Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: kikaider.jp (Japan) Toei Co., Ltd. has provided information and new high-res photos from their upcoming theatrical feature KIKAIDER REBOOT (????? ??????, Kikaidaa Ribuuto). The movie will open in Japanese cinemas on Saturday, May 24th.

In 1971, Toei kicked off the "Henshin Hero" era with the start of Shotaro Ishinomori`s MASKED RIDER (??????, Kamen Raidaa) television series. The following year, Toei and Ishinomori took the concept to another level with the android hero show ROBOTMAN KIKAIDER (?????????, Jinzo Ningen Kikaidaa, 1972 – 1973). Created by robotics expert Dr. Nobuhiko Komyoji (Hajime Izu), the android Jiro (Ban Daisuke) was installed with an incomplete "conscience circuit" with a sense of both evil and justice. As the hero Kikaider, Jiro struggled with these competing feelings as he learned what it meant to be human... all while dealing with the villainous organization DARK and his android rival, Hakaider (voiced by Shozo Iizuka). ROBOTMAN KIKAIDER proved a hit with viewers, with many fans still seeing the series as the high point of Ishinomori`s heroes. The show was broadcast in Hawaii as KIKAIDER: THE ANDROID OF JUSTICE and is available on Region 1 DVD as KIKAIDA. Kikaider made the leap to the big screen with 3D MOVIE: KIKAIDER (?????????????, Tobidasu Jinzo Ningen Kikaidaa, 1973), then assisted a new android hero in the spin-off show KIKAIDER 01 (?????????, Kikaidaa Zero Wan, 1973 – 1974). His greatest foe got his own movie with 1995`s MECHANICAL VIOLATOR HAKAIDER (?????????, Jinzoo Ningen Hakaidaa), while Kikaider returned in the anime series KIKAIDER THE ANIMATION (????????? THE ANIMATION, Jinzo Ningen Kikaidaa Ji Animeeshon, 2000 – 2001) and its sequels KIKAIDER 01 THE ANIMATION (?????01 THE ANIMATION, Kikaidaa Zero Wan Ji Animeeshon, 2003) and KIKAIDER VS INAZUMAN (????????? -?????VS?????-, Gitaa o Motta Shonen -Kikaidaa vs Inazuman-, 2003). In recent years, Toei`s Henshin Hero theatrical films have featured revivals and reboots of their classic characters. Kikaider and his fellow Ishinomori creations Zubat and Inazuman had cameos in OOO, DEN-O, ALL RIDERS: LET’S GO KAMEN RIDERS (?????????????? ???????????, Oozu Den’o Ooru Raidaa: Rettsu Go Kamen Raidaa, 2011). In 2012 Toei revived its long-dormant Metal Hero franchise with KAIZOKU SENTAI GOKAIGER VS. SPACE SHERIFF GAVAN (???????????VS????????THE MOVIE, Kaizoku Sentai Gookaijaa Tai Uchuu Keiji Gyaban Za Muubii) and SPACE SHERIFF GAVAN: THE MOVIE (???????? THE MOVIE, Uchuu Keiji Gyaban Za Muubii). That same year, new versions of KYODYNE (??????????, Uchuu Tetsujin Kyodain, 1976) and IRON ROBOT 17 (?????, Daitetsujin Wan-Sebun, 1977) were featured in KAMEN RIDER FOURZE THE MOVIE (???????????THE MOVIE ??????????!, Kamen Raidaa Fooze Za Muubii Min’nade Uchuu Kitaaa!), while the AKUMAIZER-3 characters were reimagined for KAMEN RIDER X KAMEN RIDER WIZARD & FOURZE: MOVIE WARS ULTIMATUM (??????×?????? MOVIE?? ????????, Kamen Raidaa × Kamen Raidaa Uizaado Ando Fooze Muubii Taisen Arutimeitamu). It was only a matter of time before Kikaider made a significant return, and the post-credit scene of 2013`s hero team-up KAMEN RIDER X SUPER SENTAI X SPACE SHERIFF: SUPER HERO TAISEN Z (???????×???????×????????????????, Kamen Raidaa x Suupaa Sentai x Uchuu Keiji: Suupaa Hiiroo Taisen Zetto) confirmed that a new film was in the works.

As the title reveals, KIKAIDER REBOOT offers a fresh take on the story rather than a continuation of the original ROBOTMAN KIKAIDER. Toei`s publicity materials state that the film presents a completely new beginning that will recapture the charm of the TV series mixed with a contemporary theme and the latest in visual effects technology. KIKAIDER REBOOT is directed by Ten Shimoyama (SHINOBI: HEART UNDER BLADE). The film stars Jingi Irie (GOKUSEN: THE MOVIE, JINROH GAME) as Jiro/Kikaider, Aimi Satsukawa (KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR, A STORY OF YONOSUKE) as Mitsuko Komyoji, Kazushige Nagashima (YAMATO) as Dr. Nobuhiko Komyoji, Shingo Tsurumi (YAKUZA WEAPON, KAMEN RIDER FOURZE & OOO: MOVIE WAR MEGA MAX) as Gilbert Kanzaki, Maryjun Takahashi (RUROUNI KENSHIN trilogy) as Android Mari, and original KIKAIDER lead actor Ban Daisuke as Kyujiro Maeno. The movie is set in the near future, when the "ARK Project" has initiated a program to increase the quality of human life through the peaceful use of robots. Dr. Komyoji, the chief scientist on the project, has developed a process to create a robot with a figurative human "heart" through the installation of a "conscience circuit", but his plans are violently opposed by researcher Gilbert Kanzaki. When Dr. Komyoji is killed in an apparent accident, his children Masaru and Mitsuko are targeted by mysterious forces within the ARK Project looking to gain control of the scientist`s research data. But the villains are opposed by Jiro, the android with a human conscience who fights for justice as the hero Kikaider. The new Kikiader will guest star in Episode 30 of KAMEN RIDER GAIM (?????????????, Kamen Raidaa Gaimu). The episode will air on May 18, one week before KIKAIDER REBOOT begins its theatrical run in Japan.

KIKAIDER REBOOT

Japanese Release Date: Saturday, May 24, 2014 (Roadshow) Running Time: 110 Minutes Cast Jiro: Jingi Irie Mitsuko Komyoji: Aimi Satsukawa Android Mari: Maryjun Takahashi Kyujiro Maeno: Ban Daisuke Dr. Nobuhiko Komyoji: Hirotaro Honda Gilbert Kamisaki: Shingo Tsurumi Masaru Komyoji: Yuta Ikeda Ryuji Harada Ikuji Nakamura Satoshi Yamanaka Kazushige Nagashima Renji Ishibashi Staff Original Concept: Shotaro Ishinomori Director: Ten Shimoyama Writer: Kento Shimoyama Producers: Shinichiro Shinakura, Shinichiro Inoue Music: Kiyoshi Yoshikawa Action Director: Keiya Tabuchi (Gocoo) VFX Supervisor: Kazuhiko Mino (Zukun Lab) Production Company: Toei Tokyo Studios Distributor: Toei Company, Ltd. International Sales Company: Kadokawa Corporation © Ishimori ? Toei © 2014 KIKAIDER Film Partners

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About Toei Company, Ltd. Established in 1951, Toei Company is not only producing and distributing films, but it is also one of the major exhibitors in Japan. The company owns two film studios located in Tokyo and Kyoto. The films produced cover a wide range of genres, exceeding 20,000 titles.