DESCRIPTION

CAST

MOVIE ActionHUNTER×HUNTER: Phantom Rouge
ANIME ActionHUNTER×HUNTER
OVA ActionHUNTER×HUNTER OVA
OVA ActionHUNTER×HUNTER: Greed Island
OVA ActionHUNTER×HUNTER: Greed Island Final
MOVIE ActionHUNTER×HUNTER: THE LAST MISSION
MANGA ActionHUNTER×HUNTER
MUSIC ActionJust Awake
ANIME ComedyLevel E

REVIEWS

• 

  Amni

  85/100
  Sets the standard high for battle anime, while being perfectly accessible to new and old fans of the medium.

  Hunter x Hunter is one of those rare anime that manage to excel in most categories, such as animation, characters and story, while setting the standard high for their respective genre in the process.
  I’ll get right to it, should you invest countless hours watching Hunter x Hunter?
  Absolutely, yes. Hunter x Hunter is superlative, and it’s easy to get lost in how well everything works together. Sound, animation and story all come together wonderfully, convincing me that both Madhouse and Togashi (the mangaka of Hunter x Hunter) are capable of great feats in animation, of storytelling.

  Alright, if you’re still not convinced then let’s get started.

  Hunter x Hunter starts with the seemingly simple story of a boy, Gon, who is ready to venture out into the world in order to find his father, who has long since vanished. From there, our protagonist undertakes the Hunter exam, where we are also introduced to the rest of the main cast, who each have their own motivation in becoming a Hunter, such as Gon, who is following in his father’s footsteps, Kurapika, who wishes to exact revenge upon the group of people who killed his entire clan or Killua, who is only participating as a means to challenge himself.

  I am impressed as to how Togashi was able to take a seemingly fun and simple plot, and just push it to its limits. Hunter x Hunter can, at one moment be cheerful, while in another, be heartbreaking, or just blow you away with how dark it gets, without feeling that there is a jarring change. It all just flows really well from one arc to the next, and mostly from one episode to the next. Hunter x Hunter’s world and characters is one that feels rich, and constantly explored, and seemingly without limit, while also having a sort of nostalgic charm due to Togashi’s cartoon-y character designs.

  That being said, while all of Hunter x Hunter’s arcs as a whole may be impressive, some individual episodes falter as they introduce relevant characters and information. In the context of the whole arc, one may realize that an individual episode was important because it introduced a certain character or plot point, but individually, it may be unimpressive or boring.

  Each character and supporting character is distinct in their own way, while also being entertaining to watch. Character development is superb, particularly for antagonists, while being equally impressive for our main cast. Gon’s development is more subtle, however, since it occurs throughout the series, rather than the antagonists, or say Killua, since his development is constantly being explored. Equally impressive is how Gon’s character also manages to take the ‘innocent, and naïve’ character trope that is often seen in action anime, while giving it its own twist. For example, Gon is innocent but that does not always mean that he does what is right, instead he acts based on what he believes to be right in his own heart, as another character puts it. Development for antagonists, as I already stated, is great, particularly during the Chimera Ant arc (which spans 61 episodes). Supporting characters are fun, despite usually falling under a gimmick of some sort, and aren’t treated like cannon fodder (which I imagine would be different if they were part of another show).

  Animation is one of Hunter x Hunter’s strong points. Despite running for more than 140 episodes there is never a visible drop in quality. Characters move smoothly, and the lighting is exceptional when it needs to be. All of Hunter x Hunter’s fights are visually impressive, and even that does not do them justice, considering how amazing some of them are. That is not to say the animation is always great, but it never falls below being acceptable, a feat for an anime as long as HxH.

  Some of the character designs come down to a matter of taste and opinion. Some may consider them to be a bit too eccentric, while others may not mind. Most of the main cast has what I would consider a nostalgic vibe, especially Gon, who looks like he could fit into nearly another battle manga or anime. Some of the characters do look rather silly, while providing a darker contrast to some of HxH’s darker themes and messages. It does come down to a matter of taste, however, since while I did enjoy most of the character designs, some of them were rather jarring, or gimmicky even.

  Hunter x Hunter boasts a great, varied soundtrack, and most of the ET’s are simply fantastic. Particularly the 5th ET, which I found myself replaying on more than one occasion, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd ET’s are also great, each of them fitting their respective arc wonderfully (especially the 3rd ET) while also being great standalone tracks, which I will probably find myself going back to in the near future. The OT, disappointingly, does not change over the course of the entire anime (save for some minor changes), which is a bit of bummer; though it does set the tone for the anime by giving the viewer the impression that adventure lies ahead. This brings me to another of the show’s flaws, which is inconsistent use of background music, which ranges from perfect to bad. The show sometimes, for example, uses an ominous tune when there is really no need for one since there is no tension in that scene, and it kind of tricks the viewer into believing that something is hiding just around the corner, which is usually not the case. When the background music does work, it works extremely well.

  Finally, we are brought to overall enjoyment, which is high. Through its many twists and turns, Hunter x Hunter is always riveting, addicting, and fun. This is not a series I could have imagined waiting week by week in order to watch what happens next because of how enjoyable a rollercoaster it has been, through its many intricate ups and downs. Anyway, if you have the time to spare then I would definitely recommend that you check out Hunter x Hunter. Thanks for reading!

  Continue on AniList
• 

  KaizokuOtaku

  85/100
  Not your usual shounen, it's more and gives you insight on what shounen anime can become if done slightly differently.

  

  Shounen anime are known power-ups which makes no sense, the story behind it feels very weak and illogical, even going by the anime in questions; worlds physics and rules. It's just there to excite you up, make you excited and that in of itself is not a bad thing so to say. However, the build-up to this point, through the world, the character's is significant. This is something I would say Hunter x Hunter accomplishes very well and is one of the few who managed to hit the right notes for this and so much more.

  Story

  It starts with centering around a young boy, named Gon who sets out on a journey to find his father. Sounds simple enough, but it's the journey to get there and how it does it, is what makes HxH quite special and unusual. For starters, the battles are exciting and fascinating which reflects the rules set up by this world, and it does a great job of showing it to us. It's not as simple as he is the main character and he will win every battle without any real effort or trouble since it can affect us emotionally.

  At one point, you will be glued to the screen watching this young boy hunting his prey for his own goals, and while he is doing so, You get to see and hear everything that is going through his head at the time, and it leaves you with his feeling of how dangerous this situation really is and how dire the consequences could become if he where to be detected by his prey. This is just one segment among many which are directed and told so well that you can't help but be glued to your screen watching this all unfold. However, there is more.

  What makes it even more fascinating, is the fact that Gon is terrified while doing so, he is acutely aware that he could die if he were to mess this up and how his character portrays this, through his actions and emotions, is a job well done. He doesn't directly attack the enemy with a one-track mind, he strategies on how to hunt his prey. He learns all the ingredients necessary trough mother nature and other hunters he managed to catch a glimpse of doing his own thing.

  A big factor in most shounen anime is power, and Gon is not someone anyone sane would want to mess with, even adults. For his age of 12 years old, he is quite strong and fast, and you would rather avoid getting on his wrong side if you know what's best for you. Though, being honest, if brute force were the only thing HxH had going for it, the popularity of it would make no sense.

  We have another type of power and what makes it stand out from most of the others, is how complex and exciting it is. It's not as simple like just getting stronger, unlocking your potential, to mention some. It has its categories which reflect the user's personality and depending on where you have lived, spent your times most, all of this is important in figuring out your type and which category it falls in. Gon is one you would list under Enhancer; these types tend to be simple and straightforward in their demeanor.

  This focuses on the physical aspect of the user, his life energy and how to use it to achieve stronger and higher power. However, it's not that easy, if you were to mess it up, you could put your entire life in danger. You need to know how much to put in each of your attacks, and this is not easy and puts our character's through grueling and intense training segments to make them able to control this power more efficiently and figure out how you would want to use it.

  There is more to this power, but if I were to delve further into it, this entire review would mostly just be focused around that. What I can say, is that at one point, the anime had a one-hour explanation for this power which was one of the most exciting and mesmerizing dialogue I heard in my all time watching anime.

  Sound

  As for sound, effects, music, it nails all those parts and gives you a great list of many amazing tracks you can't help but get addicted to, at least I was. It feels spot-on and does a great job of reflecting the overall atmosphere and feel of the anime. Like, it would make sense to get bored of listening to the same opening song, over and over, but the things are you don't, and I can't describe adequately "why?". First, you might start out disliking the opening (why would you, though?), yet after a few times of listening to it, most persons would be addicted and can't stop looking. It also hits those nostalgia notes well if you are re-watching the anime. The same could also be said for the ending songs.

  The effects are another thing which feels spot-on, not only is Madhouse great at using it, but also manipulating to give you the sense if a character is one assassin, you can barely hear his footsteps, when he runs you can't see sand blowing upward from the steps he takes. Action segments are no exception either, the hits or slashes among other things are done exceptionally well. Madhouse seriously outdid itself and deserved all the praise they get.

  Art

  The art and animation is another significant deal aspect to an anime and HxH, is one of the best and most consistent. I don't think there was even a moment when I was watching this anime; I taught it looked terrible. Notably, during the fight scenes, it seems and feels, and you can't help but be drawn toward it. It's so fluid with some of the greatest sakuga I have seen.

  Also, depending on the situations, Madhouse does a great job of adapting to it, like the facial expression at severe or comedic moments. Lightning, shading and colors adjustments, determined by the mood or tone of the situations or even the arc in question.

  Characters

  Just having a good story or writing is not enough, for me at least. You need to love or hate the characters, and I can safely assure you that HxH does a fantastic job of executing them. They feel alive, quirky, noisy, and have a likable personality which makes it, so you don't forget them quickly or the individual's name. HxH has a massive cast of characters, and they all feel necessary to progress our main characters.

  Gon at the start feels simple and straightforward, but as you move forward with the story you start to see flaws in him, I mean he is 12 years old, so it's logical. It would make sense to have some noteworthy issues which make him stand out and make him more of an exciting or annoying character, depending on which category you fall in. If he or the other character's where perfect it would be tedious to follow such a main character, wouldn't you agree?

  My favorite part about HxH, though, is the villains or antagonists. You start with hating them when you learn what the hell they put one of your main characters through but when you learn more about them, and you just can't help but like them.. and suddenly, you don't want them to be killed off but be incorporated in the story somehow, to maybe get them a central role in the story because they are just that much exciting and lovable and you can't help but be drawn to their silly nature and personality.

  It also features one of my favored antagonists; I started with absolutely hating him and his one-track mind nature of being the best of them all. However, he was still just new to the world, and once he learns more and starts to interact with characters, which challenged his original demeanor. I couldn't help but like him and not wishing death upon him. He is easily one of the most complex written antagonists, and I sincerely hope I can find more character's like him.

  You will cry for them; you will hate them, you will love them.

  The Negative

  This anime deserves all the praise it gets, it's not perfect by any means, but probably close. However, just like any other series, it does come with some flaws which can make the viewer drop it or entirely skip over it. For starters, it's very slow paced and takes it's time to build up. This is not an issue for me, but it might be for other persons, and if they were to stop watching. They will be skipping one amazing anime, which I think at one point, every anime watcher should give a try, it's just that worthy for me.

  During a specific huge arc, the pacing became even slower, the explanations for simple things, which could be shown through the animation and art making it more enjoyable is less visible and you get tons of unnecessary info dumping which could be skipped over or replaced with more exciting events.

  This is my most significant flaw in the anime. I don't know how the manga handles this, but just in this regard, the anime did fail to satisfy me. However, this is becoming one tiny nitpick that is easily solved if you watch the anime in a binge. I am one of the persons who experience this arc in a weekly airing manner, and it was not fun to sit through 20 minutes of an episode of not seeing any real progression. Thankfully, I almost looked over this when I sat through the same arc for the second time.

  Conclusion

  Hunter x Hunter 2011 is one of a kind anime with some amazing and intelligent way to tell a good story, boasting some great and likable characters. Not your typical shounen or anime with some awesome strategizing events and a power that is so complex and difficult to understand but is very fun to learn about. Which totals up to my reason why this still stands strong as my favorite anime to this day and I urge everyone to give it a try, at some point in your life.

  Continue on AniList
• 

  Gucci

  100/100
  Embark on the adventure of Hunter with Gon and his friends Killua, Kurapika and Leorio! ♡.

  HUNTER X HUNTER My personal opinion, (does not contain spoilers) And here I start with the review of what has become one of my favorite animes. I emphasize from the first moment that anyone can read it, regardless of whether the series has been seen or not. Hunter x Hunter has a huge amount of characters. A large part of them are quite original characters, of which we will remember easily. But as is evident, some stand out more than others. And I want to start this section talking a little about our protagonist; Gon fulfills the requirements to be a good protagonist of an anime shonen. He is a happy boy, humble, naive, strong and with a goal in mind that will make him move constantly. I still have Killua, one of my favorite characters in the series. Killua attracted me after several episodes (at first I did not like it), but even I did not imagine the potential that he, as a character, kept inside. Undoubtedly, Killua is, to put it in some way, the most evolutionary character of the entire series. It's amazing, from start to finish. At the beginning, he teaches us good characteristics to be a great hero, but also to be a villain, which means that we can worry about his decisions and future actions, keeping us attentive to his movements constantly. It is the turn of Kurapika, who offers us incredible moments, and a past history full of sadness and anger. I can not help but think a bit about [Ciel Phantomhive](https://anilist.co/character/12531/Ciel-Phantomhive) from [Kutoshitsuji - Black Butler](https://anilist.co/anime/4898/Kuroshitsuji/), when I think or speak to me about Kurapika. He is a character with a big heart, but sunk in a huge and unstoppable desire for revenge. Still, revenge is what makes him move chips in the series, and that's what interests us. No doubt a very good character, but I think, we lose enough of view in important situations. We give the turn to Hisoka, a character to whom it is impossible not to dedicate any other word. It's another of my favorite characters, and it saddens me to tell you that I can not show you which is the other as it appears in the penultimate series saga (Meruem) and I do not want to spoilers. But hey, let's continue with Hisoka. He is a surprising character from beginning to end. It makes you doubt his role in the whole series due to its eccentric way of behaving, and its calculated and strange decisions. When you think you know more or less how he will act, boom! he surprises you with a new idea. We enjoy his comical and somewhat strange moments, but we also worry in those moments when he is capable of becoming a bomb about to explode, and that is really, Hisoka is exactly that: a bomb ready to be detonated. To what extent should I mention other characters? There is a great variety. There are great ones and there are those to whom you would give a few applauses in the face. I suppose that for those of you who have seen the series, perhaps you will miss some mention of Leorio (the boy with glasses, for those who still do not know him), and well here I do it. Leorio is a kind of loser and boss at the same time. Everything goes according to the moment, and the truth is that he is not the only character like that. It's one of these characters that are but are not, and of those that usually do not forget even if you get a good couple of blows to the head. --------- With the course of the whole story you go through different stages. During some episodes you may be quite happy and relaxed, and with others you are nervous and with some tears running through your eyes. But although I love almost everything, there are things that I know that in a certain way, they have made the potential of the series go down in certain episodes, despite the fact that it finally recovered. So that you do not worry if you have not yet seen the series but you are going to do it, I inform you. You see, there are certain events like this, but where I have been able to read more complaints (a lot of them) is at the beginning of the penultimate saga of the anime, the saga of the Chimera Ants. (I dropped the anime here and then I went back to it, I would have regretted not finishing this) Do not lose your calm. Yes, the saga begins very slowly, and taking into account that the previous sagas were carried out in practically the blink of an eye, because this new slowness is very present in an anime "of a quick nature". During several episodes we will have to see a few episodes in a certain way in slow motion, with the narrator explaining x events. This point some have liked a lot and others have greatly deranged. But believe me, the wait is really worth it. The penultimate saga is the best of the whole series. It is an explosion for many characters, and really, I fell in love in many ways (although I do not even know if that phrase makes sense). And although everything is very beautiful, we came to one of the bad points of Hunter x Hunter. It is not finished. The ending is completely open, and to me at least it left me a bit silly. I do not mean it's bad, but you're left wanting more. It is clear that history still has much ahead, but it is possible that this still have enough to move forward. Recover you soon Yoshihiro Togashi! It should be noted that I am a person who really likes the moe - slice of life, but I decided to change course and embrace the experience for something more than "action". If you ever make this decision like me, you will love this!

  Continue on AniList

SIMILAR ANIMES YOU MAY LIKE

• ANIME

  ActionBoku no Hero Academia
• ANIME

  ActionNARUTO
• ANIME

  ActionMob Psycho 100 II
• ANIME

  ActionYuu☆Yuu☆Hakusho
• ANIME

  ActionHagane no Renkinjutsushi: FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST
• ANIME

  ActionONE PIECE
• ANIME

  ActionDragon Ball
• ANIME

  ActionJoJo no Kimyou na Bouken (TV)
• ANIME

  AdventureMade in Abyss
• ANIME

  ActionKimetsu no Yaiba
• ANIME

  ActionBlack Clover
• ANIME

  ActionMagi: The labyrinth of magic