New Fist of the North Star
A post-nuclear wasteland water war draws Kenshiro into conflict.
New Fist of the North Star is a three-episode original video animation series based on the Fist of the North Star franchise, directed by Takashi Watanabe and produced by OB Planning. The story adapts a 1996 novel by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara set after the original manga. An English dub was produced by ADV Films in 2004.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Martial arts, Post-apocalyptic
Facts from the source article.
Plot
In the 21st century, nuclear war has turned the Earth into a desert wasteland and contaminated its water supply. Sanga rules the fortified Last Land as a dictator by monopolizing uncontaminated water. When neighboring Freedom Village attempts to dig a well, Sanga sends underlings to sabotage them. Kenshiro becomes involved after saving Tobi, an informant hired by Freedom Village.
Characters
Kenshiro is the successor of Hokuto Shinken who gets involved after saving Tobi. Tobi is a wandering adventurer who provides intelligence services; he was searching for his brother Bista. Bista, also known as Doha, is Tobi's amnesiac younger brother who was taken by Sanga and presented as a god to the people of Last Land; his amnesia was healed by Sara through acupressure. Sara is a healer in Freedom Village who uses a healing art passed down from her parents that utilizes the body's keiraku hikō points; her life was saved by Seiji when attacked by a feral dog. Sanga is the manipulative dictator of Last Land who acted cruelly toward his son Seiji to make him stronger; he was killed by Kenshiro near the end of the first episode. Seiji, an oathbreaker of the Hokumon temple, took over Last Land while Kenshiro was away; he learned all secrets of Hokumon No Ken in less than three years and later committed suicide by pressing a fatal point. Toki, Kenshiro's second eldest brother, appears in a flashback intending to use Hokuto Shinken as a healing art. Ryu, Raoh's orphaned son whom Kenshiro intends to train as his successor, and Kokuoh, Kenshiro's deceased horse, also appear in flashbacks.
Reception
The OVA achieved a 200% return on investment in DVD sales, with overseas sales exceeding domestic sales. The ADV Films dub received positive reviews. Chris Wood of Toon Zone found the story adequate to support the action. Mike Toole of Anime Jump called it flashy and cheap but rewarding. Chris Beveridge of AnimeOnDVD.com was pleased with the first episode but felt the second could have been better written and the third unnecessary, suggesting the trilogy needed streamlining.
Elsewhere in Fist of the North Star
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