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Fist of the North Star

Original title: Hokuto no Ken
  • 1986
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
7K
YOUR RATING
Fist of the North Star (1986)
A practitioner of the deadly martial art "Hokuto Shinken" allies with two children and an expert in "Nanto Suicho-Ken" to fight against the rivals who kidnapped his lover and threaten the prosperity of mankind.
Play trailer2:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
AnimationActionDrama

In a post-nuclear hellscape, a master of the deadly martial art "Hokuto Shinken" allies with two kids and an expert in "Nanto Suicho-Ken" to battle the tyrants who kidnapped his lover.In a post-nuclear hellscape, a master of the deadly martial art "Hokuto Shinken" allies with two kids and an expert in "Nanto Suicho-Ken" to battle the tyrants who kidnapped his lover.In a post-nuclear hellscape, a master of the deadly martial art "Hokuto Shinken" allies with two kids and an expert in "Nanto Suicho-Ken" to battle the tyrants who kidnapped his lover.

  • Director
    • Toyoo Ashida
  • Writers
    • Buronson
    • Tetsuo Hara
    • Susumu Takaku
  • Stars
    • Akira Kamiya
    • Yuriko Yamamoto
    • Kenji Utsumi
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Toyoo Ashida
    • Writers
      • Buronson
      • Tetsuo Hara
      • Susumu Takaku
    • Stars
      • Akira Kamiya
      • Yuriko Yamamoto
      • Kenji Utsumi
    • 48User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:31
    Watch Trailer

    Photos156

    Fist of the North Star (1986)
    Fist of the North Star (1986)
    Fist of the North Star (1986)
    Fist of the North Star (1986)
    Fist of the North Star (1986)
    Fist of the North Star (1986)
    Fist of the North Star (1986)
    Fist of the North Star (1986)
    Fist of the North Star (1986)
    Fist of the North Star (1986)
    Fist of the North Star (1986)
    Fist of the North Star (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Akira Kamiya
    Akira Kamiya
    • Kenshiro
    • (voice)
    Yuriko Yamamoto
    Yuriko Yamamoto
    • Yuria
    • (voice)
    Kenji Utsumi
    Kenji Utsumi
    • Raoh
    • (voice)
    Chikao Ôtsuka
    Chikao Ôtsuka
    • Jagi
    • (voice)
    • (as Chikao Ohtsuka)
    Toshio Furukawa
    Toshio Furukawa
    • Shin
    • (voice)
    Kaneto Shiozawa
    Kaneto Shiozawa
    • Rei
    • (voice)
    Tomiko Suzuki
    Tomiko Suzuki
    • Lin
    • (voice)
    Teiyû Ichiryûsai
    • Bat
    • (voice)
    • (as Mie Suzuki)
    Arisa Andô
    • Airi
    • (voice)
    Junji Chiba
    • Ryuken
    • (voice)
    Hidekatsu Shibata
    • Zeed
    • (voice)
    Junpei Takiguchi
    • Heart
    • (voice)
    Takeshi Aono
    Takeshi Aono
    • Fox
    • (voice)
    Hiroshi Ôtake
    • Jackal
    • (voice)
    Daisuke Gôri
    • Uyghur
    • (voice)
    Takeshi Watabe
    • Kiba Daioh
    • (voice)
    Jôji Yanami
    Jôji Yanami
    • Galf
    • (voice)
    Kôhei Miyauchi
    Kôhei Miyauchi
    • Elder Ukoku
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • Toyoo Ashida
    • Writers
      • Buronson
      • Tetsuo Hara
      • Susumu Takaku
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Vampire Hunter D of the 1985 anime movie of the same name makes a cameo appearance as a villager in the scene where Raoh's second-in-command, Uighur, reveals the pot of flowers to the people. Toyoo Ashida, the director of the film, directed Vampire Hunter D one year prior to directing the anime Hokuto No Ken movie.
    • Goofs
      At one point during his fight with Raoh, Kenshiro's arm bands are back on even though moments earlier they ripped off when he activates his Hokuto Shinken, a moment later they vanish again.
    • Quotes

      Ken-Ô: [Opening the doors] Ryûken, the fist of the north star has been defeated. Shin crushed him as he would an insect. When you chose Ken as your successor, I told you that it should have been me and I was right! Stand up, I'll prove it to you! I challenge you to a test of strenght!

      Ryûken: Physical strenght is no substitute for perception. For perception is the key which unlocks the intangible powers of the spirit. You perceive nothing.

      Ken-Ô: You silly old fool. Stop hiding behind your metaphors and metaphysical fantasies. The fist of the north star is dead!

      Ryûken: Your point?

      Ken-Ô: Don't you understand? Now I'm fist of the north star!

      [Breaking havoc]

      Ken-Ô: My power is greater than ever before. No one can stand against me.

      Ryûken: May be, but you see, power without perception is virtually useless and therefore of no true value!

      Ken-Ô: Useless? hehe. Ryûken, what a foolish old man you are. Any tool is useful if you know how to use it, and I have become an expert. Watch! Admit it. At this moment, I'm more powerful than you ever were. I am fist of the north star.

      Ryûken: I don't agree and I never shall. Go and do what you must Raoh but never set foot in this dojo again!

    • Alternate versions
      Two endings were produced for the final fight between Kenshirô and Raô. In the Japanese theatrical cut of the film, Raô emerges victorious over Ken, but decides to spare him at Lin's request. An alternate ending was then featured in the Japanese home video (VHS and laserdisc) release which features Kenshirô and Raô ending the fight in a draw. All of the overseas dubs (including English Streamline Pictures dub) are based on the theatrical cut and thus, uses the "Raô wins" ending. Many foreign fans believe that the "Draw" ending is the original ending, but this is a common misconception since the "Raô wins" ending is not in any of the Japanese home video releases. The Korean DVD edition features "Raô wins" with its original Japanese soundtrack.
    • Connections
      Featured in Mean & Mercenary (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Heart of Madness
      Written by Tsuyoshi Ujiki

      Performed by Kodomo Band

    User reviews48

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    The best Fist Of The North Star there is
    I've just got through watching the first 36 episodes of the TV series of Fist Of The North Star on DVD and until a couple of days ago i thought the TV series came after the movie. The movie comes after the TV series. I have to admit that even though the series has more info and detail about the fighting styles etc i think that the movie is slightly better. It has better animation, better voice acting (in English) and is less repetitive. I watched the movie just over ten years ago and was quite literally blown away by it. It has action, adventure, comedy, gore, thrills, spills and for those people disgusted by the sex scenes in Urotsukidoji you'll be happy to know that FOTNS is sex free.

    FOTNS is obviously to some extent based on Mad Max but a heck of a lot better. Only thing that bugs me (just like the series) is that the gore scenes are usually blurred or we see peoples shadows exploding. Kind of annoying. Also there seems that there are a few gaps in it which makes me wonder if there has been a scene or two edited out or cut down (atleast in the UK version).

    I'll quickly give a brief summary of the story. It's about a guy called Ken who must get his girlfriend back from his former best friend Shin who beat up Ken, kidnapped his girlfriend and left him for dead. Ken walks through the barren wasteland (it's set after a nuclear war) and kills bad guys with his style of fighting. If he punches anybody they explode shortly after. In the meantime his eldest brother Raoh has amassed an army and is trying to conquer the world. There are also a couple of sub plots. One has this guy called Rei (or Ray?) looking for his sister and is also looking for the guy responsible for kidnapping her.

    All this leads to an explosive finale. Fist Of The North Star along with Urotsukidoji is my favourite Japanese anime movie of all time. A definite must see but avoid the American live action film. That sucked the big one for sure. This great anime gets a perfect 10/10 from me.
    helpful•31
    6
    • fibreoptic
    • Jan 15, 2005

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    FAQ3

    • Is Fist of the North Star based on a book?
    • How many endings are there?
    • Is there a uncensored version? All the gory violent scenes have funny colors!

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 27, 1991 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Fist of the Big Dipper
    • Production companies
      • Toei Animation
      • Toei Doga
      • Toei Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1(original ratio)

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