HUNTER EXAM ARC PART 1 (BEFORE THE EXAM)
1999 anime episodes 1-5
2011 anime episodes 1-2
Manga chapters 1-4
So..I've always wanted to do this. Mainly because Hunter x Hunter (HxH) is my favourite shounen that I literally grew up with (I'm so old lol) and my opinion will always be that to get the best HxH experience, you'll want to watch/read all three of them. Yes, it's a lot to take in considering how long it is, but there are a lot of things that the 2011 version (definitive version for most people) didn't do well imo, namely the Hunter Exam Arc (which I have the biggest gripe with). The Hunter Exam Arc is the first arc and the one that should be making you ntrigued with the world and the characters, but a lot of it felt so rushed and detached that I really wanted to give up on the 2011 version tbh lol. Anyway, the Election Arc and Chimera Ant Arc are great though, so I'm glad I just shrugged it off, but it still irks me enough to this day that I needed to do this post LOL. Also kills me that Kite was introduced so late when he was always there, he's legit the first character that appears! Anyway, enough complaining, I'll just get into it!
Whale Island
The most significant difference between the 2011 anime and the other versions would have to be Kite's appearance. Kite is supposed to appear as a flashback for Gon (in the manga) to establish his reason for chasing after his father Ging. Kite saves the careless Gon from a fox bear mother protecting her child and reprimands him for forcing him to kill an innocent animal. The setup easily shows how kind but decisive of a person Kite is and how Gon is still a child that is unaware of the world because of Mito's protection. He tells Gon about Ging making you as the reader understand that Ging has actually been on Gon's mind as a goal for 3 years. Kite's existence also shows how Gon has the traits of a good hunter, which is to be liked by animals. It's interesting how each version is quite different though. In the 2011 version, Kite is completely omitted, making Gon's reason for finding his father more of a vague goal. In the 1999 anime, it expands Kite's appearance a bit more, but chooses to focus a whole episode on developing the relationship between Mito and Gon (as mother and son). Whereas, in the manga, it is probably the most straightforward in that it presents Kite as the person who tells Gon that his father is actually alive and finding him is Kite's final test as Ging's disciple. By showing Kite, finding Ging is instantly revered as the ultimate goal for Gon because it is established that someone as strong as Kite thinks that this is the hardest test he has encountered as a hunter. With the 2011 version shortening the whole first chapter into 10 minutes and erasing Kite's appearance, it really makes Gon's desire to become a hunter rather fickle imo. And even though the 1999 version can be considered rather draggy for extending it with all the background on Mito and Gon's relationship, I actually rather enjoyed it because it showed how many things Gon was leaving for finding his father. I also liked how the 1999 version made Gon catching the lord of the swamp more of a trial than the 2011 version, since really in the latter, it really didn't feel like a big deal. I would say for here, the manga is the best at presenting it by showing that capturing it was important, but it wasn't supposed to be as much of a struggle for Gon as it was shown in the 1999 version.
Anyway, I sing praises for the 1999 version a lot, but something I didn't like about it was how it cut out a lot of the bond between Kon (the fox bear cub Gon took care of) and Gon. Although it is shown in the 1999 anime that Kon is very much attached to Gon, the anime chose to prioritise Mito. I would have preferred if the anime gave 5 minutes to Kon by showing how (in the manga) Gon and Kon practically grew up together in the forest with their adventures and lived as if they were brothers. I also wish the 1999 anime bothered to put in the part where Gon tells Kon that hunters aren't viewed well by animals, so in order to stay as the lord of the forest, he shouldn't be too friendly with Gon, not that it matters anymore since Gon is leaving, but I much preferred how it was in the manga, Kon was important enough to Gon that he personally said his farewells. Not sure why the 1999 version didn't want to just keep the scene of everyone sending Gon off on the big ship already, but I guess they wanted to add a bit more to Leorio's relationship with Gon before it's supposed to even happen lol.
Overall, for this part, the manga is the most straightforward and the best for me. It easily highlights the key points of the story without dragging it for too long. It also shows Mito and Gon's relationship well enough in that she's overprotective but always meaning well. However, I must admit I have no idea why they bothered changing Mito to be Gon's mother's sister and having her grandmother become her mother lol, because it honestly made me really confused later on. Like, why does Mito know nothing about Gon's mother if she's her sister loll. Anyway, if you're still confused, the clarification is that Mito is actually supposed to be Ging's cousin, so they have the same grandmother, and therefore Mito is completely unrelated to Gon's mother and understandably knows nothing about her.
Getting on the ship to Dolle Harbour was a struggle that is 1999 anime original because in the manga and the 2011 anime, Gon just gets on the ship and waves goodbye to Mito and the villagers, which makes more sense, because really, how petty is Mito to not even take Gon to the ship he's supposed to catch when she treats him like such a precious kid?! LOL. Anyway, with that being said, the anime original is relatively fun to watch because it highlights to you Leorio's personality where he may be a dodgy guy, but he's kind at heart and can't help but be soft towards people like Gon. I kind of like how it introduced Kurapika being this calm and collected guy that interestingly didn't kill a deadly spider haha. But I can understand if people don't like this part since it already introduces Leorio as this silly guy so there's not much of a mystery towards their characters when they actually get on the ship. I did like how it did end up showing a bit about Kon (foxbear), but otherwise it was relatively unnecessary since Gon may be naive but he's not exactly stupid? I did enjoy their dramatic entrance on to the ship though, I still remember that to this day, so it was pretty hype for me as a kid haha.
Ship to Dolle Harbour
The gist of this part is pretty much the same in all three versions, but it's actually kind of interesting to note the smaller differences that each version of the anime decided to change. The most significant difference that both anime versions didn't include would be that in the manga, there was a storm that happened before the bigger storm Gon was able to predict. During that first storm, most participants for the hunter exam left on an emergency boat the Captain of the Kaijinmaru provided for them (if they decided to seek shelter on an island away from it), making it that Leorio, Kurapika, and Gon were the only passengers left on the boat (aside from the ship hands). I'd say what makes the 2011 version lose some marks for me is that when Gon tells the Captain his prediction for the storm, both the other versions show the Captain seeing Ging's shadow in Gon. I think seeing that in the 1999 anime and the manga makes the impact of them being similar much more evident. It feels like Gon is and will become as capable as Ging. The 2011 version does this with the Captain simply realising that Gon is Ging's son and thinking that in his head, but the manga and 1999 version never have him actually say it (until later), but instead just show it, which I prefer more.
Another interesting difference about this part is when the storm comes and everyone gets sick or down from it, Kurapika, Gon and Leorio are portrayed to be handling the storm in different ways in each version. Like, Gon is still providing help to others in each version, but when it comes to what Kurapika and Leorio are doing, it's amusingly different. In the 1999 version, before Gon extends help to others, you get to see him balancing on a rolling barrel as it sways towards each side, Kurapika is sleeping and Leorio is eating a red apple. In the 2011 version, Kurapika is reading a book, whilst Leorio is eating an apple as well, but a sour green apple lol. In the manga, Kurapika is sleeping very comfortably with an eye mask. whereas Leorio is actually reading a dirty book lol. They're not important differences but I did think it was kinda fun how each version of the anime had its own interpretation of it. I also found it fascinating how Katzo (the guy the trio saves from falling into the sea) from the 1999 anime and the 2011 anime had vastly different personalities with the former being like a cocky guy and the latter being meek lol.
The biggest change that I think the 1999 anime shouldn't have done was how the trio saved Katzo from falling into the sea. In the manga and the 2011 version, it is shown that Gon jumps out of the ship to save Katzo, and Leorio and Kurapika hold on to each of Gon's legs to pull him back. Whereas in the 1999 anime, in order to save Gon, Kurapika also jumps to catch Gon and Leorio catches Kurapika's legs to grab them all back up. Like, sure it's probably more dramatic that way, but honestly, with Kurapika's personality and thought process, he isn't the type to make that kind of risk especially when he barely knows them etc. It just felt unlike him and so I didn't like that part at all lol. The 1999 anime also seems to like to make Leorio more silly(?) which is fine, but at times they make him appear more stupid rather than silly (when he thought it was stupid that Gon said he could understand seagulls and tell the storm was coming) and it makes me a bit sad because Leorio really isn't that stupid lol.
Finding the Hunter Exam Site
Quiz Lady
Honestly, there's not much to say here since the 2011 anime and the manga pretty much play out exactly the same way with minor differences, such as actually showing the guy listening on the trio going to the cedar tree. But I did want to note down the goods and bads of the 1999 anime original scenes. In the 1999 anime, events are more expanded on as usual, which wasn't a bad idea because I quite enjoyed seeing Leorio actually catching the wrong bus thinking it would go to Zaban City (where the Hunter Exam is supposedly held) and being caught going round and round in circles instead of just Leorio overhearing that the bus was a trap and chasing after Gon and Kurapika. The funny thing they decided to add to make it more understandable for Leorio to catch up to them was the guy who overheard them pretending to want to be their companion, and even faking an ankle injury so that Gon would carry him up the mountain to the tree LOL. Like, how despicable are you to make a kid carry you there lmao, like sure he's not a normal kid but still. It was also nice to see the forest being occupied by monsters and other animals in areas that were supposedly not the right path, kinda makes it a bit more exam-like hahaha. So yeah, instead of the guy appearing to answer the questions first, you actually have him "betray" the trio saying he wants to answer the question by himself. About here though, I honestly enjoyed the extra bits on the grandma and the others. It actually felt much more intimidating seeing the grandma's "minions" constantly asking questions and seeing other potential hunters fall into their traps.This is something minor but it was an interesting choice to have Gon talk about how he wasn't able to choose between saving the son or daughter after the grandma let them through the correct path, I guess it was more a stylistic choice where they wanted the grandma to kinda narrate the true meaning of having this quiz instead of just saying it out to them, not that it really matters that much haha.
Navigators
Something I appreciated the 1999 anime explaining that the 2011 anime didn't was the concept of navigators. In the 2011 anime, it literally goes from the quiz lady to the navigators with no particular explanation other than you need to go there to get to the Hunter Exam starting point. In the manga, this is explained on the chapter title page, whilst in the 1999 anime, Kurapika explains to Gon that navigators are needed because the location for the exam is different every year and only navigators know the way to get there. Otherwise, the 2011 anime basically follows the manga panel for panel. As usual, the 1999 anime adds stuff but honestly, since this part is so short, I do appreciate them extending it to make it a bit more..adventurous and fun? I mean, I love the part where a demon beast appears when they're rowing a boat across the lake, and Leorio (who was just sitting around before) immediately takes the oars to row away from it lmao.
As for the trial with the kiriko, I have to say that I really enjoyed the tension and the ominous atmosphere the 1999 anime did with them. It really made me think that this was dangerous, whereas in the 2011 anime and manga, there isn't much tension at all. Like, it wasn't necessary, but I appreciated what the 1999 anime did to make it more engaging. A minor difference that the 1999 anime changed was that the kiriko stopped her hand/claw and asked Gon why he didn't dodge, whereas in the manga and 2011 anime, the kiriko stopped because Gon asked who she was. On the other hand, a significant difference the 1999 anime decided to add was Leorio going out to grab medicinal herbs and encountering the kiriko son of which he recognises due to the needle hole he made on his arm to help his wounds. I feel like they probably added this to make Leorio feel more on par with Kurapika and Gon, which I didn't mind since it shows more of what Leorio did to comfort the wounded guy etc. Whereas, in the manga/2011 versions, nothing much is really shown of how Leorio handled the situation, so it was nice to actually see it (since Leorio did not realise the wounded guy was a kiriko or the whole situation, he just wholeheartedly tended to his wounds and comforted him). I think adding the scenes didn't detract from the story so I liked it in a sense, but I guess Leorio not realising who the guy was made it really cute, because it shows how focused he was on genuinely taking care of the guy, and it's also a hint to how passionate he is in becoming a doctor. Overall, I'd say I liked the 1999 version the most just because it felt a bit more intense.
Phew! This ended up taking longer than I thought lol. Tbh, I thought I'd be able to do like one arc one post LOL. Well, how naive I was...We're not even at the start of the exam lmao. Oh well, I'm actually really enjoying it. I think it's pretty fun seeing all the differences and how I feel about them. I've always wanted to write down my thoughts about it just because I keep forgetting what I liked about each version, so I'm happy to do this and find out what I definitively liked and disliked about each one haha. Anyway, I guess that means there will be an endless stream of HxH posts~! 90+ episodes to go even just for the 1999 anime hahaha.
