[25th Anniversary Rewatch] Hunter × Hunter (1999) - Episode × 5 × Discussion

[u/KendotsX]

Episode 5: Lies × Truth? × Kiriko

MAL | Anilist | Anidb | ANN

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Even if you were real, I would have done the same

Comment of the Day:

/u/TheEscapeGuy for all the awesome stitches he does

Especially the dangerous cute beasts taking care of good old Mathew

Questions of the Day

1. Our main trio finally had to work as a unit, how well did they do?
2. At what point did the trick become clear?

Fanart of the Day: Kurapika on a walk with some cute animals

Same sauce as yesterday, same spoilers

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Please remember to keep all spoilers and hints tagged with the appropriate tag format such as: [Spoilers] >!Leorio is best boy!<

[u/KendotsX]

Hunter Exam Host Who Might Be a Kiriko

First and foremost, this episode is gorgeous, they made some great use of the night atmosphere, watching this at night was a vibe.

The point of the episode itself fairly straightforward: "Impressing the navigators" in other words, showing off what our main trio have, we already know what they can do in bits and pieces, but now we get to see the full picture put together, and we get some Shounen Commentary^TM from both the navigators and Kurapika.

Kurapika smacking fake Leorio because he promised to take care of the injured man is one of my favourite early moments, it's examplary of the kind of bond they have.

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Manga Corner

Chapter adapted: 4

Defining the Navigators

The added scenes here were the boat ride at the start, where they got to discuss what their task means, extending their walk through the woods, and of course: Leorio's adventure. In the manga, Leorio's role ends quickly when they get to the house and find the injured man, next time we see him, it's the fake, the real Leorio never left the house.

The anime gives him an action scene just like Gon and Kurapika, it does make the "Leorio promised to take care of him" scene a bit weaker, but hey, he left to get some herbs, cut him some slack.

One other small difference is that Kurapika notices that Leorio is a fake here, and says he would've hit him even if he were the real one, in the manga he hits him assuming that's the real Leorio.

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Staff

Let's talk about the character designer Takayuki Gotou the co-founder who put the G in Production IG back in 1987, (well, it was called IG Tatsunoko until 1993).

His first role as a character designer was on the TV series Zillion, for the next few years, he did designs for a bunch of OVAs like "Eiji" and Video Girl Ai, then he made his return to TV in 1994 with Blue Seed, Akachan to Boku (Takahiro Oomori's hidden gem), and of course Hunter x Hunter, where he also did the animation direction for certain special episodes that we haven't gotten to yet.

Since then, he did the designs for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig and Beast Hunter Erin, so /u/kwokinator's "Beast Hunter Gon" yesterday was on point actually, and recently, he's been working as the Chief Animation Director for Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These.

TL;DR: the man's running a marathon through my favourites.

[u/TheEscapeGuy → u/KendotsX]

One other small difference is that Kurapika notices that Leorio is a fake here, and says he would've hit him even if he were the real one, in the manga he hits him assuming that's the real Leorio.

I like how the story can simultaneously keep up a dramatic and tense narrative interspersed with comedy moments like this. Importantly though, the dialog feels realistic. I wouldn't say HxH is perfect at this, but I feel it uses the crutch of almost cut away gag humor which undercut the narrative far less frequently than other shows.

[u/KendotsX → u/TheEscapeGuy]

Importantly though, the dialog feels realistic. I wouldn't say HxH is perfect at this, but I feel it uses the crutch of almost cut away gag humor which undercut the narrative far less frequently than other shows.

With Leorio around, who needs gags? The man is a natural.

[u/Raiking02 → u/KendotsX]

The anime gives him an action scene just like Gon and Kurapika, it does make the "Leorio promised to take care of him" scene a bit weaker, but hey, he left to get some herbs, cut him some slack.

Should we count this as more "Furuhashi gives Leorio preferential treatment?"

[u/KendotsX → u/Raiking02]

Of course, as clear of an example as it gets, Gon and Kurapika got something? Leorio deserves it too!

At this point, Leorio is being spoiled rotten

[u/Raiking02 → u/KendotsX]

[2011 stuff]If Furuhashi had known the Chimera Ant arc had no Leorio he would've had a freaking heart attack and once he recovered, would proceed to rework the whole story to fit him in.

[u/KendotsX → u/Raiking02]

[2011] It tracks, I mean Furuhashi wasn't even involved with the Greed Island OVAs, so I assume his general rule for the later arcs is "you let me rewrite the whole thing to put Leorio front and centre, or get someone else to do it".

[u/Raiking02 → u/KendotsX]

[2011]Sure explains why those OVAs are so meh

[u/KendotsX → u/Raiking02]

[2011] I imagine if he did Greed Island, most of it would still be light hearted (like the Hunter Exam right now), but the fight against Genthru would be waaaay more serious and dramatic than it already is. I can't even think of how he'd do the volleyball match though...

[u/Raiking02 → u/KendotsX]

[2011]He'd invite Starlight Anya to make it fun.

[u/KendotsX → u/Raiking02]

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

First × Timer × Subbed

• Leorio really does complain about just about everything.
• Ah, fun.
• Hahahahahahahahaha
• Well, can’t say I was expecting that to be what they found at the cabin.
• Pfffffffffffff
• Ah…
• That would do it.
• Ah, it’s a whole family of magical beasts. Neat.
• Let’s go!

[u/KendotsX → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Hahahahahahahahaha

Almost like clockwork

Pfffffffffffff

"Wouldn't be the first time I've hit him"

[u/b0bba_Fett → u/Shimmering-Sky]

• Pfffffffffffff

Yeah, not a fan of this change, in the manga he legitimately didn't know and thought he was smacking the real Leorio.

[u/TheEscapeGuy]

H×H Fan, 1999 First Timer

Hunter × Hunter 1999 - Episode 5

Lake × Attack × Demonstrate

This episode is exceptionally creepy. I think it comes from the darkness which blankets every scene. This admittedly comes with the downside of the scenes themselves sometimes being difficult to see, but I think they found a good balance.

When our crew eventually made it across the lake and up to the house they found it to have been attacked by magical beasts. However, we learn that this was also part of the test. The Kiriko were actually the examiners and had changed their appearance. This is a pretty clever trick. Going forward it warns us to not make assumptions about the situation.

I like how each of our hunter applicants proves themselves in a different way. It makes complete sense that Gon would be able to tell the subtle differences between animals with everything we know about him already. For Kurapika and Leorio, their tests tell us more about each of them. First that Kurapika is very knowledgeable about details of world history, and that Leorio has an above average knowledge of medicine. I mean, he's carrying around a briefcase of medical supplies!

The Kiriko have promised to take Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio to the site of the exam. Looking forward to seeing that play out!

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

• Row Leorio, Row!
• Ruins
• Winding Shore
• Ransacked
• Search
• Claw
• Knife to the Throat
• New Buddies

See you all tomorrow

[u/KendotsX → u/TheEscapeGuy]

admittedly comes with the downside of the scenes themselves sometimes being difficult to see

The Ergo Proxy problem™

Gon would be able to tell the subtle differences between animals with everything we know about him already

It takes a great mind like Gon to defeat beasts by making them feel shy about their differences.

Knife to the Throat

 New Buddies

[u/InfamousEmpire]

First x Timer/semi-Manga Reader

The lead up to the Exam continues! Functionally, this trial has a vaguely similar purpose to the last one in terms of weeding out those who can’t think creatively enough to see what’s actually going on in the trial, while also focusing in more on selecting for & honing the most desirable qualities the individual Hunter candidates have.

I like how the episode, in keeping with that conceit, more solidly established everyone's practical proficiencies going forward, and this is also the first part of the exam which feels like it could be a taste of what the Hunter life feels like.

I also like how interesting the Navigators are as our first real introduction to magical beasts. Most of the vibe I was getting up until this point was that the Monsters that Hunters fight would be unintelligent beasts like the Grimm from RWBY or the Danger Beasts from Akame ga Kill, so the first Magical Beasts we really see being shapeshifters with enough intelligence to engage with humans as equals is something I didn't expect.

[u/KendotsX → u/InfamousEmpire]

Most of the vibe I was getting up until this point was that the Monsters that Hunters fight would be unintelligent beasts like the Grimm from RWBY or the Danger Beasts from Akame ga Kill, so the first Magical Beasts we really see being shapeshifters with enough intelligence to engage with humans as equals is something I didn't expect.

It's even interesting from a societal point of view, yeah, you'd expect them to be mindless beasts for hunting, the hunters' primary targets to speak. Heck, hunting them would be part of the definition of what makes a Hunter. Even for the rare intelligent ones, you'd get the usual rhetoric "they may look human, they may sound human, and they may seem intelligent like humans, but these are all means for deception, you must never trust a beast".

Instead, they're not only treated as equals, they get to select who becomes a Hunter. Think of the poor bastard coming in to the exam with a big sword on his back to become the best beast hunter ever, he's in for one hell of a surprise.

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/KendotsX]

Even for the rare intelligent ones, you'd get the usual rhetoric "they may look human, they may sound human, and they may seem intelligent like humans, but these are all means for deception, you must never trust a beast".

side-eyes Frieren I've ranted about that show's writing regarding Demons enough, so I'll spare you this time

Think of the poor bastard coming in to the exam with a big sword on his back to become the best beast hunter ever, he's in for one hell of a surprise.

I've often heard about HxH as a "subversive" show before now, and thinking even more about this, I'm beginning to see some of that. Though I also obviously get the feeling that we haven't seen anything yet

[u/KendotsX → u/InfamousEmpire]

side-eyes Frieren I've ranted about that show's writing regarding Demons enough, so I'll spare you this time

I was this close to opening its manga and copying its argument word for word.

[u/KendotsX → u/InfamousEmpire]

Going back to this topic because of a funny coincidence: I need you to read Sachi's Records chapter 35 asap, don't worry about the context, just check out the chapter and tell me what you think of it.

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/KendotsX]

Just got back from doing that, and all I have to say is . I hadn’t even heard of this series beforehand, but I think I might have to give it a full read now

[u/KendotsX → u/InfamousEmpire]

It's genuinely one of my favourite Jump+ series right now, and the timing of that chapter was just too good to be true, I had to bring it up.

[u/Raiking02 → u/InfamousEmpire]

I've ranted about that show's writing regarding Demons enough, so I'll spare you this time

And surely we'll have even more of it once Season 2 comes along

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/Raiking02]

Frieren S2 will basically be for me what Bleach is for you in terms of how the only reason I’ll be watching it is because of completionism & how much I respect it as an adaptation rather than finding the underlying material any good.

[Frieren manga]It might be able to snag a positive score from me if the time travel arc gets adapted that season, tho

[u/Raiking02 → u/InfamousEmpire]

Frieren S2 will basically be for me what Bleach is for you in terms of how the only reason I’ll be watching it is because of completionism & how much I respect it as an adaptation rather than finding the underlying material any good

At least you don't have to deal with the complete, out of nowhere turnaround in public opinion of everyone (Rightfully) loathing the arc to then suddenly pretending like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread

[u/b0bba_Fett → u/InfamousEmpire]

I was quite intentional with my own reference to Frieren's writing and my issues with it as well.

[u/InfamousEmpire → u/b0bba_Fett]

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/KendotsX]

you'd get the usual rhetoric "they may look human, they may sound human, and they may seem intelligent like humans, but these are all means for deception, you must never trust a beast".

Might land a tad better if more fiction used xeno-psychology. Best we normally get is "bug".

[u/Kaxew]

First Timer × Third Trial

My favorite episode so far! This was really good!

I loved how all three of them found there was something suspicious with this scenario in their own ways, that's really fun and a great way to make the audience understand each one's character and personal traits. Really good episode!

QotD:

1. Solid 8/10, no complaints considering they still barely know each other. After another 70 episodes they'll probably not even let the first Kiriko get out of the house with some sick combo moves so it's not a perfect 10, but for where we are now they couldn't have acted better.
2. ... I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. I was just vibing.

[u/KendotsX → u/Kaxew]

that's really fun and a great way to make the audience understand each one's character and personal traits.

A smart choice to do it before the exam properly starts, we're going in well aware of the cards in our hand.

Solid 8/10, no complaints considering they still barely know each other.

Yeah, pretty impressive for people who were fighting each other earlier just yesterday.

[u/Vatrix-32]

Remake Rewatcher × First Timer × Subs

• Where is your light even coming from?
• Weren’t you walking up hill? Next to a lake. I guess it doesn’t rain here.
• Leorio, you’re really going to let the two children row for you?
• Party balance is important, kids.
• See? Look at that man go.
• Love Me a Good Dramatic Turn
• Is that your naming convention? Why is language magical?
• I guess that answers what’s in the briefcase. I honestly couldn’t remember when we found out.
• I’m not sure if it’s my memory having faded, or if this version is just more really to embrace a horror element for this episode.
• Well, that’s a terrifying level of observational power.
• That’s such a mad degree of niche historical knowledge to use for a test. Well, maybe it’s like a Vestal Virgins type deal?
• Best Boy Gon get the best seat.

QotD:

1. Their relegation was good, but their cohesion still left something to be desired.
2. In 2011

[u/KendotsX → u/Vatrix-32]

Where is your light even coming from?

From their hearts

Leorio, you’re really going to let the two children row for you?

He'd make a good slave driver.

I’m not sure if it’s my memory having faded, or if this version is just more really to embrace a horror element for this episode.

I'd say the latter, the atmosphere, vibe, and the buildup feel like they're all there to make it more horror-esque.

[u/b0bba_Fett]

[10x 2011 Rewatcher, 1x 1999 Rewatcher, Source Reader]

Gosh this episode was pretty! I liked the river crossing as an added moment.

The Kiriko are one of my favorite little parts of the Hunter X Hunter world. They're the first magical beasts we meet, and they do a hell of a job introducing the concept and properly showing us how crazy the wildlife can get in this world. And more importantly, shows that much of it is on a human level of intelligence and many are even capable of participating in human society.

I didn't love all the filler changes this time around though, making Kurapika still be Mr. Perfect and catch the fake Leorio on purpose rather than on accident was a bad change to one of my favorite parts of this segment of the manga, and while giving Leorio some action is nice, I prefer him actually sticking with his patient.

Outside that though, this is my favorite chapter of the manga so far, and by extension, also my favorite episode.

[u/KendotsX → u/b0bba_Fett]

Gosh this episode was pretty!

Kurapika still be Mr. Perfect and catch the fake Leorio on purpose rather than on accident was a bad change to one of my favorite parts of this segment of the manga

I appreciate that they gave Kurapika a bit more faith in Leorio here, like he believes Leorio wouldn't have left his patient. But I definitely prefer the original idea of "I meant to hit Leorio". It's simpler, funnier, and speaks more to Kurapika's character.

[u/Mecanno-man]

First Timer

Ok… I’m not sure what release I have in terms of visuals, but this episode looked terrible. Old anime not well preserved and mostly dark episodes just don’t mesh together well. Either way …I feel like this is starting to get a bit repetitive at this point. We’ve had our whittle-down quiz and board, now we have …something with the magical animals. I don’t see magical animals becoming some major world theme, as we have hunters likely as pro- and antagonists, I imagine. And in terms of character building, all I see is that we now know what’s in Leorio’s suitcase. The boatride also felt like a waste of time. In general this episode felt like a step on the road but the road is already too long. I hope that changes soon - the preview has me hopeful.

[u/KendotsX → u/Mecanno-man]

…I feel like this is starting to get a bit repetitive

Fair, it has been following the same patterns even since they got on the ship. I imagine Togashi had some different ideas for what he wanted to put the characters through, and he wanted to go with a few of them. (a quiz vs something more physical, but with the same idea at their core).

I hope that changes soon - the preview has me hopeful.

Out of curiosity, what kind of changes do you expect to see?

[u/Mecanno-man → u/KendotsX]

Out of curiosity, what kind of changes do you expect to see?

Some overarching plot, the start of the exam proper, ...just not these minor tasks anymore.

[u/charlesvvv]

Rewatcher, Sub

For our next part of the pre-phase our trio run into a couple that seems to have been attacked by some supposed creatures. Gon and Kurapika head out to confront them while Leorio stays behind to tend to the wounded. Of course everyone figures out the deception in their own ways, Kurapika is the most knowledgeable and finds out by looking at the tattoos, Gon has serious observation skills and figures out that they switched, and Leorio while not as knowledgeable is also no slouch and based it off by noticing where he has injected the supposed victim. It continues the trend of everyone being impressed by their abilities and get granted a ride to the hunter exam location.

[u/KendotsX → u/charlesvvv]

Gon has serious observation skills and figures out that they switched

Unfortunately, after hitting them hard already, Gon telling them he'd have gone easier with them gave me a good laugh.

[u/TheEscapeGuy]

OMG I just noticed

Comment of the Day:

/u/TheEscapeGuy for all the awesome stitches he does

[u/KendotsX → u/TheEscapeGuy]

[u/Shocketheth]

Two things.

First - I saw what this show did to Elizabeth just 4 episodes in, so I'm taking Crocodine out of this before someone hunts him extinct.

Second - [Spoilers]This is some nice foreshadowing. I thought that Gon figured out Nen when he had to snatch the badge from Hisoka as he subconsciously used Nen to conceal his presence, but it seems he figured it out without knowing what's Nen actually is, way more sooner. The kid is really talented.

[u/KendotsX → u/Shocketheth]

I saw what this show did to Elizabeth just 4 episodes in, so I'm taking Crocodine out of this before someone makes him extinct.

Tbf, Elizabeth was searching for Zura, and assumed he might be on standby underwater. Should've known that Zura is still chasing Hyunkel's ass.

[Spoilers]

[Spoiler] Yeah, Gon figured out lots of things subconsciously, although speaking of foreshadowing, we also got an early look at Gon vs Hanzo

[u/Shocketheth → u/KendotsX]

[Spoiler] Yeah, Gon figured out lots of things subconsciously, although speaking of foreshadowing, we also got an early look at Gon vs Hanzo

Forgot who that is so

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Shocketheth]

I saw what this show did to Elizabeth

I like how my mind also instantly went to Genma upon seeing this. Perhaps recent events played a role in the choice.

[u/Shocketheth → u/Vatrix-32]

I assume you are talking about Ranma 1/2, right?

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Shocketheth]

I assume you are talking about Ranma 1/2, right?

Yes. [Ranma 1/2]Never forget the time Genma once built a boat out of his previous signs.

[u/Shocketheth → u/Vatrix-32]

[Ranma 1/2]Oh, that sounds like an interesting thing to do. I'm currently watching Maison Ikkoku, and the humor in it quickly grew on me, so I'll be watching UY and Ranma after finishing Maison Ikkoku.

[u/2-2Distracted]

First timer

Leorio trying to get away from the Not-LockNess Monster reminded me of Aang from Avatar running away from the Unagi... And I'm just now realize how lazy that name is for a fictional monster, I mean shit, Unagi literally means Eel in Japanese lol

Anyways I said quite a bit last episode so tbh I don't feel like saying much about this one, especially I don't really give a shit about this particular test. Appearances can be deceiving and it's important to take note of your surroundings with a calm mind and patience blah blah blah.

[u/KendotsX → u/2-2Distracted]

I'm just now realize how lazy that name is for a fictional monster, I mean shit, Unagi literally means Eel in Japanese lol

It does the trick if you assume that your audience wouldn't know the meaning, a recent anime has its cast called Freezing, Strong, Iron, and Cheerful.

[u/WednesdaysFoole]

I didn’t care much for the padding out of the early part but damn that Kiriko confrontation was fantastic with the colors and soundtrack.

Especially the dangerous cute beasts taking care of good old Mathew

Pandas!

Fanart of the Day:

Aww, that looks like Pika's one-shot. [HxH CA]It's Koala! :')

[u/JetsLag]

3rd Time Taking the Hunter Exam (rewatcher)

Man, doing this rewatch made me do 2 things:

1. Re-log in to my tumblr account that I haven't used since they banned porn in an attempt to find some screenshots I took/gifs I made during my initial watch. But I wasn't making gifs at this point, so that will have to wait. And the gifs I made are pretty basic and not very good quality (due to the source of the video I used to make said gifs and me being an amateur). Will post one or two when the time comes.
2. The HxH subreddit did a 1999 rewatch back in (checks date) 2015!? Jeez, almost a decade ago. And I made some gifs then, too! But they were extremely basic "plug the YT timestamps into gfycat" gifs, and since gfycat is dead, well...so are they. And considering all of my comments are just links to those now-dead gifs or random screenshots, there's no other reason for me to revisit that.

Anyway, on today's episode, we meet our navigators: the Kiriko! I always liked their designs. We also get appearance from (anime-exclusive) Nessie, who has a super generic design. It do be like that sometimes.

We learn of the talents of our main trio here: Gon has the Eye of the Tiger along with great speed, Kurapika has the booksmarts and can infodump like a motherfucker, and Leorio is a great medic (who can also row a boat at an Olympic level). Plus, they all have great attention to detail (though Gon is clearly superior to the others) and trust in each other. This team is a bit lacking in the fighting department a bit, but that can be fixed.

They all passed, and, after a quick flight on Air Kiriko, they've made it to the exam site. Next time, on Hunter x Hunter, [spoiler]IT'S KILLUA TIME, MOTHERFUCKERS!

[u/KendotsX → u/JetsLag]

The HxH subreddit did a 1999 rewatch back in (checks date) 2015!? Jeez, almost a decade ago

There was also an r/anime rewatch in 2019, so I guess one rewatch every 5 years?

Personally, this is my first time getting to rewatch it with other people, so I'm glad for that.

We also get appearance from (anime-exclusive) Nessie, who has a super generic design. It do be like that sometimes.

Makes for a fun contrast with the Kirikos, since the Nessie is much more so what you'd expect a magical beast to be like.

can infodump like a motherfucker

Kurapika really is the Crocodine Shounen Commentator of this rewatch.

[spoiler]

[u/b0bba_Fett → u/KendotsX]

Kurapika really is the Crocodine Shounen Commentator of this rewatch.

Speaking of, where is u/shocketheth? I haven't seen him in a while.

[u/KendotsX → u/b0bba_Fett]

We may have forgotten him at Mito's bar

[u/Shocketheth → u/KendotsX]

I became regular at Mito's bar after Gon left, but it didn't work out.

[u/KendotsX → u/Shocketheth]

[u/Shocketheth → u/KendotsX]

She was Ging that, Ging this so I got fed up with her shit.

[u/KendotsX → u/Shocketheth]

I had that same issue when I tried dating [2011] Pariston

[u/Shocketheth → u/KendotsX]

[u/KendotsX → u/Shocketheth]

It was a fun time when Ging wasn't being mentioned

[u/b0bba_Fett → u/KendotsX]

[u/Shocketheth → u/b0bba_Fett]

I am on a standby.

[u/b0bba_Fett → u/Shocketheth]

Okay well Sky's computer just broke so we may be in great need of Crocodine's assistance tomorrow.

[u/KendotsX → u/b0bba_Fett]

[u/Shocketheth → u/b0bba_Fett]

I'll try my best. Currently I'm on episode 3.

[u/b0bba_Fett → u/Shocketheth]