Fans of the Kamen Rider franchise can now delve deeper into the origins of Kamen Rider W, as the FUUTO PI: Kamen Rider Skull no Shōzō anime film has begun streaming on Crunchyroll. The movie, which had a limited theatrical run in Japan in November 2024, explores the pivotal “Begins Night” episode, detailing the formation of Kamen Rider W and the dramatic circumstances surrounding Shotaro Hidari and his mentor, Sokichi Narumi.
Unveiling the Origins of Kamen Rider W
The FUUTO PI: Kamen Rider Skull no Shōzō film serves as a prequel to both the FUUTO PI anime series and the original Kamen Rider W live-action show. It focuses on the “Begins Night” scenario, a crucial event that led Shotaro Hidari and his partner Philip to become the legendary hero, Kamen Rider W. The movie provides insight into the past of Shotaro’s mentor, Sokichi Narumi, and the events that shaped the duo’s crime-fighting partnership in Fuuto City.
Plot Details and Thematic Focus
The narrative of FUUTO PI: Kamen Rider Skull no Shōzō directly follows the final episode of the FUUTO PI anime, utilizing flashbacks to elaborate on Sokichi Narumi’s final moments as Kamen Rider Skull. This exploration helps answer lingering questions about the creation of Gaia Memories and the inception of Kamen Rider W’s fight against the mysterious Dopants. The film delves into a young Shotaro Hidari’s journey as Sokichi’s assistant, illustrating his growth from a “half-boiled” detective to a hero ready to protect Fuuto.
Key Cast and Production Team
The anime film sees the return of familiar voices from the FUUTO PI series. Yoshimasa Hosoya reprises his role as Shotaro Hidari, and Koki Uchiyama returns as Philip. Kenjiro Tsuda joins the cast as Sokichi Narumi, the central figure of the film’s narrative. Notably, Koji Kikkawa, who portrayed Sokichi Narumi in the original Kamen Rider W live-action series, wrote, composed, and performed the film’s theme song, “Niau Otoko ni Nare” (Become a Worthy Man), under his character’s name.
Yosuke Kabashima, who directed the FUUTO PI anime series, returned to direct the film at Studio KAI. Riku Sanjo, a key writer for the original Kamen Rider W series and the Fūto Tantei manga, was involved as the script supervisor, with Tatsuto Higuchi penning the screenplay.
Availability on Crunchyroll
The FUUTO PI: Kamen Rider Skull no Shōzō anime film is now available for streaming on Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll also offers the entire FUUTO PI TV anime series, providing a complete viewing experience for fans of the Windy City’s detectives and their heroic alter-egos. The original FUUTO PI anime series aired for twelve episodes from August to October 2022 and is based on Riku Sanjo and Masaki Sato’s Kamen Rider W sequel manga.
