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10-28-2020, 11:25 AM | #1 |
Dai Shogun
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Germany
Posts: 7,520
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Celebrating the announcement of the new S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider Black figure, Tamashii Nations sat down with Masato Hayase for an interview, a student and assistant of Shotaro Ishinomori, who after Ishinomori's death in 1998 participated in the revival of Kamen Rider for the Heisei era. He was a material manager on Kuuga and later in charge of character design and supervision with Agito, and has since had a hand in design for subsequent Riders.
Some very interesting points are brought forth in this interview, but the one I want to highlight, because it interests me the most, is: How the "Remodeled Human" disappeared from Kamen Rider. As we know, during the Showa era almost every Rider was a "Kaizō Ningen", a "Remodeled Human" or for a term more often used, a Cyborg. Kidnapped by an evil organization, operated on against their wills, turned into a tool for world domination. Our hero escapes before the final step, a brainwash, can happen and now uses the newfound powers against their creators to save the world. Such a setting became a staple for the Showa era, with some twists added here and there. With V3, it was the Kamen Riders themselves who operated on the new Rider V3, Amazon was a result of ancient Incan science and magic, Stronger willingly turned to the evil organization to be altered on purpose. While the origins differed a key factor stayed the same: Sooner or later the Rider faced the grim realization that they were no longer human. The burden of living among those who looked the same, knowing oneself was forever different; having become something others might fear or call a monster. This trend ultimately ended after Kamen Rider Black, a chosen "Century King" formed into a fighting machine by the evil Golgom cult to serve as their potential future ruler. With the damn of Kamen Rider's Heisei era and its first show, Kamen Rider Kuuga, a new hero fought against evil, given power by a mysterious belt that integrated itself into the users body. More new heroes emerged after, their transformations were now triggered by a hidden power within them and/or the use of special belts that carried their suits. Why did this change occur? The answer can be found in this interview and surprised me, because I never even thought about it this way. Masato Hayase explains: Quote:
This is because medical technology has progressed immensely over time and artificial organ transplantation had become commonplace.
However, such artificial organs are just substitutes. While they can save patients, they do not grant one the superpowers of the Riders, on the contrary, some people might be suffering for the rest of their lives. Therefore, I had to omit the setting of a modified human. At first, I was afraid that the heroes would lose their "Rider-ness", but I couldn't make a hero show that could potentially promote discrimination. So the reason this hero origin was phased out is because the fiction of humans being operated on and provided with artificial organs became reality, and it was decided to not use this fate in a tragic way to avoid discrimination of a growing number of people who had to undergo these procedures. Just an interesting point to think about, especially for someone like me who likes this trope and wants to see it back all the time. Now I am actually not so sure if I still do. I think the decision made was right, although I think the message could’ve been altered slightly. If such procedures become commonplace, wouldn’t it be important to show that someone could have them and still be a hero? Or is the message send to children inappropriate, especially to those who are sick and do not gain superpowers after their operations? |
10-28-2020, 11:40 AM | #2 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,386
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Dang, that IS a really interesting way to look at it, and an angle I never really considered. I suppose the closest we'll ever get to such a thing now would be if there were a lead Rider who was just out and out a robot. Or has that already been done? Either way, it's a shame it'll likely never happen again, but I can see why.
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10-28-2020, 12:03 PM | #3 |
Avi by @CSarracenian
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 4,186
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Ooooh I heard someone speculate on this angle before, surprised to see that's the real reason after all
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10-28-2020, 12:06 PM | #4 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
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I really like that this is what they had in mind!! Very sweet.
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10-28-2020, 03:34 PM | #5 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
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Quote:
Just an interesting point to think about, especially for someone like me who likes this trope and wants to see it back all the time. Now I am actually not so sure if I still do. I think the decision made was right, although I think the message could’ve been altered slightly. If such procedures become commonplace, wouldn’t it be important to show that someone could have them and still be a hero? Or is the message send to children inappropriate, especially to those who are sick and do not gain superpowers after their operations?
The desire to avoid any unfortunate implications on Toei's part was super admirable and considerate, but even beyond that, I think something about the simple truth that elaborate surgery and artificial body parts are no longer fantastical elements really struck me the first time I heard this anecdote. So not only would refusing to make the change they did have risked making light of a serious issue, it straight up wouldn't carry the same weight it did back in the day regardless. The more thought I put into it, the less reasons I found to want to see the old formula back. I also realized with some thought that the important core of that Rider formula, the part I actually care about, which is them as heroes who were created to be tools of the villains, is still very much a part of the franchise. Ryuki, Wizard, Gaim, Build in particular... it's not a constant anymore (which keeps things more varied!), but it's very apparent to me Toei knows when not to discard a trope as much as they maybe know when it's time to let go. Anyway, yeah, thanks for bringing attention to this Kiwami; it's a pretty fascinating thing every Rider fan should hear about.
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10-28-2020, 04:17 PM | #6 |
Dai Shogun
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Germany
Posts: 7,520
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Forgot to mention - the trope is dead but Cyborg Riders aren't. We actually had a Rider who was "killed" and brought back with enhancements - Mad Rogue from Build. But there was no time spent on his existence as a remodeled human.
Quote:
Dang, that IS a really interesting way to look at it, and an angle I never really considered. I suppose the closest we'll ever get to such a thing now would be if there were a lead Rider who was just out and out a robot. Or has that already been done? Either way, it's a shame it'll likely never happen again, but I can see why.
Robots want to achieve what a Cyborg already lost. I agree. In a world where transplants and even robotic limbs are almost normal the tragic fate of a remodeled human doesn't really work that well anymore. |
10-28-2020, 04:46 PM | #7 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 685
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Quote:
Dang, that IS a really interesting way to look at it, and an angle I never really considered. I suppose the closest we'll ever get to such a thing now would be if there were a lead Rider who was just out and out a robot. Or has that already been done? Either way, it's a shame it'll likely never happen again, but I can see why.
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10-28-2020, 04:51 PM | #8 |
Fangirl-Type Humagear
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 703
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Yeah, as someone who also loves the "remodeled human" trope and cyborgs in general, I really respect Toei for being so considerate about that. It's a fascinating question, how the treatment of cyborgs and other altered humans in fiction both shapes and reflects our perceptions of real people who've had their bodies altered.
Like Fish Sandwich said, I am glad they keep the trope of the Rider being intended as a tool of evil or at least getting their powers from the same source as the villains, since that's another one I really love and it allows for some of the same "am I a monster?" angst. If you want to analyze it, it sends the message that being powerful doesn't automatically make you good or bad, it's how you use your power that matters. Plus it's just cool. It would be interesting to see a modern Rider series that revisited the remodeled human backstory in light of these new developments, maybe with a message that being disabled doesn't mean you can't be a hero, but it would have to be handled with care. And honestly, "we'll give you the surgery you need, but in exchange you'll have to fight for us as a Kamen Rider" would make a damn good recruiting tactic for an evil organization, or even a good-but-sketchy organization.
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10-28-2020, 05:50 PM | #9 |
Ex-Weather Three leader
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,489
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I would like to say though rebuilding humans may be phased out but the concept still did crept in during the Heisei era I think through riders like Kusaka/Kaixa, Haruto/Wizard, and the Ex-Aid riders to name a few. Kusaka had treatment so he could be Kaixa without turning into ash, Haruto pretty much suffered through an arcane ritual, and the Ex-Aid riders went through some procedure to be riders if i recall correctly.
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10-28-2020, 06:03 PM | #10 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
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Quote:
I would like to say though rebuilding humans may be phased out but the concept still did crept in during the Heisei era I think through riders like Kusaka/Kaixa, Haruto/Wizard, and the Ex-Aid riders to name a few. Kusaka had treatment so he could be Kaixa without turning into ash, Haruto pretty much suffered through an arcane ritual, and the Ex-Aid riders went through some procedure to be riders if i recall correctly.
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