Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue

is a Japanese superhero Tokusatsu V-Cinema film in the Kamen Rider Series, serving as the 11th production in the franchise while also commemorating the franchise's 20th Anniversary. In the film, a young man is transformed into a mutant grasshopper while he is targeted by the mysterious Institute of Super Science. 
==Production==
The film adapts more of the bleak outlook of the manga, yet simultaneously strays heavily from the roots of the franchise. As a work made to celebrate a franchise milestone, the film targeted the now-adult fans of the original, taking the bare essence of the Kamen Rider character and his origin, placing it in a violent, realistic and modern setting and conveying the driving sorrow of the character, who finds himself in the center of a conspiracy and turned into a superhuman being against his will.
==Plot==
Doctors Kazamatsuri and Onizuka are geneticists researching cures on diseases such as AIDS and cancer by performing experiments to strengthen the human body. The test subject is Shin Kazamatsuri , the motorcycle racer son of Doctor Kazamatsuri. Unknown to them, their operation is funded by a syndicate group, who plan to use this research to have the bodies of men strengthened for their own gain — they have already been experimenting in the field of cyborg soldiers to a less-than-successful attempt. However, they did not count on Onizuka's own secret ambitions; the mad Onizuka wants to create a new species by fusing a grasshopper's DNA with the test subject's in order to start a new civilization and be their god. He has tested on himself, but seems to be having greater success with Shin.
Meanwhile, a murderous creature is stalking the city while Shin dreams of it. While he originally believes he is the one causing the murders, he eventually finds out Onizuka's plan and discovers that it is Onizuka who has been behind the killings. Onizuka has experimented on himself and altered his genes, making him a humanoid grasshopper; the telepathy of grasshoppers allowed him to communicate with Shin, resulting in his witnessing the murders.
The syndicate learns of Onizuka's plans and has him institutionalized. As if the syndicate were not enough, a CIA agent tracks Shin and wants him eliminated, for he does not know the true threat that he could pose. The repulsed Shin digs to find out all he can about the experiment he foolishly volunteered to be a part of, which is now altering his body and putting him and his loved ones in danger.
==Characters==
===Kamen Riders===
====Movie====
Kamen Rider Shin	Shin Kazamatsuri
====Manga-exclusive====
Kamen Rider ???	Akira Himuro
====S.I.C. Hero Saga-exclusive====
Kamen Rider Shin	Shiin Kazamatsuri
===Debatable Riders===
Transformed Goushima	Goushima
Transformed Onizuka 	Giichi Onizuka
===Allies===
*Ai Asuka
*Daimon Kazamatsuri
*Takuya Yuuki
*Sarah Fukamachi
===Villains===
*Iwao Himuro
==Other media==
===Manga===
#
#
===S.I.C. Hero Saga===
#
==Cast==
* - (Played as )
* - 
* - 
* - 
* - 
* - 
* - 
* - 
===Suit Actors===
*Kamen Rider Shin, Transformed OnizukaUchusen Vol. 150, p. 80: 
*Cyborg Soldier Level 2: 
==Songs==
Ending Theme
*"Forever"
** Lyrics: Hiroko Kimura
**Composition: Ryuudou Uzaki
**Arrangement: Tooru Yuugawa
**Artist: Noriko Watanabe
==Release==
===Theatrical=== 
*Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue premiered in Japanese theaters on February 20, 1992.
===Home Media===
===Other releases===
*Toei's subscription channel featured Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue during its special Kamen Rider 40th anniversary line-up in July 2011. 
*On April 5th, 2020, the uncensored version of the film debuted on the Toei Tokusatsu World channel on YouTube for viewing in countries other than Japan.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL2XWMFUFvg
==Errors==
*At 01:20:05 into the film, Kazutoshi Yokoyama's (Cyborg Soldier Level 2's suit actor) face and chin can briefly be seen when Shin punches him.
==Notes==
*Before the name "Kamen Rider Shin" was decided, Shotaro Ishinomori, the creator of Kamen Rider, originally planned for the character to be called . The design of this Kamen Rider Gaia was originally more of a traditional Kamen Rider appearance before later designs switched to a "Kamen Rider Style Reform" version (resembling a man in a motorcycle helmet and modified riding jacket), and then to the mutated insect-like human that would become Kamen Rider Shin.
*Shotaro Ishinomori appears early on in this film as a spy investigating the research of the company.
*Despite being labeled as a 20th anniversary event, the franchise was actually in its 21st year in 1992. The real 20th anniversary was on April 3, 1991. However, as the film premiered before April 3, 1992, it is still technically counted as a 20th anniversary project.
*The film was uploaded on TOEI TOKUSATSU WORLD OFFICIAL on April 5, 2020 as "Masked Rider Shin". 
*Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue is the first V-Cinema film to be released under the Kamen Rider name and is also the only Showa era one. 
==External links ==
* at 
*Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue at Japanese Wikipedia
*Official Website at Kamen-Rider-Official
==Navigation==
Category:Kamen Rider Movies