Kamen Rider ZEZTZ

Plot

Baku Yorozu is a young man plagued with terrible luck who dreams of becoming a secret agent. He spends his nights dreaming of serving the special organization CODE as Code Number: Seven. When a stroke of misfortune pulls Baku into an encounter with the monsters known as Nightmares, he is enlisted by the mysterious commander Zero to become an actual CODE agent. Now equipped with the ZEZTZ Driver, a transformation belt using specially powered capsules known as "Capsems", Baku transforms into Kamen Rider ZEZTZ to stop the Nightmares in both the dream world and the real world. As he goes on more and more missions, however, Baku is quick to discover that there is a great deal that he doesn't know, and he has to learn before things spiral out of control.

In his battles in the dream world and the real one, Baku finds he has several allies. In reality, he is assisted by Tetsuya Fujimi, a police detective of the Paranormal Affairs Division, and his initially unwilling assistant Nasuka Nagumo. In dreams, he is assisted by Nem, a highly beloved celebrity who has not been seen publicly for years; only appearing in people's dreams. As Baku and Nem's relationship evolves, they come to realize she was injured and rendered comatose in an accident, and Baku makes it his ultimate mission to find Nem in the real world and help her wake up.

Working against Baku is a mysterious man known as Nox, who, like Nem, only exists in dreams where he tries to create Nightmares and bring ruin to the world. Nox's identity is revealed to be Kensei Odaka, a police officer, Fujimi's former assistant in Paranormal Affairs, and also formerly Code Number: Four until his disappearance a year before the show's start. Zero assists Baku in both realms, only appearing as a shadowy hologram or remotely controlling an android which transforms into a motorcycle: CODE Zeroider.

As Baku continues to fight Nightmares and discovers the hidden depths and motivations behind the enemies and his own allies, more CODE agents are activated and brought into the fray. During an attack on CODE Japan, Baku is betrayed by Code Number: Three for choosing to protect Nem and is killed, only to wake up in a hospital bed immediately following his accident in episode 1. Baku realises his experience was not merely an elaborate dream but a premonition of a dangerous future and, discovering he still possesses the ZEZTZ Driver and all his knowledge from his dream, brings his allies together to aid him in his mission.

Production

The Kamen Rider ZEZTZ trademark was registered by Toei Company on March 11, 2025, and published on March 19, 2025.

ZEZTZ was officially announced on July 6, 2025. A production announcement conference introducing the main cast and characters and the artist for the show's theme song was held on August 7, 2025.

This is the first Kamen Rider series to be broadcast internationally via a simultaneous release with North America, the UK and Australia and New Zealand receiving the show via Shout! Studios on its platforms.

The opening theme song is titled "VISIONS", performed by NAQT VANE, Hiroyuki Sawano's vocal project. The second opening theme song is titled "PLAY BACK", performed by Yuta.

Episodes

The story is split into two arcs:

First arc (Episodes 1–24) - Baku discovers that he really is a secret agent and using his skill of lucid dreaming begins to fight in the real world and the dream world, helping defeat Nightmares and saving people. His enemy Nox manages to repair the Knight Invoker to become NOX Knight and battles ZEZTZ. As the story develops, Baku discovers that CODE had influenced his childhood, training him from a young age along with other children into becoming operatives capable of lucid dreaming. He also learns the truth about Nem's origins and why she appears only in dreams before The Lady leads an attack on CODE Japan, and Baku is forced to decide which side he is on.

Second arc (Episodes 25–50) - Discovering that everything that happened until now was a dream, Baku rediscovers his command post in his closet and begins defeating Nightmares swiftly. He gathers his allies from reality and dreams and explains to both that he had a premonition of a future, and uses that knowledge to convince them to help him. A new enemy named Sieg appears and intends destruction by making Nightmares powerful beyond their own control, whilst Code Number: Three lays the groundwork to overthrow Zero and ensure the true goal of CODE comes about. Although Three has been eliminated, someone manages to steal the Code: Somnia Capsem and misuses it to commit "Black Cases" that cause dreamers with malice intents to progressively become Nightmares and have their existence be consumed a few seconds later. Additionally, a powerful Gore Nightmare Oblivion rises.

Films

Kamen Rider ZEZTZ made his first appearance as a cameo in the film Kamen Rider Gavv: Invaders of the House of Snacks.

Farewell Mission

Kamen Rider ZEZTZ: Farewell Mission (仮面ライダーゼッツ さよならのミッション, Kamen Raidā Zettsu Sayonara no Misshon) is a film released on July 24, 2026, double-billed with Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity: The Day the Sun Cried. Additionally, the main characters of Kamen Rider MY-TH made their first appearance, portrayed by Ikuho Akiya as Sora Otosumi and Riko Horikawa as Yuna Mizuki. The film was written by Yuya Takahashi and directed by Kazuya Kamihoriuchi. The theme song is "Dreams Never Sleep" performed by Yuta. The events of the film take place before the post-credits scene of the final episode of the series.

Spin-offs

Kamen Rider ZEZTZ: Series of Sister's Substory: Agent Minami (仮面ライダーゼッツ SERIES OF SISTER'S SUBSTORY エージェント美浪, Kamen Raidā Zettsu Shirīzu Obu Shisutāzu Sabusutōrī Ējento Minami): A web-exclusive series released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on September 7, 2025. As inferred by the title, this series focuses less on Baku/Zeztz and instead follows his younger sister, Minami, in her own adventures as a talent agent.

ZEZTZ Anime: Dream Part-Timer Baku (ゼッツあにめ ドリームアルバイターばく, Zettsu Anime Dorīmu Arubaitā Baku): A web-exclusive animated short series released on Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club on December 28, 2025.

Kamen Rider ZEZTZ: Send 'Em Flying! Giant Robot CODE Zeroider!! (仮面ライダーゼッツ かっとばせ！巨大ロボット コードゼロイダー！！, Kamen Raidā Zettsu Kattobase! Kyodai Robotto Kōdo Zeroidā!!): Televi-Kun's "Hyper Battle DVD" (超(ハイパー)バトルDVD, Haipā Batoru Dī Bui Dī).

Kamen Rider ZEZTZ × MY-TH: A New Chapter Begins (「仮面ライダーマイス」スペシャルバトンタッチ, Kamen Raidā Maisu Supesharu Baton Tatchi): A web-exclusive special short released on YouTube on August 30, 2026.

Cast

Baku Yorozu (万津 莫, Yorozu Baku): Ryutaro Imai (今井 竜太郎, Imai Ryūtarō)

Nem (ねむ, Nemu): Maho Horiguchi (堀口 真帆, Horiguchi Maho)

Tetsuya Fujimi (富士見 鉄也, Fujimi Tetsuya): Kenta Mishima (三嶋 健太, Mishima Kenta)

Nasuka Nagumo (南雲 なすか, Nagumo Nasuka): Rina Onuki (小貫 莉奈, Onuki Rina)

Minami Yorozu (万津 美浪, Yorozu Minami): Miki Yagi (八木 美樹, Yagi Miki)

Code Number: Three (コードナンバー：スリー, Kōdo Nanbā Surī): Yuki Tamaki (玉城 裕規, Tamaki Yūki)

Code Number: Five (コードナンバー：ファイブ, Kōdo Nanbā Faibu): Shin Koyanagi (小柳 心, Koyanagi Shin)

Kureha Miyamoto (宮本 紅覇, Miyamoto Kureha): Yuzuki Hirakawa (平川 結月, Hirakawa Yuzuki)

Code Number: Zero (コードナンバー：ゼロ, Kōdo Nanbā Zero): Jay Kabira (川平 慈英, Kabira Jiei)

Nox (ノクス, Nokusu), Kensei Odaka (小鷹 賢政, Odaka Kensei): Yuki Furukawa (古川 雄輝, Furukawa Yūki)

The Lady (ザ・レディ, Za Redi): Rie Mimura (美村 里江, Mimura Rie)

Sieg (ジーク, Jīku): Kousei Amano (天野 浩成, Amano Kōsei)

Voice cast

Catastrophe Gore Nightmare (カタストロフゴアナイトメア, Katasutorofu Goa Naitomea): Hiroaki Hirata (平田 広明, Hirata Hiroaki)

Phantom Gore Nightmare (ファントムゴアナイトメア, Fantomu Goa Naitomea): Saori Hayami (早見 沙織, Hayami Saori)

Punish Gore Nightmare (パニッシュゴアナイトメア, Panisshu Goa Naitomea): Jun Fukuyama (福山 潤, Fukuyama Jun)

Oblivion Gore Nightmare (オブリビオンゴアナイトメア, Oburibion Goa Naitomea): Junko Takeuchi (竹内 順子, Takeuchi Junko)

ZEZTZ Driver (ゼッツドライバー, Zettsu Doraibā): Koichi Yamadera (山寺 宏一, Yamadera Kōichi)

NOX Driver (ノクスドライバー, Nokusu Doraibā): Hiro Shimono (下野 紘, Shimono Hiro)

Guest cast

Tsukasa Tōdō (東堂 司, Tōdō Tsukasa; 3–4, 8–9, 39): Ichirota Miyagawa (宮川 一朗太, Miyagawa Ichirōta)

Miyuki Asamiya (麻宮 みゆき, Asamiya Miyuki; 4–5): Mari Iriki (入来 茉里, Iriki Mari)

Cardboard Senpai (ダンボール先輩, Danbōru Senpai; 6, 16–17): Manabu Takeuchi (竹内 まなぶ, Takeuchi Manabu)

Haruka Suzuki (鈴木 遥, Suzuki Haruka; 6): Nao Yumiki (弓木 奈於, Yumiki Nao)

Rentaro Sannoh (山王 廉太郎, San'nō Rentarō; 8–9): Ikuji Nakamura (中村 育二, Nakamura Ikuji)

Ryoji Shiomi (塩見 亮二, Shiomi Ryōji; 8–9): Tomoya Maeno (前野 朋哉, Maeno Tomoya)

Shusuke Satoh (佐藤 修介, Satō Shūsuke; 8–9): On Nakano (仲野 温, Nakano On)

Taro Atsumi (渥美 太郎, Atsumi Tarō; 10–11): Yasufumi Hayashi (林 泰文, Hayashi Yasufumi)

Ruriko Aoi (葵 るり子, Aoi Ruriko; 32): Yuchami (ゆうちゃみ, Yūchami)

Karl (カール, Kāru; 34): Don Fale (ドン・ファレ, Don Fare)

Kinnosuke Shiranami (白浪 金之助, Shiranami Kin'nosuke; 39–40): Taro Suwa (諏訪 太朗, Suwa Tarō)

Eight (エイト, Eito; 50): Himeno Aoyama (青山 姫乃, Aoyama Himeno)

Sora Otosumi (音澄 宙, Otosumi Sora; 50): Ikuho Akiya (秋谷 郁甫, Akiya Ikuho)

Theme songs

Opening themes

"VISIONS"

Lyrics: Benjamin + cAnON.

Composition & Arrangement: Hiroyuki Sawano

Artist: NAQT VANE

Episodes: 4–24

Episodes 1–3 do not feature the show's opening sequence, and it is instead used as an ending song in episodes 1–3 and as an insert song in episodes 5, 7, 23, and 50.

"PLAY BACK"

Lyrics: Shoko Fujibayashi (藤林 聖子, Fujibayashi Shōko)

Composition & Arrangement: Hi-yunk (Back-On)

Artist: Yuta

Episodes: 26–49

Episodes 25 and 50 do not feature the show's second opening sequence, and it is instead used as an ending song in episodes 25 and 50 and as an insert song in episode 49.

Insert themes

"MOVE! TAKE IT!"

Composition & Arrangement: Go Sakabe (坂部 剛, Sakabe Gō)

Lyrics & Artist: TEEDA (Back-On)

Episodes: 2–4, 6–8, 18, 22

"NemNemNEMOTION" (ねむねむNEMOTION, Nemu Nemu Nemōshon)

Lyrics: Isa Takinoo (瀧尾 沙, Takinoo Isa)

Composition & Arrangement: Shuhei Naruse (鳴瀬 シュウヘイ, Naruse Shūhei)