Yoshiro Togashi’sHunter X Hunteris known for its complex plotting and subversion of Shōnen tropes, which makes it one of the most timeless stories in the genre. The 2011 Madhouse adaptation does justice to Togashi’s story and artwork, leaving its audience craving more.Phantom Rougeis the first of twoHunter X Hunterfilms, and while it looks likeHXH,it lacks the quality of storytelling and emotional payoff characteristic of the series. Non-canonical anime films are a great entry point into established franchises, butPhantom Rougedoes a horrible job of distilling Togashi’s brilliance into its 97-minute runtime.
Hunter X Huntertells the story of a world inhabited by strange beasts and monsters, where the Hunter Society regulates the strongest members of society, such as adventurers Gon and Kurapika, the series' main protagonists.Phantom Rougefocuses on Kurapika’s revenge mission against the Phantom Troupe, a group of powerful Nen users who massacred his entire village, treading ground already covered in the anime’s Yorknew City Arc. Unfortunately, the result is a cluttered mess of contrived plot conveniences and hollow character development that neither benefits newcomers nor satisfiesHunter X Hunterfans.
The First Hunter X Hunter Film is a Pale Imitation of the Series
Pacing is crucial to balanceHunter X Hunter’s lengthy explanations of the mechanics of Nenwith the awesome displays of power the characters show once they have mastered it. Where a film adaptation likeEvangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone)benefits from condensing and streamlining the story to introduce an audience to its unique world,Phantom Rougebuckles under the weight of its lore and tries to service too many charactersand plot points from the series. What’s worse is that the film doesn’t improve upon the plot points and emotional beats it’s cribbing from.
Someone has stolen Kurapika’s eyes—and according to him, it’s another survivor from his clan whose members were massacred for their Scarlet Eyes! Gon and Killua begin investigating on his behalf, but shortly after they’ve begun, the Phantom Troupe appears! -VIZ Media
The film’s inspiration is derived from an unpublished story Togashi wrote years prior, and the inclusion of Retsu, Omokage, and his Soul Dolls are original characters and concepts for this movie. Neither Retsu nor Omokage are compelling additions to the cast, and the former’s ability to create Soul Doll copies of the Phantom Troupe to do his bidding comes off as wish fulfillment. Gon and Killua face off against Uvogin, who is Kurapika’s first victim during his revenge mission against the Spiders during the Yorknew City Arc, but the match-up doesn’t hold the same emotional weight. Bringing back a soulless copy of such a pivotal character doesn’t sit well with the audience, nor Uvogin’s best friend, Nobunaga, who decapitates the Soul Doll.
Phantom Rouge is Somehow Both Overstuffed and Hollow
Kurapika’s Feature Film Is All Style, No Substance
The movie’s opening “Hunterpedia” segment is absolutely necessary to prime the audience for what’s to come, becausePhantom Rougesplits its focus between Kurapika’s quest to retrieve his eyes, and Killua’s overprotective brother, Illumi, shielding him from danger by mind-control. Not only is the latter plot point borrowed from the main canon, it lacks the emotional resonance that the series achieves by giving the story time to breathe and evolve naturally. Most egregiously,the film’s use of Soul Doll copies introduces too many characters with no consequences for whether they live or die.
What’s intriguing aboutPhantom Rougeis how the animation quality falters compared to the anime series.Typically, feature-length anime films have a higher budget and an extended production timeline, resulting in a more polished version of the world, like the original trilogy ofSailor Moonfilms.Phantom Rouge’s character models are slightly off and at times they appear distorted, but the true downfall of the movie is the lighting. Many extended set pieces are shrouded in darkness, set at night during a heavy rainstorm, or bathed in an inexplicable soft glow that usually suggests a dream or flashback sequence.
Hunter X Hunter’s Return from Hiatus Signals More to Come
Togashi’s Iconic Manga Is Back After Two Years Away
Hunter X Hunter’s manga series experiences extended breaks, sometimes years-long, due toTogashi’s medical leave.During the production ofPhantom Rouge, Togashi returned from hiatus to produce a two-part prequel chronicling Kurapika’s origin story, which forms the basis for the film’s opening, and is easily the strongest section of the movie.Shōnen Jumprecently agreed to release the chapters as they are finished, rather than forcing Togashi to adhere to the demanding schedules imposed by the manga industry, which promises a more consistent stream ofHunter X Huntercontent.
While the 2011 anime concludes with theHunter x Hunter’s13th Chairman Election Arc, the manga continues the adventure with the highly anticipated showdown between Chrollo and Hisoka, an expedition to the forbidden Dark Continent led by former Chairman Netero’s son,and war of succession between the princes of the Kakin Empire. These storylines have stirred speculation of a revival of the Madhouse series, or feature-length films, andwith Togashi’s source material to work from, the results will likely far exceedPhantom Rougeand its follow-up,Hunter X Hunter: The Last Mission.
Hunter X Hunter
Hunter × Hunteris a Japanese manga and anime franchise created by Yoshihiro Togashi. The story follows Gon Freecss, a boy who discovers his father is a legendary Hunter, and embarks on a journey to become one himself. Along the way, he encounters friends and foes in a world filled with martial arts, adventure, and paranormal elements. The franchise spans manga, multiple anime adaptations, films, OVAs, and video games.
