Why Hunter x Hunter is a Must-Watch:A Comprehensive Overview
Hunter x Hunter is a series that comes up frequently whenever you discuss anime, and it’s not hard to see why. Created by Yoshihiro Togashi, Hunter x Hunter is a series with an extremely complex story, interesting characters and powers that defy most shounen anime logic. In this guide we’ll cover everything from the release dates of the series to its world-building, characters, Nen power system and many more.
Introduction: Release Dates and General Overview
Hunter x Hunter began its manga serialization in March 1998 in Weekly Shōnen Jump and gained immense popularity due to its uniqueness and deep characters. The first anime adaptation aired in 1999, but it ended in 2001, only showing a few of the early arcs of the manga. However, the 2011 reboot by Madhouse stayed true to the manga and became more widely known beyond Japan.
The 2011 anime, directed by Hiroshi Kōjina, aired between October 2011 and September 2014 for a total of 148 episodes. It’s well-known for how closely it adapts the manga and the quality of its animation. While Togashi occasionally had to put the manga on hiatus due to his health, the series continues to be beloved by fans all over the world.
World-Building: The Expansive Universe of Hunter x Hunter
One of the most fascinating things about Hunter x Hunter is the world that it takes place in. The world in this series is full of unique continents, environments, cultures and challenges for the characters to overcome. And now we have been introduced to the Dark Continent, an unexplored land mass with unknown creatures that just opens up so many possibilities.
This is obvious when you realize that every arc introduces some new part of this world and makes it a crucial element of the story. The world isn’t window-dressing. The cities are bustling and filled with people going about their lives (and looking good while doing it). The wildernesses are dangerous and awe-inspiring. You can tell that the people who live in this world love it, in spite of everything. And you can see why.
Main Characters and Their Families
Gon Freecss
Gon Freecss is a character of such boundless enthusiasm, curiosity and pure morality that you can’t help but be drawn into his story. Gon sets out on a journey to become a Hunter just like his absentee father, Ging Freecss, whom he has never met. Raised by his Aunt Mito on Whale Island, Gon trains to become a Hunter in order to find out why his father chose the profession over raising him. The idea of absent fathers is something prevalent in Hunter x Hunter and the dynamic between them and their sons adds an emotional weight to many storylines throughout the series.
Killua Zoldyck
Killua Zoldyck, who happens to be Gon’s best friend, comes from a family of assassins that is infamous the world over. Raised and trained as an assassin practically since he could walk, Killua betrays no emotion and rarely shows any sign of weaknesses. But by letting friendship in his life when he meets Gon for the first time, Killua starts questioning not only about himself but also of his family. Killua’s family ties (Specifically with his dad Silva and eldest brother Illumi), in direct contrast to Gon’s simpler childhood and ideals, define much of his character development.
Leorio Paradinight
Leorio Paradinight starts out as a character who is driven by money and is studying to become a doctor in order to help people. He wants to take the Hunter Exam to be able to pay for medical school. Though he’s not given as much backstory as the other characters, his loyalty and dedication to his friends are what make him such an important member of the group. His story involves personal tragedy and he’s determined to do something about it.
Kurapika Kurta
Kurapika Kurta is the last remaining member of the Kurta Clan and is seeking revenge against the Phantom Troupe, who massacred his clan in order to obtain their Scarlet Eyes, which turn a deep red whenever they feel a particularly powerful emotion. He becomes a Hunter with the goal of locating and taking back his clan’s eyes from the Phantom Troupe. His story of loss and unyielding pursuit for justice makes him one of the most interesting characters in the series.
The Power System: Nen
Nen is the life energy that fuels the abilities in Hunter x Hunter and it’s the thing that most sets this shounen series apart from others. Specifically, Nen is a person’s life energy or aura, which they can learn and train to manipulate. There are six categories of Nen-abilities:
Enhancement
Enhancement is the easiest category of Nen to understand and learn. It allows users to use their aura to increase the natural abilities of their own bodies. And users can even enhance objects that they have a particular attachment with using aura. Enhancers are known for their simple and brute-like way of fighting, always concentrating their 100% in physically obliterating their opponents.
Emission
Emitters can send their aura away from their body, either in the form of blasts or projectiles. This is the category for impatient people with a short temper. A good example would be Leorio, as his powers allow him to strike an opponent from a certain distance with his aura attacks.
Manipulation
Manipulators can control both objects and living things with their aura, often requiring a conjured tool of some kind. They frequently employ manipulation and exploitation, controlling foes or turning the tide of battle to secure victory through unexpected means. Killua’s brother, Illumi Zoldyck, is one such example of Manipulator as he controls others using needles.
Transmutation
Transmuters can change the properties of their aura to match that of other materials or elements. An example of a Transmutation is Killua Zoldyck who has a Transmutation that changes his aura into electricity. Transmuters are usually whimsical and therefore unpredictable, which makes them great all around combatants.
Conjuration
Conjurers can conjure objects with their aura. In this category, you really need a good visualization of the object you want to create since it is created by your mind. The chains that Kurapika conjures to capture the members of the Phantom Troupe are specially made chains and reflects his vengeful personality.
Specialization
Specialists have abilities that don’t fall into any of the other five categories. Often, these are very specific and very niche abilities, which can have all sorts of effects from mind control to stealing other people’s Nen. Specialization seems most often as an ability category for characters who are their own people, like Chrollo Lucilfer, leader of the Phantom Troupe.
Nen is so deep that battles are fought through strategy, intelligence, and creativity instead of pure brute strength. Because of this, each battle in Hunter x Hunter is unique and unpredictable as characters have to learn and adapt to their opponent’s powers.
The Hunter License: A Gateway to the World
A Hunter License in Hunter x Hunter is not just a name. It’s the passport to an entire wealth of restricted intel, scarce commodities and beyond anything else available in the world. To acquire a Hunter License you need to clear the Hunter Exam, and trust me when I say it this is not your ordinary test, rather it’s a brutal journey designed to test your physical, mental and moral standards.
The Hunter Exam is essentially an encapsulation of the world of Hunter x Hunter. It displays a variety of skills, personalities and backgrounds in people aspiring to be Hunters. Moreover, because being a Hunter is something so exclusive and prestigious, it becomes this mystical component to the entire series.
Deconstructing Shounen Tropes
Yoshihiro Togashi is a mangaka who loves to deconstruct common shounen tropes, and Hunter x Hunter is the epitome of this. The story often goes against your typical shounen conventions with it comes down to its characters and how their story arcs play out. Take the Chimera Ant arc for example, within Shounen you often find an enemy who appears that becomes more powerful than the last, however in Hunter x Hunter it becomes much more than just that. It ends up becoming a lot darker and makes you question humanity as a whole, as you see just how far morality can bend with power at hand.
This deconstruction is most apparent in the treatment of its main characters. Gon, initially designed as a standard Shounen protagonist, is put through the ringer, and this becomes most obvious during the Chimera Ant arc where his moral compass is truly tested. Killua’s journey is similarly deconstructed as he tries to reconcile his past as an assassin with his future path. This kind of deep character development is something which sets Hunter x Hunter apart, making it a show that can appeal to both occasional viewers and die hard fans.
The Fanbase: A Global Phenomenon
It’s one of the most popular shonen series in Japan and around the world and for good reason. Hunter x Hunter can do everything from adventure and action to psychological mind games better than any other show on this list!
Despite the series’ hiatuses, fans hold out hope for more and frequently delve into theoretical, character-based, and (potentially) future story arc conversations. Fan-created works, such as fan art and fan fiction, as well as various debates and discourses on internet forums bear witness to its enduring presence within the anime and manga community.
The Chimera Ant Arc: A Shounen Masterpiece
The arc of Chimera Ant is known for being one of the most intense and emotionally strong story arcs that have ever been made in anime. It presents Chimera Ants, a species capable of consuming other creatures and inheriting their traits. The arc delves deep into themes of evolution, identity and the gray areas of morality.
As the Chimera Ants become more and more powerful, they become so dangerous to humanity that war is declared between the Hunters and the Ants. Every character in this arc is pushed to their absolute limit, both physically and mentally. Gon’s transformation, Killua’s struggle with his family ties, and the moral questions raised by the Hunters throughout this story make it a ride like no other arc before it.
The arc’s climax, in which Chairman Netero fights Meruem, the Chimera Ant King, is one of the most memorable sequences in anime. The nuanced portrayal of Meruem as a character, the development he undergoes and questions his presence poses raises this arc to heights not often seen in shounen anime. The Chimera Ant arc is a struggle not just between good and evil but an investigation into what it means to be human.
Conclusion
What separates Hunter x Hunter from your typical shounen anime is the fact that it boasts a surprisingly rich world, well-developed characters, a complex power system and some genuinely interesting story arcs. It doesn’t matter whether you’re new to the franchise or a long time fan, Hunter x Hunter truly has something for everyone. The bond between Gon and Killua is memorable in its own right, but the tragedy surrounding Kurapika and his clan is still one of the most exquisitely painful tales ever witnessed in modern anime. And judging by its massive international following even to this day, that’s not likely to change.
As of now Hunter x Hunter is still on a hiatus, citing Yoshihiro Togashi’s health issues. But Yoshihiro has expressed his desire to continue the manga and fans are hopeful for the show to return. The manga entered serialization in late 2022 but new chapters have been few and we are left with many storylines unresolved. Nonetheless, fans keep the flame alive with weekly discussions questioning certain theories and potential plot development thus showcasing how much of an impact this series has on anime and manga lovers.
Hunter x Hunter is an anime and manga that truly shows how powerful storytelling can be. Its influence is felt through countless fans and now through a new era of storytellers that have the series to thank for their inspiration. We still wait on Gon’s next adventure, but the love and impact from this series will never go away within the world of anime.
