Kamen Rider Saber

Premise

The human world collides with Wonder World, a realm of fairy tales, because of a conflict over the Almighty Book – a legendary artifact of great power that a trio of monsters known as the Megids seek to acquire in order to create more of their kind, and that an organization of swordsmen known as the Sword of Logos seeks to protect. Two millennia later, the Dark Swordsman Hayato Fukamiya, also known as Kamen Rider Calibur, betrayed his comrades after learning a terrible truth and was seemingly killed by the Flame Swordsman Daichi Kamijo, with a girl named Luna being an apparent causality of their fight. Daichi gave his Wonder Ride Book to a boy named Touma Kamiyama before leaving his sword behind.

Fifteen years later, Touma has become a novelist and bookstore owner. After being caught in a Megid attack, his attempt to stop it causes him to inherit Kamijo's title as Kamen Rider Saber and he resolves to end the conflict after the Water Swordsman, Rintaro Shindo, recruits him to join the Sword of Logos. Among the other swordsmen Touma meets while recovering his memories and the lost Wonder Ride Books is his childhood friend, Kento Fukamiya, who wishes to understand his father's actions after Calibur reappears as an ally of the Megids.

Production

The Kamen Rider Saber trademark was registered by Toei on May 29, 2020.

On 22 July 2020, Kamen Rider Saber was officially announced during a press conference alongside its cast, and it was announced that the show was planned to feature at least 10 Riders. Along with the titular character, five other Riders were confirmed: Blades, Espada, Buster, Kenzan, and Calibur. Following the series premiere, additional Riders Slash, Falchion, Saikou, Sabela, Durandal, Solomon, and Storious were announced to be part of the cast.

The opening theme song "ALMIGHTY ~Kamen no Yakusoku" is performed by the band Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra with the band Alexandros' Yoohei Kawakami, who provides the vocals. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra also performs the ending theme song "Kamen Rider Saber", with Kinichi Motegi, the band's drummer, providing the vocals. This is the first time since Kamen Rider Hibiki that an ending theme was produced, and the ending footage is also the first time in the Kamen Rider series to be primarily centered around dance.

Films

The Phoenix Swordsman and the Book of Ruin

Kamen Rider Saber Theatrical Short Story: The Phoenix Swordsman and the Book of Ruin (劇場短編 仮面ライダーセイバー 不死鳥の剣士と破滅の本, Gekijō Tanpen Kamen Raidā Seibā Fushichō no Kenshi to Hametsu no Hon) was released on December 18, 2020, double billed with Kamen Rider Zero-One the Movie: Real×Time. Actor Masashi Taniguchi portrays the film's main antagonist, Bahato, who also appears in the series as a recurring character. The theme song is "Taju Roko" performed by Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra with Yoohei Kawakami. The events of the film take place between episodes 10–11.

Super Hero Senki

Saber + Zenkaiger: Super Hero Senki (セイバー＋ゼンカイジャー スーパーヒーロー戦記, Seibā Zenkaijā Sūpā Hīrō Senki) is a crossover film released on July 22, 2021, starring the casts from Saber and Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger and featuring characters from past entries of the franchises involved. The film is part of the celebrations for both the 50th anniversary of the Kamen Rider franchise and the 45th anniversary of the Super Sentai franchise, and serves as the final crossover between them. Actors Fuku Suzuki and Ayumi Tanida portray Shotaro Ishinomori and the film's main antagonist, Asmodeus, respectively. Kenjirō Ishimaru of Kamen Rider Den-O; Takashi Ukaji of Kamen Rider OOO; So Okuno of Kamen Rider Zi-O; Fumiya Takahashi of Kamen Rider Zero-One; Shogo Suzuki of Samurai Sentai Shinkenger; Atomu Mizuishi of Mashin Sentai Kiramager; and Hiroshi Fujioka of Kamen Rider (1971 - 1973) reprised their respective roles while Naoya Makoto of Himitsu Sentai Gorenger; Toshihiko Seki, Kōji Yusa, Masaki Terasoma, and Kenichi Suzumura of Kamen Rider Den-O; Tetsu Inada of Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger; M·A·O and Hiroshi Kamiya of Uchu Sentai Kyuranger; and Rikiya Koyama of Kamen Rider Zi-O reprise their respective voice roles. Additionally, the two main characters of Kamen Rider Revice make their first appearances and a special film for the series was double billed with Super Hero Senki. The theme song is "SPARK" performed by Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. The events of the film take place after the two-part Movie Release Commemorative Combo Special, which itself takes place between episodes 39 and 40.

Beyond Generations

Kamen Rider: Beyond Generations (仮面ライダー ビヨンド・ジェネレーションズ, Kamen Raidā Biyondo Jenerēshonzu) is a crossover film released on December 17, 2021, starring the casts of Saber and Kamen Rider Revice. The film features a new Kamen Rider from a possible future in the year 2071, 100 years after the debut of the first Kamen Rider television series. Akiyoshi Nakao and Arata Furuta portray the film's guest characters and Hiroshi Fujioka's son, Maito, portrays Takeshi Hongo's younger self.

Web-exclusive series

Kamen Rider Saber Spin-off: Swordsman History (仮面ライダーセイバー スピンオフ 剣士列伝, Kamen Raidā Seibā Supin'ofu Kenshi Retsuden) is a web-exclusive series released on Telasa on November 8, 2020. It comprises four episodes and focuses on Rintaro Shindo, Kento Fukamiya, Ryo Ogami, Ren Akamichi, and Tetsuo Daishinji.

Chapter 8.5: An Episode of Kamen Riders Slash & Buster (an episode of 仮面ライダースラッシュ＆バスター, An Episode of Kamen Raidā Surasshu Ando Basutā)

The Other Side of Chapter 9: An Episode of Kamen Rider Kenzan (an episode of 仮面ライダー剣斬, An Episode of Kamen Raidā Kenzan)

Behind the Chapter 13: An Episode of Kamen Rider Espada (an episode of 仮面ライダーエスパーダ, An Episode of Kamen Raidā Esupāda)

Chapter 15.5: An Episode of Kamen Rider Blades (an episode of 仮面ライダーブレイズ, An Episode of Kamen Raidā Bureizu)

Separate Volume Kamen Rider Saber: Short Animation Collection (別冊 仮面ライダーセイバー 短編活動萬画集, Bessatsu Kamen Raidā Seibā Tanpen Katsudō Mangashū) is a web-exclusive animated short series released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on February 1, 2021.

Dance Performance, Just Before It. (ダンス本番、その前に。, Dansu Honban, Sono Mae ni.)

Rock, Scissors, and Paper. (ロック、シザーズ、ペイパー。, Rokku, Shizāzu, Peipā.)

Save Sophia, the Electric Shock Escape Game: Part 1. (ソフィアを救え、電流ビリビリ脱出ゲーム〜前編〜。, Sofia o Sukue, Denryū Biribiri Dasshutsu Gēmu Zenpen.)

Save Sophia, the Electric Shock Escape Game: Part 2. (ソフィアを救え、電流ビリビリ脱出ゲーム〜後編〜。, Sofia o Sukue, Denryū Biribiri Dasshutsu Gēmu Kōhen.)

Le Grand Supermarché. (ル・グラン、シューペルマルシェ。, Ru Guran, Shūperumarushe.)

DVD and Blu-ray-exclusive series

Sword of Logos Saga (ソードオブロゴスサーガ, Sōdo Obu Rogosu Sāga) is included as part of the Blu-ray releases of Kamen Rider Saber. This storyline focuses on the lives of three known bearers of the Kamen Rider Calibur title:

Part 1 serves as a prequel to the main series and focuses on Hayato Fukamiya and Daichi Kamijo.

Part 2 takes place during episodes 17–35, and focuses on Kento Fukamiya. It was released on August 4, 2021.

Gather! Hero!! The Explosive Birth of Dragon Televi-Kun (集え！ヒーロー！！爆誕ドラゴンてれびくん, Tsudoe! Hīrō!! Bakutan Doragon Terebikun) is Televi-Kun's "Hyper Battle DVD" (超（ハイパー）バトルDVD, Haipā Batoru Dī Bui Dī).

V-Cinema

Kamen Rider Saber: Trio of Deep Sin (仮面ライダーセイバー 深罪の三重奏（トリオ）, Kamen Raidā Seibā Shinzai no Torio) is a V-Cinema release which received a limited theatrical release on January 28, 2022, followed by its DVD and Blu-ray release on May 11, 2022. The events of the V-Cinema take place eight years after the end of the main series. The V-Cinema was written by Takuro Fukuda and directed by Kazuya Kamihoriuchi. The theme song is "Bittersweet" performed by Asuka Kawazu, Shuichiro Naito, Takaya Yamaguchi, and Ryo Aoki.

Manga

Supplementary Volume Kamen Rider Saber: Kamen Rider Buster the Comic (別冊 仮面ライダーセイバー 萬画 仮面ライダーバスター, Bessatsu Kamen Raidā Seibā Manga Kamen Raidā Basutā) is a manga adaptation that focuses on Ryo Ogami's past, including his high school days two decades prior and the birth of his son, Sora, six years after Daichi Kamijo defeated Hayato Fukamiya. The manga is written by Kaori Kaneko and illustrated by Keitarō Kumatsuki, and was serialized on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club from February 28, 2021, to May 30, 2021. Each arc of the manga consists of three chapters.

Strongest Youth (最強の青春編, Saikyō no Seishun-hen)

Ultimate King of Parenting (最強の子育て王編, Saikyō no Kosodate Ō-hen)

Cast

Touma Kamiyama (神山 飛羽真, Kamiyama Tōma): Shuichiro Naito (内藤 秀一郎, Naitō Shūichirō)

Rintaro Shindo (新堂 倫太郎, Shindō Rintarō): Takaya Yamaguchi (山口 貴也, Yamaguchi Takaya)

Mei Sudo (須藤 芽依, Sudō Mei): Asuka Kawazu (川津 明日香, Kawazu Asuka)

Kento Fukamiya (富加宮 賢人, Fukamiya Kento): Ryo Aoki (青木 瞭, Aoki Ryō)

Ryo Ogami (尾上 亮, Ogami Ryō): Yuki Ikushima (生島 勇輝, Ikushima Yūki)

Ren Akamichi (緋道 連, Akamichi Ren): Eiji Togashi (富樫 慧士, Togashi Eiji)

Tetsuo Daishinji (大秦寺 哲雄, Daishinji Tetsuo): Hiroaki Oka (岡 宏明, Oka Hiroaki)

Yuri (ユーリ, Yūri): Tomohiro Ichikawa (市川 知宏, Ichikawa Tomohiro)

Reika Shindai (神代 玲花, Shindai Reika): Mei Angela (アンジェラ 芽衣, Anjera Mei)

Ryoga Shindai (神代 凌牙, Shindai Ryōga): Ken Shonozaki (庄野崎 謙, Shōnozaki Ken)

Storious (ストリウス, Sutoriusu): Robin Furuya (古屋 呂敏, Furuya Robin)

Legeiel (レジエル, Rejieru): Kyle Takano (高野 海琉, Takano Kairu)

Zooous (ズオス, Zuosu): Koji Saikawa (才川 コージ, Saikawa Kōji)

Isaac (イザク, Izaku), Original Master Logos (初代マスターロゴス, Shodai Masutā Rogosu): Keisuke Sohma (相馬 圭祐, Sōma Keisuke)

Bahato (バハト): Masashi Taniguchi (谷口 賢志, Taniguchi Masashi)

Voice cast

Desast (デザスト, Dezasuto): Kōki Uchiyama (内山 昂輝, Uchiyama Kōki)

Charybdis (カリュブディス, Karyubudisu): Ryota Iwasaki (岩崎 諒太, Iwasaki Ryōta)

Seiken (聖剣) (Speaking), Wonder Ride Books (ワンダーライドブック, Wandā Raido Bukku), Narrator: Akio Ōtsuka (大塚 明夫, Ōtsuka Akio)

Seiken (Singing): Eizo Sakamoto (坂本 英三, Sakamoto Eizō)

Eneiken Noroshi (煙叡剣狼煙, En'eiken Noroshi): Miyu Fukuda (福田 みゆ, Fukuda Miyu)

Guest cast

Fighting Fairy (戦う妖精さん, Tatakau Yōsei-san; 4): Reika Saiki (才木 玲佳, Saiki Reika)

Hayato Fukamiya (富加宮 隼人, Fukamiya Hayato; 5, 15, 38, 45): Mitsuru Karahashi (唐橋 充, Karahashi Mitsuru)

Kenshin Nagamine (長嶺 謙信, Nagamine Kenshin; 7, 32): Masashi Mikami (三上 真史, Mikami Masashi)

Men (8): Ryo Matsuda (松田 凌, Matsuda Ryō), Metal Yoshida (吉田 メタル, Yoshida Metaru)

Yuki Shirai (白井 ゆき, Shirai Yuki; 16–19, 28, 44, 47): Hitomi Hasebe (長谷部 瞳, Hasebe Hitomi)

Married couple (16): Hideyoshi Iwata (岩田 栄慶, Iwata Hideyoshi), Mayu Iwata (岩田 眞優, Iwata Mayu)

Zocks Goldtsuiker (ゾックス・ゴールドツイカー, Zokkusu Gōrudotsuikā; SP): Atsuki Mashiko (増子 敦貴, Mashiko Atsuki)

Humagear (ヒューマギア, Hyūmagia; 47): Keiichi Hasegawa (長谷川 圭一, Hasegawa Keiichi)

Ikki Igarashi (五十嵐 一輝, Igarashi Ikki; Special Issue): Kentaro Maeda (前田 拳太郎, Maeda Kentarō)

Vice (バイス, Baisu; Voice; Special Issue): Subaru Kimura (木村 昴, Kimura Subaru)

Revice Driver (リバイスドライバー, Ribaisu Doraibā; Voice; Special Issue), Vistamps (バイスタンプ, Baisutanpu; Voice; Special Issue): Shingo Fujimori (藤森 慎吾, Fujimori Shingo)

George Karizaki (ジョージ・狩崎, Jōji Karizaki; Special Issue): Noritaka Hamao (濱尾 ノリタカ, Hamao Noritaka)

Orteca (オルテカ, Oruteka; Voice; Special Issue): Hayata Seki (関 隼汰, Seki Hayata)

Theme songs

Opening theme

"ALMIGHTY ~Kamen no Yakusoku feat. Yoohei Kawakami" (ALMIGHTY～仮面の約束 feat.川上洋平, ALMIGHTY ~Kamen no Yakusoku Fīcharingu Kawakami Yōhei; "Almighty ~The Masked Promise feat. Yoohei Kawakami")

Lyrics: Atsushi Yanaka

Composition: Tsuyoshi Kawakami

Artist & Arrangement: Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

Vocals & Lyrics (English Translation): Yoohei Kawakami

Episodes 1 and 47 do not feature the opening sequence. The song is used as an insert song in episodes 1, 10, 15, 27, and 47.

Ending theme

"Kamen Rider Saber" (仮面ライダーセイバー, Kamen Raidā Seibā)

Lyrics: Atsushi Yanaka

Composition: Takashi Kato

Artist & Arrangement: Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

Vocals: Kinichi Motegi

Episodes 15, 44, 47 and Special Issue do not feature the ending sequence. The song is also entirely absent in episode 44 and 47.

Insert themes

"Rewrite the story"

Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi

Composition: tatsuo

Artist: Shuichiro Naito, Takaya Yamaguchi, & Ryo Aoki

Broadcast, Home Video and Streaming

In its home country of Japan, it originally aired on the Super Hero Time block on TV Asahi and other ANN affiliates starting from September 6, 2020, and concluding on August 29, 2021, with 48 episodes. Episodes 1, 2, and 28 were streamed in their entirety for free on the Toei Tokusatsu YouTube Official channel. Near the end of the series run, Toei Video released the full series on DVD and Blu-ray in 2021. For the DVD release, it spawned across 12 volumes, with each holding four episodes. For the Blu-Ray release, it spawned three separate Collections throughout that year, with Volume 1 released on May 21, Volume 2 on August 4 and Volume 3 on November 10, just a little over two months after the series concluded.

Thailand was the first international country in the world to have a release of this series outside of Japan. It was shown as Masked Rider Saber (มาสค์ไรเดอร์เซเบอร์) and Dream Express (DEX) owns the rights to the broadcasting of this series. It first aired on October 3, 2021, on Channel 7 HD and was also broadcast via streaming on the Flixer app, starting with the first episode airing on the same day. The Thai subtitled release came out first, and then November 7, was when they started publishing a Thai dub. In 2024, the dub was re-broadcast on the Boomerang channel and also on GMM 25.

In the Chinese-speaking world, Both Mandarin (Taiwan dialect) and Cantonese dubs were produced and aired in Taiwan and Hong Kong respectively.

In Hong Kong, the series aired with a Cantonese Chinese dub starting on October 24, 2021, and finished on September 18, 2022, covering all 48 episodes, by airing once a week.

In Taiwan, the series aired with a Taiwanese Mandarin dub on the CHT MOD service starting on January 28, 2022 (over three months after the Cantonese Chinese dub's debut) and concluded on April 15, 2022, covering all 48 episodes, by airing on the weeknights.

In South Korea, the series was translated directly to Korean (가면라이더 세이버) and it premiered on January 15, 2022, and ran until April 30, 2022, on Daewon Broadcasting's three channels (AniOne, AniBox and ChampTV). It was broadcast with a Korean dub that covered all 48 episodes.