Toei Celebrates 55 Years of Kamen Rider at LA Comic Con

The Kamen Rider franchise celebrated a milestone 55 years of heroics at LA Comic Con this past Halloween weekend. The festivities, which included screenings, special guests, and fan activations, brought tokusatsu enthusiasts from across the globe together to commemorate the long-running series with incredible passion. The weekend also marked the North American Premiere of the two most recent Kamen Rider films – Kamen Rider ZEZTZ: Farewell Mission and AGITO: Psychic War – allowing fans two rare and unforgettable cinematic experiences. AGITO: Psychic War was presented in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Kamen Rider AGITO.

The highlight of the weekend was the official Kamen Rider 55th Anniversary Panel, held on Saturday. With every seat filled and the crowd at capacity, Los Angeles welcomed two very special guests to the convention for the first time: Yuya Takahashi, head writer of the recently concluded Kamen Rider ZEZTZ, and longtime producer Naomi Takebe, whose work spans past installments of the franchise and Kamen Rider MY-TH, the newest series, which began airing in Japan this September. Both guests answered questions from the MC, gave insight into some production details revolving around their respective shows, and were very moved by the turnout of the panel. When asked by the panel’s moderator how it felt to see so many fans gathered to celebrate Kamen Rider, both guests said they were “deeply moved by the audience’s enthusiasm and love for the franchise.”

During the panel, Takahashi spoke in more detail about Kamen Rider EX-AID (2016), the first Kamen Rider series he worked on, describing it as “the series he holds closest to his heart.” He shared that it helped define his career and that he believes it saved his career. Takahashi’s appreciation for EX-AID culminated in the surprise announcement of a new project being in development after being asked about the possibility of seeing characters from the series return in wake of the show’s tenth anniversary, which prompted the audience to erupt in applause. The surprises weren’t over after this, however, as the audience was treated to a special video message from Ikuho Akiya, who portrays Sora Otosumi, Kamen Rider MY-TH, and Riko Horikawa, who portrays Yuna Mizuki. To close the panel, Kamen Riders ZEZTZ and MY-TH joined the guests onstage to a cheering audience, with both Riders and the special guests taking commemorative photos with panel attendees.

Additionally, for the very first time at Los Angeles Comic Con, attendees were also able to purchase official Kamen Rider merchandise at Toei’s booth, including items from the newest series, Kamen Rider MY-TH. Production props, including the belts from Kamen Rider ZEZTZ and Kamen Rider Zero-One, were also on display for viewing behind glass. The two special guests, Yuya Takahashi and Naomi Takebe, also hosted an exclusive autograph session and multiple meet-and-greets with Kamen Riders ZEZTZ and MY-TH. The success of the autograph session was also remarkable, resulting in a second autograph session being added on Sunday.

For our readers looking to experience the Kamen Rider franchise, Kamen Rider MY-TH, the current chapter in the franchise’s enduring saga, is now simulcasting globally. Fans in the Untied States can watch the latest episodes of Kamen Rider MY-TH every Monday on the Toei Tokusatsu World Official YouTube Channel. Additionally, episodes of Kamen Rider EX-AID and Kamen Rider KUUGA are published on the TTWO YouTube channel every Thursday and Friday respectively. To keep up to date on all of the latest news & announcements for all things Kamen Rider, we encourage you to follow their official Kamen Rider Global account on X.

Kamen Rider is a cornerstone of Japanese pop culture that debuted on April 3, 1971. Created by Shotaro Ishinomori, the franchise has produced over 30 television series and numerous films, standing alongside Super Sentai (the basis for the Power Rangers franchise) as one of Toei’s most enduring intellectual properties. Toei Company is a leading producer and distributor of live-action films, anime, and tokusatsu content. With a library exceeding 4,400 theatrical films and 39,000 television episodes, Toei continues to adapt its diverse IP portfolio for global streaming, theatrical, and merchandising markets.