Hunter x Hunter (2011)

I think the word "Genius" is used quite casually these days ,but Yoshihiro Togashi is a GENIUS !

Hunter x Hunter (2011) is a matserpiece.

As someone who experienced media in all its different forms : movies , TV shows , animes ... i can firmly say that this work of art has become my favorite piece of fiction EVER.
This is not only thanks to the amazing qualities this shows has but also due to the simple fact that it "clicked " with me.
Watching HxH felt like someone dived into my mind and knew exactly what would make a show not only perfect but also transcendental for me .

Yes for me HxH was beyond perfect , and I am gonna go through the many reasons that makes it so.
for starters , i believe that describing it as a battle shonen is a bit deceitful to non-viewers because it's a mixing of a lot of things , which brings us to the first point.

1. The diversity : almost every arc in HxH can be its own anime. Personally I have never seen this done before , at least not to this extent.

HxH goes from a deadly exam to a standard tournament arc to a dark psychological mafia-war thriller to a virtual reality video-game, to an "alien" invasion , and finally to a breathtaking politcal game of chess !! yes I know , it's quite the ride.

1. The story : this is probably my favorite thing about the show.

Not only the story is quite gripping , but the way it's told is quite masterful. I think that this is where Togashi's genius shines the most , the transtitions from arc to arc , the unparalelled character developpment , the rich dialogue , the attention to details , the use of the narrator ... all of these are what make HxH stand out from other animes. Our one of a kind writer seems to have the intuitive ability to always make the write decision at the right time and he does so ,quite consistently throughout the show.

1. The animation : despite how incredible the manga is , HxH is one of the examples where the adaptation elevates its source material even higher. Madhouse put their heart and soul into HxH (2011) , and you can see that quite clearly through the stunning animation. Not only HxH's animation surpass most of nowadays's animes , but it goes toe to toe with the best of the best , demon slayer , chainsaw man , jujutsu kaisen , you name it.

so watching it today won't make you even consider the idea that it started airing 12 years ago.

1. The OST : the score in HxH is awe-inspiring , and is used quite well. it makes the sad moments gut-wrenching , the suspensful scenes breathtaking and the legendary ones even more epic.

1. the villains : bringing this up makes me doubt my second point about Togashi's storytelling being his biggest forte , because the villains in this show are simply unmatched. not only that their writing is incredible but the cast itself is quite large : Meruem and the royal guards , Chrollo and the phantom troupe , Hisoka , Illumi , Pariston ... and especially the legendary Tonpa XD. All of these guys are not mere antagonists , but they're characters with their own motivations , unique personalities and badass powers that make them even the more vivid.

Watching HxH for the villains alone would be worth it.

1. The power system : i know everyone has their own opinion and everything but i think that anyone who thinks that there is a power system better than nen is ... Ahem , excuse for saying ... quite delusional. I am sorry but it's the truth. it's not even close. the amount of thought that Togashi must have put into this must be jaw-dropping. like one of the critics once said : "Nen is explained so thoroughly that you almost think it could exist"

Couldn't say it better myself.

1. The fights : and the power system is what makes the fights in HxH amazing. Most of the time nen battles depend heavily on how the abilities are used rather than sheer power. experience play a big role too , and a good plan will only increase your chance of victory. So it is not uncommon for a weaker character to win a battle because they were smarter in using their abilities. And that's what makes the clashes interesting !!

1. The worldbuilding : HxH literally shines on all fronts , even worldbuilding. the way Togashi keeps on expanding the universe is nothing short of brilliant. the different locations , the unique cultures , the diverse factions ... All of these qualities make HxH's worldbuilding on par with one piece , made in abyss , tower of god ... Episode 148 is probably the GREATEST episode in terms of worldbuilding in all anime.

So there you have it. if you didn't watch Hunter x Hunter (2011) already , do yourself a favor and go start it right now. keep in mind that HxH is a series that rewards you depending on how much you've put into it. and it gets better with every episode. so if you reach episode 47 and still think it's nothing special , then this anime might not be for you.