Hunter X Hunter is.. A fake-out, a series of endless and endlessly shrewd mind games by characters and creator alike to deceive another into believing what is most beneficial or, simply, fun to them.
Hunter X Hunter is.. A top-class demonstration in how an animation studio should breathe proper, soulful life into a beloved Shonen property, in part kickstarting the long overdue trend of lauded, beautiful adaptations like Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure and My Hero Academia. Visuals here are expertly crafted to fit mood, character, importance to plot, all of it. Combat is its own treat, the animation flowing with the passionate movements of a smorgasbord of personality types and skill sets, many of whom you will wish to see win—or at least not suffer unduly. Aesthetically, this one impressively surpasses its source material.
Musically, Hunter X Hunter really exceeds expectations. Sweeping orchestral pieces accompany Gon and Killua’s budding sense of adventure and friendship. The exotic and intimidating and eery and otherworldly is felt quite viscerally through the employment of a suitably eclectic collection of styles. The Phantom Troupe’s grimly solemn themes will haunt you beyond the Yorknew arc’s surprisingly breezy run.
Hunter X Hunter is.. An inspired, nuanced and poignant examination of all that makes us human: Our tenacity, cleverness, warmth, the heights of awe-inspiring talent; and perhaps most frequently, the staggering variety this single species is capable of producing in its members, even merely in how we choose to have fun!
But also under the microscope are our cruelty, Machiavellianism, cynicism and brutality and destructive obsession and callous carelessness. There is real power in Togashi’s meditations on evil, abuse and abnormal psychology. The viewer will often find the lines blur and then come into focus, only to blur again; as is appropriate the more difficult the subject matter.
Like man himself, Hunter X Hunter wears many faces. You may not like them all. The whiplash felt at the start of a new arc can admittedly take some adjustment. But in the end, like me, you just might genuinely find yourself admiring how all the pieces dissonantly and harmoniously click, in their calculated chaos.
(Additionally, Madhouse’s glossy remake not only includes one monstrous arc excluded from 1999’s adaptation, but was also fortunate to conclude at a point which narratively and thematically makes a good deal of sense. Currently, I would recommend this one over either existing alternative.)
