The first two episodes of the new Hokuto no Ken Fist of the North Star adaptation are available since April 10, 2026 on Prime Video. After months of controversy over the CGI and three years of waiting since the announcement, Kenshiro is finally back. Here is our review.
Two versions: censored or uncensored
An important point to note before we begin: there are two versions of the anime. On Prime Video, the series is broadcast in an uncensored version: the violence, blood splashes, and bodies exploding from the inside are depicted without any filter. On the Japanese channels Tokyo MX and BS11, a “light” version is offered with toned-down graphic effects. In France, only the uncensored Prime Video version is available, in VOSTFR and in French dub. This is good news for longtime fans accustomed to the ultra-violence of the original manga.
What happens in episodes 1 and 2 of Hokuto no Ken
Episode 1 throws us right into the thick of things: Kenshiro gets captured and thrown into a cell with Bat, a young thief with a sharp tongue. A little girl, Lin, who is mute, secretly brings them water. Outside, the gang of Zeed (voiced by Kenji Nomura in the original Japanese) learns that his men have been eliminated from within. The final confrontation between Kenshiro and Zeed is a first display of bravery: Hokuto Shinken technique in full action, fatal countdown, unapologetically gory explosion.
Episode 2, also available at launch, shows Kenshiro and Bat crossing the desolate lands, where they see Misumi (played by Jun Urayama) being pursued by the KING gang for his precious bag of seeds. The arrival of the character Spade (played by Taketora) marks the beginning of the Shin arc.
The narrative faithfully follows the original manga by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara, with a few additions specific to the anime to enrich the action scenes.
The CGI: the major problem
This is the point that had divided fans since the first trailer in July 2025. Across the episodes aired, the result is very mixed. The work on lighting and textures is undeniably successful: the post-apocalyptic world created by TMS Entertainment is believable, arid, and oppressive. The graphic violence is more intense than in the original Toei series.
Where it falls short is in the facial animations and CGI combat. The characters lack expressiveness in dialogue scenes, with lip movements sometimes out of sync. This is clearly the weak point of the production, one that recalls the flaws of the CGI adaptation of Berserk in 2016 or Fist of the Blue Sky Regenesis.
Toshi’s ending: the pleasant surprise
The real surprise of the evening of April 10 was the ending. Kept secret until the end of the first episode, it revealed that Toshi, the singer of X Japan, performs a cover of Ai wo Torimodose!!, the legendary opening theme of the original 1984 anime, by Crystal King. Toshi was 19 years old when it first aired on Fuji TV. In his official comment, he shared that he put all his determination into every note of this cover. On Japanese social media, the reaction was overwhelming, and many fans praised this choice as a perfect tribute to the original work.
Our verdict
These first two episodes do what they need to do: establish the universe, showcase Kenshiro in all his power, and make you want to see what comes next. The CGI will remain a point of contention for purists, but the spirit of the manga by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara is respected. Episodes 3 and 4 will be available on April 17, with a weekly schedule every Friday on Prime Video for upcoming episodes.
