Kamen Rider Zi-O

Plot

Sougo Tokiwa is a high school senior with a grand ambition: to become a king. His life changes when he meets Tsukuyomi, a girl from 2068 who tells him he is fated to become Ohma Zi-O, a cruel ruler known as the Overlord of Time. Troubled by this prophecy, Sougo still becomes Kamen Rider Zi-O to defend history from the Time Jackers, who are meddling with the past of the Heisei-era Kamen Riders.

He gets help from Geiz Myokoin, a fighter from the future who becomes Kamen Rider Geiz and initially wants to kill Sougo to stop his rise to power, and Woz, a prophet who encourages Sougo’s path to becoming Ohma Zi-O and later transforms into Kamen Rider Woz. Throughout their journey, Sougo and his friends meet past Kamen Riders, gain their trust, and borrow their abilities. After finishing high school, Sougo discovers that Swartz, the Time Jacker leader, is Tsukuyomi’s brother.

Swartz has been manipulating everyone to merge all Kamen Rider worlds into one, planning to destroy that single world to save his own. Sougo and his allies cannot stop Swartz until Sougo accepts his destiny as Ohma Zi-O and defeats him. Instead of ruling as predicted, Sougo gives up his powers to undo Swartz’s destruction, creating a new reality where he lives peacefully with Geiz, Tsukuyomi, and the surviving Time Jackers.

Episodes

As the series pays tribute to the Heisei-era Kamen Rider productions, each tribute episode title includes a short phrase referencing a specific Heisei Kamen Rider series along with a year associated with it. The involvement of Zi-O's predecessor, Kamen Rider Decade, gradually becomes more prominent throughout the show. An asterisk (*) denotes episodes where his appearance, or that of his ally Kamen Rider Diend, coincides with another Rider's tribute episode. The series is divided into four narrative arcs: Birth of Zi-O (1–16) introduces the main characters and overarching plot while paying tribute to Kamen Rider Build, Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, Kamen Rider Fourze, Faiz, Kamen Rider Wizard, Kamen Rider OOO, Kamen Rider Gaim, and Kamen Rider Ghost.

Ohma's Day (17–30) centers on White Woz, who seeks to create Geiz Revive using the powers of three future Riders, while building toward the prophesied Ohma's Day. This arc also includes tributes to Kamen Rider Ryuki and Kamen Rider Blade, and explores Sougo's past. Road to the King (31–40) focuses on Tsukuyomi's past as she regains her memories. It features tributes to Kamen Rider Agito, Kamen Rider Hibiki, Kamen Rider Kiva, Kamen Rider Kabuto, and Kamen Rider Den-O. The New Lord (41–49) reveals Swartz's true plan and depicts Sougo's transformation into Ohma Zi-O. This arc includes tributes to Kamen Rider Drive and film-exclusive Riders.

Films

Kamen Rider Zi-O first appeared in a cameo in Kamen Rider Build the Movie: Be the One. Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Forever was released on December 22, 2018, as part of the Movie War series. It featured the casts of Kamen Rider Zi-O, Kamen Rider Build, and Kamen Rider Den-O. Actor Shunsuke Daitō portrayed the main antagonist, the Super Time Jacker Tid, while Kenichi Takitō provided the voice of the Imagin Futaros. In addition to the Build cast, several former Kamen Rider actors returned, including Toshiki Kashu (Kamen Rider Agito), Takamasa Suga (Kamen Rider Ryuki), Masahiro Inoue (Kamen Rider Decade), and Shun Nishime (Kamen Rider Ghost), who reprised their roles vocally.

Over Quartzer

Takeru Satoh (Kamen Rider Den-O) reprised his role as Ryotaro Nogami in person. The film serves as a shared tribute to Kamen Rider Kuuga, Kamen Rider Den-O, and Kamen Rider W. Kamen Rider Zi-O the Movie: Over Quartzer was released on July 26, 2019, as a double feature with Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger the Movie: Time Slip! Dinosaur Panic. The film featured Japanese boy band Da Pump as the Quartzers, the main antagonists. Da Pump vocalist ISSA portrayed Kamen Rider Barlckxs, while choreographer Papaya Suzuki (Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger) and actor Syuusuke Saito portrayed Kamen Riders Zonjis and Zamonas, respectively.

Additionally, Kamen Rider Drive actors Yu Inaba and Chris Peppler reprised their roles. The film serves as a shared tribute to Kamen Rider Drive, the Heisei-era Kamen Rider productions with Showa-era themes (Black RX, Shin, ZO, J, and Amazons), and the entire Heisei Kamen Rider Series. It also introduced Kamen Rider Zero-One, the first Rider of the Reiwa period.

Reiwa The First Generation

The film takes place after episode 43 and provides an alternate ending to the series. Kamen Rider Reiwa The First Generation was released on December 21, 2019, featuring the casts of Kamen Rider Zi-O and Kamen Rider Zero-One. The film serves as a shared tribute to Kamen Rider Zero-One, the original Kamen Rider, and the entire Heisei Kamen Rider Series. Its events take place after the conclusion of the television series.

Special episodes

Kamen Rider Zi-O: Supplementary Plan is a web-exclusive series released on the Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club. Each episode was made available the day after the corresponding broadcast of the main series. Rider Time: Kamen Rider Shinobi was released on the Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on March 31, 2019. Written by Kaori Kaneko and directed by Takayuki Shibasaki.

The theme song is 'IZANAGI', performed by Sakuramen feat. Hideya Tawada. Rider Time: Kamen Rider Ryuki was released on Video Pass on March 31, 2019. Written by Toshiki Inoue and directed by Takayuki Shibasaki.

The theme song is 'Go! Now! ~Alive A life neo~', performed by Rica Matsumoto. Kamen Rider Zi-O vs. Decade: 7 of Zi-Os! was released on Telasa on February 9, 2021. Written by Toshiki Inoue and directed by Satoshi Morota.

Kamen Rider Decade vs. Zi-O: The Decade House Death Game

The theme song is 'INSIDE-OUT ZI-O ver.', performed by So Okuno and Masahiro Inoue. Kamen Rider Decade vs. Zi-O: The Decade House Death Game was released on the Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on February 9, 2021. Written by Toshiki Inoue and directed by Satoshi Morota. The theme song is 'INSIDE-OUT DECADE ver.', performed by Masahiro Inoue and So Okuno.

Kamen Rider Zi-O Next Time

Kamen Rider Bi Bi Bi no Bibill Geiz is the Televi-Kun for Kamen Rider Zi-O. The events of this special take place prior to episode 45. Kamen Rider Zi-O Next Time: Geiz, Majesty is a V-Cinema release that serves as a side story focusing on Geiz Myokoin. The events of the film take place after the conclusion of the television series and Kamen Rider Reiwa: The First Generation.

The V-Cinema was written by Nobuhiro Mouri and directed by Satoshi Morota. It was released on April 22, 2020. Kimito Totani (Kamen Rider Decade), Kōhei Murakami (Kamen Rider 555), Minehiro Kinomoto (Kamen Rider W), and Hiroaki Iwanaga (Kamen Rider OOO) reprised their respective roles. The theme song is 'Brand New Day,' performed by Triplane.

Did You Know?

• The trademark for Kamen Rider Zi-O was registered by Toei on April 12, 2018.
• Sougo Tokiwa was born in the year 2000.
• The V-Cinema Kamen Rider Zi-O Next Time: Geiz, Majesty was released on April 22, 2020.