Buronson and Tetsuo Hara's iconic Japanese manga, Fist of the North Star, is celebrating over 40 years of brutal awesomeness! With tons of projects and events happening across Japan, fans are also hyped for a brand-new anime, "Fist of the North Star -FIST OF THE NORTH STAR-", set to drop in 2026.
But wait, there's more! The comedic manga spinoff, Fist of the North Star: Requiem of the King of Fist Army's Minions (tentative title, Hokuto no Ken Ken-Oh-gun Zakotachi no Banka), is also getting an anime adaptation! This short-form series, with its main voice cast now revealed, is slated for a January 2026 premiere.
"Fist of the North Star: Requiem of the King of Fist Army's Minions" is one of the series' many spinoffs, originally running as a hilarious manga from November 2017 to March 2020.
The story follows Nobu, an ordinary villager who, after falling for a recruitment ad promising "food, lodging, and easy work for everyone," accidentally joins Raoh's King of Fist Army. In this brutal, famine-ridden post-apocalyptic world, Nobu has to survive among a motley crew of scarred, eccentric veterans. His "weak but never give up" attitude is surprisingly relatable and resonates with modern audiences.
The main voice cast has also been unveiled! Hiro Shimono (known for Zenitsu in Demon Slayer) voices Nobu, the King of Fist Army's resident minion. Shinnosuke Tachibana takes on Zaku, while Masaaki Yano plays Buzz. The narration will be handled by Shinya Takahashi.
Frontier Works, established by the anime goods chain Animate, is producing the animation. They're touting a brand-new animation technique called "Animatica," so it'll be interesting to see how it looks!
While it's a short-form anime, it dives into the fleeting, bizarrely hilarious daily lives of the King of Fist Army. It might be a different vibe for hardcore Fist of the North Star fans, but get ready for some serious nostalgia when those classic minions pop up!
"Fist of the North Star: Requiem of the King of Fist Army's Minions" is slated to premiere in January 2026, so keep an eye out if you're curious!
▼ "Fist of the North Star: Requiem of the King of Fist Army's Minions" Teaser Trailer