Kamen Rider OOO


 * This article is about the television series. For the series' main character, OOO, see Eiji Hino.

Kamen Rider OOO (仮面ライダーオーズ／ＯＯＯ) is a 2010-2011 Japanese tokusatsu drama in Toei Company's Kamen Rider Series, being the twelfth series in the Heisei period run and the twenty-first overall. It began airing on September 5, 2010, the week following the conclusion of Kamen Rider W, joining Tensou Sentai Goseiger and then Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger in the Super Hero Time lineup, until its conclusion on August 28, 2011. The series' titular Kamen Rider made a cameo appearance in the film Kamen Rider W Forever: A to Z/The Gaia Memories of Fate. The catchphrase for the series is "I'll transform!!!" (俺が変身する!!!).

Production
OOO is written by Yasuko Kobayashi, known for the screenplays of Seijuu Sentai Gingaman, Mirai Sentai Timeranger, Kamen Rider Ryuki, Den-O, and Samurai Sentai Shinkenger|. The creature designers are Yutaka Izubuchi, known for his work on the Lords in Kamen Rider Agito, and Tamotsu Shinohara, known for his work on the Mirror Monsters of Ryuki and the Orphnoch of Kamen Rider 555.

Unlike several previous Heisei Rider Series, no alternate name has been given yet for the three O's in the title Ｗ（ダブル） read as "Double" and 555（ファイズ） read as "&Phi;'s/Phi's/Faiz") aside from an alternate spelling of the name of the main Kamen Rider: Ooz. Both "OOO" and "Ooz" are intended to be read as "O's", referring to the multiple uses of the letter O in the title as well as "multiple kings" (王ｓ). The title OOO signifies the three medals that the main Kamen Rider uses to transform as well as being representative of the infinity symbol ($$\infty$$) with an additional circle.

The 28th episode of Kamen Rider OOO serves as the 1000th episode of the Kamen Rider Series since Kamen Rider premiered on April 3, 1971. The episode was originally set to premiere on March 27, 2011. However, due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the airing of this episode was postponed by one week to April 3, 2011. For the 999th and 1000th episodes, various guest stars with the kanji for thousand (千) in their name were featured: Chiaki, Chisato Morishita, Chinatsu Wakatsuki, and the owarai duo Harisenbon (sen also being Japanese for 1000).

Story
Eiji Hino is a traveling man who has no place to call home and a tragic past. When coin-based homunculi known as the Greeed awaken after their 800-year slumber to attack humans and feed off of their desires, the disembodied arm of the Greeed named Ankh gives Eiji a belt and three Medals to fight the other Greeed as Kamen Rider OOO. The mysterious Kougami Foundation approaches Eiji and begins assisting him in his fight against the Greeed, though their true motives are not clear. As Eiji fights the Greeed and their Yummy monsters, learning more of the Greeed and Ankh, he starts to find a purpose beyond his journey.

Episodes
Each episode title of Kamen Rider OOO consists of three objects featured in the episode.

A to Z/The Gaia Memories of Fate
The character of Eiji Hino (portrayed by Watanabe) and Kamen Rider OOO make their debut appearance in Kamen Rider W's second film Kamen Rider W Forever: A to Z/The Gaia Memories of Fate.

Movie War Core
{C After the end credits of W Forever, a short teaser featuring Kamen Rider Double and Kamen Rider OOO states that there will be a crossover film featuring both series' characters, much like Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider W & Decade: Movie War 2010. It is titled Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider OOO & W Featuring Skull: Movie War Core (仮面ライダー×仮面ライダーオーズ＆ダブル ｆｅａｔ．スカル ＭＯＶＩＥ大戦ＣＯＲＥ). As part of it, OOO's film Kamen Rider OOO: Nobunaga's Desire (仮面ライダーオーズ ノブナガの欲望) opened in Japanese theaters on December 18, 2010.

Let's Go Kamen Riders
OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders (オーズ・電王・オールライダー レッツゴー仮面ライダー), released on April 1, 2011, commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series featuring the cast and characters of Kamen Rider Den-O, Kamen Rider OOO, and other characters from the past franchise series.

The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals
Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful the Movie: The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals (劇場版 仮面ライダーオーズ　WONDERFUL　将軍と２１のコアメダル) is the main theatrical release for Kamen Rider OOO, released on August 6, 2011, alongside the film for Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger. It also features the first on-screen appearance of the 13th Heisei Kamen Rider: Kamen Rider Fourze.

Movie War Mega Max
A crossover film between Kamen Rider OOO and Kamen Rider Fourze in the same vein of 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), is planned for a December 10, 2011, theatrical release in Japan.

Video game
A port of Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes titled Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes OOO (仮面ライダー クライマックスヒーローズ オーズ) was released on both the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo Wii on December 2, 2010. In addition to adding Kamen Rider OOO to the game, the previous Heisei Riders' most powerful forms (e.g., Kuuga Ultimate Form & Double CycloneJoker Xtreme) are added as playable characters as well as other Heisei Kamen Riders not included in either of the two previous versions.

Hyper Battle DVD
Kamen Rider OOO Hyper Battle DVD: Quiz, Dance, and Takagarooba!? (仮面ライダーオーズ　ハイパーバトルＤＶＤ　クイズとダンスとタカガルバ) will be released alongside a future issue of Televi-Kun magazine. The DVD will feature the Kangaroo Medal, which can be used by Kamen Rider OOO to transform either his arms or legs to have kangaroo-themed powers.

"Kangaroo Dance" is a song used in the Hyper Battle DVD featuring Akira Kushida chanting "Kangaroo" in the background with composition & arrangement from Shuhei Naruse.

Final Episode
Kamen Rider OOO: Final Episode (仮面ライダーオーズ　FINAL EPISODE) is the director's cut version of the last two episodes of Kamen Rider OOO put together. It is set to be released to DVD on February 21, 2012.

Cast

 * Eiji Hino (火野 映司): Shu Watanabe (渡部 秀)
 * Ankh/Shingo Izumi (アンク／泉 信吾): Ryosuke Miura (三浦 涼介)
 * Hina Izumi (泉 比奈): Riho Takada (高田 里穂)
 * Shintaro Goto (後藤 慎太郎): Asaya Kimijima (君嶋 麻耶)
 * Erika Satonaka (里中 エリカ): Mayuko Arisue (有末 麻祐子)
 * Chiyoko Shiraishi (白石 千世子): Marie Kai (甲斐 まり恵)
 * Kousei Kougami (鴻上 光生): Takashi Ukaji (宇梶 剛士)
 * Kiyoto Maki (真木 清人): Yu Kamio (神尾 佑)
 * Akira Date (伊達 明): Hiroaki Iwanaga (岩永 洋昭)
 * Uva (ウヴァ): Yūsuke Yamada (山田 悠介)
 * Kazari (カザリ): Taito Hashimoto (橋本 汰斗)
 * Gamel (ガメル): Hiroyuki Matsumoto (松本 博之)
 * Mezool (メズール): Yukana (ゆかな)
 * Mezool (Human State) (メズール（人間形態）): Honoka Miki (未来 穂香)
 * Ankh (Lost) (アンク（ロスト）): Miyu Irino (入野 自由)
 * Ankh (Lost) (Human State) (アンク（ロスト）（人間形態）): Hikari Tobita (飛田 光里).
 * O Scanner Voice, Medagabryu Voice (オースキャナー音声、メダガブリュー音声): Akira Kushida (串田 アキラ)
 * Narration, Birth Driver Voice, Birth Buster Voice (ナレーション、バースドライバー音声、バースバスター音声): Jōji Nakata (中田 譲治)

Guest cast

 * Hospital's Director (病院院長): Akira Hamada (浜田 晃)
 * Masaru Hashimoto (橋本 勝): Mitsuomi Takahashi (高橋 光臣)
 * Yumi Sakura (佐倉 優美): Erena (英玲奈)
 * Female Biker (27): Chiaki (千秋)
 * Female Biker (27): Chisato Morishita (森下 千里)
 * Female Fan (28): Chinatsu Wakatsuki (若槻 千夏)
 * Shocker Combatmen (28): Harisenbon (ハリセンボン)
 * Haruka Minowa (箕輪 はるか)
 * Haruna Kondo (近藤 春菜)
 * Kosuke Sakata (坂田 浩介): Bandō Minosuke II (二代目 坂東 巳之助)
 * Doctor Fujita (藤田医師): Akira Kubodera (窪寺 昭)
 * Kentaro Sawaguchi (沢口 健太郎): Shigeki Kagemaru (影丸 茂樹)
 * Gonzo Shimoda (下田 権造): Shihou Harumi (春海 四方)
 * Kengo Utahoshi (歌星 賢吾): Ryuki Takahashi (高橋 龍輝)
 * Yuki Jojima (城島 ユウキ): Fumika Shimizu (清水 富美加)

Suit actors

 * Kamen Rider OOO: Seiji Takaiwa (高岩 成二)
 * Ankh, Kamen Rider Birth: Eitoku (永徳)
 * Uva: Kazuya Okada (岡田 和也)
 * Kazari: Jun Watanabe (渡辺 淳)
 * Gamel, Ankh (Lost): Masashi Takada (高田 将司)
 * Mezool, Ankh (understudy): Satoshi Fujita (藤田 慧)
 * Ankh (opening dance): Natsumi Adachi (足立 夏海)

Songs

 * Opening theme
 * "Anything Goes!"
 * Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
 * Composition: Tatsuo (of everset and Galveston 19)
 * Arrangement: Tatsuo & Kōtarō Nakagawa
 * Artist: Maki Ohguro (大黒 摩季)


 * "Anything Goes!" was released on November 17, 2010, as a standard CD and a CD+DVD combo pack. The rapping on the song was performed by Rah-D, who provides his vocal talent in some of the show's background music.
 * A balladic version of the song titled "Anything Goes! Ballad" was during the finale of Kamen Rider OOO. Ohguro stated that she thought that the song would also work as a slow ballad, especially after she has been watching how the series has progressed, and recorded the song during her hiatus from releases. The balladic version will be released as a single on December 7, 2011.
 * Ending themes
 * Each of the series' various ending themes are titled in such a way to resemble the Kamen Rider OOO Combo that they serve as the theme for. The songs also feature Akira Kushida, the voice for the OOO Driver, chanting the name of the combo throughout the song. Ayano, a session guitarist for many of the recent Kamen Rider Series songs and member of the "Tsuyoshi & Ayano" group from the Kamen Rider W radio show, performs guitars on all of the tracks.
 * Each of the series' various ending themes are titled in such a way to resemble the Kamen Rider OOO Combo that they serve as the theme for. The songs also feature Akira Kushida, the voice for the OOO Driver, chanting the name of the combo throughout the song. Ayano, a session guitarist for many of the recent Kamen Rider Series songs and member of the "Tsuyoshi & Ayano" group from the Kamen Rider W radio show, performs guitars on all of the tracks.


 * "Regret nothing ~Tighten Up~"
 * Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse
 * Artist: Eiji Hino (Shu Watanabe)
 * Episodes: 5, 7, 13


 * "Regret nothing ~Tighten Up~" was recorded throughout late September 2010 and recording completed on October 2, 2010. Shuhei Naruse is the song's producer and it is sung by Shu Watanabe under the name of his character Eiji Hino. It was first used in the October 3, 2010, episode. The pronunciation of "Tighten Up" is intended to mimic the pronunciation of "Tatoba". When played during scenes with other Combos, the "Tatoba" chant is removed from the song. The single for "Regret nothing ~Tighten Up~" features a ska arrangement by trombone player Eijiro Nakagawa.
 * "Got to keep it real"
 * Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse
 * Artist: Eiji Hino (Shu Watanabe)
 * Episodes: 6, 16, Movie War Core
 * Episodes: 6, 16, Movie War Core


 * The title of "Got to keep it real", Gatakiriba Combo's theme song, was revealed on Shu Watanabe's official blog on Gree.jp. The chorus features Sunaho of Labor Day. The single for "Got to keep it real" features a trance arrangement by Yoichi Sakai.
 * "Ride on Right time"
 * Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse
 * Artist: Eiji Hino (Shu Watanabe)
 * Episodes: 9, 10, 15, 40, 42, 45
 * Episodes: 9, 10, 15, 40, 42, 45


 * "Ride on Right time" is Latorartar Combo's theme song. The additional rap vocals are by Tsuyoshi Himura, the Tsuyoshi of "Tsuyoshi & Ayano". The single for "Ride on Right time" features a "mixture" arrangement by Shamo and Florida Keys member Junichi "Igao" Igarashi.
 * "Sun goes up"
 * Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse
 * Artist: Eiji Hino (Shu Watanabe)
 * Episodes: 12
 * Episodes: 12


 * "Sun goes up" is Sagohzo Combo's theme song. The chorus features Mr. Rah-D.
 * "Time judged all"
 * Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse
 * Artist: Eiji Hino × Ankh (Shu Watanabe & Ryosuke Miura)
 * Episodes: 20, 22, 23, 25, 28, 48
 * Episodes: 20, 22, 23, 25, 28, 48


 * On January 12, 2011, Shu Watanabe announced on his Gree blog that he was recording a new song for OOO, specifically for the "red bird guy" (赤い鳥のヤツ). The song has since been revealed to be titled "Time judged all", the theme for Tajadol Combo, and is a duet with Ryosuke Miura as Ankh. The song features Hyuga Rei and Mami Yanagi performing in the chorus, chanting in German. The "Full Combo Collection" album features a "dialogue" version as a bonus track.
 * "Shout out"
 * Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse
 * Artist: Eiji Hino (Shu Watanabe)
 * Artist: Eiji Hino (Shu Watanabe)


 * "Shout out" was first announced on April 17, 2011, by DJ HURRY KENN on the OOO Internet radio show, where he said the song for Shauta Combo would have a "Double-Action Rod form"-like feel, The song was played on the radio show, however it was never played in the series. Kaori Nagura of Kamen Rider Girls joins in the chorus.
 * "POWER to TEARER"
 * Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse
 * Artist: Eiji Hino (Shu Watanabe) & Akira Kushida
 * Episodes: 36, 44
 * Episodes: 36, 44


 * "POWER to TEARER", the theme song for Putotyra Combo, is the first song that Akira Kushida is featured on the main vocals.
 * "Reverse/Re:birth"
 * Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
 * Composition & Arrangement: tatsuo (everset)
 * Artist: Akira Date & Shintaro Goto (Hiroaki Iwanaga & Asaya Kimijima)
 * Episodes: 38, 46, 47
 * Episodes: 38, 46, 47


 * "Reverse/Re:birth" is Kamen Rider Birth's theme song. The music video for the song features Hiroaki Iwanaga as Akira Date, Asaya Kimijima as Shintaro Goto, and Mayuko Arisue as Erika Satonaka.
 * "Reverse/Re:birth" is Kamen Rider Birth's theme song. The music video for the song features Hiroaki Iwanaga as Akira Date, Asaya Kimijima as Shintaro Goto, and Mayuko Arisue as Erika Satonaka.


 * Other
 * "Let's Go!! Rider Kick" (レッツゴー!!ライダーキック)
 * Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
 * Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
 * Artist: Kōichi Fuji
 * Episodes: 27


 * For the commemoration of the 1000th episode of the Kamen Rider Series, the original "Let's Go!! Rider Kick" was featured during the episode.
 * "WIND WAVE"
 * Lyrics: Tsuyoshi
 * Composition: Ayano
 * Artist: Tsuyoshi & Ayano
 * Episodes: 35
 * Episodes: 35


 * Tsuyoshi and Ayano of the Kamen Rider W Internet show Head Wind: One-Game Match!! have a cameo appearance as street musicians, Michibata Lion (路端ライオン), in episode 35 where they perform their radio show's theme song "WIND WAVE".
 * Tsuyoshi and Ayano of the Kamen Rider W Internet show Head Wind: One-Game Match!! have a cameo appearance as street musicians, Michibata Lion (路端ライオン), in episode 35 where they perform their radio show's theme song "WIND WAVE".

The first soundtrack for Kamen Rider OOO was released on November 17, 2010; it includes an edit of the series' opening theme "Anything Goes!". The second soundtrack was released on June 22, 2011. The Kamen Rider OOO: Full Combo Collection album was released on July 27, 2011, debuting at number 8 on its day of release on Oricon's daily album ranking.

DJ HURRY KENN announced on twitter that Kamen Rider OOO's "final song" will be recorded on July 18, 2011.