Quarantine Lifesaver, My Binge-worthy Anime!

We all know that quarantine, which began in March 2020, gave all of us too much free time that we didn’t know how to fill. My suggestion? Watch anime.

To fill our empty days, my brother and I binge-watched all 148 episodes of the popular anime “Hunter X Hunter” written and created by Yoshihiro Togashi in 1998. Initially, when my brother, an anime connoisseur, approached me with the idea to watch Hunter X Hunter, I was vehemently opposed. I always believed anime shows were like cartoons or comics. But he wouldn’t let up. He said Hunter X Hunter was his favorite anime of all time and I would regret not indulging in the story. I trusted him and I am glad I did.

The storyline is split into five ”arcs” which indicate the beginning and end of a certain time and adventure in the main characters’ lives. Gon Freecss is the main protagonist of the show and Killua Zoldyck is his best friend with his own story. Together, they embark on wild adventures and face incredible obstacles, while meeting friends, apprentices, gurus, enemies, and creatures along the way.

Togashi intended to speak to his audience rather than just entertain, which is the primary goal of most anime shows. He not only brought underlying meaning to each episode but to each scene. Every scene, every minute, brought a new emotion. It was Hunter X Hunter’s intricate way of showing emotions, beautiful underlying message, and attention to detail animation drawings that captivated me through every episode and glued me to the screen.

Hunter X Hunter fans are begging Yoshihiro Togashi for more arcs because the last episode brought a sense of ”ending” but left an opening for hundreds of more episodes to be added for an epic comeback.

Much to the dismay of Togashi’s fans, he is currently in the hospital. Nonetheless, there is still hope. Togashi’s wife, Naoko Takeuchi, is learning his art style to finish his work if need be. There is still hope for Hunter X Hunter fans and the story of Ging! Stay tuned!

Savannah Scarborough is a freshman majoring in Digital Media and Journalism. To contact her, email at svs6992@psu.edu.