My entire life I have always been indulging in and in pursuit of works of art and fiction, whether it be film, music, books, or even anime. After experiencing and watching works of fiction my entire life, upon gradual reflection, I came to recognise that many of my philosophies and ideologies had already become immensely intertwined with the world and messages that can be found in that of anime and other works of fiction, inspiring my abundant contemplations regarding human existence – in all its glory, and in all its shame. Whether it be; the ability to see splendour in even the most hopeless circumstances, the importance of never losing sight of one’s goals that is emphasised through masterful works of shounen, the appreciation of authentic relationships that proliferates one’s desire to discover love that resembles all that they are in their values and desires, or even the inevitable tragedy that sometimes awaits those of us who are just stumbling through life – a truthful reflection on the malice and unfairness that echoes vociferously in our very own reality.
But, most importantly, what is it that truly grants our lives meaning, fuelling our tenacities and yearnings. What is it about us, as a race, that permits such complexity and duplicity in our morals, our beliefs, our actions and our overall subsistence? In other words, what gives us the endless predisposition to evolve and grow – our propensity for ‘evil’ or our intrinsically compassionate nature. The idea of a sense of morality that exists and is accepted is an idea that is challenged in the most unique and interesting work of fiction that I have experienced to this day – Hunter x Hunter, which not only explores morally ambiguous subject matters on a profoundly philosophical level but also effectually weaves these controversial notions into the cordially appreciated shounen genres of adventure, fantasy and action that are juxtaposed with the progressively darker themes of crime, war and corruption that Togashi (the mangaka) gradually eases us into through the various arcs. In such a way, Hunter x Hunter effectively explores ideas intrinsic to the human psyche, offering a perfect contrast between light and dark themes, communicating humanities’ innate duality as we are creatures both capable of what is deemed morally “good’ and “evil.”
I started watching Hunter x Hunter upon hearing others describe it as one of the most intricate and sophisticated works of all time. Initially, I could not understand why the show was highly praised due to its slow and somewhat generic start. A boy who wants to find his father. Despite finding the hunter world rather interesting and multi-faceted, I did not truly comprehend how well-written the show was until about thirty episodes in, where it suddenly hit me that everything was fitting into place incredibly well as the story continued, with many fights and key moments being so unpredictable as it completely dismantled what one would expect in a shounen anime, making me constantly pressed to know more.
The concept of ‘Nen’ is extremely detailed and well-established and effectively enhances every aspect of the Hunter world. This is done through elaborate theoretical explanations on the Nen principles as well as the variety of practical applications which are presented throughout the show, frequently enabling Togashi to express the versatility of nen powers that are ingeniously a reflection of each character’s personality, contributing another layer of complexity to his comprehensive characterisation. Hunter x Hunter often takes a deconstructuralist approach to previous shounen anime, challenging traditional shounen tropes in its unconventional approach to not only its characters, but overall story. Such an example would be how the protagonists are not given special treatment – often being unable to win against someone even despite extensive training or determination. The use of “flashbacks” and “backstory” to induce emotion based powerups prevalent in the shounen genre and “power fantasy” anime is completely overlooked. ‘Nen’ alone is shown to hold no real influence on the outcome of a battle and many a time, a significant amount of attention given to tactical, physical, psychological and circumstantial aspects of the battle which also significantly shapes the outcome of any situation – often resulting in the protagonists being completely outmatched due to their lack of experience and skill. Furthermore, the sustained balance between consequence and power enables Togashi to retain a sense of realism in his work, enhancing the concept of nen that becomes more powerful the more restrictions placed upon it – a compensation for inexperience that many characters end up relying on – adding to its versatility, but also creating a sense of foreboding in the story due to the sheer severity and weight of the impending consequences.
Additionally, the traditional idea of a build-up in tension that eventually culminates in a fight between the main protagonist, Gon, and the antagonists of each arc which would ultimately result in the protagonists victory – necessary to uphold what the protagonist and by extension, the audience, deems morally “right” – is completely undermined as Togashi conveys a sense of moral ambiguity in his characters. This makes the outcome of each arc unpredictable as the ethical boundaries between the protagonists and antagonists are consistently distorted, consequently forcing the audience to reconsider who is truly morally “right” in each circumstance, or whether such a faultless distinction even exists at all. The extent to which Togashi recognises the significance of story structure and correlation between arcs can be seen through his excellent pacing which allows him to effectively flesh out and develop each character, composing both protagonists and antagonists as multi-layered individualities whose behaviours as well as nen abilities are seen to be a reflection of their personalities and personal philosophy. Combined with this, smooth transitions between each arc and subplot work together with everything else to effectively world build as well as to underscore the experience of the “journey” and all the “little detours” that make the journey so special.
I believe where Hunter x Hunter truly shines is its multi-dimensional approach to the construction of all its characters. Every single character is shown to have their own unique identity, dreams, ambitions, and ideologies; all of which influence their personality and subsequent behaviours. Unlike other archetypal shounen villains, most of which have limited development throughout the duration of the show in order to add weight to the protagonist’s victory and to uphold universal ethical standards, Togashi’s characterisation of the “antagonists” in the story are shown to be just as developed, fascinating and multidimensional as the protagonists, constructing them in such a way that sheds moral ‘labels’ and fleshing them out in a manner that enables extensive character growth that at times completely alters the whole course of the story. Togashi’s refusal to ‘moralise’ in his execution of majority of the villains and protagonists in Hunter x Hunter makes the story all the more interesting, showing Togashi’s understanding regarding our innate propensity for both “good” and “evil” and how many a time there is no tangible distinction. Togashi persists in his upheaval of traditional shounen plot structure as he reveals that even the protagonists can just as easily become consumed with despair and morally unclear in their behaviour.
The sound used in Hunter x Hunter is consistent throughout the entire show. The soundtracks are used effectively as a means to enhance the story and is able to convey the necessary moods and tones of each arc – with darker and lighter musical variances, often at time using a combination of both dark and light tones to add to the layer of intricacy in each specific situation and individual. The voice acting is executed effectively, especially in the main characters of the show – they are able to truly communicate the emotions and experiences of each character.
The animation of Hunter x Hunter is also extremely consistent, clear and picturesque. Backgrounds are animated with detail and the colour tones are utilised in parallel with the tones of the scene or overall arc, with the use of a darker, muted colour palette in thematically darker arcs in comparison to a brighter, colourful colour palette in the more light hearted scenes – there is a perfect balance.
Overall, Hunter x Hunter is a masterpiece. Despite all my years of indulging in countless works of fiction, Hunter x Hunter truly stands out as a hidden gem. However, due to the lack of power fantasy material that is prevalent amongst the more popular shounen anime in Hunter x Hunter, its childish appearance, as well as (at times) its content/theory heavy approach, it is often overlooked and underappreciated. Even so, the detailed, intricate and masterful approach that Togashi takes in his writing really shines through his execution of the story as well as the characters, many details are so well thought-out that each time I unearth one, I am once again amazed by Togashi’s genius, brought to life by Mad House’s amazing execution – all of which work together to hit home the real message of the show.
~ Never forget that the little detours are what makes the journey truly special, because that’s where you’ll find the things more important than what you want. ~
