Hunter × Hunter
Hunter × Hunter is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi. It has been serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump since March 1998, although the manga has frequently gone on extended hiatuses since 2006. Its chapters have been collected in 38 volumes as of September 2024. The story focuses on a young boy named Gon Freecss who discovers that his father, who left him at a young age, is actually a world-renowned Hunter, a licensed professional who specializes in fantastical pursuits such as locating rare or unidentified animal species, treasure hunting, surveying unexplored enclaves, or hunting down lawless individuals. Gon departs on a journey to become a Hunter and eventually find his father. Along the way, Gon meets various other Hunters and encounters the paranormal.
Hunter × Hunter was adapted into a 62-episode anime television series by Nippon Animation and directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi, which ran on Fuji Television from October 1999 to March 2001. Three separate original video animations totaling 30 episodes were subsequently produced by Nippon Animation and released in Japan from 2002 to 2004. A second anime television series by Madhouse aired on Nippon Television from October 2011 to September 2014, totaling 148 episodes, with two animated theatrical films released in 2013. There are also numerous audio albums, video games, musicals, and other media based on Hunter × Hunter.
The manga has been licensed for English release in North America by Viz Media since April 2005. Both television series have been also licensed by Viz Media, with the first series having aired on the Funimation Channel in 2009 and the second series broadcast on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block from April 2016 to June 2019.
Hunter × Hunter has been widely acclaimed and commercially successful, becoming one of the best-selling manga series of all time with over 84 million copies in circulation worldwide by July 2022.
Synopsis
Setting
In the world of Hunter × Hunter, Hunters are licensed, elite members of humanity who are capable of tracking down secret treasures, rare beasts, or even other individuals, and can also access locations that regulars cannot. To obtain a license, one must pass the rigorous annual Hunter Examination run by the Hunter Association, which has a success rate of less than one in a hundred-thousand. A Hunter may be awarded up to three stars: a single star for making "remarkable achievements in a particular field"; they may then be upgraded to two stars for "holding an official position" and mentoring another Hunter up to single star level; and finally upgraded to three stars for "remarkable achievements in multiple fields".is the ability to control one's own life energy or aura, which is constantly emitted from them, knowingly or not. There are four basic Nen techniques: maintains the aura in the body, strengthening it for defense; shuts the aura flow off, useful for concealing one's presence and relieving fatigue; enables a user to produce more Nen; and is a person's specific use of Nen. Nen users are classified into six types based on their Hatsu abilities; strengthen and reinforce their natural physical abilities; project aura out of their bodies; control objects or living things; change the type or properties of their aura; create objects out of their aura; and have unique abilities that do not fall into the previous categories. A Nen user can enter into a where, by pledging to follow certain, their abilities are strengthened in relation to how strict they are. An example of this is Kurapika who, in order to have an unbreakable chain that will fully restrain members of the Phantom Troupe, offered his life, should he use it on anyone other than its members.
Plot
The story follows Gon Freecss, a young boy raised believing both his parents were dead. After discovering from Kite, an apprentice of his father Ging Freecss, that Ging is alive and a renowned Hunter, Gon leaves his home on Whale Island to undertake the Hunter Examination and follow in his father's footsteps. During the exam, Gon befriends three other candidates: Kurapika, the last survivor of the Kurta clan seeking vengeance against the Phantom Troupe for slaughtering his people; Leorio, an aspiring physician pursuing the financial benefits of being a Hunter; and Killua Zoldyck, a former assassin from the infamous Zoldyck family. Among the examinees is Hisoka, a deadly transmuter who takes a keen interest in Gon. After numerous trials, Gon and his friends pass the exam, except for Killua, who fails after killing another applicant under his brother Illumi's influence and retreats to his family's estate.After reuniting with Killua, Gon and his companions separate temporarily. Gon and Killua travel to Heavens Arena, a towering martial arts arena where they train under Wing, a master who teaches them Nen, a Qi-like energy that unlocks parapsychological abilities and is the Hunter Exam's true final requirement. Later, the group reconvenes in Yorknew City, where they clash with the Phantom Troupe. Kurapika kills two members and seals their leader Chrollo Lucilfer's powers, but is forced to abandon further pursuit to rescue Gon and Killua.
Gon and Killua later play Greed Island, a Nen-infused video game created by Ging, seeking clues to his whereabouts. Under the tutelage of Biscuit Krueger, they refine their Nen abilities. Killua briefly departs to retake and pass the Hunter Exam before rejoining Gon to complete the game, earning artifacts that lead them to Ging. Instead, they reunite with Kite, who is researching a man-eating Chimera Ant queen in the Neo-Green Life Autonomous Region. The queen's offspring, having learned Nen by consuming Hunters, overthrow the nearby Republic of East Gorteau. Despite the efforts of the Hunter Association, including its president Netero, the Ant King Meruem proves formidable. Netero ultimately defeats Meruem with a suicide bomb, while Gon, driven by vengeance over Kite's death, overexerts his Nen to kill the Ant Neferpitou, leaving him critically injured.
After the Chimera Ant crisis, the Hunter Association's Zodiacs, including Ging, seek a new chairman. Killua retrieves his sister Alluka to heal Gon, overcoming his family's resistance and Illumi's interference. Gon eventually meets Ging, who reveals the purpose of his journey: to travel to the forbidden Dark Continent.
Later, Netero's son Beyond organizes an expedition to the Dark Continent, backed by the Kingdom of Kakin. The world's major powers permit the expedition under strict oversight, with the Zodiacs supervising Beyond. Kurapika and Leorio join the Zodiacs, replacing Ging and Pariston Hill, who form independent teams. Meanwhile, Chrollo regains his Nen and battles Hisoka, who, after being revived, begins assassinating Phantom Troupe members aboard Kakin's ship. Kurapika, aboard as bodyguard to Prince Wobble, seeks to reclaim the Kurta clan's stolen scarlet eyes from Prince Tserriednich.
Production
Author Yoshihiro Togashi stated that his hobby of collecting various objects inspired him to create a manga about collecting, initially conceptualized under the title " Hunter". The final title, Hunter × Hunter, was conceived while Togashi watched the television variety show Downtown, where hosts often repeat phrases for comedic effect. The "×" in the title is silent. As with his previous series, YuYu Hakusho, Togashi used drafting ink and Kabura pens for illustrations, but began employing an eMac software for coloring. Togashi typically works with few or no assistants; however, fellow manga artist and future wife Naoko Takeuchi assisted in applying screentone to single-color pages for the first volume. The birth of their first son early in the manga's publication led Togashi to believe his personal life would significantly influence the work, particularly its theme of a young boy searching for his father.Togashi has issued several apologies to readers in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump for substandard artwork, pledging to redraw certain sections for the releases. Additionally, the serialization of Hunter × Hunter has been frequently interrupted by hiatuses since 2006, with long intervals between chapter releases. After a two-year hiatus ending in June 2014, and joining the English-language Weekly Shonen Jump, the series entered another hiatus two months later. Serialization resumed on April 18, 2016, but another hiatus began on June 4, 2016. The manga returned on June 26, 2017, only to go on hiatus again on August 31, with plans to return by year's end. It resumed on January 29, 2018, before another hiatus commenced on April 9. After a five-month hiatus, publication resumed from September 22 to November 26, 2018, before another hiatus began.
In May 2022, Togashi created a Twitter account and teased the manga's return. In July, he revealed that back and hip problems had prevented him from sitting for two years, forcing him to draw while lying down; in August, he announced an increase in staff, noting that background effects for chapter 399 were completed per his instructions and that chapter 400 would follow. The series resumed on October 24, 2022, after a hiatus of three years and eleven months—the longest in its history. On December 26, 2022, the manga entered another hiatus. The Weekly Shōnen Jump editorial department stated that, after consulting with Togashi, it was decided the manga should not continue a weekly serialization format; future details would be announced in the magazine. On March 9, 2023, Togashi tweeted that chapter 401 was completed, though the publication format remained undecided. On October 1, after nearly seven months, Togashi tweeted the phrase "Start over" alongside an image of a page corner with a ruler. On May 1, 2024, he shared a page numbered 5, indicating work on chapter 405. On July 22, he stated that background instructions for chapters 409 and 410 were ready for his assistants and teased progress up to chapter 416. The series resumed in Weekly Shōnen Jump from October 7 to December 9, 2024, before entering another hiatus.
In November 2023, on TV Asahi's variety show , Togashi announced via a handwritten letter that he had planned four possible endings for the series. Only the fourth abandoned ending was revealed, intended as a contingency should he die before completing the manga. This ending features a time skip with Gon's granddaughter, Gin. Togashi expressed a desire to create a satisfactory conclusion to avoid using endings A, B, or C. He estimated reader reactions would be 80% positive for ending A, evenly split for ending B, and 90% negative for ending C. While acknowledging ending A as a safe choice, Togashi stated a personal preference for ending C, despite anticipating significant fan criticism.