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This is Zero's version of Kamen Rider Zeztz. Say anything about it.
The G6 girl.
https://twitter.com/agito_movie/status/2043282994782466260Superpower Introduction.
I miss kamen rider games, the climax fighter only went up to Wizard and he was a bonus there so it only goes up to his default Rider Kick
wow Orderm looks way better up than when i first see it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R9R3Ur68DYMission 6.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSJpm17fpxY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n60Az7mo2uIAgito 3
Nox caught Nem red-handed as she’s got NTRed by Sieg
it's amazing that wizard is still the show with the cutest girls
I love Kureha
>>23815943This but loving Odaka Kensei.
The Secret spot.
>>23815873She isn't 17 years old though, she's 20 and Baku 23You're confused with Nem who despite being 20 she hasn't aged since she went into coma at age 17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUDMHXrkcowKabuto 3.
>>23815945Fugimi-san...
https://twitter.com/skmtdays_movie/status/2042890409483882959Sakamoto days Fumiya.
>>23815891Little disappointed he doesn't use the Zeztz Driver
>>23815910The sash belt really doesn't work with this design. The chest armor is too bulky and doesn't have room for the strap or buckle.
The 52-year old Hojo and the 45-year old Hikawa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfVnrX2_2lwCase 30.
>>23816069I thought nips were supposed to age gracefully?
>>23816072You know how there's a gene in some people that makes it so cilantro tastes like soap?Yeah East Asians have that with aging. The gene makes itself most apparent with smoking, if they got the gene they can spoke three packs a day and never look a day over 30. If they don't, well...
https://twitter.com/LEON1ch/status/2043220125286101171
Into the Dream's merchandise.
I always knew Kaixa was the true hero of the show.
I found the guy who keeps complaining about Saber and Gotchard.
>>23816195Man, I liked how Legend's summons had their own special effects. It was kind of lame that the "upgrade" he gets later in the Gotchard movie is just making the summons closer to the originals.
>>23816221But then it turns out he's a samefagging Gotchard fan.
>>23815891I love Saikou Shadow so I like more black and dark grey color scheme.
These last 8 episodes of Geats feel like they're just throwing shit at the wall to pad the episode count. The story basically ended when Geats IX debuted
>>23816342They said it in the show themselves.
>>23816342The evil Keiwa plot was actually the original endgame. It was designed with the idea of a reverse of Geats IX colors because originally it was thought to be the final boss.But the evil Keiwa plot ended up delayed several times by Takebe and then by the time it was done they didn't think it'd work as the end game anymore since it didn't get enough time.
>>23816369See, if they I actually like the evil Keiwa plot because he actually becomes interesting. Him being the endgame fight after killing a bunch of people would have actually given it kind of a Gaim feel for the end
>>23816369>Takebe delayed the Keiwa plot multiple times in Geats>Takebe kept the the Stomachs much longer than originally intended because she liked the their actors that much.Makes me curious on what changed decisions Takebe will make for My-th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1q3khgbkZg
Wouldn't it be crazy if Orderm actually worked in the real world?
Having sex with Minami all day
>>23816375Instead he's cucked the hardest he's ever been by the DGP, and they keep telling him over and over again that they're just fucking him over but he just keeps insisting that they won't as if they're not openly doing so already.
>>23816377Someone really needs to rein Takebe in.
>>23816422No one can
>>23816422She's a rebel that usually doesn't listen the advice of bandai or executives unless they outright reject her motifs like how it happened with Gaim and Gavv, I don't think anyone can keep her from being irresponsible ssdlyShe's close to her pension though, and at least Matsuura sort of inherited her creativity which is her biggest strength
>>23816420Yeah I could care less if Takebe forced Takahashi to hold off the dark Keiwa arc, it doesn't change the fact that Takahashi still wrote Keiwa horribly and there's no indication it would've been better if it was done earlier. We literally saw how he treated Michinaga's evil arc and Keiwa was a joke after Q1 regardless.
>>23816423ever know
>>23816377Man you made me realize that every show headed by Takebe had unprecedented changes>Kiva had to change plans halfway through due to lukewarm reception>OOO dropped the Kyoru Greed plotline setup by the winter movie and some plans with the Kogami Foundation, Date was meant to become a greed but got changed due to his popularity, the final stretch changed due to the earthquake>Go-Busters had to get a retool immediately after they got their upgrade form due to poor sales>Gaim had Mitzusane surviving instead of dying like in the original plan of which he only got to survive because the show ended up being one episode longer than originally planned, Kaito's backstory got cut>Ninninger had to lean hard on anniversary stuff on the second half due to lukewarm sales and reception>Geats had the story arcs of Neon and Keiwa delayed and the main antagonist changed>What the second quarter of Gavv would be about got completely changed, the Stomachs ended up surviving past episode 24 unlike original plans, what Bocca and Liselle would be about got changed
>>23816434悪魔の囁きが Calling
>>23816425>and there's no indication it would've been better if it was done earlier.Well, he was originally meant to be the final boss instead of Suel, so he might've overtaken the DGP instead of the other way around.
>>23816435>every show headed by Takebe had unprecedented changesNearly every Toku show does.
>>23816425Speaking of Michinaga, I wonder what happened to his final form. Plosion Rage was definitely meant to be his reward for winning the DGP. The buckle got leaked alongside the other three and the design has those Jamato markings, but for some reason they just kept letting him use the Fever Buckle instead and only introduced it in a V-Cinema
>>23816424>unless they outright reject her motifs like how it happened with Gaim and GavvQRD?
https://twitter.com/hinoyusuke63/status/2042862991146913993Hanto.
>>23816441>Plosion Rage was definitely meant to be his reward for winning the DGPBuffa was planned to be powered up twice in the show, getting Jyamashin first and then Plosion Rage. So Jyamashin was most likely his intended upgrade for winning the JGP, and he would've probably gotten Plosion Rage during his final fight against Beroba, in the same arc in which everyone else was getting their final forms.
>>23816450Gaim was originally meant to have a warriors + winged creature motif but it got rejected, the warrior part was kept but Bandai suggested fruits as a side motif insteadGavv was originally going to have a sea creature motif but got rejected and Bandai suggested sweets insteadNot a Takebe show but for Fourze the staff had come up with every toy except for the helper robots that were mandatory at the time, so Bandai suggested the Food Droids and they went along with it since they couldn't come up with something betterPoint is someone at Bandai is really fucking hungry
>>23816463>Point is someone at Bandai is really fucking hungryWhat's next, a sushi Rider for a new future food-related motif series?
>>23816466Reminds me of this "leaked concept art for the next season"
>>23816442Best primary by a mile is Baku. Best secondary by a mile is Fuwa.Most successful primary by far is Shachou. Secondary is obviously Nox.
>>23816463I have wondered why they never did a aquatic theme sentai series, especially with sharks being one of the more common animals when they do an animal themed group. But I do see how it'd be harder to do a rider series based around aquatic animals even if the belt forms would easily adapt to the concept.
>>23816463Which is why a mouse is the main motif of My-Th because there's so much free cheese
>>23816473If we take Nox out of the equation on account of him already being famous, who would be the most successful secondary?
>>23816476I assume it's because you're sort of required to film a lot of underwater scenes or near the ocean, and that's gonna be expensive as fuck
>>23816481Fuwa because bro is now a lawyer
>>23816480Or the myth that mice like cheese when really it's one of the last things they'd ever choose to eat.
>>23816072alcohol and tobacco will fuck anyone up
>>23816493What the fuck are you talking about
>>23816493Yea i used to lay cheese on the traps as a kid and was megapissed i was lied to by mainstream media
>>23816483>Having lost his battle against the Humagears, Fuwa now decides to battle them in the court of law
>>23815978That just means he's like a bio rider, a akumu ningen
>>23816498If they ever decide to do a 10YA film with a focus on Fuwa (retconning his "death") and they manage to convince him back, it would be a huge waste not to do an Ace Attorney gag or a Lobotomy kaisen Higuruma reference.
>>23816463>Gaim was originally meant to have a warriors + winged creature motif but it got rejected, the warrior part was kept but Bandai suggested fruits as a side motif insteadThat's not really how it went down. Originally, every Rider was going to be based on a Sengoku Warlord, but in order to differentiate the Riders, Bandai proposed the fruit elements which went alongside the bird motif with the idea being "fruit-eating birds", and then they adopted motifs of warriors from other cultures to further differentiate the Riders. The bird motif was dropped later on and that's how the Gaim Riders as we know them came to be.>Gavv was originally going to have a sea creatureA merman, specifically based on the Little Mermaid.
>>23816495>>23816497I can't believe I wasn't the only one, whenever a rat got into my house I would always have to poison them with expensive pepperoni, if I put cheap cheese, ham or pepperoni they wouldn't eat themPicky bastards
>>23816508Thank you very much for the corrections
>>23816439not according to the haters
https://twitter.com/toeiHERO_movie/status/2043524576551039335The filming report of the day.
>>23816439Takebe does it more than usual and very last minute, usually when they change things they manage to come up with a better alternative plan>>23816514No one is saying that her shows are bad just that she's the most irresponsible producer which is true, her only truly below average show is Ninninger plus OOO, Gaim and Gavv are really beloved
https://tieba.baidu.com/p/10613866249?fr=frs
hey Tsukada
>>23816523Leangle King Form is the best one of these by far and it's a fucking Stage Show suit.
From Ryutaros' VA, Kenichi Suzumura.https://twitter.com/oricon/status/2043533669391065162https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2448473/full/"Kenichi Suzumura to Postpone Live Tour, Citing "Illness" and "Aiming to Return in Perfect Condition"
>>23816523Ouja Survive-san...
Rough translation of the Oricon article about Kenichi Suzumura "Voice actor and artist Kenichi Suzumura announced on the 13th that he has canceled his acoustic live tour, which was scheduled for May and June. This was reported by Intention's official X account and the Bandai Namco Music official website."Regarding the acoustic live tour that we announced at the end of last year,we had planned to hold it in May-June 2026 and had been working towards making it happen. However, due to the artist's poor health, it has become difficult to hold the event under optimal conditions, and we have reluctantly decided to postpone it," they reported.He continued, "I deeply apologize to everyone who was looking forward to this performance. I will aim to return in perfect condition so that I can provide another opportunity to meet you all again in the future," and appealed, "I ask for your understanding and forgiveness." In February of this year, Suzumura was diagnosed with adjustment disorder by a doctor and will be taking a break to rest for a while, as announced by his management agency, Intention, where he serves as representative."
>>23816522Gavv being beloved is a massive fluke mainly because they got a pretty good action director plus none of the actors were bad at their jobs, and the main 3 were obviously having fun which resonated in their performance
Honestly still way prefer Catastrom over Orderm
I'll judge Orderm when I see it without the debut budget backing it up, which should be next episode this weekend.
>>23816550Yes, it's making me actually preorder a SHF Nox even though I usually wait and get it later in the aftermarket, just to pose it getting BTFO by Catastrom.
>>23816549The head writer for Gavv is great at drama and comedy (although Gavv barely has any comedy surprisingly) and she's known for being really good at picking actorsYeah yeah really sucks at handling big casts which was why she wanted the Stomachs to be simple characters that died quickly but her style generally lends itself to Rider
>>23816550I like Orderm's design, Henshin sequence and jingle better, but I like seeing Catastrom in action way more.
>>23816508>Sengoku Warlord>Birds>Fruits>Warriors from different cultures They sure had a lot of ideas for Gaim's design
>>23816550I like Orderm but Catastrom hits different. Shit's metal and technically has a 0 loss record. I think the showrunners agree because we're supposed to be getting the final form a little earlier, right? If anything it feels like Orderm feels incomplete, being a skeleton and all, but it's like the natural step into Zeztz' next evolution.
>>23816550I feel like Catastrom was really well done for a two part upgrade where usually the first part gets shafted. Not only was it really integral to the shifting dynamics of the story, but it just gave off such a powerful presence and honestly made every fight satisfying watching Baku just pummel through things. It honestly wouldn't have been so odd if Catastrom ended up the final form. Orderm honestly looks great, but I feel like it doesn't have the same impact that Catastrom did on debut but hopefully more screentime will help.
>>23816550"Big buff guy who punches hard" is a surprisingly underused concept in Rider
>>23816550Catastrom is one of the few forms that never really dropped the "debut strength" when typically it gets nerfed after a while.
>>23816563Sounds like she was a good pick. Hopefully they call her back soon since Gavv was well received
https://twitter.com/tamashii_tnt/status/2043142003895247339
>>23816571Catastrom's drawback is also really unique. If you're not pissed off and ready to kill whatever is in front of you, it will backfire on you instead
>>23816568>GAVV, did you know that your mom is actually a field agent? She was on a mission to investigate a black company.
>>23816572Right now I'd say either her or Kaneko who was an assistant writer for Gavv are the likeliest picks for My-Th but really it's too early to tell, Takebe is just an extremely unpredictable producer Also that writer is a good pick as long as it's for Rider, her writing style just doesn't work with Sentai and Precure which were what she worked on before even though her only hated season was LuPat
>>23816576I feel that if we still had net movies and super hero taisens we would have had a segment like these where other riders just clown on Nox
>>23816575This, it helps it justify it being so OP. The Triple Zeztzer hardly even gets used but when it does, it only causes even more destruction.
>>23816563>although Gavv barely has any comedy surprisinglyIt had plenty of comedy, some of which was jarringly out of place at times.
>>23816571>>23816581Exdream has a lot to live up to in the face of Catastrom.
>>23816566>>23816571Catastrom only looks that strong because, after Nox and The Disaster Nightmare, it's pretty much been exclusively used against monster of the week fodder. They avoided having it fight against Lord Three during the latter's debut, and they prevented it from having a proper fight with Dawn as Baku ran out of gas right after beating the Wolf Nightmare and Sieg took advantage of that to immediately stomp him out of his transformation.
>>23816577>Wrote 22 episodes of WizardI dunno, man, this isn't really a good track record for Rider either>Zyuohger>LuPat>ZenkaigerI thought people liked all three of these seasons? Though they are a bit Red centric
>>23816586From these stats, Catastrom really was Final form worthy despite its drawback. If Zeztz were a villain rider, Catastrom would be near unstoppable.Orderm is obviously useful for its Recovery powers on steroids. It is a utility form if anything. And the reduced stats make sense after casting off the bulk and leaving a Skeletal form.From the leaked design of our final form, it really feels like Orderm will "evolve" into Exdream somehow. So kinda makes sense when you consider the reduced stats and relatively lesser impact compared to Catastrom.
Sassword/Tsurugi's actor apparently had been working as a DJ during his hiatus as an actor and has also been having sex with multiple women:https://x.com/Chance_ABEMA/status/2043230134937743746?s=20
>>23816596Where do you even go from here? It feels like Catastrom and Ordem cover basically everything you need
https://twitter.com/RiderDiner/status/2043544921668518074The Orderm diner.
Zeztz's summer movie form will be a Rising Ultimate Kuuga reference/homage.
>>23816595Wizard was a really different situation where the head writer was missing deadlines constantly so she was initially writing the show on automatic without being able to progress the story, then the producer promoted her as a co-head writer, this was also her first time being the head writer for anything in her career at that pointZyuohger was hated at release for being too safe but it's very well liked nowLuPat is really liked by fujos, fundaishi and women but otherwise the story is really hated and the characters are considered to be poorly utilizedZenkaiger is really well liked but wasn't watched by many due to Sentai's reputation being stained at the time
>>23816592Where's Minyami?
>>23816596>From these stats, Catastrom really was Final form worthyMost Reiwa final forms except Gavv's have stats twice as high as Catastrom's.
>>23816593>only looks that strongLol. Bro will say anything at this point. I dont think you understand how much attention to detail was given to make sure Catastrom doesn't feel nerfed (because it never was). Lord 3 in the dream was lucky because Baku got an existential crisis, so he took advantage of taking the cheap shot. Sieg was always a smart motherfucker and took advantage as well. These were all circumstantial and do not take away from Catastrom being fucking powerful. But we are watching a show that is in the business of toys, and Catastrom cannot be the final form having been introduced mid series. This is the best we can get without making the super form feel cheap (which is unfortunately common in KR).
Love and Peace.
>>23816609Yeah and that's why we're getting ExDream. Stat inflation is real
>>23816577Or it could be a completely new writer altogether. I think it's time we got some new blood. Though, hopefully it's someone like Shogo Muto and not Kinoshita
>>23816600Dawn is stronger than Catastrom and more agile than Orderm, Zeztz will need an even more powerful form.
>>23816613Build if it was a ZEZTZ belt.
>>23816616I hope we get someone like KINOshitposta just to make /krg/ seethe
>>23816616>someone like Shogo MutoSamurai Troopers fan have been ragging on the Yoroi Shinden series written by Muto.
>>23816620*Samurai Troopers fans
>>23816620He still did Build. His next show being shit doesn't take away from Build being great
>>23816597based
>>23816597Gills, Baron, and now Sasword. Everyone who got into scandal suddenly return on the 55th anniversary of Kamen Rider.Imagine if we get update on Super 1 next.
>>23816612>This is the best we can get without making the super form feel cheapGod, I was watching Gotchard and it felt crazy just how many super forms he got.
>>23816612You're just mentioning how they got around Catastrom actually confronting opponents that are potentially on its own level or above. Outside of Nox and the Disaster Nightmare, it's only been allowed to have fights with low-tier opponents that even Plasma could handle pretty easily.The body breakdown drawback is its nerf, the one that prevents it from fighting the major threats that debuted after it. If Catastrom actually got to fight them and won, its feats would be more impressive.
>>23816499I don't think so, I think it moreso implies that it's another drone he controls like the Zeroider. Honestly, I feel like the Zeztz vs Zero thing would've had more impact if it was Zero physically transforming or just controlling the CODE Zeroider. The latter would've been a good excuse for Baku to keep the bike afterwards too.
>>23816632>The body breakdown drawback is its nerfThat's not a nerf. We got that literally in a span of, what, an episode after its debut? That means we already knew what the form was capable of from the get go. Do you even know what a nerf is? It's basically closer to a retcon to make something jarringly less OP after a significant period of time.
>>23816597This nigga's bodily fluids have to be even more toxic than Sasword's venom at this point.
>>23816620Build, Nippon Noir, Joker Unforgiven Investigator, Mr. Hiiragi's Homeroom and Mars Zero no Kakumei were all great so Yoroiden Samurai Troopers and Resident Evil Infinite Darkness aren't really enough to stain his reputation, the dude is generally a really solid writer
The current Case visuals.
>>23816644As a photographer these visuals make me cream my pants
>>23816637>That's not a nerf. We got that literally in a span of, what, an episode after its debut? It was the episode after its 2 episode-long debut showcase. And it was conveniently triggered for the first time right before Baku had to fight Lord Three, and once again when he was about to resume his fight against Sieg.>That means we already knew what the form was capable of from the get goWe don't know how it measures up to Three's fighting skills nor Dawn's raw power and skill because, again, they never let it actually fight any major threat that debuted after it. We know it's great at cleaning up monsters of the week because Plasma could already handle those with ease, and we also know it's stronger than the toys that debuted right before it (KR Nox and the pair of Lords Five & Six), but what about the toys that debuted after it?
>>23816625That doesn't mean his next show will be as good.
>>23816654Your whole argument rests on the basic stuff that's been shown on the screen (that is, you taking everything 'literally'l instead of you reading between the lines and comprehending intent and implication. Again, you're saying anything at this point just to downplay a pretty good execution of a Super form. Being this willfully obtuse at your age just makes you look pathetic.
>>23816550Me too but why doesn't the top heavy form have a Rider Punch as its main finisher. Or a lariat.
>>23816639The main concern here isn't whether those works stain his reputation or not, it's whether he's been starting to lose his consistency in recent years.
>>23816442Jesus his secondaries are always fucking useless.
>>23816656You're straying off topic. I wanted a new writer that breathes new life into the series and makes a great show like Shogo Muto. Whether his writing skills are still good or not is unrelated to the current topic since he's no longer a new writer
>>23816597Wonder if he ever plays Lord of the Speed at any of his shows.
For me, it's still Over Gavv
>>23816664Para-Dx and Laser ended up being more relevant Riders than Brave
>>23816660>instead of you reading between the lines and comprehending intent and implicationDon't come at me with that bullshit, at most we can infer that Lord Three loses an hypothetical fight given how concerned Three is about the power Baku has gained (but then again Lord Three is also getting a power-up of his own in the future), but parallels have been directly drawn between Catastrom's power and Dawn's so you can't just assume Dawn is weaker until they have a proper fight.>Again, you're saying anything at this point just to downplay a pretty good execution of a Super form.It's easy to make a Super Form look strong if you just keep throwing low level fodder at it. It's another story entirely if it has to constantly fight against higher tier threats.
>>23816674>we can infer that...So you do kinda get it but you choose to be obtuse because your life must be pretty fucking miserable lmao. You are a sad little retard. I rest my case.
Been thinking back to Ex-Aid and realize, I don't care for Brave and Snipe's characters.
>>23816684>So you do kinda get it but you choose to be obtuseI'm not being obtuse, you just actively choose to ignore the points I'm making.>your life must be pretty fucking miserableIs this a projection? You're the one who's been acting like a petty condescending bitch about this.
>>23816671True, but alsoCAKING
>>23816619why are you still here if you don't watch toku?
>>23816644I hope they keep making these for My-th>>23816686That's understandable, Brave gets screwed by his cuck arc that was cobbled up together at the last second because the writer didn't have any plan for him and Snipe had his backstory relegated to a blu-ray miniseries
>>23816549i still fucking hate morota
>>23816709>form so good they recreated it three times
>>23816762Isn't he just a standard berserk form? We already had that with FangJoker and Hazard
>>23816762MCH itself is a Hazard knock-off.
>>23816763>>23816773yeah but we're talking about reiwa forms>hellrising hopper>revice jack>catastrom&orderm
>>23816785Revice Jack isn't a berserk form since Vice is still in control. Catastrom & Orderm are rage forms, not berserk forms since Baku is still in control. You should have said Primitive Dragon
>here's your kamen rider nem bro
>>23816795So you're saying she's a... Kanem Rider
>>23816789Orderm isnt a rage form...
>>23816795How much is this going for on P Bandai?
>>23816801About 17,373 Yen
>>23816798It sort of is according to TV Asahi.https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/zeztz/rider/zeztz/orderm/>3. Zeztz Naked>Zeztz Orderm's reinforced coating.>As particulate dark matter envelops the entire body, it manifests the Nightmare power inherent in the wearer, revealing their hidden destructive impulses.It's the exact same wording used for Catastrom. Every other form uses the Zeztz Exoskim, which instead manifests the user's inner strength
>>23816808The coating is called the Zeztz Naked? An interesting choice.
>>23816813Never underestimate Japan's love and complete misuse of weird English words
>>23816808That's so weird. We'll have to see if Orderm really does have destructive impulses but that doesnt seem to be the case at all considering it's supposed to be the yang to Catastrom's yin. Otherwise this is just another intern writing whatever for the web page.
who is still watching in 480p?
>>23816821Russians
Studio KAI (Fuuto Tantei) announces bankruptcy after a 565 mil yen ($3.54 million) loss last fiscal yearhttps://gamebiz.jp/news/424225
>>23816824why?
>>23816827Third world countries like SEA are poor and don't have that much hard drive space
>>23816824is the russian audio official?
>>23816826correction: some translation says bankruptcy, some says insolvency. I don't know which is which
>>23816831What's the difference?
Animate interview with ShirakuraP, TsukadaP, and TakebePhttps://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1773837697--First, could you tell us about the process that led to the start of the new "Agito" project as a commemorative work for the 55th anniversary of Kamen Rider's?>Takebe: It all started with yakiniku>Tsukada: We reunited with Jun Kaname at the production announcement for the work "Oshi no Ko," and we decided to go out for a meal. The police team, including Jun Yamazaki from the G Unit, had yakiniku, and that's when the topic of wanting to do a new Agito project came up.>Takebe: It was really near the end, wasn't it? Up until then, we'd been reminiscing about old times.>Tsukada: I think that's where it started, and then we consulted with Inoue-sensei, and that was the flow of events.>Takebe: I myself thought it was just going to be a yakiniku get-together. There are some projects where the cast brings in a proposal, but I remember being really surprised that time, thinking, "They're talking about something like that!?">Tsukada: Up until now, when we do anniversary projects, we usually start with "It's almost been 10 years," but it's been 25 years since Agito was made.>Takebe: I wasn't really aware of that, so I was like, "So everyone was thinking about that?"
>>23816847--What kind of things did you discuss when creating a new Agito story for the Reiwa era?>Takebe: At first, was it something like, "Let's put the spotlight on Makoto Hikawa"?>Shirakura: "Let's do a story about how the G-Unit, led by Makoto Hikawa, will confront a world where humanity is gradually awakening to Agito." We talked about this while drunk a few days later (laughs).>Takebe: It was a "completely dark bar" where no more than three people could enter (laughs).>Shirakura: The restaurant was designated by dai-sensei (Toshiki Inoue), and he asked us to limit the number of people to three...>Tsukada: It looked like it would fit in terms of space, though.>Shirakura: There were seats available, but apparently, groups of three or more are not allowed. After talking for a bit, Inoue-sensei said, "Okay, then work's done." I thought to myself, "It was done in a minute!" (laughs).>Takebe: However, after the plot meeting, Inoue-sensej mentioned that he needed some time, which showed his determination.>Tsukada: My approach was to commit to whatever Mr. Shirakura and Mr. Inoue were creating, but the meetings were completely unpredictable, leaving me wondering, "What's going to happen?">Thinking about it again, 'Agito' was a unique and innovative work born from various challenges. It sounds strange, but those who create Kamen Rider series from now on will have to create Kamen Rider in a world where 'Agito' already exists. I've done it myself, and I think that's quite difficult. After all, there was no 'Agito' before 'Agito'. In that sense, I think this film has also become quite unique.>Takebe: It certainly feels different from "V-Cinext.">Tsukada: It's an unusual movie (laughs). Personally, I really like it.
>>23816849--This film is part of the "Kamen Rider Movie Project," and the teaser trailer is titled "Kamen Rider Chronicle Begins.">Shirakura: I can't quite remember how it all started, but at first I thought it would be something like bringing "Kamen Rider Agito" to life as an anniversary V-Cinema Next, following "Kamen Rider OOO 10th: The Revival of the Core Medals" and "Kamen Rider 555 20th: Paradise Regained." But before I knew it, "Agito" was being made into a movie...>Takebe: It's different from our usual production system. We even filmed in Kyoto.>Shirakura: To be honest, I felt that doing Agito in the form of a V-Cinext sequel was quite a heavy burden. Frankly, we were hesitant to take on the project. However, we changed our approach and decided that "if it's in the form of a feature film, we should give it our all.">Takebe: So, the reason it became a movie is because the people around you were more enthusiastic than you expected?>Shirakura: Tsukada accidentally let something slip during a meeting with important people.>Tsukada: Was that right?>Shirakurw: When I mentioned that a V-Cinext adaptation of "Agito" was in the works, someone said, "Let's make it a feature film." Since "Agito" was the first film in what we now call the "summer movie" lineup ("Kamen Rider Agito: Project G4"), many people at Toei have a positive impression of "Agito.">Also, while it's not a grand pronouncement, some argue that "Agito" inherently has a thematic core—the idea of those who can transform and those who can't striving together to improve—already has themes that make it suitable for a film (laughs).
>>23816850--There are definitely aspects that could only be brought to the movie because it was "Agito.">Shirakura: That's right.>Takebe: Another big factor is that Kaname-kun will be appearing.>Shirakura: It's not just because "the cast asked us" or "it's an anniversary," but because if we're going to do 'Agito,' we should tackle it head-on. I've always thought that "otherwise it would be unfair to both the cast and the audience," so I think this is a great opportunity.
>>23816853--I understand that filming for this project took place in two separate locations, Kyoto and Tokyo. I'd like to hear about the intention behind this approach.>Tsukada: I've brought special effects productions to Kyoto before, so I have the know-how, and Kyoto allows actors who come from Tokyo to concentrate on their acting because they're disconnected from their daily lives. I think that kind of energy has a positive effect on the work. So I persuaded Shirakura, who was reluctant... (laughs)>Takebe: The schedule was fairly close, so I was wondering, "Are we really going to do it?">Tsukada: Due to issues such as the stage props not being ready in time, we decided to "shoot the action scenes later in Tokyo," resulting in a unique blend of East and West. I think it turned out to be something truly unique in many ways.>Shirakura: Not only were the cast members isolated in a "driver's license training camp"-like setting, but the staff also traveled all the way from Tokyo. Conversely, staff from Kyoto came to the Tokyo studio, creating a kind of East-West exchange that provided mutual inspiration. In the end, it was a really great experience. >Takebe: It really felt like a "movie," didn't it?>Tsukada: The members from Kyoto were really into it and participated enthusiastically.>Takebe: I think the fact that it was directed by Tasaki (Ryuta) was a big factor, too. He had done a lot of filming in Kyoto for "The Woman of S.R.I," so he was able to request the cameramen and other staff as well.>Shirakura: For better or worse, the Tokyo team is very experienced, so there's a chance they might just rely on their usual methods. Even if you tell them, "This time it's a 'film'," they might still perform as they normally would. On the other hand, the Kyoto team isn't in their usual environment. How should I put it...it's obvious, but they're serious about it. I think that's what elevated the film to a whole new level.(1/2)
>>23816857>Takebe: The timing was good this time too. Since it was right after "Kamen Rider Gavv" had finished, we were able to bring in people who had free time in their schedules, such as action director Satoshi Fujita, and suit actors Masashi Takada, Yuya Nawata, and Yuki Miyazawa.>Shirakura: It might sound obvious when I say that we have leading suit actors play the leading roles in the suit acting...>Takebe: Usually, I tend to be a little hesitant when working on other projects, but this time it was just right.(2/2)
>>23816859>Tsukada: As the third-in-command producer, I was constantly casting guest actors back then. Agito had a huge cast, to say the least.>Shirakura: Because it includes things like the "Akatsuki" ship.>Tsukada: We had to adjust the cast schedules around that time, even after their main appearances. Looking back now, I think, "I'm surprised we were able to get all the members together for the Akatsuki episode.">Shirakura: There's bound to be an episode where everyone gets together at some point. As for Kashu (Toshiki), it seems that when Tsukada was traveling from Kyoto to Tokyo, he spoke to his manager at Kyoto Station.>Tsukada: When we happened to meet, I told him, "We're currently holding auditions for Kamen Rider," and he said, "Please let me participate.">Tsukada: My personal achievement is bringing Ryunosuke Kamiki along. Before the interview, I rewatched episodes 43 to 46. He did a lot of different things, but when I watch the scene where he flies away as Agito's "original form" now, I think, "What kind of treatment is that!?" (laughs).>Shirakura: We hoisted the child actors up on the set (laughs).>Takebe: What I remember about the casting at the time is that there was talk during the audition that Kaname-kun's "speech was a little..." but Shirakura-san said, "We'll go with Kaname-kun." Tsukada-san brought in Kashu-kun, and I and the female producer at TV Asahi said, "Tomoi (Yusuke)-kun would be good." Perhaps the fact that the three of us each recommended different cast members was a good thing. As for the rest, it was all a first-time experience, so I don't really remember much...
>>23816867--Those must have been very difficult days.>Tsukada: I pulled out some old notebooks and found that every time we had a meeting, we'd order a drink at a coffee shop, and I'd written it all down. It was just things like "iced coffee" and stuff like that (laughs).Takebe: Back then, there was also a TV special (Kamen Rider Agito Special: A New Transformation), right? I was working on something else, but I thought it looked incredibly difficult. It was my first movie, and every day was a whirlwind of shocks.>Tsukada: I think I also submitted some ideas for "impossible crimes," although they weren't often used. I did use quite a variety of methods for the killings, after all.>Shirakura: Most of the ideas I came up with for "Kamen Rider Kuuga" weren't used either. I was told, "Yours are too logical," but what's wrong with being logical?! (laughs)
>>23816869--(laughs). By the way, how did the casting of Yuuchami-san (Aoi Ruriko/Kamen Rider G6), who plays an important role in this work, come about?>Tsukada: Producer Yoshikawa Fumiki did a great job. He was really working at full capacity, fueled by his passion for "Agito" from his childhood.>Shirakura: Producer Yoshikawa had Yuchami's name on the list of candidates, and Director Tasaki said, "This is the one." Apparently, she was his top pick, but the fact that he even included her as a candidate is amazing. At least, it wouldn't have occurred to me.>Takebe: For the G-series suits, appearance is extremely important. We were saying that we wanted someone at least 165 centimeters tall, but Yuchami is 176 centimeters, so I think it was a perfect fit. Filming was tough and hot, but she never complained about anything on set and was a really cheerful person. She apparently thought it was a prank the whole time.>Tsukada: But that kind of thing happens with movies, doesn't it? When producer Kazuhiro Takahashi mentioned Koji Kikkawa's name for "Kamen Rider W," I thought, "No way, he won't do it," but he did.>Takebe: We often say, "Listening is free!"
>>23816871--I think one of the defining features of "Agito" is the contrast between Agito Gills, who awakens to supernatural powers, and the G-series, which was created through human effort.>Shirakura: It wasn't something I intended from the start. Before the "Agito" project was finalized, during design meetings with Bandai, the theme of "Mecha Kuuga" came up. Of course, at the design stage, there was no setting regarding whether it was human or robot. The starting point was simply deciding that it would be a powered suit worn by a police officer.>Now, surrounded by transforming Kamen Riders, I can proudly say that Makoto Hikawa is a normal human with no superpowers, simply fighting while wearing a powered suit... But that wasn't the intention; it just happened that way. I feel that it's thanks to the great scriptwriter, Inoue-sensei, who picked up on that idea so well, that we have what we have today.
>>23816873--In the prototype stage, "Kamen Rider G3," there were many instances where he lost, right?>Tsukada: That's right. That's why the impact was so great when he became "Kamen Rider G3-X".>Shirakura: Up until then, he was just a punching bag... (laughs).>Tsukada: (laughs). I think a big factor was that Inoue-san was fond of Sumiko Ozawa and Toru Hojo. When I received the script and saw the amount of dialogue, I thought, "I knew it!" I have the impression that the entire G-Unit created an important part of Agito.
I didn't want to say it until now, but Shouichi's characterization in the new movie sounds like he's being used as a proxy for Joe Odagiri...
>>23816874--Makoto Hikawa's performance in "Kamen Rider Agito: Project G4" was also impressive.>Takebe: That was a movie, and I don't think there was any resistance at all to making Makoto Hikawa the main character.>Shirakura: The reason we centered the story around Hikawa was because we had the theme "Kamen Rider G4" from the beginning, so it inevitably became a "police vs. Self-Defense Forces, G3 vs. G4" scenario.>Takebe: It was our first attempt to do a TV series and a film simultaneously, so we thought it would be difficult unless we shifted them slightly. On the other hand, the story of Ryo Ashihara (episode 28, "That Summer Day") was written by Yasuko Kobayashi for the TV series. I think we were trying to balance things like that with the film.>Tsukada: At the time, Seiji Takaiwa (the suit actor for Kamen Rider Agito) had just finished an all-night shoot and said, "I'm off to film the TV series now!" and I was like, "What!?" (laughs).>Takebe: I was in a Hiace van with Tsuyoshi Miyazaki (action director) (laughs).>Tsukada: That's not possible right now, is it? Maybe I shouldn't write about this kind of thing?>Takebe: It's probably past the statute of limitations now (laughs).
>>23816878Always have been.
>>23816880The power transfer leak sounds like the equivalent of Joe passing the Kuuga role to a new actor, but still taking the director's chair
>>23816879--So everything was a trial-and-error process, right? I doubt you could have imagined the "Kamen Rider" series continuing as it is today?>Shirakura: We never intended to continue. It was originally supposed to end with "Kamen Rider Kuuga," so it was more like, "Oh, so we're doing one more Kamen Rider series?"
>>23816884--Looking back now, "Kamen Rider Agito" was a work that created a new format for the Kamen Rider series.>Shirakura: In hindsight, that's one way to look at it. Kamen Rider Kuuga is a reboot of the Showa Riders, but Agito has aspects of a reboot of the Metal Hero series, such as Tokkei Winspector. Since it aired in the same time slot as the Metal Heroes, it's as if the DNA of Kamen Rider and Metal Heroes merged there, creating one format for the Heisei Riders.>Takebe: The show had a long-running plot twist, like "the main character's name is actually different," and it was quite a "serial drama.">Shirakura: We would have a final screening at the studio, and after each screening, Kazunori Numao, who was in charge of production, would turn around and ask, "What happens next?" I'd say, "Well, you already know!" (laughs).>Takebe: That's right, we were trying to make the pull as strong as possible.
>>23816885--The first episode of the TV series was told from Makoto Hikawa's perspective, and it had a unique structure in that the identity of Agito's human form was not revealed.>Shirakura: The light from the belt wasn't enough to show up on camera, so Takaiwa-san had a hot bare light bulb hanging from his waist, and it looked like he was having a hard time.>Takebe: Even now, Agito is still talked about as a hero shrouded in mystery. The main character doesn't necessarily transform at the beginning and you think, "So this is what transformation is like..." I think it had a unique approach.
