A glimpse at LA comic-con Kamen Rider section
Kamen Rider and General Tokusatsu
- Thread starter Samurai8472
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Did Ryutaro Imai actually come over from Japan, or is it just a random person in the costume?If anyone wants to meet Kamen Rider Zeztz and is in L.A
Yeah, touring "hero shows" where (probably local) actors dress up in the hero costumes for the kids are a standard part of tokusatsu promotion and fan culture in Japan. It's not so different in the US, really. Didn't Jonathan Frakes get his start dressing up as Captain America for Marvel publicity events?
Incidentally, I'm a little slow, since I only just realized why Zeztz is called that. It's derived from "ZZZ" to represent sleep and snoring. The Japanese got English from the British first, so they pronounce "Z" as zetto or zett (as in Ultraman Z), approximating "zed." So the pronunciation "zetts" is basically saying "Zs," like Faiz (555, "fives," and also "phi's" like the Greek letter) and OOO ("Os") before it.
The Kamen Rider wiki confirmed my deduction, and clarified that "ze" is an alternate way of saying the number 7, derived from English word for it. So the name probably also comes from the spy angle and the James Bond/007 allusions, "Code Number Seven" and all that. And that's where we get the finisher animation with "777" changing to "ZZZ."
I also just figured out that the Zeztz Driver's transformation mantra, "Meztzamero," which the subtitles render as "Arize," is a stylization of "mezamero," meaning "Wake up!" (Which, in English, was the series tag line and a driver announcement for Kamen Rider Kiva.) I guess "Arize" is a reasonable way to convey both the meaning and the stylization, though it doesn't change the pronunciation the way the original does.
The Kamen Rider wiki confirmed my deduction, and clarified that "ze" is an alternate way of saying the number 7, derived from English word for it. So the name probably also comes from the spy angle and the James Bond/007 allusions, "Code Number Seven" and all that. And that's where we get the finisher animation with "777" changing to "ZZZ."
I also just figured out that the Zeztz Driver's transformation mantra, "Meztzamero," which the subtitles render as "Arize," is a stylization of "mezamero," meaning "Wake up!" (Which, in English, was the series tag line and a driver announcement for Kamen Rider Kiva.) I guess "Arize" is a reasonable way to convey both the meaning and the stylization, though it doesn't change the pronunciation the way the original does.
Christopher which Rider is your favorite so far?
Oh OK, I didn't realize at first this was just a meet and greet with a guy in the costume, I thought maybe they were going to be doing a panel or autographs or something with the actual actor.
More on etymology: I was wondering if "Zeztz" (spelled Zettsu in romaji) could also be a wordplay on zetsu (絶), a kanji meaning to cease, end, or sever, which is pronounced almost the same except without the double T. I guess that could be in reference to the finisher, ending the monster, but that seems too generic. Looking into Wiktionary's list of words that have zetsu in them, I found a couple meaning to faint or be knocked out, but they refer to temporary unconsciousness, so I don't think it really fits the sleep theme. And I doubt it's related to zetsubou, meaning despair, or zetsumei suru, to die, or zetsumetsu, annihilation. Those words come up in connection to monsters and villains from time to time, but they don't work for a Rider. On the other hand, souzetsu means heroic or fierce, and there are a few compounds meaning things like superb, unparalleled, transcendent. Basically zetsu is used to mean any kind of extreme or limit, positive or negative; its kanji is part of zettai, "absolute(ly)." So maybe that's the sort of thing they intended it to evoke, at least indirectly.
Zeztz Case #4: Rob, while it lasts:
We finally get main titles, which are pretty interesting. And yes, the lyrics are subtitled.
Getting the traditional wedding-themed episode out of the way early, with a mission of "Protect the VIP Bride." Except it's not a fake wedding to trap the bad guy (yet?), but a nightmare of the bride being abducted by her ex-boyfriend, and the Dreamer turning out not to be who Baku expects. Meanwhile, Baku wrestles with doubts about whether he can really cut it as an agent in the real world. That's an interesting character angle.
An interesting approach to the action, too -- Baku can use the Capsems to give himself powers without needing to transform to Zeztz, at least in the dream world. Showa-era Riders were cyborgs with superstrength, senses, etc. even in human form, but it's unusual for modern Riders to get physical power boosts from their gear without armoring up (as opposed to being able to use a weapon or device unarmored). Well, Wizard could use his magic rings with or without armor, including bodily transformations. Riders in Gaim could get energy from their Lockseeds and didn't need to eat, but they didn't get fighting powers.
It's clearer than ever that Nem is a continuous individual who's aware of "Seven" and the nature of the dreams. I've been expecting that she'd turn out to be some kind of being living in the dream world and projecting herself into everyone's minds, probably the linchpin to the whole story arc, but I thought they'd be subtler about it and just have her act like a normal dream character, someone whom Baku recognized as Nem in every dream but who didn't recognize him in return.
Meanwhile, TokuSHOUTsu has stopped doing the thing where they show the YouTube ads in a box alongside the continuing show, so I had to rewind the stream to see what I'd missed. And there were three or four breaks in just 25 minutes. It's so stupid to interrupt a show with 5-second breaks over and over. Why can't they just show a few ads at the beginning instead?
We finally get main titles, which are pretty interesting. And yes, the lyrics are subtitled.
Getting the traditional wedding-themed episode out of the way early, with a mission of "Protect the VIP Bride." Except it's not a fake wedding to trap the bad guy (yet?), but a nightmare of the bride being abducted by her ex-boyfriend, and the Dreamer turning out not to be who Baku expects. Meanwhile, Baku wrestles with doubts about whether he can really cut it as an agent in the real world. That's an interesting character angle.
An interesting approach to the action, too -- Baku can use the Capsems to give himself powers without needing to transform to Zeztz, at least in the dream world. Showa-era Riders were cyborgs with superstrength, senses, etc. even in human form, but it's unusual for modern Riders to get physical power boosts from their gear without armoring up (as opposed to being able to use a weapon or device unarmored). Well, Wizard could use his magic rings with or without armor, including bodily transformations. Riders in Gaim could get energy from their Lockseeds and didn't need to eat, but they didn't get fighting powers.
It's clearer than ever that Nem is a continuous individual who's aware of "Seven" and the nature of the dreams. I've been expecting that she'd turn out to be some kind of being living in the dream world and projecting herself into everyone's minds, probably the linchpin to the whole story arc, but I thought they'd be subtler about it and just have her act like a normal dream character, someone whom Baku recognized as Nem in every dream but who didn't recognize him in return.
Meanwhile, TokuSHOUTsu has stopped doing the thing where they show the YouTube ads in a box alongside the continuing show, so I had to rewind the stream to see what I'd missed. And there were three or four breaks in just 25 minutes. It's so stupid to interrupt a show with 5-second breaks over and over. Why can't they just show a few ads at the beginning instead?
The LA Comic-Con conference with Zeztz's producer Yanaka will be streamed today at 1:00 PM PT:
Toei handing out stickers for all the Heisei and Reiwa series with new english logos at L.A Comic Con
Zeztz opening credits. Start the examination for foreshadowing!
-Zeztz vs Dark Zeztz?
-Nemu looking solemn
-Kamen Rider meets Ultraman? lol Looks like Nox is already on Team Zeztz
Filming of the opening sequence using the virtual wall
Toei handing out stickers for all the Heisei and Reiwa series with new english logos at L.A Comic Con
Zeztz opening credits. Start the examination for foreshadowing!
-Zeztz vs Dark Zeztz?
-Nemu looking solemn
-Kamen Rider meets Ultraman? lol Looks like Nox is already on Team Zeztz
Filming of the opening sequence using the virtual wall
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Why can't American title sequence designers come up with anything as rich and intricate and stylized as Japanese shows do as a matter of course?
A few of the shots in the sequence made it a bit obvious that they were using the virtual wall, but that's okay when it's symbolic, I guess. And I assume they popped next door or wherever to use the miniature cityscape while Gozyuger wasn't using it. (I love Baku's sister's expression there.)
And out of costume, in pure white -- and on the opposite side of the Mind's Door from Nox. Nem and Nox. Connected? Opposed? Of course, Nem's name is from nemuri, to sleep, as Nox is from the Latin for night.
A few of the shots in the sequence made it a bit obvious that they were using the virtual wall, but that's okay when it's symbolic, I guess. And I assume they popped next door or wherever to use the miniature cityscape while Gozyuger wasn't using it. (I love Baku's sister's expression there.)
And out of costume, in pure white -- and on the opposite side of the Mind's Door from Nox. Nem and Nox. Connected? Opposed? Of course, Nem's name is from nemuri, to sleep, as Nox is from the Latin for night.
If we go all “inception” is Baku’s world Nem’s dream?
She dreamed for a savior to rescue her. CODE and Zeztz are all a manifestion by her
Or she sought someone pure of heart that could defeat the nightmares.
Where are Baku’s and Minami’s parents?
She dreamed for a savior to rescue her. CODE and Zeztz are all a manifestion by her
Or she sought someone pure of heart that could defeat the nightmares.
Where are Baku’s and Minami’s parents?
Oh, interesting idea. It would explain why everyone in that world dreams of her. (Shades of SSSS.GRIDMAN. Although if the hero's reality is just another layer of unreality, that reminds me of Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger.)
According to their official bios, Baku is 23 and Minami is 20, so presumably they don't live with their parents anymore. Although ironically Baku depends on Minami to provide for them, apparently. It reminds me of Kouta and Akira Kazuraba from Gaim, though the sister was the older sibling there.
Gaim's brother duo of Watermelon and Grapes were well off but I don't think we've had a Kamen Rider set of brother and brother where one brother is the bread winner while the other is aloof.
Maybe it's Japanese culture that the sister takes care of the brother when they live away from their parents
It's like Keiwa and his sister in Geats.
Or they pull a surprise twist mid season and we leave Baku's world for the REAL world/more harsh reality
-Minami has a hatred for Baku for some reason in the real world. She doesn't take care of him.
The detectives/police have different attitudes/behaviors. Maybe more jaded towards nightmares and the cases.
Baku has to set things right or maybe accept that reality isn't like the dream (Sister taking care of him, Having bad luck)
He's still Kamen Rider Zeztz but things have been turned upside down. Basically a parallel world with evil people having mustaches
Maybe it's Japanese culture that the sister takes care of the brother when they live away from their parents
It's like Keiwa and his sister in Geats.
Or they pull a surprise twist mid season and we leave Baku's world for the REAL world/more harsh reality
-Minami has a hatred for Baku for some reason in the real world. She doesn't take care of him.
The detectives/police have different attitudes/behaviors. Maybe more jaded towards nightmares and the cases.
Baku has to set things right or maybe accept that reality isn't like the dream (Sister taking care of him, Having bad luck)
He's still Kamen Rider Zeztz but things have been turned upside down. Basically a parallel world with evil people having mustaches
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In Kabuto, the adult Souji took care of his school-age adoptive sister. Though right after that in Den-O we had another big sister-little brother arrangement, though Ryotaro worked for Airi as well as living with her.
The only other brother Riders I can think of are Ikki and Daiji Igarashi in Revice. Ikki worked for the family bath house, while Daiji worked for Fenix. And of course they had a younger sister, Sakura. Everyone in the family except the mother became a Rider.
Over on the other side of the street, we've got Ultraman R/B's Minato family, where brothers Katsumi and Isami are Ultraman Rosso and Blu, eventually joined by their kid sister Asahi as Ultrawoman Grigio. They work for their father's clothing store, though.
Zeztz OP spoils at least 24 episode titles
LA Comic-Con panel
KAMEN RIDER ZEZTZ │ The Legacy and Future of the Franchise
LA Comic-Con panel
KAMEN RIDER ZEZTZ │ The Legacy and Future of the Franchise
Progress: Here's TokuSHOUTsu's on-demand YouTube playlist of the first four Zeztz episodes.
www.youtube.com
Whether and how often they'll add to this list is unclear. They announced before that they would do 5-episode marathons on demand, so putting up a playlist after 4 episodes is already a change.
Kamen Rider ZEZTZ | FULL EPISODES
Stop the Nightmare’s invasion that threatens to attack reality! Let Kamen Rider ZEZTZ’s dream mission commence! Baku Yorozu - an ordinary young man living an...
www.youtube.com
Whether and how often they'll add to this list is unclear. They announced before that they would do 5-episode marathons on demand, so putting up a playlist after 4 episodes is already a change.
its morphin time
The secrets of the Nem ( No mice this time)
news.tokunation.com
At the LA comic-con panel ZEZTZ Producer Hideaki Yanaka said that Nem's secret will be revealed in episode 6
LA Comic Con 2025 – Kamen Rider Zeztz Recap
This past weekend was Los Angeles Comic Con (LA Comic Con) and for the first time ever, Kamen Rider was officially in attendance at its own dedicated booth. With special thanks to Toei, we can share a recap of the events, including the panel with Kamen Rider Zeztz producer Hideaki Yanaka and a...
news.tokunation.com
At the LA comic-con panel ZEZTZ Producer Hideaki Yanaka said that Nem's secret will be revealed in episode 6
Glad they're not dragging it out too long. Although that's sooner than I would've expected.
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