Casshern

Casshern

Year: 2004

Runtime: 141 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Kazuaki Kiriya

Budget: $6M

DramaScience FictionHorrorEpic heroesHumanity and the world around us

Fifty years of war between the Great Eastern Federation and Europa—now merged as Eurasia—scarred Earth with biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, leaving zones uninhabitable and new diseases. Azuma’s “neo‑cell” cure backfires when mutated beings escape the lab and attack humanity. His son Tetsuya, killed in conflict, is reborn as cyborg Casshern, humanity’s last hope. The film adapts the 1973 Japanese anime.

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Timeline & Setting – Casshern (2004)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Casshern (2004). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Future, post-war era

The narrative unfolds after a fifty-year war between the Eastern Federation and Europa. The world shows signs of environmental damage from heavy industry and a shift toward advanced biotechnologies like Neo Cells. The events center on Zone 7 and the cities and labs connected to Azuma and Kozuki.

Location

Zone 7, Eurasia

Zone 7 is a contested region within Eurasia where a resistance forms against post-war Federation rule. The area features ruined facilities and a derelict castle that serves as a sanctuary for Neo-Sapiens. The setting contrasts high-tech labs and battlefield frontlines with a war-weary population.

🌍 Post-war Eurasia 🗺 Zone 7 🏰 Derelict locales

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:19

Main Characters – Casshern (2004)

Meet the key characters of Casshern (2004), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Tetsuya Azuma (Yûsuke Iseya)

A son torn between duty and family, Tetsuya joins the military, only to become a central figure in the bioengineered future after his death and revival. His revival as Casshern marks a painful clash between humanity and engineered life, creating tension with his own memories and loyalties.

🎖️ Soldier 🧬 Reborn 🕊️ Guilt

Luna Kozuki (Kumiko Aso)

Tetsuya's fiancée who embodies hope and resilience amid political upheaval. She is pulled into the conflict through the Neo-Sapien movement and becomes a catalyst for Casshern's choices, enduring captivity and danger.

💫 Love 🗺️ Refuge 🧭 Loyalties

Dr. Kotaro Azuma (Akira Terao)

A pioneering scientist who develops Neo Cells in a bid to regenerate tissue, only to face ethical questions as his work intersect with politics and military power. His pursuit of cures for his wife Midori collides with rival laboratories and a discovery that upends his assumptions.

🧠 Scientist 🧬 Neo Cells ⚖️ Ethical Dilemma

Dr. Kozuki (Fumiyo Kohinata)

Luna's father and a rival to Azuma, his armor-related research competes with Azuma's cell work. He offers a human face to Zone 7's suffering and embodies the clash between different scientific paths.

🛡️ Armor Researcher 🧭 Rivalry 🧪 Biology

Burai (Toshiaki Karasawa)

A leader of the Neo-Sapiens who despises humanity and seeks to enact revenge. His abducting of Luna and confrontation with Casshern drive the war toward its brutal climax and reveal deep-seated grievances.

👁️ Villain 🗡️ Revenge 🛸 Leadership

Barashin (Jun Kaname)

A fierce Neo-Sapien adversary who clashes with Casshern and represents the more violent, retaliatory wing of the new species.

⚔️ Warrior 🪖 Soldier 🕊️ Sacrifice

Sagurê (Mayumi Sada)

A female Neo-Sapien who becomes a casualty in Casshern's battles, highlighting the human cost of the new war.

🗡️ Neo-Sapien 💔 Innocence 🛡️ Casualty

Kaoru Naito (Mitsuhiro Oikawa)

A corporate sponsor whose support unlocks Azuma's research but later reveals the unsettling truth behind Neo Cells. He embodies the profit-driven motives behind scientific breakthroughs.

💼 Sponsor 🧭 Power 💸 Interest

General Kamijo (Hideji Taki)

A high-ranking military figure whose regime uses Zone 7 for strategic advantage, his plans are complicated by the revelation of Neo Cell origins and the political coup around his son.

🎖 General 🗺️ Strategy 🧪 Power

Lieutenant Colonel Kamijo (Hidetoshi Nishijima)

A senior military officer connected to the zone's defense and the shifting power dynamics as political factions vie for control.

🧭 Military 🗡️ Authority 🧭 Tension

Midori Azuma (Kanako Higuchi)

Azuma's wife whose health deteriorates over the course of the narrative, becoming a catalyst for the scientists' pursuits and the moral complexities of revival technology.

❤️ Family 🧪 Healing 🕊️ Hope

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:19

Major Themes – Casshern (2004)

Explore the central themes of Casshern (2004), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧬 Science Ethics

Neo Cells promise regeneration but raise questions about consent, manipulation of life, and the exploitation of human bodies. The film tracks scientists wrestling with ambition and responsibility as Azuma's research spirals into political and military uses. The line between healing and weaponization blurs as lives are altered or destroyed.

⚔️ War & Revenge

A prolonged conflict burdens everyone, shaping loyalties and birthing a vengeful Neo-Sapien movement. The war's brutality drives characters toward extremes, redefining heroism and villainy. The narrative climaxes in battles that mix conventional combat with mechanized, almost mythic warfare.

🌌 Identity & Humanity

Casshern's emergence embodies questions of what makes someone human beyond biology and memory. The Neo-Sapiens struggle with belonging while society hunts them as threats. The film probes moral ambiguity as acts of love, murder, and rescue blur lines between savior and monster.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:19

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Casshern Summary

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