One of the most influential manga and anime of the 80s returns in a brand new adaptation thanks to Warner Bros. Japan. Get ready to relive one of the best anime of the 80s, Fist of the North Star, and discover everything anime fans hope to see different in this new adaptation.
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If you weren't around in the 80s, you may have missed one of the manga and anime genre's biggest influences. Hokuto no Ken (literal translation Fist of the Big Dipper), also known as Fist of the North Star, was written by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara and was one of the most important manga of the history of the genre.
Fist of the North Star was published in Weekly Shonen Jump, where almost all amazing manga debut, from 1983 to 1988. Tetuo Hara's art style was one of the most unique, intense, and gory , which really brought the martial arts and action of the story to life. Although gory and intense, Bronson's storytelling was elitist, with enough emotion and maturity to keep readers hooked on the series.
The manga was so successful that the series sold over 100 million copies, making it one of the best-selling manga of all time. The only problem readers had with the manga is that while the first half was gripping and iconic, the second half polarized fans somewhat, with some loving it and others having extreme opinions on the choices.
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What choices? The manga's authors decided to change details already established earlier in the story, completely reestablishing details. Anyone interested in a franchise with a huge fan following knows that timeline changes shouldn't be taken lightly.
As famous as it is, Fist of the North Star has been the subject of numerous anime adaptations and spin-offs over the years, allowing it to remain one of the most recognizable anime franchises, leaving a huge impact and influencing artists around the world. As always, however, there was something that bothered fans of the anime, and that was where it ended.
All anime have only adapted the manga to a certain extent, leaving the last three volumes purely as manga. Fortunately, there is a new chance for this unique animated series.
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To mark the series' 40th anniversary, Warner Bros. Japan has announced that Fist of the North Star will finally be getting a brand new anime adaptation, and the best part is that it is already in development. The company also announced that the new anime will feature a new cast. Unfortunately, the series is so new that this is the only information they wanted to share.
While Fist of the North Star has one of the most recognizable art and animation techniques, WB Japan is going to change things up with a new technique, breathing new life into this iconic anime. This attempt could go very well or very badly! Let's hope for the best and wait for the new adaptation of Fist of the North Star, one of the most iconic animated series of the 80s.