Hunter x Hunter Movie 2: The Last Mission

Nen: the hidden source of energy and potential that runs through everyone, and gives those that master it a source of great power. Inside Nen is the potential for limitless light and limitless darkness. The Hunter Association has arisen to control access to it. Hunters come in many shapes and forms, and with many different appetites - but all of them have learned to master Nen, and use it to chase wealth, power, and their dreams.

The greatest and most powerful Hunter is Isaac Netero, chairman of the Hunter Association. Decades ago he sealed away Jed, a Hunter who had mastered the use of On, the dark "shadow" of Nen. Now On users have reappeared at the Heaven's Arena "Battle Olympia" tournament. For Netero, this is the last mission: to protect the Association and the world from a threat driven by hatred and the thirst for revenge. And he's going to need all the help he can get in order to succeed.

Zoldyck, Killua Main

Ise, Mariya Japanese

Kurapika Main

Sawashiro, Miyuki Japanese

Freecss, Gon Main

Han, Megumi Japanese

Paladiknight, Leorio Main

Fujiwara, Keiji Japanese

Netero, Isaac Main

Nagai, Ichiro Japanese

Morow, Hisoka Supporting

Namikawa, Daisuke Japanese

Kite Supporting

Krueger, Biscuit Supporting

Yokoyama, Chisa Japanese

Hill, Pariston Supporting

Beans Supporting

Ai, Ichitaro Japanese

Fukushi, Yuuichirou Producer

Tamura, Manabu Producer

Nakatani, Toshio Producer

Kawaguchi, Keiichirou Director

Reviews

Jun 22, 2015

karlstein12

Recommended

It may be true that the two movies representing the TV show are far inferior to its parental installment, but I'm going to disagree on the fact that most people here are bashing this movie for being extremely clichéd and mundane.

To start off this review, I'll let you know that I am a huge fan of the series, but this movie was on the disappointing side. The plot is set around somewhere after the Greed Island arc and the beginning of the Chimera Ant arc after both our protagonists Gon and Killua have met up with Kite and take a detour from their journey ... to visit the Heaven's Arena to cheer on for their friend Zushi, who's taking part in the fight. Whilst they're on it 4 mysterious group of people enter the arena to fulfill their ulterior motive; The demise of all the Hunters with the use of "On" which is exactly the opposite side of "Nen" and which derives it powers from pure hatred.

While the premise of the movie is not put together to be quite a blockbuster ride, it does set up an intriguing following.

The characters are all and the same except for our new 4 antagonists who are trying to kill the Hunters once and for all. They are not worth remembering for a long time as well, like Omokage from the first Hunter x Hunter movie. The little girl from the 4 villains has no character development at all and we are left with absolutely nothing regarding to her past only besides that they all were refugees once who escaped from the Hunters who were trying to cleanse their Shadow Clan.

Considering the art, this was the most disappointing factor of the movie. While nowhere near being appalling, it was very, very bad compared to the TV series. You'd expect better with all the budget put into the franchise.

All in all the movie doesn't leave you satisfied a lot. If you had watched this after completing the series it makes it all the more displeasing. It does not have the charm and excitement as its series and it's just an average installment. But on the other side it does have some pros as well. It does well with the premise it's given and doesn't do anything reckless from its timeline and that doesn't have any effect on the original series at all, meaning you won't miss anything if you watch it after you finish the series.

To end it I'd say this was the least pleasing movie of the two and the franchise combined. But it's not completely horrible and still a lot of fun to watch if you're a Hunter x Hunter fan.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Jul 31, 2014

xmaikokoro

Mixed Feelings

Hunter x Hunter is a series that often defies expectations. It is almost as if Togashi weaves magic into his writing to make it unpredictable and Madhouse uses their magic to create a richly animated version that shows just as much heart. This magic is what creates the renowned television series today. But does Hunter x Hunter: The Last Mission have this same magic? Well, let’s see –

A plot that centers around revenge is not a new concept in Hunter x Hunter. Two of its main characters have had revenge as a motivation during at least one point in the original anime series. However, ... their revenge tales are interesting and even novel at times. Although the plot of The Last Mission is even reminiscent of Kurapika’s journey for vengeance, the execution of the three original character’s revenge is simple and predictable. It is so simple that it can even be described in one sentence. With no specific spoilers, the plot of The Last Mission is that everyone in Heaven’s Arena and Netero are taken hostage by four people; therefore, while the protagonists try to free the captives, they each encounter an enemy tailored for them to battle which they eventually defeat with some casualties, and that casualty is what causes Gon to fight against the final boss. Considering this setup, how do you suppose the final showdown will progress? Hint: if you have seen any other battle shounen movies such as Naruto, Bleach, or Inuyasha, just take one of their final battles and there you go, it’s almost exactly the same as The Last Mission’s.

Even with many characters making a return in The Last Mission, their presence is heavily muted because of the movie's attempt to develop its new characters. While trying to characterize new characters is important, the movie takes a typical route of giving them a brief, melancholy flashback and a protagonist that sympathizes with them in order to make their actions justifiable. This standard and lazy characterization creates little attachment and development to the characters, causing them to have a textbook feel and minimal depth. Even when returning characters were on-screen, their actions are warped in order to suit the plot’s need and there is little reminder that in the original television series, they actually have a personality and are properly characterized.

The art and animation of the movie is lackluster. Shading is often nonexistent, thus giving characters and backgrounds a flat look. The characters were also sloppy drawn with considerably less detail. Even the animation leaves much to be desired. Not much continuous and fluid motion is shown. While battles take place in interesting locations, the lack of fluid movement and the subpar art create battles with little impact or grandeur.

The Last Mission had the ingredients it needed in order to be compelling. However, Madhouse’s lack of fervor shows through the movie’s mediocre art and animation. And without Togashi as the writer, even the characters that the audience have become attached to cannot hold an uninspired plot and standard characters afloat.

Simply put, Hunter x Hunter: The Last Mission was not woven together with magic. Now whether magic is needed in order for you to enjoy the movie is up to you. But those who hope to be enticed by the magic that the television series was endowed with will be disappointed.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Aug 25, 2014

Confucius

Not Recommended

I can't believe I am giving such a poor score for one of my favorite shounen series, but this score will do justice to this film.

Like most anime movies based on a running TV series, the trailer and the first five minutes of the film is unfortunately better than the rest of the film.

A lot of your favorite characters and some current characters in the arc will make an appearance, but most importantly you hope the film will reveal some interesting information about the Hunter x Hunter universe that the TV show didn't get a chance to show.

Well if you were expecting ... for anything like that, then turn away fast because you will be very disappointed.

The story is about the return of the bitter cofounder of the Hunter association and "On" user Jed, who seeks to eradicate every Nen user in the world because he was defeated by Netero in the past.

So he comes back with three naive children with a poorly explored background story and a bunch of mindless prisoners he brainwashed to kidnap Netero.

The rest of the film follows Gon, Killua, and Kurapika fighting Jed's underlings with occasional cutscenes from the antagonists explaining why they hate the Hunter Association so much.

Apart from Gon, the main characters weren't acting like their usual self from the TV show.

Gon was still a peacekeeper who wants to protect everything in his sight. Killua was acting like Gon's bitch (literally), Kurapika was acting like an emo, and I honestly don't know why they listed Leorio as a main character in the film because I seriously felt like some of the supporting characters got more screentime than him.

As for Hisoka, I assume he was placed in the film so he could appear in the trailer to generate more revenue for the greedy producers. It was fun to see his spiderman skills, but really he does nothing in the film other than make some obvious remarks.

The animation was not very good. Some of the faces and body seem distorted sometimes, but the colors were sharp and you could see what is happening in the dark. This was good because a lot of the fights occur in the dark.

Most of the soundtracks (if not all) were borrowed the series, I didn't pay too much attention to the background music because of all the action going on.

I honestly think the story could have been a good arc in the anime provided they expanded on the characters and this "On" business.

Since the TV show is about to end, I do not recommend you watch this immediately because in all honestly you are going to feel like you just watched a Naruto movie. Wait a few months and when you feel you want to see some "refreshing" Hunter x Hunter material apart from the TV show, grab this, but lower your expectations.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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Mar 4, 2019 3:28 AM by Sakana-san | Discuss (3 comments)

	Poll: Hunter x Hunter: The Last Mission Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) RedgraveGilver - Apr 29, 2014	127 replies	by Cenoned »» Jul 19, 11:47 PM
	Is The Last Mission, really canon? Magna_Liger - Jul 31, 2014	10 replies	by Psi18c »» Oct 19, 2020 2:43 PM
	Background track playing during Kurapika's fight Vampiress_D - Sep 7, 2014	0 replies	by Vampiress_D »» Sep 7, 2014 4:45 PM
	The BD/DVD will come out on the 23th of July. rederoin - Apr 29, 2014	19 replies	by richard_1990 »» Jul 25, 2014 7:48 PM
	When the movie will be aviable in english langauge ? HBKwowo - Dec 28, 2013	11 replies	by PeaceAndCake »» May 13, 2014 5:36 AM