(CR) Hunter X Hunter Anime (2011)

[ars89]

Wow Hisoka was pretty awesome. Nice job by Leorio not to runaway even though it was foolish. Like how Gon landed a hit on him. Interesting that that was the first time he felt fear. Wonder if they'll all make it in time.

[Vicious108]

Originally Posted by ars89

Nice job by Leorio not to runaway even though it was foolish.

Forgot to touch on this. Far from me to try and ruin your enjoyment of the episode, but that also didn't make as much sense as in the manga/original anime. There Leorio couldn't bring himself to run away because his humanity and sense of justice heavily disapproved of Hisoka's decision to arbitrarily slaughter the other participants, but here Hisoka was just defending himself, in what was basically HxH's version of Star Wars' infamous "Han shot first", so Leorio really didn't have nearly as strong a reason to come back and try to fight him. Hell, here Hisoka even neatly and quickly took care of his attackers, instead of purposefully scaring the shit out of them with crazed screams and laughter before killing them, like he was supposed to.

[Kirarakim]

Episode was okay I am most interested in Gon & Killua and there wasn't enough of them together. I admit my bias. I did like Killua concerned about Gon getting back to the test though.

I do like Hisoka in this version but the fight did nothing for me except for two moments when: 1) Gon hit Hisoka with his fishing pole 2) When Hisoka was strangling Gon. The rest of the fight didn't personally interest me all that much. I can't say if that was a problem with the direction or not.

[Toto y Moi]

Originally Posted by Endless Twilight

Spoiler for Episode 5:

So, episode 5... Yeah, that wasn't very good. It's like I'm watching 4Kids Hunter or something. I could deal with them toning down the violence caused by Hisoka, but his freaking character as well? In the manga he decided on his own to "play the judge" because he was bored out of his mind and thus needed to go on a little killing spree in order to spice things up. Here he's just defending himself from the idiots who attacked him first, what a nice guy! Then they went and overdid his fascination with Gon at this point in the story, which should be nowhere near the level they already made it out to be. And this will probably be the last time I mention this, since it'll get old real quick, but Namikawa still sounds very dry and doesn't add nearly as much flavour to the character as Takahashi, nor do his pedobear lines sound as creepy.

Anyway, even Hisoka aside (which is already a big problem in of itself, since he's the best character in the series~), there wasn't much to praise about the episode. The editing was pretty poor, with the scenes all feeling really disjointed and there barely being any music to hold them together (and even when there was, their placement was rather hit and miss). Most of the cuts and changes to the manga canon were detracting and the anime original additions questionable. So yeah, this episode all but confirmed my initial concerns with this remake and it's now pretty much a given it won't live up either to the manga or the first anime adaptation. Oh well.

I think that your complaints are kind of funny. I sometimes feel like complaints against the new series conflict against each other. People complain when it's too close to the manga, and then people criticize when it isn't close enough. People praise the old series for its quiet moments, but then criticize when the new series does the same. Hisoka's fascination with Gon is the exact same as it was in the manga. This episode was actually significantly more violent than the 1999 series too.

The scenario surrounding Hisoka was quite different in this episode from the manga and 1999 anime, but it makes it clear how the series is slightly altering Hisoka's character in order to expose one of HxH's primary themes. He still is a murderer, but he doesn't care about killing weak people/things.

Let me ask you--do you really think that there are actually "good guys" and "bad guys" in Hunter x Hunter? I don't think that exists in this series. People are people.

Anyways, not sure if I'll do any more comparisons here. Somebody neg repped me last week for doing it, so I'm not feeling it. If people want it, then I wouldn't mind.

[Anh_Minh]

I liked that the new series was close to the manga. I don't like the departure. I don't like that losing the examiner, or getting tricked by the beasts was just a minor threat instead of a quasi-death sentence. I don't like that the pace has gone to a crawl. I don't like the alterations to the Hisoka bit either, but by that time I was too annoyed to care.

[Vicious108]

I sometimes feel like complaints against the new series conflict against each other. People complain when it's too close to the manga, and then people criticize when it isn't close enough. People praise the old series for its quiet moments, but then criticize when the new series does the same.

Yeah, different people have different viewpoints, who would have thought.
"People" does not equal a single entity. Again, who would have thought?
And yes, context and execution matter, who would have thought!

Hisoka's fascination with Gon is the exact same as it was in the manga.

Are you fucking serious? Hell no, it isn't. I reread that chapter a couple of days ago and apparently you really ought to do the same. All Hisoka said in the manga was "What a good boy" and told him he'd passed, he didn't go on and on about how much of a boner he was getting like he did in this episode.

The scenario surrounding Hisoka was quite different in this episode from the manga and 1999 anime, but it makes it clear how the series is slightly altering Hisoka's character in order to expose one of HxH's primary themes. He still is a murderer, but he doesn't care about killing weak people/things.

Let me ask you--do you really think that there are actually "good guys" and "bad guys" in Hunter x Hunter? I don't think that exists in this series. People are people.

What does that have to do with any of my criticisms? It seems you've severely misinterpreted my issues with Hisoka's portrayal in this episode. I never complained that they didn't make him look enough of a "bad guy" or whatever. Yeah, he is a person, but a much less interesting and entertaining one with his toned down psychopathy.

Anyways, not sure if I'll do any more comparisons here. Somebody neg repped me last week for doing it, so I'm not feeling it. If people want it, then I wouldn't mind.

Not sure why anyone would neg rep those, I always found them pretty interesting to go through. But I can understand if you don't feel like doing them after such ungratefulness.

[noktown]

No adaption is perfect i guess,i also didn't like this episode as much.

[Toto y Moi]

Originally Posted by Endless Twilight

Yeah, different people have different viewpoints, who would have thought.
"People" does not equal a single entity. Again, who would have thought?
And yes, context and execution matter, who would have thought!

I was using you as an example for a generalized opinion and it was unfair to do so. I apologize for that. I came off stronger than I intended to.

Originally Posted by Endless Twilight

Are you fucking serious? Hell no, it isn't. I reread that chapter a couple of days ago and apparently you really ought to do the same. All Hisoka said in the manga was "What a good boy" and told him he'd passed, he didn't go on and on about how much of a boner he was getting like he did in this episode.

It's sort of the context. This episode rearranged Hisoka's line saying "That's a nice face"; in the manga and first anime, he says it to Leorio. In the new series, it's moved to when he's choking Gon. But the way the line is written in Japanese is sort of flirtatious and creepy because of it. He doesn't just say "What a good boy"--the nuance is kind of like "Ooh! You're such a good boy! " in the line you're talking about. But it's sort of hard to capture into English.

His face is more twisted than in the manga during that scene, but I didn't find it unnecessary because it's in line with his personality. If I end up doing a comparison, I'll go into more detail.

Originally Posted by Endless Twilight

What does that have to do with any of my criticisms? It seems you've severely misinterpreted my issues with Hisoka's portrayal in this episode. I never complained that they didn't make him look enough of a "bad guy" or whatever. Yeah, he is a person, but a much less interesting and entertaining one with his toned down psychopathy.

I think that the psychopathy is still there, but in a different way. I'm not sure I've considered it to be "toned down" because of the way the character is in latter portions of the series.

Remember how there were those rumors that Hisoka was going to be changed into a "brave man"? That was a mistranslation. The line said something like "one who only cares about the strong." So in this incarnation of the series, Hisoka doesn't kill anyone without purpose. I can't really continue without getting into spoiler material, but I'll PM you why I think the change was made.

Originally Posted by Endless Twilight

Not sure why anyone would neg rep those, I always found them pretty interesting to go through. But I can understand if you don't feel like doing them after such ungratefulness.

I don't understand either, tbh. It didn't make sense to me that the only reputation I got for that post was a negative one. But if people enjoy reading them, then I'll do them.

[orion]

Originally Posted by Toto y Moi

Anyways, not sure if I'll do any more comparisons here. Somebody neg repped me last week for doing it, so I'm not feeling it. If people want it, then I wouldn't mind.

Your comparisons are a great help. Sorry someone neg rep'd you for them. I hope you continue.

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by Toto y Moi

I don't understand either, tbh. It didn't make sense to me that the only reputation I got for that post was a negative one. But if people enjoy reading them, then I'll do them.

I personally would like you to carry on with the comparisons posts. Just ignore the people that neg rep and can't even be bothered to share their own opinion because of it.

[Reckoner]

The only thing that bothered me this episode was that they edited out all the blood. I mean people are getting freaking impaled by spikes and chewed up by dinosaurs, but there's no blood?

No blood lessens the impact of each scene.

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by Reckoner

The only thing that bothered me this episode was that they edited out all the blood. I mean people are getting freaking impaled by spikes and chewed up by dinosaurs, but there's no blood?

No blood lessens the impact of each scene.

Are you new to JUMP adaptations being censored for a younger audience? It's been happening for years now . To be fair though, there wasn't that much blood in the original manga. Be thankful we were still shown Hisoka's card attacks.

[Reckoner]

Originally Posted by Shiroth

Are you new to JUMP adaptations being censored for a younger audience? It's been happening for years now . To be fair though, there wasn't that much blood in the original manga. Be thankful we were still shown Hisoka's card attacks.

I think same thing happened in Fairy Tale unless I'm mistaken. Didn't like that either.

But things like Naruto don't have this (Unless I'm blind), so I don't know what gives.

I guess you can say it doesn't make me happy to hear this.

[ZODDGUTS]

Yeah this episode felt off. Maybe it was the lack of blood but I didn't feel any sort of tension in this episode compared to the original.

[Toto y Moi]

Spoiler for Hunter x Hunter Episode 5 Comparison:

This episode covered the rest of chapter 8, all of chapter 9, and 7 pages from chapter 10. It corresponds to most of episode 8 in the Nippon Animation show.

This guy is a creeper.


So, anyways, the beginning of the episode has Killua tell Gon to move up in the ranks. The Madhouse version doesn't have Killua mention that Hisoka is itching to kill, and a few lines of dialog were missing. Killua's missing lines are unfortunate because they contained some information that's sort of pertinent to understanding his character.


All of the traps in the Swindler's Swamp are more similar to their manga incarnations. I think that it's a good thing they expanded that sequence. 220 applicants didn't make it through the second half of the first phase, but the 1999 show sort of doesn't emphasize the impact of that swamp enough. I like how dense the fog is in this version as well. It makes more sense, considering that it's significantly denser. But I find it stupid that Kurapika's able to jump like 100 feet in the air for some reason.


I laughed at Gon and Killua getting swallowed up by that frog, though it didn't happen in the manga. I'm glad that the laxative juice got some use.


Anyways, the scenarios from here on out are pretty different. In the 1999 series and anime, Leorio gets injured by a random attack from Hisoka. Because Gon is carrying Leorio's briefcase filled with weapons, he can't defend himself.


So what's with the random gang of martial artists trying to threaten and defeat Hisoka? This guy is Cherry. He was originally in the manga, and Tonpa introduces him as a past applicant. He's established in the 2011 version as a past applicant too, having failed and trying again. In the 2011 version, Cherry and his goons are judging Hisoka for his murderous behavior; playing examiner, if you will. So then Hisoka plays examiner in his own way. Cherry is every bit the coward he is in the manga.


In Nippon Animation's version, Cherry was introduced in episode 6 by Tonpa...and never seen again. The director seemed to favor including Pokkle instead of Cherry in that scene. Hisoka doesn't kill Pokkle afterward.


In the manga, Hisoka starts murdering random applicants--playing proctor because he's a psychopath.


The intent of this scene is different in both adaptations of the anime. In the manga, Hisoka starts killing applicants in extremely gruesome ways. Blood is spurting out of necks, men are clearly suffering slow deaths. Hisoka only aims for the neck or the face, cutting heads in half and slicing open everyone's necks. But he does this with grace; he fights in a "pretty" manner.

The Nippon Animation version tries to capture his acrobatics, but the animation is so poor (alongside cheesy sound effects) that it isn't that impressive. There isn't a drop of blood, and each one of his attacks is animated via freeze frame. The Madhouse version is almost equally as bloodless, and the motions he takes are completely different. He slices open everyone of Cherry's goons' necks, but in one swift, graceful motion.


Hisoka doesn't do his crazy laugh during his murders; the image is moved to the ending theme.


Cherry dies. In the manga, he's hunted down by Hisoka after their confrontation (while he's carrying Leorio...).


Leorio's battle with Hisoka is pretty different in Nippon Animation's version. He's more of a badass. He's got this yankee look on his face and isn't taken down as easily. Essentially though, the same things happen.




It's Gon's fight with Hisoka that's extended instead of Leorio's in the 2011 show. Here's something I think that both anime series got wrong. See Gon's face when Hisoka has him by the neck? His expression doesn't change the entire time he confronts Hisoka. He doesn't say a word to the magician either--he's driven by both awe and fear. I really liked that in the manga, and I think that it was an extreme oversight on both series' parts. But at least he's significantly less afraid of Hisoka than in the 1999 version. More on that in the future.

I don't think that Hisoka is choking Gon in the manga; he has the kid by the neck, but Gon's standing up while Hisoka's crouching. I always saw it as him examining the boy's face instead of something violent. A disturbing predecessor to violence.


Many of you have a problem with Hisoka's voice. I just wanted to interject that the way he speaks in the 2011 version is more in line with the way his lines are written. He talks in a feminine manner. It's supposed to be sort of sexy, which is why it's disturbing that he's speaking to a little boy.




I just realized that the narration in the Madhouse adaptation sounds like an animal planet nature show. I like it.

[NJZanDatsu]

Originally Posted by Toto y Moi

Spoiler for Hunter x Hunter Episode 5 Comparison:

This episode covered the rest of chapter 8, all of chapter 9, and 7 pages from chapter 10. It corresponds to most of episode 8 in the Nippon Animation show.

This guy is a creeper.


So, anyways, the beginning of the episode has Killua tell Gon to move up in the ranks. The Madhouse version doesn't have Killua mention that Hisoka is itching to kill, and a few lines of dialog were missing. Killua's missing lines are unfortunate because they contained some information that's sort of pertinent to understanding his character.


All of the traps in the Swindler's Swamp are more similar to their manga incarnations. I think that it's a good thing they expanded that sequence. 220 applicants didn't make it through the second half of the first phase, but the 1999 show sort of doesn't emphasize the impact of that swamp enough. I like how dense the fog is in this version as well. It makes more sense, considering that it's significantly denser. But I find it stupid that Kurapika's able to jump like 100 feet in the air for some reason.


I laughed at Gon and Killua getting swallowed up by that frog, though it didn't happen in the manga. I'm glad that the laxative juice got some use.


Anyways, the scenarios from here on out are pretty different. In the 1999 series and anime, Leorio gets injured by a random attack from Hisoka. Because Gon is carrying Leorio's briefcase filled with weapons, he can't defend himself.


So what's with the random gang of martial artists trying to threaten and defeat Hisoka? This guy is Cherry. He was originally in the manga, and Tonpa introduces him as a past applicant. He's established in the 2011 version as a past applicant too, having failed and trying again. In the 2011 version, Cherry and his goons are judging Hisoka for his murderous behavior; playing examiner, if you will. So then Hisoka plays examiner in his own way. Cherry is every bit the coward he is in the manga.


In Nippon Animation's version, Cherry was introduced in episode 6 by Tonpa...and never seen again. The director seemed to favor including Pokkle instead of Cherry in that scene. Hisoka doesn't kill Pokkle afterward.


In the manga, Hisoka starts murdering random applicants--playing proctor because he's a psychopath.


The intent of this scene is different in both adaptations of the anime. In the manga, Hisoka starts killing applicants in extremely gruesome ways. Blood is spurting out of necks, men are clearly suffering slow deaths. Hisoka only aims for the neck or the face, cutting heads in half and slicing open everyone's necks. But he does this with grace; he fights in a "pretty" manner.

The Nippon Animation version tries to capture his acrobatics, but the animation is so poor (alongside cheesy sound effects) that it isn't that impressive. There isn't a drop of blood, and each one of his attacks is animated via freeze frame. The Madhouse version is almost equally as bloodless, and the motions he takes are completely different. He slices open everyone of Cherry's goons' necks, but in one swift, graceful motion.


Hisoka doesn't do his crazy laugh during his murders; the image is moved to the ending theme.


Cherry dies. In the manga, he's hunted down by Hisoka after their confrontation (while he's carrying Leorio...).


Leorio's battle with Hisoka is pretty different in Nippon Animation's version. He's more of a badass. He's got this yankee look on his face and isn't taken down as easily. Essentially though, the same things happen.




It's Gon's fight with Hisoka that's extended instead of Leorio's in the 2011 show. Here's something I think that both anime series got wrong. See Gon's face when Hisoka has him by the neck? His expression doesn't change the entire time he confronts Hisoka. He doesn't say a word to the magician either--he's driven by both awe and fear. I really liked that in the manga, and I think that it was an extreme oversight on both series' parts. But at least he's significantly less afraid of Hisoka than in the 1999 version. More on that in the future.

I don't think that Hisoka is choking Gon in the manga; he has the kid by the neck, but Gon's standing up while Hisoka's crouching. I always saw it as him examining the boy's face instead of something violent. A disturbing predecessor to violence.


Many of you have a problem with Hisoka's voice. I just wanted to interject that the way he speaks in the 2011 version is more in line with the way his lines are written. He talks in a feminine manner. It's supposed to be sort of sexy, which is why it's disturbing that he's speaking to a little boy.




I just realized that the narration in the Madhouse adaptation sounds like an animal planet nature show. I like it.

Thanks for posting your comparisons, their very enjoyable to read.

[zeniselv]

i watched the episode and it wasnt bad but i agree with endless twilight it felt like those animes censored in united states for kids, but trying to make hisoka nicer seems as a bad omen for this sereis to me.

[Goty]

@Toto y Moi: i disagree with most of your points, but i still like the comparisons, don't give up! It's really nice.

Originally Posted by Reckoner

I think same thing happened in Fairy Tale unless I'm mistaken. Didn't like that either.

But things like Naruto don't have this (Unless I'm blind), so I don't know what gives.

Gintama, Naruto, Bleach and One Piece still get away with blood and failry mild censoring, but for some reason, newer shonen adaptations are all being toned down. Reborn! and Eyeshield21 started the trend, then there's Toriko, Fairy Tail, Beelzebub....it's probably to make the series easily sellable overseas.

I thought HxH, being such a huge franchise in Japan, would be free of this crappy treatment, but noooo. Now i am kinda glad that they didn't bring Takahashi back to voice Hisoka, since his character will be pretty much ruined. He sounded too crazy for this new Hisoka.

[Shiroth]

Thanks a lot for the comparison post Toto. Great as always.

Seems like i'm one of the rare few that has nothing wrong with this episode, or the series in fact.

[NJZanDatsu]

Originally Posted by Shiroth

Thanks a lot for the comparison post Toto. Great as always.

Seems like i'm one of the rare few that has nothing wrong with this episode, or the series in fact.

I'm loving the new anime, and I haven't disliked a single episode yet.