RideBack

This is a Anime that when I first saw it, I was completely absorbs by the story and the characters, I rated it 10 without hesitation. A year later, October 2013, I watch it again, I wanted to make sure it really deserve a 10 and also, since I liked it a lot, I had to watch it again. The story might be a little incomplete, not enough dept. Like another reviewer wrote, the story would have been more complete if it were a 26 episode instead of 13. There is a lot of stuff that remain clouded, lot of unanswered question. But, the Art, ... Sound/Music and great characters make up for it. Being a musician, I relate a lot with the main character, her connection with Fuego, the rideback she he using during the show, is the same feeling I have when I play the guitar, it's a extension of myself, and when I am really into it, the guitar and me make one. The same happen to Rin when she ride Fuego, her dancing + the rideback = one. The other character in the series, even if they are not as well developed as Rin, are great too. So my enjoyment of Rideback was and still is amazing. If, like me, your are expressing yourself with a musical instrument or anything that demands being one with your body & soul, I don't see why you would not like Rideback. Strongly recommended, 10 overall.

Finally dragged my way through _RideBack_. I just didn't like it. It was well-produced and visually good, but it never made the whole rideback concept even as plausible as a random Gundam, it gestured at something more to ridebacks which never cashed out, the world was poorly constructed so the politics at the end come as nonsensical, and so on.

This series in it self similar to a rideback-easy to get on, hard to control, powerful and hard to get off.
I was very excited when I first started to watch this series because the art looked amazing and I had heard good things about the series and in many ways Rideback met my expectations.
Story-6
This is where the series fails to satisfy. The series is only 12 episodes and the series needed more like 24 episodes to tell its story properly. I suspect that the story's short comes were a result of the anime directors blunders and not the person who wrote the manga since ... the manga was a fair length. The viewer spends the first few episodes being introduced to the main characters, ridebacks and the wonderful society which the people seem to like in. A few hints of the main story are put in but when the main story finally begins it feels rushed. You haven't seen enough of the villians to hate them properly and don't know enough about the past to really care about the revolutionaries or the government. This in part is why the main story feels separate from the main character's story.
Art-10
Possibly the thing I love most about this series is the amazing character design. It is hard to describe what makes the art so unique but I think it has to do with the realistic shape of the body, imperfect hair an beautiful eyes. In addition to the wonderful character design the landscape and ridebacks have a sleek look to then though I do admit that sometimes the machines don't seem to fit with the lush world which they inhabit.
Sound-10
I thought the soundtrack to the series suited it well. I wouldn't say that it was not without flaw but the flaws were just a question of the level of drama it was able to convey. The opening and ending songs are suited to the adventure, peaceful and violent natures of the show which is wonderful to see.
Characters-I will be honest and say that I felt disconnected from most of the characters by the end of the series. The characters in the beginning of the series were very clear and well formulated however near the end it feels that the rationalization is no longer clear. In add there were characters that the viewer never gets to know which leads to a "what the heck" moment at the end of the series that leaves the viewer dumbfounded. I found the characters overall like able but they could be improved if the series was longer.
Enjoyment-8
I was excited to watch each episode to see what happened next however, near the end of the series I started to lose interest because it was clear that there was no way that the series could have a solid conclusion just because of all the lose ends which had yet to be addressed.
Overall-8
The series is a fine, quick series to watch but it isn't a series that you will likely be re-watching. I have never read the manga however I think I might pick it up only to see the level of missing information in the anime with that knowledge I suspect that many of the gaps that I had were because of the rush nature of the series. If you are a big fan of storylines this show isn't for you but if you can sit through the first episode I recommend at least finishing the series.

This is an interesting anime, to say the least. An ex-Prima Ballerina, turned humaniod- motorcycle driver? Yep. Thow in a corrupt faction, intense drama, vivid animation, and some character growth, and you get "Rideback". I liked the MC and the supporting cast of this series from the beginning, they were liikable or atleast understandable in their reasons for taking action or not to take certain actions.
The freindships are felt deeply and the characters are worth investing in even in this shorter series.

8/10 all around.

Some spoilers up to episode 3, but they’re minor at the most.

“And the world…… changed.”
- Rin Ogata

Soft. In a word, that’s how I would describe the first episode. Not as a disparage, but rather as a positive opinion on the human way the story introduces Rin and world of Ridebacks. The first episode set high expectations, and the for the most part, Rideback managed to follow through.

In a time much like our own, Rideback follows the story of former dance prodigy Rin Ogata as she interacts with a new type of mechanical motorcycle, called Ridebacks. Her skill lands her in the middle of a war ... between a worldwide government called the GGP and a terrorist cell called the BMA.

Rin herself is one of the best parts of the series. An extremely strong main character, her development is fantastic as she struggles to discern the driving force and moral responsibility behind her actions.

However, that’s about as far as good characters go. With the exception of Tomoyo, all the other characters are pushed aside in terms of any sort of depth. Most of the cast are used only once or twice at specific points to advance the plot. And that’s a major disappointment, because the creators had several chances to make the characters great. For instance, the animosity between the the GGP leader and the BMA terrorist leader is never explained, despite the fact that the incident itself is hinted at multiple times over the course of the show. And that’s not the only relationships that isn’t fully explained.

One positive aspect of the plot is its realistic nature. The manner in which characters react to certain situations and trauma is very similar to real life. Entire episodes are devoted to showing character’s reactions to certain events. This is both a positive aspect and negative aspect. Though it helps keep the show grounded in reality, it plays havoc with the overall pacing.

Which for me, is the main problem with the show.

The first couple episodes are extremely fast and interesting. Rapidly moving through Rin’s past and her education on using a Rideback. By episode 3, Rin has already reached her peak level and is participating in the world championship Rideback tournament. As we move on to the government centered part of the show, the tempo slows as we are gradually feed the message that the GGP AREN’T GOOD GUYS.

Rin is mostly inactive in these episodes. Interest in the show becomes reliant heavily on the action of side characters who aren’t good to begin with. Luckily enough, the story picks up at the last couple episodes for a awesome conclusion.

However, if there is a positive aspect to this, it’s that the rate the story progresses at allows for a slow build of tension, transitioning nicely from the fun adventures of a Rideback club to a darker story of death and loss.

A large criticism of the show is that there weren’t enough episodes to squeeze in a plot as large and detailed as Rideback’s. However, I would argue that they had a perfect amount of time, but invested it in all the incorrect parts. Instead of devoting an episode to Rin’s emotional state, they could have had an episode long flashback detailing what specifically happened on the day the GGP scored their biggest military victory and why that lead to the formation of the BMA from former GGP members. They could have had an episode about Tomoyo, or to any other side character.

As opposed to say, having a cliche reporter create pointless tension while looking for the identity of the mysterious “Rideback Girl” that the government already knows about.

One thing that I can’t criticize is the animation and sound of the show. The CG used for the Ridebacks is absolutely amazing. When they happen, Rideback to Rideback fights are fast-paced and stunning. I find it interesting enough to mention that Rin’s past as a dancer is heavily reflected by her Rideback style, specifically in the final fight. The soundtrack complimented high tension moments perfectly, helping produce maximum impact from certain scenes. Despite the bad English, I found the OP “Rideback” by Mell to be a awesome stand alone song.

Overall, Rideback has flaws. Plenty of them. But if it seems like I have an altogether negative opinion of the show, I don’t. Because at the end of the day, Rideback left me fulfilled and fairly happy with the softspoken perspective on dreams and awesome fight scenes from Rin. It’s not enough to be considered one of the missed series of 2009, but its definitely better than its made out to be.



Just a background note for those of us who didn’t know: “Fuego” literally translates to “on fire” in Spanish.

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'm being VERY generous with a 7 because the concept was just THAT good. So you're telling me there's a ballet girl making art in motion with a transforming motorcycle while recapturing the fire of a dancer? Hell yeah! Not since Speed Racer (the film) has a motor vehicle been able to capture the simultaneous grace and exhilaration of a performer in the zone, using the visual poetry to channel a culmination of pure passion and raw emotional energy. This all owes to the mechanic of the Rideback itself rather than the crafting of the story. The Rideback's design allows it to partake in adrenaline ... pumping races while showing off the flexibility, dynamicism, and elegance of a ballet dancer. It has the same balance of power and grace that is in the best fight choreography and best action set pieces in general. In Speed Racer, they achieved this by having ridiculous race tracks and cars that could jump, but by having the Ridebacks operate like Transformers, it gets even better. Speaking of which, Michael Bay's Transformers also achieves the same thing every time Optimus Prime or Bumblebee switch between their robot and car modes in the middle of the fight.

Then there's the story. It's so illogical I don't even have time to hate it--- I'm just baffled at why the author is trying to put a square peg in what's clearly a round hole. As everyone else says, the first episode is great and leads you to think this is going to be a hidden gem. The problem is that it sets up the story like it was going to be a sports anime about a dancer getting a second chance. Instead, it tries to force in a badly written terrorism/oppressive government plot that has nothing new to say and clashes with Rin's personal story.

First of all, the rebellion plot is as simple as, we need to stop this brutal dictatorship, but with Ridebacks. Like, why??? You're not saying anything new, you're not exploring any political/social ideas, and your antagonists have about as much nuance as the evil empires from a young adult novel. I guess the author really wanted to tell a government rebellion story.

Secondly, the show has to go through all types of mental gymnastics to try to make the rebellion stuff jive with Rin's story. It tries to tie Rin's desire for the adrenaline rush of riding Fuego with her accidental involvement in the terrorist activities, but in order to do that it has to devise all sorts of contrivances and irrational character decisions. Furthermore, it's clear that Rin's arc could've been told entirely separate from the rebellion stuff using plain racing. Speed Racer did it fantastically, using a little racing corruption to amp up the action and stakes, and Rideback could've done the same thing. You don't need a full fledged terrorist war to have action sequences. Hell, The Fast and the Furious did it better. Yeah, it later ends up much more ridiculous than Rideback, with characters redircting submarine missiles with their hands while riding in a car on ice in order to save the world from Charlize Theron, but remember that the first movie started with an undercover cop investigating illegal street racing. Perhaps Rideback could have done the rebellion stuff, but only after a tournament arc followed by a racing gang war arc, something along the lines of Tokyo Drift. If you want to take it from the dancer's stage to the world stage, fine, but you have to escalate it gradually.

The mental gymnastics also mean that Rin's personal struggles are irrational. Her point A and point B are fine- with point B being her realization of what ridebacking means to her just like Speed's spectacular arc completion, but the obstacles to that realization feel extremely contrived. Like, if you wanted the adrenaline rush, why would you risk your life to do it instead of just participating in a race? Why do you feel so bad about wanting that adrenaline rush? That's a perfectly normal reason to do a sport.

Basically, if you took out the rebellion stuff and added Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift and Speed Racer, you'd have a masterpiece. I'm extremely disappointed in this show because I still love the art and concept and can't stop thinking about what could've been. Hell, I might put the show in my favorites just so I can look at its gorgeous cover. I still recommend you watch the show, though. Watch the first episode, then only watch the action sequences, which alone make the show worth it (along with its cool aesthetic). Other than that, you're not missing out on much.If you want action AND a story, just go watch Speed Racer. It's great.

SPOILERS BELOW

Rideback is one of those shows that evokes an odd sense of nostalgia, but perhaps for the wrong reasons. As I write this review I think back to what about this show causes this sensation – is it the animation? No – as a kid I saw perhaps part of one episode. Is it the plot? Couldn’t be, as it wasn’t until last year that even realized this show wasn’t a typical sports flick. My best explanation is that this show is nostalgic for me due to its music, with a good OP and excellent ED that has a plethora of plays on my ... old iPod. However, looking back now after seeing the entire show over the course of several months as part of my college anime club, I’m disappointed that it fails to live up to my admittedly unrealistic nostalgic expectations. Rideback is a show of lackluster plot, poor pacing and frustrating characterization that fails to standout in any particular facet and fails to deliver in most other aspects.

As usual, I’ll turn to the categories. This show follows a typical sports-esque plot line that soon branches into a pseudo military-mecha. Protagonist Ogata Rin, with her ballet career permanently suspended due to an injury, finds solace in learning to ride and operate “Ridebacks,” bizarre motorcycle-mecha hybrids that remind her of dance. These machines become an integral part of the military plot, which involve typical themes such as powerful governments and terrorist movements. My problem with the show’s plot not comes in the fusion of these two lines, but in that neither of the two are developed meaningfully. Indeed, the show’s major theme revolves around Rin coming to terms with the loss of her mother and passion, but is constantly interrupted and overshadowed by devious government leaders and their dubious desires to turn the nation into a police state. There were several times throughout the show where the plot seemed almost political in nature, detracting from the characterization and storytelling. The plot-fusion, in my opinion, is also frustrating just because it’s very hard to tell sometimes exactly what is going on – Rin’s involvement in the military intrigue seem connected only tangentially at her incredible ability to ride the same mechanisms that threaten the wellbeing of the public. I found the plot generally contrived and unbelievable (as believable as an anime can be, at least).

What, then, of the characters? Here is where the show is at its most polarizing. Ogata, the MC, is extremely well developed, and grows and changes in a myriad of ways throughout the course of the show. Perhaps my favorite example of this is how she slowly comes to understand how ballet provided meaning to her not due to her skill but because of how it represented her late mother, and how working past inadequacy does not require perfection. It’s a powerful message, and developed progressively throughout the entire course of the show. However, the rest of the characters truly fall flat in terms of meaningful characterization. Rin’s best friend Shouko, along with the rest of the Rideback club, are almost entirely flat characters, with very little defining personality. They seem to exist almost entirely to admire and support Rin as she progresses from rider prodigy to wanted criminal #1, and constantly show up at opportune times to drive her own characterization forward, just to disappear as soon as they aren’t needed anymore. My favorite example of this is Suzuri, who basically exists just to die for Rin’s benefit in episode 10. It’s almost as if the writers spent all their characterization efforts on Rin through sucking them away from all of her friends.

The rest of the characters aren’t much better. Tenshirou “Goblin” is supposed to be a dark, secretive rogue who betrays choice bits of wisdom when the protagonists are at their lowest, but himself lacks any meaningful characterization that would cause me to be interested in him. He doesn’t change or grow besides grudgingly providing Rin with the tools she needs escape the bad guys. His relationship with Romanof, himself a generic and two-dimensional villain, somehow manages to remain ill-explained even after several episodes diving into it. Even Kiefer, mysterious figurehead of the resistance, seems to show up only to make mysterious comments and then disappear until he’s needed again for more of the same. Essentially, I found any character who wasn’t Rin to be poorly and insufficiently characterized, which damaged my interest in the show and plot as a whole.

Let’s turn next to a quick look at the art and music. I’m not connoisseur but I found the art fine, even good at some parts, and the animation generally consistent. I did think some of the opening ballet scenes, along with the ending dance, to be the best showing of the studio’s creative muscles, but the rest of the show did a decent job as well. The OP and ED, as noted, have really stood the test of time for me, particularly with the latter fitting well into the mood of Rin’s characterization. The rest of the BGM was neither fantastic nor noticeably distracting, so it’s hard for me to make any further comments.

In summary, Rideback is a show that succeeds greatly in the characterization of its main protagonist but fails in doing the same to its other players. The fused-genre plots, while not a bad idea in theory, are somewhat poorly implemented and lack the engagement that comes with other shows. Ultimately, I think the unbalanced characterization really feeds into my frustration with the plot, as having little interest in the characters causes me to lose focus on the story being told. I can see that evidenced even in this review, as I struggle to find anything else notable to say about the show. In terms of recommendation, I’d honestly look elsewhere if you’re looking for either an excellent sports anime or an engaging military intrigue story, or meaningful character development for anyone besides one character.

On paper, RideBack has all the pieces in hand that make up an excellent show. The RideBacks themselves are a rather intriguing take on mechs, the premise seems as though it should be epic, the art and animation are impressive, and the soundtrack is one of the best around. Unfortunately though, the success that the show could have attained is never reached. Don't take that to mean it's a bad show however, it is good. It's just that it could have been a true masterpiece if they didn't falter in a few crucial areas.

The biggest issue in my opinion lies in the shows lack of ... explaining the central plot. Basically, the story takes place in the future, where a military organization called the Global Government Plan, or GGP, is rapidly obtaining power, seemingly with a goal of ruling over the entire world. Romanov Kallenbach, the commander of the GGP, has decided to implement the use of new, military grade RideBacks as police units; but they prove to be nothing more than a heavy handed way for the GGP to display their dominance. Opposing the GGP is the Borderless Military Alliance, or BMA. This organizations goal of preserving the countries government and way of life puts them squarely in Kallenbach's crosshairs, and they're officially dubbed terrorists. A prominent(?) member of this group, a man known simply as Kiefer, along with Tenshiro Okakura, the head of Musashino University's Rideback Club, both have a past with Kallenbach as they created a special "RideBack Squad" when they worked together in the GGP before the group became what it currently is.

And that's about all I can say I'm absolutely certain of. Beyond that, the show doesn't make anything clear. For example, the show never makes Kallenbach's motives clear. Why is he going to all these extremes? It's clear that he doesn't have peoples safety in mind since the first time the new "White Rider" police RideBacks are put to use in the field, they murder a petty street gang member who willingly gave himself up. So maybe he's trying to set himself up for a coup to take control of the GGP himself? Nope; to the very end he follows his orders like a good soldier would. The only thing left to assume is that he just...takes his job really, really seriously, contrary to what his characters attitude and personality would suggest.

But the vagueness doesn't come close to ending there. We're never told exactly what the GGP's goals are. We can assume they want to rule the world, but it's never actually said; in fact events eventually start to hint heavily that that isn't their intention at all. In the end, I found the only real reason I saw the GGP as a bad organization was becuase the show simply presented them in that way, other than that, I really can't say with certainty that they're actually evil in any way. This in turn reinforces the idea that Kallenbach's regime, if you will, is something of a splinter group...but again, he follows orders from the top brass the whole time so... The BMA on the other hand is much more clear cut. They make it very clear that they're fighting to keep things the way they have been, the way the people want it. Unfortunately, were not told exactly who the BMA is fighting for. "Borderless" would imply they fight for the world, but they make no mention of that at all...rather than think too much on it, I just resigned to the assumption that borderless means they don't limit themselves to the borders of any one country.

Those are just a few parts of the plot that are left unclear though, as you watch you'll end up having tons of questions that just never get answered at all. It's truly unfortunate; the story bears many similarities of the ever popular Code Geass; a globe conquering, corrupt, military organization contested by a group of rebels who aim to keep things the way they are, and given the things the GGP put Rin, our lead, through she would have made an excellent champion of justice on the side of the BMA...sadly though, that doesn't happen.

Speaking of Rin; she's actually an extremely well done character. I'll even go so far as to say she's one of my favorite characters. Before the events of the show, we're shown her past as a famous ballet dancer. The daughter of a likewise famous ballerina, Rin is hailed as a prodigy, her future and success assured...until she sustains an injury in her leg while performing one night. Though she eventually recovers and should be able to get back on stage, she is left rattled and unsure of herself, effectively ruining her career. Succumbing to this fact, she decides to go to college, where she happens upon the schools RideBack club, and a unique RideBack called "Fuego". The club quickly realizes that Rin is a natural on the bike, displaying skill and control on it nearly on par with Tamayo, a fellow club member who also happens to be one of the best RideBack racers in the country.

If that seems pretty unlikely, you're right, it is. But what makes Rin such a good character is her acknowledgment of that fact. See, hers is a story of self discovery. She realizes right away that she somehow has a natural talent for these robot/motorcycle hyrids, despite not even knowing of their existence until she started classes at the school, and she can't figure out why that is. Why is it she can control Fuego, when Tamayo, one of the best riders there is, has so many problems with it she claims the machine to have terrible handling? Why is it she feels something akin to a connection between herself and this machine? Why does she get a feeling of excitement amidst chaos and danger when she's on Fuego? It's her quest to find these answers that is the main draw of this show. If you ask me, the plot would have been much better had they decided to focus on Rin's personal journey to get these answers. I get that they were sticking to the manga's story...but it's hard to ignore the potential that was missed here.

Unfortunately, the rest of the cast isn't nearly as well done. At all. The only other characters that get anything close to a backstory are Kiefer, Okakura, and Kallenbach, and even then, it's minimal. Once again, it's a shame as there was quite a bit of potential in all three of the aformentioned characters as well as in Tamayo and her brother, both the children of a prominent polititian...but again, they missed that opportunity.

Back on the bright side of things, the shows art and animation are superb. As is evidently the norm, it all bears a striking resemblance to the stuff Kyoto Animation puts out; it isn't quite as good as their stuff, but it's close, really close. What I do like is the shows avoidance of making the female characters ridiculously moe. They're much more...normal looking here, which is refreshing since all these studios seem to think the only way they can make a female is if they all look and sound 12 years old. Aside from that, environmental and lighting effects are well done and not over used, as are the use of camera effects, partcularly during the high-intensity scenes, which all look great as well.

Out of everything though, I was most impressed with the way they did the RideBacks themselves. A motorcycle that has arms sticking out where the handlebars should be sounds pretty wonky, and if you were to imagine it before seeing this show, you'd probably think it would look ridiculous, but they pulled it off flawlessly. Short of a couple of scenes, they addition of arms looks and feels completely natural, and by the end of the show, you could even say it looks pretty cool on most of the various models of the vehicle you see in the show. Even more impressive is their bi-pedal forms. The moment I first saw Rin and Fuego stand up, I was instantly reminded of Final Fantasy VI's Magitek Armors (more specifically, the rendition shown on the modern artwork for the games logo, look at Final Fantasy VI Advances box art to get what I'm saying), just with wheels.

Finally, the shows soundtrack is also very well done, particularly the opening and ending. The general theme is a very techno-ish sound during most of the action scenes, aside from the bouts between the GGP and BMA which take on a fitting military sound. The emotional scenes take a minimalistic tone generally sticking to a piano piece. All the other music is pretty run of the mill, but there's nothing that sounds bad.

Honestly, RideBack is a show I wouldn't recommend passing up. Despite the mess it made of it's plot and the general lack of character development, Rin's story and the art and animation manage to make this show rather memorable. Halfway through the show I realized that I could really care less what happened between the two opposing factions, and usually I'd say that makes a show a clear failure, but that wasn't the case here. I kept watching because I wanted to see how things would turn out for Rin. I wanted to see her get the answers to her many questions.

Really cool anime that may have slipped under the radar of some. Basically it's about a prima ballerina who has to stop doing ballet because of an injury. But while in college she stumbles upon this college club of people who ride this motorcycle-mechs called RideBacks. She finds that her ballet skills make her a natural rider, and falls in love with the sport. However things quickly deteriorate because the political situation in country is ruled by a global military regime which begins to implement martial law. And she finds herself unwittingly falling in with some terrorists who oppose the regime, and finds herself reluctantly ... forced into making tough decisions about who she wants to be and what kind of life she wants to live, and how dance for her, is integrated in all of that.

It's a great anime with really good character development, action, and is shorter at only 12 episodes. And has a really nice story. Go check it out. 😉

"RideBack" tells the story of a young girl and her friends struggle against a somewhat evil government using cool transforming motorcycles with arms. This anime falls into the "so bad it's laughably good" category, so I'd only recommend this if you like to chuckle at trashy television or if you're a diehard Madhouse fan. Full review follows. It does contain minor spoilers.

Anime that use heavy CG animation tend to be easy targets, but let me start this review by saying the animation quality in this show is fantastic. During my time watching this show, I don't really remember any scenes where I thought "god I ... hate CG" like I usually do. The RideBacks are all shiny, with varying textures and intricate parts that make them interesting to look at and even more satisfying when they are fighting and racing around.

And of the course the traditional 2D is all up to standard as well, with no glaring errors, but no big surprises either. Madhouse is known for producing quality anime, and their reputation should not be tarnished because of this show. The big problem with this show, is that the quality animation is attached to a god-awful story and forgettable characters.

There's nothing inherently wrong, in my humble opinion, with a good old fashioned "innocent-person-caught-up-in-revolution-against-dystopia" story. The thing is, for this story, they forgot to explain why the government is evil. Sure, we know from the get-go that the Colonel character is evil, but only because we are TOLD. Why couldn't we be just be shown a backstory where he kills a bunch of innocents for the GGP, the evil government? Why don't we see anything evil actually being done by the GGP? Every major evil act feels like it is carried out by the Colonel, as opposed to the organization he works for. This makes it really strange when our main character, Rin, gets dragged into the fight against the GGP- when we are also told that other characters are actually.... just fighting against the Colonel.

Speaking of Rin, this kind of story needs a main character who we can actually get behind and root for. Someone who has their own strength, and doesn't just get pushed around. Basically, anybody except the character they actually used. Rin rides a RideBack for the first time because somebody tells her to. She joins the club and rides in a race because someone told her to. She fights... because someone tells her to. The only decisions she makes on her own, are stupid ones. She initially becomes targeted by the government BY ACCIDENT, because she couldn't wait for the GGP to save her friend from terrorists, and instead of standing down to the GGP after saving her, keeps running away. You know, like a criminal would. She decides to give up on RideBacks... because she made one guy cough up blood?

But you know, all stories can be saved by having an interesting, well-rounded supporting cast with interesting designs. So not this story! Their designs are generic and forgettable, and I actually kept getting one characters name wrong right up until their death- whereupon I actually laughed out loud. Of the only two characters I found interesting, only one was even actually named out loud! Kiefer is the edgy white-haired rebel who's kinda just cool, but at least he was fun to watch. Similarly, Misao, whose name I literally had to look up on AniDB, is the sassy subordinate of the Colonel, and is also just a treat in the few scenes she's in. The rest of the characters either do nothing (Shoko and the the RideBack Club boys) undergo boring, cliche arcs (Tamayo and Okakura) or are just plain stupid and annoying (Suzuri).

Credit where credit is due, the music is really nice. The piano heavy score does it's best, but it's put over a story that doesn't deserve it. It's present at all the right moments, and their are no pieces that stick out as weak or annoying.

So how do I quantify this as "so bad it's good"? Well, I'd say the editing. See, I wouldn't count this as animation quality per se, it's more some of the technical aspects. For example, there are plenty of awkward scenes that end with just a long shot of a character's face, and their are many cuts between scenes that just feel tone deaf. If you can laugh at these kind of things easily, you will probably have a good time watching this anime.

The only other way I'd watch it again is intoxicated.

Tallies:
Story: 0/2
Art: 2/2
Sound: 2/2
Character: 0/2
Enjoyment: 0/2* (2/2 for the B-Anime Lovers)
Overall: 4/10
Closing remarks:

This anime has a cool concept hindered by it's story and characters. It's hard to enjoy unless you like watching bad anime, in which case you may find it to be a 6/10 instead.

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: ★★★☆☆