Review of Hunter x Hunter

First time reviewing but upon finishing this series, I just had to (that's how much I enjoyed it). I've been watching anime for a very long time, but Hunter x Hunter is the first in a very long time that had me so invested, and probably the first to do so to this extent. Story: It begins with a simple premise, with the protagonist Gon, a 12 year old boy, setting off to become a hunter: a profession that is supposedly so demanding and fulfilling that Gon's father chose to abandon Gon as a child in order to pursue it. Gon hopes to become a hunterin order to meet his father, Ging, but also to see for himself what was so great about it in the first place. That's the beginning and overarching plot that classically gets complicated with villains and conflicts that sprout up along the way.

The story might seem immature and like a cliche shounen to some viewers, but in later arcs things get much deeper and even darker, despite how cheery and optimistic it seems in the beginning. I for one actually do adore the beginning arc as it introduces us to the characters in a lighthearted setting rather than putting on all the heaviness and pressure from the get-go. Within a couple arcs, I personally believe pacing is a bit questionable; there are some sequences, such as action sequences later on, that add on more run time than is necessary, but it's never anything that stops me from being engaged by what's going on in the plot.

Art:
The art has a bright, cheery look, but it's very clean and the animation is beautiful. As the mood of the show changes, the colors often follow suit—the later, darker arcs will not be that bright color pallet of the first few episodes. I've also watched the 1999 HxH and see that many are not fans of the bright colors of the 2011 adaptation, but I personally think it suits the atmosphere, especially in the beginning, with the premise of a child protagonist setting off on an adventure for the first time.

Sound:
Sound is one of the things that sticks out most to me in HxH. Voice acting, to me, was spot on—Gon's headstrong, naive attitude of a child is reflected well in his voice. The rest of the main cast also had voices that I thought suited them really well, especially Killua and Hisoka (I also thought Kurapika's softer voice that well matched his demeanor, and Leorio's was of course very lovable with the sort of brash, attempting-to-be-the-cool-guy quality).

The soundtrack is also amazing, there are many specific moments of the anime that I look back on specifically because of how much the OST contributed to them, which is always a good sign. Themes like Kingdom of Predators really make this anime's OST stand out from the rest, if you're a fan of orchestral themes then you'll enjoy this. I know there are people who get annoyed that the opening theme is the same throughout the anime, but I personally am impressed at how the opening goes along with the show no matter what point of the show it is, and it's enjoyable to see how it's animated differently as the story arcs change. The ending credits are also phenomenal—these do change, and suit their corresponding arcs.

Character:
This is by far the fastest 10 I'll give in this review. I find that Hunter x Hunter has something that many shows or any form of narrative struggles to do, and that is to provide lovable characters that still have astounding development. Gon pretty much embodies the character you root for; he's kind to those around him, always gives 100%, and the idea of him having such developed strength and senses while living on his island is such a fun concept. But he's not the typical shounen character that will win every fight or can get out of any pinch if he sees his friends are in trouble; he does fail, he does have shortcomings, and he has to be saved by other characters rather than the other way around. He's not invincible, and even his goody-two-shoes personality only goes so far; at the end of the day, he is just a kid who will sometimes act selfish because that's what kids do.

It's hard to talk about Gon without talking about Killua, who is the closest thing to a deuteragonist in the anime and becomes like a foil to Gon. Killua and Gon seem to be on opposite sides of the spectrum in both personality and upbringing; Gon is upbeat, cheery to a fault and can be a bit dim at times, while Killua shoulders a rough childhood, is sly and clever. Without spoiling the show, I will say that they both show amazing development and their friendship is such a pleasure to witness—nothing superficial or questionable in their actions, you can just tell how much they care for each other and how they make each other grow.

Kurapika and Leorio are the other protagonists, who also have very distinct personalities and pasts that affect their worldview. While they are definitely not as much in the spotlight as Gon and Killua, they are still very compelling and make you wish to see them during instances they are not around. The last that is arguably in the main cast is Hisoka, who takes the guise of a villain early on but comes around as more of a sinisterly neutral character as he gets more exposure.

Enjoyment:
Nowadays I get a little hesitant when I see something over 25 or so episodes purely because I worry that things will drag on or other problems may arise far down the road. But I was so entertained by HxH's first couple episodes and ended up staying for the ride, and it only got better and better. New viewers may want to note that this anime is based off of the manga by Togashi Yoshihiro, and so it ends where the manga had been left off at the time. While it did make me antsy simply because I loved the anime so much and wanted more content, I do have to say that these 148 episodes are still a tightly knit, well executed package that was incredibly enjoyable in its entirety.

So if you're a fan of an adventure-style story, or even if you're not but are willing to give something a shot if it has good characters that have development, then I definitely recommend this anime. Fights are satisfying, well thought out, and for the most part do not ever drag. Characters, as I've stated, are very lovably and will get you attached. The story keeps you entertained but still ends up going in directions that probably weren't anticipated (it happened a lot with me, especially with the famous Chimera Ant arc). If you're unsure, then just give it a try!

Overall: 10/10. I watched the 1999 version right after completing this one because the withdrawal was so bad—it'll probably be a matter of time before I'm rewatching this again from the beginning!