 This article is about a movie in Kamen Rider X.
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Five Riders vs. Kingdark (五人ライダー対キングダーク, Gonin Raidā tai Kingudāku), tentatively titled Kamen Rider vs. Kingdark (仮面ライダー対キングダーク, Kamen Raidā tai Kingudāku),[1] is a Japanese superhero Tokusatsu film set within the continuity of Kamen Rider X, while featuring supporting appearances from the first five Kamen Riders. Although not marketed as such, it is considered to be a precursor to the annual Summer Movie adaptations.
Overview[]
Five Riders vs. Kingdark is the sole original theatrical work accompanying the TV show Kamen Rider X. Earlier in March of 1974, the third episode was trimmed to Cinemesco size and screened as part of the spring box office at Toei Manga Festival. Although the central hero of this movie is indeed Kamen Rider X, the name of a specific Kamen Rider is not attached to the title for the first time in the Kamen Rider Series.
In the year of production, 1974 (Showa 49), the "henshin boom" caused by Kamen Rider had passed its peak and Mazinger Z, produced by Toei Animation for Fuji Television, represented a new exciting phenomenon for young audiences, giant robot animation. As a result, the giant robot Kingdark was introduced in the X TV series as the leader of G.O.D.. This film reflects the process of conversion as the series' antagonists changed from Shinwakaijin (Mythical Monsters) under Apollogeist and the G.O.D. Secret Police, to the Akuninkaijin (Villain Monsters) led by Kingdark. Chiko and Mako feature as supporting characters.
Five Riders vs. Kingdark was screened with Mazinger Z vs Great General of Darkness as part of the "Play with Finger 5! Toei Manga Festival". Reflecting the trend of the times, Mazinger dominated the combined theatrical poster. In succession, guest appearances are made by the first four Kamen Riders. Having returned to Japan, it is explained that #1 has been in New York, #2 in Paris, V3 in Moscow, while Riderman returns from Tahiti. Though Riderman was previously established as having been seemingly killed at the climax of X's preceeding show, Kamen Rider V3, this film shows Riderman had survived, leading the way for his numerous reprisals. Notably, Riderman, as the fourth Kamen Rider, introduces himself as "Kamen Rider 4", the name given to him by V3 upon his presumed death.
The past four Riders mostly appear post-henshin; only appearing in human form as they transform at the strange castle. This transformation is composed of archive footage depicting Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider 1 (Hiroshi Fujioka) and Hayato Ichimonji/Kamen Rider 2 (Takeshi Sasaki) from the 1972 film Kamen Rider vs. Shocker, Shiro Kazami/Kamen Rider V3 (Hiroshi Miyauchi) as seen in the 1973 film Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron Mutants, and the stock transformation sequence of Joji Yuki/Riderman (Takehisa Yamaguchi) from the Kamen Rider V3 TV series. Curiously, the sound effect used for Hongo's transformation is completely different to the iconic sound used prior and since.
Uniquely, Rider 2, while performing his Rider Kick, calls out "#2 Rider Kick!" and later "Rider #2 Kick!". Riderman is seen with the Power Arm on his left arm, as opposed to his cybernetic right arm, during his fight against Neptune. During the final battle, he is not seen to wear a Cassette Arm at all.
In regards to action scenes, trampoline jumping was performed with the desired effect being achieved with the indoor horizon background against rainy weather. Depending on the cut, the celling of the studio is reflected. The composition of the drama is reversed, and G.O.D.'s "Drought Operation" was never specifically drawn.
Before the premiere, a big "tie-up" event was held at the Isetan Shinjuku store.[2]
In the following year, theatrical releases of succeeding shows Kamen Rider Amazon and Kamen Rider Stronger would be screened as part of the Toei Manga Festival in spring and summer, having been respectfully "blown-up" from Amazon's sixteenth episode and Stronger's seventh episode. Five Riders vs. Kingdark would be the last original theatrical production of the Kamen Rider Series for six years before being ultimately followed by Eight Riders vs. GingaOh, attached to Kamen Rider (Skyrider), which was released in spring of 1980.
Synopsis[]
During a motocross practice, Keisuke Jin is ambushed by two Myth Cyborgs created by a secret organization that's attempting to control Japan, G.O.D. He transforms into Kamen Rider X, but little does he know that his battle is recorded and analyzed by Kingdark, G.O.D.'s commander, to create a super cyborg. Other G.O.D. cyborgs are attacking all over Tokyo and in the middle of the crisis, the original four Riders return to Japan from different countries around the world. The five Riders unite to lead a counter attack against G.O.D. and fight its newest monster.
Continuity and Placement[]
Its placement isn't clear. Presumably, it takes place before episode 27, Special Edition, Full Force of Five Riders!!, which shows one of the spy cameras featured in the movie and V3's first meeting with G.O.D. forces, with Tachibana explaining them to him as villains similar to Destron. However, in episode 33, Hayato and Keisuke don't recognize each other, although Hayato apparently knew about X Rider already. They never meet each other while untransformed in the movie, which might explain that situation. This is also Joji Yuki's return, and although the characters question where he was, his presumed death is never mentioned.
Plot[]
to be added
Characters[]
Kamen Riders[]
The Five Riders.
| Kamen Rider X | Keisuke Jin |
| Kamen Rider 1 | Takeshi Hongo |
| Kamen Rider 2 | Hayato Ichimonji |
| Kamen Rider V3 | Shiro Kazami |
| Riderman | Joji Yuki |
Allies[]
- to be added
Villains[]
- G.O.D.
- Kingdark
- G.O.D. Kaijin
- Akuninkaijin
- Shinwakaijin
- Ghengis Khan-Condor
- Toad-Goemon
- Franken Bat (movie-exclusive)
Cast[]
- Movie credit order
- Keisuke Jin (神 敬介, Jin Keisuke) / Kamen Rider X (仮面ライダーX, Kamen Raidā Ekkusu, Voice): Ryo Hayami (速水 亮, Hayami Ryō)
- Mako (マコ, Mako): Miyuki Hayata (早田 みゆき, Hayata Miyuki)
- Chiko (チコ, Chiko): Chisako Kosaka (小坂 チサ子, Kosaka Chisako)
- Masaru (マサル):
- Etsuko (エツ子):
- Masaru's father (マサルの父, Masaru no Chichi):
- Masaru's mother (マサルの母, Masaru no Haha):
- Kingdark (キングダーク, Kingu Dāku, Voice): Fumio Wada (和田 文夫, Wada Fumio)
- Tobee Tachibana (立花 藤兵衛, Tachibana Tōbee): Akiji Kobayashi (小林 昭二, Kobayashi Akiji)
Uncredited[]
- Kamen Rider 1 (仮面ライダー1号, Kamen Raidā Ichigō, Voice): Hiroshi Fujioka (藤岡 弘, Fujioka Hiroshi)
- Kamen Rider 2 (仮面ライダー2号, Kamen Raidā Nigō, Voice): Takeshi Sasaki (佐々木 剛, Sasaki Takeshi)
- Kamen Rider V3 (仮面ライダーＶ３, Kamen Raidā Bui Surī, Voice): Hiroshi Miyauchi (宮内 洋, Miyauchi Hiroshi)
- Riderman (ライダーマン, Raidāman, Voice): Kazuo Hayashi (林 一夫, Hayashi Kazuo)
Songs[]
- All songs were composed and arranged by Shunsuke Kikuchi.
- Set Up! Kamen Rider X (From Kamen Rider X)
- Lyrics: Shotaro Ishimori
- Artist: Ichiro Mizuki
- Used as opening and insert song.
- Let's Go!! Rider Kick (From Kamen Rider)
- Lyrics: Shotaro Ishimori
- Artist: Koji Fuji
- Tatakae! Kamen Rider V3 (From Kamen Rider V3)
- Lyrics: Shotaro Ishimori
- Artist: Ichiro Mizuki[3]
- Kaettekuru Rider (from Kamen Rider)[4]
- Lyrics: Mari Takizawa
- Artist: Masato Shimon
- Used as ending theme.
In addition, the instrumental versioons of Rider Sanka and X Rider Action are used as background music.
Hanuman and the Five Riders[]
Hanuman and the Five Riders.
- Main article: Hanuman and the Five Riders
Hanuman and the Five Riders (หนุมาน พบ 5 ไอ้มดแดง - Hanuman pob Har Aimoddaeng - literally "Hanuman and the Five Ant Men") is a tokusatsu superhero film produced in 1974 by Chaiyo Productions of Thailand. Chaiyo's own Kamen Rider film, half of it uses footage from the Five Riders vs. Kingdark. Although it has never been released in Japan, Kamen Rider fans in Japan refer to it unofficially as Hanuman and the 5 Kamen Riders (ハヌマーンと5人の仮面ライダー, Hanumān to Gonin no Kamen Raidā).
The film teamed the first five Kamen Riders with the Hindu god Hanuman (fresh from his appearance in The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. the Monster Army) against X's adversary Kingdark (who appears in his regular giant moving statue form and alternately in a human-sized one), who drinks the fresh blood of young women. He captures a scientist and his girlfriend and threatens to drain her of her blood unless he use his technology to create an army of mutant animal men to confront the five Riders.
Unlike Chaiyo's two official co-productions with Tsuburaya Productions in 1974 (namely The 6 Ultra Brothers Vs. the Monster Army and Jumborg Ace & Giant), this production was unauthorized by Toei Company, Ltd., which produced the Kamen Rider shows. Chaiyo had initially approached Toei, who turned down their plans for producing their own Kamen Rider movie.
Errors[]
- When Riderman makes his entrance, his Power Arm is on the left instead of his right.
Notes[]
Rider #2 and V3 also appeared to help X-Rider in his series.
- This is the only real appearance of Kamen Rider #1 and Riderman during the run of Kamen Rider X, as only Rider #2 and V3 appeared in the show. However, there's new footage of them fighting in episode 27 through a story told by Tachibana to children.
- Hiroshi Fujioka and Takeshi Sasaki reprised their roles as Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider #1 and Hayato Ichimonji/Kamen Rider #2 respectively in this movie, before going on to be absent from the films of the franchise until OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders (2011), almost 36 years later. This movie also marks, even today, the last movie appearance of Hayato Ichimonji in his human form, although it was done by reusing footage from earlier features. In the tv series, Hongo and Ichimonji would also appear in the penultimate and final episodes of Kamen Rider Stronger.
- Hiroshi Fujioka would only return in the flesh as Takeshi Hongo along with Ryo Hayami as Keisuke Jin in Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai 40 years later.
- Joji Yuki refers to himself as "Kamen Rider No. 4" in the movie.
- Footage from this movie was featured in the 1988 TV special Kamen Rider 1 Through RX: Big Gathering, which served as a recap of the ten veteran Kamen Riders up to Kamen Rider Black RX.
- Five Riders vs. Kingdark was originally released on VHS on July 21, 2000.
Digital Releases[]
- Kamen Rider: The Movie DVD Volume 2 features Kamen Rider V3 (film), Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron Mutants, Kamen Rider X (film) and Five Riders vs. Kingdark.[5]
- Kamen Rider: The Movie Blu-ray Volume 1 features Kamen Rider vs. Shocker, Kamen Rider vs. Jigoku Taishi, Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron Mutants & Five Riders vs. Kingdark.
- Five Riders vs. Kingdark is included in Kamen Rider: The Movie Blu-ray Box 1972-1988, a blu-ray compilation Boxset of Showa Rider movies.[6]
References[]
- ↑ 仮面ライダー1971-1984 2014, p. 253, 「キングダーク編準備タイトル」.
- ↑ 映画大全集 1993, p. 133, 「仮面ライダー劇場用映画作品研究」
- ↑ Ichiro Mizuki's version, originally recorded as a test take, is used here.
- ↑ Used in lieu of Ore wa X X Rider.
- ↑ http://www.toei-video.co.jp/DVD/ridermovie.html
- ↑ http://www.toei-video.co.jp/BD/maskedridermovbdbox.html
