Casshan:
The Complete Original TV Series
(1973 - 1974/Section 23/Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray Set)
Picture:
B Sound: B- Extras: C- Episodes: B-
The
makers of Speed
Racer
and Gatchaman
(both reviewed elsewhere on this site) were on a roll when they
decided to create the most explicitly superhero creation of their
canon with Casshan:
The Complete Original TV Series
(1973 - 1974) featuring the adventures of a young man named Tetsuya
Azuma, whose father is a genius in robotics, computers and his
one-man innovations have created an army of robots intended to help
people... until they become sentient and decide to destroy the human
race.
With
his family shunned and he, his father, mother and dog forced to leave
their home (which is then taken over by the robots by new
robo-fascist leader Braiking Boss), their destruction of people and
places is so devastating, Tetsuya talks his reluctant parents into
turning him into a robot that can more than battle the armies of
robots by being equipped with new technology and innovations that
will make him mire than a match for the cyborgs gone wrong. 35
half-hours episodes of these adventures were produced and the show
follows a storyline a little closer than those predecessor shows
noted above, in part because it has to.
Reminding
us of the original Ultraman
and all versions of Iron
Man
(also reviewed elsewhere on this site), Casshan (pronounced
cash-shan, though later in revivals, he would be pronounced
cash-shern and eventually even spelled Casshern, though is is
pronounced here as spelled) has a technical weakness that foils his
battles with the killer robots, especially early on. The plotting,
battles, storyline, even darkness and intelligence of the show are
still winning on its 40th
anniversary, but some aspects (he is called immortal, but the script
contradicts that when he is in danger and the question of if he is
still human is handled too loosely for its own good) oversimplify and
cut into the realism of the situation and therefore its credibility.
The line between fantasy and science fiction even blur too much here
(especially when machines transform into others) yet this is a
winning show for its spirit, energy and the many things that do work
throughout. Especially in High Definition Blu-ray, Casshan
is a special, unique series that everyone should see and experience
once. It is at least a minor classic and one of the most important
early works in all of Japanese Animation history. No wonder it is
one of the early TV animated classics getting Blu-ray treatment. It
deserves it!
The
1080p 1.33 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer can show the
age of the materials used along with cel dust and slight flaws on
occasion, but between the detail and terrific color range that is
pretty consistent between episodes, including a few shots that will
be demo material for HDTVs. Impressive for its age, it makes for
more reasons more TV shows on film need to be issued on Blu-ray. The
DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Japanese Mono lossless mix shows its age
more, but is as good as it is going to get and has not been tampered
with or messed up. There is no English dub, but we do get good
English subtitles.
Extras
are really nonexistent save previews for other Sentai Anime releases,
but I wish some interviews or memorabilia could have been included.
As a result, here is a link to our review of the Gatchaman
Blu-ray set Sentai just issued and in our review, you'll find links
below for related action figures released in Japan, plus one intended
for the Italian market of the original Casshan here that only made it
to the prototype stage. It is still amazing and very, very valuable:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12561/Gatchaman:+Complete+Collection+(aka+Sci
-
Nicholas Sheffo
