	2001
Kamen Rider Ryuki Special: 13 Riders	2002
Kamen Rider Blade: New Generation	2004
35th Masked Rider Anniversary File	2006
Kamen Rider G	2009

Theatrical releases

• 1971: Go Go Kamen Rider (Movie version of episode 13)
• 1972: Kamen Rider vs. Shocker
• 1972: Kamen Rider vs. Ambassador Hell
• 1973: Kamen Rider V3 (Movie version of episode 2)
• 1973: Kamen Rider V3 vs. the Destron Monsters
• 1974: Kamen Rider X (Movie version of episode 3)
• 1974: Kamen Rider X: Five Riders vs. King Dark
• 1975: Kamen Rider Amazon (Movie version of episode 16)
• 1975: Kamen Rider Stronger (Movie version of episode 7)
• 1980: Kamen Rider: Eight Riders vs. Galaxy King
• 1981: Kamen Rider Super-1
• 1988: Kamen Rider Black: Hurry to Onigashima
• 1988: Kamen Rider Black: Fear! Evil Monster Mansion
• 1989: Kamen Rider: Stay in the World – 3D theme park special
• 1992: Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue
• 1993: Kamen Rider ZO
• 1994: Kamen Rider J
• 1994: Kamen Rider World – 3-D theme park special
• 2001: Kamen Rider Agito: Project G4
• 2002: Kamen Rider Ryuki: Episode Final
• 2003: Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost
• 2004: Kamen Rider Blade: Missing Ace
• 2005: Kamen Rider Hibiki & The Seven Senki
• 2005: Kamen Rider: The First
• 2006: Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love
• 2007: Kamen Rider Den-O: I'm Born!
• 2007: Kamen Rider: The Next
• 2008: Kamen Rider Den-O & Kiva: Climax Deka
• 2008: Kamen Rider Kiva: King of the Castle in the Demon World
• 2008: Saraba Kamen Rider Den-O: Final Countdown
• 2009: Cho Kamen Rider Den-O & Decade Neo Generations: The Onigashima Warship
• 2009: Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker
• 2009: Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider W & Decade: Movie War 2010
  • Kamen Rider Decade: The Last Story
  • Kamen Rider W: Begins Night
  • Movie War 2010
• 2010: Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider The Movie: Cho-Den-O Trilogy
  • Episode Red: Zero no Star Twinkle
  • Episode Blue: The Dispatched Imagin is Newtral
  • Episode Yellow: Treasure de End Pirates
• 2010: Kamen Rider W Forever: A to Z/The Gaia Memories of Fate
• 2010: Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider OOO & W Featuring Skull: Movie War Core
  • Kamen Rider Skull: Message for Double
  • Kamen Rider OOO: Nobunaga's Desire
  • Movie War Core
• 2011: OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders
• 2011: Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful: The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals
• 2011: Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Fourze & OOO: Movie War Mega Max
  • Beginning: Fight! Legendary Seven Riders
  • Kamen Rider OOO: Ankh's Resurrection, the Medals of the Future, and the Leading Hope
  • Futo, The Conspiracy Advances: Gallant! Kamen Rider Joker
  • Kamen Rider Fourze: Nade-Shiko Ad-Vent
  • Movie War Mega Max: Gather! Warriors of Glory
• 2012: Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen
• 2012: Kamen Rider Fourze the Movie: Space, Here We Come!
• 2012: Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Wizard & Fourze: Movie War Ultimatum
  • Kamen Rider Fourze
  • Kamen Rider Wizard
  • Movie War Ultimatum
• 2013: Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z
• 2013: Kamen Rider Wizard in Magic Land
• 2013: Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard: The Fateful Sengoku Movie Battle
  • Kamen Rider Wizard: The Promised Place
  • Kamen Rider Gaim: Sengoku Battle Royale
• 2014: Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z
• 2014: Heisei Riders vs. Shōwa Riders: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai
• 2014: Kamen Rider Gaim: Great Soccer Battle! Golden Fruits Cup!
• 2014: Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Drive & Gaim: Movie War Full Throttle
  • Kamen Rider Gaim: The Advancing Last Stage
  • Kamen Rider Drive: A Challenge from Lupin
  • Movie War Full Throttle
• 2015: Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3
• 2015: Kamen Rider Drive: Surprise Future
• 2015: Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Ghost & Drive: Super Movie War Genesis
• 2016: Kamen Rider 1
• 2016: Kamen Rider Ghost: The 100 Eyecons and Ghost's Fated Moment
• 2016: Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Riders
• 2017: Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Ultra Super Hero Taisen
• 2017: Kamen Rider Ex-Aid the Movie: True Ending
• 2017: Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Final: Build & Ex-Aid with Legend Rider
• 2018: Kamen Rider Amazons the Movie: The Last Judgement
• 2018: Kamen Rider Build the Movie: Be the One
• 2018: Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Forever
• 2019: Kamen Rider Zi-O the Movie: Over Quartzer
• 2019: Kamen Rider Reiwa The First Generation
• 2020: Kamen Rider Zero-One the Movie: Real×Time
• 2020: Kamen Rider Saber Theatrical Short Story: The Phoenix Swordsman and the Book of Ruin
• 2021: Saber + Zenkaiger: Super Hero Senki
• 2021: Kamen Rider Revice (short film)
• 2021: Kamen Rider Beyond Generations
• 2022: Kamen Rider Revice the Movie^[34][35]
• 2023: Shin Kamen Rider

V-Cinema releases

Direct-to-video releases, films focusing on secondary riders and storylines, began appearing during the franchise's Heisei era. Hyper Battle Videos are episodes included with Televi-Kun magazine.

• 1992: Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue
• 1993: Kamen Rider SD – Only anime adaptation
• 2011: Kamen Rider W Returns
  • Kamen Rider Accel Chapter
  • Kamen Rider Eternal Chapter
• 2015: Kamen Rider Gaim Gaiden
  • First Part
    • Kamen Rider Zangetsu Chapter
    • Kamen Rider Baron Chapter
  • Second Part
    • Kamen Rider Duke Chapter
    • Kamen Rider Knuckle Chapter
  • Third Part
    • Kamen Rider Zangetsu Chapter (Stage Show 2019)
    • Kamen Rider Gridon VS Kamen Rider Bravo Chapter (2 Special 2020)
• 2016: Kamen Rider Drive Saga
  • First Part
    • Kamen Rider Chaser Chapter
  • Second Part
    • Kamen Rider Heart Chapter
    • Kamen Rider Mach Chapter
  • Third Part
    • Kamen Rider Brain Chapter (2 Special 2019)
• 2017: Kamen Rider Ghost Re-Birth: Kamen Rider Specter
• 2018: Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy: Another Ending
  • Brave & Snipe Chapter
  • Para-DX with Poppy Chapter
  • Genm vs. Lazer Chapter
• 2019: Kamen Rider Build New World
  • First Part
    • Kamen Rider Cross-Z Chapter
  • Second Part
    • Kamen Rider Grease Chapter
• 2020: Kamen Rider Zi-O Next Time
  • Kamen Rider Geiz Majesty Chapter
• 2021: Kamen Rider Zero-One Others
  • Kamen Rider Metsuboujinrai Chapter
  • Kamen Rider Vulcan & Valkyrie Chapter
• 2022: Kamen Rider Saber: Trio of Deep Sin
• 2022: Kamen Rider OOO 10th: Core Medal of Resurrection

Hyper Battle videos

• 2000: Kamen Rider Kuuga: vs. the Strong Monster Go-Jiino-Da
• 2001: Kamen Rider Agito: Three rider TV-kun Special
• 2002: Kamen Rider Ryuki Hyper Battle: Kamen Rider Ryuki vs. Kamen Rider Agito
• 2003: Kamen Rider 555: The Musical
• 2004: Kamen Rider Blade: Blade vs Blade
• 2005: Kamen Rider Hibiki: Transform Asumu: You can be an Oni too
• 2006: Kamen Rider Kabuto: Birth! Gatack Hyper Form!
• 2007: Kamen Rider Den-O: Singing, Dancing, Great Time!!
• 2008: Kamen Rider Kiva: You Can Also be Kiva
• 2009: Kamen Rider Decade: Protect! The World of TV-Kun
• 2010: Kamen Rider W: Donburi's α/Farewell Recipe of Love
• 2011: Kamen Rider OOO: Quiz, Dance, and Takagarooba!?
• 2012: Kamen Rider Fourze: Rocket Drill States of Friendship
• 2013: Kamen Rider Wizard: Showtime with the Dance Ring
• 2014: Kamen Rider Gaim: Fresh Orange Arms is Born!
• 2015: Kamen Rider Drive Hyper Battle:
  • Type TV-KUN: Hunter & Monster! Chase the Mystery of the Super Thief!
  • Type High Speed! The True Power! Type High Speed is Born!
• 2016: Kamen Rider Ghost Hyper Battle:
  • Ikkyu Eyecon Contention! Quick Wit Battle!!
  • Ikkyu Eyecon! Awaken, My Quick Wit Power!!
  • Truth! The Secret Of Heroes' Eyecons!
• 2017: Kamen Rider Ex-Aid "Tricks"
  • Kamen Rider Lazer
  • Kamen Rider Para-DX
• 2018: Kamen Rider Build
  • Birth! KumaTelevi!! VS Kamen Rider Grease!
  • Kamen Rider Prime Rogue
• 2019: Kamen Rider ZI-O: Kamen Rider Bi Bi Bi no Bibill Geiz
• 2019: Kamen Rider Zero-One: What Will Pop Out of the Kangaroo? Think About It by Yourself! Yes! It must be me, Aruto!
• 2021: Kamen Rider Saber: Gather! Hero! The Explosive Dragon TVKun
• 2022: Kamen Rider Revice: Koala VS Kangaroo!! Do you want to avoid love at the wedding?!

Web exclusive

• 2015: D-Video Special: Kamen Rider 4
• 2016: Kamen Rider Ghost: Legendary! Riders' Souls!
• 2016–2017: Kamen Rider Amazons
• 2017: Kamen Sentai Gorider
• 2018: Kamen Rider Build: Raising the Hazard Level ~7 Best Matches~
• 2019: Kamen Rider Zi-O Spin-off
  • Rider Time: Kamen Rider Shinobi
  • Rider Time: Kamen Rider Ryuki
  • Rider Time: Kamen Rider Zi-O VS Decade -7 of Zi-O!-
  • Rider Time: Kamen Rider Decade VS Zi-O -Decade Mansion's Death Game-
• 2021: Kamen Rider Saber Spin Off: Swordsmen Chronicles
• 2021: Kamen Rider Genms -The Presidents-
• 2021: Kamen Rider Saber × Ghost
• 2021: Kamen Rider Specter × Blades
• 2022: Kamen Rider Revice: The Mystery
• 2022: Kamen Rider Genms -Smart Brain and the 1000% Crisis-
• 2022: Revice Legacy
  • Revice Legacy: Kamen Rider Vail
  • Part 2
  • Part 3
• 2022: Kamen Rider Black Sun

Others

• 2016: The Legend of Hero Alain
• 2017: Kamen Rider Snipe: Episode ZERO
• 2018: ROGUE
• 2020: Project Thouser
• 2021: Kamen Rider Saber Spin-Off: Sword of Logos Saga
• 2022: DEAR GAGA

Adaptations outside Japan

Taiwan

In 1975–1976, Tong Hsing Film Co., Ltd. in Taiwan produced a Super Riders series based on the Japanese version.

• 1975: The Super Rider V3 based on Kamen Rider V3
• 1976: The Five Of Super Rider based on Kamen Rider X
• 1976: The Super Riders based on Kamen Rider vs. Shocker and Kamen Rider vs. Hell Ambassador

United States

In 1995, Saban produced the first American Masked Rider series after its success adapting Super Sentai into Power Rangers and the Metal Hero Series (VR Troopers and Beetleborgs). It was panned by critics and fans from the series, and it was regarded as one of the worst Kamen Rider series.

In 2009, a new series, produced by Michael and Steve Wang, was broadcast: Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight, which was adapted from Kamen Rider Ryuki. Although it was canceled before finishing its syndicated run, it won the first Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Stunt Coordination at the 37th Daytime Emmy Awards. ^[36][37]

Unofficial Thailand adaptation

In 1975, Chaiyo Productions made an unofficial Kamen Rider movie entitled Hanuman and the Five Riders, which used original footage of Chaiyo's Hanuman character, spliced with footage from the "Five Riders Vs. King Dark" movie. However, Chaiyo went ahead with the production without authorisation after Toei denied them permission to make an official movie with them, putting the legality of the movie into question.

Merchandise

As of March 2021^[update], Bandai Namco has sold 14.15 million Kamen Rider transformation belts since February 2000.^[38]

Bandai Namco merchandise sales

Fiscal period	Sales	Ref
April 2002 to March 2012	¥149.2 billion ($1.87 billion)	^[39]
April 2012 to March 2013	¥34 billion ($426 million)
April 2013 to March 2014	¥30.7 billion ($315 million)
April 2014 to March 2015	¥26.2 billion ($247 million)
April 2015 to December 2020	¥148.7 billion ($1.45 billion)	^[39]^[40]
April 2002 to December 2020	¥388.8 billion ($4.308 billion)

Licensed merchandise sales in Japan

Period	Sales	Ref
April 1971 to January 1976 (est.)	¥50 billion	^[41]^[42]
February 1976 to December 2002	?
2003	¥22 billion	^[43]
2004	?
2005	¥22.9 billion	^[44]
2006 to 2009	?
2010	¥64.52 billion	^[45]
2011 to 2017	?
2018	¥40.01 billion	^[46]^[47]
2019	¥21.08 billion	^[48]^[47]
Total known sales	¥220.51 billion ($2.558 billion)

Homages and parodies

The Kamen Rider franchise has been parodied in and outside Japan. One parody is of the Kamen Rider henshin (metamorphosis) pose. In video games, Skullomania (from Street Fighter EX) and May Lee (from The King of Fighters) are examples of Kamen Rider parodies. In anime, examples include Fair, then Partly Piggy, My-HiME (and its sequel, My Otome), Dragon Ball Z, and Franken Fran. In the Crayon Shin-chan series, the title character interacts with Kamen Riders in crossover specials. Detective Conan has a recurring TV series the detective boys like to watch, Kamen Yaiba. In One Punch Man, the C Class Hero Mumen Rider is a parody, being an ordinary man in a world of superhuman beings, riding a bicycle rather than a motorcycle. However, despite his weakness, he is extremely heroic and his actions form a counterpoint to his parodic character conception. The series has also been parodied and homaged in the Disney Channel series Amphibia.

In live-action, parodies include "Kamen Renaider" by SMAP's Takuya Kimura and Shingo Katori, a parody of Ryuki; "Kamen Zaiber", a parody of the original series; "Kamen Norider" by the Tunnels, a parody of Kamen Rider 1 and as well as the first series; "Kamen Rider HG", Hard Gay's parody of the original for a Japanese TV show, and "Ridermen" (a short skit with a man called Ridermen, a parody of the Riderman on the set of Kamen Rider Kuuga.

Akimasa Nakamura, a Japanese astronomer named two minor planets in honor of the series: 12408 Fujioka for actor Hiroshi Fujioka, known for his portrayal of Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider 1,^[49][50] and 12796 Kamenrider for the series itself.^[49][51]

References

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25. "ねっと部：史上初、バイクに乗らない仮面ライダー「ドライブ」 初の刑事もの、「幅広い層が楽しめる作品に」 – ITmedia ニュース". 2014-08-28. Retrieved 2014-08-28.
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27. "〈速報〉新ライダー竹内「ズボンのおしり破れた」 – 日刊スポーツ芸能速報 – 朝日新聞デジタル＆Ｍ". 2014-08-28. Retrieved 2014-08-28.
28. "竹内涼真 新ライダーはサッカー選手からの"変身"「おじが泣いて喜んだ」 ― スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能". Sports Nippon. 2014-08-28. Retrieved 2014-08-28.
29. "2016年は「スーパーヒーローイヤー」！仮面ライダー45周年記念超大作・映画『仮面ライダー１号』製作決定＆新ビジュアル解禁！".
30. "天才物理学者が変身 『仮面ライダービルド』9・3スタート". ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-09-21.
31. Trademark Bot (2019-05-13). "東映株式会社により「仮面ライダーゼロワン / KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE」が商標登録出願されていることが、公開商標公報から明らかになりました。出願番号は2019-54945～2019-54966です。". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
32. Khara (2021-04-03). "『シン・仮面ライダー』超特報". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
33. @trademark_bot (30 May 2022). "東映株式会社により「仮面ライダーギーツ / KAMEN RIDER GEATS」が商標登録出願されていることが、公開商標公報から明らかになりました。出願番号は2022-58078〜2022-58099です。" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
34. "劇場版『仮面ライダーリバイス／ドンブラザーズ』夏公開！ライダー冬映画も決定｜シネマトゥデイ".
35. "Kamen Rider Revice & Avataro Sentai Donbrothers Summer Movies Confirmed".
36. "WINNERS: Daytime Entertainment Creative Arts Emmy Awards". June 26, 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
37. . 2010-06-29. Archived from the original on 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
38. Fact Book 2021. Bandai Namco Group. 2021. pp. 3–6. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
39. "IR Library: Financial Statements". IR Information. Bandai Namco Holdings. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
40. "Historical currency converter with official exchange rates (148.7 JPY to USD)". fxtop.com. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
41. 池田憲章、高橋信之『ウルトラマン対仮面ライダー―メガヒーロー 光と影の神話』文藝春秋、1993年、236頁。ISBN 4-16-347170-7（ISBN 978-4163471709）
42. 池田憲章、高橋信之『ウルトラマン対仮面ライダー』文藝春秋、2001年、323頁。ISBN 4-16-766005-9（ISBN 978-4167660055）
43. Market Share in Japan. Yano Research Institute. 2005. p. 18. 10 | Kamen Rider | 220
44. "日本のアニメ・マンガを取り巻く状況" (PDF). Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) (in Japanese). 6 March 2007. pp. 25–6. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
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47. "Content Tokyo 2020 》Vtuber、疫情中重塑品牌、以AI創作，日本內容產業熱議的3件事" [Content Tokyo 2020 》Vtuber, Rebranding During the Epidemic, Creating With AI, 3 Things That Are Hotly Discussed in the Japanese Content Industry]. Central News Agency (Taiwan) (in Chinese). 30 December 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
48. CharaBiz DATA 2020(19) (in Japanese). Character Databank. May 2020.
49. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Germany: Springer. pp. 781, 788. ISBN 3-540-00238-3.
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51. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser – 12796 Kamenrider (1995 WF)". Retrieved 2008-04-06.

External links

TV Asahi

• Kamen Rider Geats
• Kamen Rider Revice
• Kamen Rider Saber
• Kamen Rider Zero-One
• Kamen Rider Zi-O
• Kamen Rider Build
• Kamen Rider Ex-Aid
• Kamen Rider Ghost
• Kamen Rider Drive
• Kamen Rider Gaim
• Kamen Rider Wizard
• Kamen Rider Fourze
• Kamen Rider OOO
• Kamen Rider W
• Kamen Rider Decade
• Kamen Rider Kiva
• Kamen Rider Den-O
• Kamen Rider Kabuto
• Kamen Rider Hibiki
• Kamen Rider Blade
• Kamen Rider 555
• Kamen Rider Ryuki

Toei

• Kamen Rider Zi-O
• Kamen Rider Build
• Kamen Rider Amazons Season 2
• Kamen Rider Ex-Aid
• Kamen Rider Amazons
• Kamen Rider Ghost
• Kamen Rider Drive
• Kamen Rider Gaim
• Kamen Rider Wizard
• Kamen Rider Fourze
• Kamen Rider OOO
• Kamen Rider W
• Kamen Rider Decade
• Kamen Rider Kiva
• Kamen Rider The Next

Bandai

• Kamen Rider Ghost
• Kamen Rider Drive
• Kamen Rider Gaim
• Kamen Rider Wizard
• Kamen Rider Fourze
• Kamen Rider OOO
• Kamen Rider W
• Kamen Rider Decade

Others

• Kamen Rider Official – The main site of the Kamen Rider franchise ,the background changes when next series premieres.
• Ishimori@Style – Shotaro Ishinomori with Ishimori Productions Official Website
• Toei Kyoto Studio Park – A theme park with official events, exhibitions and shops related to the Kamen Rider series
• – The site's look changes when the next series premieres in Korea