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| {{Split|date=August 2008}} | | {{Split|date=August 2008}} |
| ===TV series=== | | ===TV series=== |
| {{see|List of Fist of the North Star episodes}} | | {{main|TV serie}} |
| [[Image:Hokuto anime.jpg|thumb|right|TV's ''Hokuto no Ken'' title card.]]
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| [[Image:Hokuto2 anime.jpg|thumb|right|''Hokuto no Ken 2'' title card.]]
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| ''Hokuto no Ken'' was first adaptated into a weekly anime series by [[Toei Animation]]. The series aired on [[Fuji Television]] from [[October 4]], [[1984]] to [[March 5]], [[1987]] and was given the subtitle of {{nihongo|''Seikimatsu Kyūseishu Densetsu''|世紀末救世主伝説||"Legend of the Century's End Savior"}} following episode 22.<ref name=airdate>{{cite web|url=http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/lineup/tv/hokuto/|title=北斗の拳 (official Toei site)|language=Japanese|accessdate=2007-09-01}}</ref> It was immediately followed by a sequel series, titled ''Hokuto no Ken 2'', which aired from [[March 13]], [[1987]] to [[February 18]], [[1988]]. A combined total of 152 episodes were produced for the two series. Reruns are aired in Japan on the [[satellite television]] network [[Animax]].
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| The violent content of the TV series is toned down considerably compared to the original manga, with much of the gore being discolored via desaturation. Like many manga-based anime series, [[Filler (media)|filler]] material was added to prevent the series from getting ahead of its source material. | | The ''[[Hokuto no Ken]]'' manga by [[Buronson]] and [[Tetsuo Hara]] was adapted into two [[wikipedia:anime|animated]] [[animated television series|television series]] produced by [[Toei Animation]]. The original series, simply titled {{nihongo|''Hokuto no Ken''|北斗の拳|}}, lasted 109 episodes, which aired on [[Fuji TV]] from 11 October 1984 to 5 March 1987, adapting the first 136 chapters of the original manga. A sequel series, ''Hokuto no Ken 2'', took over the previous series' time slot and lasted 43 episodes, airing from 12 March 1987 to 18 February 1988, which adapts chapters 137 to 210 (the remainder of the manga was not adapted). |
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| The ''Hokuto no Ken'' portion of the series spans four major story arcs that follows the manga's plotline from the beginning and up until chapter 136 (prior to the timeskip). Each story arc (or chapters, as they referred within the show) spans a certain number of episodes each adapting a portion of the original manga. The first chapter is based on chapters 1-25 of the original manga, but changes the order of events so that Ken's battle with Shin is left for last, turning all the other villains into his subordinates. The rest of the series follows the manga's plotline more closely. The ''Hokuto no Ken 2'' portion takes place after the timeskip and adapts the storyline of the Celestial Emperor and Asura arcs of the manga. The post-Asura chapters were not adapted for the series. | | The original opening and ending themes for the series up to episode 82 are ''[[Ai o Torimodose!!]]'' (愛をとりもどせ!!, "Taking Back Love") and {{nihongo|''Yuria... Towa ni''|ユリア...永遠に||"Yuria... Forever"}}, both performed by the band [[Crystal King]]. From episodes 83 to 109, the opening and ending themes are changed to ''Silent Survivor'' and ''Dry Your Tears'' by [[Kodomo Band]]. For the ''Hokuto no Ken 2'' portion of the series (episodes 110-152), the opening and ending themes are ''Tough Boy'' and ''Love Song'' by [[Tom Cat]]. |
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| The entire series has been collected on DVD in Japan, in a boxed collection known as the ''Super Premium Box''<ref name=premiumbox>{{cite web|url=http://polydor.jp/anime/hokuto/premierbox.html|title=北斗の拳 DVD BOX|language=Japanese|accessdate=2007-08-04}}</ref> and in 26 individually released discs containing 5-6 episodes per volume.<ref name=hokutodvd>{{cite web|url=http://polydor.jp/anime/hokuto/index.html|title=北斗の拳|language=Japanese|accessdate=2007-08-04}}</ref> A three volume DVD series, the ''Kyūkyoku Retsuden'' series, contains highlight episodes of the show.<ref name=kyukyokuretsuden>{{cite web|url=http://polydor.jp/anime/hokuto/kyukyoku_1.html|title=北斗の拳 究極列伝|language=Japanese|accessdate=2007-08-04}}</ref> Prior to the DVD release of the series, Toei released three hour-long compilation episodes on [[VHS]] composed of re-edited footage from the series. Toei is currently planning an [[High-definition video|HD]] [[Remaster]] Edition of the ''Hokuto no Ken'' DVD Box Set in commemoration of the franchise's 25th anniversary. In addition to containing all 152 episodes on 26 discs, the set will also contain two additional discs of bonus content: the first bonus disc will contain all three episodes of the ''Hokuto no Ken'' Digest Edition previously released only on VHS. The second bonus disc will contain credit-less opening and closing animation, the original preview ad for the series, the first episode of ''Hokuto no Ken'' dubbed in [[Beijing dialect]] and interviews with the staff and cast of the show. The set will also come packaged with a deluxe [[booklet]] and a reproduction of a promotional ''Hokuto no Ken'' poster issued prior to the show's first airing. A Limited Edition version of the box set will also come packaged with a Kenshiro and Kokuoh figure by [[Kaiyodo]]. The box set was released on [[March 28]], [[2008]].<ref name=hdremaster>{{cite web|url=http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/dvd/hokutonoken/|title=「北斗の拳」DVD-BOX発売|language=Japanese|accessdate=2007-10-19}}</ref>
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| The first 36 episodes were licensed to [[Manga Entertainment]] and released in English dubbed and subtitled formats on [[VHS]] and [[DVD]]. Manga Entertainment initially released the series in eight VHS volumes spanning only 24 episodes in 1999 and later released all 36 episodes in five DVD volumes in 2003.<ref name=mangavideo>{{cite web|url=http://www.manga.com/history2.html|title=MANGA ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY|work=html|accessdate = 2007-09-02}}</ref> The English dub of the show features a new soundtrack provided by [[Reinforced Records]] and voice acting by [[Animaze]]. The original opening and ending sequences were replaced by in-house versions produced by Manga Entertainment with music by Mike Egan. The dubbed version aired on [[Showtime Beyond]] in the US and on the [[Sci Fi Channel (United Kingdom)|Sci-Fi Channel]] in the UK. Manga Entertainment Australia never secured the rights to release the TV Series in Australia for unknown reasons. On May 2008, Toei released English-subtitled episodes of the TV series on the internet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toei-anim.com/ondemand/fistofnorthstar.html|title=Toei OnDemand - Fist of the North Star}}</ref> The episodes are available on [[IGN]]{{'}}s pay-to-download service Direct2Drive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.direct2drive.com/Search.aspx?SearchTerm=fist%20of%20the%20north%20star|title=Direct2Drive: Fist of the North Star}}</ref>
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| Manga Entertainment's treatment of the series has been criticized by reviewers, particularly at their decision to replace the original Japanese soundtrack with their own music for the English dub. A reviewer of DVD Vision Japan stated that the English voice acting was "terrible, even for an early dub" and compared [[David Lucas]]' performance as Shin unfavorably to his role as [[Spike Spiegel]] in ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]''. The same reviewer also states that the music by Mike Egan is mediocre.<ref name=DVDvision>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdvisionjapan.com/fist1.html|title=Fist of The North Star Vol 1 DVD Review. DVD VISION JAPAN (DVD VISION)|accessdate = 2007-09-02}}</ref> Mike Toole of Anime Jump proclaimed that the drum n' bass soundtrack is "occasionally nice, but usually just obtrusive".<ref name=animejump>{{cite web|url=http://www.animejump.com/index.php?module=prodreviews&func=showcontent&id=51|title=Anime Jump (Fist of the North Star vols. 1-3)|accessdate = 2007-09-02}}</ref> Chadwick Ngan of EX Anime wrote that the "American voice actors' efforts are commendable" and that the new opening and ending themes "aren't bad, but nothing to get excited about either."<ref name=exanime>{{cite web|url=http://www.ex.org/4.5/40-anime_fistofnorthstar3.html|title=EX (FIST OF THE NORTH STAR, THE SERIES VOLUME 3)|accessdate = 2007-09-02}}</ref>
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| ===[[Hokuto no Ken (1986 movie)]]=== | | ===[[Hokuto no Ken (1986 movie)]]=== |