"RIDEBACK" review: A new type of action anime that combines motorcycles and dance

RIDEBACK - Detailed review and recommendation

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

January 11, 2009 - April 14, 2009

Chiba TV January 11, 2009 to March 29, 2009 (Episodes 1 to 12) Every Sunday 24:00 to 24:30

Teletama January 11, 2009 to March 29, 2009 (episodes 1 to 12) Every Sunday 25:30 to 26:00

tvk January 12, 2009 to March 30, 2009 (Episodes 1 to 12) Every Monday 25:15 to 25:45

KBS Kyoto January 12, 2009 to March 30, 2009 (Episodes 1 to 12) Every Monday 25:30 to 26:00

Sun TV January 13, 2009 to March 31, 2009 (Episodes 1 to 12) Every Tuesday 24:00 to 24:30

TOKYO MX January 14, 2009 to April 1, 2009 (Episodes 1 to 12) Every Wednesday 25:30 to 26:00

AT-X January 27, 2009 to April 14, 2009 (Episodes 1 to 12) Every Tuesday 9:30 to 10:00

■Broadcasting station

TOKYO MX, UHF, AT-X

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 12

■Original Story

Tetsuro Kasahara

■ Director

Atsushi Takahashi

■ Production

・Animation Production: Madhouse

Produced by: "Rideback" Production Committee (Madhouse, Interchannel, Geneon Entertainment)

■Works

©Tetsuro Kasahara, Shogakukan / "Rideback" Production Committee

■ Story

Following the dissolution of the United Nations and the damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, Japan lost its function as a country. Under the rule of the GGP (Global Governance Project), reconstruction is slowly progressing, and life is returning to what it was before. A girl enrolls at Musashino University. Her name is Ogata Rin. Although she has a talent for ballet, she was forced to give it up due to a torn ligament, and begins her university life with no goal in sight. There she encounters a motorbike-like humanoid robot called "Rideback." This encounter eventually draws the people, and even herself, into the vortex of a battle.

■Explanation

Ogata Rin was born as the daughter of a genius dancer and was a girl with a promising future. After giving up on her ballet career due to a leg injury, she enrolled in Musashino Comprehensive University and by chance visited the Rideback Club. There she met a humanoid robot resembling a motorcycle called Rideback. This encounter would eventually draw people, and even herself, into the vortex of battle. The original work is the manga of the same name by Kasahara Tetsuro, serialized in the monthly IKKI (Shogakukan). This will be a new story reconstructed from the original work and will unfold as "Another Rideback." This will be the directorial debut of Takahashi Atsushi. This is also the first TV animation series by Madhouse to fully utilize 3D, and it will captivate with its free-flowing mechanical action.

■Cast

・Rin Ogata/Nana Mizuki

・ Tamayo Kataoka/Romi Park

・Okakura Tenshiro/Koyama Rikiya

・ Suzuri Uchida/Megumi Matsumoto

・Shoko Uemura/Megumi Toyoguchi

・Haruki Hishida/Yuji Ueda

・Douta Kawai/Akio Suyama

Romanov Karen Burke/Miki Shinichiro

・Misao Yokoyama/Lisa Hayami

・Kiefer/Tomoyuki Morikawa

・Ryunosuke Oka/Hidenobu Kiuchi

・Megumi Yoda/Sanae Kobayashi

・Minami Kataoka/Hidekatsu Shibata

・Yuki Ogata/Mie Sonozaki

■ Main staff

・Original work: Tetsuro Kasahara

・Director: Atsushi Takahashi

Series composition and scriptwriting: Hideo Takayashiki and Ken Iizuka

・Character design and chief animation director: Satoshi Tazaki

・Art director: Kazuo Tochi

・Color design: Masaru Hashimoto

・VFX Supervisor/Michiya Kato

・CGI Director: Tomohisa Shitara

Director of photography: Hiroshi Saito

・Music by Takashi Wada

・Sound Director: Satoshi Nakajima

・CG Production: Cyclone Graphics

・Setting cooperation, preview illustrations by Tetsuro Kasahara

・Monitor design/Hirofumi Araki

・Prop design/Hiroyuki Terao

Edited by Yoshiko Kimura and Mariko Tsukato

・Video editing: Mitsuru Onishi

・Video editing studio/Q-TEC

・Music producers: Kozue Okada (ANO), Masayuki Onoue

・Music Production/Artist Management Office

・Recording adjustment: Yuji Tagami (Aoi Studio)

・Sound effects/Tomokazu Mitsui (Soundbox)

・Recording Assistant: Toshiaki Noda (Aoi Studio)

・Recording studio/Aoi Studio

・Sound Production/Techno Sound (Kyoko Shimamura)

・Music producer (opening)/Nishimura Jun

・Music assistant producers: Hiromi Suzuki (opening), Ayako Maruyama (ending)

Public relations and advertising: Fuuta Takei, Kenichi Sakurai, Takashi Iida, Teruhiko Sato

・Title logo design/Kei Kasai

・Advertising design/Norihiko Nezu (G-SQUARE)

・Official website created by Naoki Izumikawa (ViVAGRAPHICS)

・Planning cooperation: Shogakukan Character Business Center (Omura Makoto, Okamoto Junya)

・Production cooperation: Isao Ishikawa (Quoras)

・Production Manager: Shintaro Sakamoto

・Business Coordination/Hiroyuki Omori

・Production Producer: Toyoda Tomoki

Producers: Hara Fumino, Onuki Kazuo, Ueda Koyuki

Executive Producers: Jungo Maruta, Shigeki Takeuchi, Akihiro Kawamura

・Animation Production: Madhouse

Produced by: "Rideback" Production Committee (Madhouse, Interchannel, Geneon Entertainment)

■ Main Characters

・Rin Ogata

Age: 19

Her mother was a gifted ballet dancer, and she was also known as a genius, but she gave up ballet due to an injury. She started college with no goal in sight, but she showed off her exceptional riding skills on a broken Feego.

・Shoko Uemura

Age: 19

Rin's childhood friend. She studied ballet with Rin and is her biggest supporter. She watches over Rin with kindness and is also majoring in ballet at university, but is aware that she is at a different level than Rin.

・Tamayo Kataoka

Age: 22

A third-year student majoring in French Literature at Musashino Comprehensive University. As soon as she joined the Rideback Club, her tomboyish riding style instantly gained a reputation, and the following year she became the champion of the All Japan Rideback Race.

・Haruki Hishida

Age: 21

A second-year student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Musashino University. A Rideback otaku who has dedicated his youth to riding. In the Rideback Club, he is mainly in charge of mechanics.

・Okakura Tenshiro

Age: 37

There are rumors that he was once a Rideback specialist overseas, but he is a quiet man who does not want to talk much about it. He is a lecturer at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Musashino University, and an advisor to the Rideback Club.

・Suzuri Uchida

Age: 19

A first-year student in the Department of Sociology at Musashino Comprehensive University. Influenced by her mother's love of dance, she was a big fan of Rin's mother. She was so moved by Rin's performance using the Rideback that she joined the Rideback Club.

・Douta Kawai

A third-year student in the Faculty of Engineering at Musashino University. A member of the Rideback Club. He works with Hishida on the maintenance of the Rideback.

Romanoff Cullenburg

Age: 39

Colonel of the GGP Army and Vice Commander of the Public Order Preservation Force. A distinguished figure in the GGP during the time when military rule was still strong. He was active in the Arizona Campaign. He was dispatched to resolve the delay in the introduction of the White Ride Force by the Japanese government.

・Misao Yokoyama

Age: 33

A lieutenant in the GGP military and a member of the intelligence department of the Japanese military stationed in Japan. He works alongside Romanov.

Kiefer

Age: 37

A mysterious Rideback rider. Details unknown.

・Ryunosuke Kataoka

He is the older brother of Tamayo Kataoka. He is a young elite officer at the Metropolitan Police Department and does not approve of Romanov's involvement.

・Megumi Yoda

A freelance journalist, he is always on the lookout for an exclusive story and pursues the mysterious Rideback Girl.

・Kataoka Nanpu

Father of Tamayo Kataoka. Head of the largest faction in the ruling party, he has served as a minister and has a strong say in the state of affairs.

■ Main robot items

・FUEGO type L

A 350cc class mountain trail type rideback manufactured by TERYAN KADURO. FUEGO also has other variations such as Normal Type and Type R. The main rider is Ogata Rin.

・RB-Z 400

A 400cc class sports touring type rideback made by KASHIWA. Designed for high speed riding, the frame and the whole bike are shaped to reduce air resistance. The main rider is Tamayo Kataoka.

・BALON

A 200cc class mountain trail type rideback made by TERYAN KADURO. Same type as FUEGO. Rin rode it in the All Japan Rideback Championship. Later Suzuri used it for practice.

・SARU

A light trekking type rideback in the 125cc class manufactured by HONOR. It is popular among experts due to its sophisticated gimmicks and a wide variety of custom parts. The main rider is Tenshiro Okakura.

・B-KNIGHT

A 750cc sports touring rideback made by HESNER. This model uses surplus military ridebacks and boasts higher specs than regular ridebacks. It is mainly ridden by BMA soldiers.

・GRIMOIRE

An unmanned rideback manufactured by HESNER. It operates through communication from the command vehicle. It is a machine that inherits the design concept of the PRB-001R that was previously introduced in Japan, and is equipped with an advanced version of the "Killie System."

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: The Crimson Iron Horse (2009/01/11)

・Episode 2/Tamayo is the best!? SLF~Spread Legs Form(2009/01/18)

Episode 3: And the Flag is Falling (2009/01/25)

Episode 4: Shoko's Narrow Shutdown (2009/02/01)

Episode 5: The Mysterious Rideback Girl (2009/02/08)

Episode 6: Lightning Ride (2009/02/15)

Episode 7: Sin and X (2009/02/22)

Episode 8: GET RIDE! The Chosen One (2009/03/01)

・Episode 9: In the Sunny Garden (2009/03/08)

・Episode 10: Master of the war (2009/03/15)

・Episode 11: Cloudy with occasional rain...(2009/03/22)

・Episode 12: To the Stage of Light (2009/03/29)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1

・RIDEBACK

・Lyrics by MELL

・Composition: Kazuya Takase

・Arrangement/Takase Kazuya

・Song: MELL

・ED1

Memory

Lyrics: Younha, AMADORI

・Composer: Tablo

・Arrangement: Tablo

・Song: Younha feat. GOKU

■Detailed review

"Rideback" is a TV anime series that aired in 2009 and is based on the manga of the same name by Kasahara Tetsuro. The story is set in a future Japan and begins with an encounter with a motorcycle-like humanoid robot called "Rideback." The main character, Ogata Rin, is a 19-year-old college student with a talent for ballet who had to give up her dream due to an injury. The story follows her encounter with Rideback and her journey to rediscover her own potential.

The appeal of this work lies above all in its unique worldview and the growth of its characters. In the future, Japan has lost its function due to the dissolution of the United Nations and the effects of a major earthquake, but under the rule of the GGP (Global Global Policy), the country is gradually being restored. Viewers are moved by the sight of Rin meeting Rideback and finding a new goal for herself. Other highlights include the friendship between the members of the Rideback Club and the action scenes using the Rideback.

Rin's riding scenes are particularly impressive. The scene where she rides a broken Feego and shows off her exceptional riding skills has the power to draw the viewer in. Kataoka Tamayo's tomboyish riding and Hishida Haruki's talent as a mechanic also stand out. Furthermore, Okakura Tenshiro's taciturn character and the mystery hidden in his past also add depth to the story.

Madhouse, the animation studio, used 3D for the first time in this film. As a result, it was possible to realize free-flowing mechanical action, greatly enhancing the visual appeal. Director Atsushi Takahashi is a director for the first time, and you can sense his passion and new challenges. Additionally, the beautiful character designs by Satoshi Tasaki, who was in charge of character design and general animation director, also add to the appeal of the film.

Music is also an important element of this work. The opening theme "RIDEBACK" matches MELL's powerful voice with Kazuya Takase's composition, livening up the atmosphere of the work. The ending theme "Kioku" is performed by Younha and GOKU, creating a moving finale. Takashi Wada's music also stirs emotions as the story unfolds.

The cast is also impressive, with the voice actors' performances bringing out the charm of the characters, including Nana Mizuki as Ogata Rin, Romi Park as Kataoka Tamayo, and Rikiya Koyama as Okakura Tenshiro. In particular, Nana Mizuki's voice for Rin realistically expresses her growth and suffering.

"Rideback" is a sci-fi action film set in the future of Japan, but it is also a deep human drama. It is packed with various elements, such as Rin's growth, the friendship with the members of the Rideback Club, and the action scenes using the Rideback. It is visually appealing, and the music and cast are great, so it is a work that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people.

■Recommendation

"Rideback" is a work that combines sci-fi action with human drama. It is particularly appealing with its unique world view set in a future Japan and the action scenes using the motorcycle-like humanoid robot "Rideback". Other highlights include the growth of the main character Ogata Rin and the friendship he forms with the other members of the Rideback Club. It is visually appealing, with great music and a great cast, so it is recommended for both those who like sci-fi and action, and those who like human drama. Please give it a watch.