Board 8 > seabassdebeste watches hunter x hunter 2011 (spoilers)

(+) Yeah! (+)

Episode 1

Recap: After proving himself by catching a whale with a fishing pole, Gon leaves his hometown to follow his absent father's dream of becoming a Hunter. On the boat full of prospective Hunters, he is one of only three prospects able to able to weather the storm. They save a hapless (but seaworthy) ship crew member and become quick friends.

Lots of pretty basic setup here to get pieces into place. Gon is evidently an exceptional talent (physically, I assume?) since he catches the big fish that no one except his father can catch. The myth arc of Gon's father is immediately established alongside the seasonal arc of becoming a Hunter. The obvious antagonism between the primary trio is resolved with a quickness that befits how simply it's drawn.

Everything about HxH so far is simple. The youth of the protagonist caught me off guard. The art style, the characters, the storyline, the motivations. It looks and feels like a story for little kids and I can't help but compare it to Dragon Ball in how pure it is. Important characters look important, and it's safe to discard anyone who looks boring/ugly enough as a small one. They're also obviously way more badass than the others for no stated reason. We just accept it and move on.

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* Who is that Mito-san anyway? She's the only adult-feeling character in the show so far, but she seems likely to be just an Ash's-mom type.

* Real excited about Leorio the MONEY MAN.
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Hxh and your write ups maximum hype
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Tag for when the major arcs start to kick in.
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SeabassDebeste posted...

Who is that Mito-san anyway?

Ging's cousin I believe. Gon calls her his aunt.
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hxh is Good
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favorite show tag
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Episode 2

Recap: Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio are advised by the Captain to take a detour en route to the test site. They encounter an old woman with a lot of pomp and circumstance who gives them a quiz, then a shapeshifter attacking a couple. Resolving both situations, they continue on their journey.

Here's a fun episode that might hint at something more.

Let's just start out with the quiz being bullshit and deliberately avoiding moral complexity for little kids - the "save your son or save your daughter," or "save your lover or save your mom" situations are resolved "correctly" by picking neither option. But it's still fun to watch the snot-nosed obvious sucker getting led astray with his answer (despite looking like it's correct), the way Leorio (who FLIPS OUT) blushes when the old lady tells him that she enjoys meeting guys like him. (On that note, Leorio's obviously way softer-hearted than a money-obsessed jerk would appear, while Kurapika's calm superiority surprisingly hasn't turned to arrogance. The heroic trio so far seems to be going for likability - and I'm digging it.)

The part I liked most about the resolution, though, is that Gon doesn't let "winning the quiz" take away from the question that's posed. It is a crazy situation to be in, and by Gon's bringing it up after the fact, the show hints that situations might not always be so black-and-white. It'll probably be a long way off, but that's the type of thing that's got me aching for more.

As for the segment with the shapeshifters - just delightful. The monsters appear huge and unthreatening and they're so excited to have their riddles solved. Gon's prowess and apparent excitement at tracking them adds some physical fun. And while it's immediately obvious from the setup that nothing is as it seems (we're in the midst of tests, signs are warning us about monsters, and we know that these creatures are shapeshifters), the show never tries to make us think that we're in serious business territory. Shapeshifters in general make for fun stories.

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* These tests are so arbitrary.

* Love the pomp and circumstance behind the first test.

* Got super-hyped at Gon asking the second shapeshifter "Who are you?" while being attacked. Love it when expectations get inverted strangely.
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I usually get anxious about people watching the beginning because it was something I couldn't get into at first. of course, I got into this in my high school years and was probably put off by the apparent childishness after the obviously for grown ups Naruto and Bleach.

Nice to see you're enjoying it out the gate!
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pjbasis posted...

was probably put off by the apparent childishness after the obviously for grown ups Naruto and Bleach.

Speaking as someone who watched Bleach almost religiously for years

What?
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youre dense
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MysticBrohan posted...

youre dense

Can't argue with that
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Bleach isn't exactly adult, but its protagonist is firmly adolescent/edgy as opposed to the obviously kiddie, aggressively innocent Gon.
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uh

isn't it incredibly obvious that pj is being sarcastic about when he was younger and thought bleach/naruto were cooler than HxH
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TexasZea posted...

uh

isn't it incredibly obvious that pj is being sarcastic about when he was younger and thought bleach/naruto were cooler than HxH

isn't it incredibly obvious that I rolled a 1 on my common sense check?
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TexasZea posted...

uh

isn't it incredibly obvious that pj is being sarcastic about when he was younger and thought bleach/naruto were cooler than HxH

this post is confusing me and i can't figure out how to respond to it without feeling/looking dumb for overanalyzing pj's post

but i'm pretty sure i interpreted it right the first time <_<
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SeabassDebeste posted...

TexasZea posted...

uh

isn't it incredibly obvious that pj is being sarcastic about when he was younger and thought bleach/naruto were cooler than HxH

this post is confusing me and i can't figure out how to respond to it without feeling/looking dumb for overanalyzing pj's post

but i'm pretty sure i interpreted it right the first time <_<

sorry, I was talking to brohan and bowser calling him dense
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no i was calling bowser dense for not understanding the obvious sarcasm
youre dense too
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@SeabassDebeste

Personally, I felt it was adding moral complexity by directly saying that such a difficult question has NO right answer and that as a hunter, you're going to be called on to make the hard calls in situations with no easy moral solution. That to just confidentially declare you're the moral authority in such situations is to be a fool.

Are you watching a dub that didn't make that clear? Or maybe not. I should have read the whole post. I still don't think it made it simple at all though.
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It doesn't really spell that out in any version I've seen
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It's true that my initial impressions of hxh (and one piece) weren't as strong as Naruto and bleach, likely due to the tone.
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FakeAccount3000 posted...

@SeabassDebeste

Personally, I felt it was adding moral complexity by directly saying that such a difficult question has NO right answer and that as a hunter, you're going to be called on to make the hard calls in situations with no easy moral solution. That to just confidentially declare you're the moral authority in such situations is to be a fool.

Are you watching a dub that didn't make that clear? Or maybe not. I should have read the whole post. I still don't think it made it simple at all though.

The ending, where Gon ponders it, has the audience actually consider what might happen in such a situation. But to have a mini-quest quiz show where not answering the question was correct felt like BS. After all, choosing neither would essentially be letting both die in such a case, so they avoided the question they posted and then rewarded the heroes for it. Kind of bleh to me.

Basically I think if you're going to raise such a question and give it any sort of stakes (in this case the stakes aren't huge - just continuing on a very silly shounen journey that's a foregone conclusion), you should be prepared to follow through on it. So I'm annoyed they didn't. I'm happier with Gon just pondering the question, since there's no onus on him to answer it and no stakes attached to it.

Hope that makes sense.
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Episode 3

Recap: The shapeshifter leads our heroes to the test site, where they become the last three prospects to enter. We're introduced via "ROOKIE KILLER TONPA" to some of the named candidates, most notably the clown-looking magician who appears in the OP and ED. The exam begins with: walking.

The least episodic and therefore least complete-feeling episode yet. Tonpa, drawn ugly and stated to be incompetent, fits the pattern of shittily designed pushover villains meant to prop up the heroes. Other than Leorio and Kurapika briefly butting heads about the PHILOSOPHY OF BEING A HUNTER and Gon sniffing out laxative by accident, our heroes have practically zero agency this episode.

Alas, there's a lot about the candidate situation early on that demands us "don't think too much about it." Gon and co. do an excellent job with the pre-trial tasks - so why are they dead last, period? How long have these people just been standing around doing nothing except possibly drinking laxatives? Why are we dealing with a computer nerd character and treating him as if his hair-stroking character design is worth spending more than five minutes on? What the fuck is going on with the randomly flamboyant test proctor???

The OP/ED do seem to indicate that we've got a fourth party member that we were introduced to this episode. He seemed more fun asking for poisoned drinks before he revealed that he knew what was in them. "I've trained. Poisons won't affect me." Oh.

In any case, the exam is at least proceeding, so no need to dwell on this stuff!

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* ED1 >>> OP1.

* I wanted the steak dinner, too.

* My favorite scene might actually have been the very beginning - when everyone enters the city's marketplace. Lots of colorful snippets going on, while most of the characters treat it as a nuisance or full of "shady people," Gon quietly looks absolutely fascinated.
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You watched Yu Yu Hakusho before?
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I watched maybe 22-26 episodes of the dub but couldn't find it in me to continue then. Don't think I'd seen one satisfying fight.

Unfortunate, because I'm sure the best parts of it are deeper in.
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Was just gonna mention that and hxh are written by the same author, but it's not much use comparing the early parts.
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ah, makes sense that both focus on younger characters

that said gon > yusuke and leonoris > kuwabara so far
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Tag, but if you didn't care to YYH, not sure you'll care for HxH either. The beginning is the most difficult part for some, but I enjoyed it all the way through.
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Eerieka posted...

Tag, but if you didn't care to YYH, not sure you'll care for HxH either. The beginning is the most difficult part for some, but I enjoyed it all the way through.

I feel like the beginning of HxH 2011 was easier to get through than the beginning of YYH.

Of course, it's literally been over a decade since I've watched YYH, so things could easily be different for me now.
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Nooooo my Young Justice ;_;

YYH dub is my favourite anime of all time, I really love everything about it.

I really enjoyed HxH but i have a strange relationship with it. I think I have it rated on my MAL as a 10/10, but I dunno, when I see people recommending it as one of the best anime or as the best shounen has to offer, I find myself feeling like I disagree.

I found a genuine feeling of joy during the Hunter Exam with Gons wide eyed attitude, but only one later arc recaptured that feeling. I find Leorio and Kurapika to be pretty boring and weak characters. There's some really neat arcs but I find some of the most highly praised arcs to be very uninspired and mediocre. I think people find this series to be more mature and complex (despite Gon himself being a kid), but but even though it may be true I dont think that adds that much by itself.

I do like it a lot, but I just find it lacking a bit when I compare it to what I consider the best shounen's, which are YYH and One Piece.
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HxH is streets ahead of YYH, yeah, so dropping that and watching HxH was definitely for the best.

SeabassDebeste posted...

* ED1 >>> OP1.

^5

The show basically just has one OP so that won't be changing.
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ClyTheCool posted...

best shounen's ... One Piece.

Woh you just invalidated an entire well written few paragraphs of insight in one sentence congrats

Seriously though I more or less agree with you. HxH is great but I dunno if its the height of shounen.

I think it's an interesting question.

It's definitely the best story that is considered a shonen imo, but it doesn't embody or represent all things shonen very often. Like One Piece is the best in-genre example, but it's also more limited by it.
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I have issues with One Piece that prevent me from agreeing with anyone who says it's the best.

However, I'm certainly not going to argue the point. Different strokes for different folks.
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Well, I do too in the sense I disagree. I think post time skip hasn't really been up to par with the quality prior. Not that it's an actual hard demarcation, it just became noticeable to me around then.

But like I can see why someone would say that.
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oi
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SeabassDebeste posted...

ah, makes sense that both focus on younger characters

that said gon > yusuke and leonoris > kuwabara so far

I just noticed the Leonoris thing. Is that a fansub or a typo?
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i just forget his name off the top of my head
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Clearly you need to watch more episodes. >_>
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that's definitely true! yesterday was inconvenient for that. will be home tonight though for episode 4 (and possibly 5, if arc-based episodes continue to have ill-defined beginnings and endings)
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Episodes 4 and 5

Recap: Phase 1 turns into an ultramarathon, followed by a dangerous march through a swamp. Hisoka is beset by some candidates and promptly slaughters them, along with delivering a massive - yet merciful - beating to Gon and Leorio.

The pacing really drops in Episode 4 here, but in a multiple-viewing session it's not bad.

Leorio, looking ridiculous running in a suit with a suitcase, finally drops pretense of looking cool and tells us his darkest secret: that he's still a teenager. No, but I really enjoy his motive-baring heart-to-heart with Kurapika. Already really respect that relationship.

In Episode 5, I gained some personal respect for them as individuals. When they see what happens, you might expect Leorio to be cowardly. Instead, Kurapika - who's been way too unflappable for my liking - suggests that they split and get the hell away from this guy who will clearly slaughter them. And it's Leorio who returns to fight a helpless battle because goddammit, it's the right thing to do. They're great foils and complements to one another.

Not too much to say on Gon and his white-haired friend yet, but enjoying them as a duo, too.

I came up with this vague theory before starting either episode and the evidence may have gotten stronger - is it possible that Hisoka is not trying to become a Hunter, and is instead working with the examiners? He is incredibly strong but for some reason didn't make it last year. He's the one who enlightens others about the fact that the examiner is a Hunter, and he exposes the Man-faced Ape, after all. After that he doesn't kill Leorio or Gon, apparently because he respects their strength - yet from his perspective, surely killing the competition must be good for him? Oh, and of course, he gets that call on his walkie-talkie after beating on Gon and Leorio.

In any case, Hisoka is excellent and has clearly been built up as a credible opponent. The uppercut that smashes Leorio is spectacularly drawn, and Gon really is helpless when Hisoka catches him. If Gon is to beat him in combat, I really hope they show what techniques Gon uses to improve.

My favorite visual element of these episodes - the freeze-panes where we learn the names of the bizarre creatures of the forest. They've got some excellent translated names, too - my favorites being the NOGGIN' LUGGIN' TORTOISE, CLAYMORE MUSHROOM, and of course FROG IN WAITING. The last one is especially great because it's accurate, yet so unhelpful to know its name.

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* Hilarious defeat for laptop kid.

* Using a skateboard is so fucking smart.

* Doctor dream. :(

* Why is Leorio the only one who took his shirt off? Maybe he was the only one dumb enough to dress in poor workout clothes?

* There's definitely a random extra with a bunch of plungers sticking out of his skin. ... Yeah.

* 'Didn't you land the first hit on him?' Kurapika a bro for pumping up Gon.
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Tag the fuck outta this shit. HxH so good! Disappointed that you don't like the opening though :/ It's one the best ever imo. It just gets me so hype to watch the show, but that could also be because I've seen 100 and however many episodes with it lol.
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I don't hate the opening, but it's pretty meh overall to me and worse I don't think it even fits much of the later arcs.
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SeabassDebeste posted...

There's definitely a random extra with a bunch of plungers sticking out of his skin. ... Yeah.

Togashi has some very interesting character designs. I've never seen someone call them plungers though, lol.
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<3 Man, just reading about this series again is fun. I think Leorio definitely made a wardrobe error, but I also think it's to show his manly pecs. I mean, make him look funnier. I forget, did he wear the tie around his forehead? I think he might have in the manga.

Love theories.
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What's the opening you guys are talking about? I actually haven't seen the 2011 version, I watched the original and then picked up the manga when all the OVA's were done. (and then dropped the manga in the current arc cuz it sucks now)

But this was the first opening for the original, and I LOVED it. I really felt like it fit the arc and Gon's attitude in general and just always left me feeling good. The theme and title is "Ohayou" which means good morning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzPTN476OvI" data-time="
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HxH 2011 only has one OP. The visuals change for each arc and it flips between two verses, but the song is the same all the way through.
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I prefer most of the '99 openings yeah.
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Eerieka posted...

HxH 2011 only has one OP. The visuals change for each arc and it flips between two verses, but the song is the same all the way through.

Technically speaking, I feel like the first time the visuals change, they switch to using a remastered version of the song.

At least it *felt* like a remastered version.
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I think you're right. There was one version that felt like a remaster.

*checks* Hell, I'll just let MAL do the talking:

#1: "departure!" by Ono Masatoshi (eps 1-26, 50-52, 62-75, 101-103, 137-147)
#2: "departure! -second version-" by Ono Masatoshi (eps 27-49, 76-100, 109-136)
#3: "departure! -Opening Tokubetsu-hen-" by Ono Masatoshi (eps 53-61, 104-108)

Tokubetsu just means 'special' so #3 is just "special version." That must be the one that feels like a remaster. Or maybe -second version- is, I don't remember.
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I think it's the second one that I'm thinking about.

I don't remember those specific episodes having a special version.
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