 This article is about a type of movie in the Kamen Rider Series.
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The V-Cinema logo
Japanese original video (オリジナルビデオ, originaru bideo), also known as V-Cinema (Vシネマ, Vui Shinema) in the West, is the direct-to-video industry that first appeared in Japan in the 1980s. When the medium in question is animated, the term original video animation (OVA) is applied. Unlike the West, Japanese films are often released direct-to-video by the choice of both the director and producer, as it allows them the creative freedom afforded by the less stringent censorship of the format over theatrical releases.
Overview[]
Toei did not begin distributing films that they produced nor was the practice commonplace until the start of the Heisei era, starting with the film Crime Hunter in 1989. The practice was not seen with the release of the standalone film Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue in 1992, as it was distributed by Bandai under their "EMOTION" label, not by Toei.
The practice of traditional V-Cinema releases did not begin in Kamen Rider until Kamen Rider W Returns, and returned once again with Kamen Rider Gaim Gaiden, after which each television series succeeding Kamen Rider Gaim has since consistently released at least one V-Cinema film during its post-year period, each focusing on a particular Rider that is not necessarily the Primary Rider in a story set within the continuity of their own series.
All V-Cinema epilogue films carry a specially titled subtitle in their film title.
- Kamen Rider W - Returns
- Kamen Rider Gaim - Gaiden
- Kamen Rider Ghost - RE:BIRTH
- Kamen Rider Ex-Aid - Trilogy: Another Ending
- Kamen Rider Build - NEW WORLD
- Kamen Rider Zi-O - NEXT TIME
- Kamen Rider Zero-One - Others
Since Kamen Rider Saber, each series has only released one V-Cinema film, with each no longer carrying an epilogue-styled subtitle. Furthermore, each film focuses on all Riders equally instead of a specific one, allowing for the film to serve as a proper epilogue, and usually takes place sometime after their second Movie War film.
Ghost and Zi-O both carry an epilogue-style title in their names, indicating that Toei had intended to create more films with the Ghost RE:BIRTH and Zi-O NEXT TIME titles. Producer Shin-ichiro Shirakura had expressed interest in seeing a NEXT TIME installment on Woz to expand on the character, but the idea never went into production as he felt that "it would not be Zi-O anymore".[1]
The V-Cinext logo
Beginning with the Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy: Another Ending series, Toei launched the V-Cinext (Vシネクスト, Vui Shinekusuto) project to allow films to be screened in movie theaters before releasing them on home video, removing the "direct-to-video" aspect of the format, though the films don't stay in theaters along and are followed by a digital online release approximately one month after their original theatrical release.
More recent films have come bundled with toy versions of the film-exclusive items that are used in the film as well as a CD containing the full version of the film's accompanying ending theme song. For the anniversary films, the toys are released at the Complete Selection Modification level to cater the older fans who had watched the original series' back then.
V-Cinema Titles[]
Precursors[]
| Poster | Title | Release Date(s) | Director | Writer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue (真・仮面ライダー 序章, Shin Kamen Raidā: Purorōgu, "True Masked Rider Prologue") | February 20, 1992 | Makoto Tsuji | Junichi Miyashita, Jo Onodera |
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Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider (ウルトラマンVS仮面ライダー, Urutoraman Tai Kamen Raidā) |
July 21, 1993 | Hiroshi Butsuda | N/A |
Post-Year Series[]
| Poster | Title | Release Date(s) | Director | Writer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Kamen Rider W Returns: Kamen Rider Accel (仮面ライダーW RETURNS 仮面ライダーアクセル, Kamen Raidā Daburu Ritānzu: Kamen Raidā Akuseru) | April 21, 2011 | Koichi Sakamoto | Keiichi Hasegawa |
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Kamen Rider W Returns: Kamen Rider Eternal (仮面ライダーW RETURNS 仮面ライダーエターナル, Kamen Raidā Daburu Ritānzu: Kamen Raidā Etānaru) | July 21, 2011 | Riku Sanjo | |
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Gaim Gaiden: Kamen Rider Zangetsu/Kamen Rider Baron (鎧武外伝 仮面ライダー斬月/仮面ライダーバロン, Gaimu Gaiden: Kamen Raidā Zangetsu/Kamen Raidā Baron) | April 22, 2015 | Osamu Kaneda | Jin Haganeya (Zangetsu), Nobuhiro Mouri (Baron) |
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Gaim Gaiden: Kamen Rider Duke/Kamen Rider Knuckle (鎧武外伝 仮面ライダーデューク/仮面ライダーナックル, Gaimu Gaiden: Kamen Raidā Dyūku/Kamen Raidā Nakkuru) | November 11, 2015 | Jin Haganeya (Duke), Nobuhiro Mouri (Knuckle) | |
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Drive Saga: Kamen Rider Chaser (ドライブサーガ 仮面ライダーチェイサー, Doraibu Sāga: Kamen Raidā Cheisā) | April 20, 2016 | Hidenori Ishida | Riku Sanjo |
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Drive Saga: Kamen Rider Mach/Kamen Rider Heart (ドライブサーガ 仮面ライダーマッハ/仮面ライダーハート, Doraibu Sāga: Kamen Raidā Hāto/Kamen Raidā Mahha) | November 16, 2016 | Riku Sanjo (Heart), Keiichi Hasegawa (Mach) | |
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Ghost RE:BIRTH: Kamen Rider Specter (ゴーストRE:BIRTH 仮面ライダースペクター, Gōsuto Ribāsu: Kamen Raidā Supekutā) | April 19, 2017 | Kazuya Kamihoriuchi | Takuro Fukuda |
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Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy Another Ending: Kamen Rider Brave & Snipe (仮面ライダーエグゼイド トリロジー アナザー・エンディング 仮面ライダーブレイブ&スナイプ, Kamen Raidā Eguzeido Torirojī Anazā Endingu: Kamen Raidā Bureibu Ando Sunaipu) | Theatrical: February 3, 2018 DVD/Blu-Ray: March 28, 2018 |
Nobuhiro Suzumura | Yuya Takahashi |
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Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy Another Ending: Kamen Rider Para-DX with Poppy (仮面ライダーエグゼイド トリロジー アナザー・エンディング 仮面ライダーパラドクスwithポッピー, Kamen Raidā Eguzeido Torirojī Anazā Endingu: Kamen Raidā Paradokusu Uizu Poppī) | Theatrical: February 17, 2018 DVD/Blu-Ray: April 11, 2018 | ||
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Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy Another Ending: Kamen Rider Genm vs. Lazer (仮面ライダーエグゼイド トリロジー アナザー・エンディング 仮面ライダーゲンムVSレーザー, Kamen Raidā Eguzeido Torirojī Anazā Endingu: Kamen Raidā Genmu Tai Rēzā) | Theatrical: March 3, 2018 DVD/Blu-Ray: April 25, 2018 | ||
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Build NEW WORLD: Kamen Rider Cross-Z (ビルド NEW WORLD 仮面ライダークローズ, Birudo Nyū Wārudo: Kamen Raidā Kurōzu) | Theatrical: January 25, 2019 DVD/Blu-Ray: April 24, 2019 |
Kyohei Yamaguchi | Shogo Muto |
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Build NEW WORLD: Kamen Rider Grease (ビルド NEW WORLD 仮面ライダーグリス, Birudo Nyū Wārudo: Kamen Raidā Gurisu) | Theatrical: September 6, 2019 DVD/Blu-Ray: November 27, 2019 |
Shojiro Nakazawa | |
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Kamen Rider Zi-O NEXT TIME: Geiz, Majesty (仮面ライダージオウ NEXT TIME ゲイツ、マジェスティ, Kamen Raidā Jiō Nekusuto Taimu: Geitsu, Majesuti) | Theatrical: February 28, 2020 DVD/Blu-Ray: April 22, 2020 |
Satoshi Morota | Nobuhiro Mouri |
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Zero-One Others: Kamen Rider MetsubouJinrai (ゼロワン Others 仮面ライダー滅亡迅雷, Zerowan Azāzu: Kamen Raidā Metsuboujinrai) | Theatrical: March 26, 2021 DVD/Blu-Ray: July 14, 2021 |
Masaya Kakehi | Yuya Takahashi |
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Zero-One Others: Kamen Rider Vulcan & Valkyrie (ゼロワン Others 仮面ライダーバルカン&バルキリー, Zerowan Azāzu: Kamen Raidā Barukan Ando Barukirī) | Theatrical: August 27, 2021 DVD/Blu-Ray: November 10, 2021 | ||
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Kamen Rider Saber: Trio of Deep Sin (仮面ライダーセイバー 深罪の三重奏, Kamen Raidā Seibā: Shinzai no Torio) | Theatrical: January 28, 2022 DVD/Blu-Ray: May 11, 2022 |
Kazuya Kamihoriuchi | Takuro Fukuda |
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Revice Forward: Kamen Rider Live & Evil & Demons (リバイスForward 仮面ライダーライブ&エビル&デモンズ, Ribaisu Fōwarudo: Kamen Raidā Raibu Ando Ebiru Ando Demonzu) | Theatrical: February 10, 2023 DVD/Blu-Ray: May 10, 2023 |
Koichi Sakamoto | Nobuhiro Mouri |
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Kamen Rider Geats: Jyamato Awaking (仮面ライダーギーツ ジャマト・アウェイキング, Kamen Raidā Gītsu: Jamato Aweikingu) | Theatrical: March 8, 2024 DVD/Blu-Ray: July 24, 2024 |
Yuya Takahashi | |
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Kamen Rider Gotchard: Graduations (仮面ライダーガッチャード GRADUATIONS, Kamen Raidā Gatchādo: Gurajuēshonzu) | Theatrical: February 21, 2025 DVD/Blu-Ray: June 11, 2025 |
Kyohei Yamaguchi | Takahito Oonishi |
Anniversary Films[]
| Poster | Title | Release Date(s) | Director | Writer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Kamen Rider OOO 10th: Core Medal of Resurrection (仮面ライダーOOO 10th 復活のコアメダル, Kamen Raidā Ōzu Jusshūnen: Fukkatsu no Koa Medaru) | Theatrical: March 12, 2022 DVD/Blu-Ray: August 24, 2022 |
Ryuta Tasaki | Nobuhiro Mouri |
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Kamen Rider 555 20th: Paradise Regained (仮面ライダー555 20th パラダイス・リゲインド, Kamen Raidā Faizu Nijusshūnen: Paradaisu Rigeindo) | Theatrical February 2, 2024 DVD/Blu-Ray May 29, 2024 (Special Edition) September 13, 2024 (Complete Edition) |
Toshiki Inoue |
Notes[]
- Like the Winter Movies, Yuya Takahashi currently holds the record for having written the most V-Cinema films with a count of six.
- Koichi Sakamoto currently holds the record for having directed the most V-Cinema films with a count of four.