“Kamen Rider ZEZTZ” blends nostalgia and reinvention for fans around the world

For more than five decades, Kamen Rider It revved its engine through popular culture, delivering compelling motorcycling justice against rubber monsters with style, grit and a periodic penchant for reinvention. now, Kamen Rider ZEZTZ– the latest dream-fueled entry from Toei and Ishimori Productions – shifts gears into the subconscious.

The hero follows Paco Yorozua down-on-his-luck dreamer turned nightmare-busting hero. Armed with the ability to enter and purify corrupted dreams, ZEZTZ is tasked with identifying afflicted dreamers, deciphering their inner torment, and defeating their monsters in three attempts – or risk letting their terror take root in the waking world.

And hey boy, when he succeeds, he delivers an elegant racer kick for the ages, sending his enemies into a deep sleep before burning up.

io9 caught up with producer Hideaki Yanaka to discuss Origins Kamen Rider ZEZTZThe hypothesis of moving between imaginative dreams. We also talked about whether new weekly episodes of the series will be released on YouTube via TokoSHOUTsu It represents a new era of global streaming accessibility that long-time tokusatsu fans can expect to continue in future franchise installments.

Isaiah Colbert, io9: What sparked the idea for the setup ZEZTZ In the kingdom of dreams? Was it a direct homage to Freddy Krueger’s nightmares, or something more symbolic about escapism and subconscious desires?

Hideaki Yanaka: The scenario writer (Yuya Takahashi) came up with the dream concept. After I received this idea, I first collected and read research books on dreams. Next, our planning team and I discussed what dream setting would best fit this story. Ultimately, this setup ended up not relying solely on any specific theory. We started looking at visual expression together at a later stage.

io9: login Kamen Rider As a newcomer, ZEZTZ It stuck with me immediately with its bombastic camp, which it reminds me of KogaBrave Magic, which was my first series after watching it Shin Kamen Rider. Was that tune a conscious homage to the early Heisei era, or do you feel that way? ZEZTZ Different spirit channels Ryder The series in terms of its themes and general atmosphere?

Yanaka: We did not specifically praise any particular person Ryder series. However, since then Kamen Rider ZEZTZ It was planned with the viewers facing the Kamen Rider For the first time abroad, we wanted to effectively integrate the positive legacy of the previous series, especially Heisei Riders.

io9: ZEZTZThe gachapon sound effects lean towards pachinko style gachapon mechanics, with the “ZZZ” explosion from Rider Kick feeling like a jackpot as well as a wind sound effect reminiscent of DryGacha video game style sound effects. Was this idea a deliberate through-line between the two projects to connect these types of games?

Yanaka: There was no such intention in particular.

io9: ZEZTZHis role as a champion of humanity’s dreams opens the way for surreal narrative and visual possibilities that are almost palpable a personality-esque especially in its battles and evil designs. How did this dream logic influence the show’s brutal aesthetics and choreographic approach?

Yanaka: If you are referring to “dream logic”. a personality“, we are not consciously affected by it. What is possible in terms of movement and form in games and anime is fundamentally different from what is possible through physical movement and 3D form.

io9: suit for Kamen Rider ZEZTZ It looks like a futuristic homage that reinterprets the original Rider silhouette with a modern twist Batman Beyond Flair, especially in the sling-style side belt. What is the design philosophy behind crafting a look that bridges nostalgic iconography with a bold, forward-looking aesthetic?

Yanaka: The goal of Kamen Rider ZEZTZ It is to make people around the world recognize the type of hero Kamen Rider, so we aimed for a design that is simple and allows the essence to be understood at a glance. In this regard, I think the designer has created a very ingenious design.

io9: ZEZTZ It introduces Zero – a transforming robot – as a sidekick of sorts for Rider as well as an evolution of his traditional bike. It’s no surprise that Zero became a fan-favorite character due to his dual language skills in Japanese and English and how intelligent and charming he is. Was his creation in ZEZTZ Some sort of creative solution to Japan’s motorcycle laws, or did it arise from a desire to push the franchise into bolder sci-fi territory than before?

Yanaka: We believe the appeal Kamen Rider The chain is important on motorcycles, so we designed it this way to give the bike a strong presence. Robot-type support characters have appeared in Toei Tokusatsu before, so we don’t consider this a strange idea.

io9: Was the scene where Zero makes motorcycle sounds in the premiere scripted or was it improvised?

Yanaka: It was improvised by the voice actor.

io9: Speaking of fan-favorite moments, the recurring visual scenes of the heroes dramatically rolling around in their secret truck have already become a fan-favorite moment. Was this part planned from the beginning as a long-term comedy element, or did it come about more organically from the actors’ improvisation?

Yanaka: I think it was born from a session between the actors and the director.

io9: Is it safe to say that it’s here to remain a core part of the show as a long-term installment?

Yanaka: The truck is gone, but Detective Fujimi is good at moving forward, while Detective Nagumo is not. That’s a sure thing going forward.

io9: Trailer for Kamen Rider ZEZTZ It sparked controversy. Fans have assumed that the trailer uses AI-generated elements in its background, leading some to feel disappointed that it may overshadow the series’ premiere and dilute its creative identity. Toei recently stated that it is interested in using AI in anime production.

Did the trailer use AI and how does Toei feel about the technology’s potential role in tokusatsu shows? Kamen Rider? Can you talk about what happened behind the scenes and whether this decision was part of a broader experiment or just a mistake at the beginning of the show?

Yanaka: Our company does not specifically disclose the technology used to produce the visual images. Naturally, we recognize the pros and cons of generative AI, especially the ethical and legal challenges it still faces.

io9: ZEZTZ It is billed as a global event, with new episodes broadcast simultaneously on platforms such as YouTube and Shout TV for Western audiences. What inspired the push for more international rollouts alongside Japanese broadcasts, and should fans expect this kind of global accessibility to become the norm in the future? Kamen Rider series?

Yanaka: We’ve long heard voices from fans around the world requesting simulcasts. For several years now, we’ve been thinking and taking action to enable everyone to enjoy officially licensed content simultaneously. We hope to continue offering simulcasts in the future.

io9: with ZEZTZ Diving into dreams, surreal horror and postmodern identity through an unemployed protagonist, what do you hope he adds to the evolving legacy of Kamen Riderwhether for Heisei-era fans hungry for something weird or for fans of newcomer Reiwa who are just starting to explore the depth and reinvention of the franchise?

Yanaka: We aim to let fans from the Heisei era enjoy the latest works again, while also sparking interest in the series among new fans. We believe this will lead to a fruitful future for the series.

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Fans can watch new episodes of Kamen Rider ZEZTZ on TokuSHOUTsu YouTube channel Every Saturday.

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