Kamen Rider Ryuki

is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It was the twelfth installment in the Kamen Rider of tokusatsu shows. It was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei, and it was shown on TV Asahi from February 3 2002 to January 19 2003. Ryuki is also becoming the first Kamen Rider series since Kamen Rider to be adapted for English speaking audiences in the form of Kamen Rider. It is also the first ever Kamen Rider series to be dubbed in Arabic after its run on Space Toon. It was also dubbed into Korean as Masked Rider Dragon (가면라이더 드래건 Gamyeon Raideo Deuraegeon). It is also aired in the Philippines as Masked Rider Ryuki by ABS-CBN 2 every weekday afternoon and dubbed in Filipino language.

Plot Synopsis
"One who does not fight will not survive."

Thirteen Advent Card decks were created for thirteen Kamen Riders. They make Contracts with monsters from the mysterious Mirror World, a dimension opposite to our own in which the Kamen Riders can only exist. The Riders draw on their monsters' strength in exchange for feeding them the life force of the creatures they destroy. The creator of the Advent Cards has only one rule: that there can be only one Kamen Rider. The others must be killed, and the sole victor will be granted a single wish. This is the Rider War.

All over the city, innocent people are being mysteriously abducted, never to be seen again. During his investigations of these incidents, Shinji Kido- an intern at the online news service ORE Journal- discovers one of the Advent Card decks at an apartment where every reflective surface has been covered by newspaper. He is soon sucked into the Mirror World, discovering the terrifying truth behind the disappearances: people are literally being pulled through mirrors by the monsters of the Mirror World so that they may feed. He is about to be killed by a powerful dragon named Dragreder when he is saved by Kamen Rider- Ren Akiyama. Ren seeks to win the Rider War at all costs. He works with a young woman named Yui Kanzaki, who seeks her missing brother: the master of the Rider War, Shirō Kanzaki. Seeing Ren's strength, Shinji enters the Rider War not for the prize, but so that he may protect innocent people from the threat of the Mirror World, and stop the senseless fighting between the Kamen Riders. With Dragreder as his Contract Monster, he becomes Kamen Rider.

He will discover that there are some people who cannot be saved. That you must sometimes fight in order to stop the fighting. The extent to which you must go if you want your deepest wish to come true, and the sacrifices that you must make. In the end, there can be only one Kamen Rider...

Characters

 * - main protagonist
 * Shiro's and Yui's Mother.
 * Shuichi's servant.
 * Shiro's and Yui's Mother.
 * Shuichi's servant.
 * Shuichi's servant.


 * The mysterious man and scientific genius who created the Kamen Riders for the purpose of creating a Rider War. He is Yui's beloved older brother, whom was taken to live with his relative in America thirteen years prior. Kanzaki researched the Mirror World, which eventually killed him. But in reality, Kanzaki entered the Mirror World as an enity, reappearing at Seimeiin University until a mysterious experiment relating to his research. Though thought to be cruel, Kanzaki's intent for the Rider war is for his sister's life. In the end of the series, Shiro finally honors his sister's wishes decides to alter time so that Yui remained dead, thus negating Mirror World itself and all deaths that occurred because of its creatures and the Rider War.
 * Kanzaki's righthand man.

ORE Journal Staff

 * Chief Editor.
 * Reporter.
 * Programmer.
 * Kitaoka's ex-secretary. Introduced in episode 30.

13 Riders
The notion of 13 Riders is apparently a homage to the original Kamen Rider manga published in 1971, which contains a chapter called The 13 Kamen Riders. Ironically only 10 Kamen Riders were featured in the TV series. Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider and Kamen Rider appeared exclusively in the movie Episode: Final and/or the TV special 13 Riders.

Despite the idea of 13 Kamen Riders facing each other, all 13 Kamen Riders never really faced each other in one huge battle. The most number of Kamen Riders in one battle is 6, in the TV series, where Knight, Ryuki, Zolda, Ohja, Tiger, and Alternative fought each other, only to be interrupted by Imperer's advent monsters, and 11, at the 13 Kamen Riders Special. Kamen Rider Raia was killed earlier by Kamen Rider Verde's Death Vanish Final Vent. Despite activating the Guard Vent, Kamen Rider Scissors was killed by Kamen Rider Ohja's Veno Crash Final Vent. The remaining 10 Kamen Riders fought on the final match of the special, with Kamen Rider Ryuki and Kamen Rider Knight facing off against the remaining 8, led by Kamen Rider Odin.


 * Kamen Rider
 * Kamen Rider - main protagonist
 * Kamen Rider
 * Kamen Rider
 * Kamen Rider
 * Kamen Rider
 * Kamen Rider


 * Kamen Rider
 * Kamen Rider
 * Kamen Rider - officially the first female Kamen Rider
 * Kamen Rider
 * Kamen Rider
 * Kamen Rider

The show also featured two Kamen Rider clones, called Alternative (Kamen Rider):
 * Alternative Zero
 * Alternative

Rider Equipment
Though each Rider was different in many aspects, they all had some fundamental similarities and used similar equipment.


 * - The Rider's henshin belt, when the Card Deck is put up against a reflective surface. The belt materializes and attaches to the individual.
 * - This deck contained each Rider's Advent Cards. Each Rider's deck had their corresponding crest on it and the color matched the Rider's outfit. Putting the deck in the slot on the belt transforms them into their Rider form.
 * - These cards are one of the main tools the Riders used throughout the series. Each card had its own function. Some summoned offensive and/or defensive weapons, others provided special abilities. There were some standard cards that every Rider had; calling their contract monster, materializing weapons and performing their special attack with their contract monster.
 * - Each Rider had a visor that was modeled after their contract monster. The visor's main function is a card reader. Each Rider would insert cards into their visor to "summon" weapons, their contract monster, and special attacks. Some Riders' visor also doubled as their weapon.
 * - These vehicles were what the Riders would use to travel from the real world to the Mirror World. Once a Rider would pass through a mirror or reflective surface, they would then be riding in a Ride Shooter as they were traveling through a portal to the Mirror World. The Ride Shooter would then shoot out of the reflective surface in the Mirror World. Specifications:
 * Length - 3.25m (Approximately 10'8")
 * Height - 1.4m (Approximately 4'7")
 * Width - 1.12m (Approximately 3'8")
 * Top speed - 930km/h (Approximately 577.88 mph)

Mirror Monsters
Entities created by Yui as drawing made by her and her brother when they were young and gave them to her mirror-self to gain a new life. As these creatures have no true life of their own, they had to prey on humans to survive on their lifeforce. The only human they can not attack is Yui herself, whom they obey absolute like Kanzaki. However, Rogue Mirror Monsters who attack Yui is attacked either by Kamen Rider or a loyal Mirror Monster who serves Kanzaki. But the majority of the monsters are contracted allies and the power source for most of the thirteen Kamen Riders, building their power by absorbing the energy of other defeated Mirror Monsters. But if the energy is not absorbed, it could reform into a new Mirror Monster.

Contract Monsters
Once a Mirror Monster is confined, it forms a Contract with the Rider who captured it. However, the Contract Monsters can turn on their human partners if their Vent Deck is destroyed or should they decide to quit being Riders and thus starve the monster of the energy it would receive from absorbing the energies of other Monsters. Contract Monsters do have a sense of loyalty to their human partners (examples include Darkwing, Blancwing, Deswilder, and Magnugiga) but at the same time some will get angry at their Rider when force to do something they choose not to do (Dragreder and Gigazelle are prime examples mainly due to the attitudes of their Riders). Then, there are those who completely show utter hatred for their Rider. In Ohja's case, after acquiring Metalgelas and Evildiver; his monsters constantly attack him. However, his unstable mentality and wild personality is more than enough to tame all three of his "pets." Beforehand, Metalgelas and Evildiver loyally served Gai and Raia respectively.


 * (Chinese dragon): Ryuki's Contract Monster, later gained enough power to evolve into . Survived its master in the TV series.
 * (Bat): Knight's Contract Monster, later gained enough power to evolve into.
 * (Crab) (5-6): Scissors' Contract Monster, it turned on its master and devoured Scissors when his Vent Buckle was destroyed. Destroyed by Ryuki's Dragon Rider Kick with Darkwing absorbing the monster after Dragreder was told not to.
 * (Buffalo/Minotaur) (10-50) - Zolda's Contract Monster, it was destroyed by Ohja's Doomsday in the series.
 * (25-50, Episode Final): Chimeric Mirror Monster. Was destroyed in Episode Final by Ryuga.
 * (Cobra) (19-50, Episode Final, 13-Riders): Ohja's Contract Monster.
 * (Rhinoceros) (15-50, Episode Final): Originally Gai's Contract Monster, it become a Contract Monster under Ohja when it attempted to avenge its master in vain.
 * (Bat) (13-50, Episode Final): Originally Raia's Contract Monster, only to become a Contract Monster under Ohja.
 * (White Tiger) (35-47) - Tiger's Contract Monster. Survived its master and later destroyed by Ryuki Survive's Dragon Firestorm
 * (Gazelle) (41-44): Originally rogue Mirror Monsters, they became Imperer's Contracts.
 * (Phoenix) (50): Odin's Contract Monster.
 * (Chameleon) (13 Riders): Verde's Contract Monster.
 * (Swan) (Episode Final): Femme's Contract Monster.
 * (Chinese dragon) (Episode Final): Ryuga's Contract Monster, a dark version of Dragreder. Was destroyed alongside its master.


 * (Cricket (insect)) (39-43): Alternate Zero's Contract Monster. Survived its master upon being controlled by Yui, it was weakened by Ryuki's Drag Claw Fire to be destroyed by Knight's Hishou Zan

Wild Monsters

 * (Lemur/Tarsier) (13-14): A Sniper-type Monster. Destroyed by Knight's Hishou Zan and absorbed by Drageder. Deadlemur appeared in Shinji's dream during the Hyper Video special, among those destroyed in Zolda's End of World.
 * (Newt) (17-18): Wielded a shuriken as its weapon. Destroyed by Ryuki's Dragon Rider Kick. Gelnewt appeared in Shinji's dream during the Hyper Video special, among those destroyed in Zolda's End of World
 * (Cicada) (29): Adbucted Reiko and Mamika. Was kicked by Ryuki into the mirror & killed by Zolda's Giga Launcher and Knight's Hishou Zan. A second Sonorabuma appeared in episode 38, only to be destroyed by Knight's Hishou Zan
 * (Jellyfish) (33): Used the electrodes on its forearms to kill its prey. Destroyed by Ryuki's Dragon Rider Kick
 * Imit-Kamen Rider Agito (Hyper Video): Labeled as the ruler of Mirror World, he was mirror version of Kamen Rider in Burning Form. He gathered the Mirror Monsters in a plan to destroy the Kamen Riders, which confused Ryuki to see the monsters actually use teamwork. But once Agito arrived, Ryuki found out his Dragon Rider Kick had to effect on the fake Agito. Though it took Ryuki and Agito's Double Rider Kick to kill him, Imit-Agito was actually a dream and nothing more.

Spiders
Though one type appeared in the show, many more human-like types appeared in the 13 Riders special.


 * (1-2): The first of the Mirror Monsters Shinji encountered, a giant Spider like monster that targeted women. Though destroyed by Knight's Hishou Zan, Dispider wasn't absorbed by Darkwing and was reformed into a Drider version of itself named . It was finally destroyed by Ryuki's Dragon Rider Kick and absorbed by Drageder. In 13 Riders, Dispider was the Mirror Man's final defense, devoruing Gai before being destroyed by Knight Survive's Shippu Dan.
 * (Purseweb spider) (13 Riders): Dragged Shinji into the Mirror World to eat until the first Kamen Rider Ryuki inferred. Despite receiving aid from Respider, Mispider was destroyed by the previous Ryuki's Drag Claw Fire. Another appeared, attempting to eat a young girl, killed by the Riders during the fight.
 * (Nephila clavata): Came to Mispider's aid in fighting the previous Ryuki before he gave his Vent to Shinji. Respider was destroyed by Ryuki's Drag Saber. Another appeared to aid another Mispider and a third Solospider, both were killed by the Riders during each fight.
 * (Tetragnatha praedonia): A green-armored monster that fought Ryuki and Scissors until it was destroyed by Ryuki Survive's Meteor Bullet. A second appeared to fight the Riders when they got near to the Mirror Man.

Zelles
Humanoid Gazelle monsters that usually attack in groups, sneaky and fast with the ability to jump distences. Despite being rogue mirror monsters, they usually travel with Kamen Rider because of his contract to Gigazelle.


 * Gigazelle: The soldier Zelles. The first one appeared in episode 3 and was destroyed by Ryuki's Drag Claw Fire, another appeared and was destroyed by Ryuki's Dragon Rider Kick in the next episode. A third quickly appeared and was destroyed by Zolda's Giga Launcher without trouble. By episode 39, as a prelude to Imperer's arrival, a dozen Gigazelle were on the attack until they were all wipeout by Ryuki Survive's Dragon Firestorm. A Gigazelle appeared in Shinji's dream during the Hyper Video special, destroyed by Ohja's Veno Crash.
 * (Gazelle) (3-4): Destroyed by Knight's Hishou Zan.
 * (Gazelle) (24): Interfered in the fight between Ohja & Knight Survive. Killed by Knight Surivive's Shippu Dan. Negazelle appeared in Shinji's dream during the Hyper Video special, among those destroyed by Zolda's End of World.
 * (Gazelle) (24-25): Used a Staff. Targeted Shinji and Ren while they were unable to Henshin in episodes 24-25, before being destroyed by Ryuki's Dragon Rider Kick. Another appeared in episode 39 leading a pack of Gigazelles until it was destroyed by Ryuki Survive's Dragon Firestorm
 * Brown-gold Zelle types. The first one encountered in episode 39 and destroyed by Tiger's Crystal Break. Another appeared in 44 was destroyed by Ryuki's Dragon Rider Kick.

Zebraskulls
Zebra monsters able to stretch their bodies.
 * (7): Destroyed by Zolda's Giga Launcher
 * (6-8): Destroyed by Ryuki's Dragon Rider Kick

Boarders

 * (Wild boar) (9-10): Rammed its prey into the mirror. Destroyed by Zolda's End of World
 * (Wild boar) (29-30): Able to use its chest armor as a shield. Destroyed by Ryuki's Dragon Rider Kick

Biters

 * (Longhorn beetle) (11): Feasted on people in a train car. Destroyed by Ryuki's Dragon Rider Kick. A second Zenobiter appeared in episode 38, only to be destroyed by Knight's Hishou Zan. A Zenobiter appeared in Shinji's dream during the Hyper Video special, destroyed by Knight's Hishou Zan.
 * (Longhorn beetle) (12): Pursued a professor Shirō Kanzaki worked with. Though he possessed a Confine card that kept Terabiter at bay, the professor was easy prey once he lost his only defense if Shinji and Ren hadn't came to his aid in time. Destroyed by Ryuki's Dragon Rider Kick and Knight's Hishou Zan. Terabiter appeared in Shinji's dream during the Hyper Battle Video special, among those destroyed in Zolda's End of World.

Krakens

 * (Squid) (15): Attacked the survinging member of the computer club. Destroyed by Gai's Heavy Pressure
 * (Squid) (15-16): Destroyed by Ryuki's Dragon Rider Kick. A second Wiskraken appeared in episode 38, only to be destroyed by Knight's Hishou Zan

Guld
Kanzaki's bird-like Mirror Monsters, serving him in maintaining the Rider War by eliminating those who refuse to fight and those who get too noisy in his affairs.


 * (Fenghuang/Phoenix) (22): The monster that murdered Yuichi under Kanzaki's orders. Used by Kanzaki to attack Raia. Destroyed by Raja's Hide Venom.
 * (Fenghuang/Turkey) (35): Tribal-like with a tomahawk weapon. Destroyed by Tiger's Crystal Break. Another was used by Kanzaki to save Yui from Psycorogue before used to target Kagawa's family to blackmail him into giving up the Alternate Vent. But the monster was quickly driven away by Dragranzer.
 * (Fenghuang/Peacock) (35): Green armored. Destroyed by Ryuki Survive's Meteor Bullet

Avis

 * (Hammerhead shark) (26): Targeted a client of Kitaoka. Destroyed by Ryuki's Dragon Rider Kick and Zolda's Giga Launcher. Avishammer appeared in Shinji's dream during the Hyper Video special, among those destroyed in Zolda's End of World.
 * (Shark) (27): Targeted a child, Takuya. Destroyed by Knight Survive's Shippu Dan. Avislasher appeared in Shinji's dream during the Hyper Video special, destroyed by Ohja's Veno Crash.

Buzzstingers
Humanoid bee monsters that usually attack in groups. A trio of Buzzstingers first appear to target Mika, the only survivor of their attack on an ocean liner after being saved by Asakura to be used by him in order to feed his monsters. The trio used the "Trinity" attack to counter any Final Vent attack until they were all killed by Ohja's Veno Crash, Knight's Hishou Zan and Zolda's Giga Launcher from all three directions at once. Their essence was soon devoured by Venosnaker, Metalgelas, and Evildiver. A pair of Buzzstingers appeared in episode 37 to target Eri after she came out of her coma.


 * (Hornet) (31-32): Red armored monster, used needle-blade daggers as weapons.
 * (Digger wasp) (31-32): Blue armored monster, used a sword as his weapon.
 * (Honey bee) (31-32): Yellow armored monster, used a bow and arrow.
 * (Carpenter bee) (37): Gold armored. Destroyed by Knight Survive's Shippu Dan
 * (Scoliidae) (37): Silver armored. Destroyed by Ryuki Survive's Dragon Firestorm

Shereghosts
Mirror monsters that modeled after Dragonflies make their presence known in the Rider War end game in the TV series (41 and after) and Episode Final, where Yui's new life is almost used up. The are a larval stage, able to shoot silk from their mouths to escape or capture prey. But the Shereghosts can molt into a mature Dragonfly form called. In Episode Final, the Raydragoons can assume large forms called, which could be overpowered by Dragranzer and Darkraider.

Movies & Special


This movie is an alternate ending to the series, taking place after the events of episode 46. With only six Riders remaining in the Rider War: Ryuki (Shinji Kido), Knight (Ren Akiyama), Zolda (Shuichi Kitaoka), Ohja (Takeshi Asakura), and Femme (Miho Kirishima), Shirō Kanzaki alerts them to quickly settle the Rider War within three days. One of them must win and become the last survivor. Amidst the impending chaos of the fight between the Riders, Shinji discovers an unbelievable truth about the relationship between Yui Kanzaki and the Mirror World, as well as discovering the existence of his Mirror World doppelganger, Kamen Rider Ryuga. This television special is a retelling of the Kamen Rider Ryuki story. Shinji Kido's life, working as an employee at ORE Journal, takes a sharp turn after being pulled into the Mirror World by a Mispider. Luckily, he was saved by a Kamen Rider, Ryuki (Kōichi Sakakibara). However, Sakakibara could no longer go on due to the harshness of his injuries and passed his Card Deck to Shinji, allowing him to become the next Ryuki to survive and defeat the monster. After meeting with Yui Kanzaki and Ren Akiyama (Knight), Shinji learns about the conditions of the Rider War, as well as of the other Riders participating. Unable to allow such a game of death to exist like his Rider predecessor, Shinji sets out to convince all the Riders to end the senseless fighting and put an end to the War. His pleas fall upon deaf ears as just about every other Rider (except for the already-defeated Riders Raia and Scissors) sets out to hunt down Shinji and his eventual reluctant ally, Ren. The special has two different endings: the TV ending (where Shinji faces the surviving Riders on his own) and the alternate ending (a resetting of the Rider War.)
 * Kamen Rider Ryuki Special: 13 Riders (TV Special)

Cast



 * - Takamasa Suga
 * - Takamasa Suga



Suit actors

 * Kamen Rider Ryuki -
 * Kamen Rider Knight -
 * Kamen Rider Zolda, Alternative -
 * Kamen Rider Ohja, Kamen Rider Ryuga -
 * Kamen Rider Scissors -
 * Kamen Rider Raia -
 * Kamen Rider Gai -
 * Kamen Rider Femme - ,
 * Kamen Rider Ryuga -
 * Kamen Rider Verde -
 * Kamen Rider Tiger -
 * Kamen Rider Imperer -
 * Kamen Rider Odin - (Played as )

Songs

 * Opening theme:
 * "Alive A life"
 * Lyrics:
 * Composition:
 * Arrangement: Kōhei Wada &
 * Artist:


 * Ending themes:
 * Lyrics:
 * Composition:
 * Arrangement:
 * Artist:
 * Episodes: 1-
 * Lyrics: Keiko Terada &
 * Composition:
 * Arangement: RIDER CHIPS
 * Artist: RIDER CHIPS featuring
 * Episodes: 18
 * "Revolution"
 * Lyrics: Yūko Ebine
 * Composition & Arrangement: Mikio Sakai
 * Artist: Hiroshi Kitadani
 * Episodes: 34-, TV Special
 * "Lonely Soldier"
 * Lyrics: Yūko Ebine
 * Composition: Yō Tsuji
 * Arrangement: Akio Kondō
 * Artist:
 * Episodes: 38
 * Artist:
 * Episodes: 38