Casshan

For the film adaptation, seeCasshern (film).

Casshan
Casshern DVD cover art
Genre	Science fiction,superhero
Anime television series
Directed by	Hiroshi Sasagawa
Produced by	Kenji Yoshida Ippei Kuri
Written by	Jinzō Toriumi
Music by	Shunsuke Kikuchi
Studio	Tatsunoko Productions
Licensed by	NA:Sentai Filmworks
Original network	Fuji TV
Original run	October 2, 1973–June 25, 1974
Episodes	35
Manga
Casshern R
Written by	Chabo Higurashi
Illustrated by	Satoshi Shiki
Published by	Akita Shoten
Magazine	Champion Red
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	September 19, 2023– present

Casshan,also known inJapanasNeo-Human Casshern(Japanese:Tân tạo nhân gian キャシャーン,Hepburn:Shinzō Ningen Kyashān),is ananimeseries created byTatsunoko ProductionsfounderTatsuo Yoshidain 1973.

TheCasshernfranchise also includes a 1993original video animationtitledCasshan: Robot Hunter,and a 2004 live-action adaptation titledCasshern.In October 2008, arebootof the franchiseCasshern Sinspremiered. In anticipation of the upcoming series, aDVDbox setof the original series,Neo-Human Casshern Complete DVD-Box "All Episodes of Casshern",was released in Japan on September 24, 2008. Casshern also appears inTatsunoko FightandTatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Starsas a playable character.At Anime Expo 2013,Sentai Filmworksannounced that they had signed a deal with Tatsunoko to release some of their catalog, with Casshan being confirmed as one of the characters involved.Sentai Filmworks released the series on DVD andBlu-rayDisc in the United States on March 4, 2014.

Plot

Tetsuya Azuma(Đông thiết dã,Azuma Tetsuya),also known as "Casshern", is an android with a human consciousness, also known as a neoroider(Nhân tạo nhân gian,Jinzō Ningen,lit. "artificial human" ).Tetsuya turned himself into anandroidto hunt down and destroy the 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. Despite great efforts to stop it, BK-1 used its great strength to escape from the castle. After some time, it renamed itself Buraiking Boss (often mistranslated in English as "Black King Boss"; the name is derived from vô lại orburai,meaningrogueorbrute,using the symbols for "trust" and "nothing," but phonetically "Bu Rai" can mean "Lightning Man" or "Lightning Warrior," so the name fits with his background). The Buraiking Boss then built a robot army against mankind. The robots mutinieden massewhen they logically concluded that the good of the Earth's ecosystem required the destruction of the human race.

Casshern and his robotic dog, Friender, join forces with a beautiful girl named Luna Kozuki to battle the robots led by the Buraiking Boss.Friender can transform itself into a tank or a jet aircraft and actively helps Casshern fight the robot army. Casshern has great strength and agility, but he is not armed, except for a pair of strange pistols, which are used more like rockets than weapons. While the robots are huge and robust machines, almost all of them have an antenna on top of their heads; ripping it off usually causes them to explode, so they are relatively vulnerable. Casshern can usually destroy the robots with his bare hands, dispatching a great number in any given battle.

However, Casshern also has some weak points. His body must be re-charged with solar energy and cannot sustain very long battles without risking low battery power. Luna started out as being totally harmless, until her father built an electromagnetic pistol, which was easily capable of destroying the robots.

Characters

Casshern(キャシャーン,Kyashān)

Voiced by:Ikuo Nishikawa

The protagonist of the series, Casshern is an android—the union ofTetsuya 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 face mask, a golden crescent-shaped solar panel on his forehead and waist-mounted pulsar propellers that can also be used as weapons.

Luna Kozuki(Thượng nguyệt ルナ,Kōzuki Runa)

Voiced by:Emiko Tsukada

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

Midori Azuma(Đông みどり,Azuma Midori)

Voiced by:Reiko Mutō

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

Kotaro Azuma(Đông quang thái lang,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),his data was used to revive him as Friender after he was killed. In order to support Casshern, he can transform into a jet, submarine, tank, or motorcycle, and is even able to breathe flames. Friender is a brave robotic dog capable of standing up to the Android Army alone.

Buraiking Boss(ブライキング・ボス,Buraikingu Bosu)

Voiced by:Kenji Utsumi

The main antagonist of the series, originallyBK-1,the first android created by Dr. Azuma. He was designed to help bring the human race and the robots together, but he was struck by lightning and rebelled, renaming himself Buraiking Boss. He leads the Android Army in a plot to conquer the Earth.

Barashin(バラシン)

Voiced by:Kazuya Tatekabe

A muscular high-ranking member of the Android Army.

Arkborn(アクボーン)

Voiced by:Ryuji Nakagi

A lanky high-ranking member of the Android Army.

Sagrey(サグレー)

Voiced by:Osamu Kato

A short high-ranking member of the Android Army.

Episodes

1. "An Immortal Challenger"(Bất tử thân の thiêu chiến giả,Fujimi no Chōsensha):written byJinzō Toriumi,directed byHiroshi Sasagawa
2. "Stake Victory on the Moonlight"(Nguyệt quang に thắng lợi をかけろ,Gekkō ni Shōri wo Kakero):written by Jinzo Toriumi and Shigekazu Ochiai, directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa
3. "Find Tomorrow in the Ruins"(廃 khư の trung に minh nhật を khiếu べ,Haikyo no Naka ni Ashita wo Sakebe):written by Akiyoshi Sakai, directed by Seitaro Hara
4. "Channel Anger into the MF Gun"(ＭＦ súng に nộ りをこめろ,Emu Efu Jyū ni Ikari wo Komero):written byTakao Koyama,directed byYoshiyuki Tomino
5. "Don't Blow Out the Flame of Battle"(Chiến いの đăng を tiêu すな,Tatakai no hi wo Kesuna):written by Tadashi Fukui, directed byYuji Nunokawa
6. "Raging Wind Friender"(Tật phong フレンダー,Shippū Furendā):written by Jinzō Toriumi, directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino
7. "An Oath to the Hero Kikero"(Anh hùng キケロへの thệ い,Eiyū Kikero e no Chikai):written by Tadashi Fukui, directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino
8. "The Roar of the Wild Beast Robot"(Dã thú ロボが phệ える,Yajū Robo ga Hoeru):written by Jinzō Toriumi, directed by Yuji Nunokawa
9. "Concerto in the Flames of War"(Chiến hỏa に hưởng け hiệp tấu khúc,Senka ni Hibike Kyōsōkyoku):written by Tadashi Fukui, directed by Seitaro Hara
10. "Stake Life in the Desert of Death"(Tử の sa mạc に mệnh をかけろ,Shi no sabaku ni inochi wo kakero):written by Tadashi Fukui, directed by Kazuyuki Okaseko
11. "Statue of the Demon"(Ác ma の hư tượng,Akuma no Kyozō):written by Hajime Wakamatsu, directed by Yuji Nunokawa
12. "The Iron Train of Evil"(Thiết の ác đảng liệt xa,Tetsu no Akutō Ressha):written by Jinzō Toriumi, directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino
13. "Android 5, the Robot of Betrayal"(Lí thiết りロボット ngũ hào,Uragiri Robotto Gogō):written by Akiyoshi Sakai, directed by Yuji Nunokawa
14. "The Town That Doesn’t Need Casshan"(キャシャーン vô dụng の nhai,Kyashān Muyō no Machi):written by Akiyoshi Sakai, directed by Seitaro Hara
15. "Puppy Runs for Vengeance"(Phục thù に tử khuyển は駆ける,Fukushū ni Koinu wa Kakeru):written by Akiyoshi Sakai, directed by Kazuyuki Okaseko
16. "Swanee's Wings of Love"(スワニー・ ái の dực,Suwanī Ai no Tsubasa):written by Harumi Tamura, directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino
17. "The Robot Lullaby"(ロボット tử thủ ca,Robotto Komoriuta):written by Jinzō Toriumi, directed by Yuji Nunokawa
18. "Giant Elephant VS. Andro Force"(Cự tượng đối アンドロ quân đoàn,Kyozō Tai Andoro Gundan):written by Naoko Miyake, directed by Seitaro Hara
19. "The Clown Robot of Terror"(Khủng phố のピエロロボット,Kyōfu no Piero Robotto):written by Tadashi Fukui, directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino
20. "Casshan Gets the Death Penalty"(Tử hình đài のキャシャーン,Shikeidai no Kyashān):written by Harumi Tamura, directed by Yuji Nunokawa
21. "Robot Hijack"(ロボット・ハイジャック,Robotto Haijakku):written by Akiyoshi Sakai, directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino
22. "Runaway Robot, Romeo"(Thoát tẩu ロボット・ロメオ,Dassō Robotto Romeo):written by Masaru Takesue, directed by Seitaro Hara
23. "Great Escape from the Robot Factory"(ロボット công tràng đại thoát xuất,Robotto Kōjō Dai Dasshutsu):written by Harumi Tamura, directed by Yuji Nunokawa
24. "Bounder Robot's Challenge"(バウンダー・ロボの thiêu chiến,Baundā Robo no Chōsen):written by Kiichi Ishii, directed by Kazuyuki Okaseko
25. "Immortal Casshan"(Bất tử thân のキャシャーン ",Fujimi no Kyashān):written by Jinzō Toriumi and Takao Koyama, directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa
26. "Casshan's Secrets"(キャシャーンの bí mật,Kyashān no Himitsu):written by Jinzō Toriumi, directed by Yuji Nunokawa
27. "The Missing MF Gun"(Tiêu えたＭＦ súng,Kieta Emu Efu Jyū):written by Naoko Miyake, directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa
28. "The Calvary of Anger"(Nộ りの kỵ mã đội,Ikari no Kibatai):written by Tadashi Fukui, directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino
29. "High-Heat Robot Neotaros"(Cao nhiệt ロボ・ネオタロス,Konetsu Robo Neotarosu):written by Toshio Nagata, directed by Yuji Nunokawa
30. "The Premiere Robot Terminators"(ロボ thối trị ナンバーワン,Robo Taiji Nanbā Wan):written by Takeo Matsura and Hisao Ishihara, directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa
31. "The City That Creates Newly-Made Men"(Tân tạo nhân gian を tạo る nhai,Shinzō ningen wo tsukuru machi):written by Akiyoshi Sakai, directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino
32. "The Electric Punch of Tears"(Lệ の điện quang パンチ,Namida no Denkō Panchi):written by Tadashi Fukui, directed by Yuji Nunokawa
33. "Swanee in Danger"!(スワニー nguy cơ nhất phát,Suwanī Kiki Ippatsu):written by Akiyoshi Sakai, directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa
34. "Casshan VS. Robot Ace"(Đối ロボットエース,Tai Robotto Ēsu):written by Takao Koyama, directed by Yuji Nunokawa
35. "The Greatest Showdown on Earth"(Địa cầu tối đại の quyết chiến,Chikyū Saidai no Kessen):written by Jinzō Toriumi, directed by Yuji Nunokawa

Title romanization

Streamline Pictureswas the first to adapt the character's name in theOVA remake seriesfor the American market, providing the title, "Casshan." "Casshern" appears as the romanization for thefilm adaptationand the English release ofCasshern Sins.

Legacy

InVanquish,developed byPlatinumGames,the art style is based onCasshern.In one of the boss fights the main character drills through a robot by spinning in place at high speed, similarly to Casshern. Concerning the game's development, directorShinji Mikamiis quoted as saying:

"I was inspired byCasshern,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 likeCasshern,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 withGod 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. "

In addition, the protagonist ofVanquishhas a facemask that periodically comes off to show his human side, much like Casshern himself. According to one of the game's character modelers, Yoshifumi Hattori, a support robotic companion dog was designed to fight along with the main character, including transforming into ability-enhancing armor. Although this dog was successfully modeled, it was cut from the finalized version of the game, along with another female android partner character.Raiden fromMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriotsis also dressed like Casshern.

Manga adaptation

A manga adaptation of the original series, titledCasshern R,written by Chabo Higurashi and illustrated bySatoshi Shikiis set to begin serialization inAkita Shoten'sChampion Redmagazine on September 19, 2023.

See also

• Robot Hunter Casshern– A four-episodeOVAproduced in 1993, released in English asCasshan: Robot Hunter.
• Casshern– A 2004 live-actiontokusatsufilm adaptation.
• Casshern Sins– A 2008 anime series and franchisereboot.
• Infini-T Force– A 2017 crossover anime series

External links

• Shinzō Ningen KyashānatIMDb(TV series)
• CasshernatIMDb(Live-action movie)
• Shinzo Ningen Casshan(anime) atAnime News Network's encyclopedia (TV series)
• Casshern(anime) atAnime News Network's encyclopedia (Live-action movie)