Ask John: Will AnimeNation Carry the Hokuto No Ken DVD Sets?

Question:
I was just wondering if the online store will ever carry the Hokuto No Ken import DVD sets 1 and/or 2? I believe there is 6 DVDs on each and about 40-60 episodes on each.

Answer:
AnimeNation will not be carrying any Fist of the North Star anime on DVD in the foreseeable future. The Hokuto no Ken anime TV series has only been issued on DVD in Japan once. On July 24th, 2002, the limited edition, serially numbered Hokuto no Ken Super Premium DVD Box included all 152 TV episodes from both TV series on 26 DVD discs. The set included a 100 page color booklet, diorama poster and an exclusive Kenshiro action figure and retailed for 100,000 yen, or approximately $800 in American currency. Now, two months later, the set is already out of print and totally sold out in Japan.

There are 3 multi disc DVD sets of Hokuto no Ken TV episodes available on the web. Each of these sets includes 5-6 DVD discs and roughly 50 episodes subtitled in Chinese and English. These DVD sets are unlicensed, pirated discs manufactured in Taiwan. As AnimeNation strives to respect and support the original artists that create anime, we refuse to carry or condone illegal, bootleg anime DVDs like these three Hokuto no Ken DVD sets.

Manga Entertainment has announced that they intended to release the first 36 TV episodes on domestic DVD. When these official, licensed DVDs are released, AnimeNation will carry them.

The Fist of the North Star movie has been released on domestic DVD by Image Entertainment in a dubbed only version, but this disc has been out of print for some time and now and can sell on Ebay for as much as $100. There is also an unlicensed, bootleg Chinese DVD version of the motion picture floating around the net. If the Fist of the North Star movie is ever rereleased on official domestic DVD, AnimeNation will carry it.