Fist of the North Star Premiere Draws Mixed Reactions on Gore and CGI
The review suggests that the new adaptation's reliance on gore and shadowing may be a deliberate strategy to compensate for limited animation resources, a trade-off that could define how longtime fans and newcomers receive the series.
Reporting from 1 sources: Anime Feminist.
Anime Feminist published a review of the first two episodes of the new "Fist of the North Star" adaptation on April 14, 2026. The reviewer, who had no prior familiarity with the franchise, described the plot as a martial arts master named Kenshiro wandering a post-apocalyptic world and protecting civilians from gang violence. The review noted that the CGI animation, produced by 7STUDIO and TMS Entertainment, was limited but that the animators used shadows and dark surroundings to mask restricted character movement. The gore was described as relentless, with heads exploding, characters sliced in half, and blood splattering. The reviewer found that the violence helped obscure the limited action sequences and the awkward look of Kenshiro's martial arts moves. Female characters were criticized for being reduced to damsels in distress or sexual slavery, which the reviewer attributed to the franchise's age. The English dub was called "horrendously bad" and "downright hilarious," with a recommendation to watch in Japanese. The reviewer concluded the show was not for them but acknowledged the story had "a lot of heart."
The review from Anime Feminist, published on April 14, 2026, covers the first two episodes of the new "Fist of the North Star" adaptation. The reviewer noted that the CGI animation, handled by 7STUDIO and TMS Entertainment, was constrained by limited resources, but the team used the post-apocalyptic setting to their advantage by darkening scenes and obscuring character movements. The gore was described as extreme and constant, with the reviewer stating it helped hide the limited action sequences and the silly appearance of Kenshiro's martial arts moves. The English dub was singled out as particularly poor, with the reviewer calling it a "choice" and recommending the Japanese audio track. Female character portrayals were criticized as outdated, with roles limited to victimhood or sexual exploitation. The reviewer expressed interest in hearing from longtime fans about their reception of the adaptation. The piece was part of Anime Feminist's Spring 2026 coverage, which also included check-ins on other series like "Ichijyoma Mankitsu Gurashi!"
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Anime Feminist Fist of the North Star: HOKUTO NO KEN - Episodes 1 - 2