Hi,
Firstly, thanks to DaveS for the name check! Much appreciated!
Okay, let's see what I can offer you.
There are 4 versions of FOTNS (Fist Of The North Star - saves me writing it out every single time):
- the 1986 anime version, dubbed into English by US company Streamline, and which was the first Manga Video. (And before anyone says "Akira" was the first Manga Video release, you're wrong, because "Akira" was released by Island World Projects, who then decided to create a direct-to-video label called Manga Video!
)
- the 1995 live-action version, starring Gary Daniels and Costas Mandylor, which is absolutely dire in every aspect. (It's repeated on BBC1 quite frequently, so keep an eye out.)
- the early-1980's anime TV series, which ran to around 193 episodes, each of 25-minutes, and was actually surprisingly good, considering the basic anime style it used. (A very faithful adaption of the lengthy manga series, but sadly only released in the UK, across about 6 VHS tapes each containing three or four episodes, or as the 2005 DVD 6-disc boxed set, containing just episodes 1-36. The VHS and DVD releases, though, are both censored and contain a horrifically bad dub, which incorporates annoyingly grating techno and hip-hop music. However, it does include the original Japanese audio with English subs on the DVD edition.)
- the recent 2004 remake, entitled "New FOTNS", which lasts for just 3 episodes, and is - in my opinion - dire.
Now, unless you can locate a copy of the Japanese DVD boxed-set, containing all 193-odd episodes of the original animated TV show, y=or the old US Manga Corps DVD release of FOTNS from 1986 (which has been deleted for many years now, and is nigh impossible to obtain new or secondhand), then you should stick with the original MAnga Video release, for the time being.
As for similar titles, it depends on what you're looking for: sex, violence, martial arts, or what?
Some titles that you should enjoy, are:
- Gunsmith Cats: Bulletproof
- Dominion Tank Police: Acts I-IV, and New Dominion Tank Police (Acts V-X)
- Streetfighter 2: The Movie or the series
- Golgo 13: Special Agent Edition
- Dragonball (but that's only available from the US or Australia at the moment).
There is one other title, DaveS mentioned, called "Urotsukidoji: Legend Of The Overfiend", which may peak your interest. I won't go into lengthy detail about this title, because I've written lots on it in the Forums before, and a quick search of the title and my nickname will bring up the various lengthy threads. However, I will say this: it's good, but complex, and very adult in nature!
The UK editions are cut, but if you want to see the US versions, be warned that importing them, puts you at risk of importing obscene material! This is how strong in content, "Urotsukidoji" is!! It makes FOTNS look like an episode of Play School, so don't go thinking this is an easy or comfortable watch!
The live-action film of "Crying Freeman" is quite good, with Mark Dacoscos, and has recently been on ITV4. The anime series, though, is mediocre, and gradually gets worse as the series went on. Stick to the actual Manga series, rather than the animated version.
"Gantz" is a superb series, as is "Paranoia Agent", but both have been cut for the UK versions. "Millennium Actress" and "Paprika" (which is out in a couple of months) are also both work viewing.
Other than that, I'm not sure what else to tell you. "Ghost In The Shell", "Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence", "Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex" (First Gig, and Second Gig, which are 26-episode TV shows), and "Ghost In The Shell: Man Machine Interface" are all excellent sci-fi thrillers, in the form of "The Matrix", but also very complex, and require a lot of patience to get your head around. But they are fantastic, in terms of plot and actual animation technique.
"Perfect Blue" is another excellent choice, if you fancy an animated Alfred Hitchcock psychological chiller, with slasher-movie overtones, and if you want to enjoy the days of childhood innocence then "My Neighbour Totoro" and "Pom Poko" are also worth watching.
Hope that little lot keeps you going. If you want more information or help, let me know, and I'll do my best.
Pooch
