Yeah...I think I'm just going to skip over how accidentally (I hope) misogynistic that post is, despite how much it upset me to read, and just focus on Zi-O themself.
Although I love the term 'whatever the reverse of resonating is', I have to say.

I think a female main rider would be fantastic. As a girl who enjoys Kamen Rider, I'd love to be able to identify more fully with the main character for once (well, to an extent. The chances of us getting a female main rider are very small - the chances of one being both a girl and a lesbian are less likely than Putin and Trump stepping down at the same time. Annuga's not the only LGBT girl on this board, damn it! *shakes fist dramatically at Toei*).
On the other hand, I'm not certain the 20th Anniversary would be the best time. Like...? I don't know, it'd feel a bit weird to have the last Heisei Rider be a girl when the previous nineteen were male. The first Rider of the next era may fit a bit better - especially if Zi-O will only last until the abdication - but honestly, I'll just be happy if Kamen Rider's still here in another ten years - a female Main Rider would just be a nice little cherry on top.

Speaking of, though, I do wonder if that wrist brace really is his transformation trinket? The last non-belt-using Main Rider was Hibiki...and that was a decidedly un-Kamen Rider show, aesthetic-wise. Zi-O looks far more traditional, so it'll be interesting to see how things go there.

Now that I have processed the fact that the next rider is a WALKING TALKING AND FIGHTING ROLEX, my first impressions:

IT'S AWESOME. I love it. The ラ イ ダー on the suit's face is not that much of an eyesore and I love how creative the design team got with this suit. With that said so far only question I have is will the actual suit's paint job have a plated finish or metallic finish for the silver parts.

Kamen Rider Seiko

Naw, I'mma stick with Rolex. But if we are gonna go Japanese watches regarding watch references I will go CASIO.

Your signature is most excellent, sir.

Why thank you so much. *bows* :lolol

With Zi-O apparently teaming up with a bunch of other riders, it'll be a crime if they never get to fight Chronus. Analog vs Digital baby!

Sorry, wasn't trying to upset anyone. I don't think a guy saying he relates to the male perspective and doesn't identify as a female is misogynistic though, not at all. But I'm going to shut up because I'm not trying to cause trouble.

I think you may be seeing what you want to see there though, sorry if it upset you however as that was not my intention. I like this forum and don't want to upset anyone, I like coming here and talking about this stuff.

Some of the posts I read got me thinking and I probably should've kept my thoughts to myself.

Anyway, new Rider looks cool.

Wow for an anniversary season Zi-O looks nice. I see a little bit of other riders suit in him like the faiz finger tips and the wizard coat.

I don't see this rider being a female just because the suit has pink. Toei is not gonna go out with a bang for the final Hensei rider as a woman being the main rider. Zi-O HAS to be a male to sell the toys that's just how it works. I could see the second or third rider being female that can happen that way she sell less toys and won't hurt toy sales.

I'm trying to figure out the gimmick. Will the armor turn into like a rolled-up watch like you see on display? Or will it match more like the rumor drawing and look like a bust/chess piece.

So I just realized people thinking Zi-O is a female comes from this:

https://i.imgur.com/oJJ2vaa.png

Which people are giving credence to because the person called Zi-O having "Rider" spelled out on their face. The way it's worded sounds more like one of the original ideas for the show was to have a female but that clearly changed. The same poster earlier said another idea involved Rider personalities being switched into different bodies. (so you'd have Takumi acting like Takeru or whatever)

Takumi? You mean Seiji Takeiwa? Honestly I think he should retire soon and it's getting clear he's getting out of shape but if Zi-O's going to transform using stuff with previous Riders, I guess it'd only really be fitting for Takeiwa to do it, he's been the main Rider since Agito

I think he (she??) looks kind of cool but the katakana eyes make it look like he's permanently looking off to the side at something.

I think what Aoi was trying to say was Takumi as in Faiz. So the character Takumi Inui aka Kamen Rider Faiz being body-swapped with Takeru Tenkuuji aka Kamen Rider Ghost(correct me if I am wrong Aoi).

As for Mr. Takaiwa the suit actor, yeah, I guess maybe a few more years and then pass the torch for lead rider role to maybe some of his suit actor juniors at JAE such as Jun Watanabe who we know as the suit actor for Magical Girl Beast or Kamen Rider Rogue. Takaiwa I think in the future has a few options to go to the way I see it. Either go the same route as Fukuzawa who has been suit acting mostly for sentai shows only to move on as action director, or go the same route as Okamoto and continue to suit act but maybe as non-lead yet crucial roles. Actually, now that I think about it I kinda wanna see him suit act as a big time villain character such as Evolt, etc.

That's a pretty cool design considering it's based on a watch.

My two cents: Would love a Lady Rider. Like others, I'm betting that, if anything out of the ordinary (doubtful), Zi-O is a Kid Rider.
I think, when you focus on the fact that Rider is a tool to sell merchandise as it's primary function, the PreCure argument becomes pretty compelling. When marketing a henshin concept to the girl's toy market, Toei have it covered; Kamen Rider is marketed toward boys. And both demographics are, by and large, fine with this. They're not... sophisticated... adults... like... us?

If ZI-O is meeting past Riders, I really hope they get the actual casts back to reprise their roles and not go the "alt universe with nobodies playing fake versions of past characters" route that Decade did. Even just having the costumes without the actors would be better than that.

I love how Kamen Rider can make A WATCH into an awesome super hero suit! Seriously, this suit is just fantastic looking from that one picture, I can't wait to see the actual thing.

Quite a lot of intriguing rumors flying around too. The idea of a more comedic and 4th wall breaking anniversary season could be pretty fun. Sometimes "humor"-oriented tokusatsu doesn't work for me, but I think this is one concept I could love if done right. The female main rider rumor seems unlikely, but I would personally be quite happy if it turned out to be true. I could TOTALLY see them doing some kind of Samus Aran reveal near the end that Zi-O was actually a woman the whole time though! Regardless, I'm looking forward to this show, although I might need to watch the last handful of Heisei shows I haven't seen before I start on it.

It would be cool if our main rider was female, but I kinda doubt it. Kamen Rider is pretty much a Shonen series since it is aim to young boys. I doubt many of them would be up for a female rider as the main character.

There are also rumors that Zi-O is going to end early and have three overarching movies, since Emperor Heisei abdicates around April/May.

I mean, I'd be okay with a short series. But I don't see any reason why TOEI should break up the schedule they have now.

The same thing happen with Decade in 2009. We had a short series with Decade and having W later that year which kick off the 2010 Rider series.

Yes, but TOEI's toy release schedule is nigh perfect right now. I personally think a half-series would mess it up.

Would a crossover series even be worth it? The movies have been bringing all the Riders together like it's nothing for a while now, and every belt since DoubleW has had rider versions of its macguffins.

Same person who said Zi-O would have "Rider" on his face also said the next series would be 65 episodes to compensate.

Yeah, there's straight up no reason for Rider to change schedules. The abdication of the emperor shouldn't really matter, and the reason Decade was as short as it was was so that Sentai and Rider wouldn't premier a line at the same time. That way, they don't interfere with each others' premier and toy sales can be maximised. They're not gonna change episode and toy schedules just to be neater when this is working out for them.

65 episodes is WAY TOO MANY. Whatever the next season is will have to be amazing, if true.

Yeah, but a 34-38 episode series to cap off Heisei in exchange for a 65 episode initial series for the next era? Yeah, I'm calling this rumor fake.

65 episodes is an extra 17-20 episodes. And with how most Rider shows peter out near the end, that would be catastrophic, lest the writing and gimmick be masterful.

No reason to go for a shorter series just to end at the same time as Emperor Heisei's abdication, nor no reason to screw up toy scheduling.

I hope Zi-O series will have 49 episodes just like most of Kamen Rider Series......

:rolleyes

I've been stalking around for too long lol.

I strongly believe that this will be about time travel.

Anyone noticed the watch crown on his right shoulder and his left ear and the metal watch straps that forms from his chest towards his head?

His antennas are the watch crowns and his face is full of the time lines.

Most likely we'll see the antennas spin a few rounds before hitting the 10:10 mark during his henshin.

I hope this rider goes back in time and fixes all the bad endings of other rider shows, like Decade. Also, I hope he goes back in time to save Burgermon.

I've actually run the numbers....

If the rumors are true, and the series after Zi-O is truly 65 episodes.

That series, assuming it starts on September 2nd of 2019... will go on until December 6th of 2020.

Nearly a full year.

I feel that Zi-O's supposed short run would not only ruin sales, but the next series would induce a bit of boredom if the writing isn't up to snuff. We know how much Kamen Rider shows falter in the middle/end portions. Besides, what actor wants to work on the same show for nearly a year- let alone a children's show?

And furthermore, if the next series is 65 episodes, who's to say kids won't get bored and merch sales will tank?

Just saw the design now. He kinda resemble an old clock themed design of mine
http://www.tokunation.com/showthread.php?t=67756&page=3

Except mine is based on an alarm clock

It would end around September/October of 2020. The 65 episode follow up is assuming Zi-O runs around 31 episodes. The person who dropped these leaks says it's because they want both shows to be a celebration - Zi-O as the celebration of the end of Rider's most successful era and the next show as a celebration of the new era.

It wouldn't even be the first Kamen Rider show to run more than a year - the original Rider series was 98 episodes. The most recent show that went a lot longer than a year was Ultraman Cosmos, which ran for 65 episodes in celebration of Eiji Tsuburaya's 100th birthday.

Firstly, thanks for correcting my numbers.

Secondly, I still believe that the episode count and series air dates would mess with TOEI's merchandise schedule. I'm not so sure they'd want that.

And thirdly, yes, while the original KR and Ultraman Cosmos ran for 65+ episodes, Cosmos aired from 2001-2002 and KR for 98 episodes from 1971-1973. Times are different now and I think 45 episodes works well enough for a KR show.

I'm guessing you're referring to Rider's toy release synergy with Super Sentai?

Who knows? Maybe they'll do something similar with Sentai to accommodate Rider's adjusted release schedule. Anything is possible, considering the exact same companies are involved with both.

I'm just gonna drop in on this conversation to add my two cents about Zi-Oh possibly being a female...

A lot of you are saying this is not the right time being an anniversary series and all, but I completely disagree. Now is the PERFECT time to experiment. Think about it - even if the main Zi-Oh toys don't sell too well, they still have 20 years of Heisei Rider to bank off of. They can re-release belts like they did when Decade was airing. They can make new collectibles based on existing Riders and sell those at a premium. They can make new forms, new figures, new toys to complement old ones. It'll not only attract kids, but audiences that grew up with Rider in one form or the other.

This will carry on into the show too. People will be watching this series primarily for the anniversary elements. Same thing happened with Decade back in 2009 - I believe one of the Agito episodes hit like a 12% viewership rating which was completely unprecedented! -and most of the extended viewership for that show were there to see the Rider's they grew up with in action again. Now we have another generation of kids to join us mid 20-30 year old's in the celebration. Kids who may not identify with the lead will undoubtedly find someone else to root for in the form of the many male heroes who are reported to make a return.

And who wouldn't be able to relate to the lead in this scenario, regardless of gender? If it goes by the rumoured plot, then its about someone learning how to be a Kamen Rider. Take a blank slate - female representation in the series - and make them take a journey to be accepted as a hero worthy of the name by meeting legendary heroes. If the character turns out to be popular, Toei will know female leads are worth pursuing in the future. For people on the fence about having a female character, it could be a story that builds them up as equals in terms of representation for the series. If the character is found to be unfavorable, Toei can put the final nail in the coffin for female main characters but we'll be all the better for having been around to experience it. Either way no one really loses in this scenario, especially if it turns out to have a shorter run. People will undoubtedly watch the show regardless of the lead.

Meanwhile, an entirely new series is a lot more risky. You are looking at a year-long series with a dedicated toy-line that needs to sell on (mostly) its on merit. If the female lead doesn't work out from the start, Toei and Bandai would need to reshuffle the entire show's production. That would be a complete disaster.

Just my thoughts.

As for the Zi-Oh design itself, I am really digging it. Clock motif could have been a little more subtle though lol.

First Zi-O Scans

http://www.tokunation.com/attachment...1&d=1531292847

http://www.tokunation.com/attachment...1&d=1531292847

So we got what looks to be our secondary Rider. They can use the powers of Ghost and Drive (weirdly enough, Drive's design is based on Type Tridoron) and the main "Jioh" can turn into Build and Ex-Aid. They have giant versions of the collectible from the Rider they are turning into.

Jioh looks very feminine, especially that pose. I guess we'll see soon enough. That secondary Rider looks more in-line with what we are used to.

Very cool that the eyes change to spell out the name (in katakana) of the Rider they are changing into.

Seeing this "in action" pose - yep - LOOKS LIKE WE FINALLY GOT OURSELVES A MAIN LADY RIDER!!
I'm so excited, my niece will probably watch it with me again! (She loved Ex-Aid, Build is too dark / boy's club for her).
There's something absurd about the visors that makes me think we may actually get a comedy.
Interesting that the (not) Yokai watches are far more emphasized over the belt and that they seem to have four each.
Anyone able to read the secondary's name? I'm not great with stylized AND blurry katakana!