In Zawame City (沢芽市, Zawame-shi), a large company known as the Yggdrasill Corporation transformed the once-bustling suburb a city into a jōkamachi. To escape the resulting feeling of oppression, many of the youth in Zawame formed dance crews called Beat Riders to bring joy back into people's lives. Also rising in popularity is the Inves Game, a simulator that uses strange devices known as Lockseeds to summon monsters known as Inves. Kota Kazuraba, a member of the dance group Team Gaim, tries to find his place in the world while torn between his loyalty to his teammates and his sister Akira's insistence that he starts acting like an adult and finds a proper job. When Team Gaim's captain disappears after informing Kota of a strange belt he found, Kota discovers that the Lockseeds and Inves are from an alternate dimension known as Helheim Forest. Encountering a mysterious girl resembling his Team Gaim teammate and close friend Mai Takatsukasa, Kota uses a Sengoku Driver belt and the Orange Lockseed to become a samurai-armored warrior that is later named Armored Rider Gaim. In the meantime, including Team Baron's leader Kaito Kumon as Armored Rider Baron and Kota's Team Gaim teammate Mitsuzane Kureshima as Ryugen, other Armored Riders appear to amass social power throughout Zawame: Team Raid Wild's Ryoji Hase as Kurokage, Team Invitto's Hideyasu Jonouchi as Gridon, and the perfectionist ex-soldier Oren Pierre Alfonso as Bravo. Unbeknownst to the Armored Riders, the Yggdrasill Corporation monitors them and the Inves Games while the head of its R&D division, Mitsuzane's older brother Takatora, is the enigmatic white Armored Rider Zangetsu who is protecting a dark secret hidden within Helheim Forest.
Eventually, when Kota confronts Takatora as he becomes a New Generation Armored Rider alongside the Armored Rider development scientist Ryoma Sengoku as Duke, his aide Yoko Minato as Marika, and the Lockseed Dealer Sid as Sigurd, he learns the horrible truth of Helheim Forest: that it was home to a once-prosperous civilization that was eradicated by the strange plants growing throughout it, as anyone who consumed the fruit of these plants is turned into an Inves. Finding an ally in DJ Sagara, a pirate radio DJ who knows more than he is letting on such as the intelligent Overlord Inves, Kota finds himself in the middle of a Sengoku period-like brawl among various factions for the right to possess the power of Helheim Forest–the proverbial forbidden fruit itself–and the fate of life on Earth as he knows it. But while adamant to obtain the Golden Fruit to save the world, Kota notices the disastrous news from Oren and Hideyasu that Kaito transforms into his monstrous form and goes insane. His main objective is to use the fruit's power to shatter the status quo of the world before Kota stops his rampage. After Kota successfully stops Kaito's reign and leaves with Mai to another planet, Mitsuzane and the others face off against Kota's old enemy, Kogane.
"Ressha Sentai ToQger vs. Kamen Rider Gaim: Spring Break Combined Special" Transliteration: "Ressha Sentai Tokkyūjā Tai Kamen Raidā Gaimu Haruyasumi Gattai Supesharu" (Japanese: 烈車戦隊トッキュウジャーＶＳ仮面ライダー鎧武 春休み合体スペシャル)
Shojiro Nakazawa
Nobuhiro Mouri
March 30, 2014 (2014-03-30)
24
"The New Formidable Overlords" Transliteration: "Aratana Kyōteki Ōbārōdo" (Japanese: 新たな強敵オーバーロード)
Hidenori Ishida
Gen Urobuchi
April 6, 2014 (2014-04-06)
25
"Gridon and Bravo's Strongest Tag Team" Transliteration: "Guridon Burābo Saikyō Taggu" (Japanese: グリドン・ブラーボ最強タッグ)
Hidenori Ishida
Gen Urobuchi Jin Haganeya
April 13, 2014 (2014-04-13)
26
"Baron's Genesis Transformation!" Transliteration: "Baron no Geneshisu Henshin!" (Japanese: バロンのゲネシス変身！)
Satoshi Morota
Gen Urobuchi Jin Haganeya
April 20, 2014 (2014-04-20)
27
"Time to Know the Truth" Transliteration: "Shinjitsu o Shiru Toki" (Japanese: 真実を知る時)
Satoshi Morota
Gen Urobuchi
April 27, 2014 (2014-04-27)
28
"The Betrayal of Zangetsu" Transliteration: "Uragiri no Zangetsu" (Japanese: 裏切りの斬月)
Takayuki Shibasaki
Gen Urobuchi Jin Haganeya
May 4, 2014 (2014-05-04)
29
"The Overlord King" Transliteration: "Ōbārōdo no Ō" (Japanese: オーバーロードの王)
Takayuki Shibasaki
Gen Urobuchi
May 11, 2014 (2014-05-11)
30
"The Red and Blue Kikaider" Transliteration: "Aka to Ao no Kikaidā" (Japanese: 赤と青のキカイダー)
Ryuta Tasaki
Nobuhiro Mouri
May 18, 2014 (2014-05-18)
31
"The Whereabouts of the Forbidden Fruit" Transliteration: "Kindan no Kajitsu no Yukue" (Japanese: 禁断の果実のゆくえ)
Ryuta Tasaki
Gen Urobuchi
May 25, 2014 (2014-05-25)
32
"The Strongest Power! Kiwami Arms" Transliteration: "Saikyō no Chikara! Kiwami Āmuzu" (Japanese: 最強の力！極アームズ)
Hidenori Ishida
Gen Urobuchi
June 1, 2014 (2014-06-01)
33
"The Great Beat Riders' Gathering!" Transliteration: "Bīto Raidāzu Daishūketsu!" (Japanese: ビートライダーズ大集結！)
Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard: The Fateful Sengoku Movie Battle (仮面ライダー×仮面ライダー 鎧武&ウィザード 天下分け目の戦国MOVIE大合戦, Kamen Raidā × Kamen Raidā Gaimu Ando Wizādo Tenkawakeme no Sengoku Mūbī Daigassen), released on December 14, 2013, is the annual entry of the "Movie Wars" film series, featuring a crossover between the cast and characters from Kamen Rider Gaim and Kamen Rider Wizard. A short teaser of the film was first shown during the screening of Kamen Rider Wizard in Magic Land,[1] with a later teaser shown after the finale of Wizard announcing the release date. The events of the movie take place between episodes 9 and 10.
Kamen Rider Gaim the Movie: Great Soccer Battle! Golden Fruits Cup! (劇場版 仮面ライダー鎧武 サッカー大決戦!黄金の果実争奪杯（カップ）!, Gekijōban Kamen Raidā Gaimu Sakkā Daikessen! Ōgon no Kajitsu Sōdatsu Kappu!) was released in Japanese theaters on July 19, 2014, double-billed with Ressha Sentai ToQger the Movie: Galaxy Line S.O.S.. It was a collaboration with the Japanese soccer league J. League and featured cameo appearances by professional soccer players. The film's antagonist Kogane, Kamen Rider Mars, was portrayed by kabuki actor Kataoka Ainosuke VI.[6] The events of the movie take place between episodes 37 and 38.
Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Drive & Gaim: Movie War Full Throttle (仮面ライダー×仮面ライダードライブ&鎧武 MOVIE大戦フルスロットル, Kamen Raidā × Kamen Raidā Doraibu Ando Gaimu Mūbī Taisen Furu Surottoru) was released in Japanese theaters on December 13, 2014. It featured a crossover with the then airing Kamen Rider series Kamen Rider Drive as well as the epilogue of Gaim's story, reuniting the main cast.
As with every year, Televi-kun sells a limited edition "Hyper Battle DVD" (超（ハイパー）バトルDVD, Haipā Batoru Dī Bui Dī) that tells a unique and non-canon story of the members of the cast. For Gaim, the DVD is titled Kamen Rider Gaim: Fresh Orange Arms Is Born! ~You Can Also Seize It! The Power of Fresh~ (仮面ライダー鎧武 フレッシュオレンジアームズ誕生！～君もつかめ！フレッシュの力～, Kamen Raidā Gaimu Furesshu Orenji Āmuzu Tanjō! ~Kimi mo Tsukame! Furesshu no Chikara~). During the events of the DVD, Kota and Kaito learn their Lockseeds rusted as they and Mai are visited by the mysterious girl who cryptically tells them the best way to restore the Lockseeds is to make them "fresh." From cleaning the Team Gaim garage to Kaito making a fruit tart and then Mai setting up a fashion show, future Mai explains the final step is a fresh smile. Though Kota succeeds with his Lockseed transformed into a Fresh Orange Lockseed, Kaito is disillusioned and decides to go to Hellheim Forest. Found by Kamen Riders Zangetsu and Ryugen, who respectively equip the Mango and Pine Lockseeds, Kaito becomes Kamen Rider Baron Kiwi Arms to call out Kota as he transforms into the shiny Kamen Rider Gaim Fresh Orange Arms.
Gaim Gaiden (鎧武外伝, Gaimu Gaiden, "Gaim Side Story") is a set of two V-Cinema releases that focus on side stories of Takatora Kureshima as Kamen Rider Zangetsu and Kaito Kumon as Kamen Rider Baron. Both releases are named after their primary character. The films feature two new Kamen Riders, Kamen Rider Idun and Kamen Rider Tyrant. The V-Cinemas were released on April 22, 2015. The events of the movie take place between episodes 20 and 21.
A second Gaim Gaiden focusing on side stories of Ryoma Sengoku as Kamen Rider Duke and Zack as Kamen Rider Knuckle was released on November 11, 2015. The films feature two new Kamen Riders, Kamen Rider Saver and Kamen Rider Black Baron.
A third Gaim Gaiden titled Kamen Rider Gridon vs. Kamen Rider Bravo (仮面ライダーグリドンVS仮面ライダーブラーボ, Kamen Raidā Guridon Tai Kamen Raidā Burābo) focusing on a side story of Hideyasu Jonouchi as Kamen Rider Gridon and Oren Pierre Alfonso as Kamen Rider Bravo was released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on October 25, 2020. The web series features a new Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider Sylphy.[7]
Novels
Kamen Rider Gaim (仮面ライダー鎧武, Kamen Raidā Gaimu), written by Gun Snark and Jin Haganeya and supervised by Gen Urobuchi, is part of a series of spin-off novel adaptions of the Heisei Era Kamen Riders. The events of the novel took place after Kamen Rider Knuckle of Gaim Gaiden: Kamen Rider Duke/Kamen Rider Knuckle. The novel was released on March 24, 2016.
Kamen Rider Gaim Gaiden: Kamen Rider Zangetsu (仮面ライダー鎧武 外伝 仮面ライダー斬月, Kamen Raidā Gaimu Gaiden Kamen Raidā Zangetsu), written by Nobuhiro Mouri, is a novelization of the 2019 stage play Kamen Rider Zangetsu: Gaim Gaiden (仮面ライダー斬月‐鎧武外伝‐, Kamen Raidā Zangetsu Gaimu Gaiden). The novel was released on June 1, 2020. It takes place before Kamen Rider Gridon vs. Kamen Rider Bravo.
Video game
A PlayStation 3 and Wii U sequel to Kamen Rider: Battride War titled Kamen Rider: Battride War II (仮面ライダー バトライド・ウォーII, Kamen Raidā Batoraido Wō Tsū) was released on June 26, 2014. It featured characters from Gaim as well as characters and scenarios based on the then-recent Kamen Rider series and films. A limited edition version of the game featuring music from the TV series and films was also released.[8]
Trademarks on Kamen Rider Gaim were requested in May 20, 2013, and the show was officially announced on July 25, 2013.[9] The series producer, Naomi Takebe, wanted Gaim to return to the style of early Heisei era series, in which multiple Riders are featured. Drawing inspiration from the Sengoku period, Bandai presented the idea of using fruits as a core theme to Takebe, which led to the creation of the Arms Change. Takebe approached Gen Urobuchi, known for Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Fate/Zero, to serve as the series main writer, and Ryuta Tasaki, who had previously worked on Kamen Rider Agito and Kamen Rider Ryuki, to direct. In an interview, Urobuchi states that Takebe requested that the series not follow the two-episode structure of recent series, as well as saying that he hopes to create the same kind of excitement he felt from Kamen Rider Black to a new generation. Urobuchi's company Nitroplus also assisted with designs.[10]
The show's lead role went to 2011 Junon Super Boy Contest Grand Prix winner Gaku Sano, portraying Kota Kazuraba. Sano said that he grew up wishing he could be the character from Kamen Rider Kuuga, and now that he would portray Kamen Rider Gaim he hopes that he will inspire a new generation of boys.[11][12] Rounding out the main cast are Yutaka Kobayashi as Kaito Kumon/Kamen Rider Baron, Mahiro Takasugi as Mitsuzane Kureshima/Kamen Rider Ryugen, Yuumi Shida from idol groupYumemiru Adolescence as the heroine Mai Takatsukasa, and Yuki Kubota as Takatora Kureshima/Kamen Rider Zangetsu.[11][12][13][14]
