Happy Kamen Rider Day!
April 3rd marks the 55th Anniversary of one of tokusatsu’s most beloved franchises, and the day did not conclude quietly. With Kamen Rider making a big splash in its arrival to the West (which culminated in the simulcast success of Kamen Rider Zeztz), there were numerous things announced in a special livestream for the coming year, including a few surprises. Whether it’s new movies, project initiatives, or a celebration milestone of the original series that started it all, there was plenty for fans to look forward to. As a bonus, at the end of the article, there will be a link to the YouTube presentation showcasing the reveals just in case you missed them and want a closer look behind all of the exciting reveals showcased by Toei.
A New Anniversary Logo
Not a huge announcement to start the day… but a welcome one nonetheless! Much like Toho has been giving us new Godzilla logos for significant anniversaries, including those of fan favorite monsters, it was a fun little surprise to see Toei do the same with iconic Grasshopper cyborg! The new logo is said to have been its design “infused with the will to move toward the future” during the anniversary presentation, giving fans a clever blend of the past, while also looking ahead into a new era for our favorite henshin hero.
New Initiative: Three New Film Labels
Toei’s first major announcement was the intention of emphasizing theatrical experiences alongside their flagship television shows. Not only will we get theatrical events such as Shin Kamen Rider, but Toei has revealed three new movie labels that will be pumping out content regularly, so fans always have something to look forward to. Toei is separating Kamen Rider into three different labels for film, and the final one is going to be a huge treat for Rider fans worldwide! This is a major move to make the brand bigger and better than ever before.
The Kamen Rider Chronicle
This film label is going to focus entirely on past Riders and their legacies! The Kamen Rider Chronicle is also focused on introducing new fans to the series, so no prior knowledge is necessary to enjoy these classic throwbacks! The first film in this label is “Agito: Psychic Wars” which releases in Japan on April 29th! The title removed “Kamen Rider” in order to not contain itself within a box of a franchise. A second title in this line was also revealed at the event: A Kamen Rider Den-O 20th Anniversary film, although the film won’t be released until 2027, the actual anniversary of the series. Although Toei did reveal the 20th Anniversary logo for the character at the event, the only additional details of the project are that it will be a multimedia “launch event” to “expand the world of Den-O.”
The Kamen Rider Animated
This film label is pretty obvious to guess at the meaning, but I can’t begin to express how excited I am for animated Kamen Rider projects! The goal is to use traditional animation techniques to tell stories that the medium of live-action cannot, truly using animation to its fullest potential. Kamen Rider Animated is also eyeing a worldwide market to get even more people into the franchise from anywhere on the planet. The first project is described to “not look like generic 3D” and to have a “Japanese Manga-Style” of animation. The film will be animated by Shirogumi (which Godzilla fans will know from the visual effects of “Godzilla Minus One”) and produced by Aniplex. The film will be a completely original story, meaning that it will not feature any legacy Riders!
The Kamen Rider Premium
This is the label I’m sure every fan of tokusatsu is going to be thrilled about. “The Kamen Rider Premium” will be focused on making giant blockbuster films intended for international audiences and will focus on getting overseas releases. The Kamen Rider Premium will appeal to action and superhero fans everywhere, reaching the fullest potential audience overseas with theatrical films. No additional details were given, but the first film in this label is scheduled for a release in 2028.
Kamen Rider Zeztz Movie
The next major announcement, was a reveal for the summer release of the Kamen Rider Zeztz movie in Japan on July 24, 2026. This film will be a double feature with the new hero on the block, Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity. No details about the film’s plot has been revealed.
Kamen Rider Kabuto 20th Anniversary Movie
“Kamen Rider Kabuto 20th: Inheritor of Heaven” was announced for a November 6, 2026 limited release in Japan. The movie will reunite the original cast as their characters 20 years after the events of the original series. Who will be the inheritor of heaven? Stay tuned and find out!
Game Project: Henshin
©Bandai Namco
Project Henshin was announced by Bandai Namco for a Mobile release in Japan only. No details were given on story, gameplay, or if it will eventually release outside of Japan.
The Next Rider: My-Th
To end the showcase, the successor to Zeztz was revealed! The new Rider is named “My-Th.” The name’s meaning was given emphasis, with Toei stating, “My-Th is mere fiction – ‘no such being exists.’ From there, he becomes the sole hope carving out the future eventually becoming a mythological existence.” There was no news regarding a release date, but the show is currently in production and will likely debut sometime in the Fall.
With that final announcement, the Kamen Rider 55th Anniversary is sadly over, but fans were treated to some genuinely shocking news. There are so many film projects in development, a new video game, and best of all, the new Reiwa Rider was highlighted substantially. It is incredible to see the brand expand past the borders of Japan, with community artists like Robo7 producing officially licensed apparel, new simulcasts, and theatrical films.
With Godzilla and Ultraman making a boom in the United States, it was only a matter of time before Toei’s greatest hero made his grand debut here. I personally hope that Kamen Rider gets the recognition these incredibly ambitious projects are hoping to achieve, but only time will tell. Thanks for dropping by KU for a quick summary of the news, if you want to see the highlights of the presentation, you can watch them below. Stay tuned for more tokusatsu updates on Kaiju United!
