Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Hunter x Hunter: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

An action-packed anime saga.

Hunter x Hunter is an entertaining and adrenaline-infused action anime with a lot to offer fans of the Shonen anime genre. The series is executive produced by Seiji Okuda (Death Note, Wolf Children). The anime is based on the original manga by creator Yoshihiro Togashi. The series animation is produced by Madhouse (Trigun). Fans of action-packed series will want to explore the realm of the Hunters.

The “Hunters” are legendary beings who are able to seek out beasts, treasures, and mysterious individuals.  These special beings are gifted and help establish a world order that is balanced. Unfortunately for most individuals seeking out the title of “hunter”, one has to pass examinations and the process is challenging. The exams are extremely difficult and less than one in over 100,000 ever pass the examination process.

Gon Freecss (Megumi Han) leaves his peaceful home behind to set out on a quest to become the most successful Hunter of all time. Determined to be one of the few licensed hunters, Gon meets fellow applicants and soon meets some new friends, including Kurapika (Miyuki Sawashiro), who wishes nothing more than to seek vengeance for his fallen clan, and Leorio (Keiji Fujiwara), who hopes becoming a Hunter will help him financially support his physician dreams.

As quests collide, Gon and the other applicants soon find the journey is just beginning to unfold for them. The mission leads to tournaments and a quest to become the ultimate Hunter (across all the lands). Encountering kung-fu legends, Gon and the others find more than any had bargained for. Will Gon become the ultimate Hunter?

The characters are at the core of the series. Hunter x Hunter is a fun saga with some charming central characters at the helm. The lead cast members help to make the series more entertaining. There is a entertaining element to each core character and their respective roles in the saga help to keep the production unique in the genre. Gon is a compelling lead and leads the way.

The complete journey.

The animation on Hunter x Hunter is enjoyable fun. The animated series looks visually compelling and has enough distinctive elements to keep audiences entertained. The anime features designs by Indori Bokujo and Takahiro Yoshimatsu. These anime character designs are effective and fit the respective characters nicely. The art direction by Mio Isshiki (Saiyuki Gunlock, Tokyo Underground) is quite impressive – enhancing the experience.

The original score composed by Yoshihisa Hirano (Ouran High School Host Club, Zoids Wild Zero) provides Hunter x Hunter with a fun backdrop to the action-packed adventures of the saga. A entertaining score with enough charm to match the characters and the battles, the score by composer Hirano works well with the anime. The music fits the tone and genre nicely.

The cinematography by Hironobu Hatanaka (Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time), Hiroshi Inoue (Sound of the Sky, Infinite Stratos), and Kazuya Arahata (Infinite Stratos, The Tatami Galaxy) is one of the best elements of the production. The cinematography imbues Hunter x Hunter with a unique style which fits the world of the anime well. The visual component is one that longtime fans of the manga will appreciate as well as newcomers to the saga. There is something for everyone.

Written by Atsushi Maekawa (Bakugan Battle Brawlers, The Prince of Tennis) and Tsutomu Kamishiro (Appleseed, Casshern Sins), Hunter x Hunter is an adventure and action-packed experience with the ingredients for an entertaining ride. The screenwriters balance the characters with the fight scenes. Audiences looking for a blast of action-packed fun will find there is plenty to offer to fans. This is one central area in which the production excels best.

Directed by Hiroshi Koujina (The Vampire Dies in No Time, Ryoma! The Prince of Tennis), Hunter x Hunter is an anime ride that fans of action-packed Shonen series won’t be able to resist. The series rides a tidal wave of entertainment with fun characters, a cool concept, and strong animation. While not the best anime in the Shonen realm, Hunter x Hunter is nonetheless entertaining and has plenty to offer fans.

Hunter x Hunter: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from VIZ Media, Hunter x Hunter is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The series is nicely encoded. The presentation looks splendid and has a wonderful aesthetic which is preserved. An effective encoding effort by VIZ. Colors are top-notch. The action scenes are fluid and don't suffer egregious compression. A solid release by VIZ.

Hunter x Hunter: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a variety of lossless audio options for series fans: the original Japanese language track is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles). The English dubbed version is included in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo as well. The lossless audio sounds crisp throughout. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The music score is well integrated too. Exceptionally clean and clear sounding, Hunter x Hunter is a worthwhile sound presentation.

Hunter x Hunter: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

 The release includes the entire assortment of supplemental features provided across the individual volumes. The complete collection has an assortment of bonus features to keep fans entertained. Packaged in a collectible slip-box, Hunter x Hunter: The Complete Series provides a lot of extras. (Reference the individual release pages for additional details.)

Hunter x Hunter: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Hunter x Hunter is an entertaining and action-packed saga. The production features a cast of charming characters and a fun concept. The saga explores the adventures of these characters in a uniquely compelling way. The Blu-ray release includes a worthwhile video-audio presentation and an assortment of extras. Fans of the series won't be able to resist a purchase. Recommended.