Casshern: Robot Hunter

I know many of you probably decided to watch this OVA after seeing the popular "Casshern Sins" anime, so here I'll be discussing on why you should or should not watch "Casshan: Robot Hunter." Yes, it is the same Casshern from "Neo-Human Casshern" an anime series from about 1973. The OVA was intended to be 4 epds, however, it was edited into one action pack film via its American release. Recognizable faces are still of some familiarity in this OVA, however, you'll begin to noticing different aspects towards character development. Also, I believe that this OVA closely resembles "Neo Human Casshern" and not "Casshern Sins." ... There are little signs of humankind in Casshern Sins, so I have a theory that maybe CSins is its own story. Luna is seen differently in CSins as some godlike entity, while in this OVA she is but a mere human lead.

CRH story is about a boy named Tetsuya Azuma, he and family envisioned a world where machines called "NEOROIDS" help civilizations ecological state. The man known as Dr. Azuma, Tetsuya's father, creates a powerful Neoroid called Andriod BK-1 (or known as Andriod Black King-1). BK1 closely resembles CSins "Braiking Boss" - it could in fact be the same machine. Andriod BK-1 begins to learn of ways far beyond that of measure, and in turn sees humanity as a primary reason to why he was created. That aspect, in turn, makes him subjective to rid all of mankind for good (for he see's NEOROIDS as the superior benefactor). He kills the Azuma family, and assumes power over all of what Dr. Azuma had created. In turn, he rules over most of the world with powerful armies of NEOROIDS that can atk in different ways.

Tetsuya survives one of BK-1's onslaughts, but must bond with a suit that gives him superior strength and speed. He loses certain human organism/aspects that keeps us human and becomes Casshan, earth's last best hope from BK-1. His dog, lucky, is also turned into NEOROID better known as Friender. In this OVA, as I mentioned, Luna is a human girl that works with militias in order to stop the NEOROIDS. At this point, it is Casshan that is the "godlike" entity and not her. Though she recognizes Casshan as Tetsuya whom from when she had known before he had even became "Casshan."

This OVA was centered in the mid 90s, so however the viewer see's it as a good or bad thing is but a preference. I will say though, that the actions scenes and fights in this OVA are simply incredible for its time. There were fights where I was extremely impressed by the visuals and presentation. Certain themes are catchy, but overall most of them sound pretty bland and plain. Many times in this OVA you'll be wondering when is the next Casshan fight, and become bored with necessary story development that takes place throughout the OVA. If you are familiar with NHC, then this problem is extremely noticable because you'll already have a jump start to what CHR is about.

Coming off CSins and jumping into this one is not recommended. Overall, I would suggest starting with NHC and working your way up from there. Fans of Casshan(Casshern, etc.) will see this as a must have, others will probably watch it once and forget all about it. It doesn't have the re-watchable intangibles CSins has, but again very solid action scenes.

This OVA seems to be a remake first Casshan also known as Cashern series.
In this world Dr. Azuma built a super android called BK-1 and instructed the android to protect earth and nature, the robot to fulfill his duties began to kill and tyrannize all the human race, because afterall the human race was killing earth. BK-1 then renames himself as Black King Boss. Tetsuya, Dr. azuma's son, after watching this massacre is left with no other choice than that of merging himself with his father latest android becoming the legendary immortal Casshan.

I've entered this Casshan world by the Cashern Sins series, so please bear ... that in mind. The story is pretty different to that of Cashern Sins. Here Cashern is named Casshan, Braiking Boss is Black King Boss, but this could possibly have been a bad English translation. Luna is actually Tetsuya Azumas girlfriend, the scientist that built Casshan was his father, etc…
The animation was what was to be expected in terms of animation from the middle nineties, sometimes it's pretty cool and sometimes average.

The OVA is entertaining in it's way, but I was left with the impression that the longer and original series must have been more conclusive and in depth (this is a four episode OVA after all while the TV series have 35 episodes.

I might be lucky oe of these days and I may see some fansub picking the original series, afterall, the new Cashern series have been gaining some cult following recently.

Rate: 6.4/10

This anime is ok.
It also is a definition of 'crap got wierd'.
One of the weirdest animes I ever saw.

I saw the english dub.
The english dub is good. Casshans voice is very good.

The story is all over the place. It does't explain some things well. Or at all.
A lot of the time, you sit there going, WTH?!
Some of it is cheesey.
... The end is not explained well.

It takes a turn into mad science with how Casshan becomes a cyborg.
Seriously, there is a machine that looks like the teleporter from The Fly!

Luna is one of the worst dressed characters in anything!
She looks like a freaking clown. Or like she's insane!
It's a short bolero, over a topless corset leotard, over shorts, with a wimple, with a ear covering headband, with earrings on, socks, and ankle boots.
She looks like a insane cosplayer.
When she get's cold, she puts on a odd puffy coat.

There are times, when Casshans supposed to be sad or confused, or have memory problems, etc, because of the becoming a cyborg, when he's with Luna.
But the result is he looks like he's going
'What the hell is she wearing?!!!!!'

There are also time he looks like he'd rather be anywere but with her.
He looks like he's trying to escape the anime, rather than be seen with this insanely dressed woman.

Once, she wears a sensible outfit. A sailor suit with a blouse, short skirt and ankle boots. That's fine. If she'd just keep on it, it'd be great. But no, she puts her insane outfit on again.
She also wears a sensible travelling outfit at the start. Takes it off once she's inside.

Casshan also comes across as a bit of a masochist.
Yes, becoming a cyborg was done when under siege. But that machine was planned to be used that way.

Casshan is also very emo. He really goes for the emo, 'I'm a hero', thing.
Not the good sort. A character does stuff and is badass. And others say they are a hero.
He does 'I'm a hero', in a really emo way. Complete with unnessessery posing.

There are a lot of sensible characters, in sensible outfits. You get the feeling that they could win the war, without Casshan and Luna.

The world is good. A well made world. Very functional.

The artsyle is a ok to good. But the faces veer off into the uncanny valley sometimes.

And there is wierdly broad chests.The gap between the breasts of both genders is really wide.

The motivations for the villain are grindingly cretinous.

And they don't even do something as basic as kill him or treat him properly at the end!
The end is very predictable, when it comes to the villain.

There is the works for a good anime and story in there. And it shows. But there is some seriously wierd stuff!

I found out about this OVA while looking on information about Cassharn's sin, and found out, decided to check it out first to see some of the other versions. This was a good series, though I suspect the original might be a bit more coherent.

Story: It's good, but only being four episodes and movie length it definetly feels like some stuff was rushed, and not completly explained, but I still enjoyed it, a nice throwback to the 70's and 80's anime even if it is early 90's.

Art: I like this kind of art for some reason, I can't ... place it, feels like so often something is lost in the more clearner and crisper modern art.

Characters: They are usable, the main char is the loner warrior, his robot do companion, people he meets along the way, but only a few chars really get more then smidge of story or anything, wich is a tiny bit of a shame, but probably a product of it being four episodes.

Enjoyment and over all: I liked it and had fun, I plan to check out the original series too maybe before I watch cassharn sin, this is a type of anime I like so was happy I watched it, not sure if this is a good place to start if your curious about cassharn stuff, but it's more easily digetsable then thirty some odd episodes.