English Dub Season Review: Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider Season One
Overview (Spoilers Below):
Tojima Tanzaburo (Patrick Seitz) has dreamt of becoming a Kamen Rider his whole life. But now that he’s 40 years old, he’s starting to think his dream may never come true…until he’s swept up in a series of crimes inspired by the infamous “Shocker”! From Air Master and 81 Diver’s Shibata Yokusaru comes a wild, heartfelt tale about adults who love Kamen Rider a little too much and start playing pretend—for real!
Our Take:
Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider is an anime adaptation of a manga series written and illustrated by Yokusaru Shibata, serving as a spinoff of the “Kamen Rider” franchise. It is directed by Takahiro Ikezoe and written by Touko Machida. It is produced by Liden Films and Toei Company, with the former known for shows such as Senyu, Love and Lies, Tokyo Revengers, and Please Put Them On, Takamine-san. Cindy H. Yamauchi designed the characters, and TeddyLoid composed the music. The opening theme song, “Wanna be”, is performed by TeddyLoid featuring Shigeru Matsuzaki and TOPHAMHAT-KYO of FAKE TYPE. The ending theme song, “One More Time!”, is performed by TeddyLoid featuring Ryoji Tokito.
We all have that one part of our childhoods where we dream of growing up to be like our favorite television heroes. While that may seem unrealistic at that time, we can’t help but dream of what life would be like if we lived in that fantasy. But what if that fantasy actually becomes the real deal? For someone who’s forty years old and single, the answer is simple: make your heroic dream come true. For those out of the blue, “Kamen Rider” is a Japanese superhero media franchise featuring a group of masked heroes with insect motifs battling villainous monsters known as “kaijin” and an enigmatic organization called Shocker. Sound familiar? You’re not the only one, as its premise makes it equivalent to the Power Rangers and Super Sentai, with the difference being the usage of vehicles instead of giant mechs. Since Kamen Rider came out before Super Sentai and Power Rangers, you can say that these shows draw inspiration from that franchise.
Amid its never-ending supply of television shows, films, manga, and anime, the franchise made time to release a unique anime adaptation that brings the Kamen Rider lore into the real world. The show, titled Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider, follows a similar formula to other Kamen Rider iterations, in which a group of masked heroes protects the world from Shocker and its monstrous combatants. The only difference is that it provides a meta approach to the concept, with Shocker infiltrating the real world, and the only heroes capable of stopping the organization are a group of Kamen Rider super fans. Consisting of twenty-four episodes, the series has its protagonist, Tojima Tanzaburo, joining forces with the other Kamen Rider fans and a couple of former Shocker combatants to prevent Shocker from building an unstoppable army.
Truth be told, Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider is actually my first exposure to the Kamen Rider franchise. I’ve only heard of it through my experience with Power Rangers, but besides that, I have never watched or read a single iteration of Kamen Rider before this anime. So, it was quite an experience being introduced to the IP through a show about grown-ass people playing pretend. This led me to answer two questions. The first question is whether longtime Kamen Rider fans would enjoy this anime. Given that it seems to capture the Kamen Rider lore to a tee, but in a real-world setting, I can definitely imagine several fans appreciating the series for its cheesiness, Easter Eggs, and action. More importantly, these elements are well combined by its meta approach, which not only evokes nostalgia but also the silliness of its reflections on fanbases. In short, Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider retains the essence of the iconic IP to satisfy its followers while making solid use of its refreshing and charmingly goofy direction. The second question is whether it serves as an appropriate introduction to the Kamen Rider franchise for newcomers and casual viewers. The answer to that question is a resounding yes. I should know, because I was one of the newcomers who surprisingly liked it more than I thought I would. Obviously, it’s for the same reasons why fans would enjoy this spinoff, such as the exaggerated tone and meta-humor. But the actual reason newcomers would feel comfortable watching it is how it introduces the aspects of Kamen Rider without over-explaining them.
The anime showcases that you don’t have to watch every Kamen Rider iteration to understand the lore, as the characters and flashbacks reflect on them more often, serving as a celebration of the franchise itself. The best part is that it doesn’t break the pace of its 24-episode structure while doing so. The episode count did seem unusually long, given its concept of adults becoming Kamen Riders, but it packs a strong punch in terms of entertainment value and comedy, preventing it from overstaying its welcome. Its fifteenth episode, involving the Spider Man (Landon McDonald) and former idol Sena Seta (Ariel Graham), was the only one that stalled the narrative a bit, notably because I didn’t care much about Sena and her obsession with ramen. Besides that, there isn’t a single dull moment when Tojima and the others express their love for Kamen Rider and punch people silly. The dub cast also appeared to be having a good time voicing their characters, with Patrick Seitz’s Tojima and Chris Hackney’s Ichiyo among the highlights.
As for the animation by Liden Films, I would say that it’s pretty decent, and it’s not just because of the detailed, stylized art design. Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider may be identified as an action-packed anime featuring grown-ups in masks fighting the Shocker organization. However, amid its flashy visuals and hard-hitting violence, the show can also be seen as a comedy, particularly for the characters’ personalities and cartoonish slapstick. No joke. The characters make some of the most outlandish facial expressions throughout the season, whether from shock, amazement, or brutal injury. When combined with the animation’s detailed aesthetics and stylized action, some of those expressions may come off as uncanny. But most of the time, they gave me a good laugh at how silly they looked compared to their normal expressions.
As someone who hasn’t watched a single Kamen Rider iteration, I wasn’t sure if Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider would appeal to me through its lore and characters. But to my surprise, this meta spinoff managed to break through my low expectations with a single Rider Punch. It serves as a worthy celebration of the franchise’s fandom regarding the characters’ love for their favorite Kamen Rider. More importantly, it uses its meta concept to revitalize the straightforward “good vs. evil” premise through stylized action, likable characters, and entertaining comedy, making it a respectable entry point for newcomers, including me. Its tone and the cartoony expressions of the characters may not impress everyone, and the season’s fifteenth episode slowed the overall plot by focusing on Sena and Spider Man. Besides that, I’d consider myself surprised that I enjoyed Tojima more than I thought I would, thanks to its solid dub cast, fun humor, and decent animation. If they decided to move forward with a second season, I would not mind reuniting with these devoted, yet crazy, super fans for another battle against Shocker.
