Otakuism

Story:

Wataru Kurenai is a hikikomori with an incredible power and duty: the ability to transform into Kamen Rider Kiva and fight the blood-sucking Fangaia. The Fangaia first appeared 22 years ago in 1986, when Wataru’s father Otoya Kurenai first fought them before disappearing. Both heroes are joined in their efforts by an elite Fangaia Hunter organization, with Yuri Aso assisting Otoya in 1986 and her daughter Megumi helping Wataru in 2008. With the mysterious power of Kiva and the secrets of twenty years ago, Wataru fights to protect mankind from the Fangaia.

Impressions:

Kamen Rider Kiva is the newest Kamen Rider series for 2008, following after the very successful Den-O. After watching the first couple of episodes, I’m already loving this series immensely. The main “gimmick” of Kiva is that it takes place in two time periods: Wataru in 2008 and Kurenai in 1986. It’s a very cool idea, actually, and allows for some unique ways to develop the plot. I can’t wait to see how this plays out later when the two timelines must connect. It also helps that Wataru and Kurenai are such polar opposites of each other. Wataru is a hikikomori, a coward, and the weirdest rider ever. Yes, even weirder than Tendou and Ryoutarou. He spends most of the first episode collecting fish skeletons, albeit for making a violin color. Kurenai on the other hand is the ultimate eighties playboy. He’s constantly hitting on Yuri and wears garish leopard print jackets and gold chains. They both know how to kick ass, though.

I absolutely love Kiva’s design; it’s just so badass with the muscles and chains. Looks great in fight scenes, too. For Kiva I’ve noticed the fight scenes to be a bit more physical than Kabuto and Den-O, with a lot of thrown around cars, motorcycle fights, and explosions. Definitely better than Den-O’s haphazard fighting style. The finisher Darkness Moon Break is also awesome, with great visuals to match. The Fangaia designs are pretty cool and unique, all containing a stain glass motif with the usual animal one. There’s a liberal use of CG in the series, but if you’ve watched a lot of tokusatsu then it’s all pretty standard fare. Even CastleDran, a dragon/castle that is the most blatant piece of CG in the show, looks pretty good. It’s probably the most outrageous element of Kiva so far, but oddly fitting. Kiva’s feeling is a lot different than Den-O’s, for which I’m thankful, but has all the elements to be a really great kamen rider show. I can hardly wait for the next episode now. It looks like it’ll be a good year.

Time to show off the nice OP. Why does it takes these OP’s three months before a full single is released? I need a full version now, dammit.