Casshan

For the film adaptation, see Casshern (film).

Casshan
新造人間キャシャーン (Shinzō Ningen Kyashān)
Genre	Science fiction
TV anime
Shinzō Ningen Kyashān
Directed by	Takao Koyama
Written by	Tatsuo Yoshida
Studio	Tatsunoko Productions
Network	Fuji TV
Original run	October 2, 1973 – June 25, 1974
Episodes	35[1]
Anime and Manga Portal

Casshan also known as Shinzō Ningen Kyashān (新造人間キャシャーン, lit. Neo Human Casshern^?) in Japan, is an anime series created by animation studio Tatsunoko Productions in 1973, which was based on a serialization in Kodansha’s Terebi Magazine and Akita Shoten’s “Boken Oh” (Adventure King).^[1]

The Casshern franchise also includes a 1993 original video animation simply titled Casshern, and a 2004 live action adaptation of the same name. In October 2008, a reboot of the franchise titled Casshern Sins premiered; in anticipation of the upcoming series, a DVD box set of the original series, titled Neo-Human Casshern Complete DVD-Box "All Episodes of Casshern", was released in Japan on September 24, 2008. Casshern also appears in Tatsunoko Fight and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars as a playable character.^[2][3]

Plot

Tetsuya Azuma (東鉄也, Azuma Tetsuya^?), also known as Casshern, is an android with a human consciousness neoroider (新造人間, Shinzō Ningen^?, lit. "neo-human"). Tetsuya turned himself into an android for the purpose of hunting down and destroying robots that have taken over the world. His biological father, Dr. Kotaro Azuma, was the inventor of the automatons that were originally intended to serve humankind. However, the first android, BK-1, was struck by lightning, and went out of control. With its great strength, it escaped from the castle despite attempts to stop it. After some time, it renamed itself as Buraiking Boss (often mistranslated in English as "Black King Boss"; derived from 無頼 or burai, meaning rogue or brute), and was able to build a robot army against mankind; the robots mutinied en masse when their cold logic concluded that the good of the Earth Ecosystem required the destruction of the human race.^{[4] [5]}

Casshern and his robotic dog, Friender, join forces with a beautiful girl named Luna Kozuki to battle the robots led by the Buraiking Boss.^[6] Casshern has great strength and agility, but he is not armed, except for a pair of odd pistols, used more like rockets than weapons. Friender is capable of transforming itself into a tank or a jet aircraft and actively helps Casshern to fight the robot army. While the robots are huge and robust machines, he is usually able to destroy them with his bare hands, dispatching a great number in any battle. Casshern has also some weakpoints: his body must be re-charged (with solar energy), and cannot sustain very long battles without risking low battery power. Luna was totally harmless, until her father was able to build an electromagnetic pistol, easily capable of destroying the robots. Almost all the robot machines have an antenna on top of their heads, ripping it off usually causes them to blow up, so they are relatively vulnerable.

Characters

Casshern (キャシャーン, Kyashān^?)

Voiced by: Ikuo Nishikawa

The protagonist of the series, Casshern is an android—the union of Tetsuya Azuma's consciousness with an invincible body. His body features a number of unique android functions, including superhuman speed, agility and strength, an opening and closing facemask, a golden crescent-shaped solar panel on his forehead and waist-mounted pulsar propellers that can also be used as weapons.

Luna Kozuki (上月 ルナ, Kōzuki Runa^?)

Voiced by: Emiko Tsukada

A beautiful, 15-year-old girl who fights alongside Casshern. Like Tetsuya, her father is a scientist, and she is essential in the battle against the Andro Army, due to her MF Gun.

Midori Azuma (東 みどり, Azuma Midori^?)

Voiced by: Reiko Mutō

Tetsuya's mother, who had been captured by the Andro Army and had her data transferred into the body of Swanee (スワニー, Swanī^?), a swan-type robo pet kept by Buraiking Boss. She observes the actions of Buraiking Boss and appears before Casshern as a hologram to offer her support.

Kotaro Azuma (東 光太郎, Azuma Kōtarō^?)

Voiced by: Masato Yamanouchi

The genius scientist who invented androids in hopes of helping mankind, and ironically became the architect of mankind's doom.

Friender (フレンダー, Furendā^?)

Voiced by: Shōji Katō

Originally Tetsuya's pet dog, Lucky (ラッキー, Rakkī^?), its data was used to revive it as Friender after it was killed. In order to support Casshern, he can transform into a jet, submarine, tank, or a motorcycle, and is even able to breathe flames. Friender is a brave robotic dog capable of standing up to the Andro Army alone.

Braiking Boss (ブライキング・ボス, Buraikingu Bosu^?)

Voiced by: Kenji Utsumi

The antagonist of the series, originally BK-1, the first android created by Dr. Azuma and designed to help the human race, he was struck by lightning and rebelled, renaming himself Buraiking Boss (often mistranslated in English as "Black King Boss"; the name derives from the Japanese 無頼 or burai, meaning rogue or brute). He leads the Andro Army in a plot to conquer the Earth.

Barashin (バラシン^?)

Voiced by: Kazuya Tatekabe

A High-ranking member of the Andro Army along with Buraiking Boss.

Episodes

1. Immortal Challenger (不死身の挑戦者, Fujimi no Chōsensha^?)^[7]
2. Stake Victory on the Moonlight (月光に勝利をかけろ, Gekkō ni Shōri wo Kakero^?)
3. Call to the Tomorrow Within the Ruins (廃墟の中に明日を叫べ, Haikyo no Naka ni Ashita wo Sakebe^?)
4. Channel Anger into the MF Gun (ＭＦ銃に怒りをこめろ, Emu Efu Jyū ni Ikari wo Komero^?)
5. Don't Erase the Lantern of Battle (戦いの灯を消すな, Tatakai no Tō wo Kesuna^?)
6. Raging Wind Friender (疾風フレンダー, Reppū Furendā^?)
7. The Oath for the Hero Kikero (英雄キケロへの誓い, Eiyū Kikero he no Chikai^?)
8. The Wild Beast Robot Roars (野獣ロボが吠える, Yajū Robo ga Hoeru^?)
9. The Concerto That Shines the Flames of War (戦火に響け協奏曲, Senka ni Kagayake Kyōsōkyoku^?)
10. Stake Life in the Desert of Death (死の砂漠に命をかけろ, Shi no sabaku ni inochi wo kakero^?)
11. Evil Virtual Image (悪魔の虚像, Akuma no Kyozō^?)
12. The Villainous Iron Train (鉄の悪党列車, Tetsu no Akutō Ressha^?)
13. Traitorous Robot #5 (裏切りロボット五号, Uragiri Robotto Gogō^?)
14. The Casshern-Proof City (キャシャーン無用の街, Kasshān Muyō no Machi^?)
15. The Puppy Runs in Vengeance (復讐に子犬は駆ける, Fukushū ni Koinu wa Kakeru^?)
16. Suwani: Wings of Love (スワニー・愛の翼, Suwanī Ai no Tsubasa^?)
17. Robot Lullaby (ロボット子守歌, Robotto Komoriuta^?)
18. Giant Elephant VS Andro Army (巨象対アンドロ軍団, Kyozō Tai Andoro Gundan^?)
19. The Terrifying Clown Robot (恐怖のピエロロボット, Kyōfu no Piero Robotto^?)
20. Casshan's Death Penalty Stand (死刑台のキャシャーン, Shikeidai no Kasshān^?)
21. Robot Hijack (ロボット・ハイジャック, Robotto Haijakku^?)
22. The Escaping Robot: Romeo (脱走ロボット・ロメオ, Dasshū Robotto Romeo^?)
23. Robot Factory's Big Deployment (ロボット工場大脱出, Robotto Kōjō Dai Dasshutsu^?)
24. Bounder: Robo's Challenge (バウンダー・ロボの挑戦, Baundā Robo no Chōsen^?)
25. Immortal Casshan (不死身のキャシャーン", Fujimi no Kasshān^?)
26. Casshan's Secrets (キャシャーンの秘密, Kasshān no Himitsu^?)
27. The MF Gun that Disappeared (消えたＭＦ銃, Kieta Emu Efu Jyū^?)
28. The Cavalry of Anger (怒りの騎馬隊, Ikari no Kibatai^?)
29. Overzealous Robo: Neotaros (高熱ロボ・ネオタロス^?)
30. Robo Withdrawal Number One (ロボ退治ナンバーワン, Robo Taiji Nanbā Wan^?)
31. The City That Will Create a Neo-Human (新造人間を造る街, Shinzō ningen wo tsukuru machi^?)
32. Tearful Lightning Punch (涙の電光パンチ, Namida no Denkō Panchi^?)
33. Suwani Close Shave (スワニー危機一髪, Suwanī Kiki Ippatsu^?)
34. VS Robot Ace (対ロボットエース, Tai Robotto Ēsu^?)
35. The Greatest Decisive Battle on Earth (地球最大の決戦, Chikyū Saidai no Kessen^?)

Title romanization

When Streamline Pictures adapted the OVA remake series to the American market, they romanized title "kyashān" (キャシャーン^?) as "Casshan" instead of "Casshern". "Casshern" is the romanization used in Japan and in other countries, and is used as the romanized title of the film adaptation.

Legacy

The influence of Casshern can be seen in various video games. Starting with the third game, Mega Man featured a robotic hero with a dog as a partner which could transform into different vehicles. Continuing in the vein of Capcom influences, Mega Man Zero of the Gameboy Advance Mega Man spin-off franchise bears a strong resemblance to Casshern (of the reboot series) himself. The entirety of the Megaman X series story is closely based on Casshern. The design and background of its main antagonist, Sigma, also closely resembles Buraiking Boss. Also, In Viewtiful Joe, the protagonist's outfit bears a strong resemblance along with the V shaped headpiece and the retractable mask. The character M. Bison from Street Fighter II also bears a strong resemblance to Buraiking Boss. In Metal Gear Solid 4, Raiden wears a bio-suit and fights with an sword which can discharge electric energy.

In Vanquish, developed by Platinum Games, the art style is based on Casshern. In one of the boss fights the main character drills through a robot by spinning in place at high speed, similar to Casshern. Concerning the game's development, director Shinji Mikami is quoted as saying: "I was inspired by Casshern, so I wanted to make a game like that. If I went ahead and made the exact game I wanted, it probably would have been like Casshern, where you punch and kick the entire way through. But obviously if it were a game with only punching and kicking, I already did that with God Hand. So, I'm done with that, something else now. So this time he wanted to make a game where you defeat robots with guns. So now, you're going at it with guns, but he wanted to make sure the feeling of speed is still there, that was really important to him, so that's why he introduced the element of the sliding boost."^[8] In addition, the protagonist of Vanquish has a facemask that periodically comes off to show his human side, much like Casshern himself.

See also

• Robot Hunter Casshern - A four-episode OVA produced in 1993, released in English as Casshan: Robot Hunter.
• Casshern - A 2004 live-action tokusatsu film adaptation.
• Casshern Sins - A 2008 anime series and franchise reboot.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "新造人間キャシャーン" (in Japanese). Tatsunoko Productions. http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/works/archive/cassyan.htmll. Retrieved 2008-07-20. 
2. ^ "NEW ‘CASSHERN’ SERIES ANNOUNCED". wizarduniverse.com. Wizard Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2008-07-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20080729003129/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/040108casshern.html. Retrieved 2008-10-04. 
3. ^ "New Casshern Anime Tentatively Titled Casshern Sins". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-06-19/new-casshern-anime-tentatively-titled-casshern-sins. Retrieved 2008-10-04. 
4. ^ "『破裏拳ポリマー』". Tatsunoko Productions. Archived from the original on 2008-04-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20080423223318/http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/works/cassyan/chara.html. Retrieved 2008-07-20. (Japanese)
5. ^ "『破裏拳ポリマー』". Tatsunoko Productions. Archived from the original on 2008-04-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20080423223323/http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/works/cassyan/digest.html. Retrieved 2008-07-20. (Japanese)
6. ^ "Tatsunoko Pro". Tatsunoko Productions. http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/english/box03.html#4. Retrieved 2008-07-20. 
7. ^ "『破裏拳ポリマー』". Tatsunoko Productions. Archived from the original on 2008-04-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20080423223328/http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/works/cassyan/list.html. Retrieved 2008-07-20. (Japanese)
8. ^ Interview: Shinji Mikami on Vanquish, evolving game dev locales and ... punching fools, Joystiq

External links

• Shinzō Ningen Kyashān at the Internet Movie Database (TV series)
• Casshern at the Internet Movie Database (Live-action movie)
• Shinzo Ningen Casshan (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia (TV series)
• Casshern (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia (Live-action movie)