Neo-Human Casshern: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|''Throwing his irreplacable life away, reborn in an immortal body, to strike and crush the devils of iron. If Casshern doesn't do it, who will?''|'''Opening Narration'''}}
{{quote|''Throwing his irreplacable life away, reborn in an immortal body, to strike and crush the devils of iron. If Casshern doesn't do it, who will?''
|'''Opening Narration'''}}


''Neo-Human Casshern'' (新造人間キャシャーン, ''Shinzou Ningen Casshern'') is an anime produced in 1973 by [[Tatsunoko Productions]].
''[[Neo-Human Casshern]]'' (新造人間キャシャーン, ''Shinzou Ningen Casshern'') is an anime produced in 1973 by [[Tatsunoko Productions]].


Dr. Kotaro Azuma was creating androids when his prototype, BK-1, went out of control, escaped, and created a robot army which he led to conquer the Earth. The doctor's son, Tetsuya, rebuilt himself as "Casshern", an incredibly strong and agile robot who devotes his new existence to hunting down and destroying the Andro Army of BK-1, now styling himself the "Braiking<ref>based on a Japanese word meaning "rogue" or "brute"; frequently mistranslated as "Black King"</ref> Boss". Casshern was distinguished by not usually using weapons in his fights; he literally tore the Braiking Boss' [[Mecha-Mooks]] apart with his bare hands. His companions are '''Friender''', a robotic dog able to transform itself into various vehicles, and '''Luna Kozuki''', a plucky young woman whose scientist father gave her an anti-robot pistol.
Dr. Kotaro Azuma was creating androids when his prototype, BK-1, went out of control, escaped, and created a robot army which he led to conquer the Earth. The doctor's son, Tetsuya, rebuilt himself as "Casshern", an incredibly strong and agile robot who devotes his new existence to hunting down and destroying the Andro Army of BK-1, now styling himself the "Braiking<ref>based on a Japanese word meaning "rogue" or "brute"; frequently mistranslated as "Black King"</ref> Boss". Casshern was distinguished by not usually using weapons in his fights; he literally tore the Braiking Boss' [[Mecha-Mooks]] apart with his bare hands. His companions are '''Friender''', a robotic dog able to transform itself into various vehicles, and '''Luna Kozuki''', a plucky young woman whose scientist father gave her an anti-robot pistol.
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* 1993 had a 4-episode [[OVA]] rebooting the franchise simply titled ''Casshern''; [[Streamline Pictures]] released an English dub under the title ''[[Casshan: Robot Hunter]]'' as a [[Compilation Movie]].
* 1993 had a 4-episode [[OVA]] rebooting the franchise simply titled ''Casshern''; [[Streamline Pictures]] released an English dub under the title ''[[Casshan: Robot Hunter]]'' as a [[Compilation Movie]].
* In 2004, a [[Live Action Adaptation]] titled ''[[Film/Casshern|Casshern]]'' was released. This version has Casshern and Braiking Boss -- "Burai" here -- as [[Artificial Human|Artificial Humans]] born from Dr. Azuma's research into [[Applied Phlebotinum|artificial stem cells]] to fight the disease caused by the aftermath of a fifty-year war between a [[Commie Nazi]] Asian Empire and "Europa". It drew attention for the stylized visuals and impressive action scenes as soon as footage was released. The themes of the futility and dehumanization brought about by war added spice, but the [[Darker and Edgier]] tone, shameless use of [[Deus Ex Machina]] to move the plot, and [[Gainax Ending|esoteric ending]] dimmed enthusiasm once the film was released.
* In 2004, a [[Live Action Adaptation]] titled ''[[Film/Casshern|Casshern]]'' was released. This version has Casshern and Braiking Boss -- "Burai" here -- as [[Artificial Human|Artificial Humans]] born from Dr. Azuma's research into [[Applied Phlebotinum|artificial stem cells]] to fight the disease caused by the aftermath of a fifty-year war between a [[Commie Nazi]] Asian Empire and "Europa". It drew attention for the stylized visuals and impressive action scenes as soon as footage was released. The themes of the futility and dehumanization brought about by war added spice, but the [[Darker and Edgier]] tone, shameless use of [[Deus Ex Machina]] to move the plot, and [[Gainax Ending|esoteric ending]] dimmed enthusiasm once the film was released.
* 2008 brought another reboot called ''[[Casshern Sins]]'', which has its own page. This incarnation [[Retool|ReTools]] everything about the franchise except the [[Broad Strokes]] of the character designs and Braiking Boss conquering humanity, and then veers off to examine the nature of life, mortality, and redemption -- while providing the audience with beautifully animated robotic dismemberment in the process.
* 2008 brought another reboot called ''[[Casshern Sins]]'', which has its own page. This incarnation [[retool]]s everything about the franchise except the [[Broad Strokes]] of the character designs and Braiking Boss conquering humanity, and then veers off to examine the nature of life, mortality, and redemption -- while providing the audience with beautifully animated robotic dismemberment in the process.


Casshern was also one of the characters to appear in the [[Fighting Game]] ''[[Tatsunokovs Capcom]]''.
Casshern was also one of the characters to appear in the [[Fighting Game]] ''[[Tatsunoko vs. Capcom]]''.
----
=== ''Neo Human Casshern'' contains examples of the following tropes: ===


{{tropelist}}
* [[Adjective Noun Fred]]
* [[Adjective Noun Fred]]
* [[After the End]]
* [[After the End]]
* [[Artificial Human]]: Casshern; it's right in the title.
* [[Artificial Human]]: Casshern; it's right in the title.
** Though it should be noted that while the body is artificial, the mind is that of [[Ghost in the Machine|Tetsuya Azuma, a human]].
** Though it should be noted that while the body is artificial, the mind is that of [[Ghost in the Machine|Tetsuya Azuma, a human]].
* [[Bare-Fisted Monk]]: Casshern. [[All There in the Manual|Some sources]] claim that this is because he was a skilled athlete and fighter as a human, and that [[Badass Abnormal|skill was enhanced when he became an android]].
* [[Bare-Fisted Monk]]: Casshern. [[All There in the Manual|Some sources]] claim that this is because he was a skilled athlete and fighter as a human, and that [[Badass Abnormal|skill was enhanced when he became an android]].
* [[Ghost in the Machine]]: Tetsuya Azuma, aka Casshern.
* [[Ghost in the Machine]]: Tetsuya Azuma, aka Casshern.
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* [[Spell My Name with an "S"]]: Casshan or Casshern; Braiking Boss vs Black-King (Boss). (''[[Casshan: Robot Hunter]]'' takes these into the realm of the [[Dub Name Change]]).
* [[Spell My Name with an "S"]]: Casshan or Casshern; Braiking Boss vs Black-King (Boss). (''[[Casshan: Robot Hunter]]'' takes these into the realm of the [[Dub Name Change]]).
* [[Transforming Mecha]]: Friender transforms into either a [[Cool Plane]] or a [[Tank Goodness|tank]].
* [[Transforming Mecha]]: Friender transforms into either a [[Cool Plane]] or a [[Tank Goodness|tank]].
* [[Urban Legend]], [[Shrouded in Myth]]: Casshern is a legendary figure at the start of ''[[Casshan: Robot Hunter]]''; Braiking... excuse me, the "Black King" doesn't even believe he exists until the last act of the first episode.
* [[Urban Legend]], [[Shrouded in Myth]]: Casshern is a legendary figure at the start of ''[[Casshan: Robot Hunter]]''; Braiking... excuse me, the "Black King" doesn't even believe he exists until the last act of the first episode.
* [[We Can Rebuild Him]]: {{spoiler|done to ''the dog,'' whose ensuing badassitude led Tetsuya to think "maybe doing the same to a human can level the playing field." Unlike most series like this, Tetsuya's upgrade was not an [[Emergency Transformation]], but quite a sacrifice - he chose to exchange his human body for a mechanical one because he saw it as the only way to fight back.}}
* [[We Can Rebuild Him]]: {{spoiler|done to ''the dog,'' whose ensuing badassitude led Tetsuya to think "maybe doing the same to a human can level the playing field." Unlike most series like this, Tetsuya's upgrade was not an [[Emergency Transformation]], but quite a sacrifice - he chose to exchange his human body for a mechanical one because he saw it as the only way to fight back.}}


Latest revision as of 19:36, 16 September 2021

Throwing his irreplacable life away, reborn in an immortal body, to strike and crush the devils of iron. If Casshern doesn't do it, who will?

—Opening Narration

Neo-Human Casshern (新造人間キャシャーン, Shinzou Ningen Casshern) is an anime produced in 1973 by Tatsunoko Productions.

Dr. Kotaro Azuma was creating androids when his prototype, BK-1, went out of control, escaped, and created a robot army which he led to conquer the Earth. The doctor's son, Tetsuya, rebuilt himself as "Casshern", an incredibly strong and agile robot who devotes his new existence to hunting down and destroying the Andro Army of BK-1, now styling himself the "Braiking[1] Boss". Casshern was distinguished by not usually using weapons in his fights; he literally tore the Braiking Boss' Mecha-Mooks apart with his bare hands. His companions are Friender, a robotic dog able to transform itself into various vehicles, and Luna Kozuki, a plucky young woman whose scientist father gave her an anti-robot pistol.

Casshern has been ReTooled several times since the original:

  • 1993 had a 4-episode OVA rebooting the franchise simply titled Casshern; Streamline Pictures released an English dub under the title Casshan: Robot Hunter as a Compilation Movie.
  • In 2004, a Live Action Adaptation titled Casshern was released. This version has Casshern and Braiking Boss -- "Burai" here -- as Artificial Humans born from Dr. Azuma's research into artificial stem cells to fight the disease caused by the aftermath of a fifty-year war between a Commie Nazi Asian Empire and "Europa". It drew attention for the stylized visuals and impressive action scenes as soon as footage was released. The themes of the futility and dehumanization brought about by war added spice, but the Darker and Edgier tone, shameless use of Deus Ex Machina to move the plot, and esoteric ending dimmed enthusiasm once the film was released.
  • 2008 brought another reboot called Casshern Sins, which has its own page. This incarnation retools everything about the franchise except the Broad Strokes of the character designs and Braiking Boss conquering humanity, and then veers off to examine the nature of life, mortality, and redemption -- while providing the audience with beautifully animated robotic dismemberment in the process.

Casshern was also one of the characters to appear in the Fighting Game Tatsunoko vs. Capcom.

Tropes used in Neo-Human Casshern include:
  1. ↑ based on a Japanese word meaning "rogue" or "brute"; frequently mistranslated as "Black King"
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Neo-Human_Casshern?oldid=1929301"