Sometimes, the term “adaptation” is used to describe an anime-to-live-action production, when in fact, “inspired” would be more apropos. Casshern, the 2004 live-action “adaptation” of the little known anime of the same name, should actually be termed an “inspired” film.
The 1973 anime, which takes place in the future, features the titular character fighting robots who threaten to destroy humanity. The modern LA film, while taking the essence of the anime into the movie, follows its own path for the most part.
plot summary
For fifty years, a war has been fought between the Great Eastern Federation and Europa. The Fifty Year War, as it’s been dubbed, has finally ended, but instead of the hoped for peace, terrorists from Zone Seven are attacking and undermining the government.
Tetsuya Azuma, son of the talented bio-engineer, Kotaro Azuma, answers his inner call to duty and enlists in the army to combat terrorism; leaving behind his betrothed, Luna Kozuki.
Dr. Kotaro Azuma has been spending the last few years researching neo-cells in the hope of finding a cure for his sick wife, Midori. His research has caught the attention of the government and he now works under their supervision.
However, Dr. Azuma’s work is only possible if he obtains cells from the inhabitants of Zone Seven, aka, Original Humans; a fact which makes many leery of his work.
One day, an unfortunate twist of fate from the heavens brings into being more than just neo-cells: Neo-Sapiens, created from the cells, rise angry from the sludge which spawned them, bent on inhuman revenge. They resurrect machines and hatreds from the past, and wage war against those who denied their right to exist; the human race.
Luna’s father, Dr. Kozuki, is caught up in Dr. Azuma’s work, and helps him save Tetsuya from Death’s grasp, thus making Tetsuya super-human in the process. Now, Tetsuya once more is called to the frontlines - to do battle for mankind - as the guardian spirit Casshern!
review
Anime gets lost in translation when it’s made into live action: The movements aren’t always as smooth, the action isn’t as believable, the emotions aren’t always correct, and the environments aren’t as awe-inspiring as their anime originals. The Matrix came damn close to approximating what an anime should be when it’s put on celluloid. But if the Matrix was close to getting anime-to-live action right, Casshern was dead on target.
Character Development
The story for Casshern is an old and familiar one, but it’s pure anime. Nothing says anime like a tortured soul called upon to do super-human battle(against his will) with evil, equally tortured and super-human (yet sympathetic), souls. Nothing.
Tetsuya does his best to do the right thing, ends up doing the absolutely wrong thing, then gets a chance to make it right. His nemesis might not be the enemy he takes him for, his father might not be the man he thought he was, and his mother might be happy where she’s at. The confusion, angst, and twists are strong throughout the movie, but it’s at the end where Casshern proves its worth as an anime turned live action flick.
Character Design
Story aside, the world for Casshern was also straight from the Anime Playbook. Futuristic environments coupled with imposing mecha technology are the traditional setting for this genre of anime, and the live-action version of Casshern was apparently taking good notes when said criteria were established.
The style is a cross between World War II Era technology and Steampunk. The robots are heavy and frightening when they lock step across the battlefield. The clothes are also reminiscent of the 1940’s. The propaganda hanging throughout the cities and the menacing technology give Casshern an oppressive air.
The actors’ fight scenes, exaggerated expressions and movements also pay proper homage to Anime. The characters in the movie are archetypes of the medium and were well acted as live action anime. This one aspect of anime- the emotions, facial expressions, and movements- always seem to be played down on film when in fact they should be over-exaggerated to be done properly. If live-action anime is played “straight”, it’s not live-action anime anymore; it’s a movie. A regular, boring, run-of-the-mill movie produced for the mindless mainstream masses.
At first glance, the story for Casshern is confusing: How can lightening be solid? How do those Neo-Sapiens know how to work those machines? How is Casshern able to do what he does?
However, step back and look at the movie as if it were an undiluted anime and it makes perfect sense. These themes are commonplace in anime and if we can accept them in an animated art form, why can’t we project them over a live-action movie? How does being live-action negate the mind-blowing logic we’ve come to accept as a matter of course in anime?
There were some heavy-hitting moments in the movie, which came like blows. The twists and machinations in Casshern are integral to the anime form of storytelling and added to the overall “This is Anime,” feel of the movie.
If Casshern had a weakness, it was that it was too high reaching. It tried to compress in two and a half hours what should have taken maybe twice that to tell. There was so much info, so much to explore, so much to see, that the alloted time wasn’t nearly enough.
visuals
The graphics for the movie were a mixture of greenscreens, enhanced with computer graphics and actual physical sets. Certain shots had bits of set mixed with greenscreen, or were totally greenscreen or totally set. The effect was an absolutely stunning movie which recreated the feel of anime better than any of its other live action predecessors.
acting
Yusuke Iseya, the actor who played Tetsuya/Casshern did a great job in the fight scenes; he really treated the character as if it were anime, and that’s difficult. In fact, the whole cast did a fine job in that regard.
music
The score for Casshern was filled with guitar-heavy anthems, highlighting the fight scenes and setting an angry mood. The ED was a touching, soft melody and brought the movie to a close with style.
With the way anime is being adapted into live-action, there’s bound to be causalities along the way. Some anime just won’t make the transition between their animated origin and the hoped for celluloid incarnation. Casshern, although not a verbatim adaptation, still kept the feel and essence of anime within itself, making it a triumph for the medium.
Rating
Casshern gets 3.5 outta 4 Hammies!
You can buy Casshern on DVD from Amazon.com!
