Rideback

It is 2025. The world has just recovered from a Revolution and is under the control of a group called GGP. Believing that real world events has nothing to do with her, Rin Ogata blissfully follows the footsteps of her ballerina mother.  Her talent is recognized early on and she becomes a ballet star in her own right.

Madhouse’s latest series opens with Rin’s first performance as a prima ballerina.  She basks in the admiration of the audience when reality suddenly comes crashing down on her.  She falls to the floor, paralyzed as her career’s curtains close on her.

A few years later, Rin attends her new school’s opening ceremony.  She has retired from ballet and has decided to live the life of an ordinary girl.  Only a few know of her retirement and she soon finds herself in an awkward situation where one of her fans approach her to reminisce about the career she had left behind.  Her friend saves her by reminding her to leave for an appointment.

Later on, she ends up inside the garage of a club to take shelter from the rain.  She is mistaken for a club applicant by Haruki Hishida, one of its members.  She discovers that the garage belongs to none other than the Rideback club.

A Rideback is a modified motorcycle that transforms into a humanoid form.  In this form, the driver looks like he is literally riding on someone’s back, hence the name.  It is operated by a computer and can take simple vocal instructions from its driver. A malfunction sends Rin into an unexpected roadtrip in the Rideback and finds herself enjoying despite her potentially dangerous situation.

Rin’s interest in Ridebacks soon brings her into an inevitable clash against the GGP.  She is mistaken for a terrorist after she tries to save her friend from a hostage situation, using her Rideback, Fuego, to get past military barricades.  Once again, Rin finds herself unable to escape the reality of war and politics that has taken over her country.

The Rideback’s humanoid motorcycle form takes a bit of getting used to as it tends to look awkward with its “human” arms sticking out.  There are times when it looks cluttered and gawky but the slick CG animation more than makes up for it in the end.

While the art-style of the characters is a bit lacking and the incorporation of CG into the 2D environment problematic, Rideback promises to be a high-octane sci-fi series with a dash of politics and drama.  Mecha fans would definitely find the series worth looking into.

Madhouse’s other productions include Beyblade, Trigun, and the award-winning animated film, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.