Hunter x Hunter
1999
Original language: Japanese
- sci-fi & fantasy
- action & adventure
- animation
- comedy
- drama
The story
Gon Freecss discovers that the father he had always been told was dead was actually alive the whole time. Ging is a famous Hunter: an individual who has proven themself an elite member of humanity. Gon becomes determined to follow in his father's footsteps, pass the rigorous Hunter Examination.
What it’s like
Warm, hand-drawn cel animation with soft painted backdrops: sun-washed villages, dusty training grounds, forest canopies in dappled green, and nighttime scenes lit by lanterns and campfires. Colours are earthy and gently saturated, with the sharper, moodier palette arriving as the story darkens. The score leans on bright adventure themes, wistful strings and tense percussion during fights, and the quieter episodes often land on a single held note or a lone flute. Its vibe is brisk and bighearted, with a current of melancholy under the optimism. It suits a Saturday afternoon, a long run of episodes on a sofa, or a comfort rewatch that rewards patience. The pacing is episodic and energetic, with long stretches of travel, puzzles and training punctuated by flashy, sometimes drawn-out battles. Fights include bloodied faces, impalements and some grim deaths, most intense in the later arcs, but the violence is stylised rather than lingering. Its people grow through setbacks: a restless boy learning restraint, a wary friend slowly opening up. It is for viewers who enjoy shonen adventure with a strong emotional core, and who don't mind a series that becomes considerably darker in its second half.
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