Kiva Review

KAMEN RIDER KIVA

OK, reader! We meet again in this section, review. Do you feel something different this time? Of course you do because I use English to make this writing. OK, I just go to the point. This series, Kiva, started after the funny Den-O ended. This series takes some concepts in the story, such as vampire and violin. Both of them are trademark for this series. The main character, Kurenai Wataru (user of Kiva driver) is half human and half fangire (vampire is called fangire in this series). He also a violin player and violin maker. The monster in this series which is called fangire are glass based monster. It makes breaking glass effects when Kiva give them rider kick. Some of them, when have enough power, they can change to be giant fangire. Kiva don’t get trouble with that because Kiva has castle Doran, a giant creature to fight that kind of evolution fangire.

This series has two story lines. The first and the main storyline sets on year 2008 and the second storyline sets on year 1986. The series tells story in different years (1986 and 2008) but has a clear connection. Father and son stories. A story that started 22 years ago gets conclusion in Wataru’s era. One of the connector is the fangire. Its appeared in year 1986 and gets confronted by Otoya but it is destroyed by Kiva in year 2008.

The main star in year 1986 is Kurenai Otoya, father of Wataru. He lived when 13 demon races beside human lived. Unfortunately, the 13 demon races were eliminated by the fangire king that was called Dark Kiva. Only 3 survivor remain from 3 race. They are jiro from werewolf (wolven race), Riki from frankenstein’s monster (franken race) and ramon from gill-man (merman race). Otoya meet the last survivor from wolven race and others. They had complicated relationship. Sometimes they fight, sometimes they in peace. Its soo complicated to explain. But in the final conclusion, Jiro (Garuru), Ramon (Bashaa) and Riki (Franken) become the best friend of Otoya and become the main support of Kiva in the present times.

In the year 2008, there are 3 kamen riders appear. They are Kamen rider Kiva, KAmen rider Ixa and Kamen rider Saga. Kamen rider Ixa has 3 person as user and the main user is Nago. Kamen rider Saga is Wataru’s older brother, Taiga. In the end, Saga is replaced by Dark Kiva.

In the year 1986, Kamen rider Ixa has appeared even the Ixa gear is just a prototype and has limited ability. The main user is Otoya and Jiro. Kamen rider Dark Kiva appeared in this era and for some reason, Otoya can henshin into dark kiva.

OK, I can not explain about the story more than that because it’s a long time not see series. I just give my opinion about the story. The character development of Wataru is seen so clear. In the first episode, he just a clumsy character and you can not see a fighter type when you see him. Just like Ryutaro from Den-O. But, after Wataru change his form to be Kiva, his fighting style is so cool. He doesn’t make any comment when he is fighting. Wataru experiences many trial when become Kiva. Once, Wataru decided to stop become Kiva, reject to fight and back to the past to erase himself. Finally, after he gets lesson from his father, Wataru become a real hero. He sacrificed himself as fangire king to safe his older brother.

Nago as kamen rider Ixa also face many kinds of hard times. Once, he is forced to stop becoming Ixa and replaced by his student (Nago claims that). Finally, Nago with his arrogant style realize what is important for someone to become a hero. That’s why he could get back his gear and once again become Kamen rider Ixa.

The development of relationship between Otoya and three monsters is interesting too. In the beginning, they are enemy for each other but finally, they united to fight versus the fangires. The love relation between Otoya and the queen of fangire is so dramatic. That’s why the king is so angry to Otoya. Ixa user, Nago also has relation with the queen. He meets the queen when he goes to the past to fix his problem. He was shocked because his first love was on a fangires.

This series that has two storylines, its so clear that this series is not for kids. Its not for kids consumption. So, this country has to be given an explanation that kamen rider is not a kid show. Its an older kid show, maybe more older just like ironman and spiderman.

This series has interesting trivia. A group band is formed to present the soundtrack from kamen rider Kiva series. This band was called Tetra-fang. The first song is “Detinys Play” as the first ending and battle theme of Kiva. The second song is “individual system”. This song is the theme song for Ixa system/ kamen rider Ixa. The next song is “Supernova” as the theme song for upgrade form of Kiva, emperor form. Then, a song that becomes the theme song for Kamen rider Saga, “root of the king”. The next song is “exterminate time” as the theme song for Dark Kiva (tribute for King). Those songs have PV (promotional Video). They also perform another songs such as tribute for queen, tribute for Rook, tribute for Bishop and Tribute for Wataru.

OK, reader. That is my review about kamen rider Kiva. If you have different opinions, let me know it. Thanks for your attention and see you again in my next review on another kamen rider series. (Zet.@. 26-05-2013, 2 hours before midnight)

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Image Emperor and Dark Kiva