Hunter x Hunter

Hunter x Hunter is my favourite anime of all time. It is a timeless masterpiece that no other series thus far - even the 2011 remake - had been able to replicate. People often like to compare this to 2011 original, which is paced faster, brighter and much better animated. They say the 2011 is the superior show because it has none of the fillers. Indeed, most anime fillers are terrible. They're known as fillers because they break the momentum of whatever arc that's ongoing and are usually introduced as a way to buy time.

In the original hunter x hunter, however, the fillers are ... what built the momentum. In the 2011 version, we are introduced to a kid named Gon who wants to be a hunter and find his missing father. He meets 2 of his companions on a boat and they go on a journey together. That's it. The bare minimum. The original, however, broke this introduction into several episodes and created a sense of scale for the story's setting. We see how things come to be, where things are going, and we understand how perilous the journey is going to be. Each of the characters is carefully introduced. Their motivations and dreams are foreshadowed, giving you plenty of time to bind with them. There's also an unmistakenly mature undertone that's sorely missing in the remake.

In comparison, the 2011 version is like a kid show, whereas the original was a complete story for people who enjoys a good story told with care and love.

Even comparing to other animes, Hunter x hunter is ahead of its time. The soundtrack is nothing short of amazing (The opening song is the first Japanese song I learned to sing without actively learning because of how catchy it is). The voice actings are top notch. The sound effects - though simplistic - are extremely effective. The color of the anime is dull, clunky and washed out, but that's only compared to today's standard, and really shouldn't bother anyone. They give the anime a more grownup feel, which helps later on when the story took a dark turn during the York Shin Arc. In fact, there are few fight scenes where I feel the original did much better, if not more realistically.

As for the story, it is a de-constructions of shonen tropes done so masterfully many thought it was just the story about a typical shonen boy's journey to find his father.
Spoiler: it was not.

As a 12 years old kid, Gon possessed a moral ambiguity that almost seemed creepy at times. A normal boy would've reacted with scorn when he learned he had been abandoned by his father at birth. Not Gon. He looked up to his father, who chose his work over him, with revere. He's also not opposed to two people dueling with knife and swords on a boat that's caught in a terrible storm. There are many moments here in the original that establishes Gon as an interesting and worthy protagonist to follow.

In the 2011 version? He's a boy who wants to become a hunter and find his father. Done. Let's show the audience some fight scenes before they fall asleep.

The original hunter x hunter is an achievement because it established a few important things: (A) Fillers don't have to suck (B) Not staying faithful to the source material can be a good thing (C) When it comes to anime, you can still do a lot without all the fancy modern technologies. (If this anime doesn't convince you, look at Ghost in the Shell.)

Reading this review, you might think I have nothing good to say about the remake, but that's simply not true. The 2011 Hunter x Hunter is a very competent, enjoyable anime. However, the 1999 Hunter X Hunter is a timeless masterpiece. It's an anime that require you to invest some time to watch, but once you do, it is going to be an experience you'll never forget. Even if you've seen the remake or read the manga.

A must watch for all lovers of anime!

Hunter x Hunter is one of the most acclaimed shounen anime, as many people have watched the 2011 first. I watched this one first, and only switched to the 2011 version after the Greed Island OVA's. And let's just say I find this one to be the superior adaptation, even better than the manga, for several reasons.

Story - For those uniniciated, Hunter x Hunter is about the adventure of a young boy named Gon Freecs, who wants to be a Hunter - a proffesional bounty hunter of sorts - to find his missing dad. He's accompanied by Leorio Paladiknight, aspiring doctor, Killua Zoldyck, former ... assasin who run away from his family to find freedom and Kurapika, the last member of a clan who's looking for revenge - overcoming deadly obstacles along the way.

The story takes tons of interesting turns, with a compelling, interesting cast of characters. What this version has above the manga and remake, is the anime original scenes and episodes, which give the characters more depth, greater dynamics and allows you to sympathise with them more. Not to mention, this version properly adapts a plot point that gains importance later in the second anime, which it decided to skip for some reason.

Characters - Like I said, the characters are far more compelling and deep in this version. for example, Leorio meets Gon earlier in this anime and a small part of a later arc is far more clever thanks to this version's original episode, there's also far more emphasis on Killua's "dark side" making his relationship with Gon more complicated and interesting than the manga and 2011 anime.

Art - This is easily the best part of this anime. The beautiful backgrounds make the experience more inmersive, the use of colors and detail makes them seem like pieces of art in their own right worth of hanging in a wall. They make you feel like you're really there, or that you want to be there. Animation itself has a far more muted color scheme, but this only adds to the atmosphere the backgrounds create. This all sadly lost in the 2011 version, with the use of brighter colors and digital backgrounds.

Sound - Another great part about this anime. Background music conveys each scene's feeling perfectly, it's also carried by some of the best OP's and ED's in anime history for me. Every single one is great in their own right, weither it's cheerful like OP1, sentimental like ED1, experimental and grimm like OP2, or just a catchy banger like ED's 2 & 3.

Overall, this is a very recomendable experience, if you haven't watched Hunter x Hunter, I recommend starting with this version, watching the first OVA series, and switching to the 2011 remake at arround episode 59 instead of bothering with the dissapointingly inferior Greed Island OVA's... and that's another story.

ハンター×ハンタ ー Hunter X Hunter is a very well thought out fighting shounen and a true classic. You can expect a clever and entertaining fantasy plot with great adventures, lots of action around superpowers as well as drama and comedy with great characters and a very good and fitting music.

Story: simple, classic, but brilliantly developed complexity as series progresses (9/10)
Gon grew up with his aunt Mito-san, into whose care his father has left him since birth. On a fateful day, Gon realises that his father may still be alive and is desperate to meet him, but there's a small obstacle. His father is very ... well known and successful as a so-called "hunter", which means that he can be found everywhere and yet nowhere. To at least be able to look for him, he has to become a hunter himself. So Gon sets out on a journey, trying to pass the hunter's exam on the one hand, and finding the scattered clues to his father on the other, like a scavenger hunt. It sounds like a standard shounen pattern: he meets friends and enemies, goes on adventures and becomes stronger. But this anime has more to offer. The plot remains the central focus and the fights do not drift into mindless "beating up". Rather, the fights are the highlight of an arc. Opponents are observed, analysed and lessons are learned from the adventures and mistakes made. If an opponent is stronger, what they learn is used strategically. The so-called "Nen" system of paranormal abilities is also very well thought out. There are a number of rules that allow certain abilities to be learned and improved, but prevent others from being learned.

Characters: A large, varied and well-developed cast (9/10).
Hunter x Hunter scores well in the character category, despite the stereotypical limitations of fighting shounen anime. This is partly due to the variety of different characters, and partly to the fact that even the smaller roles don't make you feel like you're watching cardboard cutouts.
Freecss Gon:
He is good-natured and totally honest, so 100% cliché. But! despite his naivety, he always makes very wise and well thought out decisions throughout the series, without which there would be no progress. Furthermore, his development is very good. He becomes more thoughtful, uses his experience, but remains true to his nature. All in all, a really nice character and a real friend.
Paladiknight Leorio (-san ;-)
It's not often that I get to like the character of a comedian! Leorio is a really funny character and likeable because he is the "normal” guy. A cool dude with whom it would be fun to have a few drinks. A big plus of the show is that his character doesn't get stuck in comedy, but gets developed as well.
Kurapika:
He enters the scene at the same time as Leorio, but his story is by far the most bitter. His motivation is based on one of the deepest feelings a human can be driven to - revenge. In contrast to his calm and balanced nature, his emotional moments, when his senses (eyes) glow fiery, seem like unbridled frenzy. His development is a successful core element around the themes of camaraderie and friendship.
Zoldyck Killua:
He comes across as coolness itself, making him the perfect foil for Gon. As a duo, they are the perfect balance between Jing and Jang, and when they fight and sparks fly, they quickly make up. The way their friendship grows stronger from episode to episode is beautifully portrayed.
Hisoka:
One of the best portrayals of a vicious but charismatic opponent. You will be torn between hating him and being fascinated by him. Hisoka is a charismatic yet imposingly diabolical opponent! He is cunning, shrewd, devious, mean, stubborn and arrogant, making his profile menacingly unpredictable. It is an unfathomable mix of cunning and malevolence that makes people feel threatened. All in all, he is unmistakably unique and a truly well-drawn opponent. There are very few examples of such a convincing portrayal of a serious adversary who is so intriguingly multifaceted.
Hazama Nobunaga [Gen'ei Ryodan]:
The Gen'ei Ryodan is a notorious phantom force whose thirteen members are highly skilled Nen users with different personalities and abilities. Nanbunaga, for example, is authentic and understandable in his friendship with Uvougin; on the other hand, this attitude is rather bizarre for an assassin within the Gen'ei Ryodan. If I were going to review the 2011 remake, I would have chosen Pakunoda's personality, which is also very exciting. All of the members of the Gen'ei Ryodan are varied and intricately designed. Their appearance is always interesting and provides suspense.
Freecss Mito:
Mito-san is a very nice example of how even a minor character who has no great influence on the course of the series has been realised with great attention to detail. I really liked her very believable and successful portrayal.

Visuals: Outdated, but the quality improves as the series progresses and the budget increases (7/10).
Although the character design from the manga by Yoshihiro Togashi is well realised and all the characters have a typical shounen look with nice quirks, the art may put off those who don't like old anime. The colour scheme also tends to be very dark and the animation is a little choppy at times. For viewers accustomed to the CGI standards of today's anime productions, the visuals of the first arc of "Hunter x Hunter (1999)" in particular may be a disappointment. At times, the character sketches are not very well drawn, but the quality of the art improves as the series progresses. Regardless of this weakness, the art style of the 1999 version is more appropriate compared to the 2011 version, as the characters are generally less exaggerated and the mood is, quite appropriately, a little darker.
As with the art, the animation is a little dated, but the quality improves significantly as the series progresses. Despite still using stills and speedlining, the fight scenes have become more detailed and much smoother, although they are still very fast at times. In adapting the manga, Nippon Animation has reduced the explicitness of many violent scenes without compromising the dramatic quality of the fights. As the manga was not finished at the time of production, the series was later continued with OVAs. With the exception of the third OVA, these are of good quality in terms of art and animation. Unfortunately, the third OVA "Final" has a visual quality comparable to the beginning of the main series. Nevertheless, the viewer is presented with a great, colourful and atmospheric anime fantasy world.

Music: Fits the atmosphere well, good OP/EP & VA (8/10).
The background music is very good, fits the mood of the scenes very well and motivates you to keep watching.
The theme songs are
OP 1: "Ohayou" is sung by Keno, is great to listen to and gets the audience in the right mood for the upcoming episode. The animation is very fitting, showing the main characters marching off together to their upcoming adventures.
OP 2: "Taiyou wa Yoru mo Kagayaku" is sung by Wino. Even though it fits into the story arc and the animation and music are good, I couldn't listen to the singing and always skipped it.
ED 1: "Kaze no Uta" is sung by Minako Honda. It is a very emotional arrangement and really beautiful because of the temperament in her voice and performance.
ED 2: "E-jan: Do You Feel Like I Feel?" sung by Nagai Masato. At first you think it sounds weird, but it becomes cool and just happy-rocking.
ED 3: "Hotaru" is again by Nagai Masato, a cool J-Pop track with the above mentioned funny, weird voice.
The dubbing leaves nothing to be desired. The list of seiyû includes many well-known actors, such as Hozumi Gouda [Mr Leorio] or Akiko Kimura [Mito-San]. A great achievement is also the dubbing of Kurapika's voice, which is done by Miyuki Sawashiro and I found it very pleasant due to the good intonation. I also really liked the dialogue direction. The conversations are conducted in a way that is appropriate for the target audience, but still meaningful and well explained.

Hunter x Hunter is a cool fighting shounen anime that I really want to recommend. In terms of story, development, complexity and balance between action and seriousness, it still sets the standard for the genre, regardless of its age.
All in all, this is one of the best shounen series to date. For those who may not like the 1999 series for its visuals, I take the liberty to offer the following alternative. The 2011 remake follows the plot of the original series and the OVAs and goes beyond them with an additional story arc.

Thank you for reading and have fun watching.

This anime is pretty old, but it's still amazing to watch. I guess the best part about this anime is Gon. He's a great choice for a main character. When I see Gon, it reminds me of my cousin. He's so wonderful, and forgiving, and just really innocent. Though he's only a year younger then me, it seems that he is so much more pure then everyone else. Gon is like that.

Away from Gon, the other charactors were well writen too. Kurapica, Leorio, and Killua were also well designed. Killua being cunning, and seemingly careless, but can become really dangerous; Leorio who's careless and sometimes ... lazy actually has a serious cause; Kurapica, who's always so troubled can also smile and laugh with everyone else. I feel that the characters are very well developed, and it gives the feeling that something interesting is gonna happen.

The animation was well done. Especially in the episode where Killua was holding a heart. It looked very realistic. There was suddenly a very scary side to Killua even though we already know he's an assasin. As if it was real, the heart kept on pounding too!

This is an anime that i find worth while to watch. ^^

One of those anime i really liked in the end of the 20th century, while for me the ONLY complaint was the ending, they made it up by making an ova serie´s. The chara. development and storyline really was one of the most interesting i´ve ever seen for an martial arts show, kiddo´s animation style mixed with some more mature looking animation, and ofc, trying to be a hunter. I liked the fact that u never expect whats gonna happen directly like powers development kidnappings and murders, verey well done. Another complaint was that the main villian was too soft, did only 1 freakin move ... and just was killed by a chain wrapped aroung his heart! anyway i mostly enjoyed it!

This is a Shōnen about adventure, contradiction, learning, fighting, laughter and friendship.

It is not a typical Shōnen, because here we can question the actions of the character without an explanation if he is right or not. We follow a team of four young people learning how a magical world works but very similar to our world.

This is not a Shōnen for those under 13 years old, yes, it can be naive and purely funny, but the learnings and reflection that the narrative offers, it is the most impressive legacy.

I only recommend the versions dubbed in Spanish (Latin America), Italian, Arabic ignoring many others, the ... English dubbing changes as usual many terms and characterization of many characters.

This is a must-see anime for anyone who feels this is an art.

You're wondering whether you should invest your time watching this anime. The short answer is you probably shouldn't, you should be out conquering the real world, but if you got some time to spare you would do well to watch this series.

It looks like it's made for little kids on first glance, it's almost as naive as Dragonball and the premise sounds strange. Yet, it has a surprising level of depth and is well written. Unlike DBZ where you wait for power ups and growls, this story progresses realistically, without being too serious. You can take what you want out of ... this series, whether you want action, drama, sci fi, you name it, it's in there. And it's all done very well, without the cheesy plots you'd half expect.

Subtract the art and sound and you've got an anime that is better than most animes, and the art and sound grow on you after a while.

Hunter x Hunter have the most brilliant story of friendship i ever saw in a anime and i never get tired of watching that anime, the ovas are realy good and i recomend.
Story:10-Maybe its not a brilliant story for the most of the people but i realy like the story it draws our attention and we never get tired.
Art:7-well its a 1999 anime so what could we expect of art ham...? well when u get used to watch hunter x hunter i will stop Cary about the art :P.
sound:10:-I never like to discuss this part because i don't have much to say about ... this its just a 10 this is something too much particular to be discussed by me i think this is a too much personal opinion :P
Characters:10-I really like the story i think Leorio is the funny guy that tries to hide hes fillings Kurapica he only thinks about revenge but he knows how to be a good friend, hes loyal and kind, Killua he have like duple personality sometimes hes good and king and other times hes just violent and don't care about what hes doing is wrong or right (an assassin) and finally Gon Freecs, hes loyal kind realy positive that maintains the group solid and together.
Enjoyment:10- ill say just watch yourself and you´ll see (to some people the first episodes are a ->little10 Ardinayka

This show manages to be highly entertaining thanks to its unique blend of animation, characterization, and plot, without resorting to the cliches that often ruin similar shows.

The story of Hunter X Hunter is imaginative and vibrant yet easy to follow. It's clear from the start that the series is about Gon reuniting with his father, but the path to achieving this goal is full of twists and turns that keep the story fresh. We are taken on a journey through a variety of offbeat situations, from the dangerous wilderness to a battle-stage tower with over 200 floors of increasingly difficult fighting tournaments. These situations help ... us understand the lead character's motivations and become invested in his cause. The other prominent cast members, including Killua, Leorio, and Kurapica, are also well-developed, with attention paid to their individual stories. If there's any issue with the storytelling, it's that it takes a few episodes to really get going.

I was surprised at how lightly the plot focuses on fighting in Hunter X Hunter, considering that the author's previous work, Yu Yu Hakusho, was often centered around battles. Although there are fights in Hunter X Hunter, they never steal the spotlight from the rest of the story. The action is complex and engaging, with a unique power-leveling system and diverse combat styles that make each fight interesting. Unlike other fighting anime, the battle scenes here add to the tension and excitement of the plotline.

I found the most remarkable aspect of Hunter X Hunter is its characters. Unlike many similar shows, the cast here is not generic or formulaic. The lead character, Gon, is a charismatic young boy with a refreshing optimism and innocence. Interestingly, he's never the strongest character on the screen, which sets him apart from other Shonen heroes. His goal isn't to be the strongest in existence but to better himself. His best friend, Killua, provides a darker counterpoint to Gon's lightness. They make for an interesting pair of friends. The other characters, such as Leorio and Kurapica, are complex and well-developed. Leorio is a man haunted by his past, motivated to do good for humanity, while Kurapica is driven by revenge, a motivation that's out of character for him. The interplay between these vastly different personalities is what makes Hunter X Hunter so engaging.

If you have watched the new 148 episode series and are here, then this is the review you need to read.

Personally, I love my shounen but I'm not an obsessee by any rate. I love dabbling in all the genres, and when shounen gets 'too' shounen I usually get sick of it. I liked the 'new' series because it balanced plot with fight scenes and emotions and was overall very interesting and fun to watch, in addition to being pretty easy to binge.

That being said, I watched this series because I usually like watching all versions and related things to a franchise once ... I start it. While that was my only reason at the time, I have realized that the original is somewhat of a hidden gem for anyone who liked the original. So if you're a hardcore fan of the manga or the new HxH, you're in the right place.

In means of the plot, the show covers everything the new show covers, and it seems to be very faithful to the same strict plot. There are a few things (like an extra stage/different stage in the Hunter Exam, a few extra interactions or happenings that didn't happen in the new one) but more or less even the exact lines are almost the same.

The art is the main difference, mostly because it's an older anime. However, they put a lot of work into it and you can tell. It's not grating on the eyes at all; it's actually a very smooth watch if you can get used to it in the first few episodes.

As for the sound, other than the closing and opening music, there isn't a lot since there aren't even full 'classic' anime openings or closings. It's more of a jingle if you ask me. The background music suits everything really well and the show ends the last episode with a very long song and montage, which was all very nice. The voice actors were mostly good at their jobs. I was a little put off by Gon's English dub actor because I felt like everything was a little forced, and this applied to some other actors as well, but mostly it was tolerable. Old English dubs really aren't the best.

The characters, on the other hand, I feel like this is where this series shines in comparison to the newer one. Somehow, they managed to show nuances of the characters that I didn't really watch in the new show. It's genius in its simplicity that conveys so much.

Overall, I enjoyed this a lot. Some parts feel a little draggy if you've already read the manga or watched the newer series because it follows it so faithfully it may just feel like you're rewatching. But if you just want to see HxH again, I would definitely recommend just watching this for a taste of something new yet old at the same time. :)

I would recommend this if: you enjoyed the new series, you like 'vintage' things, you like classic shounen

I would NOT recommend this if: you didn't enjoy the new series, you don't like 'old' animation, you can't stand old English dub voices (unless you can find a sub; I couldn't)

Have a great day everyone!

Note: Bear in mind that it has been two years since I first watched this show, so my memory is a little blurry in some places. I also haven't seen the Greed Island OVA, so know that this review isn't for that arc in particular. This review will also contain small spoilers, but I've outlined where they are.
Thanks!

Hi! This is my first review, and it's of a series I believe is quite criminally underrated. Whilst it does obviously lack in some areas when being compared to its newer, more polished and content-packed younger adaption, I think it still has some moments that genuinely made me ... wish were included in the 2011 adaption.

For those that don't know, Hunter X Hunter is a narrative about a boy named Gon Freecs, who decides that he wishes to follow in his father's footsteps to become a professional hunter. He also dreams that someday he'll find his dad. Before one can become a hunter, however, they must undertake the rigorous and deadly Hunter Exam, which is where the story first starts. It's an intriguing premise, but due to the fact that this is a shonen, you'll have undoubtedly seen a bunch of other series with premises not too dissimilar. Where Hunter X Hunter distinguishes itself, then, is through its little twists and turns that'll keep you guessing as to what'll happen next, (coming from a viewer that had seen multiple shonens at this point). It also has fantastic, well-nuanced protagonists that don't feel like the world bends to their will. Overall, it's very well rounded.

Story: 9
I don't wish to spoil any moments in particular, but Yoshihiro Togashi, (the author of the manga that this was adapted from) is great at setting up instances that you expect will go exactly how you'd think, before completely going in the other direction, or cutting off whatever you'd expect entirely. Some of this is seen here, (particularly towards the end), but you will want to move on to the superior 2011 version to see these subversions in their entirety. This adaption only covers up to the Yorknew City arc, which is honestly one of the most well-written arcs in either series. Given that almost everything the story has in this adaptation is also included in the 2011 version, I want to talk about what that series doesn't have. In particular, its filler episodes, which are honestly some of the best filler episodes I've seen in any shonen. Unlike most filler, these episodes actually complement the characters really well, as they create instances where they give HxH's lesser-known cast members more development. Sure, it may not be canonical to the plot, or add any intricate details that are required to know for later plot points. They just make the characters feel more realistic and well-rounded.
There's a great moment in particular in the 1999 version that honestly made me dislike the Zevil Island sub-arc in the 2011 version, just because it omitted a sequence that really, REALLY complemented the arc in my opinion. That sequence was *SPOILERS* after Gon's first major encounter with Hisoka, in which you can wholly feel Gon's pain and suffering. The sequence is dragged out just enough to really make you question whether or not Gon will get through the exam at all, as it cemented the sheer difference in power between the protagonist and the antagonist. The scene just felt so cold to me, and the music really helped convey the piercing, dark bite of defeat. As mentioned earlier, this entire sequence was shortened to the point where you didn't really feel much, if any of Gon's emotion in the 2011 version. The 1999 sequence also gave more weight to the scene where Kurapika comforts Gon on his bitter defeat. *END SPOILERS*
It's instances like that that made me appreciate the 1999 version for focusing more on emotions and dragging out some areas to give a lot more weight. The newer adaption definitely does do this in the later arcs, but the 1999 version was never able to get to those arcs thanks to Togashi having a bad back.
This section went on longer than I had expected. Woops!

Art: 7
The art isn't particularly amazing, given that it is quite an old anime by today's standards. One thing I did like though was that the art had a darker tonal feel to it, in that darker shades were used more commonly than the 2011 edition. This can, again, be seen especially during the Zevil Island sub-arc, in which most of the arc takes place during the nighttime. This inspires an element of suspense in the viewer, and makes the overall ride more thrilling. I always like to imagine how the Chimera Ant arc would feel in 1999's tone and atmosphere. I'd guess it would be much more atmospheric and gritty. The animation itself is pretty good, all things considered. But since the newer version is done by Madhouse... you know where I'm getting with this. It is far surpassed.
So yeah, the art is good. It's the weakest aspect of the adaption, and is what makes the other adaption more entertaining to watch, as a lot of sequences are animated much better. Again though, they both have their own unique feel.

Sound: 8
The sound is pretty great from what I remember? It's not really something I picked up on, but every sound effect felt like it fit the instance. Although, certain ones, (like slashing, for instance) were used quite repetitively, so I can see why people may rate this lower.
I also have a massive affinity for the first opening. I know, it's a stark contrast of what the actual show is like, in that it portrays the four protagonists in a happy, peaceful world. Perhaps that's why I like it so much. But yeah, it's not great in foreshadowing anything other than the relationships between each character. The second opening is much better by all regards, but I'm not too much of a fan of the song xD

Character: 9
As I mentioned earlier, I feel that some characters come across as better nuanced in this version than in the 2011 adaption, thanks to its filler. Sure, the aforementioned nuance may not be canonical in Togashi's mind, but either way, I like to think of certain things being canon regardless. Unfortunately, since this adaption doesn't include the Chimera Ant arc, the viewer will only get to see Kurapika's character properly develop. This is fine, as it gives a demonstration of what Togashi can do when it comes to breaking characters down and exploring all aspects of their individual personalities. But, the characters in the 2011 version are better, in that there is more content to enjoy.
So, the 2011 version does exceed this adaption in that it has more plotlines to explore with characters, (with Gon and Killua getting the breakdown treatment during the Chimera Ant arc) but, again, the filler in my opinion still adds a lot to the main cast of characters. Other than that, the two are obviously very similar in that this regard. No character came across as particularly different in my eyes, although Hisoka does have blue hair for some reason xD.

Enjoyment: 10
Given that I watched this version before I watched the 2011 adaptation, I think I enjoyed it a lot more than I would if I watched it vice versa. That's how I recommend you watch the series if you want to get into it, as whilst I do believe the 2011 version exceeds this version in a lot of aspects, it still has a unique, darker feel that differentiates it from its younger brother. I was also a bit hyped up once I finished this adaption, as I knew I had a much longer, better animated journey to go through post watching this. Whereas if you were to watch the other version first, I think you might end up a tad disappointed and depressed, given that it ends on a fairly somber note. I enjoyed each and every arc as much as I did in the 2011 adaptation, but again, the two have very different atmospheres to them. You may find that one works more for you than the other.

Overall: 9
I do feel like this adaption is much more underrated than its newer brother. Sure, that one has a lot more content, and I even enjoyed it slightly more. Yet I felt like this one had a lot of heart to the arcs it did adapt, in that they swing you through the emotions a bit more. That may be due to the fact that the pacing is a bit slow, but I feel this is one instance in which that works in the anime's favour. So yeah, I wholeheartedly recommend this a watch for anyone looking to get into the Hunter X Hunter franchise. Be prepared though, as there are a few things I wish I'd known when I first watched it:
1. It starts off really slowly. Some people may find that okay, but it can be a bit of a drag before you get to the first major amount of action. I advise that ya stick with it. It gets much better :D
2. This anime will make you want to binge-watch the hell out of it. Also, it may just ruin literally every other shonen anime for you. At least it did that for me, anyways. So I recommend that you watch other shonen before going onto this one, as this one'll make you realise just how badly written other shonens are, and it'll make you yearn for them to do something unique with their characters....... It's a sad life once you've finished Hunter X Hunter xD

Wow this review went on for much longer than I expected. Sorry about that! I just wanted to talk about this great series for a bit. Get my thoughts out there. I hope you... enjoyed this review?

TL:DR: Give this a watch if you haven't partaken in any HxH yet! If you've seen 2011 already, ehh maybe don't bother? It has a lot of heart though, and some genuinely brilliant filler that actually adds to the plot/characters!

I reviewed this iteration of Hunter x Hunter once before around the time I'd completed it, but recent events has made me return to this series and I've decided to re-review it for old times sake.

While much of the attention directed at Yoshihiro Togashi's supposed magnum opus "Hunter x Hunter" is directed towards its anime adaptation release in 2011 by Madhouse, the original anime adaptation produced by Nippon animation in 1999 is an unsung classic in its own right. Having seen and loved both variations, I've always felt that between ... the two, 1999 is my personal favorite. Don't get me wrong, 2011 is a brilliant anime in its own right. However, I do feel like it lacks the same punch the original anime had and to me it doesn't matter whether 2011 has consistent art or a 10/10 soundtrack. I feel its handling of much of the story that '99 had told falls a bit flatter. A tldr is that 2011 is great, but '99 is even better in my honest opinion.

All of this in spite of 1999's greatest weakness: the fact that it visibly has a lower budget than many anime released around the same time. From the piss poor sound effects, the inconsistent art style as a result of constant animation outsourcing, the instrumentation of many of the songs on the soundtrack and in general the fact that the anime looks more like a mid-90s anime instead of one that would've come out right at the turn of the millennium. '99 should've been an awful or at the very least mediocre experience based on the production surrounding it. However, various circumstances surrounding the anime save this show from being an incredibly worthless experience. A talented set of animation teams including the likes of Akira Matsushima (who's brilliant take on the character designs are the "de facto" face of 1999's art style) and Norio Matsumoto (Who is far and away the best animator on the show and also would later become a household name for his work on Naruto just a couple of years later). A score by Toshihiko Sahashi, the genius behind music in shows like "The Big O" and "Gunslinger girls" among others. Most importantly, the visual direction mostly thanks to the brilliant direction on the end of Kazuhiro Furuhashi.

The direction of Hunter x Hunter 1999 is absolutely stunning and is 1000 steps ahead of many shounens including HxH 2011 Pre-Yorknew City. Every important moment and decision of the show is made more so monumental by the directing choices of this show. Every arc (with the exception of the still well handled Zoldyck Family arc) feels so distinct from one another no thanks to subtle changes in visuals and audio and many of Hunter x Hunter's best scenes are strengthened by the incredible directing choices.

It's a shame that many people choose to write off this adaptation for problems it doesn't even have. Many claim it has loads of filler when it doesn't have many at all. In fact, I'd argue that with the exception of two filler episodes, each filler episode the series has serves to strengthen the story being told even further. In general it's a theme among certain fans to write 99 off as being an unfaithful adaptation for certain storytelling choices but in reality most of them are smoking hot air. '99 is mostly faithful to the manga (and in reality it's more faithful to the tone of the manga in the Hunter Exams arc compared to '011) in every area. I'd recommend all Hunter x Hunter fans to give 1999 a good look. It's much better than it has any right to be and I think it stands far and above even some of the best anime released today. Overall, a top tier experience.

The latest version of Hunter X Hunter is great, but the original version of Hunter X Hunter is a Masterpiece.

The depiction of anime still uses traditional techniques, making it look artistic.

The atmosphere of the original Hunter X Hunter looks dark, and this is good, because it makes the story even more mysterious and tense.

If only Hunter X Hunter (2011) had used dark color tones, the results would have been much better.

The character designs don't seem to have changed much, and still retain their original Manga-like designs.

As for the story, it's pretty good. Tells the story of a 12-year-old boy named Gon who decides to become ... a Hunter like his father. On the way, Gon meets good friends, such as: Killua, Kurapika, Leorio.

And this Hunter X Hunter Original has filled my childhood memory. I saw this anime on local television which has been dubbed into Indonesian.

This review contains light spoilers.

This review is written from the perspective of someone who first experienced Hunter X Hunter through this series. I had read some of the early chapters of the manga beforehand but I went into this series almost completely blind. And even after watching the 2011 anime, I still think that this series is worth watching for any Hunter X Hunter fan.

Story (8/10)
The series obviously has the same general premise as the manga and 2011 anime, although it's set up in a different way. The 1999 anime follows the manga and introduces a certain character during a flashback in the first episode ... (although the series doesn't get far enough to show this character's second appearance, making the decision not really pay off in the end). The 2011 anime ommitted this characters first appearance and as such they appear out of nowhere later. In regards to filler, it is there, there's about 6 filler episodes in the first story arc and many more filler scenes scattered throughout the series. In my opinion it doesn't interrupt the flow of the story too much and is actually some of the more enjoyable filler that I've seen in a Shounen series.

Art (8/10)
The Art is a mixed bag. I think that the actual drawings and animation is excellent for a series produced in 1999. But the actual resolution of the DVD's makes the show look TERRIBLE. It honestly looks like the show was stored on tape and really makes the art suffer. Particularly the backgrounds which now look like a blurry mess. Luckily the overall art direction of the show is enough to overcome that hurdle and it looks stylistically pleasing despite the abysmal resolution.

Sound (7/10)
The sound is another mixed bag. The music is nice although it's relatively subdued compared to most other Shounen series. The voice acting is very hit or miss. I liked Gon, Killua and Hisoka's voices. Kurapika's VA sounded kind of lifeless at first but got better over time. And Leorio's VA just sounds off. The sound effects for the series are... not good. They always sound over the top and out of place and feel compressed in some strange way. One thing I must say though. Don't watch the Dub. Just Don't. Gon and Killua's voices are terrible. Kurapika is okay. Leorio's actually pretty decent and Hisoka's is just good.

Characters (9/10)
The characters are the best part of the series. They all have distinct personalities and are very likeable. I find myself caring for the characters more here than in the 2011 anime due to the fact that the filler scenes are mainly used to explore the relationship between the characters and it really helps each of them.

Enjoyment (9/10)
The series has a few hiccups here and there, but I'm willing to overlook that considering the amount of enjoyment I had while watching the series.

Overall Score (8/10)

This review is about not only the 62 episode series, but also about the other 30 OAVs that covers the final part of York Shin City and Greed Island.

Hunter X Hunter came in my country in 2005, in a period in which Naruto and One Piece were at their peak. At that time, I used to ignore it, because I did not really like the art style and the protagonist. Fast forward to 2016, I decided to watch it after a friend called it his favourite anime.
My younger self was very very wrong: Hunter X Hunter is awesome.

Gon Freecs is a young boy who has ... grown up on an island with his aunt and the animals that live in a nearby forest. One day, a man tells him that a man named Ging Freecs is his master. Understanding that he's his father, Gon decide to take on a journey to meet him, and the first thing to do is to become a Hunter.

What is a Hunter, you may ask. In this world, Hunter are very skilled men and women who are specialized in one particular field. There are Hunters who are, basically, mercenary, others who care about cooking and precious ingredients, other that are archaeologists.
This thing alone already would create a gigantic World Building: since Hunter are so different, Gon and his friends could meet any kind of opponent or ally. Not only that, but the power system that Togashi created is incredibly detailed: the Ren system, some sort of spiritual energy not unlike Naruto's chakra (which is clearly based on Ren), is so well explained and it is so balanced that you could think is something that actually exists.
Aside from that, the world of Hunter X Hunter is a different version of ours, with the same islands, cities and continents, but in different places.

Other things that make Hunter X Hunter so beautiful to watch are its atmosphere, at start very light-hearted and cheerful, but that becomes incredibly bleak after the first 25-or so episodes, and the fact that, despite being clearly aimed at a younger audience (let's say, 12-15 years old), it covers very dark subjects, such as death, greed, delinquency and violence.
Characters grow very interestingly, along the series, being constantly separated and reunited by the events of their life and their jobs.

Artistically speaking, if you like 90s' aesthetic, you will without a doubt love Hunter X Hunter. Especially in the OAV episodes, the use of color is very intelligent, and the beautiful direction makes many moment feel very tense and/or full of horror.

There aren't real cons in Hunter X Hunter, because it is actually very well done. The only thing you could dislike is the ending, which, considering that the manga is still ongoing to this day, is not very satisfying, but, considering what the studio could do at the time, it's the best we can get.

So, if you like typical shonen anime, with a lot of action, charismatic characters and bizarre superpowers, Hunter X Hunter is what you are looking for.

Many of the long running shonen battle series from the late 80's all the way through to essentially now have been characterised as "Titular" and "Formulaic", the same cannot be said for Hunter x Hunter. Over the past decade Hunter x Hunter has earned its recognition as one of the best battle Shounen of its time, this success is in large part due to the immense popularity and success of Madhouse Studios 2011 adaptation of the original Manga. However many longtime fans of the series such as myself remember the series more fondly for its predecessor. Hunter x Hunter was produced by Nippon animation
in ... 1999 and whilst its quality often overshadows many of the other shonen series of its time, it has struggled to keep the same legacy as series such as Naruto or One Piece. Both of which were made around the same time as Hunter x Hunter 1999 but ended up having longer serialisations and have thus become staples in the modern anime sphere. The legacy of Hunter x Hunter however has been carried instead by Madhouses 2011 production of the series. While I'm glad that Hunter x Hunter finally got the praise and recognition it deserves, the 1999 version has been largely forgotten despite the series being my favourite rendition of Hunter x Hunter. The 2011 anime may have modernised the series and introduced it to a modern fanbase, but I personally believe that the 1999 adaptation took a much more interesting approach to the series and I really loved that about it.

(For the remainder of the Review I will refer to the series as "HXH" (Abbreviation of Hunter x Hunter) for the sake of brevity and any comparisons made to the 2011 series I will simply refer to it as the "2011 anime/series" and the other has "1999 anime/series")

HXH follows Gon Freecss, a simple minded, well meaning and hard working 12 year old boy who dreams of becoming a "Hunter". Hunters in this world are a group of elite individuals who dedicate themselves to their own trades, whether that be hunting treasure or seeking the wonders of the world, hunters must commit themselves to a "hunt" ; what that hunt entails relies on the hunter themselves. Gon is one such dedicated individual and seeks to become a hunter himself. In doing so he meets a large ensemble of supporting characters who also seek to become hunters thus taking us to the 287th Hunter exam.

HXH has a deceptively simple story, one that would not separate it from many of its contemporaries. Gon is nothing more than your titular shonen protagonist, and the Hunter association like Shinobi's or Pirates is a narrative tool for world building. However it's in this simple narrative structure that HXH is able to deconstruct its genre and produce a mature story on a wide range of themes. Due to the nature of this being a review and not an analysis, I can't elaborate on the nature of the themes or what they entail, as they will spoil the experience and story for many people. With that being said, I can without a doubt say that this is the most mature shonen series I have ever watched, the themes on display and the meaning behind each arc is one of the most brilliantly executed deconstructions of a genre that I have ever seen.

The world building in HXH however is what truly makes it a spectacular series. Each location is vibrant, life-like and full of personality, this is in large part thanks to the brilliance of series author Yoshihiro Togashi but is brought together beautifully by the surprisingly dark tone that the series has. It's this dark edge that I think the 1999 series has over 2011. 1999 was never afraid to throw its punches with its visual presentation of the world. Not that the 2011 anime was bad, in fact the 2011 anime looked very slick and I liked that, but it's 1999's gritty colour palette (This will be further elaborated on in the ART section) that was able to fully capture the finer details of the world in my opinion. This is best accentuated in the YorkNew City arc where HXH is at one of its darkest points narratively. I loved how HXH was able to create such an amazingly real feeling world, the dark edge that 1999 has given is a much more gritty tone which worked for York New. I also really enjoyed many of the other places in the story. Heavens arena is a short arc and while it doesn't have the same grandiose scale as say YorkNew the Chimera Ants and Greed island (Btw these two arcs are not in the original 1999) it is important as it introduces the staple power system in HXH, Nen. The Hunter exam is also a really good introductory arc to the world of HXH. One thing I liked about 1999 especially was actually how much some of the filler episodes were added; especially in the hunter exam. Filler episodes, especially in Shonen series, are seen as blemishes on a series. This is because filler episodes take away from the main story with often bland and uninspired "Joke" arcs which are usually skipped. However since HXH 1999 was my introduction to the series, I watched these filler episodes without any real care. One thing that actually shocked me was that I ended up genuinely enjoying the filler episodes. I wont say exactly what happens in these filler episodes, but I think for the most part they extend the story and even add to the dark tone of 1999.

[I'm gonna put a spoiler warning at this point just in case people don't want any knowledge going into the series about the power system as it is introduced later into the series than most shonens, If you do want to read my review about the Nen system, please do, Its not detrimental to the experience]

Any good shonen series has a power system. Nen, on the outside, looks like your standard power system, but like many things in HXH it's one of the most unique rule sets I've seen, maybe in all of Media. It is a technique that allows a living being to use and manipulate their own life energy, which is also referred to as Aura. Nen can be opened in two ways, slow and gradual meditation, or unlocking through Aura Nodes. This is how Gon and Killua are able to unlock there Nen in the heavens arena. Nens rules are vague enough that they are able to be manipulated in unique ways, one's nen abilities are entirely unique to themselves and Togashi is able to write interesting abilities for each character. I think the best thing that the series does is how each ability parrots its user. Gon, an Enhancer user has an ability that shows his simple minded nature, Gon's JaJaken or 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' is literally a play on Scissors, paper rock showing off his simple mindedness each ability displaying a basic defensive or offensive technique. This same idea is shown with every character. I'm not exactly the most well versed in Nen theory, I'm still yet to get my PHD in Nen, but it is a really interesting aspect to the series and I recommend that if you enjoy the series and more importantly the battle aspect of the series that you may want to read up on the finer details.

[End of Spoilers]

As I've already mentioned, HXH as a series can get really dark at times narratively speaking. 1999 capitalised on the darker aspects of the series through great use of colour. After watching both of the anime adaptations, I can firmly say that I much prefer the tone of 1999. 2011 while slick, I just dont think is quite as memorable as the almost disturbingly dark colours of 1999. I'm also quite biassed towards older animation styles, that kind of old shitty looking art style is actually my favourite type of art style. It's something that I mainly realised when I first watched the EVA rebuild movies that I just adore that very 90's look. That being said the animation quality certainly isn't good, the look by today's standards is totally dated and the quality has peaks and troughs; unlike the 2011 anime which is consistently slick and polished. 1999 had its moment of sakuga but I would say overall it's mostly on par with its contemporaries if not then maybe just slightly better. The actual character designs as well are oddly strange to me and actually for some odd reason they reminded me a lot of the Rave master characters. Something about the look of Gon and Killua looking back at it after seeing 2011 really just throws me off. Especially Killuas design, I don't find any of the character designs reprehensible or bad to look at, but the design for Killua at least to me seems far too adult-like, almost as if he's more so a 17 year old boy than a 12 year old. The only character design I would say that I actually prefer is Kurapikas, but I think that's just more because he's a dark character and he fits the darker tone.

HXH 1999 has really, really bad audio quality. When I watched this series again in bits and pieces for this review I pirated it, and I'm not sure if it's because of the website I used or because the Audio is just that way but it was really poor quality. I'm willing to be lenient on the series for this but the Audio quality was really poor. SFX are actually really important to the audio enjoyment of a series and HXH is ok. The SFX are cute, they are very reminiscent of the 90's and I still have that Nostalgia bug but it doesnt change the fact that the actual quality of the SFX is really bad; not quite Hell's Kitchen level bad, but the SFX are just really goofy.

The opening songs "Ohayou '' by Keno (Side note; Keno is genuinely one of my favourite 90's Jpop bands) and "Taiyou wa Yoru mo Kagayaku '' by Wino. Ohayou is just a fun catchy up beat pop tune that really sets the mood for the first part of HXH, It has cute visuals and a fun backtrack. Juxtaposed that to the second opening Taiyou wa Yoru mo Kagayaku, Its got this sort of Haru Nemuri esc screamed lyrics to this super cheesy instrumental that just reminds me of the Berserk opening. The opening is total cheese but I absolutely adore it, the funny part about the song is that it sort of almost perfectly fits that super edgy dark tone of the YorkNew city arc. As for the ending songs, "Kaze no Uta '' is an unironically beautifully sung song with these incredible eastern inspired instrumentals that calm the soul. The second ending song "Do you feel Like I feel" is the complete opposite with the radio friendly pop tunes that I could play all day long. It gives me a vibe that's a mixture of something like Snowkell and Weezer. As for the third ending song "Hotaru '' It's easily the most forgettable but still kind of a banger song. It gives off this major Pillows/Judy and Mary/Sentimental Bus. A lot of these openings and endings are all very similar to their contemporaries, and even though I liked most of them for what they were, they are nothing special. The OST on the other hand I genuinely Love. Some of the tracks on the HXH 1999 OST are just pure nostalgia to me, my personal favourite is 100% the harmonica version of Ohayou which just screams that sort of childhood nostalgia Shonen is so great at capturing. Konapaku no elegy is by far the most iconic thing to come out of the 1999 anime, it's this beautiful melodious cross of Western/Eastern music that perfectly portrays Kurapikas sorrow. The Hunters theme that plays continues the Eastern inspired dream like music with a Flute that makes me feel like I'm back on my Nintendo playing Ocarina of Time for the first time again. Some of the more understated tracks like Ame Agari just calm me down in a way that not many other anime OST's have. The OST can also get pretty poppy and 90's with songs like daichi no kodou which is a modern synth sort of version of the main theme. Overall I would say that the music is one of my favourite aspects of the HXH 1999 experience.

HXH is in large part carried by the brilliance of the cast. The Main ensemble consists of some of the best, most well written characters I have seen in anime to date. The Main 4 of Gon, Killua, Kurapika and Leorio are probably the most fun quartet of characters I've seen. Each character has their own role in the group and they all have their own dynamics, the best outlined dynamics however is the obvious friendship between Gon and Killua and the friendship between Kurapika and Leoreo. Gon's childishness and carefree nature bounces off Killuas colder and even more mature tone, but it's through this childishness that Gon has that we see Kurapika's own childishness. Actually a lot of the time throughout the story Killua even acts more mature than Leorio. But it's that juxtaposition between Gon and Killua that make their friendship so intriguing. Killua on his own basically steals the show in terms of character growth, maturity and even likeability, he's just one of the most well written characters in the series and even at times does a better job at being the protagonist than Gon. Gon while not my favourite character is definitely not bad, he's definitely the weakest link for me in the trio, but he's definitely a good protagonist, my favourite part about Gon's characterisation is how childlike he's written; a lot of anime especially shonen anime tend to write there characters as far more mature than they should be (Naruto, Tokyo Revengers, even in Togashi's previous work YuYu Hakusho) but Gon is just a kid, and that works. His childish perspective gives the world of HXH the wonder and pizzaz. Kurapika is one of the most fleshed out characters in the entire series, that being said due to HXH 1999's relatively short run time he doesnt get the proper time to develop as a really great character like he does in the Manga and even in 2011, that being said we see a lot of Kurapika's development especially in YorkNew. Kurapika seems nothing too different from other characters, think of him like a mix of Sasuke/Sanji and Kakyoin, he's smart and has a very typical revenge story. What separates him from these characters however is how he never really "turns to the dark side" like Sasuke did but more so had a Patrick Bateman mental breakdown, his story is very closely related to some of the main villains of YorkNew "Phantom Troupe" which I will touch on later. Leorio is the final piece of the ensemble and is generally left to the wayside in discussions about HXH's characters. I personally loved Leorio. He's obviously the comic relief of the group and comes off as the least intelligent of the bunch. But out of all the characters Leorio manages to be the sympathetic glue that holds the entire group together. He cares for his friends like nothing else and I absolutely love him, he's not hell bent on revenge or hung up on familial issues (as interesting as they are) Leorio works in the best interest of those who are around him and he is definitely one of the best characters in the series. In the most emotionally poignant way I can put it, Leorio is the Kurosawa of HXH.

HXH however has more than just a strong central cast of characters; it has one of the strongest supporting ensembles I have ever seen. The pizazz and energy of the Characters is one that can only match the likes of Cowboy Bebop and Baccano!. It's a mystery to me as to how Togashi was able to craft such a wonderfully realised group of characters that are astoundingly emotionally resonant, fun and evil. The shifting nature of this ensemble also gives a fresh tone for each arc, some of these characters come in and out of arcs, some minor characters become pivotal later on, its this shifting and weaving that the characters do that makes it such a fun supporting cast; and something that only a story as grandiose as HXH could do. Being such a large ensemble I can’t touch on the brilliance of all the side characters; however I will touch on a key few. Hisokah is one of the best recurring antagonists throughout the story, his complex twisted unhinged elements perfectly contrast together the goofy moments of absurd sexual tension and comedic relief. This makes him not only a terrifying antagonistic force, but he adds a lot to the more absurd aspects of HXH’s story. His continued presence throughout the series extends further than just the YorkNew City arc especially in the Manga. Chairman Netero was one of the more memorable characters in the story, due to the unfortunate much shorter length of the 1999 anime we don't get to see the full character arc. However Netero’s carefree and almost childlike playfulness earns himself a spot as one of my favourite characters in the series.

While I love the main cast and the exciting supporting group, probably the most important part of the characterisation in HXH, the villains. For the sake of brevity and the fact that this review is already too damn long, I decided that I would focus on the most vocal villain group. The Phantom Troupe or the spiders are some of the funniest, most badass, tragic and evil groups of villains I have ever seen written. Without going into too much detail about the troupe, they are essentially like a family. In fact they remind me a lot of the type of Mantra that Hollywood portrays Mafia as, “What happens in the family stays in the family” a lot of themes of loyalty are seen in the phantom troupe. The aspect of the troupe that really makes them special is how they are portrayed by Togashi. These aren't classic one dimensional bad guys. They are multi-layered and sympathetic almost anti-heroes, almost like Al Capone or how the people once viewed someone like Pablo Escobar. They are evil and they definitely kill people but they have found a crowd of sympathetic supporters who relate to the struggles of not having a family. This grey morality is what makes the phantom troupe so good and it's impressive that Togashi was able to write such a diverse group. The hardest characters to write are complex and grey characters like the phantom troupe, the same effect could have been done by just making them a one dimensional group of thugs, but that grey morality humanises these inhuman bastards and I love that. This also ties nicely back into the core themes in HXH and especially that of YorkNew city.

Overall, HXH is one of the best shonen on the market right now. From the wonderfully conceptualised world, to the bombastic ensemble of fun and interesting characters, to the nostalgic sound and dark toning of the series. HXH continues to be a personal favourite of mine. If you have seen the 2011 or are looking to get into HXH, I highly recommend this version of the anime because I can assure you that it is a worthwhile experience to both new fans and old fans alike.

So if we talk about story...
The story started fairly good when gon came to knew that his father is alive and gon starts finding his father but
-------THIS PART MAY CONTAIN SPOILER-------
wtf happened in the end ?? Everybody just forget about how the anime started and end it when Kurapika's objective completed (although it was also just a fake shi*). I mean the anime didn't started with kurapika so it shouldn't end with kurapika ! The very main character was Gon so the story should end with Gon's objective being completed...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So the story was going fairly slow or may be perfect at the starting till the ... last episode !!
And the story was like the speed of light in the end... They shouldn't end it in that way. And if they were to end this like that so atleast they should just continue their anime instead of making a full remake of the anime with the rest of the story.
The ending didn't convinced me.
I am disappointed by its ending !!!

Art
The animation was good for 90s and it was enjoyable !!

Sound
Well character's voices were good ! I didn't notice how was the sound of background music etc so sorry...

Character
All characters were enjoyable especially Gon and the way they made the characters chibi and funny faces was really awesome.

Enjoyment
The anime was really enjoyable ! Not even a single minute I got bored..

Overall
Overall it was great I would have given it 10 marks if the story was not disappointing..They should atleast give a fullstop to story. But they didn't even given it a single coma !! The anime was like it ended in the middle of a great part.. The story was gonna be awesome from that part. Again they should just have continued it instead of making a whole remake !

Yoshihiro Togashi seems to be a very talented manga artist. Prior to this series I completed Yu Yu Hakusho which I found to be very good in its own right. However it wasn't completely original as it was a typical shonen that relied heavily on fighting. Unlike that series, Hunter X Hunter is a shonen series that feels very fresh. Togashi explained that one of his main hobbies were collecting a bunch of items so he inspired this series to have a profession that involved hunting. The manga to HxH has been very successful and has sold over 66 million copies as of August 2018. ... However it has gained infamy for going on hiatuses on several occasions. The anime adaptation follows the manga quite closely and added only a handful of filler episodes. Once it caught up with the manga however it chose to stop and then released 30 OVAs to cover up the remaining arc. Since the manga series is still incomplete, the anime doesn't give us the full story. The manga currently has 35 volumes and the anime covered the first 18. Keep in mind I'll be reviewing all episodes including the OVAs.***contains MINOR spoilers***


Story:8/10
Very creative and fresh but not too complex. Right from the start of the series it tells us that we're in for an adventure that involves a lot of exploring. Throughout this we are given wide range of twists and turns as well as getting dark as the plot progresses. Unlike most shonens, this story doesn't center around fighting and battles. HxH focuses on being more story driven that I highly appreciated but it does still have its fights. The stakes also increase as the story goes farther whether its our lead dealing with the wilderness or encountering dangerous people. The biggest strength here is the power system Nen. Most anime rely on power ups and brute force during their action but Nen is used to outsmart and strategize against the opponents and this was such an interesting take. There are a few flaws however for example the first half dragged a lot. I have to be honest the first arc felt like it was taking forever. There aren't a lot of filler here but some definitely did held back the story. Also the story was never finished so we never really got everything the series had in store for us. And this really hurt cuz the storyline had tremendous potential

Art:7/10
The show's overall look can be quite underwhelming. It isn't horrible by all means by it's what you would call visually appealing. Kinda like what I said in my YYH review, the animation does increase as it progresses. This was a 1999 series so it does look a lil old but the problem is is that it can look older than it actually is. The backgrounds were disappointing as they looked fake and never really came to life. Action scenes were also underwhelming as their wasn't a particular fight that wowed from a visual standpoint. Character designs are unique although Gon looks like a generic kid with spikey hair. The designs to the female characters weren't so great for example Mito and Menchi looked a lil too similar given the same hair color. The studio definitely could've done a better job with that. What I found cool was the show's look gives you a modern vibe, for example there are use of cellphones, computers, and video games that appear. Plus there's a city called Yorknew and it looks a lot like modern day New York. In conclusion the art and animation aren't bad but it's not gonna impress anyone.

Sound:8/10
Overall the music was solid but wasn't as great as I hoped. The first opening song was "Ohayou' sang by Keno which was a nice upbeat song. The first ending song was my favorite track of the series, it's called "Kaze no Uta" and it was performed beautifully by Honda Minako. It was more melodic and serious than the OP and Minako's singing was so great in it. As for the background tracks I was never crazy about them but most of them did a great job at supporting the scenes the action in particular. As for voice acting, the Japanese version is far superior. It had good voices and solid performances. Junko Takeuchi who's known for voicing Naruto voices Gon in the anime. The English dub however wasn't good. Most of the performances were flat with the exception of Cheryl McMaster's Kurapika. While some characters had good voices(Kurapika and Killua)there were some that didn't. For example Gon's English voice sounded too mature and it didn't match him at all.

Character:9/10
Definitely the biggest strength of the series is its cast. This is a lot different from your typical shonen leads, the main character Gon is a friendly lil boy who's amazingly perceptive. He isn't of the strongest characters of the series and his goal isn't to be the most powerful and this really sets him apart from most shonen protagonists. His allies Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio all have their own personalities and they play off each other real well. Kurapika being the best imo as his motives were fleshed out and was given great development in the second half of the series. What impressed me here was that there wasn't a character that I thought was annoying and this is rare cuz most anime have that one character that bother us. There were also some intriguing villains that were mad interesting but like most characters they weren't explored as much as I hoped. But then again the overall story here wasn't finished so it didn't help. For example I never really found out what Killua's main goal was. Was it just to follow Gon, idk to be honest. I feel like this cast would've been near flawless if they were explored more.


Final Verdict

Pros

+A fun adventurous story that's both fresh and exciting
+An original and well thought out cast that each have their own quirkiness
+Nen power system is arguably the best in all of anime

Cons

-Incompletion; storyline left a lot to be desired
-A lot of interesting characters that we didn't get to learn more about
-Production value could've been better


Personal Favorites


Characters: Kurapika, Killua, and Hisoka

Arc: Yorknew City

Fight: Gon vs Hisoka


Hunter X Hunter is a great series that suffered from incompletion. When the series stopped I was desperate for more cuz we we got was very good. It had a promising story with high potential, a likable cast with tons of interesting characters, and a power system that was so brilliantly thought out. However due to the manga going on hiatus it had no choice but to stop. I am aware that there's a 2011 reboot adaption and I'll get to that A$AP. If the reboot was able to fix most of the problems this version had then I'll have you know that I'm curious. For anime recommendations Yu Yu Hakusho as it was also made by Togashi and shonen phenomenon Naruto as it was influenced by this series and like show's action it required a lot of strategy and technique. Thanks everyone for reading and be aware of my next review of the 2011 adaptation.

Sub or Dub Recommendation: Sub

At first I thought that this anime would be a little too kiddy for me. I generally like darker animes with deep themes but this anime ended up being a really refreshing break. Sure the storyline is a little thin and sometimes the characters don't make any sense but that's not why you watch this anime. It's really light hearted and fun. Also trying to figure out the puzzles in the anime is really fun. The next OVA gets a little slow during the end but I had a blast watching this one. I would recommend it to everyone. The characters are interesting and fun, ... the story is different and the magic is a really cool concept. If you want something different than the usual you will fall in love with Gon.

GENERAL - Note: Since this is the first series I am making this review in the mindset that there is no (2011) version.


Hunter x Hunter is an interesting shounen. We follow our main lead Gon as he starts his journey to become a hunter. On his way is when we meet our other main characters Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika.

In this anime we go through several arcs ranging from the hunter exam arc to things such as a tournament arc. Hunter x Hunter is unique in the sense of how different its arcs are. In a way each arc covers its own genre. One arc ... may seem all happy and up beat then the the next arc may be dark and not even feel like a shounen at times. Its the way this anime is able to present itself that makes it so good.

Many people will look at a shounen and not expect much out of it. In general this genre has many things in them that people don't like. Hunter x Hunter does not suffer form any of these problems. Due to the high episode count of this type of genre episodes may feel full of filler, however in Hunter x Hunter the filler parts of episodes are used in a way that doesn't make it feel unnatural.

CHARACTERS - So our main cast that is Gon, Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika makes for a interesting cast.

Gon who is setting out to becoem a Hunter to follow in his dads footsteps and hoping to find him as well in the process.

Killua who was raised by assassins and as such is raised to be one himself.

Leorio A doctor that at first seems to only care about money but more of his character is shown as to why he wants the money.

Kurapika a survivor of his clan that was wiped out and he wants to become a hunter so he can get his revenge.

The anime has quite a few supporting casts as some of them change depending on the arc itself.

SOUND - So the soundtrack is pretty good it does have a few stand out tracks such as the OP instrumental that will play in some of the lighter parts of the show.

ART / ANIMATION - Okay so since it is a old anime it suffers from poor animation quality. It does not have any stand otu art style which hinders the animation further since there is nothign to make up for the poor animation.

OVERALL - Hunter x Hunter was a enjoyable series even though it was made a long time ago the story makes thsi anime so good and makes up for the bad animation completely.

SCORE - 8.4
PERSONAL ENJOYMENT - 8.6