RIDEBACK – 01
OP Sequence
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OP: 「RIDEBACK」 by MELL
Watch the OP! Mirror 1, Mirror 2, Streaming ▼
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Summary:
In a tumultuous time in which a group called the GGP has taken over governing the world, a ballet dancer named Ogata Rin is in the middle of a big performance when she suddenly hurts herself. Sometime later, Rin and her friend Shouko enter college. Rin has given up on ballet and claims not to regret it, but she’s still not entirely comfortable with the subject, especially when the topic of her mother comes up. Her mother was also a great dancer, but she had died in an earthquake six years ago. Rin had wanted to be like her mother, but she was unsatisfied with her own ballet and quit after the injury.
On one rainy day, Rin stumbles upon the Rideback club and is mistaken by one of its members – a guy named Hishida Haruki – as a prospective member. He offers to let her ride a red one called the Type L Fuego and is impressed by how nimbly she mounts it. With some instruction and help from Haruki, Rin is able to start up the vehicle and move it, and it responds to voice commands. Unfortunately, some of the controls aren’t working properly, and the Fuego takes Rin away from the clubhouse. Although initially startled, Rin soon gets the hang of riding a Rideback and starts really enjoying it, even performing some ballet moves with it. When the Fuego goes into Spread Legs Form however, Rin loses control, and one of the other Rideback club members Okakura Tenshirou tries to help her from atop his own Rideback. He helps her regain control, but it’s too late to stop her from sailing off the edge of an unfinished road, and for a moment, Rin is soaring above everything on top of the Rideback.
ED Sequence
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ED: 「記憶」 (Kioku) by ユンナ feat GOKU (Younha feat GOKU)
Watch the ED!: Mirror 1, Mirror 2, Streaming ▼
Well, the OP isn’t quite as good as I had hoped from the commercials (I hate to say it, but I mainly like the sound of the Engrish chorus), and I ended up enjoying the ED + the images/animation as a set a lot more. There are some interesting notes on the ED too. It’s by Younha who some of you may remember did Bleach’s 3rd ED and a few other anime songs. Well, she’s released some music in South Korea since then, and this song (in Korean) was one of those. She’s recently put her sights back on Japan, signing with Geneon Entertainment, and that’s how RIDEBACK came to have this song as its ED.
Wow, it’s rare that I get hyped about a series from its promotional material and/or manga, and then the series actually delivers beyond what I expected. For starters, the production quality is amazing. The ballet scene to start the episode was beautiful (the immediate contrast to war made it all that much better), and the certain parts of the sakura petals scene even reminded me of 5 Centimeters Per Second. Okay, not quite that good, but you get my point – RIDEBACK is really pretty. Here’s to hoping Madhouse can keep up the level of quality.
The story is nothing to sneeze at either. A lot of this first episode was introducing everything and showing off the Fuego Rideback in action, but they put in a good amount of character development into Rin (particularly in relation to her mother) and hint at the tumultuous state the world is in. They even showed the Ridebacks in combat which I wasn’t expecting till a bit later. It appears that this series is taking the basic elements and characters of the manga and presenting it in a relatively new way. So far so good.
Now normally I’d be keen on blogging a show with a first episode as impressive as this one, but my schedule’s already too crowded, so Trillian will probably blog this in the future (pending Trillian’s own interest in the show of course).
January 12, 2009 at 4:21 amYakumo-kun
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I guess this would be well worth following! Look at the artwork, it is so detailed. Let’s hope production quality is kept at this level throughout.
January 12, 2009 at 4:27 amFat Cat Lim
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I’m looking forward to this series too. The character designs remind me a little of Dennou Coil (long faces), but they are fairly refreshing.
January 12, 2009 at 4:47 amAznCoffee
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huh
http://randomc.net/image/RIDEBACK/RIDEBACK%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2002.jpg
a dancer
http://randomc.net/image/RIDEBACK/RIDEBACK – 01 – Large 03.jpg
a nuke
http://randomc.net/image/RIDEBACK/RIDEBACK%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2017.jpg
and a motorcycle…
curious case of benjamin button anyone?
January 12, 2009 at 4:56 amShin Zero
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I think this would be an interesting one to following. Nice character designs.
Somehow the rideback reminds me of the Aibar machine in Melody of Oblivion.
January 12, 2009 at 5:21 amKit-Tsukasa
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i never planned on picking this up, but now I might
January 12, 2009 at 5:39 amXavier
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woaaa an amazing and huge quality here… i must watch this one!!
January 12, 2009 at 6:41 amExia
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ive been waiting to see this one too. i wonder how good it really is.
January 12, 2009 at 7:35 amDmonHiro
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Well…it DOES look beautiful, but if the story isn’t good, it’s all for nothing. SO far, I’m not impressed.
January 12, 2009 at 7:53 amjahaa
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Wow, the animation looks really good. They blended the CGI really well so it’s not hideous like most CGI-mixed animes. At first I thought the plot is going to be shallow due to my impression that it’s going to be a sports anime of some sort, but the plot may actually be interesting.
I hope you will keep blogging this Omni :).
January 12, 2009 at 7:57 amPanther
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Yes Rideback 01 had good animation and good plot quality, I like how they worked out details for the bike as well and how realistic sounding it is compared to most other anime series.
January 12, 2009 at 8:08 amM11
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Looks good. I’ve been waiting for this to air.
Was a bit surprised to see the OP lyrics in English.
January 12, 2009 at 8:29 amLelouch
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Well for me, Episode 1 is always well detailed. Let’s give this show 2 to 3 more episodes before we give any verdict ^_^
January 12, 2009 at 8:49 ammutio
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“RIDEBACK is really pretty. Here’s to hoping Madhouse can keep up the level of quality.”
Agreed, really good animation quality, the best I have seen since a while in a series. Looking forward to this show, all last Madhouse anime were good to me, so I hope this one won’t be an exception.
January 12, 2009 at 8:57 amEspada
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air gear but in motorcycles hmmmmm
January 12, 2009 at 9:12 amFanatic
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@jahaa
Ditto…
I too hope Omni will keep blogging this series :)
January 12, 2009 at 11:20 amxXichigoXx
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uhhh what???i don’t really really get the anime man~~
January 12, 2009 at 11:24 amE_I
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Looks good…except that one girl in pic 15 with the green overalls. What the hell?
January 12, 2009 at 12:04 pmark noir
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this will give my Gunbike fix in animation form!
January 12, 2009 at 12:37 pmaki-san
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i personally like the ending song with the japanese version. the korean version didn’t cut it for me even though the japanese version didn’t came out yet or i don’t think it did.
January 12, 2009 at 1:39 pmKai-Kun
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http://randomc.net/image/RIDEBACK/RIDEBACK%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2001.jpg
Chun Li anyone?
January 12, 2009 at 3:09 pmAndre
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http://randomc.net/image/RIDEBACK/RIDEBACK%20-%20ED%20-%20Large%2002.jpg
Jesus! Instant hotness when a girl can do that….
…Oh yeah. The anime was alright. Not sure I’ll follow it all the way but not too disappointed yet.
January 12, 2009 at 3:44 pmChimasternmay
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good, ill watch it after 3 ep’s in.
January 12, 2009 at 8:30 pmxmerokox
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Thanks for the recap! I’ll definitely try to check this out :) The screenshots are absolutely beautiful!
About the ED: Wow, it’s the Japanese version of “Memory”! =D I prefer the original with Tablo, but the Japanese one is different (and still good).
January 12, 2009 at 9:36 pmFlameStrike
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This looks pretty good. The production quality is also great. Now compare this to the QUALITY of madhouse’s last creation and you can see how much effort they put into that work compared to this one -_-
January 12, 2009 at 9:57 pmAsoch3
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Wow! amazing details and the animation looks pretty good. I’ll give it a shoot. Thanks!
January 12, 2009 at 11:13 pmMatroid
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Bike animes were quite popular in the 80′s． Akira. Megazone 23. Mospeada． You name it. I’m glad to see Rideback as a new and exciting addition to the genre. This bike is ridden on the back. It not only adds a new twist to the visual effect, but also literally opens up a dimension of possibilities for fight sequences– or ballet! Character design is quite pleasing. The plot of the first episode even shows some potential for inner character development. I have a strong feeling that this anime will be the shinning star of the season.
January 12, 2009 at 11:27 pmesKAYEmo
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YOUNHA! <3
January 12, 2009 at 11:34 pmunknown2
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excited for this….have a good impact on me
January 13, 2009 at 12:08 amcutemi2
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Get Ride….
where’s Slayers Evolution-R, sequel of Slayers Revolution anyway
January 13, 2009 at 12:38 amIzaak
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War, Peace and Revolution
An Endless Waltz
January 13, 2009 at 1:53 amReiter
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A pretty good episode, and the animation is top quality, there’s no question. I was a little iffy how a ballet dancer could suddenly pick up motorcycle riding so quickly, but they made the transition fairly well. I am interested in the war aspect of the story and how mecha-bike riding fits into it all (even if bike-mecha seem a little impractical for fighting modern wars, at least to me).
That aside, the character faces bother me more than a little with a case of “horse-face,” that is, the characters’ faces tend to be kinda long, in my view, especially the main heroine’s. Horse-face on a dancer’s body = strange. And the other bike-riding dude’s white-less eyes creep me out, haha (he’s like a reverse Batou from GitS). I guess it’s just the style but it’ll take some getting used to.
Still, an enjoyable first ep. Hope the animation quality holds up and the story unfolds.
January 13, 2009 at 2:06 amsoloista
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http://randomc.net/image/RIDEBACK/RIDEBACK%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2038.jpg
Toki wo kakeru shoujo!
January 13, 2009 at 3:25 amjin
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Im not sold on this series yet. Its beautiful but nothing really got me interested in it so far. Hopefully that changes a few episodese in since this anime looks great visually.
Also I totally agree that this ED was pretty good, I <3 Younha’s music
January 13, 2009 at 8:54 amRazor Magnum
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It makes me want to take motorcycling lessons. Is that bike even street legal?
January 13, 2009 at 12:52 pmSirMuffin
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please please you must keep blogging this series, I watched this first episode and it was… simply… awesome.
January 13, 2009 at 1:32 pmMegas
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Great anime, left a very good impression for a 1st episode but wtf is going on with the OP. I’m completely no good when it comes to engrish. I think I’ve been in the states too long cause my Eng & Jap voices are totally different. I could understand a few words but that was it. Even the ED gave me a hard time, it sounded like she was singing in slow motion or something.
Oh well, if that’s the only problem I’m going to have with this anime then I’ll take that any day over the hellspawn that is the content of some of the present shows that are out there.
January 13, 2009 at 1:34 pmyuuji
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madhouse already gives a good impression xD
the story looks pretty great now..let’s hope it’ll keep up!
January 13, 2009 at 5:38 pmZange
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Ballet Dancer, Wait, What?
January 13, 2009 at 9:46 pmAnimeniac
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honestly i don’t like the motor-bot thingy…
January 14, 2009 at 1:20 ammike
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The first ep was pretty enjoyable. Will keep watching.
January 14, 2009 at 2:00 amAndré
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Ridebacks >>>> Gundams.
I want a rideback with a red clock. Well, a red clock like this I think that I can find here.
January 14, 2009 at 2:00 ammark
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Amazing first EP hope it continues like this for the rest of the season
Im so in love with the ED song
January 14, 2009 at 5:03 amoOgA
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top notch animation visuals, looks enticing but i am still holding back until later episodes, hope they have a good story flow on it.
January 14, 2009 at 7:56 amWatch Anime Online
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Wow this has got to be one of the most interesting anime o.o
January 14, 2009 at 9:55 amewok
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I do get feeling visiting GGP (global government project?) carrier will mean some trouble in next episodes…
Always watch the news in the background!
January 14, 2009 at 3:16 pmRosaGarthern
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I enjoyed the OP and ED, kudos to both artist.
I particularly like the way this story brings a dancer on an egile machine,
I’ll be looking forward to the way they coordinate the moves between her and the machine’s opperation. I will be expecting alot from the story too.
Rin was beautiful at the point where she mentioned the dance stage being her world.
January 14, 2009 at 5:34 pmSpeedyK
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Just watched the first ep. Really nice!
Didn’t expect it to be this good.
January 14, 2009 at 7:47 pmKaioshin Sama
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I’d classify this a really slow start. I see nothing revolutionary in this episode or anything that really grabbed me and made me want to gush about it, but it’s not without potential either. Let’s just hope it doesn’t get spoiled in the usual manner.
January 15, 2009 at 12:20 pmJay
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I saw the first episode I think I will keep watching looks interesting.
January 15, 2009 at 3:11 pmsgtbanana
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I really like the rideback design. I was wondering when a motorcycle-type themed anime would come out.
Did anyone else notice the engine cut off switch was on when she started the engine?
January 16, 2009 at 12:21 amGGear0323
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Kaioshin Sama, how is this a really slow start, a really slow start would have been to concentrate the whole episode on her ballet, show how she quit, her comparisons to her mother, a couple of flashbacks and ending with her starting school, followed by an episode of her getting asked a bunch of questions about why she quit ballet, followed by her glaring at the bike thingy from afar, followed by the next episode where she find the bike thingy and take it for a ride or something. to have an episode give us all that and a little more including background on the global state of things doesnt really count as a slow start at all imo. hell, we already know she looks to be a natural at it, given her background, that these bikes are scaled back models of military hardware, how her mother died, and that it seems like she is about to join this rideback club. i mean, the only thing we dont know is where this is all going and if you want even that after just one episode, then i would say that that is asking too much.
January 17, 2009 at 5:19 amWong
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Mizuki Nana! <3
January 20, 2009 at 4:07 pmSyaoran Li
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Keep it up MadHouse, please. Nana Mizuki never stop to amaze me.
April 15, 2009 at 10:13 amAnime Fan
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I found your blog on google Great Info and great People. I just added you to my Google News Reader :) Keep up the good work. Looking forward to reading more from you in the future.