Yesterday (April 3rd) at the "Kamen Rider 55th Anniversary Presentation," fans were treated to a slew of announcements, including new films and the upcoming TV series set to debut this year.
But the real showstopper? The reveal of "THE KAMENRIDER ANIMATED," a brand-new anime film label for the franchise! This initiative is squarely aimed at global anime fans, promising stories that are easy to jump into, even if you've never donned a Rider belt before.
The goal of "THE KAMENRIDER ANIMATED" is to broaden the Kamen Rider IP's reach, making the series accessible to a wider audience through engaging and easy-to-understand animated works. Expect to see both original Riders and beloved characters from across the franchise make appearances. The brand also plans to collaborate with various partners, exploring fresh animated takes on the "Kamen Rider" universe.
And get this: the very first project under this new banner is a completely original work, designed from the ground up for the global market. Forget your typical "realistic 3DCG" style; officials have teased a vibrant CG animation that blends familiar manga-esque visuals for a truly dynamic look. Confirmed to be at the helm for this inaugural project are none other than Aniplex and "Shirogumi," the studio behind director Takashi Yamazaki's acclaimed works.
Speaking of Shirogumi, while they've recently wowed audiences with "Godzilla Minus One," their impressive resume also includes TV anime like "The Idolmaster Million Live!" and "86 EIGHTY-SIX," plus the film "Stand by Me Doraemon 2." With such a pedigree, their involvement in this new "Kamen Rider" CG anime definitely sets expectations high!
While official release dates and formats are still under wraps, fans should definitely keep an eye out for more info!