Hunter x Hunter is everything you want to see in a shounen anime and more. As with all my reviews, I will try to avoid spoilers as much as possible.
Story 4.5/5
The story for the most part is great. You get hooked on the first couple episodes with no lack of action and the pacing remains relatively steady during the entire show, at least for the most part. The first arc is exciting as you get to really delve into the world and learn about what it is to be a Hunter, the profession our young protagonists aspire to have. We get to understand the motivations behind our protagonists and meet a wonderfully played antagonist very early on in the show. The arcs only get better from there leading up to the pinnacle Chimera Ant Arc, which feels like a perfect finale of everything the show stood for. Because of this, the two arcs after feel empty, almost like it is attempting to transition into another major arc which never happens.
Animation 4/5
Keeping in mind this show was released in 2011, the animation is good. The fight scenes are easy to follow with plenty of exciting scenes. I had not noticed any inconsistencies in the animation in my multiple viewings. While the animation is good, there is nothing that sets this apart from the other well animated anime of the time.
Sound 4/5
The opening theme is a classic that I could listen to for hours. The music flows well through each scene, with each piece able to set the mood relatively well. The sub and dubbed voices fit their characters with each perfectly syncing their speech with their lip flapping. The overall quality of the sound, whether I Blu-ray or streaming, is clear and of high quality.
Character 5/5
The main protagonist is naïve but loveable and has tremendous growth throughout the series. This can be the same for the other protagonists. The antagonists are really well written and though they don’t have the same growth as our heroes, their motivations become clearer as time goes on which makes you relate to them more.
Enjoyment 5/5
This is a show that has no lack of excitement and is easily one of the easiest bingeable anime I have come across. It doesn’t rely heavily on cliffhangers or to be continued endings and the show doesn’t have enormous recaps at the beginning of every episode. Even on rewatching you can find things you may have missed, which just makes it even more enjoyable.
Overall 5/5
An almost flawless show, it’s a shame its not as well known as some of the others. When someone asks me to recommend an anime for a first-time viewer, this is my go-to. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story, with great characters and an enigmatic villain that may make you feel guilty for loving.
Story 4.5/5
The story for the most part is great. You get hooked on the first couple episodes with no lack of action and the pacing remains relatively steady during the entire show, at least for the most part. The first arc is exciting as you get to really delve into the world and learn about what it is to be a Hunter, the profession our young protagonists aspire to have. We get to understand the motivations behind our protagonists and meet a wonderfully played antagonist very early on in the show. The arcs only get better from there leading up to the pinnacle Chimera Ant Arc, which feels like a perfect finale of everything the show stood for. Because of this, the two arcs after feel empty, almost like it is attempting to transition into another major arc which never happens.
Animation 4/5
Keeping in mind this show was released in 2011, the animation is good. The fight scenes are easy to follow with plenty of exciting scenes. I had not noticed any inconsistencies in the animation in my multiple viewings. While the animation is good, there is nothing that sets this apart from the other well animated anime of the time.
Sound 4/5
The opening theme is a classic that I could listen to for hours. The music flows well through each scene, with each piece able to set the mood relatively well. The sub and dubbed voices fit their characters with each perfectly syncing their speech with their lip flapping. The overall quality of the sound, whether I Blu-ray or streaming, is clear and of high quality.
Character 5/5
The main protagonist is naïve but loveable and has tremendous growth throughout the series. This can be the same for the other protagonists. The antagonists are really well written and though they don’t have the same growth as our heroes, their motivations become clearer as time goes on which makes you relate to them more.
Enjoyment 5/5
This is a show that has no lack of excitement and is easily one of the easiest bingeable anime I have come across. It doesn’t rely heavily on cliffhangers or to be continued endings and the show doesn’t have enormous recaps at the beginning of every episode. Even on rewatching you can find things you may have missed, which just makes it even more enjoyable.
Overall 5/5
An almost flawless show, it’s a shame its not as well known as some of the others. When someone asks me to recommend an anime for a first-time viewer, this is my go-to. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story, with great characters and an enigmatic villain that may make you feel guilty for loving.
