The appeal and reviews of HUNTER×HUNTER: A thorough explanation of the ultimate adventure story

HUNTER×HUNTER - Hunter x Hunter -

■ Public Media

event

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

July 26, 1998 - January 1, 0000

■ How it first appeared

Published by Shueisha

■Frequencies

25 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

・Original work: Yoshihiro Togashi

■ Director

・Director: Noriyuki Abe

■ Production

・Production: Studio Pierrot

■Works

©Yoshihiro Togashi/Shueisha

■ Story

Hunter is a profession that involves a lifetime of searching for rare ruins, treasures, and monsters. The protagonist, a young boy named Gon, leaves his hometown of Whale Island to take the Hunter Exam in order to become a full-fledged Hunter like his father. On the way, he meets two young men on the ship who also aspire to become Hunters: Leorio and Kurapika. The three men, each with completely different goals, embark on a harsh and difficult journey to pass the Hunter Exam...

■Explanation

This is an anime that was shown exclusively at the event "Jump Super Anime Tour '98" held annually by Shueisha. The OVA was not released to the public, but was given away as a prize to all applicants for the 1999 Weekly Shonen Jump New Year Issue 1 to New Year Issue 6. The original author, Togashi Yoshihiro, made a special appearance as a voice actor in this work, but it has not been revealed which character he played.

■Cast

・Gon/Rika Nashimoto・Kurapika/Noriko Hidaka・Leorio/Entoshi Hayashi・Captain/Kenji Utsumi・Mito/Akemi Okamura・Kaito/Shigeru Nakahara・Hunter wannabe/Naoki Bando・Granny/Shizuka Okote・Special appearance/Yoshihiro Togashi

■ Main staff

Producers: Ken Hagino (Studio Pierrot), Tetsuo Daitoku (Kusosha)
・Director / Abe Noriyuki ・Screenplay / Hashimoto Yuji ・Art Director / Takada Shigeyuki ・Animation Character Design / Kitayama Mari ・Chief Animation Director / Onishi Masaya ・Sound Director / Abe Noriyuki ・Director of Photography / Miyagawa Harutoshi ・Produced by Studio Pierrot ・Produced by Shueisha Weekly Shonen Jump

■ Main Characters

Gon is a kind-hearted and honest boy. Once he met Kite, a hunter, in the forest of his hometown, and learned that his father was the strongest hunter. After that, he decided to become a hunter like his father.

Kurapika is the sole survivor of the Kurta Clan. He aims to become a Hunter in order to avenge his clan. Although he is usually calm and collected, he is very proud and loses sight of what is going on around him when it comes to his clan.

Leorio: A young man who aspires to be a doctor and decides to become a hunter in order to earn a huge amount of money. He is quick to fight and has a short temper, but he also has a very caring side.

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

■ Background and production process of the work

Hunter x Hunter is an anime series based on the popular manga of the same name by Yoshihiro Togashi. Released in 1998, the original video animation (OVA) was screened exclusively as part of Shueisha's Jump Super Anime Tour '98. The event is a special annual anime screening event for fans, giving many people the opportunity to enjoy new anime.

The film was directed by Abe Noriyuki and produced by Studio Pierrot. Studio Pierrot is a studio with a proven track record of producing many popular anime, and the high quality of its work is well-known. The script was written by Hashimoto Yuji, the art director was Takada Shigenori, the animation character designer was Kitayama Mari, the animation director was Onishi Masaya, the sound director was Abe Noriyuki, and the director of photography was Miyagawa Harutoshi. This staff worked together to successfully bring out the charm of the original work to the fullest.

■ The appeal of the story

The story of "HUNTER x HUNTER" depicts the adventures of a young boy named Gon, who aspires to become a "Hunter", a profession that involves pursuing rare ruins, treasures, and monsters. In order to become a full-fledged hunter like his father, Gon leaves his hometown of Whale Island and heads to the Hunter Exam. The story depicts Gon overcoming the harsh exams with Leorio and Kurapika, whom he meets along the way.

This OVA centers around the scenes where Gon and his friends meet on the ship and talk about their dreams and goals. Each character's background and purpose are clearly depicted, allowing viewers to empathize deeply with their growth and friendship. In particular, Gon's purity and strong will, Kurapika's desire for revenge and pride, and Leorio's greed and caring nature are skillfully portrayed, highlighting the individuality of each character.

■Charm of the characters

Gon is a kind and honest boy, and it is inspiring to see him aspire to become a hunter like his father. His growth and adventures give the viewer courage and hope. Kurapika is the last surviving member of the Kurta clan who aims to become a hunter in order to avenge his clan. His calmness and pride add tension to the story. Leorio is a character whose goal is to earn a huge amount of money so he can become a doctor. His quick-to-quarrel personality and caring nature add humor and warmth to the story.

These characters have been animated while retaining the charm of the original work, and the voice actors' performances are also excellent. In particular, the performances of Rika Nashimoto as Gon, Noriko Hidaka as Kurapika, and Nobutoshi Hayashi as Leorio bring out the individuality of the characters to the fullest. The special appearance of the original author, Yoshihiro Togashi, also attracted attention. It has not been revealed which character he played, but his presence adds depth to the work.

■Animation and Music

The animation of this work is a testament to Studio Pierrot's high level of technical skill. The character designs faithfully reproduce the images of the original work, while adding movements and expressions that are unique to anime. In particular, the scenes where Gon and his friends spend time on the ship feature beautiful, detailed backgrounds and colors that are particularly visually appealing.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. The background music is chosen to match the atmosphere of the story, stirring the emotions of the viewer. In particular, the music in the scene where Gon and the others talk about their dreams is moving and touching. In addition, under the direction of sound director Abe Noriyuki, the voice actors' performances are integrated with the music, adding excitement to the story.

■ Viewer reactions and ratings

The OVA for "HUNTER×HUNTER" was released in limited screenings, so the general public had limited opportunities to see it. However, it was given away as a prize to all applicants for the 1999 New Year's issue of Weekly Shonen Jump, allowing many fans to get their hands on it. As a result, it was very well received by fans, and was highly praised as a work that recreated the charm of the original work in anime form.

In particular, the individuality of the characters and the development of the story are faithful to the original, while adding expressions that are unique to anime. The special feeling of limited screenings also captured the hearts of fans, and many people love this film. Furthermore, the special appearance of the original author, Yoshihiro Togashi, became a hot topic and excited fans.

■ Recommendations and related works

The OVA of "HUNTER×HUNTER" is a work that is recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for anime fans. In particular, it is a must-see for those who like stories about adventure, friendship, and growth. In addition, this work was released in a special form of limited screening, making it a precious work for fans.

Related works include the TV anime version of "HUNTER×HUNTER" that was broadcast in 1999 and the new TV anime version of "HUNTER×HUNTER" that was remade in 2011. These works also bring out the charm of the original work to the fullest, and by enjoying them together with the OVA, you can experience the world of "HUNTER×HUNTER" more deeply. The original manga is also very popular and is still being serialized, so be sure to check it out.

Another recommended work by Yoshihiro Togashi is Yu Yu Hakusho, which is also a story of adventure and growth that fans of Hunter x Hunter will surely enjoy.

Conclusion

The OVA of "HUNTER×HUNTER" is a wonderful work that brings out the charm of the original work to the fullest. The story of Gon and his friends' adventures, growth, and friendship has captured the hearts of viewers, and the characters' personalities, animation, and music have also been highly praised. This work, which was released in a special limited screening format, is a precious work for fans and is a work that we would all love to see at least once. By enjoying it together with related works and the original manga, you will be able to experience the world of "HUNTER×HUNTER" more deeply.