History

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by Trustysnail2

by Trustysnail2

                                    
                                              Kamen Rider is a long-running Japanese media franchise that has been a significant part of Japanese popular culture since its inception in 1971. Here's an overview of its history:
Origins and Showa Era (1971-1989)
The Kamen Rider franchise began in 1971 with the original Kamen Rider television series, created by Shotaro Ishinomori. The show followed college student Takeshi Hongo in his quest to defeat the world-conquering Shocker organization. This series launched what became known as the "Henshin Boom" in Japanese television, significantly impacting the superhero and action-adventure genres in Japan.
Key aspects of the early Kamen Rider series include:
A recurring mentor character named Tobei Tachibana
Regular team-ups between protagonists from different series
The Riders' powers often derived from the same technology used by their enemies
The Showa era of Kamen Rider included several series:
Kamen Rider (1971)
V3 (1973)
X (1974)
Amazon (1974)
Stronger (1975)
Skyrider (1979)
Super-1 (1980)
ZX (1984 TV special)
Black (1987)
Black RX (1988)
Kamen Rider Black marked a significant shift, being the first series since Amazon not to hint at a relationship with its predecessors. It was also the first to have a direct sequel, Black RX.
Hiatus and Revival (1990s-2000)
After Black RX, the franchise went on hiatus from regular television production. However, it was kept alive through:
Stage shows
Musical CDs
Three theatrical films: Shin (1992), ZO (1993), and J (1994)
Heisei Era (2000-2019)
The franchise was revived for television in 2000, beginning the Heisei era of Kamen Rider. This era is often divided into two phases:
Phase 1 (2000-2009):
Kuuga (2000)
Agito (2001)
Ryuki (2002)
555 (2003)
Blade (2004)
Hibiki (2005)
Kabuto (2006)
Den-O (2007)
Kiva (2008)
Decade (2009)
Phase 2 (2009-2019):
W (2009)
OOO (2010)
Fourze (2011)
Wizard (2012)
Gaim (2013)
Drive (2014)
Ghost (2015)
Ex-Aid (2016)
Build (2017)
Zi-O (2018)
The Phase 2 series were characterized by a different production staff, tone, and broadcast schedule compared to Phase 1.
Reiwa Era (2019-present)
The current Reiwa era of Kamen Rider began in 2019, continuing the franchise's evolution and popularity.
Throughout its history, Kamen Rider has maintained certain core elements:
A motorcycle-riding hero with insect-like features
Transformation sequences ("henshin")
Battles against evil organizations
Themes of using power responsibly
The franchise has expanded beyond television to include movies, video games, and a wide range of merchandise, cementing its place as a cultural icon in Japan and gaining international recognition.