Story -- 10 /10
the one thing the story of this anime does so well is starting off simple without overwhelming us but leaving so much room to develop into something complex, morally conflicting, emotional, and deeply intense. The pacing is great considering the length of the anime. although the smaller infrequent arcs do feel a little slower, they're still entertaining and meaningful nonetheless. This show really doesn't wast any time but also doesn't shove everything at you a once. the comedy feels more endearing than anything and mostly comes out when the characters' bonds develop. it isn't just there for no reason, they really feel like moments the characters will remember.
from the get go the anime feels like one huge adventure. young Gon sets out to become a hunter in his overall goal to find the father that abandoned him at birth. Every arc feels a step closer to that goal, which in itself becomes more and more weighted as we learn more about the characters involved
Characters -- 10 /10
Gon is an excellent protagonist. He often feigns being simple minded but is quick thinking, charming, thoughtful, and actually strong. he also doesn't start out as a loser or someone with no talent like most, which most protagonists do to give room for growth. Yet this anime reminds us that there is so much more to a person than just "am i strong?" and "am i persistnent?". he's highly gifted from the start which is usual and refreshing for this genre, but his young age really balances him out. he learns to become maturer and more considerate as the show goes on and he only really gets more loveable.
The friendship between Gon and the eventual best friend he makes during the Hunter Exam, Killua, feels so real, innocent, and genuine, it really contrasts with how dark the show can be at times but doesn't feel over done and cheesy at all. It's clear how well the two's differences and similarities compliment one another, and the moments they look out for the other feel very real and motivated. Not only that but there's a layer of rivalry between them as they try to develop their skills at the same rate despite Killua's years worth of experience ahead of Gon. The writers keep all of this in mind and you can see these smaller things take relevance and build up.
These main two characters aside, there are far too many memorable characters to count, and none of them ever feel like just "the good guy" or "the bad guy". someone who was a villain in the first arc comes back three arcs later aligned with our protagonist, while at some point you'll question to what extent the good guys really are doing the right thing. Characters don't get forgotten in this show, each one counts and many have compelling stories behind them who sometimes feel like the main characters of certain arcs.
art -- 9/10
i was incredibly stupid at first in that i put off watching this anime for over a year just because Gon's hair annoyed me at first and made the anime seem childish. WROnG. Msot character designs are memorable and creative, very fitting of each of their personalities at the very least, and they do actually change outfits from time to time which is a much appreciated touch.
i have no complaints on the animation, but like with most it does have room for improvement. However the show really will not let you down when it comes to fight scenes. They're brilliantly and fluidly animated, a really pleasure to witness.
sound -- 9 /10
personally i loved the soundtrack, it was really memorable and rarely felt out of place, although i must admit that some of it sounds a little odd and jarring which is my only complaint. Some of the OSTs are really intense and create such a strong sense of atmosphere, and are never misused. The opening song remains throughout the whole show and it becomes a great way to get you fired up for each episode, and quickly you'll find yourself knowing the lyrics for for word. the ending songs weren't my thing though, but they were never bad.
music aside, the voice acting is what really makes this show. each actor does a superb job of filling characters with life and personality, no complaints at all. The casting was just spot on.
overall + enjoyment -- 1000 /10
i mean it should be clear a this point how much i enjoyed this show. it'll keep you wanting to watch more and more and is good to watch either over time or to binge away (i've done both..).
