Kamen Rider Wisp

This article is about a/an fanfictional series entry (1st) in the Kamen Rider Series.

Kamen Rider Wisp
Information
Number:	1 (Topaz Era)
Number of episodes:	49
First episode:	Genesis of a Hero!
Last episode:	TBA
Intro:	Leave Your Mark by Thai McGrath ft. FOXCHASE
Outro:	The Speed in My Soul by CG5
Original Network(s):	TV Asahi Netflix (international)
Airdate:	September 3, 2023 - August 25, 2024
Country of Origin:	Japan United States
Original Language:	Japanese English
Production
Producers:	TopazNeo Naomi Takebe Chihiro Inoue
Writers:	Ian Flynn Yuya Takahashi Nobuhiro Mouri Naruhisa Arakawa
Composers:	Jun Senoue Tomoya Ohtani Tee Lopes Go Sakabe
Companies:	Toei Company SEGA Topaz Central Man of Action Entertainment Netflix Animation companies: Netflix Animation Marza Animation Planet Toei Animation
Production Order
Next	Kamen Rider Master

For the series' main character, Wisp, see Sonic the Hedgehog.

Kamen Rider Wisp (仮面ライダーウィスプ , Kamen Raidā U~isupu^?) is a Japanese tokusatsu drama in Toei Company's Kamen Rider Series. It is the first series in the Topaz Era. The series is a crossover with another company, in this case, SEGA, and has one of its characters as the main protagonist, Sonic the Hedgehog. With this, it's the first time where Kamen Rider crosses over with another franchise, outside of Tokusatsu, in terms of a TV series.

On July 6th, 2020, it was announced that everything Kamen Rider Wisp-related would be delayed by two months, due to slow progress on the main series. After multiple delays, the series premiered on September 3, 2023 and concluded on August 25, 2024.

Production

Development

Development for the show had begun in January 2019, originally being conceived as the 50th anniversary season. The current season (at-the-time) was Kamen Rider Zi-O and many aspects and concepts were recycled from the series. The most ambitious aspect of the original show was that it was going to last for 70 episodes, being the longest show of the franchise since the original Kamen Rider. As production progressed, head producer TopazNeo felt unhappy with the series and halted the show many times, and continued work on the spin-off Kamen Rider Wisp: Civil War. Production on the spin-off eventually influenced Topaz to redo the main series and develop an original story.

Many tropes from Kamen Rider Zi-O that were recycled for Kamen Rider Wisp were written out due to the rehaul. This includes the usage of past riders and the concept of Another Riders, though it was sort-of implemented into the Badnik Riders.

Writing

In order to ensure that show's writing met the quality and expectations of both franchises, two writers were brought on with experience of each franchise: Ian Flynn (coming from his well-received writing for Sonic Frontiers and the IDW comics) and Yuya Takahashi (head writer of Kamen Rider Zero-One and Kamen Rider Geats); Topaz also joined the writing team since he created the initial draft of the story. Other writers who joined the team included Nobuhiro Mouri and Naruhisa Arakawa.

Arguably the most infamous part when it comes to the writing is the mandates from the Sonic franchise, placed on by both SEGA and Sonic Team. Flynn has extensively discussed these mandates in the past, and particularly gave up on writing Shadow the Hedgehog in the IDW comics due to how much notes and control the mandates have on the character. Topaz believed that unless the mandates were relaxed, Shadow would be completely absent from the show which would be considered "a shame" and be baffling due to almost every main character being planned to appear in the show.

Casting

During early 2021, the Sonic franchise suffered a loss when several English voice actors stepped down from the roles, including Roger Craig Smith, Colleen O'Shaughnessey and Cindy Robinson; Mike Pollock eventually confirmed himself to be reprising the role. It was assumed that almost all of the cast were going to be replaced, and as such, the opportunity was taken for the series to use a different cast and casting calls were sent out for the characters. Meanwhile, all of the Japanese voice cast was announced to reprise their roles.

However, as the year progressed, these actors announced their returns to their roles for future projects. The casting calls eventually fell silent and were ultimately cancelled, because of these returns. However, some characters are still expected to be recast since the series does not fully follow the games' canon. To add to this, various projects in 2021 and 2022 confirmed that Dave B. Mitchell, Kirk Thornton and Kyle Hebert were still involved in the franchise.

Throughout late-2022 to early-2023, the rest of the main cast were announced to be playing the roles. These include: Keith Silverstein as Vector, Matthew Mercer as Espio, Lani Minella as Rouge, Aaron LaPlante as Omega, Michelle Ruff as Cream, Erica Lindbeck as Blaze, and Pete Capella as Silver. Silverstein, Mercer, LaPlante and Lindbeck reprise their roles from Team Sonic Racing, while Minella, Capella and Ruff return to their roles for the first time since the late-2000s and early-2010s respectively. In June 2023, the same month as the official world premiere, Casey Mongillo was cast as the English voice for the show's interpretation of Rookie.

On September 5th, 2023, it was announced that the English dub of the show had indeed been halted due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. According to insider reports, 16 of the 49 episodes and just over 30% of the two movies have completed dubbing, though Netflix and SEGA stated that they aren't in a state to release these episodes until early 2024.

Plot

Sonic the Hedgehog, a video game character debuting in 1991, is celebrating his birthday on Earth. All of his friends, from his closest friends to some of his rivals have come to celebrate. Suddenly, Dr. Eggman and his Eggman Empire invade and interrupt his birthday and capture his friends. Sonic attempts to fight back, but is flung back far away. Rookie, a wolf who's a fan of the hedgehog, witnesses the event and rushes to help him.

Sonic the Hedgehog, a video game character debuting in 1991, is celebrating his birthday on Earth. All of his friends, from Planet Wisp to his closest friends, even some of his rivals, have come to celebrate. However, it's interrupted by Dr. Eggman and his Eggman Empire, who captures his friends, and Sonic is sent back far away from his home island, along with the Rookie, and Yacker.

After being ambushed by a new wave of Badniks, Rookie gives Sonic a driver and some Wisp capsules. Sonic takes up the mantle of a new rider, named Kamen Rider Wisp, to rescue his friends and must learn to adapt to his new powers.

Contradictions to the games

As the show was primarily developed before Sonic Prime's announcement and due to being a co-production with the Toei Comapny, it was confirmed by Topaz Central that the show is essentially non-canon. However, the show makes callbacks and references to past games, since it's considered to be a branch from the original canon timeline. Despite this, several elements of the show contradict established lore in the games, either for presentation purposes, or other reasons:

• Rookie, who is based from the Custom Hero from Sonic Forces, does not know Sonic the Hedgehog personally, only knowing him in passing.

Characters

Kamen Riders

TV Show

Kamen Rider Wisp	Sonic the Hedgehog
Kamen Rider Shields	Miles "Tails" Prower
Kamen Rider ???	TBA

Debatable Riders

Mecha Superior

Metal Sonic

Allies

• Yacker
• Team Heroes
  • Rookie
  • Knuckles the Echidna
• Team Dark
  • Shadow the Hedgehog
  • Rouge the Bat
  • E-123 Omega
• Team Rose
  • Amy Rose
  • Cream the Rabbit
  • Big the Cat
• Team Chaotix
  • Vector the Crocodile
  • Espio the Chameleon
  • Charmy Bee
• Team Sol
  • Silver the Hedgehog
  • Blaze the Cat

Villains

Eggman Empire

• Doctor Eggman
• Sage
• Orbot
• Cubot

Badnik Riders

Origin Crabmeat	Flicky
Rebel Caterkiller	Caterkiller
Miles Buzzers	Miles "Tails" Prower

Episodes

Main article: Kamen Rider Wisp Episodes

The episode titles for this season each contain references to various games from the franchise, either in chronological order or focusing on a character. Some titles also contain names of songs related to certain characters. The series is divided into several story arcs titled Story Arcs (編, Hen), much like a manga/anime series:

• Episode 1-14: Story Arc: Team Heroes (「チームヒーローズ」編, Chīmu Hīrōzu Hen^?): This arc introduces the main characters of the story, the formation of the initial Team Heroes and the battle against the Eggman Empire, who seeks to conquer the world by using the Wisps' Hyper-go-on energy and the Chaos Emeralds.
• Episode 15-:

1. Genesis of a Hero! (ヒーローは帰ってく!, Hīrō wa kaette ku!^?, Return of the Hero)
2. Rise of the Wisps (ライズ・オブ・ザ・ウィスプ, Raizu Obu za u~isupu^?)
3. Be Strong, Be Cool, Be Trusted! (強くて、かっこよくて、信頼されて！, Tsuyokute, Kakkoyokute, Shinrai sa rete!^?)
4. Believe in Yourself (自分を信じて, Jibun o Shinjite^?)
5. A Nature's Beauty (自然の美しさ, Shizen no Utsukushi-sa^?)
6. My Sweet Passion (あまいな情熱, Amai na Jōnetsu^?)
7. Scan, Black Sting! (スキャン、ブラックスティング！, Sukyan, Burakkusutingu^?)
8. Rival Rush! (ライバルラッシュ！, Raibaru Rasshu!^?)
9. ??? (???, ???^?)
10. ??? (???, ???^?)
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12. ??? (???, ???^?)
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Movies

1. Kamen Rider Wisp × Geats: Movie War 2023 (仮面ライダーマスター×ウィスプ MOVIE(ムービー) 大戦 2023, Kamen Raidā Masutā × U~isupu Mūbī Taisen Nisen-Nisan^?)
2. Kamen Rider Wisp Superstars (映画 仮面ライダーウィスプ スーパースター, Eiga Kamen Raidā U~isupu Sūpāsutā^?)
3. Kamen Rider Master × Wisp: Movie War 2024 (仮面ライダーマスター×ウィスプ MOVIE(ムービー) 大戦 2024, Kamen Raidā Masutā × U~isupu Mūbī Taisen Nisen-Niyon^?)
4. Kamen Rider Wisp ULTIMATE (仮面ライダーウィスプ ULTIMATE, Kamen Raidā U~isupu ULTIMATE^?)

Specials

1. Kamen Rider Wisp Spin-off (仮面ライダーウィスプ スピンオフ, Kamen Raidā U~isupu Supin'ofu^?)
   1. Knuckles and the Babylon Rogues (ナックルズとバビロン盗賊団, Nakkuruzu to Babiron Touzokudan^?)
   2. Team Sol-focused series
2. Kamen Rider Wisp: FINAL EPISODE (仮面ライダーウィスプ: 最終回, Kamen Raidā U~isupu: Saishūkai^?)
3. Kamen Rider Wisp: Civil War (仮面ライダーウィスプ：内戦, Kamen Raidā U~isupu: Naisen^?)
4. Kamen Rider Doppelgangers (仮面ライダードッペルゲンガーズ, Kamen Raidā Dopperugengāzu^?)

Cast

The series' voice cast is different to other Sonic projects, as it comprises of the current voice cast used in the games and castings that were made by fans and chosen based on their suitability. Most of the current voice cast from the games is kept, with a few exceptions.

Japanese Cast

• Sonic the Hedgehog (ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ, Sonikku za Hejjihoggu^?), Metal Sonic (メタルソニック, Metaru Sonikku^?): Jun'ichi Kanemaru (金丸 淳一, Kanemaru Jun'ichi^?)
• Rookie (ルーキー, Rūkī^?): Yū Seki (関ゆう, Seki Yū^?)
• Yacker (ヤッカー, Yakkā^?): Utako Yoshino (芳野 詩子, Yoshino Utako^?)
• Miles "Tails" Prower (マイルス・テイルス・パウアー, Mairusu "Teirusu" Pauā^?), Cheese (チーズ, Chīzu^?): Ryō Hirohashi (広橋涼, Hirohashi Ryō^?)
• Doctor Eggman (ドクター・エッグマン, Dokutā Egguman^?): Kotaro Nakamura (中村 浩太郎, Nakamura Kōtarō^?)
• Knuckles the Echidna (ナックルズ・ザ・エキドゥナ, Nakkuruzu za Ekiduna^?): Nobutoshi Canna (神奈 延年, Canna Nobutoshi^?)
• Amy Rose (エミー・ローズ, Emī Rōzu^?): Taeko Kawata (川田 妙子, Kawata Taeko^?)
• Shadow the Hedgehog (シャドウ・ザ・ヘッジホッグ, Shadō za Hejjihoggu^?): Kōji Yusa (遊佐浩二, Yusa Kōji^?)
• Rouge the Bat (ルージュ・ザ・バット, Rūju za Batto^?): Rumi Ochiai (落合るみ, Ochiai Rumi^?)
• Cream the Rabbit (クリーム・ザ・ラビット, Kurīmu za Rabitto^?): Sayaka Aoki (あおき さやか, Aoki Sayaka^?)
• Big the Cat (ビッグ・ザ・キャット, Biggu za Kyatto^?): Takashi Nagasako (長嶝 高士, Nagasako Takashi^?)
• Vector the Crocodile (ベクター・ザ・クロコダイル, Bekutā za Kurokodairu^?): Kenta Miyake (三宅 健太, Miyake Kenta^?)
• Espio the Chameleon (エスピオ・ザ・カメレオン, Esupio za Kamereon^?): Yūki Masuda (増田裕生, Masuda Yūki^?)
• Charmy Bee (チャーミー・ビー, Chāmī Bī^?): Yōko Teppōzuka (鉄炮塚 葉子, Teppōzuka Yōko^?)
• E-123 Omega (Ｅ－１２３オメガ, Ī Wan-Tsū-Surī Omega^?): Taiten Kusunoki (楠 大典, Kusunoki Taiten^?)
• Blaze the Cat (ブレイズ・ザ・キャット, Bureizu za Kyatto^?): Nao Takamori (高森奈緒, Takamori Nao^?)
• Silver the Hedgehog (シルバー・ザ・ヘッジホッグ, Shirubā za Hejjihoggu^?): Daisuke Ono (小野 大輔, Ono Daisuke^?)
• Orbot (オーボット, Ōbotto^?): Mitsuo Iwata (岩田 光央, Iwata Mitsuo^?)
• Cubot (キューボット, Kyūbotto^?): Wataru Takagi (高木 渉, Takagi Wataru^?)
• Sage (セージ, Sēji^?): Megumi Hayashibara (林原 めぐみ, Hayashibara Megumi^?)
• SpinDriver Voice: Fumihiko Tachiki (立木 文彦, Tachiki Fumihiko^?)

English Cast

• Sonic the Hedgehog: Roger Craig Smith
• Rookie: Casey Mongillo
• Yacker: Utako Yoshino (uncredited)
• Doctor Eggman: Mike Pollock
• Miles "Tails" Prower, Charmy Bee: Colleen O'Shaughnessey
• Knuckles the Echidna: Dave B. Mitchell
• Amy Rose: Cindy Robinson
• Shadow the Hedgehog, Orbot: Kirk Thornton
• Rouge the Bat: Lani Minella
• Cream the Rabbit: Michelle Ruff
• Big the Cat: Kyle Hebert
• Vector the Crocodile: Keith Silverstein
• Espio the Chameleon: Matthew Mercer
• E-123 Omega: Aaron LaPlante
• Blaze the Cat: Erica Lindbeck
• Silver the Hedgehog: Pete Capella
• Cubot: Wally Wingert
• Sage: Ryan Bartley
• Metal Sonic: TBA
• SpinDriver Voice: Roger Craig Smith
• Cheese: Ryō Hirohashi (uncredited)

Suit Actors / Motion Capture

• Sonic the Hedgehog, Kamen Rider Wisp: Eitoku (永徳, Eitoku^?)
• Rookie: Kosuke Asai (浅井宏輔, Asai Kosuke^?)
• Miles "Tails" Prower, Kamen Rider Shields: Mutsumi Igarashi (五十嵐 睦美, Igarashi Mutsumi^?)
• Metal Sonic, Badnik Riders: Yuya Nawata (縄田 雄哉, Nawata Yūya^?)
• To be announced:
  • Yuji Nakata (中田 裕士, Nakata Yūji^?)
  • Yuki Miyazawa (宮澤雪, Miyazawa Yuki^?)
  • Jiro Okamoto (岡元 次郎, Okamoto Jirō^?)
  • Hirotsugu Mori (森 博嗣, Mori Hirotsugu^?)
  • Kazuya Okada (岡田 和也, Okada Kazuya^?)
  • Jun Watanabe (渡辺 淳, Watanabe Jun^?)
  • Suzuka Usami (宇佐見 紗風, Usami Suzuka^?)
  • Kotaro Kaji (鍜治 洸太朗, Kaji Kōtarō^?)
  • Hikaru Okada (岡田 ひかる, Okada Hikaru^?)
  • Nana Hayashimoto (林本 奈々, Hayashimoto Nana^?)
  • Yugo Fujii (藤井 祐伍, Fujii Yūgo^?)
  • Danki Sakae (榮 男樹, Sakae Danki^?)
  • Takuma Komori (小森 拓真, Komori Takuma^?)
  • Yuichi Hachisuka (蜂須賀 祐一, Hachisuka Yūichi^?)
  • Yohei Fujita (藤田 洋平, Fujita Yohei^?)
  • Yasuhiko Imai (今井 靖彦, Imai Yasuhiko^?)
  • Kenya Saitou (齊藤 謙也, Saitou Kenya^?)
  • Masashi Takada (高田 将司, Takada Masashi^?)
  • Hajime Kanzaki (神前 元, Kanzaki Hajime^?)

Staff

• Directors and Producers:
  • TopazNeo - Director, Executive Producer (Topaz Central)
  • Naomi Takebe - Producer (Toei)
  • Chihiro Inoue - Producer (TV Asahi)
  • Takashi Iizuka - Sonic Series Producer, Executive Producer (SEGA)
  • Ryuta Tasaki - Secondary Co-Director
  • Takayuki Shibasaki - Secondary Co-Director
• Writers:
  • Ian Flynn - Main Writer, Story Consultant
  • TopazNeo - Original Premise (uncredited)
  • Yuya Takahashi - Secondary Writer
  • Nobuhiro Mouri - Supporting Writer
  • Naruhisa Arakawa - Supporting Writer
• Filming:
  • Hiroshi Butsuda - SFX Director
  • Hirofumi Fukuzawa - Action Director
  • Toshihiro Aramaki - VFX Director
• Music:
  • Go Sakabe - Original Score
  • Jun Senoue - Co-Lead Composer
  • Tomoya Ohtani - Score Consultant, Co-Lead Composer
  • Tee Lopes - Music Support

Music

• Theme Songs
• Insert Songs
• Character Songs
• Movie Songs
• Unknown

"Leave Your Mark"

• Type: Opening
• Lyrics: TopazNeo (full song)
• Arrangement: Thai McGrath
• Artist(s): Thai McGrath ft. FOXCHASE
• Episodes: 1-49

"The Speed in My Soul"

• Type: Ending
• Lyrics: CG5
• Arrangement: Hyper Potions
• Artist: CG5
• Episodes: 1-48

"Speed Lazer"

• Lyrics: Yoshio Nomura
• Composition: Ricky
• Arrangement: Alchemy+
• Artist: Kamen Rider Girls, RIDER CHIPS (original)
• Episodes: 2-3

"???"

• Lyrics: ???
• Composition: ???
• Arrangement: ???
• Artist: ???
• Episodes: ???

"Hear the Spirits Sing"

• Lyrics: Tyler Smyth, Julian Comeau
• Composition: Tomoya Ohtani
• Arrangement: Thai McGrath
• Artist: Thai McGrath
• Episodes: 36

"Always With You"

• Lyrics: TopazNeo (Japanese)
• Arrangement: Thai McGrath
• Artist: Thai McGrath
• Episodes: 40s

"???"

• Character: Sonic the Hedgehog
• Lyrics: ???
• Composition: ???
• Arrangement: ???
• Artist: ???
• Episodes: ???

"???"

• Character: Miles "Tails" Prower
• Lyrics: ???
• Composition: ???
• Arrangement: ???
• Artist: ???
• Episodes: ???

"Who I Am"

• Character: Shadow the Hedgehog
• Lyrics: TopazNeo (Japanese)
• Composition: Magna-Fi
• Arrangement: ???
• Artist: ???
• Episodes: ???

"???"

• Character: ???
• Lyrics: ???
• Composition: ???
• Arrangement: ???
• Artist: ???
• Episodes: ???

"TBA"

• Lyrics: ???
• Composition: ???
• Arrangement: ???
• Artist: ???
• Film: Kamen Rider Wisp × Geats: Movie War Smash with Legend Riders

"Origins"

• Lyrics: TopazNeo
• Composition: Ian Tsuchira (credited as Hyper Potions)
• Artist: The Sonic Superstars
• Film: Kamen Rider Wisp Superstars

"S.O.S. ~2.023k ver.~"

• Lyrics: TopazNeo (English lyrics)
• Composition: MONKEY MAJIK
• Arrangement: Shota Nakama, Falk Au Yeung
• Artist: MONKEY MAJIK
• Appearances: TBA

Release

Broadcast

• The first two episodes was released worldwide as a one-hour special on June 23, 2023 on the official Sonic the Hedgehog YouTube channel, albeit with only English subtitles.
• Kamen Rider Wisp premiered in Japan on September 3, 2023 on TV Asahi. Each episode airs Sunday mornings on 9:00 AM JST as part of the Super Hero Time program block.

Trivia

• This is the first Kamen Rider series of the Topaz Era.
• This marks the first Kamen Rider where pre-established characters (mainly from video games and anime) serve as the main protagonists.
• This is the first series not to be the main focus of their own Movie War since its inception. However, Kamen Rider × Super Smash Bros. can be considered as one, albeit very loosely.
• This marks the first appearance of several characters outside the comics, mainly due to Ken Penders' legal cases. However, this only applies to characters created by Ian Flynn and Evan Stanley.
• This series replaces Kamen Rider Gotchard as the successor to Kamen Rider Geats. However, several actors and actresses of the show appear in Kamen Rider Wisp (as well as its movies and specials) as different characters.

Navigation

Kamen Rider Wisp
Kamen Riders
Sonic the Hedgehog - Shadow the Hedgehog - Blaze the Cat - Miles "Tails" Prower - Rookie
Movie-Exclusive: Kamen Rider Mania (Mighty the Armadillo & Ray the Flying Squirrel)
Gears
Transformation Gear
SpinDriver - EmeraldDriver - Wispon Gun - Hero Slots
Collectible Devices
Wisp Capsules - Chaos Emeralds - Sol Emeralds - Shield Monitors
Weapons
Wispon
Others
TBA
Allies
Knuckles the Echidna - Amy Rose - Cream the Rabbit & Cheese - Silver the Hedgehog - Rouge the Bat - E-123 Omega - Vector the Crocodile - Espio the Chameleon - Charmy Bee - Yacker
Eggman Empire
Leader: Doctor Eggman
Generals: Metal Sonic - Orbot - Cubot - Sage
Badnik Riders
Origin Crabmeat - Miles Buzzers