Rideback (2009)
* Based on a manga by Kasahara Tetsurou. In a future world where an organization called the GGP has taken control of the world, Ogata Rin had a promising career as an up-and-coming ballet dancer, but suffered a serious injury and decided to quit. Years later in college she comes across an unusual club building and soon finds herself intrigued by a transforming motorcycle-like vehicle called a Rideback. She discovers that her unique ballet skills with balance and finesse make her a natural on a Rideback. However, those same skills also get her into serious trouble with the government. Source: ANN
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Episode 1 - The Crimson Iron Horse
Release Date: 2009-01-11Rin hops on a Rideback, loses control, and ends up jumping off a ledge with the Rideback.
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Episode 2 - Challenge from Tamayo!? S.L.F. - Spread Legs Form
Release Date: 2009-01-18Rin agrees to race Tamayo, the club leader and national Rideback champion. She impresses Tamayo who decides to train her as a Rideback driver.
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Episode 3 - And There's the Flag
Release Date: 2009-01-25Rin and Tamayo enter the All-Japan championship race. Rin has some trouble with her Rideback: Balon. She eventually makes a comeback from last place to fourth but is force to retire on the last lap. Tamayo wins the race.
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Episode 4 - A Close Call for Shoko
Release Date: 2009-02-01Shouko goes shopping. There is a terrorist attack at the new GGP commander's inauguration ceremony and Shouko is taken hostage. Rin goes to Shouko's rescue on Fuego, evading both the terrorists and the army. She is eventually cornered by the army but saved by a mysterious man on a Rideback.
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Episode 5 - The Mysterious RideBack Girl
Release Date: 2009-02-08Shouko doesn't come to the club, but then a journalist arrives to investigate Tamayo. Okakura go dismantle Fuego, Rin's little brother Kenji is dragged into a shady plan, the GGP wants to force the deployment of the White Ridebacks and knows Rin is Rideback Shoujo.
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Episode 6 - The Lightning-Fast RideBack
Release Date: 2009-02-15Biker gang incident set up by the GGP to test in real conditions the not yet approved White Ridebacks. The incident involves Kenji: by chance Rin and the journalist are near-by: she takes pictures while Rin tries to save her brother's life.
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Episode 7 - Crime and Punishment
Release Date: 2009-02-23Kenji and Rin are in jail: he admitted to crimes he didn't commit to protect Rin. While being transferred to a GGP facility, Rin gets kidnapped by the BMA. Okakura goes to meet the BMA leader Kiefer. He's being followed by the GGP.
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Episode 8 - GET RIDE! The Chosen One
Release Date: 2009-03-02The journalist investigates the legendary Arizona Battle. Kiefer and Rin have a long talk about life and riding. Finally the GGP starts the assault on the BMA's location, but the terrorists have already laid traps. Okakura escapes with Rin. After neutralising the attackers, Kiefer threatens to kill Romanov on the radio.
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Episode 9 - In the Sunny Garden
Release Date: 2009-03-09GGP declares an emergency state causing resistance from civilians. Okakura brings Rin to the Takaoka's house and asks Tamayo to take care of her. He then goes to find Kiefer. The journalist goes to Arizona to investigate former comrades of Romanov. Tamayo calls her dad. Romanov unloads a new rideback weapon.
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Episode 10 - Master of the War
Release Date: 2009-03-16Tamayo's father is arrested. Tamayo and Rin head toward the city while an anti-GGP protest begins. While on the train, they see Suzuri who is mistaken for the mysterious female Rideback and is pursued by the GGP white rides. Suzuri is killed as she attempts to escape. A devastated Rin claims that both her and Tenshirō's obsession with Ridebacks killed Suzuri.
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Episode 11 - Cloudy Followed by Occasional Rain...
Release Date: 2009-03-23Rin reflects on her past. Rin refuses Kiefer's assault on GGP. Shoko attempts to buy flowers for Suzuri, but all the stores are closed. As BMA beings their attack, Rin and Tamayo prepare to escape with a helicopter, Rin has a flashback and decides that she can't leave. The BMA base is overrun by new autonomous Rideback models, but Rin and Tamayo manage to escape on their Ridebacks.
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Episode 12 - To the Stage of Light
Release Date: 2009-03-30Tamayo's fuel tank is shot. Rin baits the Rideback models to chase her. The BMA and the GGP engage in combat. In the midst of the firefight, GGP is ordered to stand down. Kiefer and Romanof have a face off, however, Romanof is shot by a GGP officer. Meanwhile, Rin leads the Ridebacks to the location where Suzuri died and fights them. She "dances"/rides with Feugo, and it's beautiful. The news cameras are rolling catching every jump and everyone can see her, from her best friend to her little brother in jail. As Rin finishes, snowflakes to fall. Soon after, the GGP steps down from total government control and Tomayo's father is put in charge. A new school year has begun, the Rideback club is up and running again. The final scene is similar to the beginning, with cherry blossoms falling. Rin ends the episode by saying, "I'm back.