I’ve seen a few people mention that they are a “failure” for having not seen/read Fist of the North Star, and while I’m sure it’s just playful hyperbole because they know I’m a fan, I wanted to do a short thread on “having” to see something.

First off, don’t ever seriously judge yourself by what media you have or haven’t seen.

Consumption =/= meaningful experience

Obviously, expose yourself to as many kinds of art as possible, but don’t feel guilty over having not read something. There’s just too much out there.

In the case of Fist of the North Star specifically, it’s totally understandable if you have no experience with it. For one, it’s ancient by fandom standards. Not to mention all of the accessibility issues surrounding its licensing. We still can’t legally read the manga in 2018.

(Thankfully the anime is well-represented on streaming sites now. HnK, HnK2, the 1986 movie, DD, and Raoh gaiden are all available. So that much is solvable at least)

Now, caveats aside about judging yourself over media consumption - I HIGHLY recommend that you, dear anime fan, watch Fist of the North Star. It is without question a touchstone work in the medium.

Fist of the North Star is the Rosetta Stone of shounen fighting anime. If you like Dragonball, Jojo’s, Yu Yu Hakusho, MHA, nearly any show that involves people punching each other or anything resembling a tournament arc - then it owes something to FotNS.

It is the Ur-example, the origin point, the work that established he baseline for what Dramatic Punchmen Punching Dramatically could be. As soon as you see it, you know so much more about so many other shows.

On top of that, it is more than mere historical footnote - Fist of the North Star created a genre and nearly perfected it at the same time. The absurdity, the violence, the melodrama; you will be hard-pressed to find a stronger show.

I don’t use this avatar just for internet jokesies - I shed actual tears watching Fist of the North Star. I didn’t know it when I chortled my way through the violence of the first few episodes, but I would become emotionally (and tragically) invested - I was already dead.

So don’t force yourself to do anything just to say you’ve done it. But DO set aside time to experience one of the most important and influential works in anime, because Fist of the North Star forged the crown 30 years ago and has worn it ever since.

I meaaaaan