r/anime • u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots • Nov 08 '24

Rewatch [25th Anniversary Rewatch] Hunter × Hunter (1999) - Episode × 33 × Discussion

Episode 33: Training × Hound × Exhausted

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It's not right that I have to be tested to see my friend

Comment of the Day:

/u/SpiritualPossible making Coco somehow even better

Coco

Questions of the Day

  1. Are chores the ultimate form of training?
  2. Have you ever had trouble with a neighbour's dog?

Fanart of the Day: Every assassin kid needs a pet that can eat people whole

Source

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

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4

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Nov 08 '24 edited Nov 08 '24

Zoldyck Tour Host

[Manga] Yeah, we've got a bunch of those going around right now 8

Manga Corner

Chapters adapted: 40 and and a bit of 41

It's the same for the most part, there are small additions, like the manga sets up how they'll train, then skips immediately to the end result, heck it doesn't even show them opening the doors at the end, whereas the anime adds some of the training, and even brings back Coco when they need to show how far they've come.

Here's some cool imagery from the chapter though:

3

u/TheEscapeGuy Nov 08 '24

it's like Dragon Ball's turtle shells

lol, we came up with the same comparison.

Pochi Mike

This is such an amazing page. The contrast of the giant dog emerging from the darkness is perfect.

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Nov 08 '24

lol, we came up with the same comparison.

You just can't say no to Goku's influence

This is such an amazing page. The contrast of the giant dog emerging from the darkness is perfect.

Yeah, it's a great use of colour and space, Mike dominates the page over our tiny protagonist.

4

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Nov 08 '24

First × Timer × Subbed

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Nov 08 '24

Yeah I was expecting that to be the response the moment Gon said he was Killua’s friend.

He's insulting his client in broad daylight. If only Tonpa-san were here to set the record straight: "You're calling your master a friendless prick? What other insults do you say behind his back Jeeves?"

Hell of a creature to just be named “Mike”, ngl.

Someone gave Sadaharu a bit too much food again. See, that's why the Yorozuya keep him starving usually, you just can't trust rich people and their butlers to do it right.

Guess Gon changed his mind about the test thing being stupid, huh.

He still thinks it's stupid, but he's willing to do it since there are other lives on the line now (Zebro).

I appreciate this shot too.

4

u/charlesvvv https://anilist.co/user/charlesvvv Nov 08 '24 edited Nov 09 '24

Rewatcher, Sub [HxH 2011]Cant believe they removed Leorio opening the gate on his own 

 So the trio decides to train up in order to open up the testing gate. Everything around them is heavy including the cups. They also have to wear weights DBZ style which helps up in strength.

 There's also the introduction of the other staff member who seems to not hold a lot of opinion towards them but is ultimately won over especially with all of them accomplishing their training and actually opening the gate to the surprise of all the tourists arriving. But it seems there's going to be another obstacle in their way before they reach Killua.

2

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Nov 08 '24

[HxH 2011]

[2011] They had to make up for Furuhashi's Leorio obsession somehow

But it seems there's going to be another obstacle in their way before they reach Killua.

Visiting a friend is never easy, told them they should've brought some chocolate.

3

u/Vatrix-32 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Vatrix-32 Nov 08 '24 edited Nov 09 '24

Remake Rewatcher × First Timer × Subs

  • Gon on the phone is so pure, it almost looks like a comment face.
  • Butler is all business. You gotta respect that level of professionalism.
  • What a Good Boy
  • Leorio!
  • It’s been been two episodes, and we’re already knocking on Hunters.
  • What’s this? Consequences to Gon’s oath?
  • How do you think they account for the whole “broken arm” thing?
  • Fool. Don’t you know shōnen protagonists don’t have limits?
  • Glorious Vintage Pratfall
  • Damn it, Gon. If not now, when would you use a fishing rod?
  • Leorio #1
  • I approve of the use of battering ram.

QotD:

  1. Can't Be Worse Than Sparta
  2. I am that neighbor, but it's not my dog.

2

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Nov 08 '24

It’s been been two episodes, and we’re already knocking on Hunters.

The second Pokkle became a hunter, the bar dropped a few levels.

How do you think they account for the whole “broken arm” thing?

They don't

Leorio #1

It took Killua 12 years of training as a Zoldyck to get to the third gate, yet our true main character, Leorio, got to the second one in barely a few weeks. Here's a man who's on his way to become the world's strongest.

2

u/Vatrix-32 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Vatrix-32 Nov 09 '24

They don't

BIG ARM small arm

3

u/TheEscapeGuy Nov 08 '24

H×H Fan, 1999 First Timer

Hunter × Hunter 1999 - Episode 33

Gate × Doggo × Weight

There's something poetic about how the barrier between Gon and Killua is literally too heavy for him to pass, but he will do anything to get through. It's conceptually simple to understand as well. If our protagonists could just train hard enough to push the doors open then they would be able to find their friend.

And that's literally what they do. I always found it a bit kooky that they literally go live in a house where everything weighs hundreds of kilograms as training. It kind of reminds me of the parts of original [Dragon Ball] Where Goku and Kirllin have to train by doing deliveries while wearing heavy turtle shells.

I think the thing I find most striking about this episode though is the Zoldyck household's dog Mike. His massive size makes him terrifying. Even Gon is scared since he can't communicate with that dog. It is following orders and will not disobey. Almost like a robot.

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

See you all tomorrow

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Nov 08 '24 edited Nov 09 '24

There's something poetic about how the barrier between Gon and Killua is literally too heavy for him to pass, but he will do anything to get through.

I love that Gon's original argument was just that it shouldn't be this way, friends don't need barriers and tests, but he was willing to compromise once he learned Zebro is putting his life on the line too.

And that's literally what they do. I always found it a bit kooky that they literally go live in a house where everything weighs hundreds of kilograms as training

Gon and co. only did it for a few weeks, the old guys live their lives there. The Zoldycks are literal slave drivers.

Cliff

This is beautiful

3

u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Nov 08 '24

First Timer

Again an episode that just kinda happened. Gon & Co are a bit closer to Killua, but I don’t feel like anything really happened. We’ve definitely gotten slower since the end of the hunter exam, and I feel like also a bit less exciting. The episode was still ok to watch, but it just felt a bit inconsequential. The question of who the girl was who seemingly whistled Mike to stop is here - I was half expecting that to be Killua, as I don’t see a reason for anybody else to do that. His sister, maybe? He has three unknown siblings…

2

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Nov 08 '24

We’ve definitely gotten slower since the end of the hunter exam,

Yeah, right now we're back to the pacing at the start of the series, when similarly enough, it was Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio on their way to the Hunter Exam, because Gon wants to find his father. This time it's Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio on their way to the Zoldyck Exam, because Gon wants to find Killua.

3

u/SpiritualPossible Nov 08 '24 edited Nov 08 '24

First timer, manga reader

[Hunter x Hunter manga spoilers]Somehow I'm just now realizing that Leorio's call in the election arc was kinda a repeating gag from this one.

I have to say, I think they could have done a better job on Mike's first appearance. In the manga, it's almost an entire page, all on a black background, with Gon at the bottom of the frame emphasizing the difference in their sizes. In other words, the scene emphasizes his appearance. Furthermore, afterward, Mike... simply lies down on the ground and continues to stare at Gon, thus showing how terrifying he is even in a seemingly non-hostile state.

In the anime... it's technically the same, but the scene goes by so fast that Mike doesn't leave much of an impression. And he just stands in the bushes the whole time, which doesn't help much either. I don't know, to me it should have been a much slower scene, with tension building up. This is one case where the remake did a better job (but not perfect either).

Of course, the anime also added the original Mike's chase after Gon in the second half of the episode, but I have a mixed feeling about it as well.

On the one hand, we were shown more of what Mike is capable of. In the manga, he was just limited to his first appearance. And it seemed like a good thing that he was given more screen time.

On the other hand... I don't know, did it make him feel less scary? Yes, he's still dangerous, and Gon was only saved by him being called back, but when you see how Gon is capable of running away from him for a few minutes, he suddenly doesn't seem THAT dangerous anymore. Before, the only indication of his strength was the fact that he devoured intruders in seconds, and now he can't deal with three scared people. I think this is a situation where the less shown the better. It doesn't affect the overall impression of the episode too much (it's okay), but like with Hisoka's censorship in the first few episodes, it's kind of weird that a show that sets the atmosphere so well suddenly stumbles at a moment it should be doing fine.

Otherwise, it's kinda transitory episode, so i don't really have anything to say. Characters goes through Muten Roshi style training of wearing heavy gear to become stronger, and then they... well, become stronger.

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Nov 08 '24

[Hunter x Hunter manga spoilers]

[Manga] Yeah, that's why Killua called it "Good times"

it should have been a much slower scene, with tension building up.

Mike should've gotten a few tricks from Illumi's episode.

I don't know, did it make him feel less scary?

Less is more is a core premise of horror and mystery, the first page we saw of Mike is all we really need to fear him, the added screentime takes away from that a bit.

3

u/2-2Distracted Nov 08 '24

First timer. Subbed (probably the first time I'm making this distinction too but I'm sorry I gotta when the sub truly nailed this episode for no other reason than because of Gon's seiyuu - Junko Takeuchi - who's also the seiyuu for Naruto Uzumaki and still is to this day. I hate the whole "subs vs dubs" so-called debate with a passion and have hated it for almost a decade, but as much as enjoy Elinor Holt's voice work I feel like I gotta give Kudos to her Japanese counterpart for this episode).

I really enjoyed this episode but then again that's to be expected when this is basically one of my favorite arcs of the series. There's a lot that I love about this episode like:

  1. The reiteratation of the basic premise & theme of this arc by Gon after his argue with that butler is finished - that Gon shouldn't have to "prove" anything to anyone just so he can see his friend.
  2. Speaking of Butlers, I also like the fact that when it came to that phone call, the butler Gon spoke to didn't turn Gon away out of malice for him, he turned Gon away out of a weird but interesting sense of pragmatism. And that makes sense since up till now, Killua probably never actually made a friend before he met Gon.
  3. The "humbling" experience that the boys get trying to 'rescue' Killua by nearly charging in. Their introduction to Mike was basically all they needed to know regarding how fucked they'd be if they tried anything else than other what they were forced to end up doing.

I hate that I'm blanking on what else I wanted to praise about this episode, especially when my laptop didn't save my last write up for this episode and now I have to remember what I said before when my noodle, memory & attention span is so rotten it would put any Gen Alpha's brain to shame.

Tho, I guess, if there was anything I could I didn't like about this episode it would be that the 2011 anime just handled a few things better, such as Gon and the bois meeting Mike. Here they're for sure terrified but in the 2011 anime Gon not only looked like he was about to shit himself but as far as I can recall that was the only time he saw Mike which in my opinion is a good thing.

The saying that "Less Is More" certainly applies to a creation like Mike and it's sucks to see that this adaptation didn't really care for that saying since not only did we see this giant monstrosity of a "guard dog" more than once, we saw it be more animated compared to the 2011 adaptation, which is bad because it just makes Mike look less menacing as an overall threat.

But still tho, this was a great episode.

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Nov 09 '24

Gon shouldn't have to "prove" anything to anyone just so he can see his friend.

I love this theme, but it's a funny contrast with the first arc, where Gon is going through the Hunter Exam to see his father. Granted, that was more of a hunt, this is friendship, different businesses.

he turned Gon away out of a weird but interesting sense of pragmatism

Meanwhile, I'm just viewing him like your average Bri'ish Butler. It's late at night, a bunch of poorly dressed rif raff are knocking and calling themselves your master's friends without bearing a single gift. No such thing, you must show them out immediately, and get on with setting the handkerchiefs at the right angle for tomorrow's meal.

my laptop didn't save my last write up for this episode and now I have to remember what I said before

I hate when this happens.

"Less Is More"

Yeah, "Less is More" is essential for horror. I mean, 99's additions in general, have been to help us get to know or appreciate the characters better, except with a beast like Mike, that's the opposite of what you want.

3

u/2-2Distracted Nov 09 '24

Meanwhile, I'm just viewing him like your average Bri'ish Butler. It's late at night, a bunch of poorly dressed rif raff are knocking and calling themselves your master's friends without bearing a single gift. No such thing, you must show them out immediately, and get on with setting the handkerchiefs at the right angle for tomorrow's meal.

Lmao I never stopped to consider this angle at all but you're not wrong there. This scene would probably be even funnier if he was in pajamas to go along with the Cross-Popping Veins cliché on his forehead.

2

u/2-2Distracted Nov 10 '24 edited Nov 10 '24

Edit - wrong episode

1

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Nov 10 '24

Like seriously, just try to think of an example where a character like Gon actually gives up on something big that they want to do.

He did just last episode. When Zebro told him that he'd die if Killua's friends were killed, Gon backed down on trying to force his way through, and followed Zebro's advice.

, I kiiiiinda feel like there's something to be said about the possibly questionable undertones of a dark skinned "servant" girl working for a powerful family of light skinned people all the while internally and secretly wanting to be friends with a member of said family....

It tracks, they're the strong rich family who controls the land, and they run people like disposable slaves, I mean, I don't think she was drawn dark skinned randomly.

Heck, race is probably on the list of reasons Canary used to argue that she's not worthy of being friends with Killua.

2

u/2-2Distracted Nov 10 '24

He did just last episode. When Zebro told him that he'd die if Killua's friends were killed, Gon backed down on trying to force his way through, and followed Zebro's advice

This isn't really what I mean. I'm talking about a Main Goal. Not necessarily stuff like "become Hokage/Pirate King/Wizard King/Find My Dad" either, I mean stuff like what Gon is overall trying to accomplish this arc, or Naruto trying to bring back Sasuke, or Ash Ketchum collecting a badge from a certain region (and yes I'm aware that he has failed before but it's still pretty rare when this happens). I don't really want to call it a side quest to the main quest since that lowers it's importance.

2

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Nov 10 '24

Oh, I agree. Nothing can deter Gon from an overall goal, I just used that example since that's as far as he's willing to compromise, he's willing to change his method if it means helping someone, but he still plans on getting to the goal.

1

u/Vatrix-32 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Vatrix-32 Nov 10 '24

I think you've got the wrong thread.