HunterxHunter 2011 vs. The Manga: A Series With Many Personalities
Introduction
When most people talk about the HunterxHunter series and its strengths, they are often referencing the 2011 anime. I believe, as the majority does, that the 2011 anime adaptation enhances the source material. This is due to its faithfulness to the original plot, amazing animation, and the overall quality improvement from the manga. In this analysis, however, I wanted to make a case for how Togashi’s usage of negative space, its juxtaposition to stunning backgrounds and character expressions, and thorough character exploration in the manga makes for an entirely different, if not equally enjoyable HxH experience. I also explain how Togashi’s lengthy exposition is crucial to the 2011 anime’s critical acclaim.
I picked up the manga volumes 32-36 after the anime ended. I enjoyed them as I did 2011, but in a much different way. The series portrays the world of HxH with an overtly upbeat nature, which gradually metamorphosizes into a mature, multilayered society much like our own (thematically). The key difference between versions is that 2011 presents the atmosphere and characters simultaneously, whereas the manga chooses to prioritize one element at a time.
Character and Conflict
When it comes down to the fights in HxH, pre-battle tension is the series strong suit. Whether it’s the mind games between two nen users, the omnipresent narration in the Chimera Ant Arc, or the phenomenal score accompanying any encounter, the 2011 anime incites multiple senses to immerse the viewer into a fight. The manga creates the same tension through still panels that separate the combatants from their surroundings. If it were not for Togashi’s isolation of character expressions on blank panels, some of the 2011 anime’s most impactful moments would be lost in translation. The concise nature of character-focused panels gives HxH it’s style and allows 2011’s characters to be so concrete and convincing.
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| Gon is enraged over Kite's death, with Pitou taking the defensive against his vengeful aura. Cred. Pinterest |
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| Thie scene of Gon's transformation tries to recreate monochrome into anime format, indicating the emotional impact would be lost if reinterpreted from the original panels. Cred. Amino Apps |
The misconception of “show, don’t tell” in manga
Togashi often tells instead of shows in the manga, which many interpret as a weakness. I don’t find huge speech bubbles effective in manga when done poorly, however, I defend their usage in HxH. The thought and care that went into the nen system warrants explanation from its users, as hatsu techniques manifest from the personalities and backgrounds of said users. If nen and battle dialogue were cut from the manga, the 2011 anime would not be able to convey the nuance of the nen system or any battles that are instigated with it. Togashi’s RPG depth present in the manga allows 2011 to focus on other aspects of the adaptation process, allowing them to reference context verbatim and focus on constructing a thrilling animated fight. This is usually emulated through the omnipresent narrator, monologuing, and dialoguing. All these techniques transform Togashi’s speech and exposition bubbles into animation excellently. There is little to no room to interpret a fight wrong in the manga, as Togashi painstakingly covers the intentions, personalities, and abilities of HxH’s cast. One Piece, for example, shows a lot more than it tells. I find the balance of show and tell subjective, and as long as one technique isn’t abused, a story can succeed. Togashi prioritizes the art of a battle, a thorough battle system, juxtaposing character ideologies, and overall throwing off the Shounen moral compass. Oda prioritizes rich world-building, character writing, real-time politics (comparable to LOR or GOT), and a living, breathing adventure. The two mangakas may show and tell in different magnitudes, yet they both achieve intriguing narratives that cater to different demographics. HxH’s recent “Succession Arc” is taking major world-building steps for the universe, akin to Oda’s style. I feel Togashi should be commended for his courage to experiment with the future of HxH, expanding the world far beyond the Chimera Ants.
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| Chrollo explains one of his powers to Hisoka during their showdown. Nen abilities require a lot of explanation and speech bubbles. Cred. Amino Apps |
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| Luffy's Snakeman form doesn't have much of an explanation or need one, Oda can simply show how it works. Cred. Anime Top Wallpaper |
Atmosphere, Pacing, and Immersion
The 2011 anime establishes a more grandiose atmosphere through its ability to synthesize background art, lighting, color, dynamic movement, and a varied score. The quiet and stillness of the manga medium cause the HxH manga to stand out as character study. With the manga, you have more time to sulk over Gon and Pitou’s confrontation or focus on the motivations of the Zodiacs during the Chairman arc. It’s easier to analyze Meruem and Netero’s fight, Cheadle and Ging’s conversation, Komugi and Meruem’s relationship, and so on. This change of pace and emphasis on taking the time to read enriches the HxH experience. The latest big fight, Chrollo vs. Hisoka, is so complicated that you’d have to replay it over and over if it were animated. Reading it? One go, check a panel over if you miss something. All of the major Princes introduced in the Succession Arc will take a couple of watches to remember. Reading it? Go over a couple of pages pretty easily. Togashi is adding so much meta and exposition on top of the nen system, let alone barely scratching the surface of what the Dark Continent is like, that the anime may have trouble making the latest arc exciting. As a manga? It works great. This situation was created through the stylistic schism between 2011 and its source material, and it happens all the time. When a manga is adapted without translating the panel-to-animation factor, problems arise. The One Piece anime falters because it tries to take the time to explain things as in-depth as the manga, stretching out the runtime. I recently watched a video by Aleczandxr about the importance of the narrator in HxH (which I will link below) and it hammers home the traits of a good exposition mechanism. The 2011 anime considered it’s mediums restrictions (ie. an episode can’t stagnate on exposition like a chapter can) and decided to communicate the manga’s text bubbles through a narrator. This is efficient because the narrator operates in unison with the animation, not interrupting the pacing. The narrator supplements the anime with the original context without hindering the order and duration of events.
Presentation and Delivery
I love Togashi’s art in the manga. The gesture lines that portray the momentum and grit of a fight contrast the clean, yet equally dark fights of the 2011 anime. The cross-hatching and deep shading amplify the sense of malice in enemies and monsters much better than the anime.
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| Togashi astounds with his mastery of monochrome. These panels throughout the manga give off a darker feeling than the anime. Cred. Amino Apps |
Conclusion
In Conclusion, HxH 2011 and the manga are a “yin yang” of sorts that complement each other. If you have finished the anime, you naturally would have to continue onward with the manga. If you are reading the manga, I encourage you to watch the anime. I view the anime as the ultimate HxH experience, with the manga serving as a comprehensive study of the series characters. Do I love both? Duh!
Aleczandxr’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9DU6U8BJKU
You can watch HxH 2011 on Hulu and Netflix. I will link the manga below:
(You could also read the digital copy on the Shounen Jump or Viz Media apps/websites)
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment!
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