Kamen Rider SD

Kamen Rider SD (仮面ライダーSD, Kamen Raidā Essu Dī) is a 1993 Japanese anime OVA produced by Toei Company, a parody based on their Kamen Rider series. It features super deformed versions of the various Kamen Riders featured from Kamen Rider through BLACK RX placed in a cartoonish world, where each enemy of the Riders has banded together under the command of the "Great Leader" under the name "GelShocker."

Plot summary

The movie begins with the Kamen Rider squad consisting of BLACK RX, Ichigou, and ZX destroying a Gelshocker soldier factory. After which Ichigou decides to speed around the race track whilst BLACK RX and ZX gamble. After beating up BLACK RX for welching on his losses, BLACK RX reveals he has fallen in love with Michiko, an instructor at a local Sportsclub.

Ichigou, Tachibana and ZX decide to help BLACK RX win Michiko over. After ZX's plan goes completely wrong, Michiko is kidnapped by Kumo Otoko, shortely afterwards, BLACK RX is ordered to come alone to a cave to retrieve her from Gelshocker. Defying Ichigou and ZX's advice, BLACK RX goes to retrieve Michiko, only to find she's been brainwashed and ordered to kill him. BLACK RX is beaten senseless by Kumo and Michiko and is helpless to retaliate.

After Ichigou and ZX show up to help, Tachibana calls in V3's squad for assistance. V3, X, and Super-1 make short work of Gelshocker's troops while Ichigou and ZX assist BLACK RX. Super-1 is able to break the mind control over Michiko, after which BLACK RX destroys Kumo-Otoko.

Afterwards, Michiko is awoken by V3, who instantly becomes smitten with her. V3 and Michiko ride off into the sunset, while BLACK RX is left behind to cry over his loss, which he quickly forgets after triumphantly burying the defeated General Jak in the sand.

The Kamen Riders do not appear to have human forms in this movie, and remain in their transformed states throughout the entire movie. (A flashback indicates that BLACK RX and Shadowmoon have been been Kamen Riders ever since they were children, which means that this BLACK RX was never Kamen Rider BLACK.) The shapes of their helmets change to show their emotion; their mouthplates move while they are talking. Akiji Kobayashi was the only person to actually voice his animated equivalent, Tachibana Tobei; Hiroshi Fujioka and the other past actors did not reprise their roles for this animated short.

Characters

Kamen Rider Squad

• BLACK RX: The newest Kamen Rider and star of this animated short. BLACK RX is still new to being a Kamen Rider and often leaps before he looks. In the movie, he has fallen in love with an instructor at a local sports club, which Gelshocker kidnaps in a plan to destroy the Kamen Riders once and for all. He has been paired up in a team with Kamen Rider Ichigou and Kamen Rider ZX, the latter of which has taken a liking to teasing the young Rider. His finishing move is slashing his enemies with his Revocan sword. He rides in a modified version of the Acrobatter motorcycle.

• Ichigou: The original and most experienced Kamen Rider, whom everyone simply refers to as "sempai." He is often found racing around on his Cyclone motorcycle trying to beat his track records, while at the same time putting up with the daily annoyances of BLACK RX and ZX. He often lectures the other Riders on focusing on their training. He is the team leader of his squad, which includes BLACK RX and ZX. His finishing move is the "Rider Kick" and appears in the movie in his silver-gloved form. He rides in a modified version of the New-Cyclone motorcycle.

• ZX: A relatively new Kamen Rider. In a sharp contrast to his original television counterpart, the animated version of ZX is very lighthearted, and quite eccentric. He has taken a liking to messing with BLACK RX, as well as gambling with him for money he doesn't have. His fighting style is similar to a ninja, including the art of instant disguise (he turns into a gangster and a female tennis player) and high agility. He finds BLACK RX's problem with love very hilarious, although he does his best to help, which only makes things worse. His team squad includes BLACK RX and Ichigou. He Rides in a modified version of the Helldiver Motorcycle.

• V3: A seasoned Kamen Rider, V3 is highly respected among his fellow Riders, and for good reason. He is a highly skilled person, in both fighting and life. When he first appears in the movie, he is relaxing at a hot spring along with his squad. He ends up falling in love with the same girl whom BLACK RX has a crush on, and ultimately steals his gift for her to win her over, much to the disappointment of BLACK RX. He is the team leader of his squad, which includes X and Super-1. He rides in a modified version of the Hurricane motorcycle.

• X: One of the alumni Riders. He was originally built for aquatic combat, and carries a multipurpose weapon called Ridol. He is fairly in the background for this animated short. He is on the same squad as V3 and Super-1. He rides in a modified version of the Cruiser motorcycle.

• Super-1: A newer Kamen Rider made for outer space exploration purposes. His multiple hands ability is used in the movie when he uses the Blue Lightning hand against Kumo-Otoko. Aside from that, he mostly spends the movie in the background along with Kamen Rider X. He rides around in the V-jet.

• SkyRider: Rather than travelling with a squad, this Kamen Rider is apparently on his own. With his ability to fly, he serves as a "lookout" for the other Kamen Riders, often carrying around a video camera and broadcasting it on "Sky Rider Television." He is last seen being knocked off of a football goal by a stray football during Gelshocker's attack on a sports arena. Skyrider lacks a motorcycle in the movie, riding with Amazon on his Jungler.

• Riderman: A Kamen Rider in name only, Riderman is the only Rider whom actually has a face underneath his helmet. He has the Power-Arm equipped through the whole movie, although it seems to function like the rope arm too as demonstrated in the opening. He appears as BLACK RX is trying to court Hachi-Onna, managing to steal her from BLACK RX and send him running away in anger. He lacks a motorcycle in the movie, riding with Nigou on his New-Cyclone.

• Nigou: The second Kamen Rider, Nigou is apparently on vacation in the tropics with his squad, only making a brief cameo towards the end of the movie. He is on the same squad as Amazon and Stronger. He appears in his red gloves form. He rides in his New-Cyclone motorcycle.

• Amazon: A relatively unorthadox Kamen Rider, Amazon is apparently on vacation in the tropics with his squad, only making a brief cameo towards the end of the movie. He is on the same squad as Nigou and Stronger. He rides in his Jungler motorcycle.

• Stronger: An electricity-based Kamen Rider, Stronger is apparently on vacation in the tropics with his squad, only making a brief cameo towards the end of the movie. (He is swimming in a pool, yet not frying anyone.) He is the leader of his squad, which includes Nigou and Amazon. He rides in his Kabutoro motorcycle.

• Tachibana Tobei: The mentor and racing coach of the Kamen Riders, he is apparently living with them at the same time. He spends his time trying to instruct the Riders throughout the movie, although they do not seem to be listening. He is the only human in the whole movie who actually matches the Riders in height, while everyone else is normal-sized.

• Michiko: A sports-club instructor and the source of BLACK RX's lovesickness. She is abducted and later brainwashed by GelShocker, causing her to fight against the Riders. She is later saved by BLACK RX, but winds up falling in love with V3.

GelShocker

• General Jak: The current general of Gelshocker. In a stark contrast from his television counterpart, he is short-tempered and quick to anger, often going so far as to blow up his own headquarters simply to destroy a cockroach. He is defeated in the end of the movie after blowing up his headquarters for the third time.

• The Great Leader: The apparent controlling force of every Kamen Rider villain since the original series. He appears in SD as an overly large body sitting atop a throne with a booming voice.

• GelShocker troops: The soldiers of GelShocker wear blue and yellow uniforms, although they appear to pose little threat against the Kamen Riders, and are easily beaten. They all make high-pitched squeals for dialogue.

• ShadowMoon: The brother of BLACK RX and apparently a Kamen Rider himself. This version of Shadowmoon tries his best to be evil, but falls short of his own expectations. He is armed with the Satan Saber and an unknown motorcycle (possibly a Road Sector modification). He is constantly teased by BLACK RX, whom refers to him as "Sunshinemoon."

• Kumo-Otoko: The very first kajin to ever appear in Kamen Rider is the main villain whom RX is fighting against in this animated short. He kidnaps Michiko and brainwashes her, and sets a trap for BLACK RX. He is weakened by the other Riders just in time for BLACK RX to destroy him.

Other Characters

• A assortment of secondary Kamen Rider characters appear throughout Kamen Rider SD, including Electro-wave Human Tackle (Stronger's girlfriend and partner) and Kamen Rider Shin. Many past Kajin from several series appear as well.

Trivia

• This is the only legitimate anime based on the Kamen Rider Franchise.
• All the riders are from the Ishinomori Era. The only Riders not to appear were Kamen Rider BLACK (as he is represented by BLACK RX), Kamen Rider ZO and Kamen Rider J (Both of whom appeared after SD).

References

• The Real Kamen Riders - Fansite with information and photos from the older Kamen Rider series