Wikipedia

Spider Riders

Spider Riders is a series of science fiction novels first published in December 2004, published by Newmarket Press written by Tedd Anasti, Patsy Cameron-Anasti and Stephen D. Sullivan (books 2–3). The series was adapted into an anime series, produced by Bee Train and Cookie Jar Entertainment. It was the first show from the latter company that was placed under the control of their then-new action-adventure brand Coliseum.[4]

Spider Riders
Also known as
see list
  • Spider Riders: Heroes of Oracle[a] (Japanese title, season 1)
    Spider Riders: The Resurrected Sun (Japanese title, season 2)[b]
GenreMecha
Created byTedd Anasti
Patsy Cameron-Anasti
Written byShelley Hoffman
Robert Pincombe
Yosuke Kuroda
Hideki Shirane
Noboru Kimura
Directed byKoichi Mashimo
Takaaki Ishiyama
Hiroshi Morikoa
Naoyuki Kuzuya
Shintaro Itoga
Tomoyuki Kurokawa
Yuuki Arie
Yutaka Hirata
Tomoaki Ohta
Yukio Kuroda
Yutaka Hirata
Opening themesee Music
Ending themesee Music
Countries of originCanada
Japan
Original languagesEnglish
Japanese
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes52 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersLesley Taylor
Michael Hirsh
Patsy Cameron
Tedd Anasti
Kouji Kumode
Yasuharu Iwakiri
ProducerStephen Hodgins
Running time22 minutes approx.
Production companiesCookie Jar Entertainment[c]
Bee Train
Yomiko Advertising[1]
P.A. Works (season 1)
Original release
NetworkTeletoon (Canada)
TV Tokyo/Kids Station (Japan)
ReleaseMarch 25, 2006 (2006-03-25)[2] –
April 29, 2007 (2007-04-29)[3]

The three novels for the series included Shards of the Oracle, Reign of the Soul Eater and Quest of the Earthen.[5][6][7] The series was broadcast on Teletoon, This TV, and used to be broadcast on Kids' WB. Koichi Mashimo co-directed the staff at Bee Train with Takaaki Ishiyama. Writer Yosuke Kuroda adapted the novels. Robert Pincombe and Shelly Hoffman wrote the English version.

Plot

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Eleven-year-old Hunter Steele searches for the legendary inner world by following instructions in his grandfather's journal. He enters a pyramid where he finds a mysterious manacle that attaches to his arm. A spider startles Hunter, who falls into a hole to the center of the Earth and into the subterranean world of Arachna. There, he discovers a small group of elite warriors struggling to survive and to save Arachna from the attack of Invectids, a race of insectoids. The warriors are children/teenagers, each fighting with the help of their own 10 ft (3.0 m) battle spiders. They call themselves "Spider Riders". In the English TV series, the ages of the characters were reduced. There is a prophecy that says a surface-dweller or Human, like Hunter, will bring disaster to the Inner World. Sparkle mentions it at the beginning of the TV series. When Princess Sparkle finds out she says, "I wonder if he will bring doom to us...or to them."

Oracle Keys

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The Oracle Keys are fractions of the Oracle's power. They are cards that can be split in two. The Invectids hope to gain them for Mantid, who wants to use their power to rule Arachna. The Oracle uses much of her strength to protect them. The Spirit Oracle Key passes its power onto Hunter and Shadow, giving them new armor and weapons as well as new abilities.

To activate the keys, the holder must shout "Oracle's Light!". Two in combination can create more powerful armor and weapons. The wielder must have a sincere desire to protect without arrogance, otherwise the keys will malfunction. The Oracle Key from Nuuma was called by Corona, using her power, to let Hunter use it without having to hold it. Mantid used two of the Oracle's keys to power himself, plunging the Inner World into darkness and preventing Hunter from using his own keys.

Currently, the locations of the four Oracle Keys are known in the English version:

  1. Found in the Oracle's shrine in Arachna, the first key is taken by Hunter and Shadow, who retain possession of it throughout the series.
  2. The second key is brought to Arachna by a page from Nuuma. Hunter and Shadow have it in their possession for most of the series, though it was briefly taken by Aqune and Portia.
  3. The third key is initially kept in a sanctuary in Nuuma and allows the castle to float in the sky via the Oracle's power. It is taken by Aqune for the Invectids, but ends up in the possession of Hunter and Shadow during the final battle against Mantid.
  4. The fourth key held by Mantid powers Castle Mantid and sustains Mantid throughout the series until he steals the Oracle's power and abandons it. It ends up in the possession of Hunter and Shadow during the final battle against Mantid.

Episodes

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
126March 25, 2006 (2006-03-25)October 15, 2006 (2006-10-15)
226October 22, 2006 (2006-10-22)April 29, 2007 (2007-04-29)

Characters

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Broadcast history

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The animated series was unveiled at L.A. Screenings in May 2005 as a 52-episode Canada-Japan co-production between Cookie Jar Entertainment, Bee Train and Yomiko Advertising.[8] The first three episodes debuted as a 90-minute special on March 25, 2006, on Teletoon in Canada.[9] It began its regular broadcast on May 14, with the finale airing on April 29, 2007.[10][3] Reruns remained on the channel until August 26, 2012.[3] The series also aired in French on Télétoon.[11] In the United States, Spider Riders launched on June 17, 2006, through the Kids' WB programming block on The WB.[12] The first 11 episodes aired before it was removed from the schedule.[13] It returned to the network after The CW rebrand on January 20, 2007.[14] Episode 20 would mark its final broadcast on March 31, 2007.[15] From November 2008 until September 2011, it was shown in its entirety multiple times on the Cookie Jar Toons block on This TV.[16][17][18] In the United Kingdom, the series began airing on Kix! on June 12, 2008.[19]

In Japan, the first 26 episodes aired as Spider Riders: Heroes of the Oracle (スパイダーライダーズ 〜オラクルの勇者たち〜, Supaidā Raidāzu 〜 Orakuru no Yūsha-tachi 〜) on TV Tokyo and other TX Network stations from April 5 to September 27, 2006.[20] Reruns began airing on Kids Station on October 7, 2006.[21] The channel premiered the last 26 episodes as Spider Riders: The Resurrected Sun (スパイダーライダ〜よみがえる太陽〜, Supaidā Raidāzu Yomigaeru Taiyō) between April 14 and October 13, 2007.[22][23]

Music

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The music depends on where Spider Riders was aired. In Japan, there were different opening songs for each season, along with two ending themes in season one and one ending theme in season 2. There is only one opening and ending theme in North America, and a Spanish version of the same theme for South America.

Japan

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  • Opening Theme #1: "Alright" (eps. 1-26)
  • Opening Theme #2: "Brave Heart" by Saeko Chiba (eps. 27–52)
  • Ending Theme #1: "Twilight Time" by MCU (eps. 1–13)
  • Ending Theme #2: "Koi no Keshiki" by Tamaru Yamada (eps. 14–26)
  • Ending Theme #3: "Towards a Dream" by Takashi Kondo and Sanae Kobayashi (eps. 27–52)

North America

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  • Opening Theme: "Calling All Spider Riders" Theme song words and music by Grayson Matthews Audio (Elizabeth Taylor, David Borbara, Tom Westin, Jason Gleed); performed by Jason Gleed, Jason Dantes Balde "Clip", and Annelise Noronha.[24]

Crew

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English crew

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  • David Shaw - Music Score
  • Melodie Vaughan - Voice Director

Reception

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Common Sense Media rated the show 3 out of 5 stars.[25]

Web manga

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On May 31, 2006, the Spider Riders manga premiered on TV Tokyo's ani.tv website, illustrated by Junji Ohno of Studio 23.[26] The seventh and final chapter was published between November 29 and December 27, 2006. Previous chapters were removed on November 29, 2006. Starting on December 19, 2006, the manga began serialization physically through the Monthly Fang Comic magazine, as well as online through its website on December 27.[27][28] Two more chapters of the manga were later released. The web comic was published as a tankōbon on June 19, 2007, by the Monthly Fang Comic publisher LEED Publishing Co., Ltd.; the online chapters were removed soon after.[29] Currently, the manga is not available.

The web manga has an alternate beginning, where Hunter Steele enters a spider-shaped monument and discovers the manacle floating above a spider web. Hunter wears the manacle when it flies to his hand and falls into Inner World through a gap between web strings. Inside the Inner World, Hunter discovers Shadow after peeking at the bathing Corona and after trying to rescue a cart of caged humans. Each chapter of the web manga ends with the Sparkling Sparkle section, following the adventures of Princess Sparkle and Hortala in a 4-square manga format.

In the Boy's Fang manga version, certain scenes are re-edited; for example, Corona is now naked instead of in underwear when Hunter first met her in chapter 1, an illustration is added at the beginning of each chapter, and Sparkling Sparkle segments have been removed.

Merchandise

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Mattel acquired the master toy license in June 2006, but would ultimately not release any products tied to the series.[30]

Home video

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In the United States, Funimation announced they had acquired the home video rights to the show in June 2006.[31] In June 2007, Vivendi Visual Entertainment Canada agreed to release several Cookie Jar productions, including Spider Riders.[32] Funimation released a single English-only volume on DVD with the first seven episodes in September 2007, which Vivendi also distributed in Canada.[33][34][35] Vivendi would later release volumes 2-5 (encompassing the first thirty-five episodes) exclusively in Canada between January and December 2009.[36][37][38] The company also published a concurrent French release.[39][40]

In Japan, BMG released the first twenty-six episodes across 7 DVDs in a boxset on July 25, 2007.[41] Between that date and September 26 the company distributed the same discs for the rental market.[42][43] The last twenty-six episodes followed in a similar set on December 19.[44] Its rental release occurred between then and February 20, 2008.[45][46]

Video games

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In Japan, TV Tokyo's Anime X service published Spider Catcher and Oracle Daifugo, two downloadable games based on the show for the FOMA-enabled cell phones on July 29, 2006. A third game, Jumping Spider, was released on August 9, 2006. Each game costs 105 yen.[47]

In western markets, Tribal Nova and Frima Studio produced a tie-in online game based on the show, called Spider Riders: Battle for Arachna, which launched on the official website in May 2007.[48]

Notes

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  1. ↑ In Japanese: スパイダーライダーズ ～オラクルの勇者たち～ (Supaidā Raidāzu Orakuru no Yūsha-tachi)
  2. ↑ In Japanese: スパイダーライダーズ ～よみがえる太陽～ (Supaidā Raidāzu Yomigaeru Taiyō)
  3. ↑ Produced under the Coliseum brand name (a former Cookie Jar Entertainment brand for action-adventure shows)

References

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  1. ↑ DeMott, Rick (April 5, 2006). "Cookie Jar Nets Spider Riders". Animation World Network. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Spider Riders on Teletoon". Anime News Network. 23 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Television Program Logs". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (FTP). 2016-03-02.[dead ftp link] (To view documents see Help:FTP) Alt URL
  4. ↑ "The Cookie Jar Company | For the Kid Inside!". 2010-12-02. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  5. ↑ "Newmarket Press: Spider Riders". Newmarket Press. Archived from the original on November 9, 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Newmarket Press: Spider Riders". Newmarket Press. Archived from the original on August 29, 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Newmarket Press: Spider Riders". Newmarket Press. Archived from the original on August 13, 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  8. ↑ Waller, Ed (May 21, 2005). "Spiders infest the Cookie Jar". C21 Media. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  9. ↑ Macdonald, Christopher (February 8, 2006). "Spider Riders on Teletoon". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  10. ↑ DeMott, Rick (April 28, 2006). "Spider Riders Premiere Tops TELETOON May Highlights". Animation World Network. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Une présentation de teletoon.com L'horaire TV - Halloween 2006 - La semaine du 16 octobre" (PDF). Télétoon. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  12. ↑ Ball, Ryan (June 7, 2006). "Spider Riders Corralled by Kids' WB!". Animation Magazine. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  13. ↑ Hanson, Brian (September 2, 2006). "The Click September 2nd - September 8th". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  14. ↑ Mays, Jonathan (January 9, 2007). "Spider Riders Premieres January 20 on Kids' WB". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  15. ↑ Hanson, Brian (March 31, 2007). "The Click March 31st - April 6th". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  16. ↑ Pavan (November 3, 2008). "This TV Launches with Mr. Ed and Patty Duke; TV Land Changes; Samantha Who and Kath & Kim Renewed". SitcomsOnline. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  17. ↑ "This TV's official series page for Spider Riders - Released Mar 1, 2006". This TV. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  18. ↑ "This TV Schedule - Program listings and guide". This TV. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin Issue number 116 1 September 2008" (PDF). Ofcom. September 1, 2008. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  20. ↑ "テレビ東京・あにてれ　スパイダーライダーズ ～オラクルの勇者たち～" (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  21. ↑ "キッズステーションどっとこむ - 番組インフォメーション". Kids Station. Archived from the original on October 13, 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  22. ↑ "キッズステーションどっとこむ - 番組インフォメーション". Kids Station. Archived from the original on April 1, 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  23. ↑ "キッズステーションどっとこむ - 番組インフォメーション". Kids Station. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  24. ↑ Pastuk, Slava (February 25, 2015). "Wait, Did Drake Write the Theme Song to a Popular Japanese/Canadian Cartoon?". Vice. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  25. ↑ Wiseman, Larisa. "Parents' Guide to Spider Riders". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  26. ↑ "あにてれ、アニメ「スパイダーライダーズ」のオリジナルコミックを配信". Broadband Watch (in Japanese). Impress Corporation. May 31, 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  27. ↑ "［編集部］新連載2本！最新号（12/19発売）特集をアップ!!". Fang Comic (in Japanese). LEED Publishing. December 13, 2006. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  28. ↑ "月刊少年ファング：スパイダーライダーズ". Fang Comic (in Japanese). LEED Publishing. Archived from the original on January 6, 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  29. ↑ "株式会社リイド社：コミック" (in Japanese). LEED Publishing. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Mattel lands 'Spider Riders'". ICv2. June 19, 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Mattel, Funimation take on Spider Riders". Playthings. Gifts & Decorative Accessories. June 15, 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  32. ↑ Rusak, Gary (June 28, 2007). "Vivendi Visual Entertainment Canada has hand in Cookie Jar". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Spider Riders: The Oracle Keys, v.1". Amazon. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  34. ↑ "vivendi visual entertainment canada :: release schedule". Vivendi Visual Entertainment Canada. Archived from the original on December 4, 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Vivendi Visual Entertainment Canada by Genre" (PDF). Vivendi Visual Entertainment Canada. June 18, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 6, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  36. ↑ "vivendi visual entertainment canada :: release schedule". Vivendi Visual Entertainment Canada. Archived from the original on January 1, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  37. ↑ "vivendi visual entertainment canada :: release schedule". Vivendi Visual Entertainment Canada. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Spider Riders - Volume 5 - Path of a Champion (Bilingual)". Amazon.ca. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Spider Riders: Volume 1 - The Oracle Keys (French)". Amazon.ca. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Spider Riders, Vol.5: Le Parcours D'un Champion (Version française)". Amazon.ca. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  41. ↑ "「DVD発売日一覧」 7月9日の更新情報". AV Watch (in Japanese). Impress Corporation. July 10, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  42. ↑ "DVD「スパイダーライダーズ　オラクルの勇者たち　１」作品詳細" (in Japanese). Geo Corporation. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  43. ↑ "DVD「スパイダーライダーズ　オラクルの勇者たち　７」作品詳細" (in Japanese). Geo Corporation. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  44. ↑ "スパイダーライダーズ~よみがえる太陽~ [DVD]". Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  45. ↑ "DVD「スパイダーライダーズ　よみがえる太陽　Ｖｏｌ．１」作品詳細" (in Japanese). Geo Corporation. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  46. ↑ "DVD「スパイダーライダーズ　よみがえる太陽　Ｖｏｌ．７」作品詳細" (in Japanese). Geo Corporation. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  47. ↑ "スパイダーライダーズのアプリゲームがついにアニメXに登場!!" (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. July 26, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  48. ↑ Ball, Ryan (May 30, 2007). "Spider Riders Goes MMOG". Animation Magazine. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
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