Hey, anime fans, ready to hear a statement that’ll make you feel old? The Hunter X Hunter anime is now ten years old. That’s right, the prolific Shonen manga had its longest (and most popular) anime adaptation premiere on this day in 2011. Earlier today, a special illustration was released to celebrate the anniversary. Unfortunately, the anime stopped airing in 2014 due to hiatus issues, so it isn’t quite as popular. With the Hunter X Hunter anniversary in mind, let’s take a look back on the series.
Just What is Hunter X Hunter?
Many people who haven’t seen Hunter X Hunter ask one of two questions: what is it about, and how do you pronounce it? Both are fair questions, though one is easier to answer than the other. To pronounce it, take out the X in its name and say Hunter twice. As for what it’s about, the anime is a fairly popular comedic Shonen. Shonen is a battle-type anime genre, similar to the greats like Dragonball Z or Naruto.
Hunter X Hunter focuses on the adventures of Gon Freecs as he sets out into the world to find his father. Along the way, he makes some friends and becomes a Hunter. The concept of a Hunter is that of a peacekeeper and is where the show gets its name. They are given licenses to kill dangerous threats, and usually harness a special power called Nen. With Nen, Hunters can perform incredible feats such as body enhancement or energy blasts. Though the anime is over 150 episodes, Gon was just scratching the surface of Nen when it ended. The first true challenges came to Gon and gang in the last couple of anime arcs, and it takes a surprisingly serious turn. It’s worth a watch even with its unfortunate drop-off. One of the best times to start is with the show’s anniversary rolling around.
Where is the Anime Headed Next?
Unfortunately, there is little hope for the anime at the moment. Rumors swirl about a return every so often, even as recent as earlier this year. Author Yoshihiro Togashi’s medical issues have put the source material on hiatus many times. This is the reason the anime was stopped in the first place, and why it hasn’t continued much. It has been over two years since the manga itself was worked on. The Hunter X Hunter anniversary event pushed the show back to trending once again. Sadly, though it is always popular for Shonen fans, this photo is all we get to celebrate the 10th anniversary. Hunter X Hunter, affectionately called Hiatus X Hiatus by fans, will live on in limbo.
There is one bit of good news for fans of the show from all this. The director of the Hunter X Hunter anime is working on a new series that came with the recent beginning of the Fall 2021 anime season. Though different from what we’ve seen in Hunter X Hunter, it gives us a little of that flair fans may be used to. Check it out on Funimation!
