HUNTER EXAM ARC PART 3 (THIRD & FOURTH PHASES)
1999 anime episodes 11-25
2011 anime episodes 7-18
Manga chapters 13-32
Even though it's anime original, I really like how in the 1999 anime, when Killua and Gon tour around the airship, we actually do get to see what they get up to haha. It's a nice change of pace to see Killua more like a brat loll. The 2011 anime kinda does this with Killua and Gon getting meat from the kitchen though hahaha. What I wish the 2011 anime incorporated was when the examiners were talking about their favourites and Buhara mentioned Hisoka, I absolutely love how it shows Hisoka break his pyramid of cards and start laughing weirdly to himself. The 2011 version just shows him break it menacingly, but I think the laugh just makes it so..Hisoka? I love how the manga and 1999 version show others staring at him weirdly as he laughs to himself, and I just think that scene really shows how weird but lovable Hisoka is imo.
However, when it comes to the part where Gon and Killua are trying to get the ball off Netero, the manga and 2011 version are definitely much better. I always found Anita's existence trying to get revenge on Killua in the 1999 anime a very weird addition to the story, and it doesn't help that they try to integrate it as the main reason they even do the grabbing the ball thing with Netero. It was seriously unneeded and the fact that it fazed Killua enough to lose his calm was just weird and awkward. Killua's sense of morality isn't something so easily wavered by a random imo, so it was really weird to put that in the story. I'm also not really into them introducing an impression of the Zoldyck family already either, especially since it's not like when they kill, they really care who they kill and whether it's right to kill that person. Killua's assassin technique being changed to something that blends into the darkness was also kinda weird considering how they're in an enclosed room with light lol, so yeah, would have been better if they just followed the manga and did the after image thing like the 2011 anime did. I also don't like how they make it as if Killua is repressing this killer personality inside of him, when really Killua the assassin and him are basically one in the same and he's never really denied that part of him.
I also didn't like how the 1999 anime changed how Killua didn't kill those guys that provoked him when he was in his "mood to kill". He was pretty ruthless in the manga, and honestly it really bore similarity to the first time you met Hisoka. It's just that in this case (manga and 2011 anime), Killua was the one who bumped into them and killed them for being annoying about wanting an apology. The ending to Anita's story to make Killua and his family "not all that bad" was also really unnecessary because the Zoldyck family don't care about whether what they're doing is for good or bad, and I found the 1999 anime to really like to make this conception that our main characters must be "morally good" in the end kinda thing, which Togashi does without having to resort to weird stories like this, so yeah, Anita's character really makes this part weird and they really shouldn't have changed it imo. 2011 version definitely the best just because it's nice to see animation, but Killua killing those guys he bumped into was shown much better in the manga, censorship problems for the anime I guess~ Overall, the manga and the 2011 anime win this round hahaha.
Most of it up until the actual fights with the prisoners are pretty much the same for all three versions imo. But I do enjoy how the 1999 version presents things a bit better than the 2011 version such as when Geretta found a trap door and disappeared (which follows the manga). I also enjoy how the manga and 1999 versions give a bit more background to the prisoners and the Third Phase examiner Lippo, as he was the one who suggested the whole idea of reducing prison sentences for every hour the applicants are stuck there. Like, I just feel like a lot of stuff in the 2011 version are assumed rather than said or shown so it feels like some things aren't too clear? It's not bad though, I just prefer having more detail. Otherwise, I love how the 2011 anime made it seem like Tonpa was actually going to fight the guy loll. I enjoyed the simplicity of the 1999 version as well since it created a nice tension, but I think it was unnecessary to have Killua look as if he was going to kill Tonpa for it, and need Gon to tell them that as long as they win 3 matches, it'll be okay, (even though I did enjoy how Killua looked XD) since in the manga and 2011 anime, Killua just says that it was the right choice anyway since the guy most likely would have made it impossible for him to surrender to delay time. Overall, each have their pros and cons as usual imo.
The candle fight was mostly the same, but the 1999 anime really wanted to make it a bit more nerve-wracking by having Gon's candle nearly burnt out enough that he dropped it due to the heat, and then realised he could just blow out the other guy's candle. For me, I prefer the manga and 2011 anime where he very decisively understands that since the candle isn't going to blow out easily, he could just go and blow out the other guy's one. As for Kurapika's fight, all three are the same with minor commentary differences (I'm partial to the 1999 anime because of the soundtrack though), but I do find something funny in the 1999 anime. In the 1999 anime, they kept Kurapika saying that even if he sees a normal spider, he wouldn't be able to remain calm and contain his rage, which is pretty much a direct contradiction with how they introduced Kurapika in the 1999 anime original scene where he uses a fork to move a deadly spider off the table and even keep it alive. Honestly not important but I found it amusing haha.
Hisoka's fight against the examiner from last year that wanted revenge didn't have anything too different in the anime, but I did like how ruthless the manga was for having Hisoka sever his head. In the 1999 and 2011 anime, I assume there were probably censorship problems, since the former just shows him dead on the ground after a slash whereas the latter just shows the shadow of a head sliced off. Anyway, no ideaaa why the 1999 anime decided to double the amount of time Hisoka took to get to the bottom of the tower i.e. he took 6 hours, not 12 hours as they said. I also have no idea why Bendot is doing the betting with Leorio in the 1999 anime when they already said each person can only go once, like geez, stick to the rules!! LOL. Even if they don't think it's considered the "third match" since it's related to the unconscious guy and Kurapika, it still doesn't make sense to have Leorio play it then lol, but yeah whatever. Anyway, I love how in the 1999 anime, when Hanzo arrives thinking he's the first to clear the Tower, Illumi and Hisoka are playing cards lmao, it's so cute, I love it.
Considering how Leorio obviously isn't a doctor yet, Leroute's mind game with Leorio before the rock scissors paper game was rather silly if you think about it since Leorio wouldn't have had patients etc, but yeah...in terms of the story overall, it really didn't make sense to put this here, especially since the rock scissors paper game pretty much illustrates how good she is at controlling simple minded people like Leorio, I honestly didn't even realise Leorio's background story was meant to imply he was a doctor of some sort lol, that's so weird. As for Johness, I really like the description of him in the manga and 1999 anime the most since it actually shows how he practically can just randomly grab flesh off people (such as the policeman) and tears people apart into many different pieces. A lot of people seem to like the 2011 anime rendition of Killua vs Johness where the heart is kinda wrapped into a bag or his shirt and Killua holds it until it stops to signify his death, and then kinda mischievously hands it back to him, which I guess is kinda ominously cute, but personally for me, I love the way they did it in the manga and 1999 anime much more. I guess I'm just more of a fan of the rawness of seeing the heart beating in Killua's palm, and just how cruelly he crushes it to signify Johness' death instead (accompanied with great music~). Anyway, in this case, the 1999 anime follows the manga faithfully, and it is also one of the reasons why I prefer the 1999 anime haha, since I feel like the most memorable scenes in HxH for me were changed in the 2011 anime, even though it is true that the 2011 anime vastly improved on a lot of other things.
Anyway, surprisingly, the 2011 anime was the one that dragged out what the team did during the 50 hours they lost. For the manga, it literally just says 50 hours later and continues on with the story, whereas for the 2011 anime, they actually spend like 5-10 minutes showing the team doing mundane things and having Tonpa trying to guilt trip Leorio. On the other hand, I like what the 1999 anime did the most, they spent 1-2 minutes showing them bored out of their minds staring at random stuff loll. Afterwards, since the manga doesn't really explain what else they go through and just says they went through a lot of electric, dungeon and whatever traps, it was much easier for the anime to kinda put in whatever they wanted. However, the 1999 anime did cut out the part where they chose to go upstairs instead of downstairs making them waste their time going around in a circle for 30 minutes lol. But, what I did enjoy from the 1999 anime was that during those ~8 hours of going through those traps, Tonpa was constantly trying to sabotage them with the majority choice and through his words, so it made more sense why Leorio was so annoyed at the last bit when he ran out of patience with him.
The Last Majority Choice kinda differs between the versions, and I think personally, I like the 1999 anime the most. When it comes to the axe breaking the wall/floor making Gon realise they can just choose the long path and break through the wall, the 2011 anime seems to follow the 1999 anime in that aspect where Leorio and Tonpa fight and that makes him realise they can just do that. In the manga, Gon didn't need anything to spark that realisation, he already realised it by himself after a while and just did it. In completing the exam just in time with Kurapika, Gon and Killua appearing first, then Leorio and Tonpa appearing after (to kinda make it seem like they chose the short path), the 2011 anime follows the manga, but I think I prefer the way the 1999 anime did it without making it seem like only three passed? Like, I think it's pretty obvious that Killua, Leorio, Kurapika and Gon are the main characters and even if they don't pass somehow, it wouldn't be from something like this, so I don't think it was necessary to make it "mysterious". On the other hand, the 1999 anime makes it that the toboggan to get to the exit was Gon's idea but really, that was the thing provided so that they could make it to the exit in three minutes lol, I mean, if it's only going to take three minutes, they have to provide the tool right?! And I doubt setting it up and stuff wouldn't take those three minutes lol, but yeah whatever. I liked how they came barging in the hall with it lol. It's kinda cute how the 2011 anime made it a slide, but I think a toboggan is more fun lol. Anyway, something interesting to note was when they were discussing who should be left behind as the two, in the 2011 anime, they made Killua say that out of the three that will pass, he and Gon will be two of them, which I felt was kind of weird. I was right about it feeling weird though, because in the manga and 1999 anime, Killua doesn't say that, he only says that he will choose the short path and will pass no matter what, which is much more logical of him. Imo, yes, Killua likes Gon, but he definitely prioritises himself, I just don't think he likes Gon to such an extent at this point of the story right now.
This is the point where the 1999 anime adds an anime original phase/arc with the Battleship Island.(ep 18-20) Honestly it's probably a hit or a miss for people but I for one quite enjoyed it. I probably especially like the idea how for this "bonus phase" they had to cooperate together, and then in the next phase, they had to kill each other. I just thought it was pretty ruthless but "fun" of them to do that contrast, since I think it's true that sometimes you have to work with what you have and people you may not necessarily like to get through stuff. I would say that it was a bit long though since it took 3 episodes haha. I find it so cute bow they had Pokkle and Ponzu work together since they do work well together haha, especially later on with the ants. Anyway, back on track, in the manga and 2011 anime, Lippo immediately makes them do the draw to see who is the prey and who is the hunter for the next phase after they get out of Trick Tower.
I quite like how the 1999 anime has an original scene where Tonpa talks to Kurapika and Leorio about some characteristics of the applicants. Considering how we haven't seen much of how they fight, it was nice to have a bit more context as a bit of a refresher on how they fight. I don't like how the 2011 anime glossed over how (in the manga and 1999 anime) when Gon left the boat and walked for a bit, he kinda noticed Geretta tracking him, since it establishes who Gon is hunting and who is also hunting Gon to show how just as Gon was super focused on finding an opportunity to grab Hisoka's plate, so was Geretta. Like, the 2011 anime shows it later, but I prefer how Gon kinda lost his chance to notice Geretta in the beginning since he got his guard up after that, and it shows how Gon's instincts are pretty sharp. Aside from the monkey guy jumping down from a tree in the 2011 anime to attack Leorio (he comes out from a bush behind him) for his number plate, the 2011 anime is pretty much identical to the manga. As usual , the 1999 anime adds stuff, but not too much, and I kinda preferred how Leorio was more cautious of Tonpa in the 1999 anime, and it kinda showed better how Leorio only got tricked because Tonpa was seriously having a stomachache, whereas in the 2011 anime, it just makes you think Leorio is being silly again for trusting him haha. I thought it was pretty hilarious that the 1999 anime had the monkey betray Sommy (his master) for Kurapika when he lost though hahahah, and I guess it was kinda nice how they made it that the monkey could return to the forest, but at the same time, it was kinda weird because it felt like the monkey and Sommy were inseparable, but I guess it doesn't really matter haha. On the other hand, I'm not sure why the 1999 anime decided to have Goz be mortally wounded by Siper rather than Gittarackur/Illumi, but regardless the outcome doesn't really change either way I guess since it doesn't affect my first impression of him much since he still gives off that feeling that he likes to end stuff quickly, but at the same time is "kind" enough to do things that amuse him because other people think it's interesting so he wants to try it too lol.
As for my favourite part of this phase aka Gon stealing Hisoka's tag, I have to say I quite liked all the different versions! The animation direction and the way they showed things in the 2011 anime was really awesome because it really gave that vibe of anticipation and hopefulness for Gon to succeed, it made it feel so amusing and fun. However, in the manga, Hisoka is pure nightmare fuel and so that made the atmosphere more tense but fulfilling. Whereas, the 1999 anime kinda follows the manga more with the nightmare fuel, and I think they did a pretty good job of it back then, especially with the music variation and the chill down your spine feel Hisoka gives with his actions. It's hard to pick a favourite since the manga and 1999 anime are rather simplistic and less "cool" than the 2011 anime, but I definitely love the fear Hisoka exudes in the previous versions much more, so I guess in the end, I'd say the manga and 1999 anime win out for me, even though the 2011 anime is much more crisp? However, when it comes to Hisoka killing Geretta, I definitely prefer the manga the most. The 1999/2011 anime probably both have censorship problems so I guess it couldn't be helped, but really, seeing Hisoka come back with Geretta's bloody head just made the whole scene even more scarier and I loved that. In the 2011 anime, they keep it as Geretta's corpse, whereas in the 1999 anime, they just show Hisoka wearing Geretta's hat after slicing him with a card. Honestly though, Hisoka wearing Geretta's hat felt so silly but it actually made the scene kinda creepy because of how playful Hisoka seemed in such a crazy situation haha.
I have to admit that I didn't like how the 1999 anime decided to make Gon a bit more fearful and traumatised over his encounter with Hisoka, that they spent half an episode of him feeling depressed? It was pretty awkward to make it seem like "Gon's still just a kid" kinda thing when he's supposed to be quite resilient. In the manga and 2011 anime, Gon basically bounces back as if nothing happened by looking for Kurapika and Leorio, and it is by helping them that he tries to cope with how he so thoroughly lost to Hisoka and was spared by him, I don't think it was necessary to add the brooding and stuff they did in the 1999 version. On the other hand, I much prefer the 1999 anime when it comes to Killua vs the Amori Brothers because of the music variation, Killua's cat face when he tells the guy to give him the 199 plate tag, and I absolutely love Hanzo's stoned face when he realises the plate he got was 198 alongside with the crows passing by saying "ahou/idiot" lmao. Something anime original for the 2011 anime here was the scene where Killua knew Hanzo was there and swapped the tag number right before he threw it, which I honestly didn't like because other than the fact that I'm not entirely sure Hanzo could be outwitted like that, I much rather enjoy the idea of Hanzo having such bad luck that it was a 50% chance to get what he wanted and yet he still got the wrong one lmao. So yep, 1999 anime for me!
It's kinda funny but when it comes to Bourbon's Snake Trap, I have to admit that I prefer the 1999 anime, the only part I didn't like about it was how they changed it from Gon taking Ponzu's tag to Leorio taking it, which I felt was unneeded, since Gon is rather cheeky and I would have liked to see that scene. Otherwise, I liked how the whole situation was a bit more..dragged out? Like, the 1999 anime had Gon, Kurapika, Leorio and Ponzu talk more about what they were thinking about and how to deal with the situation, and honestly it didn't add that much in terms of time etc but it made it feel like the situation was more dire and that they really needed to think of a way to get out, whereas in the manga and 2011 anime, it was so quick and straightforward that there wasn't much tension at all? Another change the 1999 anime made was Ponzu being the one giving the antidote to Gon after he collapsed from taking it from Bourbon's clothes due to the snakes; it was a pretty inconsequential of a change, but I thought it was cute and nice to see Ponzu have more of a personality haha. Another anime original for the 1999 anime was Tonpa getting the 197 number plate and trying to get a few more points in order to pass, and he ends up encountering the Ponzu that's asleep and wakes her up making her think that Tonpa stole her number plate lol. It was anime original but I thought it was pretty hilarious and I liked it hahaha.
Overall, it's kinda interesting how I expected to like the 1999 anime much more than the 2011 anime for this part, but actually, I think it's pretty much half half at this point, because there are certainly parts where I'm iffy about, but at the same time, I feel like a lot of the stuff imo is presented better in the 1999 anime, not that the 2011 anime is bad though, I just like that the 1999 anime takes its time with things, whereas the 2011 anime always feels like everything has to be chop chop and to the point? Like you can understand why the manga needs to be like that since there are limited pages etc, but I really feel like the 2011 anime could have given a bit more flavour to it by making the story and events flow better.
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