Hunter x Hunter

Before you start reading I just want to say that I am only on episode 56.

I was recommended by some people to watch this anime. All the persons I spoke to said it was one of the best things they had ever seen. So I gave it a try of course. After the first 3 episode I thought like this: "What the hell is this!? Must be one of the most boring concepts for a show I have ever seen. Annoying protagonist taking a deadly hunter-exam to meet his famous father? This is on the edge to embarrassment." As you can see I really didn't like the first glimpse of the show. I decided it was not worth my time. But the people who told me about this show kept pushing me back telling me it's going to get better, and I love them for it! After Episode 11-13 the show started to get a little more interesting as I got to know the characters who seemed flat at first. Now I see them in full 3D (no I'm not referring the graphic). Episode 1-14 took maybe 2 weeks to watch through. 15-30 a few days and 30 to 56 (where I am now) in maybe 2 days. What I am trying to say is:

"Wait until episode 15 or so until you judge it. Like any marathon anime you have to give it some time before it gets going. And if you like it even just a tiny bit by then, just wait till episode 40+!"

With that said I can now sleep with ease.

Now for the story. Its about a 10 year old kid who wants to be a hunter (Hunter is a title that proves you have taken a really hard exam to be able to find his famous mythical father. That is the gist of how it starts anyway. I cant say any more without spoiling the fun. You will have to watch it yourselves to find out what happens.

If I where to compare this show with anything it would be Naruto, just not as main stream and over rated.

I give this show a clean 8 of 10 stars because it has superb character development (Hisoka anyone?), Nailbiting story and great visuals. What keeps it form a full pot is the weak beginning, and though it is exiting and gripping it has never (yet) pulled me all the way to the same bliss that FMA or Trigun did.

Firstly, it gets a 9 from Togashi being more than a little lazy and stopping the manga which put a LOT of holds on the anime, which is why the series was cancelled and OVAs were put out instead. The only problem there is that if you watch the whole series and the 3 OVAs, Genei Ryodan saga and Greed Island and Greed Island Final, it will leave you wanting more which you can't get without reading the manga(which currently isn't that high in US releases). Essentially it is a story of four friends (a la Yu Yu Hakusho which is another Togashi creation). The central character, Gon, grows to ~12 without knowing his father. Meeting a man, a Hunter, who claims to have known his father sets Gon off on his journey. He meets the 3 others in the exams to become a Hunter and they remain close, despite physical distance at times.

The story covers all 4 and their reasons for becoming "Hunters". Gon wants to find his father; Leorio, slightly older, wants to become a doctor and help people; Curapika(spelling/pronunciation varies for his name) wants revenge; Killua, Gon's closest friend of the 3, was bored. They all have reasons from their past. It also follows them after the Hunter exams are over, which is when the story really picks up, as does the action. The world suddenly gets a lot larger and more characters are introduced, both helpful and as hindrances to their goals.

It is well-written but with filler, as most anime interpretations on manga do. If you enjoyed Yu Yu Hakusho and other 'fight-based' animes then this is something you'll want to see. Also, despite the ages of the central and main character (Gon and Killua, respectively), it gets pretty dark and sometimes outright violent. If it's an appreciation for 'supernatural' powers such as ki and other odd things, then this is also for you as it becomes an increasingly important issue as the series moves forward. At first it remains fairly realistic and gets odder and more alien as it progresses with the four learning how to use their "Nen" which is their worlds version of Ki. There are 6 types of powers which all effect the type of things people can do with their power. Reinforcement is enhancing physical abilities such as strength, speed, and even reinforcing objects to make them stronger; Transformation is changing the properties of one's aura, such as making it sticky like gum, bouncy like rubber, or carry properties such as electricity; Emission is the ability to shoot aura and control it from a distance; Manipulation allows the user to manipulate objects/people in different ways, depending on the user; Materialization lets the person create objects with their aura, being closely tied to transformation; Specialization is the final one. It is just that, special. It is very different depending upon the person, as on people can steal other abilities, another can mimic the other 5 types, etc.

Hunter X Hunter moves in a gradual process which leads you to the shift from more toned-down fighting and story into the powerful and expansive world that it becomes without throwing you in with no reason. That's another Togashi move, if you've ever seen Yu Yu Hakusho.

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.

It starts off with a young boy named Gon after meeting a Young man who Knew his father who was presumed dead and from this man Gon discovers that his dad is a Real famous 'Hunter' so like his father he wants to become a so called 'Hunter' and at the same time go in search for his father who seems to have disappeared from the publics eye. Gon first meets a man named leoreo ( or something like that ) and an episode later a young male named Kurapica. They all became friends rather quickly ( after a confrontation between leoreo and kurapica) and decide to help each other out until they get to the Hunter Exam location. During the Exam Gon finds another boy relatively the same age ( most are adults ) who is an assassin from a family of assassins, Killua soon discovers he really finds Gon a real nice gentle, yet different person then most hes met and quickly makes up his mind to do w/e he can to be able to be with him. After the Exam They are given a temp. license and later on given a real license...this is where the show takes a huge turn from semi-fighting fantasy to Completely fantasy fighting ( good thing ). Each person has an Aura from one of the 5 I believe types of auras there are, gon being Reinforcement ( brute force ) Kurapica being specialization ( one that can master all 7 ) and Killua a transformation. The fighting styles are similar to that of Yu-yu hakusho ( same author ), Naruto, FullMetal aclhemist, and other similar titles, BUT unlike the rest of those other titles HxH is different, for one it has more blood and gore then the others , which to me was surprising considering the show as mainly about a young boy ,but works really well. The animation works REAL nice with the anime which is a darkish type of color animation( i guess like Gundam wing or consider those anime movies that feel real with its darkish color animation)which gave it a realistic feeling. Although I prefer the series and the first ova I didn't like the ova's that came after since the animation changed from a darkish type ( went well with this type of anime ) to a Brighter animation ( Similar to that of naruto,Gundam seed don't work THAT good with this anime)..i give the series a 10 out of 10!!

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.