Name(s): Casshern Sins / キャシャーン SINS
Format: TV series (24 23-minute episodes)
Studio(s): Madhouse

Casshern Sins Review

All right, here’s my abridged review. Casshern Sins is a 2008 reboot of an old ’70s transforming superhero anime. In a shocking twist, rather than stay fairly true to the franchise’s roots (ala Shin Mazinger), they decided to weave an unexpectedly bleak story. Casshern is an android wandering a desolate, post-apocalyptic wasteland who’s blamed for causing the end of the world. Devoid of memories yet wracked when an unplaceable guilt, Casshern finds himself cursed by his immortality.

Doubly so, as he’s stalked by rusting, dying robots that believe consuming him will allow them to gain his immortality. Since the world’s end, a disease known as the “Ruin” is affecting every robot other than Casshern, causing them to quickly rust. With most of the world’s populace now being robots instead of humans, existential panic pervades the setting as these machines come to terms with the concept of death.

Style

Casshern Sins is largely episodic. Casshern wanders this vast, open world burdened by his guilt and lack of purpose, and he comes across many other survivors trying to accept their death. Of course, there are those who’ve fallen completely into nihilism and either wait for death, or cause wanton destruction to themselves and others.

Oddly enough, the show is thematically close to Texhnolyze. While Sins isn’t as oppressively nihilistic or thematically obtuse, it’s still considerably starker than the vast majority of anime. It occupies an extremely weird space, masquerading as a stylish action show, something antithetical to its mostly brooding, slow pace and unsaturated color palette.

That’s probably partly why this series is underappreciated. Its premises almost never align or properly coexist with each other, and many from each target demographic would shrug at the opposing side. Since I’m a fan of both stylish action shows and somber tone pieces, I’m ideal for the unique niche Sins occupies. I found its mysteries compelling, and its atmosphere completely engrossing to the point where it offsets its slow pacing.

Around halfway through the series, the plot becomes more focused and less episodic as each episode reveals more about Casshern’s background or the world’s history. Joining Casshern are several recurring characters, including a girl who wants revenge on him for causing the end of the world, as well as an innocent child who trusts in Casshern’s good nature.

Animation

Aesthetically, in every way, Casshern Sins is one of the best-looking animated series I’ve ever seen. Colors are highly muted, and most of the show’s palette is a bluish-grey hue, but it makes the strikingly exaggerated character designs stand out—and I fucking love the character designs. They’re colorful in a way that contrasts with the grey environment, though their colors are still unsaturated to avoid becoming a distraction.

Casshern Sins: Beautifully Empty Action

Casshern and certain other characters with similar designs motifs are very jagged in appearance, right down to their head pieces, which lends their movement in the action scenes a sharp, punctuated impact. The action sequences, of which there are about one per episode, are some of the best I’ve ever seen in anime, particularly thanks to the editing and sound design.

The action all looks and feels lightning-quick, not just because of the movement speed, but because of frantic cuts that often come just before the visual moment of impact, accompanied with piercing, heavy sound effects that fill in the short, blank space and help fill the space between attacks. Fights are high energy, superpowered brawls reminiscent of Dragon Ball Z in the sense characters can move too fast to be seen at times, and are able to deliver punches that send someone flying for miles.

The sense of drama in the atmosphere of the fights is intense. With little to no music, these fights to the death take place over sprawling, dead landscapes. The action complement the show’s normally slow, empty pace well, but with the lack of fanfare, they aren’t in contrast with it.

An Airy Apocalypse

If anything, they just come across as brutal in their sheer meaninglessness. There’s something poignant about the battle cinematics in Casshern Sins that I find truly affecting. Casshern possesses so much power that would be enviable in most contexts, but in such a dying, empty world, the impact of every punch echoes across the otherwise silent landscape. There’s a genuine sense of hopelessness, loneliness, and futility gained from the implication that no amount of strength is enough to save the world when there’s no world to save to begin with.

The juxtaposition between power and emptiness is further emphasized by zoomed-out perspectives as the series’ strongest characters strike each other across desolate fields, with nothing or no one around to care at what ought to be awe-inspiring. Casshern Sins takes on the vibe of a Western movie in certain sequences; a strong personality struggling to assert their will and individuality in harsh, indifferent setting. Casshern’s power is so vast, yet it’s still not enough to fill the enormous void of his surroundings, no matter how much each superpowered blow echoes across the horizon.

Music

The soundtrack is excellent too, being primarily low-key instrumentals prominently featuring acoustic guitar and woodwind instruments. It’s very minimal, and the airy reverb of the chosen instruments reflects the empty atmosphere of the show. I also adore the opening song, a midtempo rocker that could’ve been at odds with the rest of the show, but lyrically it’s so completely on-point that it only elevates it. The words depict Casshern’s confusion and lack of purpose as he passionately begs anyone for answers. A high-energy opening when paired with a normally solemn show can give the subsequent episode a little forward momentum if pulled off right, and Casshern‘s is. That said, I thought the ending songs were forgettable, albeit likewise lyrically relevant.

Casshern Sins Verdict

I enjoyed the hell out of Casshern Sins. I thought I felt it was dragging somewhat towards the end of its run, but I also wouldn’t want to cut anything. The art style, character designs, aesthetic, atmosphere, each add dramatic weight needed to carry this ponderous show, and its dependence on environmental storytelling and isolated, powerful emotional moments. Some aspects regarding the ending and worldbuilding confused me but didn’t really hamper my enjoyment of the show, since it’s mostly a mood piece to begin with. I highly recommend it for anyone seeking a solemn, nihilistic tale with an idiosyncratic, measured style. For these reasons, Casshern Sins will likely remain a cult classic forever recommended through hushed, reverent breaths.