While the (nearly) worldwide streaming of Kamen Rider Zeztz on YouTube may be the most notable way the Kamen Rider franchise is making waves across the globe this year, it isn't the only way newcomers may be enticed into giving it a try. Among Crunchyroll's simulcast shows for the Winter 2025 season is Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider, based on the ongoing manga series of the same name by Yokusaru Shibata. Produced by Linden Films (whose work includes Cells at Work! CODE BLACK, among others) in collaboration with Toei, it poses the question surely every Rider fan has considered at least once in their lives - what if I could become Kamen Rider?
Tanzaburo Tojima has always dreamed of becoming Kamen Rider. As a child, he religiously watched his battles against Shocker on TV. As a teenager, he defeated a group of students from a rival school when they harassed a classmate. As an adult, he continued to hone his strength and skills. Sadly, Tojima also knows that Kamen Rider is just a TV show.
However when a string of robberies committed by thugs dressed like Shocker combatmen begin happening across the country, Tojima's dream of becoming his hero may come true after all. When a nearby festival is threatened, Tojima dons a children's Kamen Rider omen mask...and a new hero is born.
There is no denying that Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider is a silly series. You only have to look at scenes like teenage Tojima taking down a gang of thugs with the Rider belt drawn on his shirtless waist, the adult version throwing a bear over his shoulder or the entire climax of this episode to see that over the top humour plays a big part in this series' appeal. However it's clear from this first episode alone that this isn't going to be the only element that makes it special. Almost immediately it creates a strong sense of nostalgia, transporting the viewer back to (presumably) the early 70s as child Tojima fell in love with the series he'd base his life on. The attention to detail is immaculate - the sounds and visuals of the original 1971 series are all there, the latter now in animated form to match the rest of the show. Confirmation that Hiroshi Fujioka is reprising his role as Takeshi Hongo for this is particularly exciting, no matter what form that may take. For Japanese fans around the same age the nostalgia must be particularly poignant, but even for all of us who came later there's a sense of anemoia.
Tojima himself is the kind of character all Kamen Rider fans will relate to in one way or another. While there's obviously a level of delusion to his devotion, there's also an earnestness to way he takes on the values of the show. He's so moved by Kamen Rider's heroism that he quite literally wants to be Kamen Rider, and nothing lesser will suffice. Real strength is used for fighting evil, not getting into meaningless fights with children. He's equal parts Masayoshi Hazama from Samurai Flamenco and Saitama from One-Punch Man - inspired by his childhood heroes like the former whilst clearly adopting a similarly ridiculous training regime as the latter to become inordinately strong. That part might not be quite as relatable to most viewers, but the way he perceives his fandom as he approaches 40 years old certainly will be. The moment where he sells his Kamen Rider collection because he didn't want it to be thrown away by strangers when he died particularly struck a chord with me (even if I'm not planning to sell off my collection any time soon).
Despite the ridiculous strength Tojima displays, the story itself remains pretty grounded for the time being. Shocker haven't literally shown up nor is Tojima suddenly a cyborg, but simply having the parallels there are enough to make it work. Thugs suddenly taking up disguises from an old kids' could believably happen, as could a seemingly normal person simply donning a mask to stand up against such a crime wave. The emergence of these crimes hints to something bigger, and the end of the episode (as well as promotional material for the series) makes it clear that Tojima isn't the only one who had the idea to stand up to "Shocker" in this way, but there's a lot to love in how these relatively basic crimes are equated to Rider's never-ending fight against Shocker. Again it takes the logic of Kamen Rider and applies it to a "real world" setting. Time will tell on just how much bigger the stakes get, but that's one aspect that I hope doesn't get lost along the way.
That's enough for now in regards to the deeper aspects of the episode, because it really shouldn't be understated just how fun Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider is. Gloriously over the top, it revels in homage in a way that makes it both action-packed and downright hilarious. If the idea of a teenage Tojima single-handedly taking down a gang just because he acts like he's transformed (complete with making his own sound effects) isn't enough, it's topped off by him treating the girl he protected running away in fear from his swollen blood-soaked face the same way Hongo laments about no longer being human. The episode then beautifully builds up to the moment he finally "becomes" Kamen Rider, making the act of donning a childish mask potentially one of the most fist-pumping moments you'll see this year. Not only is the animation stunning, but equally special is the debut of the show's opening theme - "Wanna Be" by TeddyLoid featuring Shigeru Matsuzaki and TOPHAMHAT-KYO of FAKE TYPE. Fresh off another incredible soundtrack to New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, Teddyloid now breathes new life into the timeless classic that is "Let's Go!! Rider Kick". While existing fans will definitely get more of a kick out of the whole thing, it certainly doesn't act as any sort of barrier for newcomers either.
To Kamen Rider fans, Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider is going to be a must-see series that dives into and reflects upon our love of the long-running franchise. But even for anime and superhero fans in general, this premiere episode will prove extremely relatable in analysing what it means to be an adult fan of something primarily meant for children and the values you take from it - whether its something you come to later as adult or carry through from childhood. Of course, it also does this whilst being completely over the top in all the best ways. Having not read the manga I have no idea quite how crazy it's going to get, but I can't wait to find out.
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