Japanese Name

Jinzou Ningen Kiyashan

English Name

Air Dates and Times

10/2/1973 – 6/25/1974

Story

Yoshida Tatsuo, Tatsunoko Pro Kikaku Shitsu (The Tatsunoko Pro Planning)

Number of Episodes

26

Production Company

Planning

Torinomi Shinzou

Producer (s)

Yoshida Kenji, Kunori Ippei

Supervisor

Sasagawa Hiroshi

Production Supervisors

Tochihira Yoshikazu, Tsuda Yoshio

SF Advisor

Kozumi Rei

Script Director

Koyama Takao

Writers

Ochiai Shigekazu, Sakai Akiyoshi, Fukui Tadashi, Wakamazu Hajime, Tamura Hidemi, Miyake Naoko

Production Staff

Fugawa Ekuchi, Tomino Yoshiyuki, Okasako Kazuaki

Character Designs

Yoshida Tatsuo, Yoshitaka Amano

Animation Supervisors

Hayashi Masayuki, Kawabata Hiroshi, Iguchi Chuichi

Backgrounds

Nakamura Koki

Music

Kikuchi Shunsuke

Produced by

Yoshida Tatsuo and Tatsunoko Pro

Theme Song

“Tatakae! Casshan”
Lyrics by: Tatsunoko Pro Kikaku Shitsu
Composed by: Kikuchi Shunsuke
Sung by: Sasaki Isao

Cast

Nishikawa Ikuo (Higashi Tetsuya/Casshan)
Yamanouchi Masato (Higashi Kotaro)
Muto Reiko (Higashi Midori)
Utsumi Kenji (Burai King Boss/BK-01)
Tsukada Emiko (Kozuki Runa)
Tatekabe Kazuya (Barashin)
Kato Osamu (Sagure)
Nakagi Ryuji (Akubon)

Benevolent scientist Higashi Koutaro has created the ultimate artificial humanoid. He hopes one day he can create a race of pollution free androids that can assist humankind with tasks that are too hazardous, strenuous or dangerous for normal humans. Higashi finishes work on a set of four androids, the most intelligent and capable being the one designated BK-1.

One evening a violent storm hits the region where Higashi’s family home and laboratory resides. A stray lightening bolt hits BK-1, activating its circuitry. The android comes online and immediately sets up its own warped agenda. Calling itself Burai King Boss (sometimes referred to also as Black King), he rebels against Dr. Higashi and nearly kills him and his family. Higashi, along with his young son Tetsuya, escape down into the basement of the home. Burai King Boss soon activates his three other brethren, and departs to raise an army of robots and androids to conquer humanity.

Burai King Boss’ first target is a nearby village, where Tetsuya’s girlfriend Kozuki Runa lives. During the attack Runa is nearly killed. She is saved by Tetsuya’s Great Dane, Lucky who heroically saves her, however Lucky is fatally wounded in the process.

Runa brings Lucky back to Tetsuya’s home where Dr. Higashi and Tetsuya have been watching the events. Wracked with guilt Dr. Higashi is tormented by all the destruction his creation is causing.

Dr. Higashi decides to test out an experimental process he has been working on to bring Lucky back to life. Using a Mind Transferring Machine, Dr. Higashi is able to transfer the conscious (or “Life Data”) of Lucky from his damaged body and into a new mechanical body. The transfer is successful and Lucky becomes the Android Dog named Friender.

Tetsuya suggests to his father that he use the machine on him to turn him into a Neo-Roid (New Android) so that he can destroy BK-1 and his legions. After much debate, Dr. Higashi gives in and Tetsuya willingly gives up his humanity to become the Android known as Casshan.

With his new Neoroid Body and his new found abilities and Tetsuya wages a one-man war against the Andro Army of Burai King Boss.

#1 “Fujimi No Chosensha” (The Invincible Challenger)
#2 “Gekko Ni Shori Ni Kakeru” (Victory By Moonlight)
#3 “Haikyo No Naka Ni Asu O Yobu” (Hope From The Ruins)
#4 “MF Jyu Ni Ikkari O Komete” (MF [Magnetic Field] Gun Rage)
#5 “Tatakai No Hikari O Kesuna” (Don’t Extinguish The Flames of Battle)
#6 “Shippu Friender” (Hurricane Friender)
#7 “Eiyu Kikero E No Chikai” (Oath To The Hero Cicero)
#8 “Yajyu Robo Ga Hoeru” (The Robot Beast Howls)
#9 “Senka In Hibike Kiyosokyoku” (The Concerto of War)
#10 “Shi No Sabaku Ni Inochi O Kakero” (Last Stand In The Desert of Death)
#11 “Akuma No Kyozou” (Mural of Evil)
#12 “Tetsu No Akuto Retsha” (Sinister Train of Steel)
#13 “Uragiri Robot Gou Go” (Robot No. 5’s Betrayal)
#14 “Casshan Muryo No Machi” (Casshan’s City of Despair)
#15 “Fukushu Ni Ko Enu Wa Kakeru” (A Pup’s Revenge)
#16 “Swanee – Ai No Tsubasa” (Swanee –Wings of Love)
#17 “Robot Komori Uta” (Robot Lullaby)
#18 “Kyo Zou Tai Andoro Gundan” (The Elephant vs. The Android Army)
#19 “Kyofu Pi E Robot” (The Fearsome Pierrot [Clown] Robot”
#20 “Shikei Dai No Casshan” (Casshan’s Death Sentence)
#21 “Robot Hijack” (Robot Hijack)
#22 “Datso Robot Romeo” (Run, Robot Romeo)
#23 “Robot Kojyo Dai Dasshu” (Mass Escape At The Robot Factory)
#24 “Bounda Robo No Chosen” (Bounder Robo’s Challenge)
#25 “Fujimi No Casshan” (Indestructable Casshan)
#26 “Casshan No Himitsu” (Casshan’s Secret)
#27 “Kieta MF Jyu” (The MF Gun Is Gone)
#28 “Ikari No Kihei Tai” (The Calvary of Rage)
#29 “Konetsu Robo – Neo Tarosu” (Incendiary Robot – Neo Talos)
#30 “Robo Taiji Number One” (Robot Extermination Number One)
#31 “Jinzou Ningen O Tsukuru Machi” (The City That Builds Androids)
#32 “Namida No Denko Punch” (Tears Of The Electric Punch)
#33 “Swanee Kikiipatsu” (Swanee’s In Danger)
#34 “Casshan Tai Robot Ace” (Casshan vs. The Robot Ace)
#35 “Chikyuu Saidai No Ketsen” (The Decisive Earth Showdown)

Casshan
When Dr. Higashi transferred over the brainwave patterns (Life Data) of his son Tetsuya into a specially created Neo-roid Body, Tetsuya became the Super Android called Casshan.

As Casshan, Tetsuya is incredibly powerful. He has near superhuman strength, endurance, speed and fortitude. Coupled with Tetsuya’s own natural athleticism and knowledge of martial arts, Casshan is able to perform a dazzling number of complex acrobatic and gymnastic moves. Casshan’s punches and kicks are incredibly lethal as he is able to tear, rip and punch through solid steal, easily rendering Burai King Boss’s Android Army to scarp.

Casshan is able to fly using his Jet Stream Hip Rockets mounted to the side of his hips. These also double as his “Pulsar” guns which can also be used as an offensive laser weapon.

Casshan draws his strength from solar energy which he draws in through his “Solar-Met” (Solar Helmet). This is also his weakness, as without direct sunlight, his powers start to wane. When that occurs his “Energy Alarm” goes off.

Casshan has a number of special attacks that he uses against the Andro Army:

Ryusei Kick (Comet Kick) – Casshan’s devastating flying kick attack.
Denshi Punch (Electric Punch) – Casshan’s awesome knuckle punch                                                            attack.
Flying Drill – Casshan’s lethal spinning kick attack.
Cho No Shi Ko Sen (ESP Beam) – Casshan’s ESPer Attack Beam.

Casshan is assisted in his battle against Burai King Boss by his girlfriend, Kozuki Runa and robot dog Friender.

Kozuki Runa
Fifteen year old Runa is the only daughter of a scientist friend of Dr. Higashi. She is a happy-go-lucky teen who also has a strong and noble spirit. She bravely supports and assists Tetsuya in his battles. She carries an MF (Magnetic Field) Pulse Gun, which can immobilize the various Andro Army robots that are sent after her.

Friender
Casshan’s robotic canine partner. Carries the brainwave data of Tetsuya’s pet dog Lucky. Lucky was killed trying to protect Kozuki Rina. Later he is reborn as a fierce robot destroying hound. Friender can transform itself into a number of futuristic vehicles:

Friender Car – a super speed motorcycle/car.
Friender Tank – a mini tank with a diamond bit, drill head that can be                                used to bore through the Earth.
Friender Jet – a highly maneuverable mini turbo jet.
Friender Marine – a mini submersible that can explore and traverse the Ocean floor.

Friender is incredibly ferocious in battle and can use its jaws to gnaw and bite through solid metal. In addition, Friender can breath white-hot fire that can melt through steel. He has a super keen sense of hearing and can hear enemies approaching from miles away.

Swanee
Captured by Burai King Boss, Higashi Midori has her conscious transferred into the robotic body of Dr. Hayashi’s pet swan, Swanee. Trapped in this robotic form, Higashi Midori sometimes appears in the form of a hologram to her son Tetsuya to offer emotional support in his battles. Burai King Boss keeps Swanee as his personal pet.

BK-1
Originally conceived as part of a quartet of docile, pollution free android workers, the automation designated BK-1 had its circuitry corrupted by a stray lightening bolt that hit its body. BK-1 soon renamed itself Burai King Boss (sometimes known as Black King) and declared war on humankind. Escaping from Dr. Higashi’s laboratory, Burai King Boss and his other Android brethren formed the Ichi Dai Robot Keikoku (The Big One Robot Empire) or Andro Gundam (Android Army) to destroy all organic life.

Burai King Boss is Dr. Higashi’s ultimate Android creation, possessing incredible intelligence, strength and fortitude. He is assisted in his schemes of conquest by a trio of fellow Android henchmen:

Barashin – Burai King Boss’ hulking henchman. Commands the mechanized legions of the Andro Army. Possesses superhuman strength. Is not the brightest android.

Sagure – Burai King Boss’s squat henchman. Sub Commander of the mechanized legions of the Andro Army. Bumbling incompetent but fiercely loyal.

Akubon – Burai King Boss’s right hand man. The Andro Army’s tactician and strategist. Advisor to Burai King Boss and in charge of robot development. Has a cunning and devious mind which he uses to continually plot the destruction of Casshan.

To combat Friender, Burai King Boss also creates the panther-like robot “Warugada”. Like Friender, Warugada can also transform itself into a wide variety of vehicles:

Gadora – Warugada’s mini fighter jet mode.
Moguraga – Warugada’s min subterranean exploring vehicle mode.
Hebi-Tank (Snake Tank – could also be a play on “Heavy Tank”) – Warugada’s heavy armored land vehicle form.

The Andro Army is comprised of a wide assortment of robots and mechanized soldiers, some of which are:

Tsume Robo (Claw Robots) – Comprise the bulk of the army’s infantry. Hulking robots with claws for hands and who can turn themselves into “spiked balls”.

Kahenhousha Robo (Flame Thrower Robots) – Specialized corps of the Andro Army. They are literally walking “flame throwers” who can incinerate everything in their path.

Jibaku Robo (Bomb Robots) – Specialized corps of the Andro Army. Can cause mass destruction via their self-destruct mechanisms. Have machine guns mounted on their faces.

Heishi Robo Nankakushu (Multi-purpose Infantry Robo) – They are the multipurpose soldiers of the Andro Army. Have electrical whips for arms and can ensnare their victims with cables from their chest.

In addition, there are also a number of other one-of-a-kind and special service robots such as 00A, Ace Robot, Jumbot and Neo Talos that are incorporated into the Andro Army.

Serialized in Kodansha’s “Terebi Magazine” and Akita Shoten’s “Boken Oh” (Adventure King).

In a bit of irony Anime Seiyuu, Yamanouchi Masato later went on to portray the villainous “BK-01-like” android Don Salzar in “Daitaurn Three”.

Utsumi Kenji has made a living of voicing villains. In addition to Burai King Boss, he also portrayed Raoh and Kaioh (Hokuto No Ken/Hokuto No Ken II), Red Commander (Dragon Ball), Dai Maoh Ban (Dragon Quest) and Uchu Teioh [Space Emperor] (New Tetsujin 28 Go). He was also the voice behind Sen Ron (Dragon Ball). Utsumi later reprised his role as Burai King Boss in the 1993 remake.

A big-budget live action version of Casshan is in the works. The movie will be directed by J-Pop video director Kazuaki Kiriya (who the directed the stunningly visual video “Traveling” for Utada Hikaru).