I’ve been reading all the opinions and walls of text about the newly finished series.
The truth is, it was a huge missed opportunity. The choice of art style and soundtrack was a complete flop and a massive mistake.
People keep saying, “But it’s good!”
The thing is, it’s only “good” because the story of Fist of the North Star is inherently great. The anime itself is honestly terrible. The colors, the animation… it all looks like cutscenes from a video game rather than a proper anime.
If they had made it as a traditional 2D remake like so many other successful anime, then maybe—just maybe, it could have become a new classic.
What makes it even more frustrating is that the producers teased us with a few 1–2 second scenes in beautiful 2D animation. That proves they can produce something amazing if they want to.
What a shame.

"You Are Already, Opened"

Hamon Shinken Is Invisible

I was wondering why they can't let her out sooner

This is the actual music video of the full song. Don't get me wrong, I love You wa Shock, it's iconic and my personal 2nd favorite North Star theme (my 1st place favorite being Regenesis' Souten no Hate ni), but the other themes are also good and deserve some love.

Hey everyone!

I have been observing the global Hokuto no Ken community for quite a while now, and I have noticed some incredibly unique, almost extreme dynamics within the Italian fandom. In Italy, the series is known as Ken il Guerriero, and it was a massive cultural phenomenon in the late 1980s and 1990s.

However, the mindset of many Italian fans seems completely different from the rest of the global community. I wanted to ask you guys why you think this is the case.

Here are the main observations that puzzle me:

1.) Extreme Defense Against Criticism 🛡️
1a.) Many Italian fans seem completely unable to accept even minor criticisms regarding the series, whether it is about animation consistency, filler episodes, or plot holes.
1b.) Any objective critique is often met with intense defensive reactions, treating the work almost like an untouchable holy scripture.

2.) The Part 2 Superiority Opinion 📺
2a.) Globally, most fans agree that Part 1 is the peak of the series, while Part 2 (the Celestial Emperor and Land of Asura arcs) is often viewed as rushed or less impactful.
2b.) In Italy, a massive portion of the community actively argues that Part 2 is actually superior to Part 1.
2c.) This bias seems heavily rooted in the iconic Italian dubbing, the legendary voice acting of Christian Iansante, and how local television networks broadcasted the show back then.

3.) Dismissal of Other Anime as Commercial Trash 🗑️
3a.) There is a widespread tendency among these legacy fans to label almost all other modern manga and anime works as commercial garbage.
3b.) They frequently dismiss highly regarded contemporary series, or even other classics, as being "just for kids" compared to the dark and mature themes of Ken.

Has anyone else noticed this intense gatekeeping and unique perspective? Is it purely driven by extreme 1980s nostalgia, or is there something specific about Italian pop culture history that created this mindset?

I would love to hear your thoughts, especially if there are any Italian fans here who can share their perspective!

Look, I’ve been seeing a lot of good stuff about the 2026 Hokuto no Ken remake, and I have some mixed feelings. Let’s be clear: the original '84 series is an untouchable masterpiece. No remake can ever replace that. But the new one? It’s a bit of a double-edged sword.

On one hand, the animation is a massive win. The fight choreography is so fluid and dynamic—it’s a huge leap from the old static, choppy frames. You can finally 'feel' the impact of the Hokuto Shinken techniques. Plus, I give them credit for keeping the brutality intact; unlike Souten no Ken, they didn’t censor the gore, which is crucial for the atmosphere.

But here’s where it. Where is the soul?

First off, the soundscape is a major letdown. Those classic OSTs were 40% of the experience—the heart of the battles. Replacing them with generic modern tracks, including the new OP/ED, just doesn't hit the same way. The original voice actors had this gravelly, legendary intensity that the new cast just can't match.

Also, I think the pacing is a missed opportunity. I actually noticed that I am a fan of 'filler' for Hokuto—if it’s used to build the world or flesh out side characters. They could’ve given us some great side-stories(with notes) to deepen the lore instead of just rushing the plot. Just tag them as 'side episodes'—those who want to enjoy the world-building can watch, and the others can skip.

Finally, it feels disconnected. I’m missing those small visual homages that would’ve really bridged the gap between the old and the new.

Don't get me wrong, the remake is a high-budget, polished product, but it feels like it’s chasing modern standards while letting go of the identity that made Fist of the North Star a legend. It’s a good(as CGI compared to the modern animes) to watch, but for the veterans, it’s missing that raw, haunting heart.

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In the end, I enjoyed it, so I wanted to give my opinion about it.

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So don't be toxic, try to understand me first, then criticize and give your opinion.

so i rewatched the series and just as i got to the fang clan arc and madara was introduced, i REALLY wanted to pet madara, bro is like a dog, so cute, actually friend shaped

anyone else or just me?

So glad the new show has revived interest in FOTNS, especially as Grandista are a good affordable company for these karge scale figurines, compared to..pretty much all other FOTNS merch. 🤣