Hunter x Hunter
A boy becomes a Hunter to find his father, and discovers a world far stranger than home.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Hunter x Hunter is a Japanese adventure anime by Madhouse, adapted from Yoshihiro Togashi's manga of the same name. This 2011 series ran for 148 episodes and follows Gon Freecss, a boy who becomes a Hunter to find his father. It is loved for its clever battles, its Nen power system and arcs that keep changing tone, from a bright exam adventure to the dark Chimera Ant saga.
About Hunter x Hunter
Gon Freecss leaves home to become a Hunter, an elite adventurer, and to find the father who left him as a baby. The Hunter Exam is only the start of a journey full of clever battles, dangerous enemies and true friendship. It is loved for its smart fights and creative powers.
Hunter x Hunter is a TV anime from 2011, first released in Fall 2011. It belongs to the Action and Adventure genres and is listed as a completed series. The summary above is written by the AnimeYug team in our own words.
Official Trailer
Story Arcs & Episode Guide
The Hunter x Hunter anime is split into story sagas. Here is every saga in order, with its episodes and years.
| Arc | Episodes | Years | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Exam | 1–21 | 2011–2012 | Gon leaves Whale Island and meets Killua, Kurapika and Leorio at the deadly Hunter Exam |
| Zoldyck Family | 22–26 | 2012 | The group travels to Kukuroo Mountain to bring Killua home from his assassin family |
| Heavens Arena | 27–36 | 2012 | Gon and Killua fight in a battle tower and learn the basics of Nen |
| Yorknew City | 37–58 | 2012 | Kurapika faces the Phantom Troupe at the underground auction in Yorknew City |
| Greed Island | 59–75 | 2012–2013 | Gon and Killua enter a Nen video game made by Ging, hunting for clues about him |
| Chimera Ant | 76–136 | 2013–2014 | Man-eating Chimera Ants threaten humanity in the series' longest and darkest arc |
| 13th Hunter Chairman Election | 137–148 | 2014 | The Hunters elect a new chairman while Gon's friends fight to save his life |
Why Watch Hunter x Hunter
- Nen is one of anime's smartest power systems: rules, conditions and risks matter more than raw strength.
- Every arc changes genre, from exam adventure to crime thriller, game world and full-scale war story.
- Fights are puzzles. Characters win by out-thinking stronger enemies, not by powering up.
- Villains like Hisoka, Chrollo and Meruem are as memorable as the heroes.
- A complete 148-episode run with almost no filler, only two recap episodes.
Who Is It For?
Hunter x Hunter (2011) is rated TV-14 in the US. It starts like a bright adventure for younger teens, but later arcs, especially Chimera Ant, include graphic violence, death and heavy themes, so it suits teens and adults best. Parents should know the tone grows much darker than the early episodes suggest.
Main Characters
View all characters →
Voice Actors
The Japanese voices behind the main characters of Hunter x Hunter.
- Killua ZoldyckFormer child assassin and Gon's best friendJapanese voiceMariya Ise
- Gon FreecssA young Hunter searching for his fatherJapanese voiceMegumi Han
- KurapikaLast survivor of the Kurta Clan, hunting the Phantom TroupeJapanese voiceMiyuki Sawashiro
- Leorio ParadinightHunter candidate who wants to become a doctorJapanese voiceKeiji Fujiwara
- Hisoka MorowA dangerous magician who lives for strong opponentsJapanese voiceDaisuke Namikawa
- Chrollo LucilferLeader of the Phantom TroupeJapanese voiceMamoru Miyano
- MeruemKing of the Chimera AntsJapanese voiceKoki Uchiyama
- KomugiBlind world champion of the board game GungiJapanese voiceAya Endo
- Isaac NeteroChairman of the Hunter AssociationJapanese voiceIchiro Nagai (episodes 6–114); Banjo Ginga (episodes 122–138)
- KitePro Hunter and Ging's former studentJapanese voiceShuichi Ikeda
- Biscuit KruegerVeteran Hunter who trains Gon and KilluaJapanese voiceChisa Yokoyama
- Illumi ZoldyckKillua's eldest brother, a Zoldyck assassinJapanese voiceMasaya Matsukaze
- Ging FreecssGon's father, a legendary HunterJapanese voiceRikiya Koyama
- NeferpitouOne of the Chimera Ant King's Royal GuardsJapanese voiceAyumi Fujimura
- ShaiapoufOne of the Chimera Ant King's Royal GuardsJapanese voiceWataru Hatano
Staff & Production
- Original Creator
- Yoshihiro Togashi
- Animation Studio
- Madhouse
- Director
- Hiroshi Kojina
- Series Composition
- Atsushi Maekawa (episodes 1–58); Tsutomu Kamishiro (episodes 39–148)
- Music
- Yoshihisa Hirano
Manga & Source Material
Hunter x Hunter began as a manga by Yoshihiro Togashi in 1998 and is still ongoing, published in bursts as the author's health allows. The 2011 anime adapts the story from the beginning through the Election arc, up to manga chapter 339.
- Written and drawn by Yoshihiro Togashi, creator of YuYu Hakusho
- Serialised in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump since March 1998, with frequent long hiatuses
- 39 collected volumes in Japan as of July 2026. Volume 39 (chapters 401–410) was released on 3 July 2026
- A new run of chapters 411–420 was serialised from June to September 2026; the manga is still ongoing
- Passed 100 million copies in circulation when volume 39 was released in 2026
- Since 2023 the manga has used a flexible, non-weekly publication schedule decided with Togashi for his health
Music
Unusually for a long series, Hunter x Hunter (2011) used a single opening theme for all 148 episodes, in two versions, while five ending themes rotated by arc. The score was composed by Yoshihisa Hirano.
Opening Themes
- “Departure!”by Masatoshi OnoUsed for the whole series; a second version, Departure! -Second Version-, alternates with it
Ending Themes
- “Just Awake”by Fear, and Loathing in Las VegasEpisodes 1–26
- “Hunting for Your Dream”by GalneryusEpisodes 27–58
- “Reason”by YuzuEpisodes 59–75
- “Nagareboshi Kirari”by YuzuEpisodes 76–98
- “Hyori Ittai”by YuzuEpisodes 99–146
Series Timeline
- 1998
Togashi's manga begins in Weekly Shonen Jump in March 1998.
- 1999–2001
The first anime adaptation by Nippon Animation runs for 62 episodes, followed by three Greed Island OVAs (2002–2004).
- 2011
Madhouse's full reboot premieres on Nippon TV on 2 October 2011, retelling the story from the start.
- 2013
Two films are released: Phantom Rouge in January and The Last Mission in December.
- 2014
The 2011 series ends on 23 September 2014 at episode 148, after the Election arc.
- 2024
The manga returns with chapters 401–410, and volume 38 is released in September.
- 2026
Volume 39 is released on 3 July as the series passes 100 million copies; chapters 411–420 run from June to September.
Quick Answers
Is Hunter x Hunter finished?
Yes. Hunter x Hunter has finished airing, so you can watch the complete story from start to end without waiting for new episodes.
What genre is Hunter x Hunter?
Hunter x Hunter is a Action and Adventure anime. You can browse more titles like it on our Action anime page.
When did Hunter x Hunter release?
Hunter x Hunter first released in Fall 2011. It is a TV series.
Watch Order
Here is the release order for Hunter x Hunter and the series connected to it. Start at step 1 and work your way down.
- 1Hunter x Hunter (1999)TV series (1999): optional; the first adaptation, covering the story up to Greed Island in its OVAs.
- 2Hunter x Hunter (2011)TV series (2011): this series; the complete modern reboot, 148 episodes. Start here if you watch only one version.
- 3Hunter x Hunter: Phantom RougeMovie (2013): optional standalone story centred on Kurapika and the Phantom Troupe.
- 4Hunter x Hunter: The Last MissionMovie (2013): optional standalone story; watch after Phantom Rouge or any time after the series.
Where to Watch
Hunter x Hunter is officially available to stream on these platforms:
Streaming availability changes often and differs by country. Please check the platform in your region.