Fist of the North Star Question

[chohan]

I've seen Fist of the North Star the movie years ago. It is a great movie IMO and I think the first of the few anime I saw. My questions are; is the Fist of the North star series as good as the movie, if not better? I liked the English voices, do they use the same? If not, are they any good?

[NeoTheranthrope]

Please define "movie." There have been two Fist of the North Star movies that have been brought to this side of the pacific. The Anime one that was put out by CPM (I think) a cuple of years back and the shitty (I'm talking Street Fighter the Movie shitty) live action movie.

As for the series: yes the series is good if you like ultra-violence and long drawnout plotlines. The multiple series (yes multiple series, each with several dozen to hundreds of episodes) are friken long, Dragon Ball Zed plus GT dosen't have anything on Fist of the North Star in tearms of length. Although they have better storulines than DBZ. Overall it's worth collecting if you like it and have the patience (and cash) to do so.

[Rain]

He said he'd seen the anime one.....

[MegaDrive20XX]

The actual HOKUTO NO KEN TV-Series (two of them) making up some 200 episodes if not a bit more... yet MANGA VIDEO only released the first 36??? ---It is better in terms of story telling and character development over the animated motion picture which tried to cram MOST of the high points of the TV-Seires... The movie of course has better animation quality than the TV-Series though. *As for the shitty movie with Gary Daniels as Kenshiro and Costas Mandalor as "Shin"... Stay the hell away from that flamming turd!

MD20XX / Storm Rider

[RAINBOW PONY]

Fist of the North Star is 152 episodes.

The animation on the whole is very poor and very 80's. The series probably has more filler episodes than DBZ, they finished the actual manga storyline just past the middle of the series, and everything else was made up for TV, and if you aren't into the fights, you'll get sick of the show pretty fast, cause the entire series is pretty much fighting, the storyline isn't very deep.

[RAINBOW PONY]

Originally posted by PUNJABEE
I really liked the Anime movie, and I always wanted to watch the Live action one.

the live action movie is trash, it's so bad that it's funny though, the only reason to see it. street fighter the movie is better if that says anything.

[the_colonel]

Its alright, they could of done alot more to it, it seems like a rush job as they use lots of the same animation & the animation is quickly done in the fight scenes.

The story is to big to put into 12 videos. It focuse's more on the way people use there strenghs to get what they want as regards to all out combat all over the place.

I've only seen the first 7 episodes, so i'm unsure if it pics up a bit later on.
Its ok to watch ken whip ass & hearing barts funny sarcastic looks on the way things have turned out.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Originally posted by DashK
Fist of the North Star is 152 episodes.

The animation on the whole is very poor and very 80's. The series probably has more filler episodes than DBZ, they finished the actual manga storyline just past the middle of the series, and everything else was made up for TV, and if you aren't into the fights, you'll get sick of the show pretty fast, cause the entire series is pretty much fighting, the storyline isn't very deep.

#1> I stand corrected on the amount of episodes.

#2> Hokuto No Ken walks all over DBZ, "Super Sayian... MEH!" I'll go with the amout of weirdos in the Hokuto series, up to and including Kenshiro's "You're already dead. ATAH!"

MD20XX / Storm Rider

[RAINBOW PONY]

and the first 60 episodes or so are really hard to get through for some, cause for the most part it's just enemy after enemy coming out, and you know kenshiro never loses, so you know what to expect all the time.

don't even buy the stuff manga released on dvd, they cut the original opening and enging theme songs/animations, and they only got the rights to 35 epidoes.

the whole series is out in japan on dvd remastered, and when someone finally releases those here the manga discs will be pointless.

[300wins]

There's always Shin Hokuto No Ken which just came out recently. It seems to be based on the novels or something. 2 episodes are out in Japan. Too bad Akira Kamiya doesn't do the voice of Kenshiro no more. Oh well...

[Richard Kiel]

Anyone know where I can get the movie version on DVD? All I seem to see is the TV series.

I'm talking about the anime version BTW...

[Hobgoblin]

anyone ever seen the live action dbz movie....you think FOTNS blows......

[RAINBOW PONY]

incase anyone didn't know, the FOTNS manga is out here in master edition format, full color by hara tetsuo (looks amazing), also the brand new hara tetsuo manga is out here called first of the blue sky, which deals with kenshiro's great great grandfather (i think) in china.

[RAINBOW PONY]

Originally posted by Spike
Anyone know where I can get the movie version on DVD? All I seem to see is the TV series.

I'm talking about the anime version BTW...

its not even on dvd in japan, so the boots on ebay are LD masters, and the streamline dvd that came here is shit, it's dub only, and it goes for like 75 on ebay cause its rare as hell.

i think they should do a special edition dvd like they did with akira.

[Vincere]

Originally posted by Spike
Anyone know where I can get the movie version on DVD? All I seem to see is the TV series.

I'm talking about the anime version BTW...

Why do you want that movie?? It's PURE SHIT. The special fx are the ones of a telefilm and there are so many bullshits in the scenario! Bat who dies of a stab wound is crappy. There's even a zombie so DO NOT BUY THAT SHIT.

It's NOTHING like the real manga.

[chohan]

I didn't get too clear info reading all that But there are TWO series? Are they toghehter 152 episodes and actually are connected to each? Or are they two different series? Also, is there a good Fist of the North star site somewhere? Might be handy to see a episode list or something.

[RAINBOW PONY]

Originally posted by chohan
I didn't get too clear info reading all that But there are TWO series? Are they toghehter 152 episodes and actually are connected to each? Or are they two different series? Also, is there a good Fist of the North star site somewhere? Might be handy to see a episode list or something.

there is one fotns series, some may consider it having 2 giant story arcs, since the story does jump 10 years i think around episode 115.

[Dash no Chris]

Originally posted by chohan
I've seen Fist of the North Star the movie years ago. It is a great movie IMO and I think the first of the few anime I saw. I liked the English [movie] voices, do they use the same [in the TV series]? If not, are they any good?

You've probably already guessed the answer, but I didn't see anyone answer it directly so I thought I might as well. The English dub of the anime film was done by Streamline Pictures. The English dub of the TV series was done by Manga Entertainment. Different English voice actors for each. I thought the English dub of the TV series was pretty shitty (but then again, I typically hate 90-95% of all English dubs).

Originally posted by DashK
don't even buy the stuff manga released on dvd, they cut the original opening and enging theme songs/animations, and they only got the rights to 35 epidoes. the whole series is out in japan on dvd remastered, and when someone finally releases those here the manga discs will be pointless.

I agree with DashK's opinion of the Manga Entertainment release of the TV series. Having recently seen their handling of R.O.D., Fist of the North Star, and Orguss-02, I don't think the current staff should be allowed to license any more anime. In addition to the cuts DashK mentioned, the English dub script is not terribly faithful to the original Japanese dialogue. Meanwhile, the subtitle script is sort of a middle ground between the two dub tracks -- it's not an accurate translation of the Japanese dialogue, and at the same time it doesn't function as a good closed-captioning feature for the English dialogue. In addition, the names of Bat and Yuria are "Bart" and "Julia" in the Manga Entertainment release.

Originally posted by 300wins
There's always Shin Hokuto No Ken which just came out recently. It seems to be based on the novels or something. 2 episodes are out in Japan. Too bad Akira Kamiya doesn't do the voice of Kenshiro no more. Oh well...

Been enjoying Shin Hokuto no Ken anime video series (although I thought the production quality was higher in ep1 than it was in ep2). The 3rd (concluding) episode went on sale in Japan yesterday -- I'm hoping to have my DVD by the end of next week (been looking forward to this one). There'd been talk of further eps in the Shin series, but only if sales of eps 1-3 were good enough to warrant a continuation -- hopefully the figures'll be good. I, too, was surprised that Kamiya Akira didn't return to the role of Kenshirou (he is back as Roy Focker in the Macross Zero anime video series, however). But, as a fan of Koyasu Takehito (Kenshirou's new seiyuu), I've been enjoying the new voice all the same. If you've heard Koyasu as the voice of the title character in the BETTERMAN anime TV series, you'll know he can pull off the scary, bass-y, tough-guy voice pretty well.

I believe this is the novel that provides the basis for the Shin Hokuto no Ken anime video series (the title of the novel is the same as the title of the first ep of Shin Hokuto no Ken -- "Jubaku no machi"). This novel was published by Shuueisha's "Jump J-Books" label in December, 1996 (according to amazon.co.jp).

Originally posted by DashK
incase anyone didn't know, the FOTNS manga is out here in master edition format, full color by hara tetsuo (looks amazing), also the brand new hara tetsuo manga is out here called first of the blue sky, which deals with kenshiro's great great grandfather (i think) in china.

Been picking up Raijin Comics' English-language releases of Fist of the North Star and Fist of the Blue Sky. IIRC, the main character of FOTBS (also named Kenshirou) is the uncle (?maybe great-uncle?) of the Kenshirou in FOTNS (according to the opening of FOTBS, Kenshirou (FOTNS) was named after his uncle (FOTBS)). The English-language version of FOTNS Master Edition is up to Vol. 7 (up to Chapter 58), while the English-language version FOTBS is up to Vol. 3 (up to Chapter 29). Vol. 8 of Souten no Ken (FOTBS) just went on sale in Japan on 1/9/2004). As DashK said, the full-color treatment of the FOTNS Master Edition is stunning, but I'm now planning to pick up a used set of the original Japanese FOTNS manga, both to try reading it in the original Japanese and to see all of the artwork in its original b&w pen&ink style. I'm enjoying FOTNS a great deal, but I like FOTBS even more. FOTNS seems very action-oriented & dialogue-light so far, compared to FOTBS which seems to feature far more dialogue and character development between its action sequences (which are less frequent than those in FOTNS). Because of this, FOTBS strikes powerful emotional chords with me much more often than FOTNS does -- here's hoping FOTBS will be popular enough in Japan to warrant a good animated treatment.

Originally posted by DashK
there is one fotns series, some may consider it having 2 giant story arcs, since the story does jump 10 years i think around episode 115.

I haven't seen all of the FOTNS TV series, so I'll ask those members who have (DashK, I presume? ) to correct me if my understanding is incorrect: The "Hokuto no Ken" anime TV series has a total of 152 episodes; the last 25% of the series constitutes a 10-years-later story arc that is often referred to as "Hokuto no Ken 2." Have I got this right?

--Chris

[MegaDrive20XX]

Originally posted by Dash no Chris

I haven't seen all of the FOTNS TV series, so I'll ask those members who have (DashK, I presume? ) to correct me if my understanding is incorrect: The "Hokuto no Ken" anime TV series has a total of 152 episodes; the last 25% of the series constitutes a 10-years-later story arc that is often referred to as "Hokuto no Ken 2." Have I got this right?

--Chris

I can answer that. Yes you got that right! I have yet to buy the boxed set of "Bootleg" DVDs of the entire series, but have been pondering over it for about a year now. It pisses me off that MANGA only got the first 35 episodes. **But since during my Buddhist days with Nichiren Shoshu Sokkai Gakkai, a buddy of mine translated (well read outloud) my entire HOKUTO NO KEN Shonen Jump (I think it's Jump) book sized compilitations of it. Much later into the series, Lynn is all grown up and actually is a practishioner of a form of martial arts, as is Bat... though of course no where near as lethal as say Rei of the Nanto Swan Style. This is why a lot of ppl get confused when playing the actual HOKUTO NO KEN video game for the Mega Drive (Last Battle on Genny)... because it meshes together elements from both story arcs. In the video game, Lynn is all grown up already as is Bat... BUT like in the movie, the final battle is between Raoh/Ken Oh and Kenshiro, which doesn't make sense at all. The manga has the whole Raoh/Ken Oh thing almost at the end but not quite.

I too like Soten No Ken very much, and I cannot wait to see the anime of this. I understand Tetsuo Hara already released the first two episodes of this, I know RAIJIN COMICS was giving the first DVD away for those who became subscribers early on. To me SOTEN NO KEN is much more rich in it's approach and I love the way Yan Wang ---The God of Death AKA: Kenshiro handles things a bit differently from the Kenshiro we know of in the aftermath of nuclear war. *I have yet to see SHIN HOKUTO NO KEN, but it's only three episodes???!!!??? ---There's no way a Hokuto story can be done in only three, that's ridiculous.

MD20XX / Storm Rider

[RAINBOW PONY]

yeah you're right about the tv series storyline. the 2nd time arc is refered to as hokuto no ken 2. i guess similar to the time jump from dragonball to dbz.

the fotns dvd boots on ebay of the series, are dvd rips from the japanese release, so the sound and video is gonna be top notch, but ive heard the subtitles go from average to horrible to average etc. over the discs. i mean when you're subbing 152 episodes i'm sure the translator is going for speed, they don't even spell check, lol. but if you wanna see the series that's the only way, i don't know if anyone will bring it here anytime soon, unless you're talking dragonball, long shows like that scare the publishers, one reason manga only did 35 episodes. i also hate manga dvds for the most part, they ALWAYS cut the opening and endings and replace them (songs too), they did the same thing to street fighter v tv series.

the raijin manga is top notch i just hope they finish the us release, if i remember the fotns manga is 28 books long. i have 1-4 of fotns, i need to buy the others.

also they show 4 dubbed eps of fotns on the action movie channel on fri nights, the dub is horride, but you can see what the animation looks like, i dont know how many they are gonna show but it might be everything manga has out on dvd currently

[300wins]

Just to let you know... Shin Hokuto No Ken has nothing to do with Soten No Ken (Fist Of The Blue Sky). And as of now, only 2 episodes of Shin Hokuto No Ken is out, and the series is based one the novels that were released in the 90's.

And also, Kenshiro in Fist Of The Blue Sky is the uncle of Kenshiro in Fist Of The North Star (not the great grandfather). I believe it goes like this....

Kenshiro aka Yan Wang (Blue Sky)
Ramon (younger brother of Kenshiro from above)
Kenshiro (North Star, son on Ramon)

Man, I was pretty late in replying and didn't even notice Dash No Chris's post.

[RAINBOW PONY]

Originally posted by 300wins
Just to let you know... Shin Hokuto No Ken has nothing to do with Soten No Ken (Fist Of The Blue Sky). And as of now, only 2 episodes of Shin Hokuto No Ken is out, and the series is based one the novels that were released in the 90's.

And also, Kenshiro in Fist Of The Blue Sky is the uncle of Kenshiro in Fist Of The North Star (not the great grandfather). I believe it goes like this....

Kenshiro aka Yan Wang (Blue Sky)
Ramon (younger brother of Kenshiro from above)
Kenshiro (North Star, son on Ramon)

Man, I was pretty late in replying and didn't even notice Dash No Chris's post.

i think they are making shin hokuto no ken as it comes out, i think its only 3 volumes (45 mins each) and the 2nd just came out in japan. don't buy the boots on ebay, cause they used the VHS masters, because the vhs tapes came out a month before the dvds in japan, and the bootleg dvds came out before the actual dvd was even released in japan (they did the same thing with sonic x, they actually used SVHS masters taped from tv!).

besides im sure someone is going to pick up shin hokuto pretty quick for the USA, i think raijin was talking about publishing dvds, and shin hokuto could be one of their first titles, since i think the first ep was on some raijin club dvd they sent out.

[300wins]

Originally posted by Dash no Chris
Been enjoying Shin Hokuto no Ken anime video series (although I thought the production quality was higher in ep1 than it was in ep2). The 3rd (concluding) episode went on sale in Japan yesterday -- I'm hoping to have my DVD by the end of next week (been looking forward to this one). There'd been talk of further eps in the Shin series, but only if sales of eps 1-3 were good enough to warrant a continuation -- hopefully the figures'll be good. I, too, was surprised that Kamiya Akira didn't return to the role of Kenshirou (he is back as Roy Focker in the Macross Zero anime video series, however). But, as a fan of Koyasu Takehito (Kenshirou's new seiyuu), I've been enjoying the new voice all the same. If you've heard Koyasu as the voice of the title character in the BETTERMAN anime TV series, you'll know he can pull off the scary, bass-y, tough-guy voice pretty well.
--Chris

I guess I just like Akira Kamiya alot. Plus, once I am used to a seiyuu to a series, I would like for them to continue playing the character. I mean... If they ever made Angel Heart into an anime and Akira Kamiya isn't the voice of Ryo Saeba, it just wouldn't be the same. And I was pretty surprised that he came back to do the voice of Roy in Macross Zero. I still need to pick up volume 3. To broke at the moment though...

Roger

[neo_X7]

Ok one question! Why doesn't anybody ever notice that the Mad Max series is a complete rip off of HOKUTO NO KEN. Hell the frist Mad Max and the Fist of North Star movie even end the same way!

2) Did he ever get his woman back in the story.

[CrashManDWN013]

It's kinda sad that so many people hate FONS, especially since they are basing it off the streamline and mangay dubbed crap. About 8 years ago, I saw the dub of the movie and thought it was the worst movie I had ever seen. But going back to it in Japanese after watching the TV series, I loved it. It's a retelling of the first story arc of the TV series and doesn't make a whole lot of sense if you've never seen the TV show or read the manga. Much like CLAMP's X the Movie, actually. FONS does get repetitive in that in pretty much every episode, Kenshirou goes to a town being oppressive by gang members and then makes their heads explode, but overall I found the series enjoyable. While the second arc of FONS 2 kinda lame with the rehashed villain, it at least offered some change from the stock formula. The violence level in the movie (and now, the new FONS OVAs) is really toned up - you can see the little pieces of brain matter and gore.

"Bart" and "Julia" ARE the names for the characters. BAATO (that's a long-a sound in Japanese) is how you say "Bart" in Japanese. If his name was "Bat" it would be BATTO. The name "Julian" is said YURIAN, so I am guessing YULIA/Julia works the same way, as it's the female form of the name.

New FONS is 3 episodes. It is a sequel to the TV series. ADV just announced they had bought them for American DVD distribution.

The HK bootlegs do not have top notch audio and video quality. 9 episodes per disc (which are uncut) lead to some severe artifacting problems in every second of the series. The subtitles start off as marginally readable yet obviously ESOL, and by episode 16 they dissolve into complete Engrish to the point of the show making as much sense with the subtitles off as with them on. Also, the flashback sequence of Shin stealing Julia (ep 4, I think) is ruined because of a pressing or authoring error, so you don't see much of that scene; the DVD skips. The Movie DVD is a boot of the LD with some very amusing flaws in the left side of the picture. Also, one boot is of the actual LD; the other is a boot of the Streamline dub and a Chinese-subbed only boot of the movie.

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MASSIVE, HUGE SPOILER

To answer the last question, Kenshirou does get back together with Julia, but she eventually dies of radiation poisoning.

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Don't read above, spoilers.