Kamen Rider Fourze

This article is about the television series. For the series' main character, see Kamen Rider Fourze (character).
Kamen Rider Fourze

The title card and logo for Kamen Rider Fourze
Genre Tokusatsu
Created by Shotaro Ishinomori
Written by Kazuki Nakashima
Riku Sanjo
Keiichi Hasegawa
Directed by Koichi Sakamoto
Hidenori Ishida
Takayuki Shibasaki
Satoshi Morota
Ryuta Tasaki
Kyohei Yamaguchi
Katsuya Watanabe
Starring Sota Fukushi
Ryuki Takahashi
Fumika Shimizu
Ryo Yoshizawa
Narrated by Nobuyuki Hiyama
Opening theme "Switch On!" by Anna Tsuchiya
Ending theme "Giant Step" by Astronauts
"Shooting Star" by everset
"Bounce Back" by SoutherN
"ENDLESS PLAY" by Astronauts feat. SHIINA
"Evolvin' Storm" by everset
"Cosmic Mind" by Astronauts
Composer(s) Shuhei Naruse
Country of origin Japan
Original language(s) Japanese
No. of episodes 48 (list of episodes)
Production
Producer(s) Kengo Motoi (TV Asahi)
Hideaki Tsukada
Kazuhiro Takahashi (Toei)
Running time 24-25 min. (per episode)
Production company(s) Toei Company
Distributor Toei Company
Broadcast
Original channel TV Asahi
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
Original run September 4, 2011 – August 26, 2012
Chronology
Preceded by Kamen Rider OOO
Followed by Kamen Rider Wizard
External links
Website

Kamen Rider Fourze (仮面ライダーフォーゼ Kamen Raidā Fōze) is a Japanese tokusatsu drama in Toei Company's Kamen Rider Series, being the thirteenth series in the Heisei period run and the twenty-second overall. It began airing on September 4, 2011, the week following the conclusion of Kamen Rider OOO,[1] joining Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger and then Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters in the Super Hero Time lineup. Trademarks on the title were filed by Toei in April 2011[2][3][4] The series commemorates not only the Kamen Rider Series' 40th anniversary but also the 50th anniversary of spaceflight, which began with Yuri Gagarin's flight in 1961.[5] The show's catchphrase is "Switch on youth 'cause we're going into space!" (青春スイッチオンで宇宙キター! Seishun suitchi on de uchū kitā!),[6] referencing the Fourze Driver transformation belt which gets its various powers from devices called Astroswitches to conjure attachments to Fourze's limbs.[1][7] As with the two previous series, the protagonist of Fourze made his debut in the annual summer film of the show's direct predecessor, appearing in Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful: The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals.

Production

The Takasaki University of Commerce in Gunma Prefecture is used for exterior shots of Amanogawa High School in Kamen Rider Fourze.

Fourze is written by Kazuki Nakashima, known for his screenplays of Oh! Edo Rocket and Gurren Lagann. The creature designer is Kia Asamiya, known for his artwork for the manga Martian Successor Nadesico and Silent Möbius. Koichi Sakamoto, known for his work on the American Power Rangers franchise, serves as the series' main director after his work on the Kamen Rider W films and several episodes of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger.

Story

Amanogawa High School has become the center of strange happenings, and things only get stranger when the bad boy styled transfer student Gentaro Kisaragi attempts to make friends in his own unique way, reuniting with childhood friend and self-professed space travel otaku Yuki Jojima, all while gaining the ire of loner Kengo Utahoshi. When the campus becomes overrun with monstrous constructs called Zodiarts, Kengo and Yuki attempt to use the strange devices they have found in the Rabbit Hatch lunar base that they access through a locker on an off-limits part of campus to fight them. However, Gentaro interferes in their plans, in part due to Kengo's body unable to handle the strains of battle, and uses the devices to transform into Fourze.[8][9] Upon learning of other heroes called Kamen Riders, Gentaro creates the Kamen Rider Club whose membership includes Yuki, Kengo, the school's queen bee Miu Kazashiro, Miu's jock ex-boyfriend Shun Daimonji, garishly styled social butterfly JK and goth girl Tomoko Nozama. Later joined by Ryusei Sakuta, a transfer student who transforms into Kamen Rider Meteor, and their teacher Mr. Chuta Ohsugi, the Kamen Rider Club and Kamen Rider Fourze learn of the Horoscopes, an evolved group of Zodiarts who have been orchestrating events on the school grounds to build up their ranks. As the battle escalates, the Horoscopes sets their motions to their final phase of their master plan before Kengo discovers his true existence.

Episodes

The titles of episodes of Kamen Rider Fourze consist of four kanji that can be read together to form a full statement.

# Title Writer Original airdate
1 "Youth-Ful Trans-Formation"
"Sei Shun Hen Shin" (青・春・変・身) 
Kazuki NakashimaSeptember 4, 2011
2 "Space Is Amaz-Ing"
"U Chū Jō Tō" (宇・宙・上・等) 
Kazuki NakashimaSeptember 11, 2011
3 "Queen E-Lec-Tion"
"Jo Ō Sen Kyo" (女・王・選・挙) 
Kazuki NakashimaSeptember 18, 2011
4 "Trans-Formation Se-Cret"
"Hen Gen An Yaku" (変・幻・暗・躍) 
Kazuki NakashimaSeptember 25, 2011
5 "Friend-Ship Two-Faced"
"Yū Jō Hyō Ri" (友・情・表・裏) 
Kazuki NakashimaOctober 2, 2011
6 "Blitz-Krieg Only Way"
"Den Geki It To" (電・撃・一・途) 
Kazuki NakashimaOctober 9, 2011
7 "The King, The Jerk"
"Ō Sama Ya Rō" (王・様・野・郎) 
Riku SanjoOctober 16, 2011
8 "Iron Knight's Coop-Eration"
"Tek Ki Ren Kei" (鉄・騎・連・携) 
Riku SanjoOctober 23, 2011
9 "The Witch Awa-Kens"
"Ma Jo Kaku Sei" (魔・女・覚・醒) 
Riku SanjoOctober 30, 2011
10 "Moon-Light Rum-Ble"
"Gek Ka Geki Totsu" (月・下・激・突) 
Riku SanjoNovember 13, 2011
11 "Dis-Appearing Moon-Door"
"Shō Shitsu Tsuki To" (消・失・月・戸) 
Kazuki NakashimaNovember 20, 2011
12 "Mis-Sion Ken's Life"
"Shi Mei Ken Mei" (使・命・賢・命) 
Kazuki NakashimaNovember 27, 2011
13 "School Re-Jec-Tion"
"Gak Kō Kyo Zetsu" (学・校・拒・絶) 
Riku SanjoDecember 4, 2011
14 "Sting-Er At-Tack"
"Doku Bari Mō Shū" (毒・針・猛・襲) 
Riku SanjoDecember 11, 2011
15 "Holy Night Cho-Rus"
"Sei Ya Gas Shō" (聖・夜・合・唱) 
Riku SanjoDecember 18, 2011
16 "Right-Wrong Con-Flict"
"Sei Ja Kat Tō" (正・邪・葛・藤) 
Riku SanjoDecember 25, 2011
17 "Me-Teor Ar-Rival"
"Ryū Sei Tō Jō" (流・星・登・場) 
Kazuki NakashimaJanuary 8, 2012
18 "Gen/Ryu Show-Down"
"Gen Ryū Tai Ketsu" (弦・流・対・決) 
Kazuki NakashimaJanuary 15, 2012
19 "Steel Dragon, No Equal"
"Kō Ryū Mu Sō" (鋼・竜・無・双) 
Riku SanjoJanuary 22, 2012
20 "Excel-Lent Magne-Tism"
"Chō Zetsu Ji Ryoku" (超・絶・磁・力) 
Riku SanjoJanuary 29, 2012
21 "Gui-Dance Mis-Counseling"
"Shin Ro Go Dō" (進・路・誤・導) 
Kazuki NakashimaFebruary 5, 2012
22 "True Self Rejec-Tion"
"Ba Kyaku Is Shū" (馬・脚・一・蹴) 
Kazuki NakashimaFebruary 12, 2012
23 "The Swan Un-Ion"
"Haku Chō Dō Mei" (白・鳥・同・盟) 
Keiichi HasegawaFebruary 19, 2012
24 "Hero-Ic De-Sire"
"Ei Yū Gan Bō" (英・雄・願・望) 
Keiichi HasegawaFebruary 26, 2012
25 "Grad-Uation Trou-Bles"
"Sotsu Gyō Ushiro Gami" (卒・業・後・髪) 
Riku SanjoMarch 4, 2012
26 "Per-Fect Round Dance"
"Yū Shū Rin Bu" (有・終・輪・舞) 
Riku SanjoMarch 11, 2012
27 "Trans-Formation De-Nied"
"Hen Shin Kyak Ka" (変・身・却・下) 
Kazuki NakashimaMarch 18, 2012
28 "Star-Storm Come-Back"
"Sei Ran Sai Ki" (星・嵐・再・起) 
Kazuki NakashimaMarch 25, 2012
29 "Jun-Ior Sil-Ence"
"Kō Hai Mu Gon" (後・輩・無・言) 
Keiichi HasegawaApril 1, 2012
30 "Sen-Ior Futil-Ity"
"Sen Pai Mu Yō" (先・輩・無・用) 
Keiichi HasegawaApril 8, 2012
31 "Plei-Ades King-Dom"
"Subaru Boshi Ō Koku" (昴・星・王・国) 
Riku SanjoApril 15, 2012
32 "Super Cos-Mic Sword"
"Chō U Chū Ken" (超・宇・宙・剣) 
Riku SanjoApril 22, 2012
33 "Old City May-Hem"
"Ko To Sō Ran" (古・都・騒・乱) 
Kazuki NakashimaApril 29, 2012
34 "Sky Hole Offense/Defense"
"Ten Ketsu Kō Bō" (天・穴・攻・防) 
Kazuki NakashimaMay 6, 2012
35 "Mon-Ster Broad-Cast"
"Kai Jin Hō Sō" (怪・人・放・送) 
Keiichi HasegawaMay 13, 2012
36 "Seri-Ous Last Song"
"Hon Ki Den Ka" (本・気・伝・歌) 
Keiichi HasegawaMay 20, 2012
37 "Star Group Selec-Tion"
"Sei To Sen Batsu" (星・徒・選・抜) 
Riku SanjoMay 27, 2012
38 "Win-Ner Deci-Sion"
"Shō Sha Ket Tei" (勝・者・決・定) 
Riku SanjoJune 3, 2012
39 "Cam-Pus Ordi-Nance"
"Gaku En Hat To" (学・園・法・度) 
Keiichi HasegawaJune 10, 2012
40 "I-Dea Pas-Sion"
"Ri Nen Jō Nen" (理・念・情・念) 
Keiichi HasegawaJune 24, 2012
41 "The Club Col-Lapses"
"Bu Katsu Hō Kai" (部・活・崩・壊) 
Kazuki NakashimaJuly 1, 2012
42 "Sagi-Tarius Con-Trols"
"I Te Kun Rin" (射・手・君・臨) 
Kazuki NakashimaJuly 8, 2012
43 "Gem-Ini Light/Shade"
"Futa Go Mei An" (双・子・明・暗) 
Riku SanjoJuly 15, 2012
44 "Star Fate Cere-Mony"
"Sei Un Gi Shiki" (星・運・儀・式) 
Riku SanjoJuly 22, 2012
45 "Li-Bra De-Fects"
"Ten Bin Ri Han" (天・秤・離・反) 
Kazuki NakashimaAugust 5, 2012
46 "Supe-Rior Sagit-Tarius"
"Ko Kō I Te" (孤・高・射・手) 
Kazuki NakashimaAugust 12, 2012
47 "Close Friends Sepa-Rated"
"Shin Yū Betsu Ri" (親・友・別・離) 
Kazuki NakashimaAugust 19, 2012
Finale "Youth-Ful Gal-Axy"
"Sei Shun Gin Ga" (青・春・銀・河) 
Kazuki NakashimaAugust 26, 2012

Films

The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals

The character of Gentaro Kisaragi (portrayed by Fukushi) and Kamen Rider Fourze make their debut appearance in Kamen Rider OOO '​s third film, Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful: The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals. During the movie, Fourze assist OOO fighting Gara, before he return to Amanogawa High School.

Movie War Mega Max

A crossover film between Kamen Rider OOO and Kamen Rider Fourze in the same vein as the Movie War 2010 and Movie War Core films, titled Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Fourze & OOO: Movie War Mega Max (仮面ライダー×仮面ライダー フォーゼ&オーズ MOVIE大戦 MEGA MAX Kamen Raidā × Kamen Raidā Fōze ando Ōzu: Mūbī Taisen Mega Makkusu),[10] was released in Japanese theatres on December 10, 2011.[11] The guest star for the Fourze portion was Hello! Project member Erina Mano, who portrayed Nadeshiko Misaki who transforms into Kamen Rider Nadeshiko, the first schoolgirl Kamen Rider.[12] The event of the movie take place between episode 14 and 15.

Super Hero Taisen

Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen (仮面ライダー×スーパー戦隊 スーパーヒーロー大戦 Kamen Raidā × Sūpā Sentai: Sūpā Hīrō Taisen) is a film which features a crossover between the characters of the Kamen Rider and Super Sentai Series. Featuring the protagonists of Kamen Rider Decade and Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, along the casts of Kamen Rider Fourze and Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters as well.[13][14] The event of the movie take place between episode 24 and 25.

Space, Here We Come!

Kamen Rider Fourze the Movie: Space, Here We Come! (仮面ライダーフォーゼ THE MOVIE みんなで宇宙キターッ! Kamen Raidā Fōze Za Mūbī Minna de Uchū kitā!) is the main theatrical release for Kamen Rider Fourze, set to be released on August 4, 2012, alongside the film for Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters. The film features the evil Kyodain (キョーダイン Kyōdain) siblings composed of the older brother Groundain (グランダイン Gurandain) and the younger sister Skydain (スカイダイン Sukaidain), which are based on the heroes of Space Ironmen Kyodain.[15][16] It will also feature the first on-screen appearance of the 14th Heisei Kamen Rider: Kamen Rider Wizard. The event of the movie take place between episode 38 and 39.

Movie War Ultimatum

Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Wizard & Fourze: Movie War Ultimatum (仮面ライダー×仮面ライダー ウィザード&フォーゼ MOVIE大戦アルティメイタム Kamen Raidā × Kamen Raidā Wizādo Ando Fōze Mūbī Taisen Arutimeitamu) was released on December 8, 2012, as the annual winter "Movie War" film.[17] In the portion featuring the cast and characters of Kamen Rider Fourze, the story takes place five years after the events of the series. Both Erina Mano and Mikie Hara return to reprise their roles while Kenta Suga guest stars as Saburo Kazeta of a school club called the Monster Alliance who can transform into Sanagiman. The other guest stars for the Fourze portion includes Rika Adachi, Kasumi Yamaya, and Toshiya Toyama.

Super Hero Taisen Z

Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z (仮面ライダー×スーパー戦隊×宇宙刑事 スーパーヒーロー大戦Z Kamen Raidā × Sūpā Sentai × Uchū Keiji: Supā Hīrō Taisen Zetto) is an upcoming film set to be released during Spring 2013 which will feature the first crossover between characters of Toei's three main Tokusatsu franchises, Kamen Rider, Super Sentai, and the Space Sheriff Series representing the Metal Hero Series as a whole. The protagonists of Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie, Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters, and Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger are featured, but the casts of Kamen Rider Wizard, Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger, and Kamen Rider Fourze also participate in the film. Sota Fukushi, Kenta Suga, Kohki Okada, and Ayumi Kinoshita reprise their roles voicing Kamen Rider Fourze, Inazuman, Groundain, and Skydain respectively.

Video game

A port of Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes titled Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes Fourze (仮面ライダー クライマックスヒーローズ フォーゼ Kamen Raidā Kuraimakkusu Hīrōzu Fōze) was released for both the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo Wii during Winter 2011. In addition to adding Kamen Rider Fourze to the game, the Shōwa Riders (e.g., Kamen Rider #1 & Kamen Rider Black RX) were added as playable characters.

Manga adaptation

A manga adaptation of Kamen Rider Fourze, written and illustrated by MegaMan NT Warrior artist Ryo Takamisaki, was first published in the February issue of CoroCoro Comic Special.

Crossover with Crayon Shin-chan

Four short crossover episodes, collectively titled Kamen Rider Fourze × Crayon Shin-chan (仮面ライダーフォーゼ×クレヨンしんちゃん Kamen Raidā Fōze × Kureyon Shin-chan), between Kamen Rider Fourze and Crayon Shin-chan were shown in each show's time slots during April 2012 to promote their respective series' new films: Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen and Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called!: Me and the Space Princess. The characters will crossover in two episodes of each respective series. The story follows Shin-chan teaming up with Kamen Rider Fourze in order to go to space and rescue Shin's younger sister who had been taken to Planet Himawari to become its princess. The first and fourth episodes feature both anime and live-action while the second and third were entirely animated.[18][19][20]

Episodes

  1. Transform into Anime (アニメに変身だゾ Anime ni Henshin da zo, April 13, 2012; Crayon Shin-chan time slot)
  2. Com-Bined At-Tack (合・体・出・撃 Gat Tai Shutsu Geki, April 15, 2012; Kamen Rider Fourze time slot)
  3. Let's Rescue Himawari (ひまわりをお助けするゾ Himawari o Otasuke suru zo, April 27, 2012; Crayon Shin-chan time slot)
  4. Just Not Enough Friends (友・達・未・満 Tomo Dachi Mi Man, April 29, 2012; Kamen Rider Fourze time slot)

Televi-Kun DVDs

The Hyper Battle DVD for Fourze is titled Kamen Rider Fourze Hyper Battle DVD: Rocket Drill States of Friendship (仮面ライダーフォーゼ 超バトルDVD 友情のロケットドリルステイツ Kamen Raidā Fōze Haipā Batoru Dī Bui Dī Yūjō no Roketto Doriru Suteitsu). Gentaro aims to become friends with Kamen Rider Amazon to obtain the Clear Drill Switch, which has crash landed in the Amazon River.

Kamen Rider Fourze Special Bonus DVD: Astroswitch Secret Report (仮面ライダーフォーゼ 特性ふろくDVD アストロスイッチひみつレポート Kamen Raidā Fōze Tokusei Furoku Dī Bui Dī Asutorosuitchi Himitsu Repōto) is a DVD packaged with the July 2012 issue of Televi-Kun magazine. The issue also comes with a poster with the information described in the DVD. The DVD is set before the Hyper Battle DVD, and features the content normally found in the Hyper Battle DVD (explaining the powers and weapons of the Kamen Riders), explained as Tachibana, with Ryusei and Gentaro's help, gathers the data of the 40 Astroswitches to find out what and where the mysterious mass of Cosmic Energy is.

Climax Episode

Kamen Rider Fourze: Climax Episode (仮面ライダーフォーゼ クライマックスエピソード Kamen Raidā Fōze Kuraimakkusu Episōdo) is the director's cut version of the combined episodes 31 & 32. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 21, 2012.

Final Episode

Kamen Rider Fourze: Final Episode (仮面ライダーフォーゼ FINAL EPISODE Kamen Raidā Fōze Fainaru Episōdo) is the director's cut version of the last two episodes. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 21, 2013.

Cast

Guest cast

Songs

Opening theme
Ending theme
Other songs

The first soundtrack for Kamen Rider Fourze was released on December 21, 2011. A second soundtrack was later released on June 27, 2012. The Kamen Rider Fourze: Music States Collection' album, containing all vocal tracks from the series, was released on July 25, 2012. A special box collection will be released on August 29, 2012, containing all of the songs and background music featured throughout the series and its films.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Uchusen, Vol. 133
  2. "商願2011-27232". 18 April 2011.
  3. "商願2011-27233". 18 April 2011.
  4. "商願2011-27234". 18 April 2011.
  5. "仮面ライダー:最新作「フォーゼ」は初の学園モノ リーゼント頭の主人公に福士蒼汰 - MANTANWEB(まんたんウェブ)". 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  6. "新仮面ライダーは「青春スイッチオンで宇宙キター!」 - MSN産経ニュース". 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  7. Hyper Hobby, August 2011
  8. Hyper Hobby, September 2011
  9. Toei Hero Max, Vol. 38
  10. "仮面ライダー×仮面ライダー フォーゼ&オーズ MOVIE大戦 MEGAMAX/ユーザーレビュー - Yahoo!映画". Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  11. "東映、12月10日から「仮面ライダー」公開". Retrieved 2011-07-24.
  12. "沢穂希をイメージ 初の女子高生「仮面ライダーなでしこ」登場! ― スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能". 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  13. "ライダーと戦隊ものが初共演 ヒーロー240人大集結 ― スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能". 2011-12-03. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
  14. "ライダー40人vs戦隊199人!ヒーローの座巡り映画で本格初共演:芸能:スポーツ報知". 2011-12-03. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
  15. "懐かしの「宇宙鉄人キョーダイン」35年ぶり復活 宇宙ヒーロー最強決定戦だ!". Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  16. "フォーゼ&キョーダイン、ライバル役で競演:芸能:スポーツ報知". Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  17. "仮面ライダー×仮面ライダー ウィザード&フォーゼ MOVIE大戦アルティメイタム キャスト・スタッフ - Yahoo!映画". Info.movies.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  18. "しんちゃん×仮面ライダーが夢コラボ 東宝&東映が異例の宣伝タッグ 映画ニュース - 映画.com". Retrieved 2012-03-25.
  19. "しんちゃんとフォーゼ、異例ツーショット - シネマニュース nikkansports.com". Retrieved 2012-03-25.
  20. "クレヨンしんちゃん:舞台あいさつに仮面ライダーフォーゼが乱入! テレビで夢の共演も - MANTANWEB(まんたんウェブ)". Retrieved 2012-03-25.
  21. 21.0 21.1 "土屋アンナが40周年記念に元気をSwitch On!『仮面ライダーフォーゼ』主題歌発表". TV LIFE. 2011-09-02. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  22. "「ライダーを見てると戦いたくなる」土屋アンナさんが『仮面ライダーフォーゼ』主題歌「Switch On!」を担当!". Livedoor. 2011-09-02. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  23. "May’n「仮面ライダーフォーゼ」スペシャルユニットを結成!". 2011-10-09. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  24. "Twitter - @everset_tappun 【拡散希望〜everset 新曲情報!】本日の仮面ラ ...". 2011-12-18. Retrieved 2011-12-18.
  25. "仮面ライダーフォーゼの新エンディングはマグネットステイツのテーマ曲「Bounce Back」". ocn.ne.jp. 2012-01-28. Retrieved 2012-01-28.

External links