(CR) Hunter X Hunter Anime (2011)

[FlareKnight]

Spoiler for Ep4:

Well they only got through the first part of the first test, but still an alright episode. Thought the computer kid would last longer, but shows that you can't just work with the math. Thought it'd only be 40km and instead was more than double that. Kid just got beat up mentally as well at the end. Oh well better off than the rest since he probably would have died in this second part.

Obviously Leorio wasn't going to drop out since he's in the OP/ED. Still they tried to make some tension with him dropping his briefcase like the kid dropped his laptop and stopping for a while. Of course seeing Gon and Killua just waiting there got him fired up enough to not care about anything but finishing. It got pretty nuts with the shirt going .

Episode was good at getting additional background on Leorio and Kurapika. Makes sense why Leorio snapped when it came to the old lady's questions. Friend died since they couldn't pay for the surgery and then finds out you need a ton to become a doctor. So might as well just become a Hunter and get rich. More info as to why Kurapika's clan was attacked. The clan being killed off would be enough to get someone fired up, but having every single eye stolen....Desecrating the dead on top of killing the people.

Well look forward to the next one.

[Guardian Enzo]

Why did Leorio (he's 19 - really?) call Gon & Killua teenagers? They're 12, right?

[Goty]

Once again, they skipped an important mention of Kaito, when Killua asks Gon why he wants to be a hunter.
i don't get why this new anime is ignoring him completely, it makes no sense and could be a problem in the long run.

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

Spoiler for Ep4:

Well they only got through the first part of the first test, but still an alright episode. Thought the computer kid would last longer, but shows that you can't just work with the math. Thought it'd only be 40km and instead was more than double that. Kid just got beat up mentally as well at the end. Oh well better off than the rest since he probably would have died in this second part.

Spoiler for Ep4:

He was supposed to be the first to fail, too. That's how good the applicants who made it to the first exam were supposed to be.

Spoiler for Ep4:

Obviously Leorio wasn't going to drop out since he's in the OP/ED. Still they tried to make some tension with him dropping his briefcase like the kid dropped his laptop and stopping for a while. Of course seeing Gon and Killua just waiting there got him fired up enough to not care about anything but finishing. It got pretty nuts with the shirt going .

Spoiler for Ep4:

I'm not sure he ever considered giving up. Letting go of the case was just him admitting that he couldn't hold on to it while running a marathon. Like his undressing, it's a symbol of his determination.

Spoiler for Ep4:

Episode was good at getting additional background on Leorio and Kurapika. Makes sense why Leorio snapped when it came to the old lady's questions. Friend died since they couldn't pay for the surgery and then finds out you need a ton to become a doctor. So might as well just become a Hunter and get rich.

Spoiler for Ep4:

He still wants to be a doctor. He just hit on the idea to become a hunter to get the money he needs for that.

Spoiler for very minor manga spoiler:

Tuition's actually free for a Hunter.

Though I guess if he wants to set up a charity hospital, he'll really need a boatload of money.

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Why did Leorio (he's 19 - really?) call Gon & Killua teenagers? They're 12, right?

They're more than 10, and less than 19 (inclusive).

[Gooral]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Why did Leorio (he's 19 - really?) call Gon & Killua teenagers? They're 12, right?

Not sure how it's in USA but in most countries teenager is someone between 11-19 years. But in the anime it wasn't said he was 19 AFAIK.

As for the episode, it was the best so far IMO but it was hard to mess up here. I liked the pacing better in the old version since we've had time to get to know characters and we actually saw the bond creating between them. Here Kurapica and Leorio talk about their deepest secrets to the guy they've just met and barely talked (at least from what we saw). I know it was like that in the manga but that's why I consider old anime > manga > new anime. The director of the old anime new how to DIRECT the story and "fillers" improved original material greatly. I also preferred how they've introduced Killua in the old version. After all he was an assassin and not a normal kid so it made more sense he was isolated and not as cheerful as the one in the new version.

[rinichan]

I think during the press release it was said that Kaito will be on a flashback. So all of us just need to wait for it.

[Goty]

^That never happened, it's just fan speculation. But after the way Gon ignored him this week, i'm starting to have doubts if they'll ever fix that.

[Shiroth]

Episode 4 was pretty damn decent. The pacing is pretty much the same as last weeks, so i have faith that this will be the norm for the hunter exam. I expect some changes once we hit future material, though there's no need to worry about that yet.

Really like how Kurapika and Leorio's pasts came about, with some fitting music placement. Speaking of music, i totally loved that Spainish guitar piece during Hisoka's scene. Totally can't wait for his scenes in next weeks episode.

Also, just have to mention how happy it makes me hearing Furukawa Toshio. He's quite the interesting choice for Satotz.

[ookamigirl]

So Gon made a new friend his age, Killua ^^
Guess first phase was not as easy as some of them thought.
So Leorio had a sad story too.
Seems like Gon & Killua were the only ones having fun this time.
Swindlers Swamp, huh? That will be very interesting.

[Kirarakim]

Originally Posted by Gooral

I also preferred how they've introduced Killua in the old version. After all he was an assassin and not a normal kid so it made more sense he was isolated and not as cheerful as the one in the new version.

Then I am really glad I never watched the first series and only read the manga. I love Killua just the way he is here. The fact that Gon and Killua despite being abnormally talented are still just regular kids deep down is what made me really fall in love with their characters and interaction in the first place. This episode was just perfect in that regard.

Leorio and Kurapica's back stories were also handled really well. Sometimes you just meet someone you feel a connection with and that is how I see their characters.

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

Then I am really glad I never watched the first series and only read the manga. I love Killua just the way he is here. The fact that Gon and Killua despite being abnormally talented are still just regular kids deep down is what made me really fall in love with their characters and interaction in the first place. This episode was just perfect in that regard.

In the original anime, Killua and Gon still become friends the same way. They're much more pally earlier on in this version, though that's because the first series did some pretty solid character development for Killua during the exam.

I'm one that treats both versions differently, though i will say that the original series is one of the best adaptations i've seen. I highly recommend you check it out in the future sometime.

[Simonsy]

Originally Posted by Gooral

Not sure how it's in USA but in most countries teenager is someone between 11-19 years. But in the anime it wasn't said he was 19 AFAIK.

As for the episode, it was the best so far IMO but it was hard to mess up here. I liked the pacing better in the old version since we've had time to get to know characters and we actually saw the bond creating between them. Here Kurapica and Leorio talk about their deepest secrets to the guy they've just met and barely talked (at least from what we saw). I know it was like that in the manga but that's why I consider old anime > manga > new anime. The director of the old anime new how to DIRECT the story and "fillers" improved original material greatly. I also preferred how they've introduced Killua in the old version. After all he was an assassin and not a normal kid so it made more sense he was isolated and not as cheerful as the one in the new version.

Well considering this is how they are said in america

10 - ten
11 - eleven
12 - twelve
13 - thirTEEN
14 - fourTEEN
15 - fifthTEEN
16 - sixTEEN
17 - sevenTEEN
18 - eighTEEN
19 - nineTEEN
20 - twenty

That is how we consider the teens. You know they have the teen word in it. 13-19

As for episode, even though it and last episode covered so much material content wise, not chapter wise, I'm dissapointed at how slow this is going. I'm glad that they are skipping and rushing like Full Metal did in its remake, but in same sense I want ot hurry up and get to later parts.

[Vicious108]

I've warmed up to Miyuki Sawashiro's Kurapica now, but Daisuke Namikawa's Hisoka still irks me to say the least. Hiroki Takahashi really has spoiled me, I guess.

On a more positive note, Keiji Fujiwara was hilarious as Leorio in this episode. I believe the images of his past were all filler, but they were nicely enough done I suppose.

[Kirarakim]

Killua, a regular kid deep down, really?

Yes Really and yes I know all about that & it doesn't change what I said at all (but I don't really think you should be posting spoilers like that even under a cut).

A character can have more than one facet to their personality. Despite being very different from a normal kid in many respects, Killua still enjoys doing things like a regular kid. That doesn't take away from other aspects of his character. Actually it made him more interesting & unique to me than if he started out as a cold & distant & gradually changed to more cheerful thanks to Gon's influence. Not that type of character development is bad (and I am sure it was well written too).

edit: I also hardly think I am passing judgement on the original series. I never said one was better than the other; just that I really loved how Killua was portrayed in the manga and I would not personally enjoy seeing that changed.

Maybe my tone in that last reply was a little harsh but it was only in response to the constant "the first anime did it better" I always feel I see here. And trust me I am in no way a manga purist when it comes to Hunter X Hunter.

[ars89]

Glad the computer kid dropped out, he was annoying. Glad to see Leorio didn't give up. Like how Gona and Killua waited for him. Nice info on Kurapika and Leorio's past. So Mito is Gon's aunt, so what happened to his mom? Will it ever be covered?

Oh man right when they get of the tunnel they only find out its halfway through the first phase. Like how they showed how deceptive the animals can be.

[Ishe]

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

Maybe my tone in that last reply was a little harsh but it was only in response to the constant "the first anime did it better" I always feel I see here. And trust me I am in no way a manga purist when it comes to Hunter X Hunter.

I only watched the original, didn't read the manga, but I like how Killua is portrayed here better - it's more consistent. The original didn't do it better in my opinion. If I couldn't have marathoned through the majority of the hunter exam, I'm sure I would have ended up dropping it because of all the filler (I didn't really know that it was filler, just that it dragged on and on). The original didn't grab me until later in the exam.

[Toto y Moi]

Now, onto the comparison.

Spoiler for HxH Episode Comparison 4:

I lent out my DVDs to my roommate, and she took them home. So I had to download a filipino sub for an alternative. Oh well, not a big deal.

This episode covers 7 pages from chapter 6, chapter 7, and 10 pages from chapter 8. All in all, two chapters. As far as the 1999 anime series goes, they covered this material in half of episode 6, episode 7, and then the first 7 minutes of episode 8.

The episode begins with the Killua meeting. Already, we're treading into a little bit of different waters. Killua's characterization is very different in the 1999 series. He's quiet and typically scowls. Killua is annoyed during his conversation with Leorio in the 1999 series, while the manga and 2011 create an air of indifference and confusion. Killua completely ignores anything Gon says (aside from responding to Killua asking his age) throughout the entire episode. He also, however, seems not to know the meaning of the word "friend." In the 2011 series and the manga, Killua initially wants to be friends with Gon.



From here on, the episodes diverge into very different territory. In the 1999 series, Leorio starts falling behind. In the manga and the new series, however, Leorio gets a second wind after Gon gives a quiet stare to him and keeps going.



In the 1999 series, Leorio's done. He can't catch up.

I don't like the fact that Gon coddles him here. He says that he doesn't want to leave without Leorio, so him and Kurapika stay behind.

The problem with this is in the characterization. Everyone there needs to become a Hunter. It's not only their dream, but they don't plan on stopping for anyone else. Kurapika especially would never stay behind for Leorio; he doesn't in the manga to begin with.

Nicole fails. Tonpa pays the Amori brothers to taunt him until he does; that doesn't happen in the 1999 series because he decides to trick him instead.



So following this, Tonpa carts off Leorio and Nicole to the tunnel containing the supposed "healing cedar," which actually causes mental delusions. Why does an underground tunnel have a cedar growing within its tunnels? But whatever. That's the end of episode 6 (1999), and it leads us into episode 7.

Episode 7 contains the best animation that we see in the series thus far and the art direction is gorgeous. When watching the original series, this was the first time that I thought the anime was good. Funeral bells ring throughout his past. We see Leorio's hometown in his delusion, which is seemingly based on Santorini. I loved this when watching it because I'm in love with Santorini (or maybe the idea of Santorini, whatever). But at the same time, I love what the new series has done for Leorio's background even more. Instead of the Grecian city, Leorio's hometown in the 2011 series is reminiscent of the slums of Rio de Janeiro. Watch the movie City of God--you won't regret it.


Here's some of the beautiful art from episode 7 of Nippon Animation's adaptation:


The music played during this scene was great:


I really liked the original series' flashback, but I could also see some problems with it. The thing is, it seems that many of the characters in Hunter x Hunter experience severe trauma when they're twelve. The protagonists especially. I like the idea that Leorio's traumatic situation occurred when he was a kid, rather than him already having been an adult. Pietro and Leorio are full-grown men, and it sort of implies that Leorio's desire to become a Hunter is a fairly recent thing. Since Togashi never showed Leorio's past, I guess it's a matter of personal preference.

So as far as the delusion cedar goes, the 1999 series doesn't do a good job answering the reason as to why it doesn't work on Gon. Leorio stated that it's because Gon has no worries, but I don't think that's true. Killua shows up with his resident cool-guy attitude (and bombs?); he apparently knows everything about the sap? Whatever. I don't know why he knows that the "path of delusion" is a shortcut either.

After this, the boys blow up the wall and meet up with Satotz despite having fallen behind for twenty minutes. Even though Leorio has recovered, Gon suddenly is carrying Leorio's suitcase for no apparent reason. In the manga and the new series, he did so only because Leorio had forgotten it.


Now we're back to a place where the two series converge again, but there still are some differences. In the 1999 series, Leorio tells Kurapika about wanting to become a doctor off-screen. However, Kurapika never explains about his scarlet eyes. Viewers actually don't get a full explanation about them until episode 18: a filler in which Kurapika finds a crashed Kurta ship.

Gon asks Killua the reason as to why he wants to become a Hunter in the manga and 2011 series. He might do this in episode 11 of the 1999 show, but I didn't check to see. Gon's reasoning doesn't talk about Kite in either anime adaptation, which is a shame--I thought for sure that it would be included here. But there was something he said that sort of surprised me. In the 1999 series, Gon's answer sort of boils down to "I want to be like my dad." But here, Gon says something like "I want to figure out why my dad left me." It subtly added some depth to him.


Anyways, the rest of the changes are superficial. The wetlands look more like the manga's version, the ape looks more like Satotz, Hisoka kills the ape too, the vultures eat the fake instead of the monkey (like the manga), and you never see the cards go into the fake's face (though Nippon Animation includes him dead with cards in his face for a shot).

[FlareKnight]

Well at least any questions about Killua have been answered by the thread . Kid seemed strange in some respects, but at least the reason why is clear.

[Clarste]

More like you've been carelessly spoiled, but whatever. I like the cheerful Killua more, because ironically it gives him more depth.

[Daniel E.]

Here's another reminder about spoilers folks:

You cannot post them in anime only threads, even inside spoiler tags. If I see anyone doing this again, they get themselves a spoiler infraction, which just happens to be one of the fastest ways to get banned from the forum.