So, a little bit about myself I've been watching anime for years now all the way ever since Dragon Ball Z used to air on Cartoon Network (the good ol' days). So I've watched my fair share of anime since from all sorts of genres. I've watched Naruto, My Hero Academia, Full Metal Alchemist, Death Note, Attack On Titan and all other giants. Out of hundreds of anime I've watched only a few hit hard as HXH. After watching all these shounen, watching Hunter X Hunter feels like watching The Dark Knight after completing the MCU. Hunter X Hunter is probably the best shounen anime and this comes from a guy who has watched shounen anime all his life. Nevertheless, it's only my opinion and in this article, I'll share my experience with the show and why I love it
The first compliment which I can use for the show is "It is not your typical shounen anime." If you're a beginner then I won't recommend it to you or if you want to watch shounen then I'd recommend titles such as Naruto or My Hero Academia, these two are also great shounen anime. To make your viewing experience better let me sort somethings. The Hunter X Hunter anime has two adaptations, one adapted in 1999 and the other in 2011 which are the same in terms of story but differ in terms of animation. I haven't watched the '99 version but those who have watched it said that the 2011 remake is better because of the animation studio MADHOUSE. So HXH is set in a world where exists fearsome monsters, exotic creatures vast treasures and unexplored lands and some incredible people who are drawn to the "unknown" are called Hunters. Becoming a licensed Hunter is extremely difficult and a person has to go through a lot of mental and physical challenges.
Our protagonist Gon sets out to become a Hunter just like his father who left him as a baby to continue being a Hunter. At the onset, HXH would seem like your typical shounen with bright colour panels and everything seems about it average let alone be it great. But don't let a couple of episodes deceive you. Once the story is set which takes some time, then Hunter X Hunter goes past your expectations in more ways than one and all in a good sense.
One of the strongest highlights of the show is its vast roster of characters. Every character is complex, multilayered, and unique which brings their mix to the show. Every character has its motives and intentions and serves their interests instead of just being there for the sake of the plot. No character ever outshines another. Hunter X Hunter has some of the best character development in the anime medium. It provides some of the best characters such as my favourite: Hisoka(Fun fact: Do you know Bungee Gum possesses properties of both rubber and gum). And Killua, who is a master when it comes to battle strategies and extremely calm demeanour which helps him assess each situation carefully. Kurapika who's entire character is written around revenge goes on to spare the life of his enemy if he answers Kurapika's questions with honesty. This duality is a masterful summary of Hunter X Hunter's innate ability to churn out multilayered characters
Now let's talk a little bit about the villains of the series. Any series is only good as its villains and I am here to the Hunter X Hunter has some of the best villains. Hisoka is always fun to watch whenever he's on-screen. The villains are complex and have their lives just like everyone else. They're not just there for the protagonist to overcome and most of the villains don't even consider an eleven-year-old to be worth being troubled for. Characters such as Hisoka and Chrollo aren't written around Gon, they serve the grand purpose of introducing us to the world and its complexities. The "villains" don't kill their own just because they lost to the protagonist, on the contrary, they mourn for the fallen and vow to avenge them just as any real person would do.
One more outstanding thing about the series is its power system, Nen and how consistent the show is in delivering it. Every shounen series is incomplete without fight scenes and Hunter X Hunter has its fair shares of beautifully choreographed and animated fights. Unlike typical shounen anime where having higher power is the only way to win a fight, this is not the case with Hunter X Hunter. A lot of fights come down to who's fighting who also where are they are fighting(territory advantage) and when are they fighting. The fights are never stretched for episodes and are creative and different from each other. Having a higher power level isn't the only way to win a battle, careful planning and strategizing against your opponent proves pivotal in series. One thing I love is that no matter what, you just cannot win with the power of love and friendship. There's no way that Gon can defeat a character such as Netero without training for tens of years.
It's a show with real consequences. There's no way that an action or mistake won't have a reaction or repercussion in the series. Every action is permanent and cannot be undone. Every decision our protagonist or the cast takes seems natural and logical against the worst of circumstances. The show does not shy away from getting dark and it has its fair share of gore and violence.
It's a show written with such a sense of maturity. To save the day some eleven years old are not sent but the ones who have a job to do so are the ones that go. The world-building is mind-blowing. The power scaling is consistent. The animation is top-notched and there are still many things that I haven't covered or couldn't cover because of going into the spoiler category.
In conclusion, Hunter X Hunter is a masterpiece and everyone should experience it. Just watch the show patiently and the storyline and plot won't disappoint. Hope to see you guys soon. Peace.
