Title: DD Fist of the North Star: Complete Collection
Director: Akitaro Daichi
Studio: Ajia-do Animation Works
U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23
U. S. Release Date: April 14th, 2015
Format: Blu-ray / 26 Episodes / 325 Minutes
Genre: Comedy
Age Rating: TV 14
Overall Personal Grade: C-
Synopsis:
Highly trained in the secret martial art of Hokuto Shinken, Kenshiro has achieved such a high level of combat expertise that he can kill a man with his pinky finger. Though these skills may be useful for a wandering man trying to survive the deadly wastelands left behind by nuclear war, they’re all but useless in modern day Japan!
With an apocalypse that never happened and a less-than-desirable skill set, would-be hero Ken is stuck looking for a job just like every other unemployed schmuck in Japan. And frankly, he doesn’t interview well. Things start to look up when he stumbles across an opening at a convenience store, but unfortunately he’ll have to deal with two contentious contenders if he wants the job: his own brothers Toki and Raoh, who’re just as dimwitted and muscle-headed as the mighty Ken himself.
Commentary:
DD Fist of the NorthStar is, well how do I put this, not a very good series. I realize it is a parody of the original Fist of the North Star, but it takes on a series that is just too over the top that this comes across rather silly and a waist of talent. Now not all of it is bad, some of the humor if funny and clearly saves this series from a failing grade.
I do understand that this series also taking on some rather poor western style animation that is typically seen on Cartoon Network of even some of the other toss away cable stations. I think that is where it lost me and gave me every reason to turn it off and walk away. If it weren’t for the strong comic writing I would have saved myself several hours of pain.
Overall Grade: C-
As I watch DD Fist of the North Star I continually looked at the clock thinking to myself that I will need to watch this in small parts which plays better with the 26 15 minute episodes. Even small doses didn’t help that much. If I had not been able to laugh, and I do mean laugh at the jokes not at how bad it is I am sure that the grade would have been one of the lowest I have ever given out.
Anime is a great subset of entertainment that offers so many option. It also has several genres and styles that just flat out fail the wonder art form. Now I can say that if the creators would not have followed the poor pseudo-western art style the writing could have saved it form this underwhelming review.
Now if you are looking for a silly show that is about the base stupidity of these characters then you are in for a treat.
