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Explore what makes Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc so great and whether it is the best-written arc in shonen anime.
Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter is a shonen masterpiece that has inspired several modern anime with its storytelling, power system, character development, and more. Spanning 148 episodes in its 2011 remake, the series is considered near-perfect by most fans, offering something different with each arc.
However, one arc stands above the rest in Hunter x Hunter. This is the Chimera Ant Arc, notable for its intricate themes, deep psychological dives, and emotional storytelling. Taking place over 133 chapters in the manga and 61 episodes in the anime, this storyline elevated Hunter x Hunter from an enjoyable action series to something more. Due to this, many fans wonder whether this is the best-written arc in all of shonen anime.
While crowning one particular arc as the best is a matter of perspective, there is a good argument for Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc to be in the running. Here is a closer look at why.
What Happens in Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc?
Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc began with the introduction of the Ant Queen, a monstrous creature capable of giving birth to mutated ants with superhuman powers. These ants had personalities of their own and formed a large army capable of threatening humanity.
At the top of these ants was Meruem, the king with unsurpassable powers. Fearing the presence of these creatures, the Hunter Association jumped into action. While Chairman Netero and his hunters planned an invasion of the home of these ants, Gon and Killua were facing struggles of their own.
As the main characters got stuck in intense battles, they were forced to explore sides of themselves that fans believed never existed. With the death of Gon’s mentor, Kite, the easygoing protagonist faced mental turmoil that was very hard for fans to experience. On the other hand, the antagonist, Meruem, was more complex than a powerful brute.
With all these different parties on the same plane and Netero’s goal of exterminating the enemy no matter the means, the Chimera Ant Arc puts us through a rollercoaster of emotions.
The Themes of the Chimera Ant Arc
The main theme of the Chimera Ant Arc deals with humanity and moral ambiguity. The ants, who were believed to be monsters originally, displayed layered personalities and ambitions. Despite being born for the sake of taking over the world, these creatures developed emotions that were not unlike humans themselves.
Meruem, in spite of being recently born, went into deep thought through his relationship with Komugi. He was born as an invincible being but still realized the impact of his actions. Others, such as Colt, stood as the kinder side of the ants, showing protectiveness, love, and compassion.
On the other hand, the humans in this arc served in a morally gray area. This was best shown through Gon, who lived solely for vengeance. Due to Kite’s death, Gon lived for the sake of killing Pitou, eventually sacrificing himself for its sake.
Even the Chairman of the Hunter Association recognized that Meruem may not be a monster, but he was left with no choice. Due to this, he set off a poisonous bomb for victory. Hence, the themes of the Chimera Ant Arc are extremely significant.
Rather than showing the main characters in a positive light and the ants in a negative one, it leaves the interpretation up to fans. The only thing Togashi emphasizes is that people can’t only be classified as good or bad. Rather, there are a lot of gray areas in between.
The Use of Narration
One of the most revolutionary and controversial elements of the Chimera Ant Arc is the use of narration. Shonen anime generally makes characters express their own thoughts, with a narrator being extremely rare. This arc, however, uses the feature extensively.
The Hunter x Hunter manga heavily relies on text, explaining details, world-building, and character psyches intricately. In anime, however, this is not an easy task to pull off simply by dialogue. Hence, the narrator served this purpose.
Some fans believed that this was unnecessary and jarring. Listening to the emotionless voice of a narrator removed the immersion of a scene while also overexplaining the significance of every instance. At the same time, many thought the opposite.
In addition to a narrator elevating the uniqueness of Hunter x Hunter, it fits the philosophical tone of the arc. When there was chaos occurring at every moment and the characters were in a rush, viewers could get lost in what was happening. Many important figures like Gon also held no rationality throughout the story, leaving us in a state of confusion regarding his thoughts.
The narrator stepped in at this moment, setting the backdrop for every scene before it was epically unveiled. The words in the background held no emotions, making no judgments, but rather simply elevating the story’s depths and offering insights.
The narration also greatly helped in building suspense and going into the details of strategies. This was best shown during the palace invasion sequence, where fans would have been completely lost without a narrator.
The Parallels Between Gon and Meruem
While we have already seen Gon and Meruem’s roles in the Chimera Ant Arc, they greatly mirror each other. Despite being completely opposite to each other, Togashi ingeniously uses their characters to weave a thread.
Gon, who started as a young and cheery protagonist, succumbed to darkness after Kite’s death. He isolated himself from Killua, got blinded by revenge, and lost his humanity against Pitou. Meruem’s development was the exact opposite.
Despite being born as a creature of perfection who committed mass murder, Meruem learned compassion along with Komugi. He recognized the worth of humanity and the faults in his position in wanting to rule over them all. The ruthless king learning to be in tune with his emotions due to a young, blind girl was an unforgettable moment in this arc.
This completely contrasted Gon, who was even willing to kill Komugi if it meant he could fight Pitou. Hence, this only reinforces the themes of Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc, showing the rise of the villain and the downfall of the hero. These profound transformations and reversal of roles make it stand out from any sort of stereotype, carving its own lane.
Iconic Moments in the Chimera Ant Arc
The entirety of the Chimera Ant Arc is filled with unforgettable moments. Some of the most iconic ones include:
- Gon’s rage scene against Pitou, where he sacrifices himself to grow into a form of ultimate power.
- Kite’s shocking death at the hands of Pitou begins the descent of Gon’s mental state.
- Chairman Netero’s resilient stand against Meruem eventually blows him up with the Poor Man’s Rose bomb.
- Meruem’s Gungi games with Komugi, where he comes to understand his feelings of compassion for the girl.
- Meruem spends his final moments before death with Komugi, who chooses to die alongside him.
Is Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc the Best-Written Arc in Shonen Anime?
There is no perfect answer to the best arc in shonen anime simply because of the different criteria that could define them. However, we can confidently say that the Chimera Ant Arc is one of the most narratively ambitious, thematically rich, and emotionally powerful arcs in all of anime.
It is a flagbearer that does not follow any trope but has gone on to inspire countless other anime. It takes its time to set up the new world and introduce its antagonists, making the high stakes clear. Following this, the Chimera Ant Arc shows the complex positions of every individual, opting for philosophical and psychological depth over straightforward heroism.
Finally, it concludes with a heartbreaking yet consistent ending that leaves a permanent mark in our minds while also perfectly setting up future arcs. Due to this, regardless of whether the Chimera Ant Arc is the “best arc,” it is one that every anime fan undoubtedly needs to watch.
Conclusion
Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc is a masterpiece of storytelling that challenges the conventions of shonen anime. It is a slow burn, prioritizing character study over fast-paced action. While it is up for debate whether it is the best-written arc in shonen anime, it definitely stands out as one of the greatest of all time.
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