Rideback (Japanese: ライドバック, Hepburn: Raidobakku), stylized as RIDEBACK or RideBack, is a Japanese manga series created by Tetsurō Kasahara. It was serialized in Shogakukan's monthly Ikki magazine from March 2003 to January 2009, spanning a total of ten volumes. Set in Japan in 2020, it follows the story of female student Rin Ogata as she comes across a two-wheeled automobile robot known as a Rideback. In 2009, it was adapted into an anime TV series by Madhouse. At Anime Central 2010, anime distributor Funimation announced that they have licensed the series for North America with its release planned for 2011.
In the year of 2025, an organization called the GGP has taken control of the world. Rin Ogata was a promising up-and-coming ballet dancer, but suffered a serious injury while dancing and decided to quit. Years later in college, she comes across a club building and soon finds herself intrigued by a transforming motorcycle-like robotic vehicle called a "Rideback". She soon finds that her unique ballet skills with balance and finesse make her a born natural on a Rideback. However, those same skills also get her into serious trouble with the government.
Rin Ogata (尾形 琳, Ogata Rin)
The protagonist of the series. Born in Japan on September 11, 2001. Her parents were Yuki and Munetatsu, and due to her mother being a talented dancer, was therefore expected to be their natural successor, having participated in dancing competitions from a young age. However, in 2017, she fractured her left foot while dancing and subsequently decided to stop dancing, later enrolling in the theater department of Musashino University, where she first comes across Fuego.
Haruki Hishida (菱田 春樹, Hishida Haruki)
Second year student in the English department and Rin's senior. An enthusiast of Ridebacks.
Tamayo Kataoka (片岡 珠代, Kataoka Tamayo)
Third year student in the French literature department and a senior to both to Rin and Haruki. The Rideback champion of Japan.
Shōko Uemura (上村 しょう子, Uemura Shōko)
Childhood friend of Rin's.
Suzuri Uchida (内田 すずり, Uchida Suzuri)
First year student in the sociology department. Being a huge fan of Rin, she is extremely enthusiastic.
Tenshirō Okakura (岡倉 天司郎, Okakura Tenshirō)
Head of the Rideback team. Possessing a strict character and a large nose.
This organization is called the GGF in the manga, and GGP in the anime.
GGF is an acronym for Global Government Force. (世界統治軍 Seikai Toushigun, lit. World Government Army)
GGP is an acronym for Global Government Plan. (世界統治構想 Seikai Toushi Kousou, lit. World Government Plan)
Romanov Kallenbach (ロマノフ・カレンバーク, Romanofu Karenbāku)
The corrupt commander of the GGP and the main antagonist of the series. He runs the government with a dictatorship approach. He is shot and killed by Misawo.
Misawo Yokoyama (横山みさを, Yokoyama Misawo)
Lecturer at Musashino University's department of literature and adviser to the Rideback team. In reality, however, she is a member of the GGF.
Takeshi Tanomura (田能村竹志, Tanomura Takeshi)
A member of the GGF and a faithful servant of Yokoyama's.
Munetatsu Itō (イトウムネタツ, Itō Munetatsu)
Father of Kenji and Rin.
Keiko Kobayashi (小林径子, Kobayashi Keiko)
A well-endowed student at Musashino University's department of literature.
BMA is an acronym for Borderless Military Alliance (国境なき軍事同盟).
Kiefer (キーファ, Kiifa)
A soldier of BMA, who rides a black Rideback. In his early years, he served in the same GGP unit as Okakura and Kallenbach before later defecting to the BMA.
Kenji Ogata (尾形堅司, Ogata Kenji)
Rin's younger brother.
Megumi Yoda (依田恵, Yoda Megumi)
A freelance journalist.
Ryunosuke Kataoka (片岡龍之介, Kataoka Ryūnosuke)
An executive of the Metropolitan Police Department and Tamayo's older brother.
The anime adaptation of the series premiered in January 2009 on Chiba TV and was scheduled to contain 12 episodes. A 160-second promotional video to the series was previewed at the 2008 Tokyo Anime Fair.
The series made its North American television debut on July 26, 2011 on the Funimation Channel.
Rin Ogata: Nana Mizuki
Tamayo Kataoka: Romi Park
Tenshirō Okakura: Rikiya Koyama
Suzuri Uchida: Megumi Matsumoto
Shōko Uemura: Megumi Toyoguchi
Haruki Hishida: Yūji Ueda
Dōta Kawai: Akio Suyama
Romanov Karenbach: Shin-ichiro Miki
Misawo Yokoyama: Risa Hayamizu
Kiefer: Toshiyuki Morikawa
Ryūnosuke Kataoka: Hidenobu Kiuchi
Kenji Ogata: Kazuma Horie
Kei Yoda: Sanae Kobayashi
Nanpū Kataoka: Hidekatsu Shibata
Yūki Ogata: Mie Sonozaki
Rin Ogata: Tia Ballard
Haruki Hishida: Micah Solusod
Kei Yoda: Cynthia Cranz
Tenshiro Okakura: Bryan Massey
Suzuri Uchida: Trina Nishimura
Shoko Uemura: Kristi Kang
Romanov Karenbach: Jason Douglas
Misawo Yokoyama: Jennifer Seman
Tamayo Kataoka: Stephanie Young
Dota Kawai: Chris Burnett
Kiefer: Robert McCollum
Ryunosuke Kataoka: J. Michael Tatum
Kenji Ogata: Josh Grelle
Nanpu Kataoka: T.A. Taylor
Yuki Ogata: Leah Clark
Director: Atsushi Takahashi
Series composition and screenplay: Hideo Takayashiki, Ken Iizuka
Character design and chief animation director: Satoshi Tazaki
Art director: Kazuki Higashiji
Color coordination: Satoshi Hashimoto
VFX supervisor: Michiya Katō
CGI director: Tomohisa Shitara
Director of photography: Hiroshi Saitō
Editing: Takeshi Seyama
Music: Takafumi Wada
Sound director: Toshihiko Nakajima
Production producer: Satoki Toyoda
Animation production: Madhouse
Producers: Fuminori Hara, Kazuo Ohnuki, Yasuyuki Ueda
Executive producers: Jungo Maruta, Shigeki Takeuchi, Akihiro Kawamura
Production: Rideback Production Committee (Madhouse, Interchannel, Geneon Entertainment)
Sources:
Opening theme
"RIDEBACK"
Lyrics: MELL, composition and arrangement: Kazuya Takase, performance: MELL
Ending theme
"Kioku"
Lyrics: Younha and Amadori, composition and arrangement: Tablo, performance: Younha feat. GOKU
Sources:
Sources:
Sources:
