The motif of the series is time. The series' tagline is "Go beyond space-time!" (時空を超えろ!,Jikū wo koero!). Much like Kamen Rider Decade, it commemorates all of the Heisei-era Kamen Riders to date.
The initial plan for the 2018 season was surposed to be Kamen Riders piloting giant robots to fight each other. However, crews had stated that it shares too much similarities with Super Sentai franchise. Therefore, the brainstorm groups added a concept that those robots are able to travel in time, and makes sense if the protagonist can meet with privious Legend Rider, and put into production following this idea.[1]
Producer Shirakura stated that like Decade, Zi-O was the culmination of the entire Heisei-era, which would end when Prince Naruhito ascended to the Japanese throne in 2019. Viewership ratings from Build were at a new low, and Shirakura noticed that those ratings were 40% higher during Decade. Shirakura was also extremely hesitant to bring back former actors as well as deal with the tricky concepts of time travel like Den-O, but his associate producers convinced him to tackle them as Shirakura was willing to give it a try.
Both Gaim and Ghost had began the idea of having multiple Riders use the same transformation belt, similar to how Super Sentai Rangers transform using the same device but in a more controlled setting. Shirakura had liked the idea, and allowed both Geiz and Tsukuyomi to use a Ziku-Driver like Sougo to transform. During the original designing stages for Zi-O's suit, Shirakura was interested in the motif of time itself he felt it symbolized the Heisei-era, so "Rider" in katakana was added to Zi-O's mask for his default form. To differentiate Zi-O's means of transportation and time travel, the Time Mazine was introduced as opposed to a train and other supernatural means.
"Oma's Day! The judgment day marking the end of the Kamen Rider era. Is it the end of history or just the beginning? Choose our future!"
―Opening narration by Rikiya Koyama (episode 17-29)[src]
"The Heisei Kamen Riders have passed through this era. Inheriting all the powers, a new legend is beginning. Rejoice at the birth of the true king!"
―Opening narration by Rikiya Koyama (episode 30-40)[src]
"The Heisei Kamen Riders have passed through this era. With their powers now gathered, the curtain rises upon the final battle. Open the way to the future of the true king!"
―Opening narration by Rikiya Koyama (episode 41-48)[src]
Sougo Tokiwa, a high school student born in the year 2000, has always dreamed of becoming a king when he encounters a mysterious girl named Tsukuyomi, who hails from the future in a desperate effort to alter her dire future. She presents Sougo with an ominous warning "You will become the king of all time, Kamen Rider Zi-O, a demonic king destined to rule the world.”. Sougo takes up the mantle as Kamen Rider Zi-O to stop the Time Jackers from destroying the very fabric of space-time while protecting the legacy of the Heisei Kamen Riders that came before him. During his journey alongside Geiz Myokoin, a Kamen Rider from Tsukuyomi's future, and the mysterious prophet Woz who reminds Sougo of his demonic destiny, they will meet their esteemed predecessors who they must gain their trust and powers from in order to create a new future for the Kamen Riders and mankind itself. This is the story of a Kamen Rider who would be king, who will fight to save the past, present, and future, encountering the various Heisei Kamen Riders throughout space-time.
Episode 01-16 - Rider Time, the Demon King of Future (「ライダータイム、未来の魔王」編,Raidā Taimu, Mirai no Maō Hen), this arc introduces most of the main characters and the plot.
Episode 17-30 - Trinity Time, Servant and Demon King and Saviour (「トリニティタイム、従者と魔王と救世主」編,Toriniti Taimu, Jūsha to Maō to Kyūseishu Hen), this arc features White Woz who seeks to create GeizRevive, the 3 riders of the future, and the preparation of Oma's Day. It also shows Sougo’s past and how his dreams of becoming king came to be.
Episode 31-43 - Grand Time, the New Future (「グランドタイム、新たなる未来」編,Gurando Taimu, Aratanaru Mirai Hen), this arc deals with Tsukuyomi’s past as she regains her memories.
Episode 44-49 - End Time, the Destruction and Reborn of the World (「終焉の時、世界の破壊と再生」編,Shūen no Toki, Sekai no Hakai to Saisei), this deals with Swartz’s real plan to become king and Sougo becoming Ohma Zi-O.
Each episode title is written in either katakana or hiragana, and includes the year relevant to that particular episode, which is often the premiere year of the original Legend Rider in the case of tribute episodes. Starting with episode 30, this format is reversed, starting with the year first, then the title. Similar to the previous two Rider series, many episodes still use the English language in most of their parts of the episode’s title, though there are exceptions.
As the show pays tribute to the Heisei period Kamen Riders, each episode title consists of a short phrase related to a particular Heisei Rider series and a year relevant to it.
Kamen Rider Zi-O aired on TV Asahi in Japan from September 2, 2018 to August 25, 2019.
Textless Poster
Home Video
Zi-O was released on four Blu-Ray collections throughout 2019 on March 27, June 12, September 11, and December 4.
Blu-Ray Collection 1
Blu-Ray Collection 2
Blu-Ray Collection 3
Blu-Ray Collection 4
Notes
Like Kamen Rider Black RX, Kamen Rider Zi-O was broadcast through two eras of Japanese history. However, while Black RX entered the Heisei era with the death of Emperor Hirohito on January 7, 1989, Zi-O entered the new Reiwa era on May 1, 2019, with the scheduled abdication of Emperor Akihito on April 30, 2019.
This season's concept of traveling across time through the previous installments is akin to an idea during the early development stages of Kamen Rider Decade, one of which would have been a "Kamen Rider Den-O 2", using the season's setting go travel across time around each Rider's era.[6]
This is the first series since Fourze to have the titular Rider only appear at the predecessor's summer film while OOO is the first have the transformation device appearing at the predecessor's series only.
This is the first series followingKamen Rider Gaim to not have a Blu-Ray miniseries.
On Zi-O's official Twitter page, there is an error on the banner that shows Ryuki wearing the Decadriver. This error was fixed as the banner have several Riders covering Ryuki's lower body. However, the image of Ryuki wearing the Decadriver remains on the banner.
An Indonesian dub premiered on RTV on March 15, 2021 [7]. The dub was made available on YouTube in the same year. The show received an English-style logo for the ads.