"Fist of the North Star" Film Fund Leads to Anime Comeback
Thanks to an innovative fundraising method, classic series "Fist of the North Star" ("Hokuto no Ken") is set to become an anime feature film with an all-star voice cast.
According to a September 15 SMBC Friend Securities press release by Sumitomo Mitsui Bank Corporation the upcoming movie, entitled "Shin Kyuuseishu Hokuto no Ken Raoh-Den Jun'ai no Shou", will be the first of a series of productions funded by the Hokuto Fund - Eiyuu Densetsu trust. The movie is scheduled for release in March of 2006 at Toho Cinemas throughout Japan. The fund hopes to raise a total of 2.5 billion yen, with a fifth of the fund's shares being sold to individual investors via the Internet. The money will be used to produce three feature films and two direct-to-video OVAs.
The fundraising method is not the only aspect of the film gaining attention, however. The movie will feature a number of notable Japanese stars, including Hiroshi Abe (age 41, as Kenshiro), Tsuyoshi Ukaji (43, Raoh), and Kou Shibasaki (24, as new character Reina). Character design for the movie will be handled by Tsukasa Hojo, of "City Hunter" fame.
The film is said to be a love story centering on post-apocalyptic warrior Raoh.
http://www.smbc-friend.co.jp/hokuto/