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The current special effects boom traces its roots back to the monster and hero shows that surged in popularity starting in the 1960s. This time, we feature one of those foundational elements: the hero bike, which became overwhelmingly popular overseas, especially in Southeast Asia.
00:23Japanese special effects films such as Power Rangers and Godzilla are currently popular all over the world, but the current special effects boom has its origins in monster and hero films that became popular all at once in the 1960s.
00:45This time, we feature Kamen Rider's favorite car, the Cyclone, which was one of the origins of the genre and enjoyed overwhelming popularity overseas, especially in Southeast Asia.
00:58So let's take a look.
01:01First, let me explain about Kamen Rider.
01:11Kamen Rider was originally created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori and aired on television from 1971 to 1973, with a total of 98 episodes.
01:25The Cyclone, the vehicle Kamen Rider rides, was especially popular with children on the show.
01:34Before the Cyclone appeared, special effects programs used ordinary cars and motorbikes that were not particularly decorated, and the Cyclone was the first special effects program to feature a vehicle exclusively for a hero.
01:49Thanks to the huge success of Kamen Rider, specially designed hero vehicles became a standard feature in most superhero shows that aired after it.
02:00Now, as for the Cyclone, strictly speaking, for the purposes of program production, it is divided into early, mid-term, and late-term models.
02:13First, there is the early model, the Cyclone that Takeshi, or Kamen Rider 1, rode, and it is also called the old Cyclone.
02:24This is the bike that Takeshi used to escape from the Shocker base after being transformed into Kamen Rider. It is equipped with a plutonium reactor as its main engine and a laser gun on the front.
02:39In addition, his special move, the Cyclone Crusher, an aerial body slam attack, is shown in episode 11.
02:49In addition, the six mufflers that characterize its appearance can spray out a circular curtain called Cyclone Rain.
02:59However, since the base vehicle was an on-road motorcycle, the Suzuki T20, it was perfect for driving on dirt roads and taking action shots.
03:09Next is the mid-model Cyclone, or what was called the modified Cyclone.
03:18In fact, the old Cyclone had other drawbacks besides being an on-road model.
03:24The drawback was that legal restrictions meant they couldn't take action.
03:30To overcome these shortcomings, the base vehicle was an off-road motorcycle, the Honda SL350K1, which allowed for action photography even on the move.
03:43The biggest difference in appearance from the old Cyclone is the adoption of a semi-cowl, which has resulted in significant weight reduction.
03:53By reducing the weight, power output and mobility were also increased, making it useful in many action scenes.
04:00It is mainly used by Kamen Rider 2 when he appears in the show, and with its ability to climb vertical walls and the added ability to shoot rescue ropes, it has saved Kamen Rider 2 from trouble many times.
04:17His special move, the Cyclone Crusher, can now be used underwater, and involves charging at enemies to send them flying.
04:25Interestingly, even after the modified Cyclone appeared, the old Cyclone still frequently appeared in some filming scenes.
04:38The last vehicle to appear was the late model Cyclone, or the new Cyclone.
04:46The base vehicle for this bike, like the modified Cyclone, is an off-road motorcycle, the Suzuki Hustler, TS253.
04:58Its distinctive feature was that by deploying the wings on both ends of the semi-cowl, it was possible to stabilize high-speed driving and also perform gliding flight and cyclone jumps.
05:11In addition, the maximum speed was 300 km/h, and a parachute could be deployed for emergency braking with the flick of a switch.
05:23Initially, only one was produced for Screen Rider No. 1, but it seems that a modified version of the Shocker Cyclone that appeared later was also produced for Screen Rider No. 2.
05:34Its special move was the Cyclone Attack, in which it would slam into its prey while vibrating the front cowling.
05:47These three types of vehicles were used in the Showa era Ebi Rider, but there is actually one more vehicle, the Cyclone.
05:56The Cyclone is the vehicle used in the film Screen Rider 1, which was released in 2016 to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Screen Rider's birth.
06:09The base vehicle was a Honda Gold Wing F6C, and it was slightly different from previous Cyclones, being a fairly large on-road vehicle.
06:20In addition, the six mufflers that were a characteristic of the old Cyclone were apparently installed after the designers asked them to do something extraordinary.
06:31Of course, this vehicle also has the Tachibana Motors logo on it.
06:36Also, although it is not a film starring Hiroshi Fujioka, the film version of the Cyclone also plays an important role in the film Screen Rider: The First, which was released in 2005.
06:52Now, let's take a look at the Cyclone in action.
07:06Thank you for watching.
07:36Thank you for watching.
08:06Thank you for watching.
08:36Thank you for watching.
09:06What did you think?
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09:09Thank you for watching.
09:11In Fukuoka Prefecture, the old Cyclone, which is thought to be a replica, has been spotted alongside Kamen Rider.
09:20It was as if I had traveled back in time to the 1970s and a scene had appeared before my eyes.
09:30It's very moving.
09:31Well, thank you for watching this time.
09:33Well, that's all for now, see you next time. Bye.
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