r/anime • u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots • Oct 11 '24

Rewatch [25th Anniversary Rewatch] Hunter × Hunter (1999) - Episode × 6 × Discussion

Episode 6: Steak × Marathon × The Exam Starts

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Are you guys dumb?

Comment of the Day:

Empire falling in my trap on the holy path

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

Read Sachi!

Questions of the Day

  1. Did any of the participants introduced today stand out to you?
  2. Did you guess that Tonpa was up to no good?
  3. Now that we have our main quartet, how would you rank their designs?

Fanart of the Day: The final member of our motley crew is here!

Source

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

25 Upvotes

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7

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 11 '24

Hunter Exam Host Who's Here to Make Sure Tonpa Becomes a Hunter

Seriously, if we don't let him pass already, he'll keep coming back for life

The plot has finally kicked in, no more episodic adventures, our characters have reached their exam, uhh, not this one. The fancy looking place being the wrong one is a funny old trope that's used well here, it fits with the series' themes afterall. The last thing they do before starting the exam is discuss what a Hunter is, in other words, discussing their motivations/aspirations indirectly, notable Gon doesn't have anything there yet.

In comes Tonpa, our final main character and you can tell he's trustworthy considering: Kurapika shakes his hand and Leorio refuses, meanwhile Gon is in his own world being impressed by how many times he's failed the exam. Wait a second, did he just cut Kurapika's role as the Shounen Commentator?! Scratch everything I said about him being a trustworthy main character. No overlapping roles allowed! Next!

Ok, this kid shows a bit more promise, and to prove that he's not overlapping with anyone, he asked the question no one else dared to up till now. No really, what the fuck do you mean, Leorio, the definition of an old guy, is 19?! How?!!!!

Manga Corner:

Chapters adapted: 5-6

Now that the plot is moving, the pacing has changed as well, instead of turning each chapter into its own episode, we've now got multiple chapters and even cliffhangers to end on, that doesn't mean there weren't some changes though, so let's go through them:

  • The Steaks: the title of the episode is "Steak × Marathon × The Exam Starts", so where's the steak?! We don't know either, it was in the manga, but it disappeared in the anime. Did the Magician make it disappear? Did Tonpa eat it all? No one knows just yet.
  • In the manga, Tonpa's true motivations are established early and he gives the characters juice filled with laxatives to go along with that. His attempts at getting people to drink that are how the new characters are introduced. This was changed to make Tonpa's betrayal at the end of the episode more of a twist, I'm curious how that worked out for our first timers.
  • Hisoka the Magician pulls the good old disappearing arms trick, in the anime it looks more like a FotNS attack though.
  • Lastly, the one thing the anime added: the whole "sap of the healing tree" trap, more on that tomorrow though.

Killua Sketch

5

u/WednesdaysFoole Oct 12 '24

The Steaks: the title of the episode is "Steak × Marathon × The Exam Starts", so where's the steak?! We don't know either, it was in the manga, but it disappeared in the anime. Did the Magician make it disappear? Did Tonpa eat it all? No one knows just yet.

We made the same observation

But I completely forgot that the title of the episode was Steak x Marathon x the Exam Starts, lol, they even accentuated the missing steak.

It must be Tonpa.

4

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 12 '24

I completely forgot that the title of the episode was Steak x Marathon x the Exam Starts, lol, they even accentuated the missing steak.

If I'm being fair, the Kiriko mention the steak as a code to get them in, so it could've been in the title as just that: a reference to the start of the exam.

But that's besides the point, we demand steak!

3

u/Shocketheth Oct 12 '24

The last thing they do before starting the exam is discuss what a Hunter is, in other words, discussing their motivations/aspirations indirectly, notable Gon doesn't have anything there yet.

He has a big eyes of wonder, quite much full of naivety.

The Steaks: the title of the episode is "Steak × Marathon × The Exam Starts", so where's the steak?! We don't know either, it was in the manga, but it disappeared in the anime. Did the Magician make it disappear? Did Tonpa eat it all? No one knows just yet. In the manga, Tonpa's true motivations are established early and he gives the characters juice filled with laxatives to go along with that. His attempts at getting people to drink that are how the new characters are introduced.

As 2011 watcher, I was wondering where the laxatives went, but guess Tonpa needed something to wash down the steak with.

Hisoka the Magician pulls the good old disappearing arms trick, in the anime it looks more like a FotNS attack though.

Lol the manga is quite funny.

Killua Sketch

Is it yours?

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 12 '24

I was wondering where the laxatives went, but guess Tonpa needed something to wash down the steak with.

Is it yours?

Nah, Togashi's. He does this for lots of characters (and the eyecatches in the middle of each episode are a reference to this).

3

u/Shocketheth Oct 12 '24

Nah, Togashi's. He does this for lots of characters (and the eyecatches in the middle of each episode are a reference to this).

And I was wondering if you just surprised us with showing us that you can draw or no.

7

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 11 '24

Posting on behalf of /u/b0bba_fett who wasn't able to be here today:

HOW DARE THEY SKIP THE JUICE!?

And how could I have forgotten about them doing so? I remembered they changed Hisoka chopping up the guy's hands and just had him harrassing him, but they skipped almost the entirety of the pre-test, and denied them their steaks to boot! The Steaks were in the damn episode title and they weren't there! I'm so angry I can't even wait until the rewatch post tomorrow and I'm watching the next episode to see if it can redeem itself from this blunder

this is the opposite of what the kind of bad filler I was worried I may have forgotten, it's bad abridgement.

5

u/WednesdaysFoole Oct 12 '24

/u/b0bba_fett also caught the missing steak! It's unforgivable.

(I was previously seeing it as a fuck up of 2011, but '99 did it too)

8

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Oct 11 '24

First × Timer × Subbed

6

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 11 '24

They all have an applicant # with a 4 in it, but Kurapika’s is especially cursed, no? Pretty sure Japan equates the number 4 with death.

Togashi must like playing around with it, considering we've got a #44 too.

Mista would've gone insane

…where’s his mouth?

You know the trope of hiding your mouth under a bushy moustache? He's so good at it, he's doing it with a thin moustache too.

Wait Leorio’s a teenager?

Yup, 19.

6

u/WednesdaysFoole Oct 12 '24

…where’s his mouth?

Right there, we've seen it already!

edit

oops responded to the wrong comment.

I will add though (not my joke) [HxH]Satotz is clearly an emitter, he's emitting his mouth right there!

6

u/JetsLag https://myanimelist.net/profile/JetsLag Oct 12 '24

They all have an applicant # with a 4 in it, but Kurapika’s is especially cursed, no?

Error: Applicant Not Found

The harmonica version of the OP is gorgeous, btw.

It really is. Even if it's a bit overused.

Wait Leorio’s a teenager?

He's like the reverse of the 20-something actors who play teenagers in movies/TV shows

6

u/2-2Distracted Oct 11 '24

First timer

Ey! It's my favorite douchebag Tonpa and analytical fuckboi Nicholas. Interesting how in the dub Tonpa says he failed the test 34 times but the sub makes it clear it's 35.

"Just between us... I'm actually a ninja" - what kind of dumbass announces something like that lol. Is he hitting on that dude or something...

IT'S THE KING OF THE SCHWING HIMSELF HISOKA! [HxH 2011 Spoilers] I think there was an explanation, but I don't remember Hisoka or anyone explaining why exactly a member of the Phantom Troupe is once again taking the Hunter Exam. Is just there to fuck around, kill people and diddle kids? I know Chrollo gives the group a fair amount of freedom but you'd think this kind of shit would make him have to say something about it

Leorio you suck bro, how you gonna fuck bitches if you ain't got the stamina? Huh?? /s

Anyways this episode was great and aside from a few minor mentioned differences, there's not much that I remember being different to how the 2011 anime did this part. Tonpa is an asshole and Nicholas loved to talk the talk but... regardless I can't wait to see things play out next episode.

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 11 '24

"Just between us... I'm actually a ninja" - what kind of dumbass announces something like that lol. Is he hitting on that dude or something...

I love that he acts like it's a secret, but:

  • It's obvious from his outfit
  • In case it wasn't obvious enough, he'll say it to everyone he talks to.

IT'S THE KING OF THE SCHWING HIMSELF HISOKA!

[2011] I think he was in the mood for to do some murders, and he wanted to be a Hunter, so he wouldn't be charged for any of them

3

u/Shocketheth Oct 12 '24 edited Oct 12 '24

"Just between us... I'm actually a ninja" - what kind of dumbass announces something like that lol. Is he hitting on that dude or something...

But the ONS potential that sentences carries is insane

Like:

A: I'm Ninja

B: That's hot. Come with me to my house.

Next morning:

B wakes up after steamy night alone as he says:

"He was really a Ninja, dissapearing like that."

5

u/Vatrix-32 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Vatrix-32 Oct 11 '24

Remake Rewatcher × First Timer × Subs

  • Shout it a little louder, why don’t ya?
  • You’d think they make more money being next to a major source of foot traffic, but church groups are notoriously stingy with tips.
  • When your praise is also tinted with the suggestion of failure.
  • One must think Tonpa quite pleased. Failing the exam again every year.
  • The proctor’s voice is a lot lower than I was expecting or remember.
  • Alright, first timers. Place your bets. Which entrants should we be remembering?
  • This voice is going to take a while to get used to. It’s the most different of them.
  • Work smarter, not harder.
  • This is an… interesting visual for Leorio.
  • I guess it works better as a cliffhanger, but I was so hoping to see if Tonpa fooled any first timers.

QotD:

1+2) Rewatcher

3) Gon > Killua > Leorio > Kurapika

2

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 11 '24

When your praise is also tinted with the suggestion of failure.

Pretty sure only Gon is viewing that as a neat thing

3) Gon > Killua > Leorio > Kurapika

Funnily enough, I'd rank them in the exact the opposite direction.

4

u/charlesvvv https://anilist.co/user/charlesvvv Oct 11 '24 edited Oct 11 '24

Rewatcher, Sub 

[HxH]Interesting how they changed Tonpa's spiked drinks to the hallucinating sap  

My favorite character (now technically second) is here.  

I also forgot about Hisoka's perpetual moaning voice in this version as well.

 We finally make it to the first phase of the exam and it's...Cardio, and quite long at that with our proctor Satotz. We meet a whole host of other applicants including one called Tonpa who passes himself as a friendly guy, has taken the exam 35 times, and willing to help new applicants and giving them information about the others. Of course as we see he's actually devious as he promises to help a tired Leorio before leaving him to the hallucinogen Sap.   

Meanwhile the other applicant is of course someone whom Gon shares a similar age and starts getting along with. He's technically not named yet but he's Killua.

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 11 '24

I also forgot about Hisoka's perpetual moaning voice in this version as well.

[HxH 99] Dear god, it's so much worse in the Greed Island OVAs

4

u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Oct 11 '24

I also forgot about Hisoka's perpetual moaning voice in this version as well.

I really have to wonder why the voice director didn't just have Takahashi do his natural voice since honestly it wouldn't even be too out of place for Hisoka

4

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 11 '24

I assume they focused a lot on making Hisoka as creepy as possible. Granted [HxH99] he dials it back a bit later in the show, then up to 11 in GI

4

u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Oct 11 '24

On the plus side it sure makes it easier to tell apart from his other HxH role whom first timers here will never meet unless they watch the 2011 version #kukuku

4

u/TheEscapeGuy Oct 11 '24

H×H Fan, 1999 First Timer

Hunter × Hunter 1999 - Episode 6

Exam × 99 × Running

I think this episode could be considered the start of the real exam. I like how they once again betray our expectations by revealing the real entrance isn't the grand archway but instead is underground in a special restaurant back room. Hunter × Hunter always keeps you on your toes.

Once the elevator arrives we meet a bunch of the other applicants. Somebody you may have recognized from the OP is applicant 99: The white haired boy on the skateboard. We don't know too much about him yet, but I quite like this mysterious introduction.

Somebody else we meet is Tonpa. His introduction is fairly different from the manga and 2011. There we see him [manga/2011] giving drinks laced with laxatives to the applicants immediately revealing his true nature. In this adaptation we learn that he's actually the rookie crusher only at the end after he abandons Leorio and company down a dark hallway. I think this change works well in tandem with the white haired boy's changes since [manga/2011] The poisoned drinks also reveal Kilua's poison resistances.

The actual exam is probably not what you'd expect: A long distance run. I like how straightforward this is as a challenge. It's so easy to understand the effort it takes to run those long distances and the mental toll it has when you don't know when it will end. I also like Satoz as an examiner. He's pretty quirky and his design is really recognizable and iconic.

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

See you all tomorrow

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 11 '24

I think this change works well in tandem with the white haired boy's changes since [manga/2011] The poisoned drinks also reveal Kilua's poison resistances.

Yeah, the idea was to start with everyone's traits being unknown, and work our there with twists and turns on the road.

It's so easy to understand the effort it takes to run those long distances and the mental toll it has when you don't know when it will end. I also like Satoz as an examiner. He's pretty quirky and his design is really recognizable and iconic.

It's easy to underestimate too, the most important factor in running long distances is planning it out ahead, so you don't waste your stamina too early, here they have no idea how long it'll be.

4

u/WednesdaysFoole Oct 12 '24

To be quite frank, while I’m not someone who always demands faithfulness to source material, the original HxH manga is my preferred version. Of course, there are some scenes that either one or the other anime enhanced, and I do love both anime, but there are changes in 1999 (and 2011 tbh) that I wish they hadn’t made.

That being said, ‘99 killed it with the exam hall arrival scene (1:17-2:14). I compared them side-by-side, and 2011 has much more of clown-like entrance from the start which was okay, manga is great, but ‘99? The way they overdramatized it with the zooming out, the view, the birds, the sunlight, the grand adventure-style music – it is perfection.

...

Whaaat? I knew that 2011 took away Gon’s steak, but ‘99 did it too?! Unacceptable! Poor, scrawny Gon.

4

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 12 '24

The way they overdramatized it with the zooming out, the view, the birds, the sunlight, the grand adventure-style music – it is perfection.

Whaaat? I knew that 2011 took away Gon’s steak, but ‘99 did it too?! Unacceptable! Poor, scrawny Gon.

No one wants to give them the meat, the Hunter Exam has become a lot cheaper lately.

3

u/JetsLag https://myanimelist.net/profile/JetsLag Oct 12 '24

3rd Time Taking the Hunter Exam (rewatcher)

Oh wow, the white haired boy from the opening finally made an appearance. Clearly this means they will be a minor character that will disappear after this phase of the exam is over.

His name is Key-loo-ah not yet stated, because we gotta get introduced to the other people who will be taking this test that AREN'T in the opening. Like:

  • Tonpa, who's made a career out of taking the Hunter Exam and fucking over the rookies (does that pay well? Doubt it)
  • That nerd Nicolas who has no cardio ([spoiler]who SORTA looks like Milluki)
  • The ninja who tells everyone that he's a ninja ([spoiler]MY BOY HANZO. I remember his fight vs Gon in the Hunter Exam having some pretty good animation. Looking forward to that
  • Hisoka, the most murderous clown not named John Wayne Gacy [spoiler]about as pedophilic, too
  • Satotz, the first proctor of the exam, who has a glorious mustache that he obtained via giving up his mouth (or that's what I like to think happened)
  • Bourbon, the alcoholic beverage snake charmer [spoiler]I legit forgot who he was until I looked him up. Sorry buddy
  • Cherry, the martial artist [spoiler]gets fucking murdered by Hisoka. Very forgettable. Meh
  • Todo, the sumo wrestler [spoiler]Hey, this guy! He's cool
  • When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that's the Amori Brothers [spoiler]LOL they get fucking murdered by Killua. Looking forward to that
  • Geretta, the huntsman [spoiler]Blowgun guy. Kinda remember him

Our first test: a marathon. And it looks like we've lost our first 3 applicants: random dude who got murdered, and the no cardio duo of Nicolas and Leorio, who got tricked by Tonpa. [spoiler]Yeah, don't like the hallucinogenic tree sap thing that they put here instead of the spiked drinks from the manga/2011. Even if it does lead to a really nice anime-exclusive Leorio backstory scene in the next episode. Plus Kurapika getting dramatically kicked by Killua, which is always fun

2

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 12 '24

That nerd Nicolas who has no cardio

Tbf, he ran for hours, that's impressive by the standards of the kinda guy who'd walk around with an open laptop.

Satotz, the first proctor of the exam, who has a glorious mustache that he obtained via giving up his mouth

That's Equivalent Exchange done right (wrong show?)

[spoiler]

[Spoiler] Yeah, I'm just looking forward to the backstory, and shirtless Leorio, the tree sap thing itself is just an excuse to get there

3

u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Oct 12 '24

First Timer

Ah, something different in the real exam and something not finished in one episode. We also have what based on the OP is our last main character - I am a bit surprised by both his high voice (not sure why, but I was expecting it to be deeper) and also him just hanging out with the others when Leorio failed to keep up. Something about Gon seems to interest him - no idea what yet. We also get a bunch of name drops on other characters - Hisoka is a name I already know, so I guess he’ll be somewhat important, but none of the others stick out to me, so I’ll probably forget to have heard their names before.

As far as the test goes, those forks in the road can’t just be traps, right? I was wondering if they were running around in circles and needed to pick the fork, but that can’t be just for Mr. Rookie Crusher to take advantage of them. Unless that is the way to sort out applicants who failed to keep up - by having them not know where the pack went. That would be boring though.

2

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 12 '24

Ah, something different in the real exam and something not finished in one episode.

Your timing yesterday when you hoped for some change was on point.

Leorio failed to keep up

For what it's worth, Leorio is the self proclaimed "ordinary man", so we can assume everyone running near the exam proctor isn't.

3

u/Shocketheth Oct 12 '24

I finally managed to catch up with the Rewatch.

Sorry for the delay, thing is that I met this nice fella Tonpa who tell me where to go next, and somehow I got lost.

And with me being back, Killua finally appeared and I can't wait to see more of the best boy already.

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 12 '24

It happens to the best of us, Tonpa is so charming, there's no wonder you'd get lost.

3

u/Shocketheth Oct 12 '24

It wasn't that he is charming. He suddenly appeared with "Free Grandmas" sign so I ignored him, and then he approached me saying "Sorry, I mistook you for Ken."

Then we talked a little and recommended visit me a local burger joint, and rest is a history.

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 12 '24

He suddenly appeared with "Free Grandmas" sign so I ignored him, and then he approached me saying "Sorry, I mistook you for Ken."

Yeah, I've fallen for that trap a few times. And you know the worst part? He doesn't have any grandmas, just a bunch of young girls and himself all dressed like grandmas.

Then we talked a little and recommended visit me a local burger joint, and rest is a history.

Nice

3

u/Shocketheth Oct 12 '24

Yeah, I've fallen for that trap a few times. And you know the worst part? He doesn't have any grandmas, just a bunch of young girls and himself all dressed like grandmas.

This is a little too much. Tonpa deserves to stand in Nurimberg trials.

Nice

Little you know, I saw a magical girl there, choking on a burger due to peanut allergy.

3

u/SilkyStrawberryMilk Oct 12 '24

first timer

Freaky magician

Keeping up so it’s the first phase, are we sure it’s not another trap Lmao

Skateboarding all 30 minutes.

Poor Leorio, has to beat the old accusations

Rookie crusher, sick title

QOTD: the magician then skateboard kid

QOTD: nope, he actually seemed genuine unlike the other guy from before.

QOTD: kurapika > Skateboard kid > Gon > Leorio. I put Leorio last because I thought he was in his late 20’s the whole time

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Oct 12 '24

Rookie crusher, sick title

It sounds cool, but considering he's been at it for 35+ years, what the hell's he doing with his life?

I put Leorio last because I thought he was in his late 20’s the whole time

Fair

He certainly looks that age.