Japanese TV series or program
| Kamen Rider |
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 Title card and logo as seen in the second opening of the show. |
| Also known as | Skyrider |
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| Genre | Tokusatsu
Superhero fiction
Science fiction
Action/Adventure
Fantasy |
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| Created by | Shotaro Ishinomori |
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| Developed by | Masaru Igami (eps 1-24)
Takashi Ezure (eps 25-54) |
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| Written by | Masaru Igami
Kimio Hirayama
Takashi Ezure
Katsuhiko Taguchi
Tsutomu Tsukushi
Kyoko Sagiyama
Ikuro Suzuki |
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| Directed by | Minoru Yamada
Katsuhiko Taguchi
Atsuo Okunaka
Hideo Tanaka
Kimio Hirayama
Shigeho Hirota |
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| Starring | Hiroaki Murakami
Kimiko Tanaka
Naoko Fushimi
Kaori Tatsumi
Mie Suzuki
Sayako Eguchi
Jin Takase
Nobuo Tsukamoto
Shinzo Hotta
Yosuke Naka |
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| Composer | Shunsuke Kikuchi |
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| Country of origin | Japan |
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| No. of episodes | 54 |
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| Producers | Toru Hirayama (Toei)
Masashi Abe (Toei, eps 18-54) |
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| Running time | 24 minutes |
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| Production companies | Toei Company
Ishimori Productions |
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| Network | MBS |
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| Release | October 5, 1979 (1979-10-05) –
October 10, 1980 (1980-10-10) |
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Kamen Rider (仮面ライダー, Kamen Raidā), also referred to as (New) Kamen Rider (仮面ライダー(新), Kamen Raidā (shin))[1] or Skyrider (スカイライダー, Sukairaidā) (after the main character), is a Japanese tokusatsu television series created by Shotaro Ishinomori and the sixth program in the Kamen Rider Series. The series was a co-production between Toei and Ishinomori Productions. The series aired every Friday at 7:00 PM on MBS from October 5, 1979 to October 10, 1980.
The 1979 series was intended as a revival of the original 1971 series of the same name, going back to the basic, essential themes established in that show.
Story
Doctor Keitarō Shido, an acclaimed scientist, has been kidnapped by the terrorist organization Neo-Shocker to exploit his expertise in robotics technology. Desperate to escape, he convinces Neo-Shocker's command to allow him to operate on 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, transforming Hiroshi, not into a kaijin, but the powerful warrior Sky Rider, using his newfound abilities to combat the evil Neo-Shocker menace.
Characters
- Hiroshi Tsukuba (筑波 洋, Tsukuba Hiroshi): A gliding enthusiast caught in a conflict with Neo-Shocker after one of their agents murdered his friends. He ended up being caught and turned into a cyborg by both Keitaro and Neo-Shocker after he was mortally injured in an attempt to save Keitaro from Neo-Shocker, before he and the scientist managed to escape from their captors and use his newfound powers as Skyrider (スカイライダー, Sukairaidā) to fight the terrorist group.
- Keitarō Shido (志度 敬太郎, Shido Keitarō, 1-13): A scientist targeted by Neo-Shocker who was responsible for Hiroshi becoming Sky Rider. To keep a low profile, having hang glided in his youth, Shido founded the Shido Hang Glide Club and last aided Sky Rider in disarming a Plus-Alpha Bomb before leaving the country to join the Anti-Neo-Shocker Committee.
- Midori Kanō (叶 みどり, Kanō Midori): Shido's aide.
- Yumi Nozaki (野崎 ユミ, Nozaki Yumi): A member of the Shido Hang Glide Club.
- Michi Sugimura (杉村 ミチ, Sugimura Michi): A member of the Shido Hang Glide Club.
- Imata Tonda (飛田 今太, Tonda Imata): A photojournalist who is looking for a good story, usually losing consciousness when he is about to stumble into a fight between Sky Rider and Neo-Shocker.
- Genjirō Tani (谷 源次郎, Tani Genjirō, 14-54): A senior of Hiroshi's and a friend of Shido, Tani owns the Blanca Coffee Shop that serves as Sky Rider's new base of operations. Having lost his family to Neo-Shocker in the past, Tani is eager to help Hiroshi take the organization down.
- Numa (沼)
- Aki Ozawa (小沢 アキ, Ozawa Aki)
- Naoko Itō (伊東 ナオコ, Itō Naoko)
- Kanji Yada/GanGan G (矢田 勘次／がんがんじい, Yada Kanji/Gan Gan Jī)
Neo-Shocker
Shocker is once again reformed as the Neo-Shocker (ネオショッカー, Neo Shokkā) organization, playing a role in numerous disappearances and terrorist attacks against the Japanese government. Spreading their influence across the world, their goal is the genocide of about two thirds of the current human population on Earth with them as the dominant majority. Though the other branches are succeeding unopposed, only the Japanese branch is making no progress due to the interference of Sky Rider.
- Great Neo-Shocker Leader (ネオショッカー大首領, Neo Shokkā Dai Shuryō, 52-54): A giant dragon who is the leader of the Neo-Shocker organization. Destroyed in a bomb explosion by the combined efforts of all previous Kamen Riders.
- General Monster/Yamorijin (ゼネラルモンスター／ヤモリジン, Zeneraru Monsutā/Yamorijin, 1-17): The first chief of Neo-Shocker's Japanese branch, armed with a cane. Eventually promoted, Monster underwent a modification into Yamorijin, a gecko cyborg. Due to a recent failure he was presented with the red eye, which signals that if he fails for a final time he will be terminated. He was executed by Admiral Majin after he was defeated by Sky Rider's Sky Kick. He is revived by the Badan Empire in Kamen Rider Spirits vol. 8, kidnapping people in Sapporo. He was eventually destroyed by Kamen Rider ZX's Rider Spin Shot and crashed into Admiral Majin.
- Admiral Majin (魔人提督, Majin Teitoku, 17-53): The second and final chief of the Neo-Shocker organization. He was the only Neo-Shocker member with no kaijin form. He was executed by the Great Leader after being defeated by Kamen Rider #2, Kamen Rider Stronger and Sky Rider's triple kick. He is revived by the Badan Empire in Kamen Rider Spirits vol. 8, confronting Sky Rider in Mashu Lake, but is eventually destroyed by Sky Rider's Dragonfly Chute and crashed into Yamorijin.
- Gingaoh (銀河王, Ginga Ō, lit. "Galaxy King"): Gingaoh is the main antagonist in the Sky Rider movie, a mechanical alien invader that Neo-Shocker formed an alliance with. He was destroyed in his spaceship explosion.
- Ari Commandos (アリコマンド, Ari Komando): Ant-like foot soldiers in black.
- Skull Assassination Squad (ドクロ暗殺隊, Dokuro Ansatsu Tai, 53 & 54): Skull-masked elite guards who wield swords and crossbows.
- Neo-Shocker Scientists:
- Professor Doc (プロフェッサー・ドク, Puroffesā Doku, 16-18): A friend of General Monster. After General Monster died, he was sentenced to death by Admiral Majin and killed by Shibirayjin.
- Doctor Meteor (ドクター・メテオ, Dokutā Meteo, 38): An authority on brain surgery. Killed by Kamen Rider Stronger's Electro Shock.
- Doctor X (ドクターX, Dokutā Ekkusu, 52): He repairs or scraps Ari Commands in a dock disguised as a pediatric clinic.
- Shiroari Commandos (白アリコマンド, Shiroari Komando): Termite-like scientists who assist in the conversion of humans into cyborgs.
Special
Immortal Kamen Rider Special aired on September 8, 1979. Tobei Tachibana visits a Kamen Rider museum where he talks to some children about the Kamen Riders. Scenes from Kamen Rider, X, Amazon and Stronger are shown. He's about to introduce a new Kamen Rider when some of the kids remind him that he forgot Kamen Rider V3. Clips from the movie Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron Mutants are shown. After the movie clips, Tobei Tachibana introduces Sky Rider, with previews of New Kamen Rider.
Movie
The Movie Eight Riders vs. Gingaoh (仮面ライダー 8人ライダーVS銀河王 Kamen Raidā: Hachi'nin Raidā Tai Gingaō) was released on March 15, 1980 and features Sky Rider teaming up with the previous 7 riders.
