Rideback

Rin Ogata and her Rideback, Fuego


Rideback is a Manga that was made into a Twelve-Episode Anime produced by Studio Madhouse in 2009, based on a manga published in 2003. In the near future, an organization called the GGP (known as the GGF in the manga) had taken control of the world. As they maintained order in society, the citizens quietly accepted their existence. However, a smaller resistance group, the BMA wished to overthrow the GGP.

The focus of the story is on Rin Ogata, a girl who was a promising up-and-coming ballet dancer, but suffered a serious injury and decided to quit. Years later, during university, she came across a club building and soon finds herself intrigued by a transforming motorcycle like vehicle called a Rideback. She finds that her unique ballet skills with balance and finesse make her a born natural on a Rideback; as Rin becomes entangled in the government's affairs, she finds herself struggling to come to terms with both herself and the world around her.

Tropes used in Rideback include:
  • Ace Pilot: The three most notable Rideback operators are Rin Ogata, Tamayo Kataoka and Kiefer.
  • A.I. Is a Crapshoot: GGP's automated Grimores, which are programmed for search and destroy operations.
  • Alphabet News Network: SNN
  • Badass Biker: Rin, plus most of the Mushashino Rideback Club.
  • Beergasm: Dota enjoys his beer on outings with the Rideback club.
  • Big Damn Heroes: Rin has quite a few of these, along with Okakura.
  • The Chase: Most of the action outside of Rideback racing boils down to chase scenes.
  • Cool Bike: The Ridebacks are essentially transforming motorcycles with advanced balance and control mechanisms
  • Conspicuous CG: The Anime has quite a lot of this.
  • Conspicuous Trenchcoat: Tamayo: when she ditches her hat, it suddenly becomes a Badass Longcoat.
  • Cute Little Fangs: Shouko
  • Dance Battler: Rin lives and breathes this while on her Rideback, since her skill comes from dancing.
  • Disappeared Dad: While this is the case in the anime, he appears in the manga.
  • Does This Remind You of Anything?: RideBacks have a mode called the 'Spread Legs' form.
  • Fan Girl: Suzuri Uchida
  • Fan Service: There are subtle traces in the series.
  • Foreign Language Theme: The anime's opening is a Mell song (who also did the Black Lagoon intro); presumably it's in English. Good luck deciphering the lyrics on your own, though.
  • Four Is Death: The show takes a darker turn after the fourth episode and culminates with Suzuri's death in episode 10.
  • Gas Mask Mooks: BMA. The higher ranking GGP troops stick with military-style helmets and Cool Shades.
  • Genki Girl: Suzuri Uchida.
  • Grasp the Sun: Rin, after suffering her ballet injury. Similarly, Fuego grasps the sun when it suffers an identical injury in a very symbolic scene.
  • Gratuitous English: "ALL GET FREED" is a line from the opening song's lyrics.
  • Guilt by Coincidence: Suzuri becomes a target of this when she is mistaken for an escaped Rin at a protest rally while riding a Rideback. She is chased and while trying to just get a message of encouragement off to Rin, who was passing by on a train and is killed by the police.
  • Heroic BSOD: Rin remains in one of these throughout the second half of the series, but especially after the death of Suzuri. She reboots at the end of episode 11.
  • Intrepid Reporter: Megumi Yoda, without very much regard for her own safety. One noticable instance was her reaction to a terrorist attack in the middle of a press conference, where she wished to continue gathering news rather than retreat to safety.
  • Kill the Cutie: Suzuri's death at the hands of the police.
  • La Résistance: GGP, later the BMA
  • Magic Skirt: Rin should've flashed her underwear quite a bit, considering the stuff she does on a Rideback while wearing a skirt. This is averted during later scenes; Rin's skirt is not completely capable of avoiding this owing to the nature of the moves she performs while on Fuego.
  • Meganekko: Suzuri.
  • Name's the Same: Rin Ogata almost had a namesake by the name of Rina Ogata in White Album; the latter was also voiced by Nana Mizuki.
  • Names to Know in Anime
  • Never Be a Hero: Rin doesn't actually want to be a rebel nor understand the cause that others think she represents, she just impulsively uses the Rideback to try to help those she knows and unintentionally gets dragged into more serious conflicts.
  • New Technology Is Evil: The usage of Ridebacks is linked to the rise of the GGP; Rin discovers this the hard way when her obssession with her Rideback leads her to actions that draw the GGP's attention and subsequently finds herself involved in their campaign to consolidate their power in Japan.
  • Opt Out: When Rin's brother is framed for murder and she realizes that she might have to hurt people, Rin proves unable to bear the burden of being a member of La Résistance and quits just as the rebellion prepares to strike.
  • Police Brutality: A prevalent theme throughout the series, but the instances within episodes 6 and 10 are especially prominent, where law enforcement officials have little objections towards application of lethal force towards civilians.
  • Porn Stash: Rin's brother Kenji, who has one mixed in with his much larger Rideback Stash.
  • Pragmatic Adaptation: The anime shaves off a couple of aspects from the original manga in order for the story to be completed with its 12 episode run.
  • Public Domain Soundtrack: "Pictures at an Exhibition" is a frequently played as Rin's motif.
  • Red Baron: Rin's media given title of Mysterious Rideback Girl and later just Rideback Girl.
    • Tamayo Kataoka, also known as the Rideback Princess.
    • Tenshirō Okakura, better known in the GGP and BMA military circles as Goblin.
  • Super Window Jump: Slightly justifiable since a Rideback and the rider's clothing would block most of the glass...except that Rin usually goes flying through windows in her street clothes.
  • The Revolution Will Not Be Vilified: GGP acts like this, first. Later, it degenerated into The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized, and another group called the BMA plays both tropes straight.
  • Transforming Mecha: Ridebacks can transform into Mini-Mecha.
  • Unkempt Beauty: Just a slight example. More often than not, Rin's hair is messy and needs combing.
  • Wham! Episode: Episode 10.
  • What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic?: Rin's last "battle" against the GGP's Grimores on Fuego takes her a full circle from when she first injured her leg.
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