Hunter x Hunter Anime (1999 + 2011 versions) and Manga Differences + Opinion - Heavens Arena Arc

 HEAVENS ARENA ARC 

1999 anime episodes 37-47

2011 anime episodes 27-38

Manga chapters 44-66

Unsurprisingly, all the way to the 200th floor of the tower, the manga and both versions of the anime are pretty much the same with minor differences. I think the most notable difference would be that in the 1999 anime, they put in the anime original funny elevator lady and having Killua waste all his money on snacks again and try to steal Gon's money lmao. Honestly it's a minor difference but it was a difference that I nostalgically remember because it was hilarious haha. It's sad that the 2011 anime doesn't have moments like this to really make itself stand out since I think it really lacks in character interactions that they could have put in to make the story less bland but it's okay haha. Kinda sad the 2011 anime cut out that random commentator next to Killua who called Killua an amateur for thinking Gido would get dizzy spinning after a while hahahahaha.

In the manga and kind of in the1999 anime after Gon broke his arm fighting Gido, and was practising Ten, he thought about his goals - namely finding Ging since it's considered the most difficult hunt, but he also thought about Ging, Kite and Hisoka hoping to reach their levels. The 2011 anime completely omits this. I'm also kinda sad that the 2011 anime doesn't have Killua say that he spent 150,000 Jenny on the tickets to Hisoka's match, and that he could have bought 1000 chocolates with that money hahaha. I love how in the 1999 anime, the funny elevator lady appears during this scene too hahha. Amusingly, the 2011 anime seems to follow the 1999 anime in having the anime original scene of Gon turning off the TV when Hisoka's match is about to come on (since the manga just shows him pulling up a fist restraining himself). I also would have preferred the 2011 anime to keep in the part where Kastro asks Killua if he still wants his autograph haha, not that it's important but it was amusing banter and doesn't make the conversation as rigid. What I definitely prefer in the manga and 1999 anime that the 2011 anime omitted was Hisoka's thoughts during his battle against Kastro. It's understandable that some people don't like these inner monologues, but since you don't get to see Hisoka all the time and what he's thinking about, it's nice to know how he reacts in a fight against people aside from the main characters. On an unrelated note, Kastro looks so much better in the 1999 anime imo haha. I honestly wish the anime added Hisoka eating off some flesh on his arm (probably for the trick) because it was so random and feral, I loved it hahaha. Awww, on the other hand, I'm disappointed that the 1999 anime just did a shortened version of the fight against Kastro like a flashback, so that was saddening. The 2011 anime is also superior in its analysis of the fight between Kastro and Hisoka, since not only does it show the whole fight properly, it also kinda does a play by play of the important bits on the TV with Gon to properly understand how Hisoka used his abilities.

In the manga, the narrator gives more context to Hisoka saying stuff like he's someone that doesn't say everything and will forget Kastro's face by tomorrow etc, whereas in the 2011 anime, Machi says this, which is kinda awkward because even though Machi is to an extent interested in Hisoka, I honestly doubt she knows him well enough or cares enough to say something like that in her mind tbh. Minor change, but I would have appreciated if the 2011 anime talked about how Killua lied to Wing and them that he found Zushi somewhere and "saved" him in that sense, since it made it kinda unclear that Killua actually didn't tell them the truth. On the other hand, I do want to note that I really like how the 2011 anime shows nen and all the auras, I feel like it's much clearer than the 1999 anime even though they pretty much say the same thing haha. I'm also kinda sad the 1999 anime didn't show Zushi use Gyo to watch the recording of Hisoka's match to see how many strings of nen he made. Kinda weird but the 1999 anime pushes whole  debacle with Zushi nearly getting kidnapped and just streamlines all the way to  the Hisoka vs Gon match, which is kinda interesting. I can't say whether I like it or not though, since I can understand wanting to see the fight against Hisoka and the fights against Gido and the other guy are rather inconsequential so moving it around isn't too big of a problem I guess lol. Actually, nah I take it back LOL. I prefer the 2011 anime in this case because I feel like it makes more sense for Hisoka to adhere to his condition that Gon must win one battle on the Floor 200s before he fights him, and I really like seeing how Gon and Killua have grown with their nen abilities before Gon faces Hisoka. Not only has Gon grown stronger, he also feels a bit more mature, and I like how Hisoka seems to acknowledge that and happily be his opponent, so yeah, it makes less sense for Hisoka in the 1999 anime to ignore the condition he set before and just fight him when Gon hasn't exactly shown him his growth using nen. I also like it that in the manga and 2011 anime, Gon is the one to call Hisoka and arrange a time for their match very confidently, so I think if the 1999 anime followed the manga, it would have made a much better impact for the match between Gon and Hisoka rather than just rushing it.

As for the Water Divination Test to see what type of Nen User they are, the 2011 anime exaggerated Gon's progress by fully overflowing the glass of water and cracking the cup badly that Wing needed to tell him to stop (it only had a crack in the manga but didn't overflow like a waterfall haha, and Wing just told Gon it was good), but it was cool to see. As for Hisoka vs Gon. the 2011 anime obviously has the advantage with the superior animation quality, but I have to say it does enjoy dragging out some of the scenes for more impact, which isn't necessarily a bad thing though because it does it quite well. On the other hand, the 1999 animation might be more bland, but I do enjoy how straightforward it is with the fight, I'd say it's pretty much like the manga. Btw, lmao at the 1999 anime for adding in the Togashi dog mask cameo for the random commentator talking about Gon's stone plate throw to get a punch on Hisoka (Togashi draws himself as a dog when he writes comments etc in the manga). On that note, it's kinda amusing that the 2011 anime made it that Hisoka kicked a stone plate all the way to the entrance, when in the manga and the 1999 anime, he kicked it to the spectators, which I kinda preferred more mainly because it's fun to think about how less he cares about the audience loll. Otherwise, Hisoka's chain of consecutive attacks was definitely cooler in the 2011 anime, but I liked the music change in the 1999 anime more. It's also kinda cute how the 1999 anime kept Machi in the audience to watch over Hisoka's match. Something funny but not important is that in the manga, Killua actually suggested going to Whale Island to meet Mito, and Gon said okay since he hadn't been back in a while lol, whereas in the 2011 anime, Gon says he wants to go back to show Mito his licence haha.

Whale Island Mini Arc - Killua Meeting Mito

I know no one cares, but I have to say, I love how the manga and the two anime adaptations always have different food. The food Mito prepares for Gon and Killua look better in the manga than the 2011 anime, but the 1999 anime has the most extravagant feast LOL. I also found it hilarious how Killua hates red pepper or something in the 1999 anime and tries to pick it out but is reprimanded by Mito into eating it hahaha. Honestly though, even though the 1999 anime feels the most "homely" and comforting, the 2011 anime did feel pretty fun. I'm sad that the 2011 anime didn't have Gon and Killua talking about Mito wasn't joking when she tried to break the Hunter Licence hahaha, it's so cute. As usual, since the 2011 anime didn't talk about Konta (foxbear) and Kite, it kicks out the parts in the manga and 1999 anime where Gon tells Killua about where he used to play with Konta, where he met Kite etc, I think the best thing that the 2011 anime wasn't able to show was how Konta caught some fish for Gon to welcome him back to Whale Island. It's sad that Konta won't be able to interact with Gon (since female foxbears don't like humans and leaders of the forest shouldn't interact with humans much either) but I really liked how Konta still did what he could showing how much he cars for Gon, and it shows how just as Gon loves his memories with Konta, it's the same with Konta. Anyway, it's obvious that I prefer the 1999 anime for this part, but that's mainly because by sharing Gon's memories to Killua, it really shows how Gon really lived here and wanted to show Killua his home, whereas for the 2011 anime, it honestly just feels like a fun little adventure of a place Gon is familiar with, it just doesn't have the same feelings in it. I know most people don't like the 1999 anime original part with the poachers and how they try to make Killua learn to be more "moralistic" and kind by teaching him that all lives matter and that he shouldn't end it so easily when the foxbear cub hasn't even died yet and is trying his best to live, but I didn't mind it. I feel this scene doesn't make it that Killua needs to become "soft" or anything, but I think it allows him to understand what kind of people Gon and Mito are, and how living in itself isn't necessarily futile even if you think there's no purpose, because anyone who is struggling to live shows that they have a purpose to doing that. Anyway, I loved the idea of saving the cub with nen, and LMAO at Konta being surprised his cub can use nen now because of it, that was hilarious hahahaha.

Although I still think it's ridiculous of the 1999 anime to make Gon's mother Mito's sister, and have Ging be even more of a jerk in this version because he legit left Gon to them after the sister died lmao, I do think the flashbacks with young Ging and Mito hit more close to home here. I think that's mainly because the 2011 anime cut out the part when Ging and Mito talk, especially when he said stuff like "Found you" amd "Let's go home" after always being the first one to find her when she gets lost. I think the 2011 anime just didn't have the same nuance when it came to that. But honestly the sister thing is weird and doesn't make sense, so yeah I'll just say the manga is the best for this part lolll. Anyway, for the tape recording, the 1999 anime changes it to Ging saying that he has a recording of Gon's mum's voice if he wants to hear it, instead of asking Gon if he wants to hear about his mother, which I guess they had to change if they wanted to be consistent with the idea of her being Mito's sister that's dead lol. Anyway, episode 45 of the 1999 anime delves into Kurapika and a bit more into his nen powers and motivations etc but I think that's more related to next arc so there's not much to say for now. I guess the 1999 anime wanted to break it up in between but yeah oh well lol. Honestly, though, it's more spoiler-ish to have it there since this isn't shown until later in the manga.

Overall, the Heavens Arena Arc is pretty short and straightforward, and I think when it comes to the entirety of it, I would prefer the 2011 anime. Of course when it comes to the silly entertainment value, the elevator lady makes the whole arc so much more fun alongside other silly stuff, but I think the explanation of nen is crucial for the rest of the story, so I think it's better to miss out on jokes than the clearer and easier to understand explanation of nen in the 2011 anime. In addition, the fights are definitely animated better, mainly with Kastro imo, I think the play by play Wing did in the 2011 anime really helped to enhance the experience and I think that's not something watchers should miss out on. Also, the rearrangement of fights in the 1999 anime made it a bit more awkward than it should have been imo. Otherwise though, I do think the feelings and thoughts portrayed in the 1999 anime were told better, but that's only my opinion. 

Anyway, this post was late haha, I was supposed to have finished it in early November because I finished most of the post by that time, but I got distracted I guess lol. This will probably be my last post of the year, so Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year! And I will continue on into my favourite arc - Yorknew City/Phantom Troupe Arc in 2021!