The appeal and reviews of "Fist of the North Star: Raoh Gaiden: Heavenly Overlord": A new story of the legendary overlord

Fist of the North Star: Raoh Gaiden: Heavenly Overlord - Review and Recommendation

Overview

"Fist of the North Star: Raoh Gaiden: Heavenly King" is a TV anime series that aired in 2008, based on the manga "Fist of the North Star" by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara. The series focuses on the story of Raoh's younger days, which was not depicted in the original work, and depicts the process by which Raoh becomes the "King of Fists." It consists of 13 episodes and was broadcast on TV Aichi, TOKYO MX, TV Osaka, and Kids Station.

■ Story

In a world devastated by nuclear war, the end of the century is a time when power is king. As a master of the Hokuto Shinken martial art, Raoh calls himself "Ken-oh" in pursuit of his own path of domination, and conquers the warlords. This story depicts Raoh's exploits in his younger days, tracing his encounter with Kokuoh-go and the process of establishing the Ken-oh Army with his strategists Souga and Reina. It also depicts his feud with his second brother Toki and his fierce battle with Souther, delving deeply into the path of domination that Raoh sought and the sacrifices he made.

■ Characters

Raoh: The eldest of the four Hokuto brothers, he is a master of the strongest assassination fist, Hokuto Shinken. In order to pursue his own path of domination, he calls himself "King of Fists." The voice actor is Takashi Ukaji, whose powerful acting brings out the character of Raoh.

Souga: A strategist who joins Raoh from the Land of Shura to help him realize his dream of domination. He is a master of the Suzan Whirlwind Kick and serves as a strategist for the Kenoh Army. His voice actor is Matsukaze Masaya, and he portrays a calm and strategic character.

Reina: A childhood friend of Raoh, she traveled to the seas from Shura no Kuni with her brother Souga. She is a knight wielding two swords who helps Raoh in his quest for supremacy while keeping her feelings for him a secret. Her voice actor is Mai Nakahara, and she plays a character who combines strength and kindness.

Sakuya: A mysterious female strategist who suddenly appears before Raoh and joins the Kenoh army. Her voice actor is Akiko Kimura, who gives a charming performance as this mysterious character.

Toki: The second oldest of the four Hokuto brothers. Due to his natural talent, he was considered the man closest to inheriting the tradition. With only a short time left to live, he uses the Hokuto Shinken as a medical technique during his travels. His voice actor is Hiroki Tochi, who expresses his deep humanity.

Ryurou: A wise general of Nanto who can read the winds of turmoil. A master of Nanto-ryu Guang-ken. Raoh asks him to submit to him, but... His voice actor is Junichi Suwabe, and he plays an intelligent character.

Ryuuga: Yuria's real brother, he continues to watch the trends of the turbulent times with a cool-headed eye. He is a master of the Qinzan Tenroken style. He is in conflict with Souga as Raoh's military strategist. His voice actor is Daisuke Matsubara, and he portrays a cool-headed character.

Juda: The heir to the Nanto Kokakuken, a branch of the Nanto Rokusei Ken. He is skilled in scheming and expands his power by forming pacts with Raoh and Souther. He is voiced by Kisho Taniyama, and plays a cunning character.

Isabella: A woman under the command of Judah's adjutant Dagar. She has a sad past... Her voice actress is Ayumi Beppu, and she plays a character with a melancholy air.

Souther: Calling himself the "Saint Emperor," he is the heir to the Nanto Houou Ken style of fighting style who has power rivaling that of Raoh. He has a special body that is immune to pressure points, and he faces off against the Fist King Raoh in a showdown... His voice actor is Toshihiko Seki, who portrays a powerful character.

■ Production staff

The director is Masashi Abe, and the animation is by Satelight. The series is composed and scripted by Hiroshi Ohnogi, the character designer is Hiroki Marufuji, and the chief animation director is Satoru Koshiishi. The music is by KAZSIN, and the epic soundtrack adds excitement to the story.

■Broadcast information

The series aired from October 3 to December 26, 2008, with a total of 13 episodes. The broadcast times for each station are as follows:

• TV Aichi: October 2, 2008 to December 25, 2008, every Thursday from 25:28 to 25:58
• TOKYO MX: October 3, 2008 to December 26, 2008, every Friday from 22:30 to 23:00
• TV Osaka: October 7, 2008 to December 23, 2008, every Tuesday from 26:05 to 26:35
• Kids Station: November 6, 2008 to February 5, 2009, every Thursday from 24:30 to 25:00

■Theme song

The opening theme is "Nagiki no Endless" by jealkb, and the ending theme is "Namida no Kawa" by mina☆muse. Both songs play an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story.

■ Evaluation

"Fist of the North Star: Raoh Gaiden - Heavenly Overlord" is a very interesting work for fans of the original "Fist of the North Star". By depicting the story of Raoh's younger days, it delves deeper into his personality and background, which were not mentioned in the original work. In particular, Raoh's encounter with Kokuoh-go and his relationship with his strategists Souga and Reina portray Raoh's character in more depth. In addition, it contains many contents that complement episodes from the original work, such as his feud with Toki and his fight with Souther, allowing fans to enjoy the world of "Fist of the North Star" from a new perspective.

The animation quality is also high, and Satelight's production skills shine through. The depiction of the battle scenes in particular is powerful and visually enjoyable. The music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story, and KAZSIN's sound adds depth to the story.

However, it is difficult to depict the story of Raoh's younger days in a short 13-episode series, and some viewers may feel that the story is rushed. In particular, some viewers may feel that the sub-characters are not explored enough. Also, fans of the original work may have a different impression of Raoh's character.

■Recommendation

"Fist of the North Star: Raoh Gaiden - Heavenly Overlord" is a must-see for fans of the original "Fist of the North Star". Through the story of Raoh's younger days, you can gain a deeper understanding of his personality and background. The action scenes are powerful and the music is of high quality, making it a visual treat. Even for viewers who are not familiar with the original work, the powerful story and characters make this a fascinating work, so be sure to give it a watch.

Related works such as "Fist of the North Star" and "Fist of the North Star 2" are also recommended. By watching these works together, you will be able to understand the story of Raoh more deeply. Also, if you are interested in the character of Raoh, please check out the original manga and other related works.

■Subtitle

• Episode 1: My fists are for the heavens! (2008/10/02)
• Episode 2: The King Knows the King! (2008/10/09)
• Episode 3: There is no castle I cannot take! (2008/10/16)
• Episode 4: For Whom Are These Fists? (2008/10/23)
• Episode 5: Brothers at odds! (2008/10/30)
• Episode 6: The Demon Awakens! (2008/11/06)
• Episode 7: The Blue Wolf Runs the Earth! (2008/11/13)
• Episode 8: A Cry Echoes in the Darkness! (2008/11/20)
• Episode 9: Battle of the Women (2008/11/27)
• Episode 10: Fists Crushed in the Burning Sand! (2008/12/04)
• Episode 11: The Holy Emperor appears! (2008/12/11)
• Episode 12: The Fist King's Government Falls! (2008/12/18)
• Episode 13: I Follow the Path of Heaven! (2008/12/25)

■ Related works

• Fist of the North Star
• Fist of the North Star 2

■ Theme songs and music

Opening theme "Endless Lament"

• Lyricist: haderu
• Composer: elsa
• Arrangement: elsa
• Sung by: jealkb

Ending theme "Namida no Kawa"

• Lyrics: mina☆muse
• Composer: mina☆muse
• Arrangement: TAKAHIRO KANEKO
• Sung by: mina☆muse