Hunter x Hunter

I'm a long time admirer of Yoshihiro Togashi's artistic vision. His signature work of fiction "Yu Yu Hakusho" is counted among my favorite animated franchises of all time and it stands as a testament to the potential of anime, with its engrossing concept of martial arts/fantasy, riveting action, and unforgettable characters. Undeniably one of the best that the genre has to offer! Following the success of Yu Yu Hakusho, Togashi wrote and illustrated his ongoing manga series Hunter x Hunter, which was soon adapted into an animated series. Hunter x Hunter has a great deal to offer for anime fans and beyond and has many recognizable elements of Togashi's unique and creative style. The franchise didn't catch on at the same scale as it's predecessor Yu Yu Hakusho, but thanks to a recently released reboot anime series Hunter x Hunter is rightfully increasing in popularity.

One of the essential qualities that make Yoshihiro Togashi significant as an artist is his ability to create charming and complex characters and Hunter x Hunter is no exception. The series focuses on a band of four great characters, each with their own reason for becoming a hunter. Hunters are widely regarded as elite members of the human race who devote themselves to seeking vast riches and undiscovered mystical wonders of the world. In their quest they are privileged to go virtually anywhere they so desire. Gon, a, pure, confident, and irresistibly personable boy, is motivated to become a hunter to discover the truth about his father (a professional hunter himself) who left him while he was still an infant. Kurapika is the last surviving member of the Kurta Clan (renowned for their "Scarlet Eyes" that become the color of red while in a state of rage or agitation) which was slaughtered by the Phantom Troupe, an infamous band of thieves who sought possession of their valuable eyes. Kurapika dedicates his life to administrating justice to the Phantom Troupe for his clan's massacre and retrieving the stolen eyes of his brethren. He endeavors to become a hunter to fulfill this purpose. Leorio comes off at first as a selfish man with an all-consuming desire for money, but further development of his character reveals that it's his wish to become a doctor to help those that can't afford medical treatment. His hope is to never again repeat the mistake of being unable to save an old friend from succumbing to a fatal illness. With the money earned from Hunter status, his dream could become reality. Leorio also serves as hysterical comic relief, keeping dark tension at bay. The fourth and last protagonist Killua shares a great deal in common with Gon, given his cheerful and mischievous nature. Killua comes from a family of widely renowned assassins who bred him to be a ruthless killer, but he eventually grew weary of that life and rejected his family's expectations. In spite the advantages born of his background, Killua is still but a child, longing to experience the bright side of life, believing that the Hunter exam offered him the perfect opportunity. There he would also learn the indisputable value of friendship, a quintessential anime theme.

The plot follows this band throughout the hunter exam and their adventures beyond, as they strive to help one another hunt for their dreams, leaving a lasting impact on each other's lives in the process. You want to see them succeed in fulfilling their goals. Along the way, they befriend new allies and encounter new enemies, each event having an important part of its own to play in their lives; all this playing out in the forefront of top-notch animation that reeks of real artistry, especially in the organic jungle sequences. The brilliance of the animation elevates the experience to another atmospheric level. Hunter x Hunter is a wonderful anime that is rich in story, character, and imagination, meant for those who dare to dream the big dream. The fulfillment of your dreams is the greatest of treasures, so never give up the hunt until the very end!

The only anime I've ever watched a million times. The overall atmosphere is in place. As you can see, the production team was really short of money, but they did their best. Unfortunately, this version will never be updated again.

Hunter x Hunter Review pronounced Hunter Hunter (no X).

This Anime is so great on many levels. It has a little bit of everything but it never loses sight of what it's trying to say. Male themes are abound and many facets are explored especially the complex relationships between males. Friendship and the bittersweet relationship between a father and a son.

It also explores themes like revenge, achieving dreams, belief in oneself, competition, succeeding with integrity and many many more.

This is all done with absolutely no fillers. This Anime is 62 episodes long. 3 ova's (between 8-14 episodes each I believe) and it is still not finished.

Here is a breakdown of what I think are important factors in an Anime Series.

Animation

The animation for the first 62 episodes are well done. Of course some who compare it to the latest and greatest will be disappointed but I believe they are missing the point. The anime is done in a very fitting style according to the story with emphasis for realism. Sometimes the characters are light and sometimes they are quite serious and dark. This is not a cutesy Anime not all characters have big eyes and colourful hair. It knows when it should be what according to the story. I actually like the TV animation better than the G.I ep. It was more realistic to my eye.

Characters

This is where this Anime truly shines. The main characters are Gon, Killua, Kurapica and Leorio. They are all interesting and bring something important to the table. My personal favorites are Gon and Killua. They have a great friendship where each of them shine with their own qualities and help each other in all situations. (A very brief introduction to the characters)

Gon - He is a boy who is pure of heart, caring and sincere. But he is strong and determined to achieve what he wants. It is important to note that he never once does something underhanded even when faced with a person who means to harm him. A boy who knows who he is and what he stands for.

Killua - He is a boy with a very dark side. The most interesting character in this series IMO along with HISOKA.

Kurapica - A man with a very important mission worth dying for.

Leorio - A man who has inner demons. He is hard on himself but caring of others.

Hisoka - Ahh...Hisoka. What can I say, he is the most wicked anime character I've ever seen. Even when he is madcrazy he is cool. He's one of those guys that you hate to love but you do anyway.

Secondary characters are also well thought out and have a purpose.

Story - First arc. People all over the world try to compete in a life and death test for a Hunter License (kind of like a elite license to kill for money). This is just one of about 6 arcs. The test is far from easy. Aside from brute strength it tests mentality, psychology, etc. The story has more twists than you can imagine. More importantly the twists are imaginative and interesting. There are many arcs and each character has intercepting story lines as well as individual ones. There is never a dull moment.

Music and Sound Effects are Great. I think the Opening and Ending themes are very well chosen. It always seems to fit the arc. The sound effects are first rate ie when they are on the airship hear the trapped air of an aircraft in the background. Realism for sound is highlighted. Also there are many different background themes so it never gets repetitive. Second OP is alternitive rock, reminds me of early Our lady peace stuff.

Voice Actors I watched this Anime entirely in Japanese with English Subtitles. Amazing voice actors, every single one of them. If I had to say I would choose Hisoka as the best and Gon and Killua as tie for second place.

Entertainment Factor Is it fun to watch though?? Yes it is. It's even better the second time around, I kid you not! This is one of those Animes where you become invested in the characters because you get to see them happy, sad, defeated, vulnerable, scared, having fun and more. This anime is quite long but trust me you will not be complaining. Most likely you will be like the other Hunter x Hunter fans waiting anxiously for the new episodes. It is also important to note that people actually die in this anime and even main characters kill people. It's quite violent at times and the fighting system used in this anime is very interesting. There is no 2 moves per character that they use over and over again...Thank God! Better than Naruto IMO. Also this anime is very funny at times even if you don't speak Japanese like me. Thanks Fansubbers, keep up the good work =)

Anything Negative to say? Just one tiny thing. It starts off a little slow in the first 5 or so episodes for character development. I guess that's why this anime isn't as well known as some others. *sigh* definitely a loss for those people who stop watching because there is not enough action for them in the beginning. All in all this Anime is a must see. You will not be sorry. It is still available on AnimeSuki. Enjoy

I have been watching anime for years now, and to this day Hunter x Hunter is still one of the greatest I have ever seen. The series initially seems mainstream, but this is one the series all other series are judged on. Hunter x Hunter represents 'old school' anime, when there was a lead up to fights and you really got to know the characters, their back stories and their personalities. The series has been re-released in 2011 to incorporate the new arc in the manga. In my opinion, its a lot more rushed and faster paced, but many people like that. I have to say that the original will always win for me. Its the only series I have ever watched twice. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

What an amazing series this was. Just as good as the newer version of Hunter x Hunter even though it has some similiar elements and subtle differences.

The sounds of this anime was amazing it had this dark and light hearted vibe to it if you get what I mean. The music really reminds of FMA and so if you liked the music in FMA then you will most certainly like it for this anime. The visuals weren't bad or good either. It didn't have that crisp sharp look to it and most of the fight scenes were not comparable to that of the 2011 version.

The story was really amazing I enjoyed it alot. It had the perfect pacing and good consistency mixed in with a great buildup of plot. Though the ending was kind of bittersweet for me since the series reached the manga it stopped producing any more eps. The characters were likable and were well written. They did an amazing job really taking their time and introducing us to the characters unlike the 2011 version and probably had better filler episdoes than the 2011 version.

Overall a very enjoyable series. "Poetic, Entertaining and Far Reaching".