Kamen Rider Kuuga
By Matt Linkous

Introduction

Kamen Rider Kuuga was the first Rider show since the ending of Kamen Rider Black RX (which followed by the movies Kamen Rider Shin, Zo, and J).

Airing in 2000-2001 season, Kuuga was an attempt to renergize the Rider legend/franchise for tv audiences. Its not a traditional type of Rider show yet is one that keeps to the roots of the heroic myth started by the great Shotaro Ishinomori. Also creator of Kikaida, Cyborg 009, and GoRanger to name a few.

Overview

The discovery of an ancient sarcophagus in Nagano, Japan unleashes a demonic force that murders the researchers who found it, reawakening the spirits of evil from the dark past. Within the coffin there is a the body of a man wearing an orante yet strangely technological looking belt. The belt is found at the crime scene by Commander Ichijo who calls upon the services of researcher Sawatari Sakurako. Who was also witness to the death screams of her fellow researchers when one of them tried to contact her from the scene of the attack.

Our hero is Godai Yuuske. A young, slightly goofy and childlike sort of guy who is possesed of a huge heart and a almost reckless knack for going above and beyond to help those in need. He has spent most of his life caring for his little sister Minori (now a kindergarden teacher) and also has been a longtime freind to Sakurako.

Since the belt was found, Godai has been plauged with sudden psychic flashes of a red armored figure. When one of the savage creatures (that we later learn is called a Grongi) attacks the Nagano police station, Godai doesn't think twice before realizing what his sudden psychic flashes have been urging him to do. Our hero slams the belt on.

The belt abosorbs into Godais body giving him to power to henshin into an armored insectoid looking warrior known as "Kuuga". In another departure from tradition he is never once refered to as Kamen Rider in the show, nor does he name/call out any of his attacks. The name Kuuga is the apprent translation of the mark that refers to the armored warrior in the Grongi language. By the police and the rest of the populace he is simply known as "Number 4" being that he was the fourth creature to appear.

Godai struggles to both stop the serial killing spree of the Grongi and also master the powers of the ancient belt. His default state is a white basic version of the Kuuga armor before his resolve to fight is strengthened in Episode 2 resulting in his main-stay red armor who's primary power and function is super strength. From there he masters other forms both as they are needed and as they are deciphered from the Grongi texts by Sakurako. However, the one draw back to these forms is that whatever he gains in one form he may lose in another. For example he has a blue form which is super speed and agility. The catch is that in this form his punches are worthless. The upside is that each form has its own weapon which Godai can basically morph from any simarally shaped object he can get his hands on.

The police, led by Commander Ichijo are always shown mobilizing and planning against the threat of these monsters. The law enforcement campeign is almost as much of a story as the trails of Godai Yuuske himself. Commander Ichijo does not want Godai to continue endangering himself. Yet he simply cannot ignore the fact that Godai is the only one with power to combat, and destroy these creatures. He fears not only for Godais life but for Godais signifigant other Sakurako. Whom he has some feelings for. He does not want to have Godais death on his hands. However, Ichijo needs Godai Yuuske despite the danger both from the Grongi and the disapproval of his superiors.

Ichijo sticks his neck out even further on the chopping block when he allows Godai to use the prototype weapon, TryChaser 2000. A advanced high-speed motorcycle built for law enforcement. (Hey I think we all learned from Shin that a Rider isn't a rider without a cool motorcycle.)

The Grongi themselves are one of the major mysterys of the show. We actually only hear them speak in their own language which is never translated to Japanese or anything else. The dynamic (and not to mention the look) of the groups hiearchy tends to come off like a weird fusion of street gang, and a satanic cult. However, even the strongest of them are apparently answerable to the mysterious lady in black who offers her servants rose pedals as some sort of symbol.

The series is filled with cool superheroic battles and intresting relationships between the extremely likable characters. Yet, the true power of the story hinges not only on wether or not our hero will be able to stop the muderous Grongi, but wether or not the ever increasing power he has as Kuuga will overwhelm the soul of Godai Yuuske. In this sense, Kamen Rider Kuuga actually works backwords from the traditonal Rider legends.

Instead of being a person who's humanity was stripped and seeking to avenge and/or regain it, Godai Yuuske is a very special person who inches ever closer to potentially losing his humanity by weilding this ancient power to help those around him and the innocent people of Tokyo.

In the end, will the soul of Godai Yuuske be strong enough to control the power of Kuuga? Or will it control him?

My Opinion

As stated above the show is a departure from the Rider traditon. I do find myself missing little things like the actual shouting of "RIDER KICK!!" and the bombastic style and pace of the fights. I also have a fondness for tokusatsu katas and posedowns. However as much as the show departs from traditions, there also alot that is kept intact. It doesn't degenerate into deconstructionism but rather creates a different experience of a familiar and time honored Japanese icon.

The tone of the show could be called "more realistic" than previous Rider series. The style of it is almost more like American superheroes. However, unlike alot of modern american superhero stories, it does not seek to sort of ground the hero into the constraints of our reality. The touches of realism are there so as to enhance the story and the world while still being fantasy. Godai gets hurt constantly and as well Commander Ichijo has a doctor looking after him and monitoring the belt via x-rays of Godais abdomen. Godais loved ones are extremely affected by his decision to do this and worry that he will die, change, or end up broken hearted as a result.

I certainally hope we haven't seen the last of the Kamen Rider shows that operate in the style of classics like the orginal or Kamen Rider Black. I do think that this is a different flavor of Rider that works very well.

While it may be obvious that Kuugas variant forms are there for toyetic reasons, Kamen Rider Kuuga successfully generates them as a outgrowth of the story. They feel very natural. (Something the Rider series that followed Kuuga would not be as good or anywhere near as subtle at.) To say that the forms "look cool" would be an exercise in understatement.

The acting in the show is excellent. Ogadari Joe who plays Godai Yuuske has *exactly* what this character needed to be likable, heroic, and endearing on screen. Sincerity and a perfect sense of comedic timing in so much as one can utilize it in what is essentially a drama. Ogadari Joe makes Godai Yuuske the kind of lovable yet heoric schlub that he should be.

I dont know the names of the other actors as I'm an american whos watching the shows raw and picking up the story through the occasional internet summary and careful observation. The actor who plays Commander Ichijo has a presence that resonates in any language and whos portrayl of a police officer would blow those Law and Order guys right out of the precinct. Equally good performances by the actress who plays Sawatari Sakurako who while very attractive and femine is at no point just "the girl" or "the empowered chick". Kudos also to the man who plays Oya-san the propretor of PorePore restraunt where Godai Yuuske works and lives on the above floor. This guy is living proof that you can have a character whos primary function is comic relief if you make him actually *funny* and charming and not something the story grinds to a halt for.

My Opinion

I love Kamen Rider and more to the point I really love this version of him both on a story and of course on a astetic level. I could watch Kuuga kicking butt in any of his forms all day! But what really made me fall in love with the show is the character of Godai Yuuske. I like this guy alot and I want to cheer for him! I want to find out what ultimately happens to him and his freinds. I have no doubt that you will to.

Cho Henshin! Kamen Rider Kuuga!

Matt Linkous