Hunter x Hunter (2011)

Hunters devote themselves to accomplishing hazardous tasks, all from traversing the world's uncharted territories to locating rare items and monsters. Before becoming a Hunter, one must pass the Hunter Examination—a high-risk selection process in which most applicants end up handicapped or worse, deceased.

Ambitious participants who challenge the notorious exam carry their own reason. What drives 12-year-old Gon Freecss is finding Ging, his father and a Hunter himself. Believing that he will meet his father by becoming a Hunter, Gon takes the first step to walk the same path.

During the Hunter Examination, Gon befriends the medical student Leorio Paladiknight, the vindictive Kurapika, and ex-assassin Killua Zoldyck. While their motives vastly differ from each other, they band together for a common goal and begin to venture into a perilous world.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Zoldyck, Killua Main

Ise, Mariya Japanese

Kurapika Main

Sawashiro, Miyuki Japanese

Freecss, Gon Main

Han, Megumi Japanese

Paladiknight, Leorio Main

Fujiwara, Keiji Japanese

Morow, Hisoka Supporting

Namikawa, Daisuke Japanese

Meruem Supporting

Uchiyama, Kouki Japanese

Lucilfer, Chrollo Supporting

Miyano, Mamoru Japanese

Netero, Isaac Supporting

Ginga, Banjou Japanese

Neferpitou Supporting

Fujimura, Ayumi Japanese

Portor, Feitan Supporting

Yamaguchi, Kappei Japanese

Maruyama, Masao Producer

Tamura, Manabu Producer, Planning

Nakatani, Toshio Producer

Iwasa, Naoki Producer

Reviews

Jan 19, 2025

Krypt3x

Recommended

Hunter x Hunter (2011) Review

Hunter x Hunter (2011) is a masterpiece of storytelling that shatters expectations at every turn. Beneath its vibrant visuals lies a narrative filled with depth, unpredictability, and thought-provoking themes. Each arc introduces new challenges that test the characters’ physical and emotional limits, leaving viewers in awe of the complexity and growth on display.

The series explores morality, ambition, and human resilience with rare nuance. Its world-building feels limitless, drawing you into a universe brimming with danger and wonder. The battles are more than clashes of strength; they’re intricate games of strategy and intellect. Hunter x Hunter isn’t just an anime. It’s an ... unforgettable journey.

At its core, the story follows Gon Freecss, a young boy determined to find his father by becoming a Hunter, a licensed adventurer with access to extraordinary opportunities. What begins as a seemingly straightforward adventure soon evolves into something far more profound. The show constantly challenges its characters and viewers with moral dilemmas, emotional depth, and an evolving sense of scale.

The characters are a standout feature. Gon’s optimism and determination are compelling, but the true strength of the cast lies in their complexity. Killua Zoldyck, Gon’s best friend, brings layers of introspection and internal conflict that make his journey as gripping as the central plot. Meanwhile, Kurapika and Leorio, the other main protagonists, add their unique perspectives and motivations, creating a diverse and dynamic group.

Even the antagonists in Hunter x Hunter defy stereotypes. They’re not mere obstacles for the heroes to overcome; they’re fully realized individuals with their own goals, values, and vulnerabilities. This depth makes every conflict feel personal and impactful, as you’re often left questioning whose side you’re truly on.

What sets Hunter x Hunter apart from other shōnen anime is its willingness to break conventions. The show doesn’t rely on overpowered protagonists or predictable outcomes. Instead, it thrives on strategic battles, where intellect and resourcefulness often trump raw power. The innovative Nen system "a unique framework of abilities" adds layers of complexity to fights, making them feel fresh and engaging.

The pacing of the series is another strength. Each arc feels distinct yet seamlessly connected to the overall narrative. From the high-stakes Hunter Exam to the emotionally intense Chimera Ant arc, the show consistently raises the bar. The variety in tone and themes ensures that the story never becomes stagnant.

Visually, Hunter x Hunter (2011) impresses with its vibrant animation and fluid action sequences. The character designs are memorable, and the landscapes "ranging from bustling cities to uncharted wilderness" are richly detailed. The music score complements the visuals perfectly, heightening the emotional impact of key moments.

Hunter x Hunter is more than just an anime; it’s an exploration of what it means to grow, to strive, and to face the complexities of life. Whether you’re new to anime or a seasoned fan, this series offers something extraordinary. It’s a story that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll, challenging you to see the world in new ways.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Feb 3, 2025

Sasori_Nagashi

Mixed Feelings

Really good up until Greed Island. From then on it's a huge slog on massive narrator monologues explaining things directly to the viewer which gets worse and worse, culminating in the final arc being borderline unwatchable for all the constant interruptions and pacing issues. Not to mention the power creep. Dragon Ball and Naruto are constantly given guff for their power creep, even One Piece is somewhat with the haki system but Hunter x Hunter has got to be the worst example in all of shounen anime. The amount of times enemies are like... Legendarily strong in the lore then entirely overshadowed by the next ... set is wild. Also the Greed Island villain has to be the single lamest, unintimidating and boring villain in all of anime history. The first half? 10/10. The second half? 3/10 because of the ungodly pacing issues even though the Chimera Ant Arc with GOOD pacing might arguably be 10/10.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Oct 20, 2023

Adam_Lilith

Not Recommended

Funny

"I can see people calling it a fun guilty pleasure, but one of the highest ranked anime of all time is a catastrophic crime"

Hunter X Hunter 2011 is one I have heard of for years. In fact I caught up to the manga many years ago during one of the many hiatuses. I remember thinking the manga was pretty good. Anyway my brother told me it was his favorite anime. He is not usually into anime so I thought it would be a great thing for us to bond over if I watched it again. And so I started.

At first things seemed good, ... Gon and Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio and the rest of the cast seemed interesting. The world intrigued me. The Hunter Exam was fun. The Zoldycks were cool and even the arena was kind of entertaining. Yorknew was fine. Greed island was fun though a little elementary. But more and more flaws started standing out to me. In the storytelling, the ability to utilize multiple characters at a time, to give a compelling story without insulting your audience or pulling bs. I stopped caring for any of the characters pretty early as they just didn't feel worthy of investment or all that compelling. I mean Leorio is maybe in 10 episodes and yet you can tell he's considered a main character. It felt like an anime for 10 year olds the way characters speak and act at times.

Every arc drags just a little more than the last one until the chimera ant just puts you to sleep with an asmr narrarator who needs to recap for 5 minutes what you just saw 2 minutes of in real time. I am sure people hear a lot of negatives about the chimera ant arc and think, "It's just one arc it can't sink the whole series". Unfortunately, Chimera ant is nearly 50% of the entire anime runtime. It is horrendously long and dragged out. It dragged more than the 4th great shinobi war, which had dozens of more characters to balance to flush out and was about 4 times longer.

Ultimately Id give the first few arcs a generous 6.5-7 but the Chimera ant arc should have been a 7 if it was 1/3 its length. Unfortunately for that I have to take off 3 points for 40 episodes that felt like someone put me in time-out. When nearly half of the anime is a 4/10 I can't really justify more than a 5.

All in all, Hunter x Hunter is the single most overhyped anime I've ever seen.

I fell asleep to it many times, which is very unusual and I had to force myself to start the next episode on multiple occasions just because I wanted to talk to my brother. It felt awful. It has it's moments but they are very far between and don't justify themselves when there is so much better out there.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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