In addition to the
original manga, there have also been various
Derivative Works,
Spin Offs, and adaptations:
- Fist of the North Star - A weekly Animated Adaptation by Toei Animation that aired from 1984 to 1988. The series follows the manga's storyline closely for the most parts, with plenty of filler material added to prevent it from
overtaking the original source. In Japan, the anime actually aired under two titles: the original Hokuto no Ken (109 episodes, covering the first half of the manga all the way to the final conflict with Raoh) and Hokuto no Ken 2 (43 episodes covering the Celestial Emperor and Land of Shura arcs). The first 36 episodes were dubbed during the late 1990s by Manga Entertainment and shown on Showtime Beyond and Sci-Fi Channel UK. The remainder was released subbed-only via digital distribution and is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray note In Standard Definition, with all 152 episodes across 3 Blu-ray discs by Discotek Media. - Fist of the North Star: The Movie - A 1986 animated film by Toei that loosely follows the manga's storyline from Kenshiro's origin story on how he got his seven scars to his first battle with Raoh. Many English-speaking anime fans were first exposed to the franchise in the form of its English dub by Streamline Pictures released during the early 1990s. It too is available on DVD and Blu-ray from Discotek.
- New Fist of the North Star (Shin Hokuto no Ken) - A three-part OVA series released between 2003 and 2004 set years after the end of the original manga. The story is actually an adaptation of a Hokuto no Ken novel which Buronson and Hara published in 1995. The series was released by ADV Films during the mid 2000s.
- The Legends of the True Savior (Shin Kyuseishu Densetsu) - A five-part movie/OVA series produced between 2006 and 2008 that serves as remakes/side-stories of the original manga.
- Legend of Raoh: Chapter of Love in Death (Jun'ai no Shō; 2006 movie) - Focuses on the Holy Emperor (Seitei) arc regarding the conflict between Kenshiro and Souther, but primarily seen through Raoh's perspective. This film also introduced Canon Foreigners Reina and her brother Souga, who would reappear in future Fist of the North Star material.
- Legend of Yuria (2007 OVA) - Seen from Yuria's point-of-view, this OVA details her origins and first encounter with Kenshiro to her ascendency to become the Last General of Nanto.
- Legend of Raoh: Chapter of Fierce Fighting (Gekitō no Shō; 2007 movie) - A follow-up to Chapter of Love in Death, this movie covers the Last General of Nanto arc, leading to the final bout between Kenshiro and Raoh. Like the preceding film, much of the narrative is focused on Raoh.
- Legend of Toki (2008 OVA) - Centered around Toki, another of Kenshiro's adoptive brothers trained in Hokuto Shinken, the OVA covers his origins, imprisonment at Cassandra and his duel with Raoh. This OVA introduces another Canon Foreigner Sara, a medical doctor who diagnosed Toki of his failing health from radiation poisoning and assists him in his quest to use Hokuto Shinken as a healing technique rather than an assassination art.
- Legend of Kenshiro (2008 movie) - Effectively a Prequel to the manga, this film tells of the events following Yuria's kidnapping by Shin to Kenshiro's first meeting with Bat and Lin.
- DD Fist of the North Star - A complete shift in tone, characters are portrayed as not-all-there Super-Deformed younger men in modern day Japan fighting not for the wasteland, but for a part-time position in a grocery store (and Yuria's heart). It features Kenshiro, Toki, Raoh and countless other post-apocalyptic thugs transplanted into a sitcom.
- Fist of the Blue Sky (Souten no Ken) - A 22-volume manga prequel series starring Kenshiro's uncle and namesake, Kenshiro Kasumi. Set during the mid-1900s before the nuclear war in Shanghai, it was adapted into a short-lived anime in 2006 and a 12 episode 3D series in 2018 (with the subtitle Regenesis).
- Legends of the Dark King (Ten no Haoh) - A 5-volume manga spinoff starring Raoh that was adapted into an anime in 2008, Legends of the Dark King expands on Raoh following the post-apocalypse and his rise to power as the "King of Fists" (Ken-oh), with assistance from his childhood friends Reina and Souga.
- Soukoku no Garou ("Bloody Wolf's Darkness Blue") - A 6-volume manga spinoff released in 2006 starring Rei, Soukoku no Garou details his origins and his quest to find his missing sister Airi before his first meeting with Kenshiro.
- Shirogane no Seija ("Silvery Savior") - Released in 2007 in 6-volumes, this manga spinoff features Toki and his attendant Ramo, and their founding of the "Village of Miracles" where Toki heals the sick and wounded with his knowledge of Hokuto Shinken, before his introduction in the manga.
- Jibo no Hoshi ("The Merciful Mother Star") - A one-volume manga spinoff released in 2006, it features Yuria and the events surrounding her before the nuclear war.
- Flower of Carnage (Gokuaku no Hana) - Another manga released in 2008, this 2-volume spinoff stars Jagi, another disciple of Hokuto Shinken and adoptive brother to Kenshiro, Toki and Raoh, under the tutelage of their master Ryuken.
- Houkou no Kumo ("Way of the Clouds") - A 2010 manga spinoff released in 2 volumes starring Jyuza, following his adventures during the post-apocalypse.
- Ryuken Gaiden: The Judgement Day ("Ryuken’s Story: The Judgement Day) - A one-shot prequel chapter, it is centered around Ryuken and how he chose the Hokuto Shinken successor and the events related to it.
- Hokuto no Ken: Ichigo Aji (“Starberry-Flavored Fist of the North Star”) - A comedy spin-off starring Thouzer which debuted in 2013. It features serious and detailed art inspired by Tetsuo Hara recreated by Yukito Imouto, set in absurdly funny situations where the originally cruel and devoid of compassion Thouzer is presented as a guy who just wants to make friends with Kenshiro and have fun with his Nanto Seiken companions. An anime adaptation was produced as end segments of the second season of DD Hokuto no Ken.
- Hokuto no Ken: Seikimatsu Drama Satsuei-den (“Fist of the North Star: Post-Apocalyptic Live-Action Shooting Biography”) - Debuting in 2021, this spin-off manga by Hiroshi Kurao goes full circle in recognizing just how much the original manga by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara took inspiration from movies and TV shows at the time, particularly the action movie boom during the early-mid '80s; as such this series reimagines all the known events and characters as an actual TV show production with the eponymous cast being actors, not post-apocalyptic warriors. The story invites the audience to know about the backstage of said production.
- Fist of the North Star: Twin Blue Stars of Judgment - a 2D fighting game developed by Arc System Works released in arcades and on PS2 in 2005. The arcade version received a limited release overseas, but the PS2 port was never released outside of Japan.
- Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage (Hokuto Musou) - A 3D brawler developed by Koei Tecmo and released on PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2010. The game adapts the events of the original manga up through the final battle with Raoh, and includes a "Dream Mode" that portray a variety of alternate events in the series' story. A sequel was released in 2012 on PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U which covered the entire manga's story from beginning to end.
- Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (Hokuto ga Gotoku) - A 3D action-RPG published by Sega, released on PS4 in 2018. Done in the style of Sega's Like a Dragon series, this game follows an Alternate Continuity which sees Kenshiro's journey to find Yuria lead him to the post-apocalyptic city of Eden.
- Fist of the North Star - An American film adaptation released in 1995 that loosely adapts the events of the Southern Cross story arc.
- Fist of the North Star: Legends ReVIVE - A RPG for mobile devices.
- Two unofficial adaptations: one made in Korea
and another in Taiwan - Fighting Mania: Fist of the North Star (Punch Mania: Hokuto no Ken) - An Arcade Game by Konami released in 2000. The cabinet features six pads that pop out and the player must time their hits to hit the pads as they light up to attack the opponent (similar to a Rhythm Gamenote Konami had been making a bunch of other "Mania" games at the time, but without timing the hits to the music); incorrect timing will either reduce damage inflicted to the opponent or cause damage to the player. This game features a training course for beginners, as well as multiple standard courses based on various story arcs.
- Punch Mania: Hokuto no Ken 2 - Released exclusively in Japan later in the same year, this game features more courses that cover later arcs and two cabinets can be linked up for 2-player versus play.
- Fitness Boxing Fist of the North Star, a License-Added Game in the hybrid excercise and Rhythm Game series, released for the Nintendo Switch released in 2023.
