Kamen Rider Hibiki Episodes 1 and 2 (2005-2006) “The Echoing Oni” and “The Howling Spider”
Wow. Just when I was getting a little familiar with the trend of mechanized heroes from covert operations teams fighting strange invading monsters, Kamen Rider Hibiki throws in a huge spanner in the works nearly as wild as Kamen Rider Amazon—but with much more poise and confidence! What a show! The first episode starts with a straight-up musical number as one of the main characters rides his bike to school, and throughout much of the action of the episode we get ongoing playful instrumental melodies that highlight what is happening on screen in a direct manner ala classic Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny cartoons. Plus the Rider mythos is turned on its head, introducing another form of mystical Rider built from Japanese folklore this time (the kanji for the Rider’s name includes the word “oni,” which can be translated as a kind of Japanese ogre), and the fighting style incorporates things like flame breath and taiko drums. And the editing! The use of interstitial calligraphy! The rapid, stylized cuts and traditional instrumentation!
The story goes that Asumu, a cheerful but stressed-out junior high kid going into high school, has a trip with his family to Kagoshima in southern Japan. While there, he encounters a drifter named Hibiki who he sees rescue a child on a ferry, and afterwards they encounter one another again on a hike and are attacked by web-slinging beastly humanoids. As it turns out, the forest-dwelling monster-men are feeding a giant spider the size of a house (a Tsuchigumo, from Japanese folklore, taking the usual spider man gig from these shows), and Asumu nearly gets snarfed before Hibiki can literally beat it down with his drumsticks and flamethrower breath.
The sense of style is off the charts with this entry. Yes, the idea of riding monsters and smashing away on their backs with drumsticks is beyond absurd, but the surreality is part and parcel with the entire ethos of this entry! The action, too, may suffer from fast cutting, but even that decision feels intentional, as part of the rhythm of the editing. I expected to be annoyed by young protagonist Asumu, who has several scenes where he is smiling at the camera and breaking the fourth wall—but he is so likable and upbeat, it’s hard to complain. The series also steps away from the power cards from previous entries, replacing them with discs that transform into miniature attack animals—and I will admit, those look so stupid. But it’s a small stupidity that can be overlooked.
I think, if I am being fair, I stumbled on an episode of this series when I first lived in Japan back in 2005-2007 and I was taken aback by the absurdity of the show. I can see why some fans might take umbrage at such a radical departure from the dark, sci-fi roots. Apparently the show suffers a drastic course correction halfway through that most fans despised, and which caused great controversy in the tokusatsu sphere at the time. Still, I love these first two episodes for being daring and wild and for bearing such a strong artistic vision!
Kamen Rider Kabuto Episodes 1 and 2 “The Strongest Man” and “The First Two-Step Transformation”
(2006-2007)
While not as stylish as Kamen Rider Hibiki, nor perhaps as inspired as the first episodes of that series appeared, Kabuto still brings more entertaining concepts and tweaks to the formula. The monster system is new, striking a pod-people vibe with invading “worms” that attack and mimic people’s appearance before transforming into bug anthropoids, then molting into a yet more powerful final form (taking on other animal traits apparently), the series also adds another anti-monster organization with a questionable past (ala Blade), this time with a whole army of rider-styled soldiers. The monster plot seems to be triggered by falling meteorites, and thus a plot point aping something like Quatermass 2, but with an added wrinkle in which the monsters possess an ability to “overclock” and move at super speed. One of the highlights of the new series is how the hyper-speed battles are depicted, with new strategies and stylization.
The rider dynamic, though, feels a little tired. Underperforming ZECT agent Arata Kagami gets his treasured chance to become a full-fledged Rider, but has his dreams stolen when mysterious lone-wolf wandering type Soujj Tendo transforms in his stead. Tendo operates with exaggerated poise and overdone cool, but it’s not really funny this time, and Kagami is kind of just lame. The Kabuto Rider suit looks bulky and powerful, though, and I like the addition of guns and multiple transformations. Artistic and sullen Hiyori Kusakabe provides an unusual female foil to the mismatched hero pair.
I am not as enthusiastic about Kabuto as some of the other series because the characters didn’t click with me as much, but I did like how the action is staged, and accidentally reading some spoilers, the series definitely has some surprising twists in the wings. I would be interested in seeing more.