Kamen Rider (Skyrider)

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Title screen.

Kamen Rider (仮面ライダー Kamen Raidā?) (Masked Rider in English) is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It is the sixth programme in the Kamen Rider franchise. It has the same name as the first series in the franchise, and fans usually refer to this series as New Kamen Rider or Skyrider (スカイライダー Sukairaidā?) (after the main character) in order to distinguish it from the original. The series was broadcast on TBS from October 5, 1979 to October 10, 1980, lasting 54 episodes. The series was a co-production between Toei and Ishinomori Productions, and was created by Shotaro Ishinomori. It aired every Saturday at 7:00 PM.

New Kamen Rider was intended as a revival of the original Kamen Rider, going back to the basic, essential themes established in that series, as opposed to the more complex and unique series that followed, such as Kamen Rider Amazon and Kamen Rider Stronger.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Doctor Shido, an acclaimed scientist, has been kidnapped by the terrorist organization Neoshocker in order to exploit his expertise in robotics technology. Desperate to escape, he convinces Neoshocker command to allow him to operate on an injured camper. Explaining that he can turn the camper, Hiroshi Tsukaba (played by Hiroaki Murakama), into a powerful Neoshocker warrior, they allow Shido to operate. However, he quickly turns the tables on them, transforming Tsukaba not into an evil kaijin, but into the powerful warrior Skyrider.

Skyrider embodies his favorite recreational activities from before his accident, hang gliding and motorcycle riding, in his new form. Driving around on his Rider Machine, Sky Turbo, and flying thanks to his new, moth-inspired cyborg power, the Sailing Jump.[1]

Skyrider, still referred to as simply "Kamen Rider", fights against the forces of Neoshocker until meeting with the former Riders. Stronger, from the previous series Kamen Rider Stronger, gives him in episode 20 the nickname "Skyrider", which sticks for the rest of the series. Stronger and the other Riders[2] put Skyrider through rigorous training so he can defeat newly revived and powered up kaijin from Neoshocker. After this training, Skyrider is energised, shown physically by his brighter color scheme.

Finally, in episode 54, the Riders[2] return to assist Skyrider in his final showdown against Neoshocker. Seemingly sacrificing themselves for the greater good, Neoshocker is defeated, and Japan is safe again.

[edit] Episodes

  1. An Altered Human Flies in the Sky (改造人間大空を翔ぶ Kaizō Ningen Ōzora o Tobu)
  2. Bizarre! Spidern Man (怪奇! クモンジン Kaiki! Kumon Jin)
  3. It's Courage! The Fear of the Bat Flute (勇気だ! コウモリ笛の恐怖 Yūki da! Kōmori Fue no Kyōfu)
  4. Two Altered Humans, the Angry Rider Break (2つの改造人間 怒りのライダーブレイク Futatsu no Kaizō Ningen Ikari no Raidā Bureiki)
  5. Fly, Ride on a Girl's Dreams (翔べ 少女の夢をのせて Tobe Shōjo no Yume o Nosete)
  6. Mushroom Man! The Devil's Hands are Cold (キノコジン! 悪魔の手は冷たい Kinoko Jin! Akuma no Te wa Tsumetai)
  7. Mantis Man! The Dreadful Ceremony (カマギリジン! 恐怖の儀式 Kamagiri Jin! Kyōfu no Gishiki)
  8. Centipeden Man's Trap! The Mysterious Operating Room (ムカデンジンの罠! 謎の手術室 Mukaden Jin no Wana! Nazo no Shujitsushitsu)
  9. Cobran Man's Murder Army (コブランジンの殺人軍団 Koburan Jin no Satsujin Gundan)
  10. Seen! Crabnger Man's Secret (見た！カニンガージンの秘密 Mita! Kanisogā Jin no Himitsu)
  11. Salaman Man! Escape from Hell Valley (サンショウジン! 地獄谷の脱出 Sanshō Jin! Jigoku Tani no Dasshutsuu)
  12. Dark Santa Claus; Ah, Transformation Impossible (暗闇のサンタクロースああ変身不可能 Kurayami no Santa Kurōsu Aa Henshin Funō)
  13. Antlion Man, Tokyo Explodes Before 3:00 (アリジゴクジン東京爆発3時間前 Arijigoku Jin Tōkyō Bakuhatsu Sanjikan-mae)
  14. Venus Flytrap Man, Masked Rider Close Call (ハエジゴクジン仮面ライダー危機一髪 Haejigoku Jin Kamen Raidā Kikiippatsu)
  15. Dreadful Blue Mold Man's Big Tokyo Earthquake (恐怖のアオカビジンの東京大地震 Kyōfu no Aokabi Jin no Tōkyō Dai Jishin)
  16. What is the Immortal Cockroach Man's G-Monster's True Identity? (不死身のゴキブリジンGモンスターの正体は? Fujimi no Gokiburi Jin Jī Monsutā no Shōtai wa?)
  17. You Did It! The End of G-Monster (やったぞ! Gモンスターの最後 Yatta zo! Jī Monsutā no Saigo)
  18. Admiral Majin's Great Electric Hell Operation (魔神提督の電気ジゴク大作戦 Majin Teitoku no Denki Jigoku Dai Sakusen)
  19. Cover Your Ears Too! Wolf Man's Murderous Cry (君も耳をふさげ! オオカミジン殺しの叫び Kimi mo Mimi o Fusage! Ōkami Jin Koroshi no Sakebi)
  20. Two Masked Riders, Who is Another? (2人の仮面ライダーもう1人はだれだ? Futari no Kamen Raidā Mōhitori wa Dare da?)
  21. Enter Stronger; Two Riders Vs. Two Formidable Monsters (ストロンガー登場2人ライダー対強敵2怪人 Sutorongā Tōjō Futari Raidā Tai Kyōteki Ni Kaijin)
  22. Kogoensky Froze Tokyo 5 Seconds Ago (コゴエンスキー東京冷凍5秒前 Kogoensukī Tōkyō Reitō Gobyō-mae)
  23. Monster Flying Squirrel Brothers and Two Riders (怪人ムササビ兄弟と2人のライダー Kaijin Musasabi Kyōdai to Futari no Raidā)
  24. Madaraka Man, Fear of Poison Gas (マダラカジン毒ガスの恐怖 Madaraka Jin Dokugasu no Kyōfu)
  25. Heavy!! Heavy!! The 50-ton Baby (重いぞ! 重いぞ! 50トンの赤ちゃん Omoi zo! Omoi zo! Gojūton no Akachan)
  26. Three Riders vs. Neoshocker's School Fortress (3人ライダー対ネオショッカーの学校要塞 Sannin Raidā Tai Neoshokkā no Gakkō Yōsai)
  27. Tank and Monster Generation II Corps, Full Force of Eight Riders (戦車と怪人II世部隊 8人ライダー勢ぞろい Sensha to Kaijin Nisei Butai Hachinin Raidā Seizoroi)
  28. Eight Riders' Great Training of Friendship (8人ライダー友情の大特訓 Hachinin Raidā Yūjō no Dai Tokkun)
  29. First Appearance! Skyrider's Strengthened Finishing Move (初公開! 強化スカイライダーの必殺技 Hatsu Kōkai! Kyōka Sukairaidā no Hissatsu-waza)
  30. He Eats Dreams? The Strange Boy Who Came From the Amazon (夢を食べる? アマゾンから来た不思議な少年 Yume o Taberu? Amazon Kara Kita Fushigi na Shōnen)
  31. Run, X-Rider! Hiroshi Tsukuba! Don't Die!! (走れXライダー! 筑波洋よ死ぬな!! Hashire Ekkusu Raidā! Tsukuba Hiroshi yo Shinu na!!)
  32. Thank You, Keisuke Jin! Leave the Final Blow to Me!! (ありがとう神敬介! とどめは俺にまかせろ!! Arigatō Jin Keisuke! Todome wa Ore ni Makasero!!)
  33. Hello! Riderman, be Careful of Nezura Man (ハロー! ライダーマン ネズラ男には気をつけろ!! Harō! Raidāman Nezura Otoko ni wa Ki o Tsukero!!)
  34. Danger, Skyrider! He's Come! Shirou Kazami!! (危うしスカイライダー! やって来たぞ風見志郎!! Ayaushi Sukairaidā! Yattekita zo Kazami Shirō!!)
  35. Kazami-sensei! I'll Get the Octopus Gang!! (風見先輩! タコギャングはオレがやる!! Kazami-sensei! Takogyangu wa Ore ga Yaru!!)
  36. Hurry, Hayato Ichimonji! Save the People Caught in Trees!! (急げ、一文字隼人! 樹にされる人々を救え!! Isoge, Ichimonji Hayato! Ki ni Sareru Hitobito o Sukue!!)
  37. The Mystery of Nakiri Village! Is Hiroshi also Caught in a Tree? (百鬼村の怪! 洋も樹にされるのか? Nakiri Mura no Kai! Hiroshi mo Ki ni Sareru no ka?)
  38. Please, Shigeru Jou! There's a Command Training Place With a Million Yen Monthly Salary (来れ、城茂! 月給百万円のアリコマンド養成所 Kure, Jō Shigeru! Gakkyū Hyakuman'en no Ari Komando Yōseisho)
  39. Help! Two Riders!! Mother Becomes a Demon (助けて! 2人のライダー!! 母ちゃんが鬼になる Tasukete! Futari no Raidā!! Kaachan ga Oni ni Naru)
  40. Chase, Hayato! The Kappa's Bowl Flies Through the Sky (追え隼人! カッパの皿が空をとぶ Oe Hayato! Kappa no Sara ga Sora o Tobu)
  41. Ghost Story Series - The Secret of the Phantom Building (怪談シリーズ・幽霊ビルのひみつ Kaidan Shirīzu - Yūrei Biru no Himitsu)
  42. Ghost Story Series - Zombie! The Monster is Revived (怪談シリーズ・ゾンビー! お化けが生きかえる Kaidan Shirīzu - Zonbī! Obake ga Ikikaeru)
  43. Ghost Story Series - Earless Yoshikazu's 999 Ears (怪談シリーズ・耳なし芳一999の耳 Kaidan Shirīzu - Miminashi Yoshikazu Kyūhyakukyūjūkyū no Mimi)
  44. Ghost Story Series - The Werecat Wants Children's Blood (怪談シリーズ・呪いの化け猫 子供の血が欲しい! Kaidan Shirīzu - Noroi no Bakeneko Kodomo no Chi ga Hoshii)
  45. Ghost Story Series - The Snake Woman Curses Hiroshi Tsukuba! (怪談シリーズ・蛇女が筑波洋を呪う! Kaidan Shirīzu - Hebi Onna ga Tsukuba Hiroshi o Norō!)
  46. Ghost Story Series - The Breakable Human! Fear of the Mirror's Center (怪談シリーズ・くだける人間! 鏡の中の恐怖 Kaidan Shirīzu - Kudakeru Ningen! Kagami no Naka no Kyōfu)
  47. Skyrider's Greatest Weakness! Attack the 0.5 Second Blind Spot (スカイライダー最大の弱点! 0.5秒の死角をつけ Sukairaidā Saidai no Jakuten! 0.5byō no Shikaku o Tsuke)
  48. Four Skyriders, Who is the Real One? (4人のスカイライダー本物はだれだ? Yonin no Sukairaidā Honmono wa Dare da?)
  49. Rocket Launch! Hiroshi Tsukuba Goes to the Space Graveyard (ロケット発射! 筑波洋を宇宙の墓場へ Roketto Hassha! Tsukuba Hiroshi o Uchū no Hakaba e)
  50. You, Also Enlist in the Command Boys' Squad!? (君もアリコマンド 少年隊に入隊せよ!? Kimi mo Ari Komando Shōnen Tai ni Nyūtai Seyo!?)
  51. Neoshocker Red & White, Great Decisive Battle of Death (ネオショッカー紅白死の大決戦 Neoshokkā Kōhaku Shi no Dai Kessen)
  52. Hiroshi's Father Had Lived! As Altered Human FX777? (洋の父が生きていた！改造人間FX777とは? Hiroshi no Chichi ga Ikite Ita! Kaizō Ningen Efu Ekkusu Shichihyakushichijūshichi to wa?)
  53. The End of Admiral Majin! And the Great Leader's True Identity? (魔神提督の最後! そして大首領の正体は? Majin Teitoku no Saigo! Soshite Dai Shuryō no Shōtai wa?)
  54. Farewell, Hiroshi Tsukuba! Eight Heroes Forever.... (さらば筑波洋! 8人の勇士よ永遠に.... Saraba Tsukuba Hiroshi! Hachinin no Yūshi yo Eien ni....)

[edit] Reaction and analysis

Due to the series being a revival of the original Kamen Rider, it is often compared with it. For instance, it has been said to have less action and excitement than the original, and that the fight scenes were pushed towards the end as an audience grabber.[3]

Additionally, many see Skyrider's flying ability as a "gimmick" and an attempt to cash in on the success of Superman: The Movie. [4] The special effects used to present Skyrider's ability to fly are also often criticized.

[edit] References

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Though in practice he is able to fly, the explanation given for the power (his henshin belt is able to "reduce gravity") suggest that he is more accurately gliding.
  2. ^ a b All the previous Kamen Rider characters appear in these episodes, the most of any series. They include Kamen Rider 1, 2 (from the original Kamen Rider), V3 (from Kamen Rider V3), X (from Kamen Rider X), Amazon (from Kamen Rider Amazon) and Stronger, as mentioned. They were all portrayed by their original actors, save Hiroshi Fujioka and Okazaki Tôru.
  3. ^ Stuart Johnson. alt.tv.sentai thread from August 19, 2000.
  4. ^ Arthur David. alt.tv.sentai thread from December 14, 1998.
Preceded by
Kamen Rider Stronger		 Kamen Rider
1979 – 1980		 Succeeded by
Kamen Rider Super-1
Kamen Rider franchise created by Shotaro Ishinomori and Toru Hirayama
TV series First Generation Kamen Rider • V3 • X • Amazon • Stronger • "New" Kamen Rider • Super-1
TV series Second Generation BLACK • BLACK RX
TV series Third Generation Kuuga • Agito • Ryuki • 555 • Blade • Hibiki • Kabuto • Den'ou
Specials Kamen Rider ZX • Kamen Rider Shin • Kamen Rider SD • Kamen Rider World
Original Films Kamen Rider ZO • Kamen Rider J • Kamen Rider the First
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