Trivia for
Casshern (2004) More at IMDbPro »

• One of several films around the world that was produced almost entirely on a "digital backlot" (i.e. shot with the actors in front of blue/green-screens with all backgrounds added in post-production, a technique which has been used for TV, video and video game production for many years). Although which movie was shot first is debated, the other movies (released in 2004-05) include: Immortel (ad vitam) (2004), Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004), and Sin City (2005).
  
  
• The white helmet in the center of the other helmets is the same one from the original anime series, "Shinzô ningen Kyashân" (1973).
  
  
• In several shots of Dr. Kozuki's home, a helmet closely resembling that of popular anime hero Speed Racer can be seen. This is an in-joke: The late Tatsuo Yoshida, the creator of the original version of Speed Racer, "Mahha GoGoGo" (1967), was also the creator of "Shinzô ningen Kyashân" (1973), upon which this film was based.
  
  
• This is considered a "live-action anime" and borrows heavily from standard anime techniques including camera angles, action backgrounds (i.e. lines indicating movement), acting styles, and plot elements.
  
  
• This was veteran Japanese actor Tatsuya Mihashi's final film. Mihashi was able to complete all of his scenes but died during post-production before the film was able to be screened.
  
  
• The tagline that essentially translates to "Reincarnated with an invincible body to fight an iron devil. If Casshern does not do it, who will?" was only played during the trailers and is taken word-for-word from the opening credits of the original '70's anime TV show "Shinzô ningen Kyashân" (1973).
  
  
• In the original TV series, the antagonists were androids brought to life by a lightning strike a la Frankenstein. All were male and bear the same names as in the 2004 remake - with the exception of the Burai. The android Burai is based upon was originally named "Burai King Boss". In the making-of-Casshern DVD, director Kazuaki Kiriya and all conceptual designs continue to use the name "Burai King Boss" until well-over halfway into the shoot.
  
  
• According to the director's commentary, Burai's long monologue when he first speaks was done in a single take. Although later broken-up in post-production by shots of various reactions, you can still tell as the camera slowly zooms in on his face only to do the exact opposite when he finishes speaking.
  
  
• Drawings that pass by as Dr. Kozuki is explaining Tetsuya's condition are a mixture of elements from the original TV series' Casshern-suit and the film's actual suit.
  
  
• European influences are also shown in the battles and some stage settings that are designed to resemble the World War II Nazis. The first robot battles, however, were less performed by the original cast, and more by the Euro-Japanese duo of stunts and choreographers, Funakoshi Orinosuke and Motoori Chinatsu, thus making the feature more influenced by mixed history of European part of the world. The set also features vast number of Russian, Serbo-Croatian and Bosnian writings, calling out for peace, hence holding a unified message of people who were devastated with civil wars post WWII.
  
  

• SPOILER: The dog owned by Dr. Furoi is named "Flender" or "Friender" (depending on the translator). In the original anime TV show, Tetsuya had a dog named "Lucky" that was killed by robots and remade into the mechanical dog "Flender" in episode 1. Serving as Tetsuya's sidekick, Flender could turn into a number of vehicles including a jet, a rocket, and even a subterranian drill. Director Kazuaki Kiriya chose to leave this part out of the film.
  
  
• SPOILER: The robots in Burai's army are all based upon the original designs of the 1970's TV series - even the way they turn semi-transparent before exploding was taken directly from the original show.
  
  
• SPOILER: The "swan-room" that Midori is kept in is a reference to the original '70s TV anime series where the also-kidnapped Midori is able to manifest herself in a mechanical swan which allows her to communicate with Tetsuya. The mechanical swan's name is "Swaney".
  
  
• SPOILER: The German message above Sagure's "entrance" to Dr. Kozuki's home reads: "zur erinnerung an meine verstorbene frau" which essentially translates to "To the memory of my deceased wife".
  
  

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