Hunter x Hunter: 1999 or 2011, Which Version Should You Watch?

Why are there two different Hunter x Hunter anime in the first place?

The original 1999 series ran for 62 episodes, adapting the earlier chapters of the manga along with an original, anime only arc not present in the source material. It ended without completing the story, largely because the manga itself was still ongoing and prone to lengthy hiatuses even at that point. The 2011 version is a full reboot, not a continuation, restarting from the very beginning and adapting significantly more of the manga's story, including entire arcs the 1999 version never got to.

So is the 1999 version just worse, or does it do anything better?

Genuinely, it's mostly a case of the newer version being better across the board, which isn't always true when a franchise gets rebooted. The 2011 series has notably stronger animation, a more consistent pace, and covers far more of the actual story, including the beloved Chimera Ant arc, which the original 1999 series never reached at all. The one place the 1999 version does something the 2011 version doesn't is its original Greed Island arc content and a different anime only ending for the Yorknew City arc, giving longtime fans a genuinely different take on stretches where the manga itself hadn't yet been finished at the time.

Does the 2011 version cover the entire manga?

It covers substantially more than the original, running 148 episodes and reaching all the way through the Chimera Ant arc and into the Election arc, but it still stops before the manga's later chapters, since Togashi's manga has had significant hiatuses over the years, occasionally going years between new chapters being published. So even the more complete 2011 anime isn't a full adaptation of everything that currently exists in the source material.

If I've already seen some of the 1999 version, do I need to start over with 2011?

I'd say yes, genuinely, rather than trying to pick up partway through. Because 2011 is a full reboot rather than a continuation, character introductions, pacing, and even specific scene staging are different enough that jumping in partway through the newer version after watching only part of the older one will leave you confused about what's actually been established. Starting 2011 from episode one is the cleanest path, even if you already know some of the early story from having watched some of the original.

Is there any reason to watch the 1999 version at all in 2026?

Honestly, mostly just historical interest or if you're a completionist who wants to see everything connected to the franchise. If your only goal is experiencing Hunter x Hunter's story as well told and as completely as possible, the 2011 version is where you should spend your actual viewing time. The 1999 version is really only worth seeking out afterward, if you're curious how the earlier adaptation handled the material differently, not as a genuine alternative starting point.

Why does this franchise have such a reputation for uncertain hiatuses?

Because Togashi's manga has a well known history of extended breaks, sometimes lasting years, due to the author's health. This actually feeds back into why the anime adaptations stop where they do, both versions were adapting a story that itself wasn't moving at a predictable pace, which is part of why even the more complete 2011 series doesn't fully catch up to the current manga.

Frequently asked questions

Which Hunter x Hunter anime should I watch, 1999 or 2011? The 2011 version. It's more complete, better animated, and covers significantly more of the manga's story, including the Chimera Ant arc.

Is the 2011 Hunter x Hunter a sequel to the 1999 version? No, it's a full reboot that restarts the story from the beginning rather than continuing where the 1999 series left off.

Does the 2011 anime cover the entire manga? No, it covers substantially more than the 1999 version but still stops before the manga's more recent chapters, due to the source material's own lengthy hiatuses.

Is the 1999 Hunter x Hunter worth watching at all? Mostly for historical interest or completionists. For the best overall experience of the story, the 2011 version is the one to prioritize.

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