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REVIEW: Hunter x Hunter DVD Set 1


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GATSU



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 15279
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:12 am Reply with quote
I actually didn't like the OP and ED, either. HxH is a big disappointment from a former YYH fan, because it's too squeaky-clean for its own good. The real problem, though, is that it falls into the same trap as all the other Yu-Gi-Oh-wannabes of that era, which is that you actually have to like the game(s) you're dealing with in order for it to appeal to general audiences. [I think the only one which comes close since then is Beet.] And the fact that Togashi would rather go on vacation than continue the series probably means he's just in it for as long as he can keep people waiting for each cliff-hanger. At least that Bastard!! guy delivers an actual book's worth of material when he comes back from hiatus.
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grooven



Joined: 16 Aug 2006
Posts: 1424
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:17 am Reply with quote
Woah stop bashing the manga-ka >.> what do you mean vacation? I really enjoyed HxH I fond the story to be much more interesting and complex than Naruto could ever be. The series starts off slow but progresses as it goes on. I can't stand how much of the referance from this show Naruto uses, when this shoe does it better.
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MetatronM



Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 281
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:17 am Reply with quote
Bleach and Naruto are "sophisticated?" Really? REALLY? Especially when Naruto in particular completely ripped off HXH's Hunter Exam while simultaneously completely missing the point of what made the Hunter Exam fun? And when Bleach....well, Bleach doesn't really bring much of anything interesting to the table other than mindless fights and one admittedly very cool plot twist.

Yeah, Gon is the most boring and generic shounen protagonist you can possibly find. He's awful. But fortunately his supporting cast is awesome, the show is clever without needing big fights to deliver its high points, and, well, Gon really isn't that important for the majority of the TV series and first OVA anyway. Very Happy

In general, HXH is sort of the anti-DBZ style shounen. It's like One Piece in that it feels a bit more honest and whimsical, a bit closer in spirit to the original Dragonball. It's not nearly on One Piece's level, primarily because the series falls to pieces eventually, but these first few arcs covered in the anime and the first OVA are pure shounen gold.


EDIT: Also, the dub is decidedly awful. Gon in particular sounds like a middle-aged woman. Not, mind you, a middle-aged woman playing a young boy character, which you would expect. Just simply a middle-aged woman.


Last edited by MetatronM on Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:23 am; edited 1 time in total
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ManOfRust



Joined: 08 Jan 2006
Posts: 1935
Location: Seattle, WA
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:23 am Reply with quote
I'm really excited to see this finally released. After seeing many forum members here gush over and over about how good it is and wondering why it was never licensed, only to be told by others that it's too old and will never see the light of day on DVD in R1, it's great to finally have a chance to see it legitimately. This is one of the very few series that I ever checked out in fansubs, and I only got through the first 10 or so episodes.

But I really enjoyed what I did get to see and am looking forward to the rest. I think Key's point about it being a bit dated is well taken and those that are new to anime and used to some of the shiny and slick newer shows might have a bit of an adjustment to make, but hopefully people will give it a chance. Whenever people here started talking about most wanted licenses or titles that they couldn't believe had never been licensed, this one was at or near the top of the list. Now we finally got our wish, so I hope people will actually follow through and buy this release.
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posterior_praiser



Joined: 21 Oct 2007
Posts: 296
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:33 am Reply with quote
HunterxHunter is a good example of shonen done well. It takes all of the shonen tropes, but just does them better than alot of the stuff that comes out these days. Even though Togashi may never finish this series, the arcs contained in the anime are pure gold as far as I’m concerned (up to greed island anyway). And it's far from squeaky clean with a character like Hisoka as an antagonist, and the kinds of challenges the kids face :/ It's compelling in many ways, and you actually find yourself wanting to root for Gon, which is something i find happens rarely for me in shonen titles. I also like that the main cast is contained as well, so you can actually get to know the characters a little.
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Megiddo



Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Posts: 8360
Location: IL
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:08 am Reply with quote
GATSU wrote:
I actually didn't like the OP and ED, either. HxH is a big disappointment from a former YYH fan, because it's too squeaky-clean for its own good.

Squeaky clean? Have you seen the Genei Ryodan arc? Sheesh, if you think that's squeaky clean, then... wow.

I won't debate that the start of the anime is rather boring and meh (personally I almost dropped HxH at episode 15), but once the Hunter Exam really got going, then I really enjoyed the rest of the ride.
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ConanSan



Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Posts: 1818
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:20 am Reply with quote
Quote:
Ocean Group
Urgh

Quote:
Blue Water
URAGH!

They expected HxH to get on tv and do well with those jokers doing the dub?
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Zipper



Joined: 11 Dec 2008
Posts: 133
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:42 am Reply with quote
It will get better reviews once the next set is released, that's when the show really starts to distinguish itself, show its unique aspects and show where newer shounen series (especially Naruto) were inspired from.
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Oronae



Joined: 05 Oct 2006
Posts: 165
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:53 am Reply with quote
Manga author is Togashi not Takagi.
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LoktarOgar



Joined: 27 Jul 2005
Posts: 3
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:00 am Reply with quote
but Masashi Kishimoto innovated a lot more in character and structural development than Takagi did, making Hunter seem like the poor cousin by comparison.

Who the hell is Takagi?

sophisticated shonen shows like Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach

Ahahahaha. I'll admit that HxH's finesse doesn't really show until after the Hunter Exam, but that's just hilarious.

At least that Bastard!! guy delivers an actual book's worth of material when he comes back from hiatus.

Err, so does Togashi. Break -> 1 volume -> break -> 1 volume, etc. Besides, Togashi's done 26 volumes in 11 years, Hagiwara 27 in 21 years. I hardly think you can complain about Togashi when you pull Hagiwara, of all mangakas into the equation.

As for "yu-gi-oh wannabe," and HxH being "squeeky clean," what does that even mean? The series has more gore than any SJ series I can think of.

primarily because the series falls to pieces eventually,

Excuse me? The current arc is one of the highlights of fighting shounen especially in this day and age. The York Shin arc was too.
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GATSU



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 15279
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:08 am Reply with quote
Quote:
Err, so does Togashi. Break -> 1 volume -> break -> 1 volume, etc.


More like break-> one chapter -> break -> one half-chapter. Rolling Eyes

Quote:
Besides, Togashi's done 26 volumes in 11 years, Hagiwara 27 in 21 years.


But Hagiwara doesn't leave readers hanging.

Quote:
As for "yu-gi-oh wannabe," and HxH being "squeeky clean," what does that even mean? The series has more gore than any SJ series I can think of.


My Yu Gi Oh rant is about how they played tournament games; and the gore just seems toned down for me; but then I haven't gotten to a particular arc.
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Wooga



Joined: 22 Jun 2007
Posts: 916
Location: Tucson
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:46 am Reply with quote
I just re-read the first volume of hunter X Hunter and I can't believe how much this series progressed- it's almost like a different series.
I don't know what to say about this review. HxH is my favorite shonen of all time. It has a complex and intuitive storyline. It is great. When the manga comes to an end, I will shed tears. That's all I wanted to say.
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LoktarOgar



Joined: 27 Jul 2005
Posts: 3
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:13 am Reply with quote
More like break-> one chapter -> break -> one half-chapter.

That is outright wrong.

And the gore just seems toned down for me; but then I haven't gotten to a particular arc.

Volume 1 has Hisoka slicing up people with cards, 2 has Killua slicing up guys with his hands, and 3 has Killua ripping out Jones' still beating heart and then crushing it...

When you say "a particular arc," I cannot help but think you mean "anything after Gon gets on the ship where he meets Kurapica and Leorio."
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doctordoom85



Joined: 12 Jun 2008
Posts: 2091
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:41 am Reply with quote
Oh, come now! Let's not forget, Kubo's Bleach almost didn't start because it was too similar to Yu Yu Hakusho, and now YYH's other series is being called generic in comparison to Bleach? (I like Bleach, but still....)

I'm sorry, even if it is generic, it's GOOD generic. I mean, Gurren Lagann is pretty much generic in everything, it still rocks though. IMHO, the only shonen better than H x H are Fullmetal Alchemist and One Piece.

But hey, maybe the reviewer will warm up to later boxsets. It's definitely one that gets better as it goes along.
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ConanSan



Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Posts: 1818
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:04 am Reply with quote
I was under the impression that any ideas that this show was Y7 friendly flew out of the window the second death by playing card happened.
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