Let me take you back to a time before rent-seeking cargo cultists prowled the animation industry shaking down studios. When anime was drawn on cells with rich, hand-mixed paint.
Before the dead-eyed, pastel times; before Ground Zero.
In those bad old analog days, if you wanted to watch anime, you had to order VHS tapes from the Right Stuf catalog or buy nth generation copies from shady dealers at comic book conventions. Otherwise, some of the kids’ stuff would be recut and redubbed for weekday morning TV. And the rare big boy movie would make its way onto late night cable – heavily censored, or course.
But that was pretty much it. There was no concept of binge-watching whole series, much less consuming any show you wanted on demand. If you were lucky, three of your friends could cobble together all the tapes in a season of one show. Even then, the odds of making it through a complete viewing without falling prey to perpetual episode one syndrome were long.
Back in the 80s and early 90s, being an otaku took dedication and effort in return for a much smaller quantity of the reward.
And the hobby was better – not just in degree, but in kind – than the digipainted, corporate risk-averse, samey, sanitized product that floods the scene today.
For those who have only known anime as Gundam/Eva clone mecha, by-the-numbers isekai, and cute girls doing cute things, behold! I give you an exemplar of the vivid, visceral, and downright visionary works of art that could only come out of the Japanese Bubble Economy: 1986’s dystopian martial arts gore circus Fist of the North Star.
Notorious for its intense action sequences and post-apocalyptic visuals, the film is an adaptation of the manga of the same name. And while it may not be a one-to-0ne reproduction of the comics, this animated movie does capture the brutal essence of the source material.
The storyline revolves around Kenshiro, a martial artist with devastatingly powerful techniques, on a quest for justice in a world ravaged by nuclear war. His stoic demeanor and unwavering dedication make him one of the most compelling anime protagonists of all time.
And the villains offer menace to match, standing athwart Ken’s path with unique martial arts styles and vicious personalities. The clashes between Kenshiro and his adversaries are choreographed with precision, delivering exhilarating fight scenes that still stand as a high bar of anime action. The film makers went so far as to study anatomy to lend a grisly sense of reality to the animated violence.
In terms of animation style, Fist of the North Star maintains a raw, gritty quality that complements its harsh setting. The character designs, especially Kenshiro’s iconic look, cement the film’s visual appeal. Any given frame of this movie is still instantly recognizable, even today.
Another element that recommends Fist of the North Star over today’s cleverness-before-clarity anime is its straightforward plot. You’ll find no convoluted mystery boxes or continually opening yet never closing character arcs here. Instead, we get a hero out to rescue the woman he loves from proper villains. It’s a timeless story ripped right out of the pulps. And the intense 1980s action sets the movie apart as its own animal.
Not that Fist of the North Star is a mindless gorefest. Its blood ‘n’ guts style conceals deep themes of power, justice, and the worldwide consequences of chaos. The post-apocalyptic setting provides a devastating canvas for these themes, with the struggle for survival creating a harsh backdrop for the characters’ moral dilemmas.
The pacing is another aspect of the film that doesn’t get enough credit. Complementing intense action with moments of reflection and character development, the narrative deftly balances external and internal conflict. Kenshiro’s quest entails more than physical prowess; it’s a journey of self-discovery and redemption. As its hero confronts the challenges of the wasteland, the film delves into the human condition, examining how individuals cope with loss, betrayal, and the harsh realities of a lawless world.
To say that Fist of the North Star has aged gracefully would be a gross understatement. More than a cult classic, stills from it deserve pride of place in any encyclopedia entry for anime. Its influence can still be felt today, and its impact on the action genre at large is undeniable.
For fans of intense martial arts battles, gripping post-apocalyptic settings, and timeless themes, Fist of the North Star is a must-watch. You can’t call yourself an otaku if you haven’t seen it at least once. So get on it!
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Is there a definitive disc collection available on Amazon?
The one upside to life in the 2020s is the ability to purchase complete, physical collections of old movies and anime. It’s how I snagged a Blu-Ray of Miyazaki’s Castle in the Sky that lets you watch the modern Disney dub with the original 80s OST.
Discotek put out the complete original anime series in one SD on Blu-Ray set. What they do is use Blu-Ray’s increased storage space to put as much standard definition material in as few discs as possible for lower cost. It’s probably the cheapest way the anime will ever be available. I really don’t see it getting a HD remaster, especially with a new anime adaption on the way.
That’s fine with me. The competency crisis has soured my perception of “HD remasters” anyway.
You Wa Shock!!
That theme is so catchy I swear.
The soundtrack is one exemplary aspect of the movie I am remiss for not having mentioned.
FotNS is a stone cold classic. Viz is currently releasing the original manga over here in deluxe hardcover editions (finally) after years of the series never quite getting the respect it deserved.
It’s very reminiscent of the old era of Shonen Jump before Dragon Ball changed it, the one FotNS helped define with the likes of City Hunter and Cobra. Hard-boiled action and adventure in a world fraught with peril. This style still exists today (I would say the recent surprise success of Kagurabachi has its roots in this era) but it’s clearly no longer what people expect from the magazine.
Regardless, I cannot recommend FotNS enough. It’s easily one of my favorite manga series.
Fun fact: Writer Buronson’s nom de plume comes from cinematic legend Charles Bronson. That influence is probably more obvious with his previous Shonen Jump series “Doberman Deka” (Doberman Cop) which was made into a movie staring Sonny Chiba.
All told, the industry’s transition from borderline exploitation-style fare to material with broader appeal was a positive development. It showed that anime had grown from a niche into a mature market with something for everyone.
If I had one wish, though, it would be for the industry to stop playing it so safe (they’ve got, what, half of the world’s top ten brands?) and make the occasional throwback to OGs who’ve been there from the start.
Shonen Jump has actually been having a bit of difficulty getting new adventure series off the ground recently, despite One Piece, My Hero Academia, and Jujutsu Kaisen, all in various stages of their final arcs as we speak. The Demon Slayer anime even took off when said manga itself was already ending. Kagurabachi’s recent bid to present a stoic hero ala John Wick in a revenge story covered in magic swords and sorcery seems to have worked out so far with its first volume printing selling out with stock problems in the first week is a good sign, but it’s only one series. Eventually they are going to have to replace their cash cows.
For my money I think the online Jump Plus app is currently putting out more interesting series that don’t have to rigidly fall into modern formulas to succeed. The recent hits Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku and Spy X Family, as well as the upcoming Dandadan and Kaiju No. 8 emerged from the app and almost certainly would not have survived if they ran in the magazine. I’m also partial to Heart Gear which definitely feels like a throwback to the era of mysterious lone wanderer protags from back in the mid to late 90s.
It feels like in Japan, as in NewPub, they are quickly learning that allowing creatives to flourish and giving them a platform to succeed in is the ticket.
I would also recommend looking into No Gun’s Life if you haven’t. It’s very much the type of old school series I’m surprised was made, and I think it’s right up your alley.
Space Adventure Cobra?
I like these kinds of anime the best. The childish look to a lot of modern anime turns me off. The 80s and 90s had the best looking anime. There are some gems still being produced though, such as Kengan Ashura which is more than can be said about western media and animation.
Will have to watch this. These older anime had something really special to them… I watched a bunch for the first time recently: Wicked City, Cyber City Oedo 808, and Angel Cop.
Every shot seems deliberately created with a careful attention to light, shadow, perspective, composition, framing, and color.
The characters are also way more badass… and just plain cool.
Modern anime doesn’t compare in the slightest. And I say that as someone who’s watching this older stuff for the first time, so no rose-colored glasses.
Thanks for the impartial perspective. With all the gaslighting the Pop Cult does, it’s good to hear I’m not just out to lunch on this.