[Kamen Rider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamen_Rider) (translated directly as Masked Rider) is a [Tokusatsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokusatsu) series from 1971 created by [Shotaro Ishinomori](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotaro_Ishinomori). Originally, the series is about a man named Hongo Takeshi who got kidnapped by an organization known as Shocker, an evil worldwide organization hellbent on world domination that was founded by the Nazi. Hongo is modified into a grasshopper-themed cyborg superhuman weapon. Before he could be brainwashed, however, Hongo manages to escape and vows to use his power to take down Shocker in a hopeless battle as the lone Kamen Rider. All of Kamen Rider’s enemies are similar cyborgs that are based on various insects, all created by Shocker.
Kamen Rider’s legacy in pop culture is very huge as it influenced various franchises that are well-known to this day, including Pokemon (various Bug-type Pokemon with kicking abilities), Dragon Ball Z (Great Saiyaman is both a Super Sentai and Kamen Rider reference), Animal Crossing’s KK Slider, Mirai Nikki, and, of course, One Punch Man’s Mumen Rider. Of course, that’s not all of them because [listing them all would mean listing down nearly every big Japanese franchise](https://kamenrider.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_references_to_Kamen_Rider_in_popular_culture). While Kamen Rider is super popular and bigger than the MCU itself in Japan, it’s a bit of a niche outside of Japan due to the existence of Power Rangers and Toei’s reluctance to produce any international content. Even though the show started back in 1971, it still gets new seasons up to this very day, and just like any other shows, it has ups and definitely has downs. Those who compare this to Power Rangers are not exactly wrong, either. Kamen Rider is owned by Toei Company, the same company that owns other big franchises such as Dragon Ball and One Piece, but the other big thing they own is [Super Sentai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Sentai); the source of Power Rangers. Super Sentai is where [Power Rangers gets its fight footage from to mix in with new American footage to create an entirely new (and usually far more child-friendly) storylines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk9ouMC7qE0).
Super Sentai is the sister show to Kamen Rider. Both are also created by Shotaro Ishinomori. One thing’s for certain; those who don’t like Power Rangers because of the cheesy acting, they can still give Kamen Rider and Super Sentai a chance because they’re completely separate shows from Power Rangers. They’re both darker and have more heart, and more dramatic storytelling. Characters can and WILL die. Happy endings are not always guaranteed. (granted, they’re still considered kid shows in Japan meant to sell toys, but that’s besides the point. You’ve seen shounen anime and how dark they are despite being marketed to young boys in Japan)
Shin Kamen Rider is Hideaki Anno’s take on bringing back Kamen Rider to its original core, the same way he made Shin Godzilla and Shin Ultraman. It’s part of a newly established franchise called Shin Japan Heroes Universe, a collaboration between “Shin” versions of well-established franchises; Godzilla (Shin Godzilla), Evangelion (Evangelion 3.0+1.0 is known as Shin Evangelion Gekijoban in Japan), Ultraman, and Kamen Rider.
[Kamen Rider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamen_Rider) (translated directly as Masked Rider) is a [Tokusatsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokusatsu) series from 1971 created by [Shotaro Ishinomori](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotaro_Ishinomori). Originally, the series is about a man named Hongo Takeshi who got kidnapped by an organization known as Shocker, an evil worldwide organization hellbent on world domination that was founded by the Nazi. Hongo is modified into a grasshopper-themed cyborg superhuman weapon. Before he could be brainwashed, however, Hongo manages to escape and vows to use his power to take down Shocker in a hopeless battle as the lone Kamen Rider. All of Kamen Rider’s enemies are similar cyborgs that are based on various insects, all created by Shocker.
Kamen Rider’s legacy in pop culture is very huge as it influenced various franchises that are well-known to this day, including Pokemon (various Bug-type Pokemon with kicking abilities), Dragon Ball Z (Great Saiyaman is both a Super Sentai and Kamen Rider reference), Animal Crossing’s KK Slider, Mirai Nikki, and, of course, One Punch Man’s Mumen Rider. Of course, that’s not all of them because [listing them all would mean listing down nearly every big Japanese franchise](https://kamenrider.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_references_to_Kamen_Rider_in_popular_culture). While Kamen Rider is super popular and bigger than the MCU itself in Japan, it’s a bit of a niche outside of Japan due to the existence of Power Rangers and Toei’s reluctance to produce any international content. Even though the show started back in 1971, it still gets new seasons up to this very day, and just like any other shows, it has ups and definitely has downs. Those who compare this to Power Rangers are not exactly wrong, either. Kamen Rider is owned by Toei Company, the same company that owns other big franchises such as Dragon Ball and One Piece, but the other big thing they own is [Super Sentai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Sentai); the source of Power Rangers. Super Sentai is where [Power Rangers gets its fight footage from to mix in with new American footage to create an entirely new (and usually far more child-friendly) storylines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk9ouMC7qE0).
Super Sentai is the sister show to Kamen Rider. Both are also created by Shotaro Ishinomori. One thing’s for certain; those who don’t like Power Rangers because of the cheesy acting, they can still give Kamen Rider and Super Sentai a chance because they’re completely separate shows from Power Rangers. They’re both darker and have more heart, and more dramatic storytelling. Characters can and WILL die. Happy endings are not always guaranteed. (granted, they’re still considered kid shows in Japan meant to sell toys, but that’s besides the point. You’ve seen shounen anime and how dark they are despite being marketed to young boys in Japan)
Fun fact: [a particular Japanese version of Spider-Man is responsible for the Megazords in Power Rangers.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY3xDkTluNg)
Shin Kamen Rider is Hideaki Anno’s take on bringing back Kamen Rider to its original core, the same way he made Shin Godzilla and Shin Ultraman. It’s part of a newly established franchise called Shin Japan Heroes Universe, a collaboration between “Shin” versions of well-established franchises; Godzilla (Shin Godzilla), Evangelion (Evangelion 3.0+1.0 is known as Shin Evangelion Gekijoban in Japan), Ultraman, and Kamen Rider.
EDIT: For those who are curious just how different Kamen Rider is from Power Rangers, [here’s an example from the show’s latest season, Kamen Rider Geats](https://twitter.com/FloofTheDanger/status/1622054450595610630?s=20&t=I_U6aLaGHwaxha8vwK_jTw).
[Here’s another example from Kamen Rider Amazons.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OS-omGL5QY)
[This video explains Kamen Rider really well](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUIAuO7ObBk&feature=youtu.be)
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[(also for your consideration)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VImph2GNqY)
Can’t wait for shin kamen rider to be in Australian cinemas