Hunter x Hunter remains one of shonen anime’s most popular series among anime fans of the genre. Though Hunter x Hunter explores the positive themes of friendship, courage, and the determination to face adversity, not all of its events hold up to time. Certain occurrences in the series deal with controversial topics that face criticism in modern anime audiences.
Hunter x Hunter touches on darker topics that place young protagonists in situations that they should never have to face. Problematic character designs, weighty expectations, and tragic circumstances surrounding characters involve plot points that receive less tolerance in more recent anime.
10 Gon Dates Outside Of His Age Range
Gon’s young age should place romance far into the future, yet his date with a 22-year-old Palm in the Chimera Ant arc presents a controversial topic. Gon agrees to a date with someone who not only threatens him but exists as an adult outside of his age range. Though Gon turns Palm down, her hostility requires Killua and Knov to interfere for Gon’s safety.
Gon additionally tells Killua of his experiences as a tour guide for women on Whale Island, whose ages present a concerning situation. The unexpected events forget about Gon’s actual age and the purpose of his adventures.
9 Ging Has A Controversial Parenting Style
While Ging cares for Gon in his own way, his unconventionally harsh parenting methods repeatedly put Gon in unnecessary danger. Ging instructs his friends, like Razor, to never hold back against his son, even if Gon faces the possibility of dying. Though Ging only intends to help Gon become stronger, he risks his son’s well-being and holds him to unreasonable expectations.
Ging refuses to visit Gon in the hospital after his fight with Neferpitou and shows little outward concern for Gon’s status. His ambitions and reluctance to see Gon in person prevent him from being an active parental figure.
8 Children Are Capable Of Terrible Things
While characters like Gon and Killua are heroic protagonists, they have a darker personality side that leads them to commit morally questionable acts. Killua’s background as an assassin and Gon’s experiences with loss drive them to show disregard for other lives despite being children. Both protagonists make choices that are driven by revenge and abandon childhood innocence.
While violence in anime is nothing new, Gon, Killua, and other characters like Kurapika show intense emotions that characters of their age should never have to deal with alone. The moral struggles of Hunter x Hunter’s young protagonists leave a profound emotional impact.
7 Hisoka’s Behavior Is Unacceptable
Hisoka continues to be a controversial Hunter x Hunter character for his characteristic interest in characters like Gon and Killua. Hisoka’s goal of pursuing strong fighters has him cross paths with Gon and Killua countless times and exhibit alarming behavior. While Hisoka occasionally lends the protagonists his assistance, he never fails to make both fans and other characters uncomfortable.
Hisoka remains an antagonist who causes a great deal of harm to Gon and those he interacts with. He has no sense of redeemability or showing resentment for his actions throughout the anime’s events.
6 The Anime Has Room For Improvement On Portraying Women
While Hunter x Hunter portrays a share of powerful women fighters, the anime has moments when women are designed inappropriately. Many female humanoid Chimera Ants like Zazan or Mosquito have impractical or even impossible outfits for unclear reasons. While more revealing character designs in Hunter x Hunter never impede its characters’ abilities, it carries a sense of disrespect for women in general.
Hunter x Hunter still has room to expand on the stories of its women characters and portray their talents in a positive direction. Human characters like Bisky or members of the Zodiacs deserve more acknowledgment outside of appearances.
5 Podungo’s Design Reflects Stereotypes
Podungo investigates the Chimera Ant Queen as part of Kite’s group during the beginning of the Chimera Ant arc. Though Hunter x Hunter introduces Podungo as a friendly and knowledgeable Hunter, her design portrays a character of color through problematic stereotypes. Podungo’s design differs from that of other characters of color, like Canary, who receive more positive feedback.
Podungo’s brief screen-time makes determining Hunter x Hunter’s intentions for the character difficult. Her appearance leaves an uncomfortable impression that questions Hunter x Hunter’s approach to diversity within anime. The decision surrounding Podungo brings the topic of respectful character portrayal into the series.
4 Children Are The Targets Of Violence
While Hunter x Hunter’s status as a shonen anime guarantees violence, certain children in Hunter x Hunter face devastating fates. The tragic deaths of Kurt and Reina by the Chimera Ants depict horrifying violence that provides a possible source for distress. Meruem’s subsequent beheading of a child’s parents and his eating of the child exhibit his ruthlessness through a bleak scenario.
The encounters play a vital role in Meruem’s characterization yet use a type of violence beyond what fans may anticipate. Hunter x Hunter’s harsh reality raises questions on what levels of violence hold acceptance among anime audiences.
3 Nanika Is Overly Convenient Plot Armor
While Nanika remains one of Hunter x Hunter’s most peculiar entities, the plot uses Nanika’s abilities as a convenient solution for healing Gon. Alluka’s character reveal appears with little to no indication of her presence in previous arcs. Nanika and Alluka’s complex relationship with Killua would’ve left a heftier emotional impact with an earlier introduction.
Killua’s wish to heal Gon additionally requires minimal sacrifice due to the revelation that Nanika’s demands don’t apply to healing requests. Gon survives an impossible ordeal due to multiple lucky events that receive criticism within shonen anime.
2 The Anime Removes The Manga’s Introduction
The Hunter x Hunter 2011 anime removes the manga’s opening scene that features Kite’s role in Gon’s upbringing on Whale Island. Gon’s first meeting with Kite marks his first encounter with a Hunter and sparks his interest in the occupation. The anime’s decision to delay Kite’s character introduction and his connection to Ging until the Chimera Ant arc hides information about Gon’s motivations.
The late flashback of Gon and Kite’s past also shortens Kite’s screen time and lessens the emotional impact of his tragic death. Hunter x Hunter’s 2011 anime skips dialogue between Gon and Kite that further explains Gon’s rage towards Neferpitou.
1 The Series Experiences Frequent Hiatuses
Hunter x Hunter‘s history of long hiatuses between new content releases continues to receive criticism from anime audiences. While Hunter x Hunter mangaka Yoshihiro Togashi’s health struggles affect the wait times between manga chapters, the ongoing hiatus leaves the series at a standstill. The series’s uncertain future creates a sense of disappointment among fans for the lack of an ending.
Hunter x Hunter continues to delay the continuation of the manga’s storyline for an active fanbase. The series’s unusual timeline stands out among other shonen anime that currently release new content.
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