Amidst the countless manga series that have captured global attention, "Hunter x Hunter" (HxH) left fans around the world surprised and puzzled when the anime adaptation, after a 10-year hiatus, never resumed. The question that has echoed through the halls of the internet since then is: why did "Hunter x Hunter" get cancelled?
The story of Gon Freecss and his journey to become a Hunter, a person who excels in various fields like hunting, treasure hunting, and even combat, captivated audiences with its intricate narratives, complex characters, and strategic fights. Madhouse, the anime studio that brought HxH to life, managed to adapt 148 chapters of the manga out of the 385. So, why did they stop, leaving the series unfinished?
Creative Differences
One of the primary reasons rumor has it that "Hunter x Hunter" anime was cancelled is the creative differences between the manga creator, Yoshihiro Togashi, and the show's producers. Togashi is known for his meticulous attention to detail and his commitment to storytelling. He's been open about his health issues that often delay his work.
The last chapters of the manga were released in 2012, and the anime covered those in 2014. The following years have seen no new content from either the manga or the anime. The manga's status is on hiatus indefinitely, while Madhouse, without Togashi's green light, couldn't or wouldn't proceed with the anime.
Madhouse's Stance
Madhouse, in a statement, confirmed that they were done with HxH. The anime adaptation was finale-ready, but the story was incomplete due to the manga's halt. With no assurance from Togashi on a continued manga run, Madhouse couldn't risk investing in an adaptation that might not reach its intended climax.
Another point to consider is that adapting HxH was a massive undertaking. The series is known for its long, complex story arcs, and animating those in a way that stays true to the manga is challenging and costly. Given these factors, it's understandable why Madhouse chose to pull the plug.
Fans' Perceptions and Actions
Some fans theorize that the cancellation might be due to the series' controversial depiction of certain characters and themes, which led to petitions being filed to stop the anime. However, there's no concrete evidence to support this claim. In fact, the manga’s simultaneous release, without edit, suggests that the content wasn't an issue.
Regardless, these fan actions, alongside Togashi's known health issues and Madhouse's stand, could have contributed to the anime's cancellation. Fans, hoping to express their love for the series and maybe convince Togashi and the studio to resume work, created numerous petitions and social media campaigns, but to no avail. The series remains on hold.
The MRI Valkyrie Project
As a silver lining, in 2018, Madhouse produced the "Hunter x Hunter: The Last Mission" animated film. This was followed by a three-part anime special series, "Hunter x Hunter: Battle Olympia", in 2019. These projects, although not continuing the main story, showed that Madhouse hasn't entirely abandoned HxH. However, these were short, one-off productions and couldn't revitalize the main series.
The absence of HxH from the anime realm leaves fans with one ray of hope: the MRI Valkyrie project, a virtual reality game announced in 2019. The project's website features a countdown, hinting at an upcoming reveal. Fans eagerly await this, hoping it might spark a resurgence in the HxH franchise.
The future of "Hunter x Hunter" anime remains uncertain. While we wait, we can't help but reminisce about Gon's incredible journey, Hisoka's unpredictable antics, and the nerve-wracking fights that kept us on the edge of our seats. Until we have definitive information, all we can do is hope that the story isn't truly over, and that one day, we'll revisit the world of HxH.
