Madhouse's 2011 anime adaptation of Hunter X Hunter is one of the best anime of all time and a must-watch for shonen fans. Hunter X Hunter combines compelling storytelling, epic fight scenes, iconic characters, and humor to tell the story of Gon and his friends as they set off on a journey to become hunters. Over its 148-episode run, there's rarely a dull moment, as HxH's strength lies in its ability to effortlessly weave between distinct, genre-bending story arcs.
In the almost nine years since the recent HxH anime ended, there has not been a single shonen anime that has come close to matching its brilliance. It is still as fresh and exciting as the day it ended. With that being said, there has never been a better time to watch HxH. All the episodes are available on major streaming platforms such as Crunchyroll and Hulu, so regardless of whether someone wishes to take their time or binge-watch the series over a few days, anime fans who haven't already, should check out Hunter X Hunter.
RELATED: Hunter Association Rank Guide
Where to Start
There have been two separate adaptations of HxH. The first was released between in 1999 and aired until 2004. The second, the highly regarded Madhouse adaptation, was released in 2011 and aired until 2014. Unfortunately, the 1999 version is not currently available to stream online. While it may be tempting to skip ahead to the later, more action-oriented arcs, HxH will quickly become confusing for viewers who have skipped episodes. Hunter X Hunter's story continually references previously established ideas and concepts that won't easily be understood by viewers who haven't watched earlier episodes.
However, by the end of the 36th episode, most of the important core concepts, and HxH's lore will have been introduced, making it impossible to skip ahead to later arcs without the story becoming overly confusing. In addition to the 2011 series' 148 episodes, Madhouse also created two HxH films, Phantom Rouge and The Last Mission, that were both released in 2013. Even though neither of these two films is considered canon, it might be advisable to watch them after finishing the series, as they might contain minor spoilers about the series.
Outside of Japan, story arcs are sometimes referred to as series, such as on Crunchyroll, where HxH is broken down into 6 individual series. In Japan, the story arcs are broken-down as follows: Hunter Exam Arc 1–21 (manga chapters 1–38), Zoldyck Family Arc, 22–26 (manga chapters 39–43), Heaven’s Arena Arc, 27–36 (manga chapters 44–63), Yorknew City Arc, 37–58 (manga chapters 64–119), Greed Island Arc, 59–75 (manga chapters 120–185), Chimera Ant Arc, 76–136 (manga chapters 186–318), and the 13th Hunter Chairman Election Arc, 137–148 (manga chapters 319–339). If someone wishes to continue Hunter X Hunter after the final events of the anime, start from manga chapter 340.
RELATED: Did Gon Get His Nen Back in Hunter x Hunter?
What to Know
Hunter X Hunter is arguably the best-written shonen anime of all time. Rather than being a slight to other well-written shonen, such as Fullmetal Alchemist, it's a testament to the manga's author, Yoshiro Togashi's incredible ability to weave between intricate plot points without introducing convolution or contradictions. HxH has numerous story arcs that are considered some of the best in the shonen genre. Each of these major story arcs feels unique from one another, exploring different genres and styles while still feeling coherent with the world of HxH.
During these 148 episodes, some of the main characters will go off on other adventures and won't be mentioned again for entire story arcs, only to return for the next one. HxH isn't afraid to change the characters it focuses on or highlight the fact that the lead characters are comparatively weak compared to others in the series. The one constant in the Hunter X Hunter world is that it always retains a sense of adventure. Gon, Killua, Kurapika and Leorio venture into a world where danger can lurk around any corner in ways they couldn't possibly predict. Nevertheless, they push forward, embracing the challenges and thrills that lie in the unknown.
Though both the 1999 and 2011 versions are excellent in their own ways, and each one has its own flavor. The latter covers more manga chapters, has better animation, voice acting, and fight scenes. The original's hand-drawn 1990s animation creates a distinct otherworldly vibe that clean computer-assisted animation often lacks. While both have excellent soundtracks, the original utilizes panpipes in a few of its tracks, adding to the ethereal vibe.
RELATED: Hunter x Hunter: Every Advanced Nen Technique, Explained
Where to Stream and Read Hunter X Hunter
Viewers in the UK can watch HxH online via Funimation and Crunchyroll, with both sub and dub versions available. In the US, HxH can be watched on services such as Crunchyroll. Hunter X Hunter was removed from the US version of Netflix on July 29, 2023 and it is no longer available in the UK. Unfortunately, the 1999 version of HxH is not currently available to stream in either the UK or the US. While a US-region DVD release can be found online, each one of the six-volume collections sells for upwards of hundreds of dollars due to it no longer being in syndication.
The manga's author, Yoshiro Togashi, began writing HxH back in 1998 and there are 400 manga chapters available to read. Currently, all the manga chapters are available on VIZ for $2.99 for readers using their monthly subscription service. While the offer is presented in US dollars, VIZ mentions that anyone from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, the Philippines, Singapore and India can subscribe for this price. This enables readers to have access to every chapter of other Shonen Jump manga such as One Piece, Naruto, and Jujutsu Kaisen for the duration of a subscription.
