Kamen Rider

Fandom
Name:	Kamen Rider, 仮面ライダーシリーズ, Kamen Raidā Shirīzu
Abbreviation(s):	KR, Rider
Creator:	Shotaro Ishinomori
Date(s):	1971 – present
Medium:	Television, Film, Manga
Country of Origin:	Japan
External Links:	at Wikipedia Official Website
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Franchise Installments The main Kamen franchise consists of the following titles: Showa Era Kamen Rider 1971–1973 Kamen Rider: The First 2005 Kamen Rider: The Next 2007 OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders 2011 Kamen Rider 1 2016 Shin Kamen Rider 2023 Kamen Rider V3 1973–1974 Kamen Rider X February–October 1974 Kamen Rider Amazon 1974–1975 Kamen Rider Stronger April–December 1975 Kamen Rider Skyrider 1979–1980 Kamen Rider Super-1 1980–1981 Kamen Rider Black 1987–1988 Kamen Rider Black RX 1988–1989 Heisei Era Kamen Rider Kuuga 2000–2001 Kamen Rider Agito 2001–2002 Kamen Rider Ryuki 2002–2003 Kamen Rider Dragon Knight 2008–2009 Kamen Rider 555 2003–2004 Kamen Rider Blade 2004–2005 Kamen Rider Hibiki 2005–2006 Kamen Rider Kabuto 2006–2007 Kamen Rider Den-O 2007–2008 Kamen Rider Kiva 2008–2009 Kamen Rider Decade Jan–Aug 2009 Kamen Rider W 2009–2010 Kamen Rider OOO 2010–2011 Kamen Rider Fourze 2011–2012 Kamen Rider Wizard 2012–2013 Kamen Rider Gaim 2013–2014 Kamen Rider Drive 2014–2015 Kamen Rider Ghost 2015–2016 Kamen Rider Amazons 2016–2017 Kamen Rider Ex-Aid 2016–2017 Kamen Rider Build 2017–2018 Kamen Rider Zi-O 2018–2019 Reiwa Era Kamen Rider Zero-One 2019-2020 Kamen Rider Saber 2020–2021 Kamen Rider Revice 2021–2022 Kamen Rider Geats 2022–2023

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Kamen Rider also known as Masked Rider, is a Japanese media franchise consisting of tokusatsu television programs, films, and manga, created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori and inspired by his earlier manga Skull Man. Kamen Rider media generally features a motorcycle-riding superhero with an insect motif who fights supervillains, often known as kaijin (怪人, mystery people).

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.

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.

Canon 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.

Kamen Rider has a more loose formula than its sibling Super Sentai. There's a few important elements most series share and everything else is quite flexible.

1. A Rider's power comes from the same source as their foes.
   • Riders are tragic heroes, often having said power inflicted on them or taking it out of desperation.
2. A Rider must overthrow the evil that lead to their creation.
   • Most Rider foes are some flavor of fascists; aiming to destroy, dominate, or enslave humanity.
3. The true power of a Rider is a kind heart and a strong will to use their strength to protect.

The Kamen Riders

The Kamen Rider (仮面ライダー, 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.

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 Entertainment 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). Saban's Masked Rider was a Power Rangers spin-off, that began as a three-part episode of Power Rangers called "A Friend in Need", it was followed by the titular series which ran for two seasons and forty episodes.

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 cancelled before finishing its syndicated run, it won the first Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Stunt Coordination at the 37th Daytime Emmy Awards.

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 authorization after Toei denied them permission to make an official movie with them, putting the legality of the movie into question.

Example Fanworks

Fanfiction

• Rider Dad AU by Miyuko, SailorCresselia, Silverbird22, zyngacat, and Jen425
• Hen-verse AU by aquabluejay, cestlaviminako