That sort of thing is more down to the director, producer, and designers of the show.

I think the reason Shimoyama was hired this year is because of his mentality on Ninninger. He didn't really plot things out in a linear fashion like most writers tend to. He used a sort of "choose your own adventure" style branching formula so he could have different options based on real world factors like filming conditions and stuff.

If Shirakura and Takebe take a more active role than a producer typically does, they probably picked him because he'll be able to pop out decent dialogue based on what they want him to do, but overall, I don't think he'll inform a lot of the creative process in this show.

Re-posting/Re-editing what I think of Shimoyama writing Zi-O

"Assuming that Zi-O goes the Decade/Gokaiger route where it has a lot of miniature arcs/episodes dedicated as tributes to past riders, I think Shimoyama would be fine since that sort of episodic, one and done style storytelling is something he seems to be good at."

Y'know, I know it's not at all going to happen, but I really, really hope that the "Riders of the Future" will somehow involve the future Kamen Rider Aqua and Kamen Rider Ghost (the one from the future).

Shimoyama is great at humor and interesting character stuff. Ninninger as a whole is severely lacking, yes, but the guy has also written some pretty stellar stand-alone Ninninger, Zyuohger, and Kyuranger episodes.

He's a solid writer, he's just not great at long-term storytelling. With Shirakura and Takebe involved, I think Shimoyama will be able to exercise his strengths while relying on them to compensate for his weaknesses.

I'd love a Kurenai Masao/Neo-Fangire episode!

That too! I knew I was forgetting something!

Also, something that does scare me a little, The belt looks big. Quite so. Hopefully it'll be more like the Ghost driver and not stick out as much as it looks.

The new scans explain why the lack of any suit/filming leaks. Time travel to the far past would suggest closed sound stages.

Still all looks really promising and fun so far.

With the actor around, the Neo-Fangire thing with Kurenai Masao sounds like a neat idea. Can't say I expect them to do so though.
If nothing else, it'd be a cute little bookend if he stuck around to lead into Zi-O in a similar way to how Wataru's actor lead into Decade in the first episode.

So all the rumours about Zi-O being female are probably not right, but did anyone notice how the synopsis revealed today mentioned a girl comming from the same time Gates is supposed to be from?
Probably nothing, but thought I should through it out there

Zi-O scans:

http://www.tokunation.com/attachment...1&d=1532647267

http://www.tokunation.com/attachment...1&d=1532647267

http://www.tokunation.com/attachment...1&d=1532647267

http://www.tokunation.com/attachment...1&d=1532647375