RideBack

This series could have worked better if it was entirely focused on how Ridebacks influenced Rin's character instead of the focus on corruption from a military-driven government and terrorist activity. For the most part, Rideback does do a decent job in exploring the development of Rin's character as she finds herself taking an interest in the vehicle as a replacement for her lost interest in ballet. As she becomes entangled in the military-terrorist conflict and realizes the original use of Ridebacks, Rin becomes disillusioned in the show's second half as she comes to grips over what would make her happy in spite of the hardships ... she has come to deal with.

On the other end of the coin though, the military/ terrorist conflict comes across as rather flat. Both the GGP and BMA factions don't get much in the way of fleshing out other than we know they have their own radical agendas and come across as morally corrupt. Beyond Rin, there isn't much fleshing out provided of most other characters within the series as they only serve as supporting characters among Rin's friends or represent the GGP and BMA, many of whom serving to influence the development of Rin's character. The series also often gets in the annoying habit of having situations occur rather conveniently with Rin or other characters whenever they get in trouble as they are quite saved in the nick of time.

Visually, Rideback does have a slick presentation with highly detailed and lush shots of urban environments and the Ridebacks being almost lifelike in appearance as they are rendered in CG animation. Scenes with Ridebacks in action are very fluid and pleasing on the eyes to see onscreen, especially in some elaborate sequences whenever Rin is on a Rideback fleeing from GGP forces. Music in the series mostly consists of light instrumental pieces with the OP being a nice techno track, all of which go along well in conveying Rin's developments.

Overall, Rideback does do decent with its character exploration with Rin while lacking quite a bit in its political focus on the GGP/ BMA conflict. While it was entertaining to see the premise concerning Ridebacks, the series is marred by enough flaws where I can't picture myself wanting to see it again anytime soon.

The single biggest disappointment I have ever had in an anime. The first episode was a perfect 10 in every way and gave me high hopes of the rest of the series.
But is was not to be. As the series progressed plot holes and character inconsistencies accumulated and compounded. By the 8th episode I knew all was lost, but I watched the slow motion train-wreck through to the bitter end.


The first episode and several of the ballet/battle sequences are must watch, but stupidity of the overall show may cause your brain to explode(and not in the good way)

This series would be worth ... watching for the brilliant music and animation, but
I can't recommend watching this series in good continence because of how the plot and characters are butchered.

RideBack is boring. There are people that love this show, but I just cannot get behind any of it. I initially found the premise of the show interesting. Racing, terrorism, mech-bikes with arms, and so forth. Unfortunately RideBack is never interesting enough where I would suggest anyone watch it before a myriad of other anime.

The characters just never go anywhere until the very end. Sure we learn more about them along the way, but most of them don't round out until the end of the anime if at all. The protagonist in particular just stays in this annoying depressed state for most of the anime. ... Blaming herself for things that are clearly not her fault. I found myself saying "can we just get over this already" to the very unnatural reactions.

The dancing motif can also get old. We get the main character was a dancer that got hurt and chose to give up dancing. We get that the Rideback is her pseudo redemption. But wow to they just never stop repeating the same flashbacks over and over again to drive the point across. Time that could of been better spent further revealing character motivations and backgrounds, which is severely lacking.

The music is pretty mediocre too. I usually don't notice this much, but they repeat a lot of tracks I dislike. Maybe it's because these tracks are often associated with scenes I dislike, but it is still something I wanted to say. Opening and closing themes are amazing.

All this adds up to one big borefest. In only 12 episodes they were unable to maintain my interest. You just want them to get to the point. There are a few good points here and there, but most of the show is just boring. At no point would I say it does anything particular well. Watch something else.

To break the ice it might be pointed out that this is a mecha anime and for many this may be an instant turnoff and for others it might lead them to stroke their nearby gundam model in nostalgic pleasure.

Anyway... the main concept or uniqueness to this anime is its particular "mech" which is given the name "rideback", which is a motorcycle with arms that supposedly aid in the balance of the vehicle and give it an advantage in maneuverability and speed over a traditional motorcycle (that has less air resistance). This vehicle is somehow central to a dichotomy of two competing plots in ... the story, one being the progression of Rin as a rideback pro racer and the other being some governmental/military conspiracy involving the usage of ridebacks that allowed them to dominate the world.

Besides the mecha aspect, this anime does have characters and boy are they interesting. Well there is Rin, the main character who was once a rising ballet star but have decided to give up the grandeur of her mother's profession to become an engineer. So essentially a giant leap backwards in terms of societal recognition. She eventually comes into contact with a rideback called Fuego, which she instantly becomes attached to as it provides her the same joys of body control that she experienced in ballet (and no the ridebacks are not sentient). Other than Rin there are some other extremely memorable characters that I will fail to mention.

Honestly what truly drew me to this anime was my shallow appreciation of the animation work spent on this project. Madhouse knows its stuff. The races and artwork for the ridebacks are breathtaking and are what kept me watching this anime. If there was less of an emphasis on the characters and the overiding military plot, leaving the highlight of the show being the races to take the center stage in the story. IMO this is something to wait on to see if it gets better, but at the moment is not worth the time watching.

Oh and the music is kind of cool and fitting for the theme of the series.

Ride Back had all the qualifications for becoming a great show. Amazing production values (Madhouse is the king of tv anime shows), lively characters, well directed racing choreographies, political intrigues, and a pilot episode that promised a dozen different side stories. And it made a complete mess with them because of lack of proper duration and naive storytelling.

The story begins with the heroine Rin being considered a mediocre ballet dancer compared to her mother. In an almost stroke of luck, she finds a racing club in her university and drops ballet in order to delve into racing by using a new form of motorcycling called ... Ride-Backs. At the same time public unrest leads to various terrorist attacks happening around the world and the army plans to use Ride-Backs as a new form of weaponry in the upcoming battles. So this is the double story of a girl who chases her dream of beauty and grace by leaning how to ride properly a motorcycle that can transform to a robot, while all around her a war around terrorism takes place. It really sounds captivating and original.

In practice though, the premise was simply too complicating to fit in just 12 episodes, plus various events were presented in a most light and eventually passable way. Most of the disbelief lies in how Rin is pretty much undefeatable while on her Ride-Back and no matter how dangerous or hard is the situation she gets into, she always comes out a winner. So imagine mastering how to ride properly in a few attempts or storming in a battle field, finding her friend, and taking her out of the dangerous area, while being shot at a hundred times without a single shot managing to hit her. It looks completely immature.

If you see past the realism part though, the racing and battle choreographies are very well done. They are exciting in the way Ride-Backs can use their arms to maneuver properly or how they can use ballet moves in order to change direction or angle fast (and gracefully). Along with the mostly impressive production values, even during the simplistic slice-of-life moments, this is an easily enjoyable watch.

Still, not even that is enough to eventually save face in the show’s inability to cover properly all its potential. There is simply not enough time to develop its characters or expose the setting to all it could have been. Rin’s dream to be a great rider is left incomplete, and so does the whole war against terrorism theme. What feels weirder than that is how the interaction of these themes makes them both look bad. Do you know how stupid it looks when hundreds of elite soldiers are owned by an unarmed rookie civilian? Or how ridiculous it looks to have girl trying to ballet using a motorcycle while entire buildings blow up around her? Despite the show’s attempts to look realistic or serious in its themes of racing or political unrest, it ends up being a silly children’s adventure with magical robots.

And yes, they are magical since they have a lot of supernatural stuff going on around them, such as somehow choosing their riders or dancing their way out of trouble, even if their rider doesn’t directly tell them to do so. So even the lead robot Fuego ends up turning from an interesting and somewhat realistic racing machine into a (literal) Deus ex Machina that saves the day no matter what happens. This has the effect of trashing both the attempts of Rin to be a good rider-ballerina (because she doesn’t have control over the machine) as well as the whole social-political backdrop (because the military is unable to handle a civilian machine).
"She is not fighting... she is dancing!"
I was shaking my head while listening to this.

Skip that; not even Rin is that great of a character even without Fuego stealing the spotlight. She is very dynamic for a girl but always does it in a most annoying way. Every time she sees something dangerous going on, she will immediately rush to intervene. Although that sounds a lot more interesting than just standing still, it looks as if Fuego does all the work, while she is yelling, or crying, or feeling helpless, or showing off her pantsu to whoever is behind her. She just loves to ride while wearing an inappropriate skirt. Gets annoying fast.

The rest of the cast are just too simplistic to matter and the duration does not allow anyone to become memorable for any given reason. You basically get silly teenager stereotypes and cartoony military cop-outs talking and talking and supposed doing something that doesn’t matter because Fuego jumps gracefully and does things however it likes. Where is the interest in that?

Nice attempt Madhouse but you seem to think that the only way to have slice-of-life and political intrigue in the same package, is by making a silly fairy tale. Didn’t work out well.

And now for some excused scorings.
ART SECTION: 9/10
General Artwork 2/2 (amazing production values)
Character Figures 1/2 (generic)
Backgrounds 2/2 (detailed and with good CGI)
Animation 2/2 (very good for a tv series)
Visual Effects 2/2 (good I guess)

SOUND SECTION: 7/10
Voice Acting 2/3 (good but rather cheesy on ideology)
Music Themes 3/4 (fitting but not memorable)
Sound Effects 2/3 (ok I guess)

STORY SECTION: 6/10
Premise 2/2 (Captivating)
Pacing 1/2 (erratic)
Complexity 1/2 (not much)
Plausibility 1/2 (mentally challenged but there)
Conclusion 1/2 (cheesy)

CHARACTER SECTION: 7/10
Presence 2/2 (bold)
Personality 2/2 (rather cheesy but well founded)
Backdrop 1/2 (generic and simplistic but it’s there)
Development 1/2 (mostly for Rin but it’s there)
Catharsis 1/2 (generic and simplistic but it’s there)

VALUE SECTION: 4/10
Historical Value 0/3 (none)
Rewatchability 1/3 (the action is interesting to watch again)
Memorability 3/4 (generally memorable for its weird premise but could have been much better)

ENJOYMENT SECTION: 3/10
Interesting for awhile but the lack of proper duration and the idiotic magical robots kills it in the longrun.

VERDICT: 6/10

I am astonished at how commonly this series is skimmed over! Typically, sci-fi series with political intrigue seem to be voraciously consumed by fans in the West and so, why wasn't "RideBack" given more recognition? With the heated political climate and a dissatisfied populace at the hands of our current world crisis, now seems the best time, if ever, to discuss this series that is both tantalizing (with its action-packed, stimulation of mecha scenes) and a thought-provoking gander towards the world's societal structure!

⚠️ This review will be spoiler-free ⚠️

—Story/Characters

Even before the GGF (the "Global Government Force") became the pivotal antithesis to the free-spirited group of ... robotics-loving rebels, this series caught me. I have always been fascinated with the limber performance art of ballet, ever since I was a little girl — heck, Swan (created by "Kyōko Ariyoshi") is one of my favorite shōjo manga series of all time! So, to see something as restrained, feminine, and graceful get unleashed with a transforming, robot motorcycle... the concept was just too cool. The blend of some innately masculine, imbued with a feminine charm, and the fluency of an orchestral dance gave a fresh breath of air to what would have normally been a manly show! It reminded me of how I was captivated with Belldandy (from "Aa! Megami-sama) becoming a motorbike goddess, and practicing with the club, alongside the impassioned Kei'ichi.

Though the visuals were stunning in the accelerating climax of Episode 4: "Shōko, In the Nick of Time" — the logic that got Rin Ogata, the protagonist, caught in the fray between the rebels and the GGF seemed somewhat forced. ⚠️ Light spoilers here, please skip to the next paragraph if you don't want to know what happens in this episode! ⚠️ So, Rin hurries into a hostage situation and saves her friend, Shōko... that part was well and good, it made Rin a more captivating protagonist and displayed her grit against the terrorist faction, albeit still reckless, but when the government commands her to stay put, she crashes through the window of the high-rise, the government agency shoots missiles at her "RideBack" (named the "Fuego"), and then (after being saved by the leader of the terrorist group) she is deemed a radical revolutionary, and the GGF is out for her blood. My question is this: she had already saved her friend at that point and had escaped Shōko's captors, why couldn't she have stayed put for a few more minutes? Was it pure adrenaline? Or did she have some kind of "Newtype"-like intuition that the terror organization wasn't completely in the wrong, in that situation? This is left vague in the anime version, perhaps because of the single-cour time slot.

I won't give away anything, but there's a really great episode where Rin's younger brother ("Kenji") is, shall we say, a little bit "misguided" and Rin epically kicks butt, and manages to save him from himself. I thought the little side plot was very touching! If I talk about how deep the GGF trench deepens, there will be massive spoilers, so I'll just leave the sentiment off with — the story feels a little bit rushed towards the end of the series, stitches are left bleeding in the plot, but it's still a show that is exemplary in its subject matter and a worth-while viewing experience!

—Technical

Luna's Favorite Works by Each Respective Creator = ✅

Atsushi Takahashi (director), notable works:
* Ao no Exorcist: Movie
* Doraemon Movie 37: Nobita no Nankyoku Kachikochi Daibōken
* Kemonozume — Assistant Director ✅
※Mr. Takahashi is going to direct the upcoming "Godzilla" anime, airing Spring 2021 — "Godzilla: Singular Point"! Both Studios Orange and Bones will be working on this project: https://myanimelist.net/anime/43229/Godzilla__SP

Commentary: Mr. Takahashi is an excellent director. I really enjoyed his directing in "RideBack" — as well as the panache and skill that he brought to Yuasa Masaaki's "Kemonozume"! The CG is integrated very well with the digital animation, and the action sequences feel very dynamic! Wonderful job!

Good Seiyū Work = ✅

Really Enjoyed the Seiyū's Performance = ✅ ✅

One of Luna's Favorite Performances OF ALL TIME = ✅ ✅ ✅

Nana Mizuki as Rin Ogata, notable roles:
* Nanase Kotobuki, "Bungaku Shōjo"
* Allison Whittington and Lillianne Aicasia Corazón Whittington-Schultz, Allison to Lillia
* Akiko, Aoi Bungaku Series
* Oboro Iga, Basilisk
* Kururu, Binzume Yōsei
* Saya Kisaragi, Blood-C
* Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi, Cross Ange: Tenshi to Ryū no Rondo
* Misaki Kirihara, Darker Than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha
* Nanami Takatsuki and Ricotta Elmar, Dog Days
* Hannah, Dragon's Dogma
* Sieglinde Baumgarde, Dragonaut: The Resonance
* Cisqua, Erementar Gerad
* Wrath, Fullmetal Alchemist ✅ ✅
* Bi Fei, Gin no Guardian
* Lydia Carlton, Hakushaku to Yōsei
* Tsubomi Hanasaki, HeartCatch! PreCure! ✅ ✅ ✅
* Yu Minamoto, Ichigo 100%
* Kotoko Aihara, Itazura na Kiss
* Tsugumi Shibata, Jigoku Shōjo ("Hell Girl") ✅ ✅
* Sora Yamato, Jikū Tantei Genshi-kun
* Tiz, Jū Ō Sei
* Yin Fu, Ken En Ken: Aoki Kagayaki
* Roya, Kiba
* Yuno Rukina, Kiss Dum: Engage Planet
* Alois Trancy, Kuroshitsuji II ✅ ✅
* Janice Quatlane, Layton Kyōju to Eien no Utahime ("Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva")
* Nyamo Naamo, Love Hina
* Sayaka Mizushiro, Magical Canan ("Magical Kanan")
* Fate and Alicia Testarossa, Mahō Shōjo Lyrical Nanoha ✅ ✅ ✅
* Hotaru Shirakawa, Memories Off
* Mizuki Hibara, Mokke
* Magaret Liones, Nanatsu no Taizai ✅
* Hinata Hyūga, Naruto ✅ ✅
* Kaho Serizawa, Natsu-iro no Sunadokei ("Hourglass of Summer") ✅ ✅
* Shinobu, Ninin ga Shinobuden ✅ ✅
* Ann Takamaki, Persona 5 ✅ ✅
* Rue Kuroha, Princess Tutu ✅ ✅
* Yufa, Ragnarök the Animation
* Rin Ogata, RideBack ✅ ✅
* Moka Akashiya, Rosario to Vampire
* Pandora, Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas ✅ ✅ ✅
* Tsubasa Kazanari, Senki Zesshō Symphogear
* Mave, Sentō Yōsei Shōjo Tasukete! Mave-chan
* Nana Suzuki, Shichinin no Nana
* Kanon Seena, Shining Tears X Wind
* Utau Hoshina, Shugo Chara!
* Morinas, Simōn
* Aria, Sister Princess
* Suzu Edogawa, Tactics
* Colette Brunel, Tales of Symphonia the Animation ✅ ✅ ✅
* Sylvette Suede, Tegamibachi ✅ ✅
* Neju Na Melmas, Tenchi Muyō! GXP
* Chizuru, Tokyo Marble Chocolate
* Sunao Konoe, Tsuyokiss
* Matsuki Akino, Wakaokami wa Shougakusei! ✅ ✅
* Maria, Witchblade
* Rina Ogata, White Album ✅ ✅ ✅

Commentary: Ms. Mizuki is one of my all-time favorite seiyū talents, her portrayal of the enigmatic and prodigal Rin Ogata was really captivating in this series and even out-shined other seasoned veterans, such as Romi Park (voice of Edward Elric "Fullmetal Alchemist" and Tōshirō Hitsugaya "Bleach") and Rikiya Koyama (voice of Kogorō Mōri "Detective Conan" and Hakuoro "Utawarerumono")! But, her character is supposed to a majestic figure, she did accidentally become the figurehead of a rebellion after all! I would compare her role as Rin Ogata to her roles as Colette Brunel ("Tales of Symphonia") and Hinata Hyūga ("Naruto") — both of these characters come off as demure, blank slates in the beginning, but then, the story reveals how powerful they can really be: whether it be through prowess or through mental fortitude Amazing performance!

Romi Park as Tamayo Kataoka, notable roles:
* Maki Aikawa, Air Master ✅ ✅
* Kuchiha, Amatsuki
* Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Bleach ✅ ✅
* Zola, Blue Dragon
* Teresa, Claymore ✅ ✅
* Akane Owari, Danganronpa 3 ✅ ✅
* Ganta Igarashi, Deadman Wonderland ✅
* Ken'ichi Harakawa, Dennō Coil ✅
* Ken Ichijōji, Digimon ✅ ✅
* Reiji Ōzora, Dragon Drive
* Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist ✅ ✅
* Natsume Hyūga, Gakuen Alice
* Nayuta Moriyama, Gakuen Senki Muryō
* Emma Guzman, Garo
* Seimei, Garo: Guren no Tsuki
* Alex McKenzie, GR: Giant Robo
* Switzerland, Hetalia Axis Powers
* Higepiyo, Higepiyo
* Dahlia, Highlander: The Search for Vengeance
* Padparadscha, Hōseki no Kuni ✅ ✅ ✅
* Pakunoda, Hunter x Hunter (2011) ✅ ✅
* Popo, Kaiba ✅ ✅ ✅
* Rei Batsubami, Kakegurui××
* Ragyō Kiryūin, Kill la Kill ✅ ✅
* Gyubid, Kuromajo-san ga Tōru!!
* Angelina Durless, Kuroshitsuji ✅ ✅
* Kuromitsu, Kurozuka
* Ichirō Irabu, Kūchū Buranko ✅ ✅ ✅
* Taiga Shimizu, Major S3
* Heimdall, Matantei Loki Ragnarok
* Myōri Unzen, Medaka Box ✅
* Regene Regetta, Kidō Senshi Gundam 00
* Falis, Murder Princess
* Nana Osaki, Nana ✅ ✅ ✅
* Temari, Naruto
* Adam Blade, Needless
* Tora, Nyanbo!
* Omasa, Onihei
* Naoto Shiragane, Persona 4 the Animation
* Jiro ("Brock"), Pokémon ✅ ✅
* Yūjirō Shihōdani, Princess Princess ✅
* Alma, Radiant
* Noboru Maeda, Rainbow: Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin ✅
* Katsushiro Okamoto, Samurai 7
* Shute, SD Gundam Force
* Karasuba, Sekirei
* Kenshin Uesugi, Sengoku Basara
* Ren Tao, Shaman King ✅ ✅
* Hange Zoë, Shingeki no Kyojin ✅
* Ayumi Saitō, Shion no Ō
* Chloe and Kurt Klick, Sōsei no Aquarion
* Maguro, Sushi Ninja
* Kōta Koga, Suteki Tentei Labyrinth
* Hamyuts Meseta, Tatakau Shisho: The Book of Bantorra
* Maria, TO
* Sana Maniwa, Toji no Miko ✅ ✅
* Komatsu, Toriko ✅
* Loran Cehack, ∀ Gundam ✅ ✅
* Kōsuke Ueki, Ueki no Hōsoku
* 044, Ultraviolet: Code 044
* Yayoi Shinozuka, White Album ✅ ✅
* Syrup, Yes! PreCure 5 GoGo!
* Lù Shêng Máo, Zegapain

Commentary: Ms. Park's role as Tamayo Kataoka is a very competitive and strong-spirited young woman. As the series goes on, she becomes less of a rival and more of a sensible confidante. I would compare her role in "RideBack" to her voices as Ken'ichi Harakawa ("Dennō Coil") and Ren Tao ("Shaman King") — both characters are full of fiery passion, though it often comes off as pure arrogance, but are both skilled and dedicated in their respective fields. Incredible work, as always!

Rikiya Koyama as Tenshirō Okakura, notable roles:
* Sam, 009-1: R&B
* Eutus, Abenobashi Mahō☆Shōtengai ("Magical☆Shopping Arcade Abenobashi")
* K, Aoi Bungaku Series
* Retsu Kaiō, Baki
* Jubee Sanada, Bakukyū Hit! Crash B-Daman
* Mozgus, Berserk (2016) ✅ ✅
* Julius and Conrad, Berserk: Ōgon Jidai-hen ✅ ✅
* Curtis Miller, Biohazard: Degeneration
* Yukichi Fukuzawa, Bungō Stray Dogs ✅ ✅ ✅
* Victor, Busō Renkin
* Jin Kirigiri, Danganronpa ✅ ✅
* Kogorō Mōri, Detective Conan ✅ ✅ ✅
* Kaim, Devilman: Crybaby ✅ ✅ ✅
* Shūji Niekawa, Durarara!! ✅
* Kiritsugu Emiya, Fate (series) ✅ ✅ ✅
* Daisuke Domoto, Figure 17: Tsubasa & Hikaru
* Gray Edwards, Final Fantasy: The Spirit Within
* Belfangan Clouseau, Full Metal Panic! (series) ✅
* Masaru Hanashima, Ginga e Kickoff!
* Neptune Shoukaku, Gintama (series)
* Mamoru Takamura, Hajime no Ippo
* Azazel, High School DxD (series) ✅ ✅
* Ging Freecs, Hunter x Hunter (2011) ✅ ✅
* Oda Nobunaga, Hyōge Mono
* Will A. Zeppeli, JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken: Phantom Blood (2007) ✅ ✅
* Jubei Kibagami, Jūbee Ninpūchō: Ryūhōgyoku-hen ("Ninja Scroll: The Series")
* Koyo Mōgai, Jūshin Enbu: Hero Tales
* Kogarashi, Kamen no Maid Guy
* Narumi Katō, Karakuri Circus (TV)
* Klaus von Reinherz, Kekkai Sensen
* Qí Wáng, Kingdom
* Jack Rakan, Mahō Sensei Negima!
* Zaratras, Nanatsu no Taizai
* Yamato, Naruto: Shippūden ✅
* Sensei, Planet With ✅ ✅
* Sakaki ("Giovanni"), Pokémon: The Origin ✅
* Rokurōta Sakuragi, Rainbow: Nisha Rokubō no Shichi'nin ✅ ✅
* Kanbei Kuroda, Sengoku Basara
* Kirameki Mikawa, Shigofumi ✅ ✅ ✅
* Minami Kaze Owner, Shinryaku! Ika Musume
* Jōichirō Yukihira, Shokugeki no Sōma ✅ ✅ ✅
* Shingami, Soul Eater ✅ ✅ ✅
* Himuka, Sōten no Ken
* Johnny Rico, Starship Troopers: Red Planet
* Donatello K. Davis, Terra Formars
* Rudolf Ushiromiya, Umineko no Naku Koro ni ✅ ✅
* Tora, Ushio to Tora (TV) ✅ ✅
* Hakuoro, Utawarerumono ✅ ✅ ✅
* James Howlett ("Wolverine"), Wolverine and X-Men

Commentary: I can't hear Mr. Koyama's voice without hearing Kogorō Mōri ("Detective Conan") or Kirameki Mikawa ("Shigofumi")... or as I like to call him, Kira☆Papa... you'll get the reference if/when you watch the show. Ahem, so anyway, Mr. Koyama mostly plays Dads or fatherly characters, and Tenshirō Okakura isn't much different. He guides Rin through her tumultuous journey and is a seasoned veteran in the ways of battle, especially when the rebellion comes into play! I would compare Mr. Koyama's performance in "RideBack" to his roles as Jōichirō Yukihira ("Shokugeki no Sōma") and Kiritsugu Emiya ("Fate/Zero") — both are stoic, paternal figures that are competitive, and can be ruthless against their adversaries. Not like the jovial, drunk Kogorō Mōri — who only gets real when his daughter is in danger or when his drunken fists are activated! Brilliant seiyū!

Conclusively, as I said from the start, this series is grossly underrated. I can't see why it isn't more popular in the United States; we love action, robotics, and divisive political dramas over here! If you haven't seen "RideBack" already, I would suggest watching it during these trying times: the "pre-" and post-2020 political climate is strangely similar to the corrupt government in this narrative (strange, since "RideBack" takes place in 2025) — causing the people to rise up, albeit with mechanized motorcycles! The plot could have been more complete towards the end, but hey, that's what the manga's for, right? I give "RideBack" a 6/10 and a recommendation to anyone who is curious!

Rating: ★★★☆☆