I think every show has its merits, but the great ones make us feel different afterward. Hunter x Hunter left me with a bittersweet aftertaste that I still can’t comprehend. I never found closure after 148 episodes, yet there was no doubt in my mind that I had experienced a work of art.
Story
Hunter x Hunter immerses you in the world of Hunters, versatile individuals who are always on the hunt. Some hunters unearth treasures and eliminate threats to society, while others enjoy the detours of life. Twelve-year-old Gon aspires to become a Hunter, just like his absent father, who abandoned him in favour of adventure.
The open-ended premise enables varied storytelling. Seven arcs (arcs are collections of consecutive episodes) comprise Hunter x Hunter, and each one has a distinct identity (different storylines). The Hunter Exam arc is innocent, focusing on the budding friendship between Gon and Killua. Meanwhile, the Chimera Ant arc tackles war, humanity, and the question, “what creates a monster?”
Hunter x Hunter covers a diverse range of topics, but the show never undergoes a genre crisis. I would argue that it’s a coming of age. The plot thrusts the characters into grim situations that force maturity. They gain physical power and mental endurance at the cost of losing any sliver of childhood they once had.
Nen is Hunter x Hunter’s power system. It isn’t the most intuitive, but it distills down to aura manipulation. Each character develops a personalized fighting style, and the nuances prevent arbitrary victories. Gon can’t win just because he wants to. There has to be some form of sacrifice on his end. Hunter x Hunter’s payoff is breathtaking, and the story holds its shape without defying logic and reason.
Characters
Killua is one of my favourite characters. He’s stealthy and calm, almost to the point of nonchalance. He brought a skateboard to the first stage of the Hunter Exam while everyone else ran. Killua is astute, thoughtful, and mischievous, but he struggles with self-worth. His upbringing as an assassin destroyed his youth. After fleeing his family, he befriends Gon, but his newfound contentment isn’t a sense of purpose. He’s plagued with qualms and lacks drive. I think Killua’s growth is compelling because it exists in a grey zone between heartbreaking and heartwarming.
Gon is the loud, opinionated, and hopelessly stubborn protagonist of Hunter x Hunter. A hotheaded character like Gon is necessary for propelling the story forward, but I preferred the supporting cast. Kurapika (a character in Hunter x Hunter) approaches Nen and vengeance from an interesting angle. Hunter x Hunter villains are menacing and charismatic, especially Hisoka, Chrollo, and Meruem.
Art, Animation, Sound
I’ve never been a harsh critic of art and animation. As long as it’s colourful and moving, I tend to think it’s high quality. Hunter x Hunter is consistently well animated, but the climax of the arcs are spectacles. Despite some repetitive tracks, the sound is memorable and sets the tone. The narration fades into the credits at the end of each episode, and it’s pure bliss.
Too Long, Didn’t Read
Hunter x Hunter is an amazing show. But, the uncomfortable reality is that this is a series that may never end. It’s infamous for slipping into hiatuses, but it’s hard to label two years of inactivity as a pause when it feels like a permanent halt. If you decide that loving something is worth the pain of losing it, then you should probably watch Hunter x Hunter.