Prime Video continues to expand on its original anime programming with new arrival Fist of the North Star. Based on the 1983-1988 manga serialization of the same name, this post-apocalyptic martial arts series serves as an updated, more faithful adaptation than the initial Toei Animation anime that ran from 1984-1988. Fist of the North Star takes place on a demolished Earth where violence reigns as humanity brawls for survival. Amongst them, one man uses his exceptional fighting ability to defend the weak and save the world.
Opening Shot: Inside some sort of empty palace or temple, muscular men Kenshiro (Shunsuke Takeuchi) and Shin (Kōji Yusa) ferociously fist fight to the death.
The Gist: In the 1990s, the world was struck by nuclear fires, drying up the seas, ravaging the earth, and wiping out most living things. The surviving members of civilization are left to fight for the few remaining resources, leading to a ruthless, violent society where the strong trample over the weak. One such dominant group is the Zeed biker gang, who roam on motorcycles, viciously killing anyone in their path and raiding towns for their food and water. But even they run into a mysterious, more powerful force known as “The Great Dipper,” who seemingly caused some gang members’ heads to spontaneously explode.
Around the same time, a man wanders the barren wasteland, desperate for water, leading to his capture by a rare resource-rich village. He’s sent to their prison, sharing a cell with a young thief named Bat (Daiki Yamashita), and watched over by an orphaned mute village girl named Rin (M•A•O). Despite his near-silent, serious demeanor, the man shows a tenderness towards young Rin and introduces himself as Kenshiro (Shunsuke Takeuchi). When Bat tries to steal the cell’s keys from Rin, Kenshiro protects her and uses some sort of mystical power to heal her muteness. They’re then interrupted by the village Elder, whose inquiries about Kenshiro’s true affiliations and intentions reveal the strong man’s identity as the legendary Great Dipper.
Before the Elder can investigate further, Zeed’s gang arrives to raid the village, viciously killing men, women, and children indiscriminately. With Rin in danger, Kenshiro breaks out of the jail to fight off the bikers himself, unleashing his (literally) explosive legendary martial arts style called “Hokuto Shinken.” This advanced assassination technique concentrates all the user’s energy into one fist and strikes the body’s Hidden Channeling Points, causing damage that ruptures the body from the inside out. Using his unique abilities, Kenshiro defends the oppressed and fights for justice, serving as this inhospitable, bleak world’s greatest hope for a brighter future.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Fist of the North Star might recall martial arts anime like Baki Hanma and Sakigake!! Otokojuku, or more mature seinen anime like Berserk and Vinland Saga.
Our Take: Starting with the negative, the English dub for Fist of the North Star is… not good. I lasted less than 30 seconds listening to the flat, emotionally disconnected performances before switching to the much better original Japanese voice acting. The other major negative is the show’s heavy use of 3-D CGI animation style. While the original Fist of the North Star is all hand-drawn 2-D animation, this new series mixes 2-D and 3-D styles in a way that’s sometimes jarring and odd. For some fans, the lackluster dub and uncanny CGI might be enough to convince them that this show is nothing more than a glorified video game that had no reason to exist in the first place.
However, as someone new to Fist of the North Star with no previously established emotional connection to the original manga or anime, I’m not completely put off by the odd animation decision. Sure, I don’t particularly love it, but it’s not terrible considering the full spectrum of CGI animation quality out there. Some of the fight scenes still look dynamic, and the coloring of both the 2-D and 3-D visuals was generally eye-catching, dynamic, and evocative.
The story itself is intriguing and action-packed, kicking off quickly and easily pulling viewers along for the ride, making you curious about this post-apocalyptic world and its inhabitants. This adaptation seeks to stay true to the original manga, offering a compelling alternative to the first anime’s filler, censorship, and deviations from the source material. So as long as you don’t mind the CGI, you’re still likely to enjoy this series if you loved the original manga or enjoy a mature, gory anime.
Performance Worth Watching: Bat definitely stood out for constantly running his mouth around Kenshiro in prison, only to then embarrassingly wet himself after witnessing Kenshiro’s true power. He offers some comic relief in a bleak world and is a fun juxtaposition to Kenshiro’s stoic strength and altruism.
Sex And Skin: In Episode 1, there’s no sex and just a little skin (shirtless Kenshiro). However, what makes this series geared towards mature audiences is its many moments of visceral violence and gore.
Parting Shot: Kenshiro and Bat voyage on while Rin tearfully watches their departure as she stands amongst her villagers. A post-credit scene reveals wardlord Shin (Kōji Yusa), mogging atop a skyscraper as he evilly looks out toward the ruined city below.
Sleeper Star: Shin (Kōji Yusa). He’s only in the pre- and post-credit scenes, but his smug, malevolent aura and luscious blonde locks make him memorable, and I look forward to learning more about him in future episodes.
Most Pilot-y Line: There are a few moments to choose from, but the village Elder’s stuttering, awed reaction to Kenshiro’s identity certainly stands out: “The-The Great Dipper… The stars that rule over death… Where The Great Dipper goes, chaos follows… An ill omen…”
Our Call: If you’re already a fan of the story or love violent, action-packed, and dark anime series, then you’ll find Prime Video’s remake ultimately worth a watch. While Fist of the North Star likely isn’t going to be the anime of the season or a series that can appeal to everyone, if you fall into the target audience, you should give it a shot and STREAM IT.
How To Watch Fist of the North Star
Maddy Casale is a Chicago-based writer and comedian who covers everything from animated series to Hallmark movies. Follow her on Duolingo @MCasale.