Review of Hunter x Hunter

Note: This review will encompass the main series and the OVAs since they all flow together. There might be some minor spoilers, depending on what you consider a spoiler. Most shounen fighting anime are generic and clichéd. They follow the same format in nearly every aspect, using trite ideas that have worked before to gain a large, marketable fan base. As a result, you get a shit load of characters with massive, destructive powers and crazy designs. It’s no surprise really, as these shows are geared towards young teens after all, most of whom don’t necessarily care about unique storylines or concepts as long asthere is a lot of action to satiate their naturally aggressive demeanors.

At first glance, Hunter x Hunter seems to be just another one of those. It uses ideas we’ve all seen before: strong-willed protagonists, last survivors of a race/clan, “ki” energy (called Nen), training to become stronger, tournament arcs, etc. Make no mistake though. For every tired concept it applies, the show has a way of twisting them.

The story is simple. Gon Freecss, a young boy who had always believed his father was dead, finds out that his dad is in fact one of the greatest Hunters in the world. (Hunters are a strong group of people that perform various tasks, be it finding coveted pieces of work, eliminating dangerous criminals, etc.) He sets out to find his father, but first, he must enter the Hunter exam to become a hunter. Along the way, he befriends many people and is caught up with various other situations. The pacing is rather slow in the beginning, admittedly, but patience is rewarded, and you will be quickly addicted once the real action begins.

Many of the characters may seem to follow typical shounen conventions, but don’t mistaken them for your average shounen archetype. For example, while Gon is a determined protagonist with incredible potential, he is often outmatched by clearly superior opponents. In fact, he is portrayed as one of the weaker characters for much of the series. His best friend, Killua Zoldyck, is a cold-blooded assassin who initially seems invincible, but in spite of this, he really is just a fun-loving kid trying to abandon his ruthless methods. Also, as the series progresses, we realize he is far from invincible, and he mentally breaks down when facing stronger enemies. There are many other interesting characters as well, such as Kurapika, an outwardly rational person who really is seeking revenge against the mysterious Genei Ryodan organization after they wiped out his clan, as well as Hisoka, Leorio, etc.

Perhaps the aspect that Hunter x Hunter excels best is in its depiction of the relationships between characters. The pairing of ostensibly polar personalities in Gon and Killua is fun to watch, and we see both of them flourish under the encouragement of one another. Then there’s Hisoka, the creepy, possibly pedophilic clown guy who’s also one of the strongest characters in the anime. He’s a sadist whose only goal is to fight and kill powerful opponents, so he essentially protects his budding seeds (Gon and Killua) until they are ripe for consumption. Anyone who interferes with their developments will likely be killed. The relationships between the various members of the Genei Ryodan are unconventional for your average evil organization. Unlike in other series, in which other members usually mock their fellow colleagues when they’re defeated, some of these guys legitimately care about other members and their well-beings. This is ironic given the nature of the group, a fact later pointed out by Gon.

The fighting and ki abilities, called Nen, in this series definitely diverge from the norm. First of all, major battles aren’t as plentiful as in other shounens. Sure, there is some fighting in each episode, but you’re not gonna see a hundred different fights here. Although the plot isn’t mind-bogglingly complex, this shounen is much more plot-driven rather than just being based all around fighting. As for Nen, this is easily one of the most intricate systems of energy I’ve seen. Basically, all Nen users fall into six different categories: transformation, reinforcement, manipulation, materialization, emission, and specialization. Their hatsu, or unique technique, is centered on one of these groups, and while people can use abilities from other groups, they aren’t nearly as strong as their abilities from their own group. I do have a gripe with the specialization group though, given its “break all rules of Nen” possibilities. Furthermore, there are many basic techniques that Nen users must master, such as hiding their aura, seeing others’ auras, and controlling the distribution of Nen throughout the body in order to defend from attacks and deal stronger blows. While overall power certainly is a major factor to the outcome of fights, this system provides for a much more strategic way of fighting. You don’t necessarily have to be the stronger person to win a fight. Also, you definitely won’t see any random ass pull power ups at critical points of fights.

The artwork is somewhat dated, but it’s understandable since it was made a decade ago. In fact, it’s arguably more preferable, as it gives the show a darker feel to it. By the second OVA though, the animation quality improves dramatically, and designs are slicker, brighter, and more colorful. The music is decent, nothing groundbreaking. It helps enhance the drama of many scenes like it’s supposed to. I especially like the second OP of the main series, which gives an apt atmosphere to that portion of the show.

Ultimately, the anime ends before the manga does at somewhat of a cliffhanger. I would argue that this is probably more preferable than a continuation of the manga because the story diverts from the main plot into its longest arc yet, one that is not very good. Nonetheless, it leaves many unresolved questions unfortunately, but it’s still a great ending. The mangaka also created Yu Yu Hakusho, and you can definitely see similarities, especially in some of the characters’ personalities, but in my opinion, Hunter x Hunter is superior in every facet, including characterization. Shounens aren’t meant to be taken too seriously, but this is one of the few that has substance rather than just the appeal of violence. The genre is stale for the most part, but Hunter x Hunter is one of its few gems. Definitely one of the best.