Casshern
In a world with an alternate history, a great war finally comes to an end leaving the earth diseased and polluted. The geneticist Dr. Azuma vies for support from the government for his neo-cell treatment that he claims can rejuvenate the body and regenerate humankind. The government leaders, guarding their own deeply entrenched powers, turn down the professor. Driven to complete his work, Dr. Azuma accepts a secret offer from a sinister faction of the powerful military. After an incident occurs in Dr. Azuma's lab, a race of mutant humans known as the Shinzo Ningen are unleashed upon the world. Now only the warrior known as Casshern, reincarnated with an invincible body, stands between the Shinzo Ningen and a world on the brink of annihilation.
Despite its modest budget of $6.0M, Casshern became a solid performer, earning $12.4M worldwide—a 106% return.
1 nomination
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Casshern (2004) demonstrates meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Kazuaki Kiriya's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 21 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Tetsuya Azuma / Casshern
Luna Kozuki
Dr. Azuma
Midori Azuma
Burai
Barashin
Sagure
Dr. Kozuki
Main Cast & Characters
Tetsuya Azuma / Casshern
Played by Yusuke Iseya
A soldier killed in war and resurrected as a powerful neo-sapien warrior who becomes humanity's defender against his own kind.
Luna Kozuki
Played by Kumiko Aso
Tetsuya's love interest and daughter of a researcher, torn between her feelings and the horrific transformation of her beloved.
Dr. Azuma
Played by Akira Terao
Tetsuya's father and brilliant scientist whose experimental neo-cell research inadvertently creates a new race of beings.
Midori Azuma
Played by Kanako Higuchi
Tetsuya's mother who makes the desperate decision to resurrect her son using forbidden technology.
Burai
Played by Toshiaki Karasawa
The leader of the neo-sapiens seeking to overthrow humanity and establish dominance for his new race.
Barashin
Played by Hideaki Ito
A powerful neo-sapien warrior and Burai's lieutenant who commands respect through strength and loyalty.
Sagure
Played by Jun Kaname
A cunning and manipulative neo-sapien who serves as Burai's strategist and advisor.
Dr. Kozuki
Played by Hidetoshi Nishijima
Luna's father and colleague of Dr. Azuma, involved in the neo-cell research project.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes War-torn dystopian world where the Greater Eastern Federation wages war against Europa. Tetsuya Azuma is a young soldier fighting in brutal conditions, showing a world of violence and dehumanization.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 18 minutes when Tetsuya is killed in battle. His body is brought back to his father's laboratory, setting in motion the central conflict of resurrection and transformation.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 36 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Tetsuya is resurrected as Casshern with superhuman abilities. He awakens transformed, no longer fully human, entering a new existence as a being between life and death., moving from reaction to action.
At 71 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The neo-sapiens launch a full-scale assault on humanity. Casshern realizes he is the only one who can stop them, but doing so means accepting he is no longer human and must fight his own kind., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 105 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Dr. Azuma is killed, taking responsibility for creating the neo-sapiens. Luna is captured by Burai. Casshern loses both his father (his last link to his human past) and his love, facing complete isolation., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 113 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Casshern accepts his unique nature - he is the bridge between human and neo-sapien. He chooses to fight not as a human or as a machine, but as himself, to protect what matters: Luna and the future., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Casshern's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Casshern against these established plot points, we can identify how Kazuaki Kiriya utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Casshern within the action genre.
Kazuaki Kiriya's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Kazuaki Kiriya films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Casshern exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Kazuaki Kiriya filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Kazuaki Kiriya analyses, see Goemon.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
War-torn dystopian world where the Greater Eastern Federation wages war against Europa. Tetsuya Azuma is a young soldier fighting in brutal conditions, showing a world of violence and dehumanization.
Theme
Dr. Azuma speaks about the cost of progress and playing God, foreshadowing the film's exploration of resurrection, scientific hubris, and what it means to be human.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the dystopian world, the ongoing war, Dr. Azuma's neo-cell research project, Tetsuya's relationship with Luna, and the militaristic society that values warfare over human life.
Disruption
Tetsuya is killed in battle. His body is brought back to his father's laboratory, setting in motion the central conflict of resurrection and transformation.
Resistance
Dr. Azuma debates resurrecting his son using the neo-cell technology. Luna mourns Tetsuya. The ethical implications are discussed. An accident occurs in the lab, and the neo-cells interact with discarded body parts, creating new beings.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Tetsuya is resurrected as Casshern with superhuman abilities. He awakens transformed, no longer fully human, entering a new existence as a being between life and death.
Mirror World
Casshern reunites with Luna, who represents his humanity and the life he left behind. She sees him as Tetsuya, not a monster, establishing the emotional core that will guide his journey.
Premise
Casshern explores his new powers and struggles with his identity. The resurrected beings (led by Burai) declare war on humanity, seeking revenge for being created as abominations. Casshern must choose between his human past and superhuman present.
Midpoint
The neo-sapiens launch a full-scale assault on humanity. Casshern realizes he is the only one who can stop them, but doing so means accepting he is no longer human and must fight his own kind.
Opposition
Burai and the neo-sapiens gain power, destroying human forces. Casshern is hunted by both sides - humans fear him as a monster, neo-sapiens hate him as a traitor. His father's guilt intensifies. Luna is endangered.
Collapse
Dr. Azuma is killed, taking responsibility for creating the neo-sapiens. Luna is captured by Burai. Casshern loses both his father (his last link to his human past) and his love, facing complete isolation.
Crisis
Casshern mourns his father and confronts his identity crisis. He is neither fully human nor fully machine, rejected by both worlds, questioning whether his resurrection was a mistake.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Casshern accepts his unique nature - he is the bridge between human and neo-sapien. He chooses to fight not as a human or as a machine, but as himself, to protect what matters: Luna and the future.
Synthesis
Casshern infiltrates Burai's fortress, battles through neo-sapien forces, confronts Burai in an epic final battle. He fights not for revenge but for the possibility of coexistence, embodying his father's hopes for neo-cells to save humanity.
Transformation
Casshern stands with Luna in a devastated world, no longer fully human but having found purpose in his transformation. The closing image mirrors the opening's desolation but now contains hope for rebuilding and redemption.