Fist of the North Star
Fist of the North Star ( Japanese 北斗 の 拳 , Hokuto no Ken ) is a manga by the Japanese illustrator Tetsuo Hara and the author Buronson , which was published in Japan from 1983 to 1988. The work was adapted and continued in several animes and other mangas.
The manga can be classified into the genres of action , adventure , science fiction and drama .
action
After a nuclear war, the world is largely devastated and most of the survivors live as farmers, but life is tough. In addition, gangs roam the world that oppress other people. The fighter Kenshiro, who has mastered the art of Hokuto Shinken , has set himself the goal of protecting the weak. He is accompanied by the young thief Bat and the orphan Lin. On his travels he fights against the gangs again and again, but his real goal is his brother Raoh, who wants to conquer the world with the art of Hokuto Shinken . Finally, Kenshiro can defeat him too.
Many years later he fought against the army of Governor Jakoh, together with Bat and Lin, who also command an army. After her victory, Lin is kidnapped and Kenshiro must travel to the land of Shura to save her. There he meets the ruler Kaioh, who, with the technique of Hokuto Ryūken, has mastered one of his equals. After Kenshiro has also defeated Kaioh, he takes on Raoh's son Ryu as his apprentice.
publication
The manga was published from 1983 to 1988 in the manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump published by Shueisha . The individual chapters were later published in 27 edited volumes . During the 1990s, a second edition followed in 15 Aizōban volumes. Further editions followed by the Shogakukan publishing house .
In 1989 Viz published the first chapters of the manga in 16 issues in the USA. Another 25 issues followed from 1995 to 1997. A French version was initially published by J'ai lu , and from 2008 by Asuka Comics . A German version of the first eight volumes was published by Planet Manga from May to December 2003 .
Adaptations
Anime
| Television series | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Hokuto no Ken |
 | |
| Country of production |
 Japan
|
| original language | Japanese |
| Year (s) | 1984-1988 |
| length | 25 minutes |
| Episodes | 152 in 6 seasons |
| genre | Action , adventure , science fiction , drama |
| idea | Buronson, Tetsuo Hara |
| production | Yoshio Takami |
| music | Nozomi Aoki |
| First broadcast | Oct. 4, 1984 - February 18, 1988 on Fuji TV |
From 1984 to 1988 the Toei Animation studio produced an anime television series based on the manga, directed by Toyoo Ashida . The character design was created by Masami Suda . The series was broadcast from October 4, 1984 to February 18, 1988 by the channel Fuji TV in Japan, from March 13, 1987 as the second season Hokuto no Ken 2 .
The first season with 109 episodes was broadcast on television in English, Italian and French and also translated into Arabic. There is an Italian version for the second season. In Italy and France, this anime was broadcast during the daytime program. The series and the anime genre in general met with strong criticism, which had an impact on the broadcasting policy of anime in these countries.
1986 came to the series the film Seikimatsu Kyūseishu Densetsu Hokuto no Ken in the cinemas, which tells an alternative plot. The 110-minute film was translated into English, French, Italian and German, among others.
In 2003 the three-part remake New Fist of the North Star ( 新 ・ 北斗 の 拳 , Shin Hokuto no Ken ) was released as OVA , which was broadcast on German pay TV in 2007. A five-part film series followed from 2006 to 2008:
| Parts | title |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | Fist of the North Star - Legend of Raoh - Death for Love |
| Part 2 | Fist of the North Star - Legend of Yuria |
| part 3 | Fist of the North Star - Legend of Raoh - Fierce Fight |
| Part 4 | Fist of the North Star - Legend of Toki |
| Part 5 | Fist of the North Star - Legend of Kenshiro |
The spin-off DD Fist of the North Star (DD 北斗 の 拳, DD Hokuto no Ken ) was released from 2013 to 2015 . Consists of 13 episodes and a second season with 12 more episodes.
synchronization
| role | Japanese speaker ( seiyū ) |
|---|---|
| Kenshiro | Akira Kamiya |
| Airi | Arisa Ando |
| Souther | Banjō Ginga |
music
The music in the series was composed by Nozomi Aoki . Crystal King delivered the opening credits Ai wo Torimodose !! (愛 を と り も ど せ !!) and the first final title Yuria… Eien ni (ユ リ ア… 永遠 に). The second opening credits Silent Survivor and credits Dry Your Tears are by Kodomo Band. The opening credits of the second season are Tough Boy by TOM * CAT (TOM ★ CAT), the credits are Love Song by TOM * CAT and in the last episode Yuria… Eien ni .
Sōten no Ken
The adaptation Sōten no Ken by Buronson and Nobuhiko Horie has been published in Comic Bunch magazine since 2001 . The manga has also been translated into English and French.
In 2006, a 26-part anime adaptation of the manga was produced under the direction of Yoshihiro Yamaguchi . The series aired October 4, 2006 through March 13, 2007 on TV Asahi .
Ten no Haō: Hokuto no Ken Raō Gaiden
From March 2006 to March 2007, the adaptation Ten no Haoh - Hokuto no Ken Raoh Gaiden ( 天 の 覇王 北斗 の 拳 ラ オ ウ 外 伝 ) by Youkow Osada was published in the magazine Comic Bunch . The manga comprises a total of five volumes and was published in French by Asuka Comics and in Chinese in Taiwan by Tong Li .
In 2008, the Satelight studio produced an anime television series based on the manga, which aired from October 2 to December 25, 2008 on Tokyo MX , TV Aichi and TV Osaka . Directed by Masashi Abe .
Real film
In 1995, the real- life film Fist of the North Star - The Redeemer (director: Tony Randel ) was released in cinemas. The 106-minute film was also translated into English, Spanish and German.
reception
The work is considered one of the cruelest and most violent of the martial arts genre.
Nevertheless, the manga by Alexander Tahl is called a classic at splashcomics , which fans of the genre can definitely recommend. The “eternal bursting bodies” would not be for every reader, however, the manga is not particularly suitable for the younger audience. However, the fights often follow the same pattern and the action is very much in the foreground. According to the magazine Funime, the anime also offers a lot of violence and injuries, but also a deep story for the genre in an apocalyptic world.
Individual evidence
- ^ Imfernsehen GmbH & Co. KG: New Fist of the North Star. Retrieved June 23, 2018 (German).
- ↑ imfernsehen GmbH & Co. KG: DD Fist of the North Star. Retrieved June 23, 2018 (German).
- ↑ Patrick Drazen: Anime Explosion! - The What? Why? & Wow! of Japanese Animation pp. 317, 350. Stone Bridge Press, 2002.
- ^ Paul Gravett: Manga - Sixty Years of Japanese Comics , p. 58. Egmont Manga and Anime, 2004.
- ↑ Review by Alexander Tahl on volume 1 at splashcomics
- ↑ Funime No. 40 p. 36
Web links
- German comic guide about the manga
- Anime News Network about the manga and first anime (English)