Unlike several previous Heisei Rider Series, no alternate name has been given yet for the three O's in the title (Ｗ（ダブル） read as "Double" and 555（ファイズ） read as "Φ's/Phi's/Faiz") aside from an alternate spelling of the name of the main Kamen Rider: Ooz.[5] Both "OOO" and "Ooz" are intended to be read as "O's", referring to the multiple uses of the letter O in the title as well as "multiple kings" (王ｓ, Ōzu). The title OOO signifies the three medals that the main Kamen Rider uses to transform as well as being representative of the infinity symbol () with an additional circle.
The 28th episode of Kamen Rider OOO serves as the 1000th episode of the Kamen Rider Series since Kamen Rider premiered on April 3, 1971. The episode was originally set to premiere on March 27, 2011. However, due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the airing of this episode was postponed by one week to April 3, 2011. For the 999th and 1000th episodes, various guest stars with the kanji for thousand (千, chi) in their name were featured: Chiaki, Chisato Morishita, Chinatsu Wakatsuki, and the owarai duo Harisenbon (sen also being Japanese for 1000).[6]
Eiji Hino is a traveling man who has no place to call home and a tragic past. When metallic creatures known as the Greeed awaken after their 800-year slumber to attack humans and feed off of their desires, the disembodied arm of the Greeed named Ankh gives Eiji a belt and three Medals to fight the other Greeed as Kamen Rider OOO. The mysterious Kougami Foundation approaches Eiji and begins assisting him in his fight against the Greeed, though their true motives are not clear. As Eiji fights the Greeed and their Yummy monsters, learning more about the Greeed and Ankh, he starts to find a purpose beyond his journey.[1]
"Everyone Together, the Perfect Resurrection, and Your Greed" Transliteration: "Zen'in Shūgō to Kanzen Fukkatsu to Kimi no Yoku" (Japanese: 全員集合と完全復活と君の欲)
Takayuki Shibasaki
Yasuko Kobayashi
July 31, 2011 (2011-07-31)
45
"The Surprise Attack, the Proto Birth, and the Desire of Love" Transliteration: "Kishū to Puroto Bāsu to Ai no Yokubō" (Japanese: 奇襲とプロトバースと愛の欲望)
Satoshi Morota
Yasuko Kobayashi
August 7, 2011 (2011-08-07)
46
"The Eiji Greeed, the Double Births, and Ankh's Desire" Transliteration: "Eiji Gurīdo to Daburu Bāsu to Anku no Yokubō" (Japanese: 映司グリードとWバースとアンクの欲望)
Satoshi Morota
Yasuko Kobayashi
August 14, 2011 (2011-08-14)
47
"The Red Crack, the Satisfaction, and Eiji's Vessel" Transliteration: "Akai Hibi to Manzoku to Eiji no Utsuwa" (Japanese: 赤いヒビと満足と映司の器)
Ryuta Tasaki
Yasuko Kobayashi
August 21, 2011 (2011-08-21)
48
"Tomorrow's Medals, Underwear, and Arms Held" Transliteration: "Ashita no Medaru to Pantsu to Tsukamu Ude" (Japanese: 明日のメダルとパンツと掴む腕)
After the end credits of W Forever, a short teaser featuring Kamen Rider Double and Kamen Rider OOO stated that there would be a crossover film featuring both series' characters, much like Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider W & Decade: Movie War 2010. It is titled Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider OOO & W Featuring Skull: Movie War Core (仮面ライダー×仮面ライダー オーズ&ダブル feat. スカル MOVIE大戦CORE, Kamen Raidā × Kamen Raidā Ōzu Ando Daburu feat. Sukaru Mūbī Taisen Koa). As part of it, OOO's film Kamen Rider OOO: Nobunaga's Desire (仮面ライダーオーズ ノブナガの欲望, Kamen Raidā Ōzu Nobunaga no Yokubō) opened in Japanese theaters on December 18, 2010. The event of the movie took place between episode 12 and 13.[7]
OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders (オーズ・電王・オールライダー レッツゴー仮面ライダー, Ōzu Den'ō Ōru Raidā Rettsu Gō Kamen Raidā),[8] released on April 1, 2011, commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series featuring the cast and characters of Kamen Rider Den-O, Kamen Rider OOO, and other characters from the past franchise series.[9] The event of the movie took place between episode 26 and 27.
Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful the Movie: The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals (劇場版 仮面ライダーオーズ WONDERFUL 将軍と21のコアメダル, Gekijōban Kamen Raidā Ōzu Wandāfuru Shōgun to Nijū-ichi no Koa Medaru)[10] is the main theatrical release for Kamen Rider OOO, released on August 6, 2011, alongside Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger the Movie: The Flying Ghost Ship.[11] It also features the first on-screen appearance of the 13th Heisei Kamen Rider: Kamen Rider Fourze. The event of the movie took place between episode 36 and 37.
A crossover film between Kamen Rider OOO and Kamen Rider Fourze in the same vein as the Movie War 2010 and Movie War Core films, titled Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Fourze & OOO: Movie War Mega Max (仮面ライダー×仮面ライダー フォーゼ&オーズ MOVIE大戦MEGA MAX, Kamen Raidā × Kamen Raidā Fōze Ando Ōzu Mūbī Taisen Mega Makkusu),[12] was released on December 10, 2011, in Japan.[13]
Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen (仮面ライダー×スーパー戦隊 スーパーヒーロー大戦, Kamen Raidā × Sūpā Sentai Sūpā Hīrō Taisen) is a film which features a crossover between the characters of the Kamen Rider and Super Sentai Series. The protagonists of Kamen Rider Decade and Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger were featured, but the casts of Kamen Rider Fourze, Kamen Rider OOO, and Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters also participated.[14][15]Shu Watanabe and Riho Takada had reprised their roles as Eiji Hino and Hina Izumi, while Asaya Kimijima and Hiroaki Iwanaga reprised their roles voicing Kamen Rider Birth and Kamen Rider Birth Prototype respectively.
Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Wizard & Fourze: Movie War Ultimatum (仮面ライダー×仮面ライダー ウィザード&フォーゼ MOVIE大戦アルティメイタム, Kamen Raidā × Kamen Raidā Wizādo Ando Fōze Mūbī Taisen Arutimeitamu) was released on December 8, 2012, as the annual winter "Movie War" film. Shu Watanabe made a cameo appearance, reprising his role as Eiji Hino as he only appears in the Movie War Ultimatum portion of the film.
A third port of Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes titled Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes OOO (仮面ライダー クライマックスヒーローズ オーズ, Kamen Raidā Kuraimakkusu Hīrōzu Ōzu) was released on both the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo Wii on December 2, 2010. In addition to adding Kamen Rider OOO to the game, the previous Heisei Riders' most powerful forms (e.g., Kuuga Ultimate Form & Double CycloneJokerXtreme) have been added as playable characters as well as other Heisei Kamen Riders not included in either of the two previous versions.[16][17]
Kamen Rider: Memory of Heroez is a 3D action game, which was released on October 29, 2020 for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. It features the cast from Kamen Rider OOO, W, and Zero-One, whereas Kamen Riders OOO and Birth (both complete (Goto) and prototype (Date) versions) as playable characters. Instead of being reprised by Shu Watanabe, Asaya Kimijima and Hiroaki Iwanaga however, OOO and both Birth will be voiced by Tatsuhisa Suzuki, Soma Saito and Tomoaki Maeno respectively.[18][19][20]
Hyper Battle DVD
Kamen Rider OOO Hyper Battle DVD: Quiz, Dance, and Takagarooba!? (仮面ライダーオーズ ハイパーバトルDVD クイズとダンスとタカガルバ, Kamen Raidā Ōzu Haipā Batoru Dī Bui Dī Kuizu to Dansu to Takagaruba) was released alongside an issue of Televi-Kun magazine. The DVD featured the Kangaroo Medal, which was used by Kamen Rider OOO to transform either his arms or legs to have kangaroo-themed powers.
"Kangaroo Dance" is a song used in the Hyper Battle DVD featuring Akira Kushida chanting "Kangaroo" in the background with composition & arrangement from Shuhei Naruse.
Final Episode
Kamen Rider OOO: Final Episode (仮面ライダーオーズ FINAL EPISODE, Kamen Raidā Ōzu Fainaru Episōdo) is the director's cut version of the last two episodes of Kamen Rider OOO put together. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 21, 2012.
V-Cinema
Kamen Rider OOO 10th: Core Medal of Resurrection (仮面ライダーオーズ 10th 復活のコアメダル, Kamen Raidā Ōzu Jusshū'nen Fukkatsu no Koa Medaru) is a V-Cinema release which received a limited theatrical release on March 12, 2022, followed by its DVD and Blu-ray release on August 24, 2022. The events of the V-Cinema take place ten years after the TV series. The V-Cinema is written by Nobuhiro Mouri and directed by Ryuta Tasaki, and its theme song is "Anything Goes! OOO 10th Mix" performed by Maki Ohguro.[21][22]
Internet spin-offs
Kamen Rider OOO (ネット版 仮面ライダーオーズ, Netto-ban Kamen Raidā Ōzu) is a web-exclusive series released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on March 13, 2022 that serve as prequels to Kamen Rider OOO 10th: Core Medal of Resurrection.[23][24]
Core Medal of Resurrection: Prologue (復活のコアメダル・序章, Fukkatsu no Koa Medaru Joshō)
Birth of Birth X: Prologue (バースX誕生・序章, Bāsu Ekkusu Tanjō Joshō)
OOO 10th Kamen Rider Birth: Secret Story of the Birth of Birth X (オーズ10th 仮面ライダーバース バースX誕生秘話, Ōzu Jusshū'nen Kamen Raidā Bāsu Bāsu Ekkusu Tanjō Hiwa) is a web-exclusive series released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on July 3, 2022 that serves to connect Core Medal of Resurrection and Birth of Birth X: Prologue. The theme song is "Anything Goes! Happy 10th ver." performed by Eiji Hino × Ankh × Hina Izumi (Shu Watanabe, Ryōsuke Miura, & Riho Takada).[25][26]
Novel
Kamen Rider OOO (仮面ライダーオーズ, Kamen Raidā Ōzu), written by Nobuhiro Mouri, is part of a series of spin-off novel adaptions of the Heisei Era Kamen Riders. The novel is split into three parts. The first part, Ankh's part, focuses on the origin of the Core Medals, the King, and the Greeeds from Ankh's point of view and reveals secrets unanswered from the series. The second part, Birth's part, takes on the Birth Driver's point of view, deciding between Akira Date and Shintaro Goto to see who is worthy to use it. The final part, Eiji's part, focuses on Eiji's past and reveals how he met Alfreed. The novel was released on November 30, 2012.
"Anything Goes!" was released on November 17, 2010, as a standard CD and a CD+DVD combo pack.[31] The rapping on the song was performed by Rah-D, who provided his vocal talent in some of the show's background music.[35]
A balladic version of the song titled "Anything Goes! Ballad" was played during the finale of Kamen Rider OOO. Ohguro stated that she thought that the song would also work as a slow ballad, especially after she has been watching how the series has progressed, and recorded the song during her hiatus from releases. The balladic version was released as a single on December 7, 2011.[36]
Insert themes
Each of the series' various insert themes are titled in such a way to resemble the Kamen Rider OOO Combo that they serve as the theme for. The songs also feature Akira Kushida, the voice for the OOO Driver, chanting the name of the combo throughout the song. Ayano, a session guitarist for many of the recent Kamen Rider Series songs and member of the "Tsuyoshi & Ayano" group from the Kamen Rider W radio show, performs guitars on all of the tracks.
"Regret nothing ~Tighten Up~" was recorded throughout late September 2010 and recording completed on October 2, 2010. Shuhei Naruse was the song's producer and it was sung by Shu Watanabe under the name of his character Eiji Hino.[37] It was first used in the October 3, 2010, episode.[38] The pronunciation of "Tighten Up" is intended to mimic the pronunciation of "Tatoba". When played during scenes with other Combos, the "Tatoba" chant is removed from the song.[39] The single for "Regret nothing ~Tighten Up~" features a ska arrangement by trombone player Eijiro Nakagawa.
"Got to keep it real"
Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse
Artist: Eiji Hino (Shu Watanabe)
Episodes: 6, 16, Movie War Core
The title of "Got to keep it real", Gatakiriba Combo's theme song, was revealed on Shu Watanabe's official blog on Gree.jp.[40] The chorus features Sunaho of Labor Day. The single for "Got to keep it real" features a trance arrangement by Yoichi Sakai.
"Ride on Right time"
Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse
Artist: Eiji Hino (Shu Watanabe)
Episodes: 9, 10, 15, 40, 42, 45
"Ride on Right time" is Latorartar Combo's theme song. The additional rap vocals are by Tsuyoshi Himura, the Tsuyoshi of "Tsuyoshi & Ayano". The single for "Ride on Right time" features a "mixture" arrangement by Shamo and Florida Keys member Junichi "Igao" Igarashi.
"Sun goes up"
Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse
Artist: Eiji Hino (Shu Watanabe)
Episodes: 12
"Sun goes up" is Sagohzo Combo's theme song. The chorus featured Mr. Rah-D.
On January 12, 2011, Shu Watanabe announced on his Gree blog that he was recording a new song for OOO, specifically for the "red bird guy" (赤い鳥のヤツ, akai tori no yatsu).[41] The song has since been revealed to be titled "Time judged all", the theme for Tajadol Combo, and is a duet with Ryosuke Miura as Ankh.[42] The song features Hyuga Rei and Mami Yanagi performing in the chorus, chanting in German. The "Full Combo Collection" album features a "dialogue" version as a bonus track.[43]
"Shout out"
Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi
Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse
Artist: Eiji Hino (Shu Watanabe)
"Shout out" was first announced on April 17, 2011, by DJ HURRY KENN on the OOO Internet radio show, where he said the song for Shauta Combo would have a "Double-Action Rod form"-like feel, The song was played on the radio show, however it was never played in the series.[44] Kaori Nagura of Kamen Rider Girls joins in the chorus.
"Reverse/Re:birth" is Kamen Rider Birth's theme song. The music video for the song features Hiroaki Iwanaga as Akira Date, Asaya Kimijima as Shintaro Goto, and Mayuko Arisue as Erika Satonaka.
Tsuyoshi and Ayano of the Kamen Rider W Internet show Head Wind: One-Game Match!! have a cameo appearance as street musicians, Michibata Lion (路端ライオン, Michibata Raion), in episode 35 where they perform their radio show's theme song "WIND WAVE".
The first soundtrack for Kamen Rider OOO was released on November 17, 2010; it includes an edit of the series' opening theme "Anything Goes!". The second soundtrack was released on June 22, 2011. The Kamen Rider OOO: Full Combo Collection album was released on July 27, 2011, debuting at number 8 on its day of release on Oricon's daily album ranking.
DJ HURRY KENN announced on Twitter that Kamen Rider OOO's "final song" would be recorded on July 18, 2011.[45]
Notes
^This episode was originally scheduled to air on March 13, 2011, but TV Asahi postponed the airing of this and several other television programs to air news coverage on the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
^This episode was the final Kamen Rider episode to air on analog television in most of Japan. Analog television broadcasts ceased at noon that day.
