Kaijin Design Post-AgitΩ

[NeonZ]

I really don't like the designs of many of Agito's Unknown. The mostly black ones are fine, but the ones with more colors often just looked bad, IMO. It's like comparing the Bat and Spider Kaijins of the first Rider series in their own episodes and their later return in episode 13 and the movie. They worked well due to the scene direction and script, not the suit themselves, and that's something that obviously has become problematic in recent years.

Twice already, they've dumped minor elements that were considered too scary for kids. Considering how minor things like mouth attacks can't stay, I really don't have much hope for darker enemies again, unless the "super hero time" block is reformulated.

 

[musashi03]

Hmmm... I always loved the El of the Wind design, it was colorful and bright, which made it unique among all of the Agito Kaijins since it looked majestic for me... Plus it was effin strong.

 

[Kazuma]

^ yea, I like the El's design too.
I got a imagebook of all the Kaijin designs for agito, its pretty cool to know the design's notes on the suit designs

 

[Smilodon]

^ yea, I like the El's design too.
I got a imagebook of all the Kaijin designs for agito, its pretty cool to know the design's notes on the suit designs

Dude, that's sick. The Lords were some of the greatest designed KR monsters. I didn't know they made image books for those kinda things.

 

[mkdlstudios]

The Orphenoch designs were very unique that their bodies shared a single, grayish/monochrome color scheme. And that their naked human forms appear as their shadows.

 

[musashi03]

^ Yeah, some people didn't like the whole grayscale design, but for me, I also loved the details in the Orphenochs, and I thought them being gray signified that they have died before. My favorite has gotta be the gunslinging Bat Orphenoch.

 

[ryatwo]

I really don't like the designs of many of Agito's Unknown. The mostly black ones are fine, but the ones with more colors often just looked bad, IMO. It's like comparing the Bat and Spider Kaijins of the first Rider series in their own episodes and their later return in episode 13 and the movie. They worked well due to the scene direction and script, not the suit themselves, and that's something that obviously has become problematic in recent years.

Twice already, they've dumped minor elements that were considered too scary for kids. Considering how minor things like mouth attacks can't stay, I really don't have much hope for darker enemies again, unless the "super hero time" block is reformulated.

Well, I thought that too actually. Now I might not be finished with the series yet, but there are one or two Unknowns that are colored that still scary IMO. Take the Octupus Lord for example, he's entirely red (which made him look kinda silly at first) but still has that fear factor to him:

Yes, I agree with you. "Super Hero Time" needs to be reformulated if we're ever going to see these kinda designs again. But then again I don't really have a problem with kaijin designs (like a recent Nazca for example), I'm just missing that fear that they bring along with them.

 

[Dark Kabuto]

I dont know, I think its more about seeing what the Unknown are capable of as it is what they look like.

There method of killing is still pretty horrifying...

I find there general appearance pretty horrifiyng. It's what I love about the Unknowns, they look really organic.

 

[Igadevil]

I think the designs have generally remained strong since Agito (especially the Undead), but the characterization and emphasis on the monsters sort of determines their effectiveness. If the plot is built around the monster, they tend to come across well, even if the design is extremely simple (this is the magic of the older Riders- low-budget costumes being treated as high-concept ideas, which in turn elevates the costumes because suddenly there's something behind the zippers and the visible stunt guys' eyes.)

If they're just dropped in as an excuse to get two Riders into a fight later or something to distract the hero for a bit from another plot line, they're going to be pretty forgettable no matter how good the design is. A couple of the post-Agito shows do fall into this trap, though I think it's a case-by-case basis. Faiz has some great, memorable monsters of the week that are genuinely creepy/weird. It also has Pigeon Orphenoch, and all I remember him for is being defeated by Kiba when he was Faiz, or Barnacle Orphenoch, who gets killed by Takumi that time he turns into Delta. Cool designs, but their most memorable qualities are who they were beaten by.

And I dunno, but I think the monsters should be more than that. One thing I'm glad we've seen in the post-Agito shows (or really, from the Agito movie on) is the concept of henchmen/henchmonsters slowly coming back, because those are the guys you can use for fodder. I liked that in Begins Night- rather than use it on a monster who had been unbeatable before, Fang Joker debuts against a bunch of thugs, but still comes off as impressive even if he's just frying the small fish.

Personally, I think that Kamen Rider should try to be scary within its limits. It should also try to be a lot of other things (uplifting, funny, melancholy, heroic, etc.) but providing some sense of fear is important. Scary monsters = Strong heroes, IMHO. If the villains are portrayed as frightening, powerful and a legitimate threat, it reflects well on the good guys. It kind of justifies all the gimmicks and power-ups because if they're up against a serious threat, they need all the help they can get. In fact, having threatening, frightening villains even kind of justifies the comedy. I'm okay with them clowning around in the off scenes because now I also really care about the people and what happens to them. It provides a huge tone shift, but that's the point.

 

[ryatwo]

Personally, I think that Kamen Rider should try to be scary within its limits. It should also try to be a lot of other things (uplifting, funny, melancholy, heroic, etc.) but providing some sense of fear is important. Scary monsters = Strong heroes, IMHO. If the villains are portrayed as frightening, powerful and a legitimate threat, it reflects well on the good guys. It kind of justifies all the gimmicks and power-ups because if they're up against a serious threat, they need all the help they can get. In fact, having threatening, frightening villains even kind of justifies the comedy. I'm okay with them clowning around in the off scenes because now I also really care about the people and what happens to them. It provides a huge tone shift, but that's the point.

Totally agree with you. Well said, Iga.