Farewell, Kamen Rider Den-O: Final Countdown

Farewell, Kamen Rider Den-O The Movie: Final Countdown (劇場版 さらば仮面ライダー電王 ファイナル・カウントダウン, Gekijōban Saraba Kamen Raidā Den'ō Fainaru Kauntodaun?) is the third film adaptation of the popular Kamen Rider Series Kamen Rider Den-O, following Kamen Rider Den-O: I'm Born! and Kamen Rider Den-O & Kiva: Climax Deka. The script was written by Yasuko Kobayashi and directed by Osamu Kaneda, both of which have worked on the previous Den-O films. Final Countdown is set for release on October 4, 2008. As of September 26, the film has sold 66,000 pre-sale tickets.[1] It opened at #2 in Japanese theaters on its opening weekend[2] only behind Devotion of Suspect X (容疑者Xの献身, Yōgisha Ekkusu no Kenshin?).

Plot
Taking place after the events of series, the Tarōs and Kohana go out of the Den-Liner for a day to visit Ryotaro and Airi after their parting in the aftermath of their battle with Kai. However, they see the mysterious Ghost Train that has been mentioned in urban legends as Momotaros and gang are then attacked by two evil Imagin and Kamen Rider Yu-ki Skull Form. During the fight, it is revealed to the Tarōs that Yu-ki is none other than Ryotaro possessed by an evil Imagin. Even with Zeronos coming to the gang's aid, things seem bleak until a blue Den-Liner appears with a new figure, Kamen Rider NEW Den-O. After destroying the Shadow Imagin, with Yu-ki and the Phantom Imagin retreating to the Ghost Train, the gang is brought onto the NEW Den-Liner. There, the Owner formally introduces the new Rider as Kotaro Nogami, Ryotaro's grandson from the future, and his Imagin Teddy. Kotaro explains that once again, the flow of time is endangered and he intends to pick up the slack for his grandfather, whom he has no respect for, even having renamed Teddy from "Neotaros." Using the NEW Den-Liner, the gang pursue the Ghost Train and find the mastermind, Shiro, kidnapped Ryotaro to realize his plan to destroy the flow of time and reverse the worlds of the living and the dead, so that his love Sora can live, again. After NEW Den-O loses to Yu-ki once more, Shiro orders Yu-ki to finish him and Teddy off. However, Ryotaro attempts to fight the Imagin's control. Although Shiro and Yu-ki escape, the NEW Den-Liner crew get a Rider Ticket that leads them to May 23, 1729.

There, the NEW Den-Liner gang meet with their contact in this era, the Swan Imagin Sieg. Deneb also appears as well to join up with the gang in Yuto's stead as he is still injured from the fight with Yu-ki. After looking for clues, encountering people who resemble Airi, Ozaki, and Miura, the gang decide to have dinner, with Kotaro taking his leave as Momotaros follows him in an attempt to talk to him about his stress of losing to Shiro. Later, a wounded Teddy reveals Shiro's scheme to destroy the village tomorrow, getting attacked by him and his mercenaries as a result. Although NEW Den-O is without his partner and Yuto is still injured, Momotaros decides to get Ryotaro back. The next day, the Tarōs and Deneb battle the mercenaries until Yu-ki arrives and battles Momotaros, reverting to Ryotaro to his advantage as Momotaros tells Ryotaro to fight his possessor. Once able to enter his body, Momotaros drives the Ghost Imagin out of Ryotaro so he and the others can form Climax Form and destroy the Ghost Imagin. However, Shiro takes the Yu-ki Belt and assumes Yu-ki Hijack Form as he uses his necromancy to summon every Imagin the Riders have ever faced back from the dead.

After defeating Climax Form, a fully healed Yuto and Kohana arrive via the Zero-Liner and Den-Liner respectively. Kohana then presents the Tarōs and Sieg with Rider Passes so they can assume their Den-O forms as Ryotaro assumes Liner Form and Yuto enters Zero Form. While the others battle the Imagin, Liner Form and Sword Form pursue Yu-ki on horseback as NEW Den-O joins the fray. However, once mortally wounded, Shiro is comforted by Sora as they are revealed to be restless spirits of lovers who have been dead for over 400 years and that Shiro was only intending to ensure that he and Sora can be together and alive rather than be passengers on the Ghost Train. After hearing from her that she is fine with her fate, the two enter the Ghost Train for one final ride. With his mission complete, and a new respect for his grandfather as a young man, Kotaro and Teddy are brought back to their time via the Den-Liner, where they meet up with the elderly Ryotaro of that time.

Pre-production
A third film for Kamen Rider Den-O was initially announced on the Animate Online Store as part of a listing for a set of trading cards to promote the movie.[3] The film was subsequently listed on various upcoming film lists, including those at AOL Japan's Entertainment page.[4][5][6] These listings were soon removed, and the website "saraba-den-o.jp" appeared with a countdown timer to the website's official opening.[7]

Casting
The film features Dori Sakurada, Sayaka Kanda and Yu-ki Matsumura[8] and the voices of Hiroshi Kamiya and Daisuke Ono. Shin-ichiro Miki reprises his role as the voice of the Imagin Sieg, having been absent from Kamen Rider Den-O & Kiva: Climax Deka. Takeru Satoh, Yuichi Nakamura, Rina Akiyama, Wakana Matsumoto, Tamaki Matsumoto, Kenjirō Ishimaru, Toshihiko Seki, Kōji Yusa, Masaki Terasoma, Kenichi Suzumura, and Hōchū Ōtsuka all reprise their roles from the series.

Characters
The new film features several new characters, including Ryotaro's grandson, the 16-year old Kotaro Nogami (野上 幸太郎, Nogami Kōtarō?) who comes from the future as Kamen Rider New Den-O (仮面ライダーNew電王, Kamen Raidā Nyū Den'ō?) via the NEW Den-Liner (ＮＥＷデンライナー, Nyū Denrainā?). In his basic Strike Form (ストライクフォーム, Sutoraiku Fōmu?), NEW Deno-O is similar to Den-O's Climax/Liner Form, with a Den-O Belt that carries an aged look. Like Den-O and Zeronos, NEW Den-O has an Imagin partner named Teddy (テディ, Tedi?), who can transform into a large sword/rifle called Macheteddy (マチェーテディ, Machētedi?, from "machete") that NEW Den-O wields. NEW Den-O Strike Form's finishing attacks are Strike Spurt (ストライクスパート, Sutoraiku Supāto?), and Counter Slash (カウンタースラッシュ, Kauntā Surasshu?) with Macheteddy. The partnership that Kotaro and Teddy have is described as that of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.[9]

The film also introduces the evil Kamen Rider Yu-ki (仮面ライダー幽汽, Kamen Raidā Yūki?, translated as "Masked Rider Dark Spirit") who Ryotaro Nogami transforms into its Skull Form (スカルフォーム, Sukaru Fōmu?) while he is possessed by the Ghost Imagin (ゴーストイマジン, Gōsuto Imajin?). Yu-ki Skull Form's finishing attack is Terminate Flash (ターミネイトフラッシュ, Tāmineito Furasshu?) with his sword. The Ghost Imagin in time serves Shiro (死郎, Shirō?), the real Yu-ki who attempts to alter time through the Ghost Train (幽霊列車, Yūrei Ressha?), a skull-faced steam-engine that can normally travels through the land of the living and the land of the dead under Ryotaro's abduction allowed it to tranverse time like the Den-Liner. In Yu-ki's Hijack Form (ハイジャックフォーム, Haijakku Fōmu?), a non-possessed form, Shiro uses the Savage Gasher (サヴェジガッシャー, SavejiGasshā?). Due to being dead, Shiro is a master of necromancy and can revive Imagin, now possessing red o-fuda on their bodies. Both of Yu-ki's forms have armor similar to Gaoh, including a similar belt with golden accents.

Movie-exclusive Kamen Riders
Kamen Rider NEW Den-O

Kotaro Nogami (野上 幸太郎, Nogami Kōtarō?), the grandson of Ryotaro Nogami and Hana's second cousin, transforms into Kamen Rider NEW Den-O (仮面ライダーＮＥＷ電王, Kamen Raidā Nyū Den'ō?) and pilots the NEW Den-Liner (ＮＥＷデンライナー, Nyū Denrainā?) alongside his Imagin partner Teddy (テディ, Tedi?).

Strike Form

* Rider height: 194cm * Rider weight: 92kg * Ability perimeters o Punching power: 6t o Kicking power: 7t o Maximum jump height: 38m o Maximum running speed: 100m/4s

Strike Form (ストライクフォーム, Sutoraiku Fōmu?) is the only form of NEW Den-O shown in the film. NEW Den-O Strike Form wields the Macheteddy (マチェーテディ, Machētedi?) to perform his Full Charge, the Counter Slash (カウンタースラッシュ, Kauntā Surasshu?). Strike Form can also perform a Rider Kick called the Strike Spurt (ストライクスパート, Sutoraiku Supāto?).

Kamen Rider Yu-ki

Kamen Rider Yu-ki (仮面ライダー幽汽, Kamen Raidā Yūki?) is an evil Kamen Rider who has control over the Ghost Train (幽霊列車, Yūrei Ressha?), a train that transcends the world of the dead and the flow of time. Shiro (死郎, Shirō?) seeks to use his powers as Yu-ki to disrupt the flow of time to reverse the worlds of the living and the dead.

Skull Form

* Rider height: 199cm * Rider weight: 107kg * Ability perimeters o Punching power: 7.5t o Kicking power: 9t o Maximum jump height: 40m o Maximum running speed: 100m/5s

Skull Form (スカルフォーム, Sukaru Fōmu?) is the form of Yu-ki that is accessed when Ryotaro Nogami is possessed by the Ghost Imagin. In Skull Form, Yu-Ki's Full Charge is the Terminate Flash (ターミネイトフラッシュ, Tāmineito Furasshu?) using the sword of the Ghost Imagin.

Hijack Form

* Rider height: 199cm * Rider weight: 107kg * Ability perimeters o Punching power: 7.5t o Kicking power: 9t o Maximum jump height: 40m o Maximum running speed: 100m/5s

Hijack Form (ハイジャックフォーム, Haijakku Fōmu?) is the form of Kamen Rider Yu-ki that Shiro accesses on his own. Hijack Form has a black and red color scheme, compared to Skull Form's black and gold color scheme, lacking skull-theme. Hijack Form also performs the Terminate Flash, but does so with the Savage Gasher (サヴェジガッシャー, Saveji Gasshā?).

Momotaros Forever!

The animated short Imagin Anime: Momotaros Forever! -Imagin Terminal Station-/The Movie (イマジンあにめ「モモタロスよ永遠に－イマジン終着駅－／劇場版」, Imajin Anime Momotarosu yo Eien ni -Imajin Shūchakueki-/Gekijōban?) was shown as double feature. In the short, Momotaros feels bad that it is really the end of Kamen Rider Den-O as Urataros assures him that all good stories have to end sometime. After Kintaros and Ryutaros try to make sequels to classic stories that cannot have a sequel, the Imagin end up on the moon in homage to Galaxy Express 999, embracing their final story.

Soundtrack
AAA and the Tarōs' voice actors will also release a mini-album titled It's Good! It's Great! Isn't it Awesome?! (いーじゃん! いーじゃん! スゲーじゃん?!, Ī jan! Ī jan! Sugē jan?!?) which will include several new arrangements of the television series' theme song "Climax Jump" including "Climax Jump the Final" performed by AAA DEN-O form[10] and arrangements for each of the initial forms of Den-O ("Climax Jump Sword form," "Rod form," et al.) each with another version of the song containing pieces of dialogue from the movie for that character.[11][12] Also included is the track "Climax Jump Piano form" and the DVD edition has music clips of the four "Climax Jump" arrangements as well as a video titled "Climax Jump Epilogue."[13][14] A track titled "Climax Jump the Final DEN-LINER form" was initially slated to be included on the mini-album.[11]

The film's soundtrack is to be released by Avex Movie on November 26, 2008, with Toshihiko Sahashi composing, as he did for the series.[15]

Cast
* Kotaro Nogami (野上 幸太郎, Nogami Kōtarō?): Dori Sakurada (桜田 通, Sakurada Dori?)

* Sora (ソラ, Sora?): Sayaka Kanda (神田 沙也加, Kanda Sayaka?)

* Shiro (死郎, Shirō?): Yu-ki Matsumura (松村 雄基, Matsumura Yūki?)

* Ryotaro Nogami (野上 良太郎, Nogami Ryōtarō?): Takeru Satoh (佐藤 健, Satō Takeru?)

* Yuto Sakurai (桜井 侑斗, Sakurai Yūto?): Yuichi Nakamura (中村 優一, Nakamura Yūichi?)

* Kohana (コハナ, Kohana?): Tamaki Matsumoto (松元 環季, Matsumoto Tamaki?)

* Naomi (ナオミ, Naomi?): Rina Akiyama (秋山 莉奈, Akiyama Rina?)

* Owner (オーナー, Ōnā?): Kenjirō Ishimaru (石丸 謙二郎, Ishimaru Kenjirō?)

* Airi Nogami, Oyuki (野上 愛理、お雪, Nogami Airi, Oyuki?): Wakana Matsumoto (松本 若菜, Matsumoto Wakana?)

* Seigi Ozaki, Seikichi (尾崎 正義、正吉, Ozaki Seigi, Seikichi?): Akira Nagata (永田 彬, Nagata Akira?) of RUN&GUN

* Issē Miura, Issei (三浦 イッセー、一成, Miura Issē, Issei?): Ryo Ueno (上野 亮, Ueno Ryō?)

* Samurai with Fukaamigasa: Tomonobu Okano (岡野 友信, Okano Tomonobu?)

Voice actors
* Momotaros (モモタロス, Momotarosu?): Toshihiko Seki (関 俊彦, Seki Toshihiko?)

* Urataros (ウラタロス, Uratarosu?): Kōji Yusa (遊佐 浩二, Yusa Kōji?)

* Kintaros (キンタロス, Kintarosu?): Masaki Terasoma (てらそま まさき, Terasoma Masaki?)

* Ryutaros (リュウタロス, Ryūtarosu?): Kenichi Suzumura (鈴村 健一, Suzumura Ken'ichi?)

* Deneb (デネブ, Denebu?): Hōchū Ōtsuka (大塚 芳忠, Ōtsuka Hōchū?)

* Sieg (ジーク, Jīku?): Shin-ichiro Miki (三木 眞一郎, Miki Shin'ichirō?)

* Teddy (テディ, Tedi?): Daisuke Ono (小野 大輔, Ono Daisuke?)

* Ghost Imagin (ゴーストイマジン, Gōsuto Imajin?): Hiroshi Kamiya (神谷 浩史, Kamiya Hiroshi?)

* Phantom Imagin (ファントムイマジン, Fantomu Imajin?): Takuma Takewaka (竹若 拓磨, Takewaka Takuma?)

* Shadow Imagin (シャドウイマジン, Shadō Imajin?): Tomokazu Sugita (杉田 智和, Sugita Tomokazu?)

Suit actors
* Kamen Rider Den-O/Momotaros/NEW Den-O: Seiji Takaiwa (高岩 成二, Takaiwa Seiji?)

* Urataros: Eitoku (永徳, Eitoku?)

* Kintaros: Jirō Okamoto (岡元 次郎, Okamoto Jirō?)

* Ryutaros: Toshihiro Ogura (おぐら としひろ, Ogura Toshihiro?)

* Kamen Rider Zeronos, Deneb: Makoto Ito (伊藤 慎, Itō Makoto?)

* Deneb: Yoshifumi Oshikawa (押川 善文, Oshikawa Yoshifumi?)

* Sieg: Naoki Nagase (永瀬 尚希, Nagase Naoki?)

* Teddy: Shinichi Kaneda (金田 進一, Kaneda Shin'ichi?)

* Kamen Rider Yu-ki, Ghost Imagin: Kazutoshi Yokoyama (横山 一敏, Yokoyama Kazutoshi?)

Songs
Opening themes

* "Climax Jump the Final" o Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi o Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse o Guitar: AYANO o Artist: AAA DEN-O form

"Climax Jump the Final" is a new arrangement of "Climax Jump" recorded for Farewell, Kamen Rider Den-O: Final Countdown. It was included on the mini-album It's Good! It's Great! Isn't it Awesome?! (いーじゃん! いーじゃん! スゲーじゃん?!, Ī jan! Ī jan! Sugē jan?!?). This album also included "Climax Jump Sword form," "Climax Jump Rod form," "Climax Jump Ax form," "Climax Jump Gun form," and "Climax Jump Piano form."