Hunter x Hunter

Hunters are specialized in a wide variety of fields, ranging from treasure hunting to cooking. They have access to otherwise unavailable funds and information that allow them to pursue their dreams and interests. However, being a hunter is a special privilege, only attained by taking a deadly exam with an extremely low success rate.

Gon Freecss, a 12-year-old boy with the hope of finding his missing father, sets out on a quest to take the Hunter Exam. Along the way, he picks up three companions who also aim to take the dangerous test: the revenge-seeking Kurapika, aspiring doctor Leorio Paladiknight, and a mischievous child the same age as Gon, Killua Zoldyck.

As the four aspiring hunters embark on a perilous adventure, they fight for their dreams while defying the odds.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Zoldyck, Killua Main

Mitsuhashi, Kanako Japanese

Kurapika Main

Kaida, Yuki Japanese

Freecss, Gon Main

Takeuchi, Junko Japanese

Paladiknight, Leorio Main

Gouda, Hozumi Japanese

Morow, Hisoka Supporting

Takahashi, Hiroki Japanese

Lucilfer, Chrollo Supporting

Nagano, Yoshikazu Japanese

Netero, Isaac Supporting

Tobayama, Bunmei Japanese

Portor, Feitan Supporting

Hibino, Akari Japanese

Kite Supporting

Kishi, Yuuji Japanese

Zoldyck, Illumi Supporting

Takano, Urara Japanese

Matsuda, Keiichi Producer

Kosao, Shunichi Producer

Kawakami, Daisuke Producer

Furuhashi, Kazuhiro Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Reviews

Jan 2, 2025

Lecus01

Recommended

The 1999 adaptation of Hunter x Hunter is a captivating and atmospheric take on Yoshihiro Togashi’s beloved manga. While it doesn’t cover the full scope of the story, its unique tone, compelling character development, and emotionally charged storytelling make it a memorable experience.

The anime follows Gon Freecss, a spirited boy who embarks on a journey to become a Hunter—a licensed adventurer with skills ranging from combat to treasure hunting. Along the way, he befriends the reserved Kurapika, the cheerful Leorio, and the mysterious Killua. Together, they face challenges that test their physical and emotional limits, unraveling a story filled with adventure, danger, and moral complexity.

One ... of the strengths of the 1999 adaptation is its slower pacing and attention to detail, which allows for deeper emotional resonance in key moments. It captures the darker undertones of the series, particularly during the Hunter Exam and Yorknew City arcs, giving the story a sense of maturity and weight. The character interactions are rich, and their growth feels authentic and impactful.

Visually, the animation reflects the era, with detailed character designs and a muted color palette that enhances the series’ darker tone. While the action sequences are not as fluid as modern standards, they are still engaging and well-choreographed. The soundtrack, composed by Toshihiko Sahashi, is hauntingly atmospheric, perfectly complementing the series’ dramatic and suspenseful moments.

The adaptation does have its limitations. The pacing, while deliberate, may feel slow for viewers used to faster-moving anime. Additionally, the series ends without covering the Chimera Ant arc or later parts of the story, leaving some narrative threads unresolved. Fans looking for a more comprehensive adaptation may prefer the 2011 version.

Hunter x Hunter (1999) is a standout adaptation that brings depth and atmosphere to the early arcs of Togashi’s masterpiece. Its emotional storytelling and darker tone make it a must-watch for fans of the series, even if it doesn’t cover the complete story.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Jul 3, 2023

Deaj

Mixed Feelings

Preliminary (12/62 eps)

After hearing so many good things about this show I had to check it out, then after watching it for a bit I had to drop it. And no I'm not going to like the 2011 version more.

The only character I remotely enjoy is Kurapika. Killua is typical shonen edge boi so far and Gon is unremarkable. Leorio exists... I don't see anything special or endearing about this cast. Interesting considering that Yu Yu Hakusho has arguably the greatest cast of all time and this is written by the same person so he should know how to make interesting characters. Perhaps I am simply too ... old for this show because I consistently find it seeming childish and underwhelming.

One thing people insisted that this show has got going for it is the subversion of expectations. For example instead of fighting to test you abilities at one point a hunter examiner decides a cooking contest is the appropriate test. How this has anything to do with being anything but a gourmet hunter I will never know, and it makes me wonder why there aren't many hunter schools where different subjects are tackled. Then a gourmet hunter school where you cook would make perfect sense. As it is, it technically is a subversion of expectations sure but it's immeasurably stupid and uninteresting. Another example earlier is a lady who holds a quiz. Her questions are basically, "Would you rather save x person or y person." In essence, something that is entirely up to the individual taking the quiz. Well, it turns out the 'right' answer, instead of there being no right answer, was actually to just not answer. Truly amazing, 10/10 Togashi. After that moment in the show is when I decided if I was going to watch this I needed to start drinking.

I'm sure this show is for some people. I know most people apparently love it. The ost is good, production is good, I'm not even going as far as to say this show is bad but I just feel nothing watching it. This show is just not for me. If you are someone who really loves YYH and wants to give this a shot specifically because of YYH (which is why I tried watching it), I would consider finding a better reason to watch this show because I'm not confident you will enjoy it.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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May 10, 2020

MoonSpider

Not Recommended

Funny

I cannot recommend this anime for anything but comparison since the 2011 anime came out. While there may be a bias on my part having seen the 2011 adaptation first, if I had seen this version first I likely would have never stuck with the series to become a part of the fandom.

There are a couple of things this series has over the later adaptation: the first episode actually introduces a certain character, even though it never makes it to the famously large arc for that decision to pay off. 1999 also has the original take on Phase 2 of the Hunter's Exam, changed in ... that I suppose the mangaka now realizes that foreigners know what sushi is, therefore a plot point is rendered a little ridiculous but the examiner's motivations and testing material remain in a consistent thread of logic.

However, detracting from that is pretty much everything else. All of the filler added to the first arc or so of the series. The pacing slowed down to the speed of a snail. The tone is needlessly more somber. The art is, of course, rather old and doesn't feel nearly as sharp as the 2011 adaptation. Even the sound of the fighting feels like it has less impact.

Every day I pushed myself to watch this so I know I've seen all there was to Hunter x Hunter, each time it felt like a chore, which Hunter x Hunter should NEVER feel like.

There are a couple reasons to watch select episodes and clips. Some ongoing gags that are exclusive to this adaptation, seeing how your favorite scenes played out differently, those couple moments from the manga adapted here that the 2011 anime didn't touch. But I must say, going through all of this didn't feel worth it.

I'm still planning to push ahead through all of the OVA episodes, which continues this series through what I believe to be the conclusion of the Greed Island arc in roughly another 30 episodes. Seeing as how the latest of those OVAs was back in 2004, that's at least a good few years for some techniques to improve, but I don't see the majority of my opinion of the series overall changing very much.

I admit much of my criticism is cosmetic, but that's because the source material is wonderful no matter how you slice it. The way that it was animated here was just too boring.

Reviewer’s Rating: 3

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