#Cinematography Institute

[xlmultimedia]

XL Multimedia and Animation Course offers a comprehensive range of courses that cover a wide variety of topics in the fields of graphic designing and animation. With courses designed by industry experts, students are guaranteed to receive high-quality training that will equip them with a thorough understanding of 2D and 3D animation, character design, digital painting, and visual effects.

Our course offerings are tailored to suit the needs of students who are looking to pursue a career in the graphic designing and animation industry. Our international diploma courses in graphic designing, digital marketing, video editing and compositing, VFX, 3D animation, film making, camera handling and cinematography techniques, website designing, and website development provide a well-rounded education that prepares students for jobs around the world.

[xlmultimediaandanimation]

If you're interested in learning more about our courses, don't hesitate to get in touch with our operator at +91-9781933000. We offer courses in graphic designing, digital marketing, website designing, camera training and handling, film making, acting, cinematography, architecture, videography, photography, game designing, video editing, and VFX.

Our courses are designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the creative industry, whether you're pursuing a hobby or looking to start a career. We're committed to providing high-quality education and training to help you achieve your goals and unleash your full potential. rewrite in 3000 characters in different way

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Aftersun (2022)

[cuttingedgepro]

Top 5 Cinematography Courses in Mumbai for Aspiring Filmmakers

When it comes to pursuing a career in filmmaking, few disciplines are as crucial as cinematography. It's the art and science of capturing a story visually, using a combination of camera work, lighting, and composition. For aspiring filmmakers in Mumbai, a city that's often called the heart of India's film industry, choosing the right cinematography course can be a game-changer.

At Cutting Edge Media Academy, we understand the importance of a solid foundation in cinematography. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top five cinematography courses in Mumbai to help you find the perfect fit for your ambitions.

1. Cutting Edge Media Academy – Advanced Cinematography Course

Why Choose Us? At the forefront of cinematic education in Mumbai, Cutting Edge Media Academy offers an Advanced Cinematography Course tailored for those serious about mastering the craft. Our course stands out for its blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience. With seasoned professionals as instructors and state-of-the-art equipment at your disposal, you'll gain the hands-on experience you need to excel in the film industry.

Key Highlights:

Comprehensive curriculum covering everything from basic camera work to advanced lighting techniques.

Regular workshops with industry experts.

Opportunities to work on real film projects during the course.

Small class sizes for personalized attention.

Ideal For: Aspiring filmmakers who want to delve deep into the art of cinematography with a curriculum that’s both intensive and practical.

2. Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) – Mumbai Campus

FTII is synonymous with film education in India. Their Mumbai campus offers a specialized course in cinematography that covers all aspects of the visual storytelling process. This course is perfect for those looking to gain a strong foundation in cinematography while being guided by some of the most respected names in the industry.

3. Whistling Woods International – Cinematography Specialization

Whistling Woods International is one of the top film schools in Asia, and their cinematography course is no exception. Offering a blend of theory, practical training, and exposure to global cinema, this course prepares students for the ever-evolving demands of the film industry.

4. Xavier Institute of Communications (XIC) – Diploma in Film, Television, and Digital Video Production

XIC’s diploma program offers a comprehensive introduction to the world of filmmaking, with a significant focus on cinematography. This course is designed to provide students with a solid grounding in the technical and creative aspects of visual storytelling.

5. Mumbai Digital Films Academy (MDFA) – Cinematography Course

MDFA offers a specialized cinematography course aimed at equipping students with the skills necessary to succeed in both the film and television industries. With a strong focus on the practical application of cinematographic techniques, this course is ideal for those looking to jumpstart their career.

Why Choose Mumbai for Your Cinematography Education?

Mumbai, often referred to as the "City of Dreams," is the epicenter of India's film and television industry. With access to some of the best film schools, state-of-the-art equipment, and countless opportunities to network with industry professionals, studying cinematography in Mumbai offers a unique advantage.

Choosing the right cinematography course is the first step toward a successful career in filmmaking. Whether you’re just starting or looking to refine your skills, the courses listed above offer a range of options to suit different needs and aspirations. At Cutting Edge Media Academy, we’re proud to be a part of this vibrant educational landscape, and we’re here to help you on your journey to becoming a master of visual storytelling.

Ready to start your journey? Enroll in our Advanced Cinematography Course today and take the first step toward your dream career in filmmaking!

[mahendrareddy6595]

Discover Premier Cinematography Courses in Bangalore

Elevate your filmmaking skills with top-tier cinematography courses in Bangalore. Dive into a comprehensive curriculum that covers everything from the fundamentals of camera work to advanced lighting techniques. Learn from industry experts, gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment, and build a strong portfolio. Whether you're a budding filmmaker or a professional looking to enhance your expertise, Bangalore's leading cinematography courses provide the perfect platform for your creative growth. Enroll now and start your journey towards becoming a master cinematographer!

[ravisarinfilminstitute]

How to Kickstart Your Photography Career: A Beginner's Guide

Introduction

Photography is an art form that captures the beauty of the world through the lens. If you're passionate about photography and considering it as a career, you're in the right place. This beginner's guide will help you understand how to kickstart your photography career, covering everything from choosing the right still photography course to finding the best photography institute of Delhi NCR.

Choosing the Right Photography Course

Selecting the right photography course is the first step in your journey. Whether you're interested in still photography or wildlife photography, there's a course tailored to your needs. Many institutes offer comprehensive programs that cover the basics and advanced techniques of photography.

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Visit RSFI Institute - Click Here

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American Film Institute (AFI) Announces 2024 Cinematography Intensive for Women

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Nine Months Course in Cinematography - May 2024

Enroll now for a nine-month course in Cinematography starting in May 2024 at Mindscreen Film Institute (MFi).For admissions, please contact us at 9841612595 or 9003012595. Don’t miss this opportunity to pursue your passion for Cinematography.Apply now and unleash your creativity at MINDSCREEN FILM INSTITUTE4, Ranga Lane, Ranga Road,Mylapore, Chennai – 600004 Lane, Ranga Road,Mylapore, Chennai –…

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Cinematography Courses in Hyderabad | Mee School

Interested in the art of film-making? Check out top Cinematography Courses in Hyderabad. Expert training with experienced professionals. Start your career today

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Episode 13 - AFI Int'l Cinematographers

[xlmultimediaandanimation]

STUDENT WORK OF XL MULTIMEDIA AND ANIMATION

[communistkenobi]

something I’ve noticed while rewatching other star wars properties after having watched andor is that it’s difficult to watch them without thinking about andor, almost as if andor has produced a new interpretive lens for the star wars universe. and I’m setting aside all comparisons of narrative quality or pacing or cinematography for a moment, because I don’t mean those things.

for example, rewatching the mandalorian, din’s amban rifle is really cool. it’s a weapon that is illegal to have in the new republic, and it functions not only as a mid-to-long range weapon, it also acts as a fairly heavy duty taser. now as I said, this weapon is very cool. I like it a lot! but its function and existence is meant to be separate from who din is as a person - the fact that he has a weapon that doubles as a taser is not meant to be a commentary on his character aside from “this guy is a badass.” to be fair, I think what it’s meant to be is a tool of his trade - he’s a bounty hunter, he hunts people, tasers are handy for that. but there is no larger observation being made about the type of person who would use a weapon like that, or the type of society that would produce a weapon of that kind. there is no discussion in the mandalorian about how the specific economic and social demands being made of din require him to use what is by all accounts an incredibly vicious (and outlawed) weapon to “just do his job.” that is a settled matter that is not intended to be part of the narrative arc of the story.

but in andor, a taser prod is used as a weapon by the prison guards in narkina-5, and in fact the entire floor the prisoners stand on acts as a kind of collective spatial taser. these are not just meant to be narrative obstacles for our hero to overcome, they are actively saying something about the institution that uses it - that the very fact of their existence is evil, that a society who produces those types of weapons are making a particular kind of statement about how they view control and punishment of the people they govern. tl;dr, andor is making that kind of weapon political, and is asking the audience to consider it not just as a tool of the empire but as an ideological expression of the empire itself.

and so to get to the point I’m trying to make, I think a lot of things in star wars are very much settled matters. while the canon seems to constantly be re-litigated and retconned, fundamental premises are not really considered questionable or up for debate, especially a lot of the established visual traditions. and I think what andor is doing is presenting the audience with these very questions - it is reinvigorating the politics of star wars by insisting that a lot more things in the universe are up for debate, that they are politically and socially produced by the fictional societies and cultures and governments that exist in star wars, and every piece of equipment and clothing and relationship says something about those fictional people. it is asking you to view star wars as a universe that is infused with political meaning, and that politics is not a discrete category that things like tasers or prisons or arranged marriages or administrative process can be separated from. to take down the empire in andor, you don’t just have to remove the head of state or kill all the stormtroopers; you need to destroy all the tasers, too

[cuttingedgepro]

Best Cinematography Institute In Mumbai | Cutting Edge Media

Discover your potential at Cutting Edge Media, the Best Cinematography Institute in Mumbai. Our institute offers state-of-the-art facilities, experienced faculty, and a curriculum designed to hone your skills in visual storytelling, lighting, and camera work. At Cutting Edge Media, you’ll receive hands-on training and industry insights, preparing you for a successful career in film and television. Join us and transform your passion for cinematography into a thriving profession.

[mahendrareddy6595]

Alliance School of Film & Media Studies | An Explorative Journey

The influential field of media plays a significant role in our lives, shaping perspectives and creating awareness. Dr. Abdul Raoof Mir, Program Director - Global Leaders’ Alliance, Department of Media and Journalism, elucidates how, as individuals, we are all connected to the media landscape, performing various functions including creating, distributing, and consuming content. Media Studies is an explorative journey through understanding how content is created, who the content is made for, and its impact on society. Designed by internationally renowned faculty and industry professionals, the programs offered at Alliance School of Film & Media Studies are in line with industry benchmarks and offer immersive learning experiences through its cutting-edge media labs.

[ravisarinfilminstitute]

Photography is a wonderful blend of creativity and technical skill, allowing us to capture and preserve moments forever. For those just starting out, the world of photography can seem both thrilling and a bit daunting. Here, we'll guide you through the essential steps to begin your journey in photography and start taking impressive photos.

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[morkitten]

KAMEN RIDER MEGAPOST

I've been deep in the Kamen Rider hole after taking a blind chance on it about a year ago and it's been one of the most rewarding discoveries I've had, so I'm doing a megapost where I try to convey what's so interesting and unique about this series that you can literally just start anywhere. There's a Kamen Rider series for everyone, and I hope to convince you of it and point to where you can give it a try for yourself. Click on the read more to see more!

WHAT IS KAMEN RIDER?

Kamen Rider is a superhero that rides a motorcycle who's often bug-themed, but not always. The Kamen Rider franchise started in 1971 and, with the exception of a few periods of dry spells, keeps making new yearly series to this day. It's part of Japan's many, many decades old craft of special effects-focused TV shows and movies, called "Tokusatsu" (literally, "special filming"). It was conceived and spearheaded by Shotaro Ishinomori, an incredibly famous mangaka in Japan, responsible for not only Kamen Rider, but also Super Sentai, Cyborg 009, Zubat, Kikaider, and many other TV series and mangas. The amount of works he has produced in manga and TV is incredibly huge, and his works have been incredibly influential to Japanese culture as a whole. Kamen Rider can be argued that is his biggest, most important contribution.

A consistent theme in early Kamen Rider series is that he's a lonesome, grieving hero, in which his sadness fuels his righteous anger at the evils that he's fighting against. He's been transformed into a monster against his will, and now must fight against the very forces that created him. In every Kamen Rider series, the power that the protagonist wields is the same power that fuels the evil forces he fights against. In a way, you can see it as a metaphor for Kamen Rider's production itself: It must use the evil power of mass media to carry its anti-authoritarian messages that go against the very forces that even allow it to exist. It's the tale of every artist trying to create something earnest and culturally and artistically enriching in the cynical mass media space.

WHY WATCH KAMEN RIDER?

I was never really sold on Kamen Rider at first. I remember watching a bit of Kamen Rider Black when I was very young, so I was always nostalgically curious about it. But whenever I saw the newer Kamen Rider stuff pop up on Twitter or whatever, I had always dismissed it as "eh, whatever bug bit you I guess made you interested in that". Something about the super toyetic costume designs and super fake CG just never really inspired my attention, and it was easy to dismiss it as something for kids, something in that same place in my mind as "what shonenheads are into". I guess what I mean is that I saw newer Kamen Rider as "low art". It's easy to categorize it as such, people in silly suits selling toys, doing really silly comedy, with silly CG. I've seen Power Rangers before, it's just that. It has to be cynical!

I had never done such a big 180 before. Yes, Kamen Rider is "for the kids" (with some exceptions), yes it has a ton of silliness to it, but there's also a lot of good cinematography, fantastic stunts, and really great, serious drama. Kamen Rider is seen as a cultural institution in Japan for all those reasons. It's a way to keep a lot of theater traditions alive in a modern space, a way to have many young, extremely talented actors have a big break, a way to keep tokusatsu traditions and craft (analog special effects, stuntmen, martial arts actors) alive, employed, and continuously evolving, to create something that bridges the gap across all generations in Japan.

It's difficult to explain, but Kamen Rider has the important positive qualities of extremely good older television like Star Trek and Columbo. A TV show that doesn't want to aspire to be a hollywood movie like Netflix series cheaply try to do, but that sees the value of theater and theater skills in television.

Another thing to note is that because Kamen Rider is such a huge cultural institution, if you enjoy anime and japanese video games, there's so so much about what you love on your favorite anime and games that are directly inspired by Kamen Rider. Every japanese action game you've enjoyed? Ninja Gaiden, Shinobi, Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe, Hagane, Bayonetta, they -all- have an incredibly huge amount of Kamen Rider in them. Nearly everything Gainax, Hideaki Anno and Studio Trigger made. Pokémon, Digimon, Dragon Ball, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh (especially on the superb monster designs), Taiyo Matsumoto, every japanese character that has ever stricken a dab. It's not just references, there are fundamental things about pretty much all of these games, mangas and animes I've listed that are directly attributed to Kamen Rider. So if you enjoy anything I've listed, you ought to give it a try.

OKAY, WHERE TO START?

One of the greatest things about Kamen Rider is that since every series is its own closed continuity (there are crossover movies but they largely don't matter), you can pretty much start anywhere you'd like. Of course, with this many ice cream flavors, one can't help but become paralyzed by the abundance of choice, even though, and I can't emphasize this enough, every Kamen Rider series I've watched so far have all been pretty good to fantastic. I'm sure there's a couple of stinkers I've avoided, but a hitrate like this feels miraculous, I don't understand how does Kamen Rider from so many different eras can keep such a consistent quality even when they can feel so different from one another and be spearheaded by such different creators. You can maybe look them all up and decide what theme you're most attracted by, or, I can maybe help you and tell you about the ones I've watched!

So, here's a list of the Kamen Riders I've watched, with short descriptions of each of them and what makes them appealing, and a mini-list of recommended episodes to sample, in case you're still not sure whether to jump in:

SHOWA ERA (1971 - 1994)

KAMEN RIDER (1971)

The original, and also the least I've watched so far, haven't even gotten to 10 episodes yet. It famously started with an incredibly small budget and it's magical to see what tricks the production employed in order to make it work and be exciting and fun while spending as little money as possible. The stunts are very dangerous but very cool to see. A long, very episode-by-episode affair, but if you get excited on cheap sets and cheap cinema tricks and special effects used very cleverly, this is going to light you up like a christmas tree. It also employs some thriller-inspired cinematography that is very exciting. The writing doesn't offer much substance, but it has this quality where it really believes in itself and in the ideals that Kamen Rider is supposed to represent that is very easy to feel wrapped up in. Might bore you if you're not already sold on the appeal of old tokusatsu.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 6: The Grim Reaper Chameleon! Episode 7: The Grim Reaper Chameleon Showdown: Old World's Fair

KAMEN RIDER AMAZON (1974)

It's basically just the 1971 Kamen Rider but the main character is Tarzan. It runs only half as long as other Kamen Rider series so if you wanna do a whole Showa-era KR series quickly, it's a very solid recommendation. It's very violent for a children's show, with Amazon often slicing and mauling his monster opponents in bloody messes, and it looks really sick. The suits and special effects are better than how the original Kamen Rider starts off, but it still has that appeal of being old and budgeted for a TV show, which in this case is a huge positive, imo. Also again, the writing isn't much to write about, so don't expect big narrative payoffs or anything like that, you really have to enjoy it on an episode-by-episode basis, which is fine, because the monsters and special effects are extremely cool, the characters are charismatic, and the little episodic plots are fun.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 4: Run! The Raging Jungler! Episode 11: The Golden Snail is the Grim Reaper's Envoy!? Episode 16: Garanda's Tokyo Sea of Flames Operation Episode 17: Mt.Fuji Big Explosion?! The Tokyo Fry Pan Operation

KAMEN RIDER BLACK (1987)

This was supposed to be a revival of Kamen Rider into public interest after being dormant for a while, so it also feels like a retelling of the first Kamen Rider in a sense, has a lot of common elements, but with slick 80s production and sensibilities all over. If you love how 80s action, sci-fi and thriller movies look like, you'll love the cinematography and production of Kamen Rider Black. It's edgier, sleeker, and even scarier, borrowing a lot of horror/thriller elements that were in vogue at the time, while still being a hopeful, heroic and uplifting presence for children. Has an overarching plot that develops over time but it's, again, really about enjoying it on an episode-by-episode basis, as the overarching plot develops veeeery slowly and in very small portions. I supremely love how this series looks, I love the special effects, I love the suits, and it has my favorite transformation sequence.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 1: Black!! Transformation Episode 2: Monster Party Episode 18: Sword Saint Bilgenia Episode 20: Rider's Grave Episode 23: Marumo's Magic Power Episode 24: College Girl's Nightmare

SHIN KAMEN RIDER PROLOGUE (1992) (MOVIE)

This doesn't have anything to do with the Anno movie, the Shin here is written differently. A movie that celebrates the series' 20th anniversary that tells its own story with its own Kamen Rider, so it feels like a "reboot" or "re-interpretation" of Kamen Rider. It's darker and scarier, with a Kamen Rider that looks much more like a monster than an armored hero, and leans more into the horror side of Kamen Rider, being more adult-focused. Very violent and very cool.

KAMEN RIDER ZO (1993) (MOVIE)

This was supposed to be a full-fledged Kamen Rider series but the 80s bubble popped and they decided to shift production into a short movie instead. Might be a good introduction point, since it's a short 1-hour watch, and has a ton of really great special effects. Everything that is great about Black's cinematography, propwork and special effects apply here, except since it's just one movie, they're really throwing everything they've got into it

HEISEI AND REIWA ERAS (2000-Present)

Kamen Rider went dormant in the 90s until it was revived back into its TV format by Kamen Rider Kuuga, which was a major success. Since then, there's been yearly new Kamen Rider series on Japanese television, non-stop.

The difference between the Kamen Rider of old (Showa era) and the Kamen Rider series past this revival (Heisei, Reiwa) is that newer Kamen Rider series, despite also being monster-of-the-week romps, tend to have a more complex overarching plot which they tend to lean more into, and less of dangerous stunts and practical effects. Episodes also tend to be two-parters, so maybe calling them monster-of-the-week is innacurate, it's more like monster-of-every-two-weeks. This shift is fine because their reliance on denser plots with a much larger supporting cast of characters, more than makes up for it. It feels less that they're stretching episodes into two-parters and more like they're filling these episodes with so much other stuff that making them 2-parters makes sense.

Also, to note, as modern Kamen Rider goes on, there's more reliance on CGI, but all the monsters (and Kamen Riders) are practical suits and there's still plenty of practical effects, so don't let the super artificial candy-colored videogamey CGI effects trick you into thinking that that's all there is to modern KR.

KAMEN RIDER KIVA (2008)

Kiva is the only "Heisei phase 1" series I've watched so far (early to late 2000s), and I absolutely love it, one of my favorite Kamen Riders. It's considered to be a bit of a black sheep of Heisei phase 1 Kamen Riders but I think fans severely overlook and misjudge Kiva. Kamen Rider Kiva is vampire-themed and is about this shut-in, extremely shy boy who, mysteriously, is also the heroic Kiva, that springs into action whenever Fangires (vampire monsters) are about to kill humans. However, it also takes place 20 years before, in the 1980s, where Fangires are also attacking, but there's no Kiva around to stop them. Instead, humans have created a secret vampire-hunting association and are developing their own technology to stop them. What's the connection between the characters from each time era? Mysteries...!! It has a large cast of characters and incredible soap opera drama and romance that'll keep you heavily invested in all of its twists and turns. It's a very narrative affair which makes it difficult to recommend episodes out of order since it can be confusing to catch things out of context. The fact that it takes place both in the 2000s and in the 80s means every episode has both an A-plot and a B-plot, which avoids the pitfall of some modern Kamen Riders of two-parters that don't have enough going on, because Kiva is absolutely overstuffed with great characters and narratives. The drama is great, the romance is great, the comedy is superb, and the fights are awesome too. I really can't recommend it enough.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 1: Fate: Wake Up! and Episode 2: Suite: Father and Son Violin (2-parter) Episode 17: Lesson: My Way and Episode 18: Quartet: Listen to Your Heart's Voice (2-parter) (I have trouble recommending more episodes out of order because this series is very narratively-involved!)

KAMEN RIDER W (2009)

W is a very well-received and loved series, and it's easy to see why. It's one of those things that if you watch it you immediately go "oh, if I watched this as a kid I would be so so into it". It has fun, charismatic characters that you want to see every week, simple to understand and easy to like. It's detective-themed and the Kamen Rider is actually comprised of a fusion of two people - Shotaro, who wants to be a tough, hard-boiled detective but is unintentionally kind of stupid and goofy and isn't seen very seriously by people around him, but has a heart of gold, and Phillip, who is an androgynous autistic introvert that basically has the entirety of Google inside his mind, and uses this to help find information to solve cases. Together they transform into Kamen Rider W (W as in "double", get it?), with each controlling a literal half of the suit (right and left), that they can switch properties of and create different combinations. They're great characters but who really steals the show is the comedy relief sidekick, Akiko. She's an immensely funny actress and character.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episodes 1 and 2: W Search Episodes 9 and 10: S Terror Episodes 23 and 24: L on the Lips Episodes 25 and 26: P's Game

KAMEN RIDER OOO (2010)

OOO is another extremely beloved Kamen Rider series, and the one I actually started with. Its themes are "desire" and "currency", and the evils and necessities of living in a world that depends on them. The main character is a lovable homeless hippie (Eiji) who's egged on by his extremely androgynous edgy greedy demon boyfriend (Ankh) to collect "medals", because said demons are greedy for them and require them for power. These medals also allow Eiji to transform into Kamen Rider OOO (pronounced "Os" or "Osu"), and different medals can be slot into his transformation belt to create different combinations. Other demons, that are not Eiji's demon babygirl, want to use humans' desires as piggy banks to generate more medals for their own greed, at the cost of these humans' lives. Eiji needs to stop them and collect all the medals before they do. Again, easy to enjoy, easy to see why it's beloved. Filled with a light-hearted fun energy that you can feel as soon as you watch the ska-inspired opening. There's a small stretch of it that feels a bit by-the-numbers, but the drama ramps up and pays off immensely well as it goes on. An extremely fujoshi Kamen Rider series.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 1: Medals, Underwear and a Mysterious Arm Episode 2: Desire, Popsicles and Presents (2-parter with Episode 1) Episode 13: A Siamese Cat, Stress and the Genius Surgeon Episode 14: Pride, Surgery, and a Secret (2-parter with Episode 13)

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE (2011)

Fourze is written by Kazuki Nakashima, the Studio Trigger writer responsible for stuff like Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill and Brand New Animal, so that may be something that's either going to extremely excite you, or make you very wary of it. I personally feel he's not a very good writer, but that's okay, because the rest of the production is fantastic, and I still enjoyed Fourze a good amount! The main character is an extremely likeable and charismatic school delinquent that wants to befriend the entire school and creates his own Kamen Rider school club after being bestowed with the Kamen Rider Fourze technology thanks to, uh, a portal that sends him to a space base on the moon? So it's a half-and-half school theme and space theme Kamen Rider. The school club has a large cast of characters but the show doesn't really know what to do with them unless the episodes focus on a specific club member. Fourze really, really drags in the middle (this is when the problem of two-parters feeling stretched out when the writing isn't very strong hits hardest), but as it crescendos to its finale it gets -very- good again. This might be the weakest Kamen Rider out of the ones I've watched, imo, but still, I think there's quite a lot to enjoy here.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episodes 1 and 2 (Youthful Transformation and Space Superiority) (2-parter) Episodes 5 and 6 (Friendship, Inside and Outside and Electric Shock, Steadily) (2-parter) Episodes 13 and 14 (School Refusal and Stinger Onslaught) (2-parter)

KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS (2016) (WEB SERIES)

Wait, didn't I review this one before?! No, no, this is AMAZONS, plural! It doesn't actually have that much in common with the original Amazon, being very much its own thing, and what it borrows from Amazon is mostly just to help frame this series as a more adult, violent affair, since Amazon, despite it being very much for kids, was back then known as "the violent Kamen Rider". It's also an Amazon Prime-exclusive series, so they did it for Branding, too. A very dramatic, violent, adult Kamen Rider show that's spearheaded by my favorite Kamen Rider director, Hidenori Ishida. He's a supremely good director that brings his A-game to this series. It follows an extermination team that hunts terrifying man-eating monsters called Amazons. There's two Kamen Riders, Alpha and Omega, that are also Amazons but they largely fight against other Amazons. Alpha is set on killing every Amazon, while Omega has just awakened into an Amazon and a Kamen Rider himself, and has to decide what he wants to do and who and what to fight for. At least this is the premise of Season 1, Season 2 I will not spoil but it is the production going "oh, Amazon season 1 did well enough for us to do whatever we want, and we'll do exactly that". It's the most well-equipped artists in tokusatsu breaking off their shackles and doing a dramatic magnum opus. It's dark, edgy, but also earnest and sentimental. It's my absolute favorite Kamen Rider show. Also, the fact that the monsters are called "Amazons" is used for extremely pointed stabs at Amazon (company), which is hilarious.

This series is completely narratively-driven, so I can't recommend episodes out of order! Watch the whole thing!

KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE (2019)

Robot-themed! Zero-One takes place in a future where robots and humans live together, like Megaman or Astro Boy. It's about the struggle of humans and robots to live in harmony with one another, and it develops those themes and its world extremely well. The main character (Aruto) is very goofy and wants to be a manzai comedian but his lame puns always bomb. He is, however, also the heir of a massive company that builds all the robot people! Aruto is suddenly, unexpectedly, thrown into the company as its President after his grandfather dies. This responsibility is too much for him, but he decides to take on the mantle as he wants to bring a smile to people's faces, and that he legitimately cares about robots, as he was raised and saved by one as a kid. With this in mind, he takes on his grandfather's KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE technology and uses it to attempt to stop a terrorist robot faction (METSUBOUJINRAI.NET) that's bent on killing all humans, and corrupting other robots for that goal. All while also trying to advocate for a harmonious relationship between humans and robots. This is honestly fantastic, and may seem super goofy at first but gets very complex as it goes on. Very great balance of lighthearted comedy and serious drama, and another one of my absolute favorite Kamen Rider series, right up there with Kiva and Amazons.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 1: I'm the President and a Kamen Rider Episode 2: Is AI an Enemy? Ally? Episode 5: His Passionate Manga Path Episode 6: I Want to Hear Your Voice (2-parter with episode 5)

KAMEN RIDER GEATS (2022)

Battle-royale themed Kamen Rider, with a lot of inspiration on korean dramas and reality shows. It definitely feels inspired by, say, Squid Game. Gods select people to compete in a Kamen Rider battle royale, and the winner of the final round gets to remake the world in whatever way they see fit. The production is a bit cheap after the last two KRs before Geats underperformed, and they had to scale the production down. The fact that the series tries to convey the excitement of extremely high stakes so often only for those stakes to completely deflate thanks to how the premise works, creates a situation where you don't know what to care because anything can get undone and completely changed so often anyway. Near the end the series gets particularly bad with this. Still, it has some good characters, some nice drama and some fun comedy, so it's not bad, but definitely on my lower tier of KRs alonside Fourze. Again: No KR I've watched was bad! So, even the ones that might sound that I'm down on them I still very much enjoyed.

(Too narratively-driven to recommend episodes out of order! Try the first couple of episodes!)

SHIN KAMEN RIDER (2023) (MOVIE)

Hideaki Anno's film! Hideaki Anno is a huge Kamen Rider fan and it really shows throughout the movie, with a lot of pulls from the Kamen Rider manga specifically, while also being nostalgic for a lot of the original Kamen Rider TV show from 71. Still, it ends up feeling less like "a Kamen Rider movie" and more like "an Anno movie" with a Kamen Rider-theming to it. It doesn't put its focus on the stunts and the fight choreography that you'd see in other Kamen Rider productions, but more on Anno's style of cinematography, his sense of timing, special effects and animation. It also retreads several of the themes and elements that he's drawn from before, a lot of Evangelion is in this. It's good, I like it!

KAMEN RIDER GOTCHARD (2023)

Currently ongoing! Very Y2K nostalgic, with a Kamen Rider suit that has that Y2K aqua color to it, and is themed around... Pokemon cards? There are these creatures called Chemys, that are contained inside alchemical cards that have been let loose and need to be captured again, or at least kept away from the villains. The main character is this super earnest, almost helplessly naively optimistic schoolboy called Ichinose that has been unexpectedly thrown into the secret world of alchemy and given the power to become Kamen Rider Gotchard, as a powerful benevolent alchemist dies in his arms. As a promise to him, he vows to find the Chemys. Ichinose also believes that they're extremely good-natured beings that are only corrupted by human malice, and really believes in the friendship of Chemys and humans, while other alchemists feel Ichinose's ideas of Chemys are too naive and soft-hearted. It's, uh, I don't know what to think of it, honestly! The first couple of episodes really did not sold me on it, but it gets better and better as it goes on, though, it's also, like, a lot of Big Important things keep happening in rapid-fire in a way that I can't tell whether the show has a higher plan for all of it or if it's just throwing things for easy hype. Nearly every episode there's a new Kamen Rider transformation, it's kind of insane. Still, this is preferrable than the stretches of not much happening that plague some other KR seasons. I've been enjoying it a good amount, honestly!

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 5: Burn! Fight! Wrestler G! Episode 7: Goodbye, Saboneedle

And those are all the Kamen Riders I've watched! Something else that can help you decide on which series to try out, is that the NHK made a public popularity poll of Kamen Rider series, with the results being found here! From here, you can tell which KRs are most beloved and well-remembered in Japan, and use that as a guidance for yourself, if you'd like. But again, I must emphasize, you can really start most anywhere, so feel free to do exactly that!