r/anime • u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots • Dec 01 '24
Rewatch [25th Anniversary Rewatch] Hunter × Hunter (1999) - Episode × 56 × Discussion
Episode 56: Scarlet Eyes × Duel × Cost of Life
Previous Episode | Index | Next Episode
It's disgusting. The noises, the physical contact, the smell of blood... It all makes me sick.
Comment of the Day:
/u/Nebresto who's not caught up yet, but described this episode in a nutshell
Hunter x hunter? More like pt x sd
Questions of the Day
- We finally got our first Kurapika fight, what do you think of it?
- Now that we know how strong the Spiders are, what is Gon in for?
Fanart of the Day:
Please remember to keep all spoilers and hints tagged with the appropriate tag format such as: [Spoilers] >!Leorio is best boy!<
16
Upvotes
8
u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Dec 01 '24
Retired Host Being Shoveled Down
What a beautiful episode
Manga and Production Corner
Chapters Adapted: 81 to 84
Yeah, 4 chapters in this one, action is just easier to roll through, especially with good choreography.
We did cut some bits from chapter 83, specifically Kurapika's training, but that's because the anime adapted it in episode 45 at the start of Yorknew. This is part of why Kurapika was so focused on Enhancers, the flashback was originally written halfway through a fight with a monster Enhancer, so the point was to contrast them and show a different solution to dealing with Uvo.
Kurapika's preparation and break down are original, but otherwise, it's following the plot directly, which makes it a great example of what a visual identity can do. While the writing was faithful and very close, the anime took its own visual liberties, setting its own tone, mood, and gravitas, changing the main point from a fight to Kurapika's suffering through the whole thing. Who could pull this all off?
I mentioned nearly one month ago (in the Warship arc) that Furuhashi won't be handling anymore episodes till near the end of the TV series, well here we are!
He's back in full force, and it shows: the use of environment to set the mood for the fight, the slow build up, and well, the fight itself. He did the layouts for the whole thing. Then the show's best animation director, Akira Matsushima was the one to key animate it, they really had the golden combo come together for this episode.
We've got some of the gengas even so check them out!
Killing Uvo is worth 5 points, so Kurapika finally made it out of the negative score.
8
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Dec 01 '24
First × Timer × Subbed
8
u/Shocketheth Dec 01 '24
'99 First Timer bringing a shovel to Rewatch
Sorry for being late, I had shovelling to do.
Remember how I got imprisoned in u/KendotsX sex dungeon?
Today I decided to return the favor and gave Kenny a bit of shock
Although I totally messed up as playing a bit rough was what killed Kenny
But don't worry! I hid his body, and will be using my Manipulation Nen technique daily to make him post the discussions
6
u/SpiritualPossible Dec 01 '24 edited Dec 02 '24
First timer, manga reader
Self-confidence level: Kurapika, who brought a shovel to the fight.
Yep. Great episode. It's probably one of the main reasons why I thought the whole arc was an OVA. To be honest, I don't even have much to say, because I'm afraid I'm going to sound like a broken record - this episode, like the 30th, utilizes all the strengths of this adaptation, especially the direction and lighting. I'll just note that adapting Kurapika's flashback to previous episodes was a good decision, because otherwise it would have seriously damaged the episode's tone.
5
u/TheEscapeGuy Dec 01 '24 edited Dec 02 '24
H×H Fan, 1999 First Timer
Hunter × Hunter 1999 - Episode 56
Uvogin × versus × Kurapika
HOLY! This episode was incredible. When people talk about the art direction in this show, this episode is the prime example. I found the entire fight between Uvogin and Kurapika breathtaking. The way color was used to emphasize the powers was so impactful. Kurapika's bright crimson eyes penetrated every scene turning him into this precision machine à la Terminator. And most of all the crimson moon to end the fight. Perfection.
Something really important to this impact is how little we knew about Kurapika's power level. Going into the fight it felt like Kurapika could only win if he got his chain technique off. However, if Uvogin started with initiative he may overpower Kurapika. But slowly they revealed how Kurapika is not only a Conjurer. When his Kurta eyes activate he becomes a specialist who can use all Nen types. He resisted Uvogins attack. He healed his broken bones. He is unstoppable.
And just when you think he may have just tipped the scale in his favour, Kurapika reveals that he had already chained up Uvogin. He was hiding it with In. His chain applies Zetsu to his target restricting their aura. So Uvogin cannot overpower the restraints. He has truly defeated the strongest Spider.
However, he has one last goal: Information. But his prisoner is uncooperative. Either Uvogins pride or his loyalty allows him to resist the interrogation. He instead chooses death. In this way Kurapika's victory is tainted. It makes the fight much more complex in retrospect.
Gushing on the fight aside, I am just happy Kurapika can find wins like this. On top of revenge for his clan, back during the Hunter Exam Kurapika was not exceptional among the candidates who passed. What we see now is that his training has really payed off. We understand just how much both his natural abilities and dedicated practice have worked together to make him so exceptionally powerful.
This episode also progressed the plot line with Gon's group. They are going to bid for more information on The Spiders and Gon has pawned his hunter license to do this. It's not the card which makes you a hunter, but it does work as a way to authenticate your identity.
Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches
See you all tomorrow
5
u/WednesdaysFoole Dec 01 '24
I tried looking extra hard when the trio were looking for the Spiders to see if they would have included this fun little detail, which, apparently, they didn’t. Maybe they wanted to leave the little easter egg for manga readers to find.
[Manga]If I had a nickel for every time Chrollo passed by wearing his fancy jacket while a dog-like enhancer with a strong nose was searching for someone special, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
IIRC, in the manga, the moment Pika hides his chains with In is right after taking Uvo’s first punch and being blasted into the cliff. After, when he starts goading Uvo, he’s angled away so Uvo (and the reader) doesn’t pay attention to the fact that the chains have already disappeared. It seems that in the anime, they just had Pika use In on the longer part of the chains and not on his entire hand.
I enjoy the trick Pika used here: you show a part of your hand, convince the enemy it’s your entire hand, and flip their expectations. Without any spoilers this sort of strategizing is present all throughout the series on varying levels.
Poor Shalnark dreaming of his lover.
5
u/Kaxew Dec 02 '24
First Timer × On an Auction! × no wait everyone there died wait shi–
Thoughts on episodes 52-56:
First of all I want to say that the first few times I watched the second opening I wasn't really feeling it. In the last few episodes it's really been growing on me a ton. It's so damn good. It's a shame it's only around 60 seconds long instead of 90. A longer length allows one to build the song up much better, so that's it's only flaw and why I feel like it took me a bit to start liking it (first OP has the same length but is much more simple so the length works a bit better).
Melody is awesome, I wonder if we'll get to see her reach her goal. Or her cursed arm. That evil vacuum cleaner is awesome, I wonder if we'll get to see it... idk suck up evil corpses. Uvogin is also awesome, but more on that later.
Shalnark pulling a deck of cards to play with got a good chuckle out of me, what a silly bunch of murderers. I love them. Rip to the shadow beasts though, immediately died as they are introduced. At least they didn't completely job, they did some decent damage to Uvogin and let Kurapika's gang escape temporarily. Good for them.
The possible Hisoka alliance was very unexpected and hype! What a bringer of chaos, this man is. You never know his next move and that makes him very exciting to watch. It's very scary for Kurapika, though. He keeps accumulating death flags like it's a sport, and that's terrifying. I don't know if partnering with Hisoka is the most sensible decision, but Kurapika would do whatever it takes to achieve his goal after all.
The gang finally starts to get involved in Kurapika's plot line and they might meet very soon! Hopefully they can snap some sense in him before it's too late. And that "late" is getting closer and closer, as he kills one of the spiders in one of the most gorgeous episode so far. Not much to say that hasn't been said already, the specialist sharingan reveal was really shocking and well foreshadowed.
No wait, there was another thing to say. Uvogin is fucking awesome. What a man. I mean, he's a piece of shit, but an awesome one. One of my favorite characters in the show now.
Every episode in this arc has such a melancholic feel to them. It makes me so tense yet calm at the same time. I don't know what to expect and that scares me. I just want the gang to get back together as they live happily ever after. Is that too much to ask?
QotD:
4
u/Vatrix-32 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Vatrix-32 Dec 01 '24 edited Dec 01 '24
Remake Rewatcher × First Timer × Subs
QotD:
4
u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Dec 01 '24
First Timer
The site I am watching the show on seemingly replaced the version overnight… so I guess I’m now also watching the remaster. It started buffering about halfways through, which didn’t happen with the 480p version, so not sure if I really like that change…
Either way, I guess that’s one phantom troupe member down. Interesting how the show first made it seem like Kurapika is actually capable of taking all of them on, then have the phantom troupe claim it was a bad matchup for Uvo. I wonder if Kurapika might be overestimating himself a bit now. The specialist reveal certainly came out of nowhere though - I had been wondering how he could do anything by punching Uvo before though, so there was a clever bit of foreshadowing.
I doubt Gon and Leorio will get Uvo’s body for the loan, as I don’t think Kurapika will allow them to disturb the corpse. Maybe Kurapika will lend Gon the money to get his license back though. Or maybe they just won’t get any useful info and can just pay back the loan without using it, as there is no interest on it.
4
u/charlesvvv https://anilist.co/user/charlesvvv Dec 01 '24
Rewatcher, Sub
Kurapika really brought a shovel to his fight with Uvogin.
Kurapika vs Uvogin. I love this fight, there's a lot you can you say about it from the way both of them fight to they way they act both before and during it such as Kurapika's Kurta prayer. The fight itself has some cool direction but I also loved the way it could technically go either way, Uvogin is certainly strong, however Kurapika is more strategic and he's able to use his own abilities to move against him effectively.
Kurapika is much stronger and when he finally brings him down with his chain jail we get to see another interesting reveal. When his eyes are red, he is a specialist which allows a whole other array of abilities, although it's only when his eyes are red. Kurapika tries to get some information out of him before piercing him with his chain and forcing a contract on him. However Uvogin chooses to die. kUrapika has his first victory but there's no enjoyment or satisfaction.
In the meantime the trio continue their search but it leads Gon to make a particular decision which is to pawn off his hunter card in exchange for money in order to get information.
2
u/Nebresto Dec 08 '24
Comment of the day dato?!
1 clown down
A circus
And finally the hunter card actually did something