Kamen Rider (1979 TV series)

Kamen Rider also referred to as Kamen Rider (New) or Skyrider (after the main character), is a Japanese television series created by Shotaro Ishinomori and the sixth program in the Kamen Rider Series. The series was a co-production between Toei and Ishimori Productions. The series aired every Friday at 7:00 PM on MBS from October 5, 1979 to October 10, 1980.

Kamen Rider
Also known as	Skyrider
Genre	Tokusatsu Superhero fiction Science fiction Action/Adventure Fantasy
Created by	Shotaro Ishinomori
Developed by	Masaru Igami (eps 1-24) Takeshi Ezure (eps 25-54)
Written by	Masaru Igami Kimio Hirayama Takeshi Ezure Katsuhiko Taguchi Tsutomu Tsukushi Kyoko Sagiyama Ikuro Suzuki
Directed by	Minoru Yamada Katsuhiko Taguchi Atsuo Okunaka Hideo Tanaka Kimio Hirayama Shigeho Hirota
Starring	Hiroaki Murakami Kimiko Tanaka Naoko Fushimi Nobuo Tsukamoto
Composer	Shunsuke Kikuchi
Country of origin	Japan
No. of episodes	54
Production
Producers	Toru Hirayama(Toei) Masashi Abe (Toei eps 18-54)
Running time	24 minutes
Original release
Network	MBS
Release	October 5, 1979 (1979-10-05) – October 10, 1980 (1980-10-10)

The 1979 series was intended as a revival of the original Kamen Rider, going back to the basic, essential themes established in that show.

Story

Doctor Keitarō Shido, a famous scientist, has been kidnapped by the terrorist organization Neo-Shocker. They want him to exploit his expertise in robotics technology. Desperate to escape, he tells Neo-Shocker commander to allow him to control an injured camper. Explaining that he can turn the camper, Hiroshi Tsukuba into a powerful Neo-Shocker warrior, they allow Doctor Shido to operate. However, he quickly turns the tables on them. He transformed Hiroshi not to in Kaiju, but into powerful warrior Sky Rider. He uses his newfound abilities to combat the evil Neo-Shocker menace.

Cast

• Hiroshi Tsukuba: Hiroaki Murakami
• Midori Kanō: Kimiko Tanaka
• Michi Sugimura: Naoko Fushimi
• Yumi Nozaki: Kaori Tatsumi
• Imata Tonda: Ryūmei Azuma
• Naoko Itō: Mie Suzuki
• Aki Ozawa: Sayoko Eguchi
• Numa: Jin Takase
• Shigeru Kanō: Kōji Shiratori
• Kanji Yada: Tomaru Katsura
• The Great Leader: Gorō Naya
• General Monster: Shinzō Hotta
• Admiral Majin: Yōsuke Naka
• Keitarō Shido: Takashi Tabata
• Genjirō Tani: Nobuo Sakamoto
• Narrator: Shinji Kanae

Songs

Opening themes

• "Moero! Kamen Rider" ("Burn! Kamen Rider")
  • Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
  • Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Artist: Ichirou Mizuki and Kōrogi '73
  • Episodes: 1-28
• "Otoko no Na wa Kamen Rider" ("That's Man's Name is Kamen Rider")
  • Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
  • Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Artist: Ichirou Mizuki
  • Episodes: 29-54

Ending themes

• "Haruka naru Ai ni Kakete" ("Long Distance Love")
  • Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude
  • Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Artist: Ichirou Mizuki and Kōrogi '73
  • Episodes: 1-28
• "Kagayake! Hachinin Rider" ("Shine! Eight Riders")
  • Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude
  • Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Artist: Ichirou Mizuki and The Chirps
  • Episodes: 29-54