Spider Riders

Spider Riders
File:Spider riders.jpg Spider Riders logo
Starring	English cast Japanese cast
Country of origin	Canada/Japan
No. of episodes	52 episodes ordered
Production
Running time	22 minutes approx.
Original release
Network	Teletoon (Canada) TV Tokyo (Japan) Kids WB (USA)
Release	April 4, 2006 – present

Spider Riders (スパイダーライダーズ ~オラクルの勇者たち~ (Supaidaaraidaazu ~ Orakuru no Yuusha Tachi (~Spider Riders ~the heroes of Oracle~))) started as a series of science fiction novels first published in December 2004, published by Newmarket Press which are authored by Tedd Anasti, Patsy Cameron-Anasti, and Stephen D. Sullivan (books 2-3). The stories became the basis of the animated television series produced by Cookie Jar Entertainment of Canada and Bee Train of Japan (licensed & distributed by FUNimation in the USA).

Plot introduction

Following instructions in the journal of his grandfather, thirteen year old Hunter Steele searched for the underearth in a mysterious cave. He finds a mysterious manacle that attaches itself to him. When Hunter sees a spider he falls and ends up falling straight down to the center of the Earth, into the fantastic subterranean world of Arachna. Here, he discovers a small band of elite warriors struggling to survive and to save Arachna from the attack of giant insect mutants. The warriors are kids, just like Hunter, each fighting with the help of their own three-ton, ten-foot battle spiders. They call themselves "Spider Riders."

Changes made to the English TV series included lowering ages of characters (for example, Hunter Steele is 11 instead of 13 in the book and in the Japanese language version of the TV series).

There is a prophecy that says an "Earthen" (someone from the Outer World or Earth) will bring disaster to the Inner World. Sparkle mentions it in the beginning of the TV series, but it's not known whether the Earthen (Hunter Steele) will be a savior or a source of doom. When Princess sparkle finds out she says, "I wonder if he will bring doom to us...or the invectids".

Web Manga

On May 31, 2006, the Spider Riders manga (comic) premiered at TV Tokyo's ani.tv website, illustrated by Junji Ohno of Studio 23.

The web manga has an alternate beginning, where Hunter Steele enters a spider-shaped monument and discovers the manacle (which looked different from the one in the TV series) floating above a spider web. Hunter wears the manacle when it flies to Hunter's hand (in TV series, it simply fell into his hand out of nowhere) and falls into Inner World through a gap between web strings (in TV series, Hunter falls into Inner World when the pyramid collapses). Inside the Inner World, Hunter discover Shadow after peeking at the bathing Corona and trying to rescue a cart of caged humans by himself (neither has happened in the TV series).

Each chapter of the web manga ends with the Sparkling Sparkle section, following the adventures of Princess Sparkle and Hortala in 4-square comic format.

Characters

Riders

Spider Riders are elite warriors that ride huge metal spiders. To bring their Spider out the Manacle, they say the name of the spider and "Spider Out." When shouting "Arachna Power", the Manacle brings their armor onto them alongside their weapons and shields. Among the most known of them are:

• Hunter Steele - A boy who falls into the subterranean Inner World, and becomes a Spider Rider with his newfound battle spider "partner", Shadow. They both argue quite a lot, mainly because of Hunter's cluelessness and ignorance and Shadow's pride and desire to work alone as well as the belief that he doesn't need the help of others. Hunter's weapon is a double-bladed staff. It is unknown whether the prophecy refers to him, thus it is unknown of he is destined to be Arachnia's salvation or its destruction. It is also shown in the TV series that he has affections for Corona and admires her good spirit but is too shy to share them. In the episode "Smells Like Team Spider," he unknowingly stares at Corona while she is marvelling at the flowers; then when they are battling the Invectids, his mind is calmed by the image of Corona's face. Lastly, when Igneous asks what changed Hunter's mind about the flowers, he becomes a bit embarrassed as it was Corona's image that changed him. Also, since Corona was the first person to discover Hunter, he has known her for the longest time, besides Shadow. It is possible that Hunter may have a romantic relationship with Corona.
• Corona - Discovering Hunter and Shadow, she escorts the new team to Arachna so they may be officially inducted to the ranks of the Spider Riders. She seems to care a lot for Hunter, as does her spider for Shadow. She becomes especially worried when Hunter is hurt or in danger and becomes quite jealous when Hunter's guy nature foolishly allows him to mention spending some time the night before with an unknown girl (Princess Sparkle) by pushing him into the fountain he slept next to that night. In "Hunter's Holiday" Corona clearly expresses her desire to spend some time with Hunter alone but when he refuses she takes out her rage by practicing on targets with Hunter's face on them. Her weapons are the bow and arrows. Though she is taller and more mature than Hunter, both are the same age (stated to be eleven, though they act around twelve to thirteen years old). She and her battle spider, Venus, make a great team. She has no family and was adopted by twins. When they found her, Corona had a manacle.
• Igneous - A leading Spider Rider and captain of the Arachna military. His name, like Flame's, has a meaning to do with fire. Igneous is calm, gentle and has with quite a strategic mind. His weapon is a cavalry lance and one of his attacks is a flamethrower coming out of the tip of the lance. Igneous takes Hunter's training seriously and almost acts as a mentor to Hunter, to his annoyment. He challenged Hunter and Shadow to a duel when they joined the Riders, but it was all to see if both could cooporate. Igneous was part of the Arachna Knights, where he teamed up with a long-time friend Slate. Both were known as "Claw" and "Fang" and they proved to be quite powerful, especially since Igneous didn't call his spider Flame to assist. Regardless of his grade, Igneous is proud to serve the royalty of the Arachna Kingdom, and always offer his help to prince Lumen and princess Sparkle.
• Prince Lumen - Leader of the Spider Riders and prince of Arachna. He is rather lazy for a ruler, preferring diplomatic solutions over fights, even against the Invectid. Some say it is because his spider, Ebony, is so powerful that he is afraid to let it loose. Lumen is bright, talkive, and loves cute girls. Ebony, his spider, also loves to talk and always advises Lumen on how to rule Arachna, his battle technique, and on dating! His weapon is a sword.
• Princess Sparkle - Lumen's younger sister, also a Spider Rider. She is the one who points out that Hunter might save, not destroy, the Inner World; she also visits Hunter in the night and advises him to bond with Shadow and when Hunter first sees her, he blushes while she giggles. Sparkle is very adventurous. Her spider's Hotarla, and is very small. Her weapon of choice is a yoyo-like device, with which she pummelled Grasshop to submission when he was trying to get away with one of the keys.
• Magma - Not affiliated with the Arachna military, he is a "lone rider" with his partner, Brutus. He made a promise to find the purple spider Portia, supposed to be Brutus's younger sister, and this promise keeps him joining the ranks of Arachna. He later joins up with Hunter and the others to prevent the Invectids from stealing the Oracle Keys. His weapon is a mace that can switch to a flail. He is somewhat obsessed with rescuing Portia from the Invectids. Aqune may be his sister but that has not been proven.
• Aqune - A Spider Rider in the service of the Invectid, under Buguese. Aqune wears a mask that covers her face, which might contain a mind control device. She has a deep sense of honor: while fighting Hunter and being unmasked, they both fell from a cliff, and Aqune took care of Hunter and refused to fight him because he was injured and weakened. She did this in front of Buguese's eyes, by stepping between him and Hunter right before Buguese delivers a fatal blow. She has a Mantid weapon ready to use against the riders. She also is trying to gain something from a sphere. She uses a glaive when unarmored, but her weapon of choice, when transformed, is a longsword. It seems that Buguese found her and her spider lost in the Forest of Bewilderment where anyone who enters become disoriented and cannot find the exit. He seems to call her "Oracle's Chosen" and uses her to find the Oracle Keys.

Spiders

Here are the Spider Riders' spiders:

• Shadow - Hunter's spider (though Shadow disagrees in the beginning), a prideful warrior who thinks he doesn't need a rider (i.e., he distrusts and underestimates all others), especially one who may be destined to bring disaster to Arachna (i.e., Hunter). He also hates large crowds. He is said to have legendary strength. He complains about most of the things Hunter does. Shadow is a direct descendant of the Ancestral Lord of Spiders.
• Venus - Corona's spider. She is soft-spoken and gentle, but is fearless in battle.
• Flame - Igneous' spider, has the ability to shoot webs made out of fire. He has yet to talk in the english version.
• Ebony - Lumen's spider. Said to be very powerful and destructive, which restrains Lumen to call it out. He has yet to say anything as well.
• Hotarla - Sparkle's spider. Unlike the other spiders, she's not a spider ready for battle and has distinctive large eyes. She'd rather not take risks.
• Brutus - Magma's spider, has tremendous strength, and is looking for his sister, Portia.
• Portia - Aqune's spider. She is Brutus's missing sister. Like Aqune, Portia wears a mask over her face that controls her.

Invectid (Insector)

The main villians of the series who plot to conquer Arachnia. Among the members of the Invectid Empire are:

• Lord Mantid - Mantid, a mantis-type Invectid, rules the loose-knit nation of Insects. From the top floor of his fortress, he directs his invectid troops to remove the wasteful and hated humans from the Inner World and find the Oracle Keys. Although it is assumed by his followers that he is the ultimate in Invectid evolution, Mantid actually wears a covering of high fidelity mechanics, which encases the body of a human! Anyone who finds out, must be slain. He needs the Oracle Keys to sustain himself for some reason or else his body turns white.
• The Invectid's Big Four: Four of Mantid's mightiest warriors. They are:
  • Buguese - Mantid's right hand man, he is a masked humanoid Invectid with many plans to defeat the Spider Riders. He is the leader of the Big Four. He seems to care little about the Oracle, as he once sliced in half a memorial with his crimson-bladed sword. Personally, he hates Hunter Steele for the many defeats at his hands. He is also Aqune's mentor. He wields a long sword for a weapon.
  • Larva P. Grasshop - Once one of the Big Four (was "fired" due to failure in "Dark World"), he is a grasshopper-type Invectid who uses many technological devices to defeat enemies. So far, he hasn't really fought the Riders; letting his minions do the fighting for him instead. He has (unfortunately for him) seen little success against the Spider Riders, and is seen with disdain and disappointment by the other members of the Invectids as well as his family. As such, he may have mild drinking problems, but this is only speculative. He hopes to one day win, earn approval from Mantid, get showered with kisses from his wife Weeval and eat maggot pie.
  • Beerain - She is a bee-type Invectid who uses a whip to fight. She is a member of the Big Four and commands the buzzrays (flying manta ray-like creatures). She has a certain charm about her. When fighting, she has no regard for honor and thinks winning is everything.
  • Staggs - He is a stag beetle-type Invectid who is all muscle and no brain, but is very loyal to the Invectid cause. He is considered by many as the most powerful of the Big Four. He has a strong sense of honor, and cannot stand when it is disrespected. Corona and Igneous have once faced him, but barely managed to escape with their lives. So far, Hunter is the only one who has ever harmed him, causing Staggs to chip one of his horns.
• Dungobeet - A dung beetle-type Invectid and spy. He like to roll on a ball. He rats sometimes to Grasshop's family.
• Invectid Foot Soldiers - The foot soldiers of the Invectids. They come in different varieties and often accompany the Big Four or any other field commanders.

Invectid Machines

Giant metal insects used by the Invectids. Among those are:

• Smashopper - A giant metal grasshopper that battles Hunter in episode 1 while Grasshop rides on him.
• Praying Mantech - A giant metal praying mantis that Buguese rides on in his battle against Hunter and Corona near the memorial of King Arachna I. Praying Mantech has a weak spot if attacked once his missile launcher in his chest opens up.
• Billbug - A giant metal pillbug that fought Magma and Brutus in the Forest of Bewilderment. It is indestructible when in it's ball form.
• Celpido - A giant metal centipede used by Buguese. Celpido caused sinkholes in a village to destroy it. Celpido is the first Invectid Machine to have the power of speech.
• Battle Beetle - A giant metal machine used by Buguese when fighting the Spider Riders within Oracle's Shrine. This Battle Beetle has the ability to blind its enemies with a bright light when it opens its armor. This beetle has shown its mass strength as Lumen, Igneous, Corona, and Magma struggled to survive against it. Hunter defeated it in one shot using the Elektra Twist for the first time in the episode "A New Power."
• Battle Bug - A giant metal beetle used by Grasshop. It uses laser beams. In "Wages of War", Grasshop used it to capture and turned Invectid named Katy but forgotten to install the device that determine friend from foe. It's armed with a laser cannon and it gets more powerful the more Katy fears fighting. He gave Hunter its weakeness out of cowardice; slash off both antennae at the same time or they will grow back. It took Hunter and Aqune defeated it together.
• Iron Ant - A giant metal ant that Grasshop used after Hunter foiled his chase upon the Nuuman Page. It has powerful pincers and large contact lenses (ants can't see very well). Hunter almost lost his life fighting this Invectid Machine solo.
• RoboBeetle - A Giant beetle-type invectid that is strong enough to survive the attack of 1 Oracle Key. It was destroyed when Hunter combined 2 Oracle Keys
• Golden Bowr - A huge Invectid that produces a industructable shield and a powerful burst of energy that defeats all enemy's in the area. He's only weakness is that when he falls on his back he can't get up. He's the second Invectid battle machine that can talk.

Other characters

• The Oracle - The Oracle is a beautiful woman, who united both human and spiders together. All the time, she has her eyes closed and moves her hands. Hunter was the only one to have seen her (or at least until the very end, because the Japanese theme song suggests the Spider Riders saw her). She is the goddess of the "Inner World." Whenever anything sacred to her is destroyed, it hurts her.

Oracle Keys

The Oracle Keys are fractions of the Oracle's power. They take the form of a card 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 passed its power onto Hunter and Shadow, giving them new armor and weapons as well as a new attack called the Electra Twist. To activate these keys, the holder must shout "Oracle's Light!" Two in combination, can create more powerful armor and weapons.

Currently three of the locations of the four oracle keys are known in the English Version:
1. In the possesion of Hunter and Shadow
2. Powering the Invectid Castle and sustaining Mantid
3. In the possesion of Hunter and Shadow
4. Currently Unknown It's located somewhere in Nuuma where the hero Quake brought.

Episodes

There are currently 25 Episodes to the English Spider Riders series.

• The Inner World 3/25/2006

When 11-year-old Hunter Steele gets bored one day, he decides to search for an old legend known as "The Inner World". As he searches, he accidentally stumbles into the mysterious world known as "Arachna". There he is attacked by a monster known as an Invectid and he can not protect himself!

• Never Give Up! 3/25/2006

When the mighty and feared Grasshop attacks a nearby village, Hunter and his new found friend Corona must attempt to stop him. But Corona being without her Spider Venus can't help when Hunter just runs into battle without Shadow. Not only is he alone, but he doesn't know how to call upon his powers. Will he be able to figure out how, and will Shadow his stubborn partner finally work with him?

• First Impressions 3/25/2006

As Hunter and Shadow enter Corona's beloved "Arachna Kingdom", they confront a new Spider Rider, Igneous. Igneous challenges Shadow and Hunter to a battle at the "Arachna Collisseum". Who will be victorious, and will Shadow and Hunter work together?

• Smells Like Team Spider 5/14/2006

Hunter is quick to volunteer when the Village of Fragrant Blooms calls on the Spider Riders for help against an Invectid assault.

• Memories of Champions 5/21/2006

Corona takes Hunter to the Hill of Champions; the place where spiders and humans first fought together against the Invectid invaders. They meet Galena, a woman whose Spider Rider husband disappeared many years ago. She cares for the monument while awaiting his return.

• Spider Rider's Ball! 5/28/2006

Every child in the city is playing with a sparkling sphere but Princess Sparkle. After Hunter discovers where the children found the spheres and gets one for her, Sparkle is afraid to tell him that it turned black when she tried to paint it.

• Princely Power 6/4/2006

Prince Lumen's lackadaisical attitude and distaste for practice leave Hunter questioning his ability to lead the Spider Riders.

• The Wandering Warrior 6/11/2006

While on patrol, Hunter and Shadow fall into the Forest of Bewilderment, from which, legend has it, no one has ever escaped.

• Hunter's Holiday 6/18/2006

After weeks of non-stop battle and training, Corona and Igneous arrange for Hunter to have a day off but they can't understand why he wants to spend it sleeping.

• The Mask of Aqune 6/25/2006

Hunter and his fellow Spider Riders investigate sinkholes at a remote village and uncover a giant, Invectid Centipede named Celpido who is bent on destruction.

• Deadly Distraction 7/2/2006

Hunter and his fellow Spider Riders investigate sinkholes at a remote village and uncover a giant, Invectid Centipede named Celpido who is bent on destruction.

• Keys to Destruction 7/9/2006

Hunter and the other Spider Riders follow up on the tip given to them by Grasshop. When they close in on the Spirit Oracles Shrine they run into Beerain. Igneus and Lumen decide to stay and fight while Hunter, Corona, Venus, and Shadow go and defeat Buguese. Will Hunter and Corona be able to defeat Buguese. And what does the mysterious girl Aqune's secret?

• A New Power 7/16/2006

With Bugese in possession of the Oracle Key. The Spider Riders find themselves not strong enough to defeat his Battle Beetle. Lumen and Igneous hold off the Battle Beetle while Hunter and Corona chase after Bugese. When they catch up with him, Hunter and Shadow meet with the Oracle through one of the keys. This results in them becoming pure embodiments of her power. Will Hunter be able to save Aqune and Portia with his new power? Or will he have to go back on his promise to get the Oracle Keys?

• Stag's Challenge 7/23/2006

With the first Oracle key lost Mantid seems unconcerned. He decides that they will find the others then take the one that Hunter has. Stag the most powerful of the The Big Four Generals decides he wants to test his strength against Hunters new power. He then procedes in breaking into Arachna Castle and defeating Lumens gaurds. Stag then challenges Hunter. If Hunter does not accept then Stag will Arachna destroy Castle. Hunter accepts but cannot activate his new power. Can Hunter learn to activate his new power before he is defeated by Stag?

• Ghost Spider 7/30/2006

Corona asks Hunter to help her practice dancing for the Annual Dance Party. Hunter agrees but while they are practicing he sees the sihoutte of a giant spider. Corona becomes upset at this and tells him that anyone who sees the ghost will have bad luck until they see the ghost again. Soon everyone's luck starts to turn for the worst. Now it is up to Corona and Hunter to find the ghost before disaster fall upon them.

• Corona's Homecoming 8/6/2006

Corona and Hunter go and visit the town that Corona grew up in. Corona's friends and family try to make a couple out of the two even with both of them trying to convince the villagers they are just friends. Hunter talks to Corona's sister and learns about the vow Corona made when she was younger. He goes and visits the monument which Corona made her vow and makes his own. Not long after Beerain shows up with her Buzz Rays. Can Hunter and Corona defeat them before they destroy Corona's home?

• Return of a Friend 8/13/2006

Igneous meets up with an old friend, from the Arachna Knights, named Slate. After starting where things ended between the tow Igneous tells Hunter that Slate has challenged him to a battle to the death. Can Hunter and Shadow stop them before they kill each other?

• Unmasked 8/20/2006

Magma and Hunter come to a school, in which they find an unmasked Aqune and without a Manicle. They find out that Aqune ended up at the school not knowing who she is or anything. Not long after Magma and Hunter find out that there is an Oracle Key in the school's Sanctuary. Come to find out that Aqune is after the key, but when she tries to take it turns out to be an illusion. Angered at this Buguese unleashes Aqune and Portia's full power on the Spider Riders. Can Hunter and Magma stop them or will they be destroyed by the ones they are trying to save?

• Lumen's Love 8/27/2006

Prince Lumen's childhood friend Lady Noia comes and visits Lumen. Lumen falls in love with her as soon as he sees her. The only problem is Lady Noia and her butler are Beerain and Grasshop in disguise trying to steal the Oracle Key. Thanks to Lumen's 24-7 care they never get a chance. When Lumen challenges Hunter to a duel Lady Noia asks Lumen to let her hold the Oracle Key. Can the Spider Riders stop Lumen before he hands over the Oracle Key to the Invectids?

• Hero Act 9/3/2006

A theatrical troupe, who put on a play about a renowned hero name Quake, quits. So the Spider Riders decide the show must go on and fill in the places of the actors. While they are doing the play the real Grasshop shows up with a real Invectid army. Can the Spider Riders defeat the Invectid before the great play is ruined?

• Because I'm a Warrior 9/10/2006

The Spider Riders are so worn out from the constant skirmishes with the Invectids, Corona begins to long for a "normal" life. But that will always be denied her with the Invectids around. Or will it? Lily uses her magic to show Corona how her life could have been. But with Hunter and Aqune as battle partners and Grasshop for a gentleman caller, Corona's dream soon becomes a nightmare. Corona comes to terms with her duty as a Spider Rider just in time to save her friends from Grasshop's latest trap and realizes she wouldn't want to live her life any other way!

• The Wages of War 9/17/2006

When Hunter and Magma go to search for details about Brutus' sister, Portia, they geet to confront the masked spider herself! And who is this Insector girl, Lemin? It seems she has a much different view than her other insect peers, and does not serve under Lord Mantid as the others do... And when Lemin's life is in danger from Grasshop's crazy Machine Insect, a masked Aqune rushes in to help Hunter save the Invectid girl!

• Dark World 9/24/2006

After several losses to the Spider Riders, the Insectors must recover from their defeat. Beerain and Buguese are both wondering about Aqune, who seems to be the only hope for their dark world. The Invectids need to bring back Oracle's sun to their territory, but despise her favouring of the humans. Grasshop takes the time to see his wife and children, but is thrown into despair when he finds out they know of his many failures. Aqune is questioning how she must help the Invectids...And Lord Mantid seems to be keeping another secret in the closet...a mysterious girl.

• Key to the City 10/1/2006

Stags has his army attack Nuuma where another Oracle Key may be located. They find out though that the queen of Nuuma has sent one of her pages to Arachna to deliver a mysterious box to the Spider Riders. Mantid sends Grasshop to hunt down the Page and steal the box but during the chase the Page drops the box onto Lumen's head. Can the Spider Riders figure out the importance of the box and save the Nuuman Page or will Grasshop steal it from them while they save the Page?

• Big Bug 10/8/2006

After finding out the Invectids have invaded Nuuma, Hunter is determined to come to the country's rescue. But he is surprised to find out that the other Spider Riders don't necessarily feel the same way. Even the revelation of a third Key in Nuuma doesn't motivate his friends. There is no time for debate when Grasshop arrives to take the two Oracle Keys with his new ally, the gigantic Goldenbore. The Spider Riders must work together against their unstoppable foe to give Hunter the opening he needs to take the giant cockroach down. But Buguese arrives with Aqune to snatch victory from defeat for Mantid and Hunter's Oracle Key could be lost forever!

Cast

English voice actors (Riders)

• Narrator - Ron Pardo
• Hunter Steele - Julie Lemieux
• Corona - Stacey DePass
• Prince Lumen - Cameron Ansell
• Princess Sparkle - Melanie Tonello
• Igneous - Tim Hamaguchi

English voice actors (Spiders)

• Shadow - Joseph Motiki
• Venus - Caroly Larson

English voice actors (Invectid)

• Mantid - Lawrence Bayne
• Buguese - Jack Langedijk
• Grasshop - Carman Melville
• Beerain - Ellen-Ray Hennessey

Japanese Cast

Seiyuu (Riders)

• Hunter Steele - Motoko Kumai
• Corona - Saeko Chiba
• Prince Lumen - Kumiko Higa
• Princess Sparkle - Kaori Shimizu
• Ignus - Takehito Koyasu
• Magma - Kinya Kotani
• Aqune - Sanae Kobayashi

Seiyuu (Spiders)

• Shadow - Takashi Kondo
• Venus - Sanae Kobayashi
• Hotarla - Yuu Asakawa
• Brutus - Shigeru Chiba
• Portia - Kumiko Higa

Seiyuu (Insectors)

• Mantid - Hiroshi Yanada
• Baguese - Toshihiko Seki
• Grasshop - Shigeru Chiba
• Stags - Kenta Miyake
• Beerain - Yuu Asakawa
• Lemin - Megumi Toyoguchi

Others credited

• Lily - Takako Honda
• Melissa - Naoko Matsui
• Grey - Anri Katsu
• Kenta Miyake
• Kinya Kotani
• Yuu Asakawa

Web games

Tribal Nova produced the tie-in online game based on the show, available on the official site.

Differences Between the English and Japanese Versions

• The Insectors are known as Invectids in the English version
• In the Japanese version, Hortarla's vocabulary consists of "Kyu", while in the English version (in her first appearance in "Spider Riders' Ball") she can speak in full sentences. This changes in "Big Bug", and Hortarla's "Kyu" is transferred to the English version.
• Aqune is referred to as a priestess in the Japanese version and an enchantress in the English version
• In episode 6 of the English version, the scene of Lumen calling Sparkle cute while watching her play is removed. This is likely because of Lumen and Sparkle's sibling relationship.
• Some dialogue in the English version was altered, often for the inclusion of puns or English slang, but none have effected the plot so far.
• The Opening theme in the Japanese version (Alright) differs from the OP in the English version (Calling All Spider Riders.) None of the Japanese ending themes are used in the English version. As there is no current DVD release, it isn't certain whether they will be used or an original ED will be created.
• The eyecatch in each version is the same, with the exception of the language that the logo is written in.
• The character Ignus is called Igneous in the English version. This is not an edit, because his name was Igneous in the original novel series. It's debatable whether his name was meant to be Igneous in both versions, however it is written as "イグナス" (I-gu-na-su) on the official Japanese site.
• In the English version, the song "Calling All Spider Riders" plays frequently during the series as an insert song.
• The character called Grey in the Japanese version is called Slate in the English version
• The character called Lemin in the Japanese version is called Kati in the English version
• The character called Melissa in the Japanese version is called Galena in the English version
• The Japanese version ended its broadcast as of episode 26, while the version airing in Canada will continue for 52 episodes. It's unknown whether the Japanese version will continue airing at a later date or only be available through the Japanese DVD release.

External links

• Newmarket Press SR page
• Official Spider Riders page
• Tribal Nova's SR page
• TV Tokyo's Spider Riders page
• Library of Congress entry for SR book
• Telefilm Canada's approval of funding Spider Riders
• Teletoon's announcement on SR
• Ani.tv's SR page
• Studio 23 home page
• Screenshots from the TV series
• Anime News Network: Spider Riders