* * *Spoiler free* * *
I can't deny that I knew I was going to love this show from the get-go. I grew up watching Yuu Yuu Hakusho when Adult Swim was first airing it in the early 2000's, and I used to wish I could be as slick as fourteen year old Yusuke Urameshi. My brother and I would pretend we were the protagonists and he'd beat the absolute shit out of me (as strange as it sounds those were defining childhood memories for me). In addition, it was my first exposure to anime (aside from Pokémon, but let's just slide that under the
...
rug for now), so naturally I have a soft spot for Togashi's works.
Hunter x Hunter is the spiritual successor to YYH, and having watched both, I would certainly say that HxH is a vast improvement in Togashi's authorship. It's not a masterpiece, but it's damn good. If you are choosing between watching the '99 and '11 adaptations... without a doubt, choose this version. The '99 version dropped the ball, but fortunately Madhouse nailed it the second time around. I was brought to tears, I laughed, I felt the immense tension, and I admired the characters. I loved it all.
Story- 8/10
Adventure, action, mystery, suspense, a dash of romance here and there- the whole shebang. As I mentioned before it's not perfect, but it certainly exceeds expectations. The lore and plot are fairly solid. There are few plot holes, (nothing goes unexplained, and the explanations never made me feel like the writers thought I was a retard *cough cough DATTEBOYO*) and everything culminates coherently/satisfyingly in the ending.
I'm aware that the manga is ongoing, but I felt that the final episode was a perfect ending to the adventures of Gon and his unlikely best friend Killua, so I'm fine with the show being put on hiatus. Admittedly, I don't wish for the series to continue because it could lose momentum and lessen the story we've already been given.
Art- 10/10
Gorgeous. Just gorgeous. The world of HxH is fleshed out very well and has various haunting, beautiful, and dangerous settings. The animation is unique and flows smoothly. The fights grow increasingly intense as the story progresses, and they are some of the fastest paced/ well choreographed fights I've ever seen in anime. Extremely visually pleasing.
Sound- 9/10
The soundtrack is great. Some of the tracks that are thrown into the mix are absolutely perfect (in particular, a few of the tracks that are used in the tail-end of the series). SFX of the fights and powers all sound superb as well.
Character- 10/10
This category is where Hunter x Hunter shines. The characters and their developments are extremely well thought out and often impressed me. There are so many characters to love and to hate. It's rare that a series can present defining characters AND develop them with careful planning and meaningful conflict. I could go on and on for hours about why I hated or loved the characters that stood out. I'm not one to lose sleep over what happens to characters I don't like/care about, but I found myself immediately invested in many HxH characters; right from the beginning there were quite a few characters that I hoped would/wouldn't die. *Clap clap*
Enjoyment- 9/10
I enjoyed all aspects. I thoroughly enjoyed the story that unfolded between our protagonists Gon and Killua. Some would say that Gon is the "main character", but I disagree with that. I believe that the core of this series is about the relationship between the two. Gon, a simple minded yet strong willed child, becomes a hunter to track down his runaway father, meeting Killua at the start of this quest. The prodigal Killua wants to escape the life his father has laid out for him as successor of the 'family business'. So, the two team up and set out on their respective mission, forming an unbreakable bond along the way.
Overall- 10/10
It's a really well rounded show and I'd absolutely recommend it. If anything, at least add it to your plan to watch list; it's certainly worth a try. The power scaling is decent and the events that unfold seem believable within the bounds of the inexplicable world of Hunter x Hunter. I know that I sound like a raging fan boy but I didn't expect to like this show as much as I did.
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May 16, 2015
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
(Anime)
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* * *Spoiler free* * *
I can't deny that I knew I was going to love this show from the get-go. I grew up watching Yuu Yuu Hakusho when Adult Swim was first airing it in the early 2000's, and I used to wish I could be as slick as fourteen year old Yusuke Urameshi. My brother and I would pretend we were the protagonists and he'd beat the absolute shit out of me (as strange as it sounds those were defining childhood memories for me). In addition, it was my first exposure to anime (aside from Pokémon, but let's just slide that under the ... 
Feb 24, 2013
Genma Taisen
(Anime)
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After getting a good laugh from the infamous Mars of Destruction, I decided to watch Genma Taisen thinking that I would have a somewhat similar experience. I was gravely mistaken...
Story- 2/10 Typical save the world from the bad guy plot. Things happen for no apparent reason, and anytime something did happen I felt like punching myself in the throat. Art- 3/10 Still frames, expressionless faces, recycled/ choppy animations, and horribly drawn backdrops (with the exception of a few decently animated scenes). Nothing much else to say here. Sound- 3/10 Below average voice acting. Terrible soundtrack. Cheesy sound effects (this is a plus though). Again, nothing much else to say. ... |
