History Anime / SpiderRiders

* [[ABoyAndHisX A Boy and his Giant Spider.]]

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Of course there's Grasshop and his beloved family.[[spoiler:Much later we learn of Lorraine, the woman Mantid loved.]]

* FacialMarkings: The Insectors/Invectids have them. Whether they're genetic or painted is never bought up.

* BeachEpisode: Somewhat subverted, in that it's one of the more serious episodes, [[spoiler:but when Hunter, Corona, Magma and Aqune are taken to a paradise, in order to draw them away from fighting, it includes a beach and skimpy swimsuits]].

* WeAreTeamCannonFodder: The last episode is Hunter vs. Mantid. Everyone else just sits there looking helpless. Corona and Aqune give him power, and then go back to looking helpless.

* WillTheyOrWontThey: Hunter and Corona. So much shiptease...

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Igneous' is blue. Aqune's is purple, Hunter's is a pinkish-orange, Lily's is lavender, and Elma/Illuma's is green. Most other characters actually have plausible colors.

* RecapEpisode: Episode 41. A creative one in that it doesn't really use much stock footage, but it basically just re-accounts the Nuuma arc.

* TheReveal: A big dose is revealed near the end of the series when Mantid admits that [[spoiler:he's an earthen like Hunter. On top of that, it's also a subtle CallBack to the beginning of the series]]. When some characters spoke of a prophecy for a short time, and pretty quickly stopped mentioning it. The prophecy stating that an Earthen would bring great evil to the Inner World... and one did.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Hotarla, the cutest spider ever. The messenger bugs are also kind of adorable.

* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Lumen and Sparkle... although Lumen would prefer to be lazy
* RunningGag: Both Corona's terrible cooking and Lumen's tendency to flirt with anything female, regardless of age, [[InterspeciesRomance species]] or [[BrotherSisterIncest relation to him]].

* SaveBothWorlds: Averted! The BigBad ''says'' that he intends on conquering the Outer World, but he's defeated before he can even get there. Considering that this is an anime that involves a boy from earth getting [[TrappedInAnotherWorld sucked into a subterranean world beneath our own]], the fact that we didn't even see some [[EverythingIsOnline strange phenomenon]] going on in the outer world, this is rather unique.

* ShesAManInJapan: Although in the dub, a gender isn't actually confirmed, one of Grasshop's children was made to sound more feminine. In the Japanese, both are confirmed to be male.

** Aqune is Aquine in the online game. Her name is often mistakenly written as Akune or Aquna by the fans.
** Igneous's name in became Ignus in the anime (the dub bought it back to Igneous, as it was in the novels) because [[WordofGod it was easier for the Japanese to pronounce.]]
** Try to find people in fandom who know how to spell Buguese. You'll have trouble. Doesn't help that the way his name is written in Japanese reads more like Baggus.
* ShellShockedVeteran: The show takes this trope ''very'' seriously. Especially during the Nuuma arc and beyond. [[spoiler: Mantid is one himself, it's what led him to his StartOfDarkness.]]
* ShipperOnDeck: There's been evidence on a few occasions of Magma trying to help Hunter and Corona's relationship, [[spoiler:such as restraining Igneous so Corona could be the first to greet him after they were separated]]. There's Corona's sister's too, and many other residents of her hometown.

* {{Synchronization}}: Hurting the Oracle also harms Corona and Aqune [[spoiler:because they're handmaidens]].
* SuperSoldier: Mantid creates a stronger type of Insector/Invectid soldier genetically after acquiring a second Oracle Key

* TakeMyHand: Towards the end [[spoiler: Beerain saves Buguese in this way. Also, Hunter offers his hand to Mantid, which he actually does except]].
* ThemeNaming: With Hunter and Aqune as exceptions, the humans have mostly sun related (Corona, Sparkle, Lumen) or Earth related (Igneous, Magma, Grey) names. There are even more cases in the dub, due to the name changes. The Insectors names are all bug-related.
* ThemeTuneCameo: in one episode, Aqune hums the 2nd ED theme (Japanese version only).
* ThouShaltNotKill: Aqune. [[spoiler: Towards the end, the other Riders pick up this way of thinking too, thanks to Quake/Brade]].
* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: Subverted in that it missed [[spoiler:but it's not like Buguese intended to kill Beerain, so it really did work as a threat]].
* TransformationSequence: Always a sign of lazy animators. [[DubText In the English version]], during one battle, Grasshop actually comments that the children take too long to transform.

* TrueCompanions: The Spider Riders as a whole.

* TheUnchosenOne: Hunter is believed by all to be TheChosenOne due to his apparent ability to control the power of the Oracle keys, but it turns out [[spoiler: Corona was the one with the ability to call upon the Oracle and her keys for help]]. Of course, it's eventually revealed but doesn't affect the plot much.

** Similar to other Bee Train anime (Madlax, Noir), Spider Riders features Corona and Aqune, two girls with no memory of their past, and some sort of connection. Aqune and Madlax even share the same seiyuu.

* HumongousMecha: All of the Machine-Sector's fit this category, [[spoiler:even though only the last can actually be piloted]].

* InternationalCoProduction: Produced with CookieJarEntertainment in Canada and BeeTrain Production Inc. in Japan. The Japanese side did most of the work (writing, directing and animation), with the Canadian side providing the funding and the basis they had to work with.

* KidHero: This one basically applies to the whole Spider Rider team.
* KillerYoyo: Sparkle's signature weapon fits perfectly here.
* TheKnightsWhoSaySquee: Magma turns out to be a huge fanboy of Brade/Quake, to the point where the man is somewhat afraid of him.

* LoveDodecahedron: Beerain-Buguese-Aqune-Hunter-Corona. And Sparkle seems to have a thing for Hunter too. Lumen also hits on Sparkle in the Japanese version, and has declared his true love for Beerain. But he'll fall in love with just about anything female, so neither case was probably meant to be taken seriously.
* LighterAndSofter: The anime in comparison to the novels they were based off of. The novels include much more sinister and less sympathetic Insectors (they eat humans, for one), as well as some more depressing themes like Spider Riders ultimately aging out of their powers and losing the ability to speak with their spider partners.

* LoveTriangle: Igneous-Elma/Illuma-Toure/Solan. [[spoiler:Not that the end resolution was ever a surprise, as Igneous' love was purely unrequited.]]

* MaskPower: Oracle Key power boosts aside, Buguese and Aqune are easily the most powerful characters in canon. Beerain subverts this though, by being generally less combative.

* {{Miko}}: Corona and Aqune (thy're referred to as this in the Japanese version) though not in a traditional sense.
* MindControlDevice: Aqune's mask. But then [[spoiler:she serves the Insectors/Invectids by choice, it's just the fighting she has a problem with, so she might count as NotBrainwashed too]].

* MookPromotion: The Big Four were minor characters in the novels

* MySisterIsOffLimits: Lumen is jealous when anyone gets close to Sparkle

* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: [[spoiler:Stags]] manages to survive after purposely falling backwards off a building, which was already floating high in the air. More surprisingly, he didn't even appear hurt. [[note]]He IS based on a Stag Beetle insect. Beetles have hard exoskeletons in real life to protect them, it's possible this also applies to the Insectors/Invectids.[[/note]]

* OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo: "Spider Riders: Yomigaeru Taiyou," (The Resurrected Sun) honestly made no sense until the last episode [[spoiler:when the sun finally got resurrected]].

* OnTheNext: Although cut from the dub, all the Japanese episodes featured previews, narrated by various characters. The ones in the first season in particular could be pretty hilarious, and often very OOC, even when [[TheBigBad Mantid]] was the one narrating.
* ParentalAbandonment: No one in this show has parents who are mentioned ever. Magma's family is at least confirmed dead, but with the rest of the cast, it's anybody's guess what happened to them.

* ComfortingComforter: In the 2nd episode, when Corona sees Hunter's leaf blanket fall off, she puts it back on him. This is one of the first hints of her later romantic infatuation with him.
* CookingDuel: Corona and Aqune quite literally have one in ep. 32.

* CuriousQualmsOfConscience: While having pledged his loyalty to [[BigBad Great Mantid]]; one Invectid sargent decides [[spoiler: he's tired of the war with the humans, and having already been suspicious of Mantid's behavior for some time. He helps the Spider Riders infiltrate Mantid's palace]].
* CuteMonsterGirl: Lemin/Katy fits into this trope, she is adorable, but Beerain subverts it.
* DarkIsNotEvil:The spiders themselves. Also. [[spoiler:It takes being brought directly into Mantid's citadel for Hunter to finally grasp what his "enemies", who live in a world of darkness, are really fighting for. Of course, Mantid himself turns out to be insane anyway.]]

* DesolationShot: The Insector world gets a few of these, as do some other places that were wiped out in battle, like the town where the Riders stay for the night in ep.34.
* {{Determinator}}: Hunter. Really, his catch phrase is "never give up".

* DisproportionateRetribution: Mantid. [[spoiler: My girlfriend died, so the world who took her away from me needs to be destroyed. Yeah...]] In all fairness he said he'd suffered ''many'' losses, implying many other people he cared for died.
** And for whatever reason he decided to throw ''Imma go to the outer world [[spoiler: again]] and take it over'' in.

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Buguese, after finding out the truth and realizing how much he wronged his comrades in his efforts to capture the Oracle Keys, decides to crash Dark Opal into Mantid's castle, taking out Mantid with him. When he fails at this, he even admits that he doesn't feel he deserves to live]]. Pretty dark for a kids show.

* DubInducedPlotHole: According to episode 23 of the dub [[spoiler: the sun was taken from the "Invectid" world as punishment for their race eating all the plant life]]. What actually happened was [[spoiler: Mantid caused its disappearance when he once collected the four Oracle Keys, and the plant life died as a result]]. The dub goes with the true story later, making the already bizarre edit seem even more awkward.

* DubText: Hunter and Aqune's promises to each other. Actually, most indication that Hunter had romantic interest in her. The same could probably go for Buguese calling her "my beautiful" and "my sweet." Considering that the dub even went as far as to remove some of the Hunter/Corona, perhaps they just wanted to hook Aqune up with someone. Heck, the dub even hints at Aqune being interested in Quake/Brade.

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Of course there's Grasshop and his beloved family. [[spoiler: Much later we learn of Lorraine, the woman Mantid loved.]]

* ExpositoryThemeTune: U.S. dub, "Calling All Spider Riders".

* GenreBusting: An action/adventure story with a twist... TheHero riding a GiantSpider! Way cooler than it sounds.

* GladiatorGames: On several occasions, the Riders are to fight minor Insector/Invectid soldiers, or Machine-sectors inside a generated "Coliseum".
* GreenEyedMonster: At first, Corona refuses to accept [[spoiler:Aqune]] as an ally, mostly due to her jealousy of her closeness to Hunter. In turn, Buguese despises Hunter for multiple reasons, one being Aqune's affection toward him.
* HandsomeLech: Lumen. That he's 12 makes him mostly harmless, but he loves girls shamelessly.
* HandsOnApproach: As Hunter obviously isn't a handmaiden, [[spoiler:he's unable to place an Oracle Key into the barrier, in Nuuma castle. Corona helps him by putting her hand on his, and they break through together]].

** [[spoiler:Then Stags, who purposely quits after being defeated by Hunter.]]

** [[spoiler:And finally Buguese, who turns on Mantid only after being betrayed. He then frees Aqune from Mantid's control and makes it his mission to defeat his former leader himself.]]
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: [[spoiler:Buguese, who continued to follow Mantid loyally, despite knowing some of his intentions, believing that there would be no other way to restore sunlight to his land. He didn't even consider that the ultimate weapon Mantid just handed to him might've been part of a trap.]]
* HostageSituation: Corona by Buguese, in exchange for both the Oracle Keys and Aqune [[spoiler:Although Aqune was willing to return to him anyway in the Japanese version, and he's only able to get her back, because the other Riders return to retrieve the keys.]]
* HumongousMecha: All of the Machine-Sector's fit into this, [[spoiler:even though only the last can actually be piloted]].

* ActionGirl: Corona, Aqune and Sparkle are all competent fighters, even though Sparkle gets less opportunity to prove it than the other two.

* AgainstTheSettingSun: Used when Hunter declares that he'll save the people of Nuuma

* AwesomeMcCoolName: In the Japanese version there is one Insector soldier with the name Great Genius. Grasshop is very impressed when he learns this.
* BackupFromOtherworld: [[spoiler:Quake/Brade fills the spot of the 8th Rider needed to awaken Spirit Oracle]] even though he's dead. The Sea Buff Mariner/Lost Mariner, also dead, helps the Riders escape an attack at sea.
* BadBadActing: While staring in a play to help out a struggling theater owner. Hunter plays the leading man, but his performance is stilted due to nerves, and his speech turns wooden and monotone. Corona isn't much better, turning into a LargeHam, Lumen's performance is decent (until he's DistractedByTheSexy audience member). Igneous gets stuck playing an Invectid commander, and [[SoreLoser takes his frustration out on Hunter on stage]].

* BaitAndSwitchCredits: Unlike in the first OP, Hunter never fights against Magma. It's unclear why blood is coming out of Aqune's mask in the 3rd ED.
* BattleCouple: Hunter and Corona, who consider each other battle partners, and clearly have feeling for each other, though they aren't officially a couple.

* BeastAndBeauty: Buguese and Aqune. Even if Buguese is the most humanoid Insector, he's still not exactly... human. Aqune is the gentle, nurturing, empathetic one. She tries to see the good in everyone. Buguese is the brooding, cynical, angry one. Despite his hate for humans, it's very clear he has a soft spot for Aqune. [[spoiler: Freeing her is the last thing he does before confronting Mantid, which he expects will kill him.]]
* BedsheetGhost: Hunter and Corona disguise as one to sneak into an Insector/Invectid base.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Sparkle. Most of the time she's a sweetheart. Threaten her or her friends and she might just pound you repetitively with a yo-yo.
* {{BFS}}: Stags' sword definitely counts for this one.
* BigDamnHeroes: Pretty regularly. Notable example is ep.41, in which the Riders pull this off twice. Right after returning from Nuuma, and later that night.
* {{Bishonen}}: Most of the male characters are designed this way.
* BlindIdiotTranslation: Not to bad, but errors still occur here and there, such as when Portia was once voiced by Brutus voice actor in episode 31.
* BloodlessCarnage: There is never a drop of blood in this show, regardless of the injury.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Aqune is frequently mind controlled throughout the show, but towards the end [[spoiler: Mantid's ultimate Machine-sector turns out to be a trap, and her mask merges with it, becoming even creepier. She then drains the power from Hunter's Oracle Keys, much to the surprise and horror of Buguese, who was sitting next to her and perfectly convinced that he was in control. After this, Mantid lends her additional power and pits her against the Spider Riders. Fortunately, Buguese stops her from killing Hunter]].
** Also, both Igneous and Corona in the 4th episode thanks to a flower, but it ends quickly, once the flower is exposed to light.

* BrilliantButLazy: Lumen. He would much rather sleep than do anything, making it hard to believe he's as skilled as he actually is.

* ByThePowerOfGrayskull: In the dub, the phrase that activates the transformation sequence is "Arachna Power!" Each Rider has their own transformation words in the Japanese version.

* CantCatchUp: Basically all the Riders when compared to Hunter using the Oracle Keys, Aqune and Brade/Quake serving as the only exceptions. Igneous even comments about just how far Hunter has come after their training session in ep. 24, and that was when Hunter only had one Key.
* CatchPhrase: "Never give up" is Hunter's phrase in both versions, though his Japanese secondary catch phrase, "It's Alright" (often mimicked by the others as well) was turned to the much cheesier "Arachna Power" in the dub.
* TheChessmaster: Mantid. [[spoiler: The Insectors don't realize that they're just serving his master plan, and he plans to kill them all in the end.]]

* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Hunter, [[spoiler:who even reaches the point of wanting to save the Invectids/Insectors, after realizing that they're being wronged and oppressed]].

Within the Earth exists the Inner World, created and blessed by a being known as Spirit Oracle. There, a war has been waging between the humans and Insectors (or Invectids). Following the journal of his late grandfather, 13-year-old Hunter Steele finds himself drawn into the Inner World. He soon encounters the independent spider Shadow, who eventually becomes his partner despite their initial attitudes towards each other, as well as the mysterious girl Corona, one of the elite warriors known as Spider Riders, who welcomes Hunter into their team.

A rather underrated anime, due to its strange title and premise, a broadcast cut short on American TV, and its {{genre busting}}. Despite its inability to generate interest to most serious anime fans, the show did relatively well in Canada, where it was dubbed and funded.

* TheReveal: A big dose is revealed near the end of the series when Mantid admits that [[spoiler:he's an earthen like Hunter. On top of that, it's also a subtle CallBack to the beginning of the series]]. When some characters spoke of a prophecy for a short time, and pretty quickly stopped mentioning it. The prophecy stating that an Earthen would bring great evil to the Inner World...[[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything and one did]].

->''"Never give up."''
-->-- '''Hunter'''

* TheRival: Buguese vs. Hunter. i

* RebelliousPrincess: Sparkle.

* TheRival: Buguese vs. Hunter.

* SatelliteCharacter: Grey/Slate. And most of the spiders for that matter, aside from Shadow and maybe Brutus.

* ShrinesAndTemples

** Igneous's name in became Ignus in the anime (the dub bought it back to Igneous, as it was in the novels) because it was easier for the Japanese to pronounce.

* WhipSword

** The Lost Mariner.

* HandsomeLech: Lumen.

* IdiotHero: Hunter.

* ImprobableHairStyle: Igneous.
* InternationalCoProduction: Produced with CookieJarEntertainment in Canada and BeeTrain Production Inc. in Japan.

* LoveMartyr: Beerain.

* MotorMouth: Grasshop.

* OlderThanTheyLook: [[spoiler:Mantid]].

* BackupFromOtherworld: [[spoiler:Quake/Brade fills the spot of the 8th Rider needed to awaken Spirit Oracle]] even though he's dead. The Lost Mariner, also dead, helps the Riders escape an attack at sea.

* BadassNormal: Stags and Buguese.

* BeastAndBeauty: Buguese and Aqune, in a way.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Sparkle

* {{Bishonen}}

* BloodlessCarnage

* BrilliantButLazy: Lumen.

* ByThePowerOfGrayskull: The phrase that activates the transformation sequence is "Arachna Power!"

* TheChessmaster: Mantid.

* ClassTrip: In the novels, Hunter was on one when he finds the Inner World.

* CuteMonsterGirl: Lemin/Katy fits into this trope, but Beerain subverts it.
* DarkIsNotEvil:The spiders themselves, also. [[spoiler:It takes being brought directly into Mantid's citadel for Hunter to finally grasp what his "enemies", who live in a world of darkness, are really fighting for. Of course, Mantid himself turns out to be insane anyway.]]

* {{Determinator}}: Hunter.

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes

[[quoteright:270:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/579ff3bf22e19343c00918a7eccd3c60.jpg]]

->''"[[CatchPhrase Never give up.]]"''

->''"[[CatchPhrase Never give up]]."''

* [[ABoyAndHisX A Boy and his Giant Spider]].
* AChildShallLeadThem: Lumen is 12 and Sparkle is 8. There's no king or queen to be mentioned.

* ASimplePlan: The episode "Ghost Spider", easily the most pointless filler episode in the series.

* DarkIsNotEvil:The spiders themselves, also. [[spoiler:It takes being brought directly into Mantid's citadel for Hunter to finally grasp what his "enemies", who live in a world of darkness, are really fighting for. Of course, Mantid himself turns out to be insane anyway]].

* TheDeterminator: Hunter.

* DisproportionateRetribution: Mantid. [[spoiler: My girlfriend died, so the world who took her away from me needs to be destroyed. Yeah...]] In all fairness he said he'd sufferd ''many'' losses, implying many other people he cared for died.

* DrowningMySorrows: Grasshop does this once... only with milk. [[AlienCatnip Though this may be a bit more plausible than most cases due to his being an Invectid/Insector]].
* DubInducedPlotHole: According to episode 23 of the dub [[spoiler: The sun was taken from the "Invectid" world as punishment for their race eating all the plant life]]. What actually happened was [[spoiler: Mantid caused its disappearance when he once collected the four Oracle Keys, and the plant life died as a result]]. The dub goes with the true story later, making the already bizarre edit seem even more awkward.

* TheEmperor: Mantid, although the specific term isn't mentioned in the dub. [[spoiler:Buguese probably becomes this at the end]].
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: Well, just the Inner World

* {{Expository Theme Tune}}: U.S. dub, "Calling All Spider Riders".

* FiveBadBand: Mantid and the Big Four fit this perfectly. I guess that would make Aqune the [[SixthRanger sixth ranger]] and Portia [[TeamPet team pet]].

** [[spoiler:Grasshop first, when he ultimately decides to rescue Sparkle (as well as Igneous and Lumen). He then remains an ally to the Spider Riders, traveling with them until the end]].
** [[spoiler:Then Stags, who purposely quits after being defeated by Hunter]].
** [[spoiler:Next Beerain, who aids Grasshop by reminding him of an alternate way that the Riders can cross into Insector/Invectid lands. After that she leaves, and isn't seen again until she and Stags rescue Buguese]].
** [[spoiler:And finally Buguese, who turns on Mantid only after being betrayed. He then frees Aqune from Mantid's control and makes it his mission to defeat his former leader himself]].
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: [[spoiler:Buguese, who continued to follow Mantid loyally, despite knowing some of his intentions, believing that there would be no other way to restore sunlight to his land. He didn't even consider that the ultimate weapon Mantid just handed to him might've been part of a trap]].
* HostageSituation: Corona by Buguese, in exchange for both the Oracle Keys and Aqune [[spoiler:Although Aqune was willing to return to him anyway in the Japanese version, and he's only able to get her back, because the other Riders return to retrieve the keys]].

* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: [[spoiler:Not to debate whether their relationship was romantic or platonic, but fitting to Buguese, when he reluctantly freed Aqune, allowing her to be with her comrades]].

* LoveTriangle: Igneous-Elma/Illuma-Toure/Solan. [[spoiler:Not that the end resolution was ever a surprise, as Igneous' love was purely unrequited]].

* MindControlDevice: Aqune's mask. But then [[spoiler:She serves the Insectors/Invectids by choice, it's just the fighting she has a problem with, so she might count as [[NotBrainwashed Not Brainwashed]] too]].

* {{Minionshipping}}: [[spoiler:Beerain is deeply infatuated with Buguese, who in turn has a strong care for Aqune, debatably romantic attraction. Aqune cares about Buguese, but not necessarily on a romantic level. Buguese also respects and cares for Beerain as a comrade, though never returns her romantic feelings]].

* NonHumanSidekick: Any of the spiders

* OddlyNamedSequel: "Spider Riders: Yomigaeru Taiyou," (The Resurrected Sun) honestly made no sense until the last episode [[spoiler:When the sun finally got resurrected]].

* TheReveal: A big dose is revealed near the end of the series when Mantid admits that [[spoiler:he's an earthen like Hunter. On top of that, it's also a subtle CallBack to the beginning of the series.]] When some characters spoke of a prophecy for a short time, and pretty quickly stopped mentioning it. The prophecy stating that an Earthen would bring great evil to the Inner World...[[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything and one did.]]

* SaveBothWorlds: Averted! The {{Big Bad}} ''says'' that he intends on conquering the Outer World, but he's defeated before he can even get there. Considering that this is an anime that involves a boy from earth getting [[TrappedInAnotherWorld sucked into a subterranean world beneath our own]], the fact that we didn't even see some [[EverythingIsOnline strange phenominon]] going on in the outer world, this is rather unique.

* ShellShockedVeteran: The show takes this trope ''very'' seriously. Especially during the Nuuma arc and beyond.[[spoiler: Mantid is one himself, it's what led him to his StartOfDarkness.]]

* SpoilerOpening: The second OP is really bad about this. [[spoiler:For one, it shows Aqune with the Spider Riders, even though she doesn't officially join them until the fourth-to-last episode]]. Next, it reveals the existence of [[spoiler:Quake/Brade, as well as the fact that he's a Spider Rider, and has a younger form. Although viewers could assume that younger Quake/Brade was a different person entirely]].

* TransformationSequence: Always a sign of lazy animators. [[DubText In the English version,]] during one battle, Grasshop actually comments that the children take too long to transform.

* TurnCoat: [[spoiler:Grasshop]].

* TheUnchosenOne: Hunter is believed by all to be the ChosenOne due to his apparent ability to control the power of the Oracle keys, but it turns out [[spoiler: Corona was the one with the ability to call upon the Oracle and her keys for help]]. Of course, it's eventually revealed but doesn't affect the plot much.

* WillTheyOrWontThey: Hunter and Corona. So much shiptease…
* WritingAroundTrademarks: Despite being known as Insectors in both the novels and the Japanese version, they were changed to Invectids in the dub due to legal reasons, or so says [[WordOfGod Word of God]].

* ASimplePlan: The episode "Ghost Spider," easily the most pointless filler episode in the series.

* BedsheetGhost: Hunter and Corona disguise as one to sneak into an Insector base

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Sparkle.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Aqune is frequently mind controlled throughout the show, but towards the end [[spoiler:Mantid's ultimate Machine-sector turns out to be a trap, and her mask merges with it, becoming even creepier. She then drains the power from Hunter's Oracle Keys, much to the surprise and horror of Buguese, who was sitting next to her and perfectly convinced that he was in control. After this, Mantid lends her additional power and pits her against the Spider Riders. Fortunately, Buguese stops her from killing Hunter]].

* BrotherSisterIncest: There must have been a reason the dub cut a certain scene of Lumen watching Sparkle play and calling her "cute." And that's not the only instance that comes to mind.

* DarkIsNotEvil:The spiders themselves, also. [[spoiler:It takes being brought directly into Mantid's citadel for Hunter to finally grasp what his "enemies," who live in a world of darkness, are really fighting for. Of course, Mantid himself turns out to be insane anyway]].

* DisproportionateRetribution: Mantid. [[spoiler: My girlfriend died, so the world who took her away from me needs to be destroyed. Yeah...]] In all fairness he said he'd sufferd ''many'' losses.

* DubInducedPlotHole: According to episode 23 of the dub [[spoiler: The sun was taken from the "Invectid" world as punishment for their race eating all the plant life]]. What actually happened was [[spoiler: Mantid caused its disappearance when he once collected the four Oracle Keys, and the plant life died as a result]]. The dub goes with the true story later, making the already bizarre edit seem even more awkward. One could argue that all the Invectids/Insectors believed and perhaps were told (by Mantid) the first story in order to make them hate the humans and The Oracle, when the second story was in fact the truth.

* {{Expository Theme Tune}}: U.S. dub, "Calling All Spider Riders"

** Similar to other Bee Train anime(Madlax, Noir), Spider Riders features Corona and Aqune, two girls with no memory of their past, and some sort of connection. Aqune and Madlax even share the same seiyuu.

* FinishingMove: Any of Hunter's Oracle Key attacks

* GladiatorGames: On several occasions, the Riders are to fight minor Insector soldiers, or Machine-sectors inside a generated "Coliseum."

* KillerYoyo: Sparkle's weapon fits perfectly here

* MindControlDevice: Aqune's mask. But then [[spoiler:She serves the Insectors by choice, it's just the fighting she has a problem with, so she might count as [[NotBrainwashed Not Brainwashed]] too]].

* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: [[spoiler:Stags]] manages to survive after purposely falling backwards off a building, which was already floating high in the air. More surprisingly, he didn't even appear hurt. [[note]]He IS based on a Stag Beetle insect. Beetles have hard exoskeletons in real life to protect them, it's possible this also applies to the Insectors.[[/note]]

* RecapEpisode: Episode 41. A creative one in that tt doesn't really use much stock footage, but it basically just re-accounts the Nuuma arc.

* TheReveal: A big dose is revealed near the end of the series when Mantid admits that [[spoiler:he's an earthen like Hunter. On top of that, it's also a subtle callback to the beginning of the series.]] Some characters spoke of a prophecy for a short time, and pretty quickly stopped mentioning it. The prophecy stating that an Earthen would bring great evil to the Inner World...[[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything and one did.]]

* ShellShockedVeteran: The show takes this trope ''very'' seriously. Especially during the Nuuma arc and beyond.[[spoiler: Mantid is one himself, it's what lead him to his StartOfDarkness.]]

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A rather underrated anime, due to its strange title and premise, a broadcast cut short on American TV, and its [[GenreBusting genre busting]]. Despite its inability to generate interest to most serious anime fans, the show did relatively well in Canada, where it was dubbed and funded.

* ActionGirl: Corona, Aqune and Sparkle.

* DubText: Hunter and Aqune's promises to each other. Actually, most indication that Hunter had romantic interest in her. The same could probably go for Buguese calling her "my beautiful" and "my sweet." Considering that the dub even went as far as to remove some of the Hunter/Corona, perhaps they just wanted to hook Aqune up with someone. Heck, the dub even hints at Aqune x Quake/Brade.

* {{Lolicon}}: It's better not to think of [[RuleThirtyFour the porn of 8-year-old Sparkle out there]]. 13-year-old Corona and Aqune (whose age was never stated but she can't be much older than Corona) have their fair share as well, but at least they look older. Furthermore, there's more than one way of interpreting Buguese and Aqune's complicated relationship. [[DubText The dub]] actually adds evidence.

* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Hotarla.

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!!Episodes of this series provide examples of:
* AgainstTheSettingSun: Used when Hunter declares that he'll save the people of Nuuma
* ASimplePlan: The episode "Ghost Spider," easily the most pointless filler episode in the series.
* BeachEpisode: Somewhat subverted, in that it's one of the more serious episodes, [[spoiler:but when Hunter, Corona, Magma and Aqune are taken to a paradise, in order to draw them away from fighting, it includes a beach and skimpy swimsuits]].
* BedsheetGhost: Hunter and Corona disguise as one to sneak into an Insector base
* ClassTrip: In the novels, Hunter was on one when he finds the Inner World.
* ComfortingComforter: In the 2nd episode, when Corona sees Hunter's leaf blanket fall off, she puts it back on him. This is one of the first hints of her later romantic infatuation with him.
* CookingDuel: Corona and Aqune quite literally have one
* DiscoDan: On one occasion, Hunter dresses up as "Dan the Disco Man" in order to help Lumen out in a scheme to get girls.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Buguese, after finding out the truth and realizing how much he wronged his comrades in his efforts to capture the Oracle Keys, decides to crash Dark Opal into Mantid's castle, taking out Mantid with him. When he fails at this, he even admits that he doesn't feel he deserves to live]]. Pretty dark for a kids show.
* DrowningMySorrows: Grasshop does this once... only with milk. [[AlienCatnip Though this may be a bit more plausible than most cases due to his being an Invectid/Insector]].
* DubInducedPlotHole: According to episode 23 of the dub [[spoiler: The sun was taken from the "Invectid" world as punishment for their race eating all the plant life]]. What actually happened was [[spoiler: Mantid caused its disappearance when he once collected the four Oracle Keys, and the plant life died as a result]]. The dub goes with the true story later, making the already bizarre edit seem even more awkward. One could argue that all the Invectids/Insectors believed and perhaps were told (by Mantid) the first story in order to make them hate the humans and The Oracle, when the second story was in fact the truth.
* HandsOnApproach: As Hunter obviously isn't a handmaiden, [[spoiler:he's unable to place an Oracle Key into the barrier, in Nuuma castle. Corona helps him by putting her hand on his, and they break through together]].
* HostageSituation: Corona by Buguese, in exchange for both the Oracle Keys and Aqune [[spoiler:Although Aqune was willing to return to him anyway in the Japanese version, and he's only able to get her back, because the other Riders return to retrieve the keys]].
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Corona, in one particular episode. The rest seem to have no problem being Spider Riders, Hunter loving it enough to abandon whatever old life he might have had.
* NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine: Hunter is treated quite well when taken prisoner by the Insectors/Invectids. Mantid even offers him Aqune. [[spoiler:But as it turns out, Mantid was just trying to convince him to give them the Oracle Keys, which he didn't even have with him. Fortunately, Brade intervenes and rescues him]].
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: [[spoiler:Stags]] manages to survive after purposely falling backwards off a building, which was already floating high in the air. More surprisingly, he didn't even appear hurt. [[note]]He IS based on a Stag Beetle insect. Beetles have hard exoskeletons in real life to protect them, it's possible this also applies to the Insectors.[[/note]]
* ObviousTrap: How about following the only villager left in a conspicuously empty village into a cave? Genius, if you ask me.
* PlotArmor: Could anyone honestly believe [[spoiler:Hunter was killed in his fight against Stags, 3/4 into the show]]?
* RecapEpisode: Episode 41. It doesn't really use much stock footage, but it basically just re-accounts the Nuuma arc.
* RomanticRunnerUp: Igneous, when he pursues Elma/Illuma.
* SaveBothWorlds: Averted! The {{Big Bad}} ''says'' that he intends on conquering the Outer World, but he's defeated before he can even get there. Considering that this is an anime that involves a boy from earth getting [[TrappedInAnotherWorld sucked into a subterranean world beneath our own]], the fact that we didn't even see some [[EverythingIsOnline strange phenominon]] going on in the outer world, this is rather unique.
* TakeMyHand: Towards the end [[spoiler: Beerain saves Buguese in this way. Also, Hunter offers his hand to Mantid, which he actually does except]].
* ThemeTuneCameo: in one episode, Aqune hums the 2nd ED theme
* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: Subverted in that it missed [[spoiler:but it's not like Buguese intended to kill Beerain, so it really did work as a threat]].
* WeAreTeamCannonFodder: The last episode is Hunter vs. Mantid. Everyone else just sits there looking helpless. Corona and Aqune give him power, and then go back to looking helpless.

* DubText: Hunter and Aqune's promises to each other. Actually, most indication that Hunter had romantic interest in her. The same could probably go for Buguese calling her "my beautiful" and "my sweet." Considering that the dub even went as far as to remove some of the Hunter/Corona, perhaps they just wanted to hook Aqune up with someone.
* EarlyBirdCameo: Stags is seen briefly in the first two episodes, but has no significant role until the 14th

** [[spoiler:And Finally Buguese, who turns on Mantid only after being betrayed. He then frees Aqune from Mantid's control and makes it his mission to defeat his former leader himself]].

* HumongousMecha: All of the Machine-sector's fit into this, [[spoiler:even though only the last can actually be piloted]].

* {{Lolicon}}: It's better not to think of [[RuleThirtyFour the porn of 8-year-old Sparkle out there]]. 13-year-old Corona and Aqune (whose age was never stated but she can't be much older than Corona) have their fair share as well, but at least they look older. Furthermore, there's more than one way of interpreting Buguese and Aqune's complicated relationship. [[DubText The dub]] doesn't help matters.
* LoveDodecahedron: Beerain-Buguese-Aqune-Hunter-Corona. And Sparkle seems to have a thing for Hunter too. Lumen also hits on Sparkle in the Japanese version, and has declared his true love for Beerain. But he'll fall in love with just about anything female.

* {{Miko}}: Corona and Aqune, though not in a traditional sense.

* MiniatureSeniorCitizens: Quake/Brade.

* MoodSwinger: Stags. Enough said.

* MysteriousPast: Corona and Aqune. But At least we get to find out most of Corona's.

** Try to find people in fandom who know how to spell Buguese. You'll have trouble. Doesn't help that his name is written as Baggus in Japanese either.

* SpoilerOpening: The second OP is really bad about this. [[spoiler:For one, it shows Aqune with the Spider Riders, even though she doesn't officially join them until the fourth-to-last episode]]. Next, it reveals the existence of [[spoiler:Quake/Brade, as well as the fact that he's a Spider Rider, and has a younger form. Although I suppose viewers could assume that younger Quake/Brade was a different person entirely]].

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Igneous' is blue. Aqune's is purple, Hunter's is a pinkish-orange, Lily's is lavender, and Illuma's is green. Most other characters actually have plausible colors.

* BreakingTheFourthWall: The dub does this in the very last episode.
** Grasshop also does this at least once, in regards to the heroes' transformation sequence.

* RomanticRunnerUp: Igneous

* ShipperOnDeck: There's been evidence on a few occasions of Magma trying to help Hunter and Corona's relationship, [[spoiler:such as restraining Igneous so Corona could be the first to greet him after they were separated]]. There's Corona's sister's too, and many other residents of her hometown.

* CuteMonsterGirl: Katydid fits into this trope, but Beerain subverts it.

* CryForTheDevil: [[spoiler:Mantid, a former soldier of the Oracle who became disillusioned after the death of his love Lorraine]].

* TalkingToHimself: Grasshop and his wife in English and Japanese; also in the English dub, Hunter shares a [[JulieLemieux voice actress]] with the Oracle, Lilly and Queen Illuma. And yes, there's times when either women are talking with him.

* ABoyAndHisX: A boy and his ten-foot spider.