Shout Factory Licenses Kamen Rider Ryuki & Zero-One in North America

During the “Rider Week Kick Off Panel” presented by Team Kamen Rider, it was announced that two new Kamen Rider series will be joining the Tokushoutsu line-up later this year.

 

Shout Factory’s tokusatsu-based streaming platform launched last year with Kamen Rider (1971) as its first release. Then a few months later the platformed added Kamen Rider Kuuga (2000) to its library. Whereas, Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Forever (2018) was the first movie presented on the platform. With the 50th Anniversary of Kamen Rider happening this year, Tokushoutsu will be streaming Kamen Rider Zero-One (2019) and Kamen Rider Ryuki (2002). In addition to both series streaming, Kamen Rider Zero-One will be getting a physical release from Shout Factory in the future.

Kamen Rider Ryuki (2002) is focused on the Rider War taking place in the Mirror World. 13 Kamen Riders were chosen and bonded to Contract Monsters. Each Rider is told that who ever survives the battles will be granted their one true wish. At the center of it, Kido Shinji fights against the war looking to end it without causality. It is an all stakes battle that leads to some of the grandest fight scenes in the franchise history. The series ran for 50 episodes and received a TV Special and Film.

Kamen Rider Zero-One (2019) was the first series in the Reiwa Period of Kamen Rider history. The series features a storyline based around the Humagears, synthetic lifeforms who assist humanity with jobs. The debate over whether Humagears deserve sentience or should be used only as tools is a consistent debate amongst the characters and corporations in the series. The series ran for 45 episodes and also received 4 films as well as 10 specials in various formats.

 

No release dates have been provided for either series’ release, or for Zero-One’s physical release. However, during the panel, Ari Schonfeld from Shout gave a rough timeline for the release. Kamen Rider Ryuki has completed subtitles work and will release first, while Kamen Rider Zero-One will be coming later after the series has been subtitled. Toei and Shout are also in consistent talks as to which series will be released based on fan feedback. In addition, Tokushoutsu is planning to expand to more platforms in the near future. So, Kamen Rider fans please stay tuned for future updates.

 

Sources: Tokushoutsu, Team Rider Panel

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One Thought to “Shout Factory Licenses Kamen Rider Ryuki & Zero-One in North America”

  1. […] those who are not aware, the series was first announced to be licensed in North America during the “Rider Week Kick Off Panel” earlier this year. The release will include all 46 episodes, Kamen Rider Zero One: Real X Time, and […]

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