Read my FREE book, Shotgun Fantasy Vol.1: docs.google.com/document/d/10MzSqgvXBfe07s-EnigOhnjw8Gd8_8LpAeMkkQPxEfQ

Technically everything is derivative of something taking inspiration is fine but the important part is putting a unique spin on things and I think that hxh is unique

The thing I find so hilarious is that JoJo more or less pulled fist of the north star for inspiration, look a Johnathan Joestar and tell me he wasn't a dead ringer for Kenshiro. Same thing with DBZ and late DB with the fighting, battle power and ki blasts, you saw that in FotN also. And as for Fist of the North Star itself, Kenshiro was more or less Bruce Lee. People really need to look at their own works with a fine tooth comb before calling anybody else's favorite work a "ripoff"

Fun Fact: The power fueling territories in YYH is called Nen in Japanese. Technically YYH was when the nen power system was introduced.

Let's fricking gooo. Your first analysis on aot and different philosophical ideas was a straight up masterpiece . The hype is real with this one

Great video man you totally nailed that meta angle of togashi’s journey as a creator that is so baked into hxh’s dna good stuff

Love Hunter x Hunter its my favorite anime❤

I really think HxH is exceptional. When as an artist you express yourself authentically, you realise that your handiwork is more than what you can imagine it to be. People who see it derive meaning that you could never articulate. They reveal patterns that you yourself may have been blind to. All art is a dialogue, isn't it? between the artist's expression and the viewer's reaction-- an intimate conversation. Most conversations are small talk, mundane and quickly forgotten. But extraordinary works like HxH are like those rare, treasured conversations that only become more memorable and precious with time.

As someone who's watched JJBA, HxH and DB without the context of their influences, I did notice power system similarities. However, I was so mesmerized by their worlds that I hadn't even considered their stories as rip-offs. *facepalming because I never noticed how similar Meruem is to Cell though*

Excellent video essay! I’m also a writer cobbling together a story from my influences, so I really identify with what you said about Togashi and yourself. I feel more motivated to keep writing. Thanks!

What I love about togashi is how he incorporated so much of the real world into his fictional fantasy planet that has an AU version of us. It has the monsters and magical beasts and technology but it still has real world symbolism. It's full of perspective from different religions, cultures, and ideologies but it's still familiar if you look deep enough. Plain and simple, I strongly believe that togashi was the best to execute these ideas. Macbeth and Romeo and juliet have been done countless times over the centuries but there definitely has been a cast that's done it better than all the rest. I think togashi wrote his story like Mozart writing any of his compositions. Meanwhile everyone else is on turntables and taking royalty free sample sounds and making dubstep. It's undeniable that toriyama and Araki are goats in anime but togashi is just superior to them. His own interpretations and implementations are easier to watch and pull you in more. The quality is just unmatched. There's a lot more mystery and desire when it comes to hunterxhunter. Jojo has a villain of the week episodic problem and db has the power creep problem but togashi wrote his story to subvert all expectations while still being logical and natural. He just writes better characters. You get to know who they are as people and not just by their flashy top 5 smack down moments.

You're punching far above your weight class as a youtuber with this video, superb and substantive analysis all the way through and it's only your second video. Looking forward to seeing your career!

You're totally right. I understood this myself when I learned there isn't really an infinity of story types. There is only few. All the story types have already been written since a long time. That's the objective aspect of a story you could say. The heroe's quest is one of them for example. What really matters and makes originality is how you give your personal interpretation of these story types or power mechanics. So the subjective aspect. A good story is usually a balance between reused structures and personal expression. If you want every component to be new, it's gonna be very clanky. This is why we have very original but also very bad stories cause originality needs structure, no matter we may find it boring or not. There isn't really a point in criticizing a story' structure or pointing at many stories for having the same narrative structure. We should rather judge if there is enough expression of oneself to conclude if something is original or not.

YES YES YES. i've been constantly trying to find the right words to explain why nen is almost just a better version of stands as a power system, and you hit the nail on the head perfectly. the combination between the freeflow but also limiting nature of ki and the absurdly story-baked expressive powers of stands is what makes nen powers not only memorable and unique, but also really fun and interesting to watch in fights. excellent video!

i am hunter x fan since 20 years ago and this video make me happy, there is a lot of aspects you mentioned that i never realized or made the conection. really good job bro.

I just discovered your channel prob one of the best videos on art and anime ive seen in a LONG while please keep it up

As someone who likes Meruem more than Cell, I think that Cell was still way more interesting than what you said. He was created from cells from the 4 most popular characters of the series and had all their traits and personalities which made him a really interesting villain for them to fight which is also why he was meant to be the final villain. What you described was Buu. But yes I agree Meruem was made to resemble Cell on purpose in honor of Toriyama and make people's first impression of him to be "oh it's his version of Cell" which makes his ending so much more impactful.

Your take on this is very intriguing. I love the way you poetically explain Tohashi's potential thoughts or feelings. Your mind is sharp and it shows in this video, well done!

Woah! great video, i especially loved the part where you went more in depth into chrollo's character, you mentioned some things that i would have noticed before. like i said great video!

Finding out that Yoshihiro Togashi referred to Akira Toriyama as a god through this video hit me pretty hard because I saw this video on March 20, 2024, so Toriyama died very recently as of writing this. I'm also shocked that Togashi came out and said this roughly a decade ago, so the guy was alive and well upon receiving such high praise. I'm sure Togashi is as devastated as Toriyama's fanbase, if not more so. R. I. P. Akira Toriyama

This is one of the best anime/analysis out there. Great work! Keep it up! :D I can't wait until your next video essay! :)

Great video dude, looking forward to seeing more!

1 quick thing: between YYH and HxH, Togashi did have another series called Level E, which also had a sub-theme of self expression and self understanding.

Great video, I agree on every single point for how Togashi wrote on of the best battle shonen of all time. I also like how Naruto was influenced by Nen: by combining it with the ninjutsu of ninja legend with the complex and personalized powers that they have. Although I think it should be mentioned that Bleach's power system and structure is influenced by Saint Seiya's Cosmo powers, and I think that was missed, but a lot of people forget about Saint Seiya, and the other big 80s battle series Kinnikuman, Fist of the North Star, and Dragon Quest Adventure of Dai; but those series aren't officially translated. Anyways, great video.

This was a greatly written (and narrated) essay. Instant sub, and I’m looking forward to more if possible.

Great vid man, very cool lense to look through for the chimera ant arc and the story in general

I loved your music choices for this video and how you connected merium (sp?) to cell and just togashis experiences and your on. This video helped me process some things internally and I'm glad you took the time to make it. Keep creating!

As mentioned in my one of my favourite books, Steal Like an Artist, nothing is completely original anymore. Everyone takes inspiration and elements from something they admire and the ones with skill can turn it into something unique. And even though originality may be hard to be found today, there are endless possibilities on how to take an already existing idea and make something cool out of it and it's crazy to think about it.

this video is actually a lot more profound than i thought it would be

Ts was so good wow ima be on the look out for your next post foshooooo, and the HxH OST’s u used for the background music flowed so good with the vid🔥🔥🔥

Mannn… great content 💪🏽💪🏽

This video was a masterpiece itself. Great work

One of the best analysis I’ve heard and seen so far this is beyond legendary

Great video man keep it up really!

Great video brother!!

I think the general problem with people calling others plagiarizing or ripping off from other medias is that most of the time, the conversation felt superficial, shallow, and reductive. It's easy to just say "hey, thing A looks like thing B, therefore thing A is a rip off/plagiarized from thing B" without talking about the nuances the thing A has. This is the reason why we can have people who believe The lion king is a rip off/stolen idea from Kimba the white lion despite there's a guy who debunk it throughly.

you've earned yourself another sub with this banger, it's about time someone has said it and you've reinforced my drive for creating stuff

First time watching one of your videos, very genuine and detail oriented approach great video man

Love your channel man, Your videos are awesome

Great video man

Great video! I loved it and learned a lot.

I disagree with you on Cell and his character, yes he is basic, but you have to take into account Akira's thoughts when creating him. He has saiyan blood running through his veins, and since they are a warrior race with the urge to fight and become stronger, his simplicity is just what he is supposed to be. Dr. Gero programmed him to think he is the perfect being, imagine his ego mixed with saiyan blood and you can just guess what he wants.

‏‪16:05‬‏ I wouldn't say he's better than Meruem. But it's not bad. Cell embodies every villain in dbz and every character since they have their own DNA. His connection to Gohan is this embodiment. Especially since Gohan at this moment should have been the hero and outperformed all of the above. Adding your explanation of the cell's goal, it lacks some things. It is not complicated, but it is better than Maryum's first goal before meeting the blind girl. Cell was made and programmed to be the perfect warrior. There are two parts to his personality, a part before he becomes perfect and a part after he becomes. Where at the beginning, unlike any other Dragon Ball villain, he is the one who is in a losing situation and is hiding and waiting to defeat the Androids, and we see even against Vegeta how pathetic he will become for the sake of his goals. I appreciate this because it is a sign that he is a creature, and I appreciate even more that he will become arrogant. After he reaches his ideal state because it is a moment of victory for him, but I appreciate more what happens in the second part of his personality when he becomes pathetic in front of Gohan. That personality that he displays in front of Gohan is his true self. After achieving his first goal, he proceeded with what his programming told him to do, which was to prove his idealism, and that is why he wanted to fight them in their best conditions, his mentality did not take into account anything beyond his idealism, and that is why he collapsed. Even in his last moments, he still had some personality development, especially after his return from his suicide and his desire to kill them all while ignoring his programming. The cell is not better than Merom, but it has human characteristics that I like

Wow this video was really good and moved me honestly I have always wanted to work on my own manga but haven’t even started because of my depression and mental health issues

I just watched both this video and your attack on titan video and I can confidently state you are one of my favorite anime analysis KZfaqrs very grateful for your insights and we’ll executed structure of your videos I certainly don’t mind watching the full video bc these discussions are what truly breathe new life into the anime and animation world as a whole, to think the passion behind a whole team writers and animators included can be reciprocated by a viewer as you have done restores my faith in the belief that animation isn’t just meant to be watched and discarded but rather there are tons of opportunity for meaningful changes to be made on the viewer’s perception of what they watched well after the series is finished. As someone who passionately wants to create his own epic tale it just makes me so happy that people are willing to look deeper and truly appreciate all of what an animation has to offer, I mean the price one pays to make a show is incredible. The hours of blood, sweat, and tears that go into an anime is nothing to scoff at so to see it come full circle here with your own passion for the show being shared it’s really honorable in my eyes sorry this comment is so long but it’s quite too often I see people dismissing a show and calling it trash or not truly appreciating what it really takes .it’s often I see people take story telling for granted and this is not that, I hope you felt fulfilled making the video and hearing my heartfelt opinion on your work, take care and take ur time ur success has already worked for me and many other attentive viewers

Your channel has a lot of potential.

One of the most inspiring videos I have seen about the most inspiring anime/manga I have seen.

This analysis is incredible.

Incredible video 🔥

This was mad good thanks

awesome video well done well scripted well edited. Just awesome over all

Pls upload more videos. I really like this one.

This was beautiful bro.❤ I'm a HxH bug fan since I was a kid (I'm 30), Meruem is my favorite anime/manga character ever and I appreciate what you just did.🎉 I'm subscribed already...

You earned yourself a new subscriber

great video man

Finally someone who can praise HxH without putting down Dragon Ball. Very refreshing. I don't agree with the Cell being not written well part, but I get what you're trying to say

i will remember this amazing video... good luck on the book, i wish you the best ❤

Damn this was a great video!

To me it depends on how you perceive originality because everything has been done before, what makes something original in my eyes is how original the combination of unoriginal ideas are

good video bro :D

Wow this was a really good video 👍

This was a really really really really really great video

This is one of the best HunterxHunter analysis I’ve ever seen!

Good work keep it up

Simply amazing video it's in line on what i think about Hunter X Hunter and One Piece they are both of my favorite piece of fiction off all time, they are two different shows but the structure of storytelling and writing are quite similar for example one thing leads to another, foreshadow, worldbuilding, mystery, tension, characters etc... that's probably why these shows are loved by almost everyone and that's why i think they are both unparalleled geniuses.

For how I see it, inspiration is appreciation. As long they have a good creative vision, anyone can transform an idea to something more!

Great vid and analysis mate! Love the editing; just change the angle of the camera and try to look more relaxed when talking. Again, great content!

Brilliant video! Never thought to consider HxH as more than just a shonen but a reflection of Togashi's own career

When i made up my own characters and world all of them was based off a character and show i liked but over time when making new characters and ideas my old characters and neq characters just fall into place in a way that it just made scene are they original no but i like them.

Good video 🙌🏾

Good shit Bro

Video was Beautiful

ok this video is amazing

Togashi explained that he loves the character of cell, so when he was creating the main villain of the arc, he wanted to looks like him.

There's nothing clumsy about haki,its so simple and explained thoroughly

I finished reading that arc about the same time you uploaded this, and it was by far one of the best arcs in Hunter X Hunter, Meryem however in no way at all reminded me of perfect cell from Dragon Ball Z

Guys seriously every Anime copys some part of Dragon ball/DBZ/Super its alright these magna creators grew up watching it and loving it so im not surprised when they say DB had a huge influence on them growing up. Ki, nen, mana, chakra its all the same. Akria Toriyama is the GOAT,

Whats your source he made nen by combining stands and ki?

Hunter hunter is the best anime for me and probable it will be forever

4:04 Im new here, so i don't know how much knowledge or interest you have on the topic but. Spiritual Pissure and Bańkai, Hakí and Devil fruits do all relate to one other. First, Sp and Bańkai, your missing the word "Reiryoku"; almost everyone has reiryoku, but only such a small amount that they can't do anything with it, being in contact with beings with high reiryoku does one of two things, kill you instantly, or gradually raises yours to the point where you can sense it. Spiritual Pissure is the amount of Reiryoku your "currently" able to release, so it's your cap, a Bańkai is "normally" a imitation of one's full Reiryoku release; so Reiryoku is one's potential and Spiritual Pissure is just what one's body can currently release, with Bańkai acting as a power up. Second, DFs and Hakí oh boy, one piece, meaning Oda, likes to be extreme vague, sadly, so the link between both powers is there, just in pieces; Hakí comes from the inner will of a person, as told by Reighley and conformed by Zoro during Wano. DFs are the problem here, I will admit, see we only recently started exploring them with the introduction of Dr. Vegapunk; who so far has stated DFs are more like "what ifs". If Hakí is power projected from one's inner will, then DFs sound like multiple wills forming a monster. Again One Piece is extremely slow at revealing things but the connect is starting to show, also Film Red confirms all DFs seem to have an actual Devil attached to them. I Liked the vid tho ✌️.

such a great analyses I'm writings a small comic and power system is kinda clear but still not really and i feel like your ideas really helped my only note is plzlzzz if you mentioned jojo again say "jojo's BIZARRE 🤨🤨 adventure" you can't just say that title normally

From Greed Island onwards, every new character is a stand user

Nen as metaphore of Self- Expression 6:20

Good video

Although least in Hunter X Hunter makes sense why he a bug unlike Cell. I mean has the DNA of Saiyans, (whatever Frieza race is) humans, Namekians. Yet some reason he a bug guy.

I watched this video last night & I realized Gons irresponsible, reckless dad is a direct parallel to Goku 🤯

I just finished hxh for the first time today and when i was close to starting the chimera ant arc, i saw meruem in a hxh yt poll and genuinely felt spoiled because i'd always thought he was a minor dbz character

What do you think about alluka's power as a metaphor for OCD. He talks about health, maybe one reason he couldn't finish the series because he suffers from it.

The thumbnail tells me someone's looking for a fight. Who's getting a big bang attack to the face?

Wow , a great vídeo for all to watch hxh

Killua is #1 for a reason such a loveable kid

Will you continue to make more hunter x hunter content

Great analysis, I never considered HxHs power system being a mix of JJBA and DBZ.

"F for Fake" also deals with the artistic value of fakes. That's a really unique movie, I highly recommend it. (It's directed by Orson Welles)

togashi is so good at coping something and make it seems original,i think this is a great strength not many mangaka has,i mean he copied frieza and cell design into meruem but u wont ever see ppl saying that meruem is a copy of frieza and cell unless togashi himself said it

i made a history, it has a cronological history starting with nothing and also an ending 1 and 2, what makes me unable to create a complete history, is that i made up like 103 characters that are the same but other versions of it, each of them has inspiration in something, there are some more original and others that could just be called a character made for a certain other history, but that they are original as they are, the thing that is not original is the system and powers it has, the first character made in all of this has it's appearance from a mix of goku, naruto and another one that i forgot, the final design looks somewhat similar to gon, but the charater itself is completly different, it's name comes from originally kirito, which, i changed it twice, first to kirtyu and then keleto, keleto was the name i ended up given it, made a power level called authority, and gave it a rank, that i still don't know how to properly develop it, created historys for the characters and also a lot more of different limitations and that every single one has it's own apelation mode, the real OP part, there is a 104 charater, this one being the true villain and also the reason for an ending, if it would reach the ending, every character basicly possesses a whole history on its back, they may be op, but the majority has a history of growing to become either the strongest or one of them. I can say a lot more, but just this summary is big already, if you want to give me any opinion i am opened to some, i don't know how to develop the middle of this history or how to further develop the systems and limitations to make it all enjoyable.

I honestly didn't care avout meruem being a "copy" of cell, i myself like cell, being a combination of everyone and trying to be at the top of the universe its tough (i don't think its just that because i feel that its common to people to not analyze the manga like their favorite franchises or bc they think its just fights)and i think its my second favorite villain in DB. so if i liked cell what's stopping me of liking meruem by this same thing and being also a favorite with cell even though i myself describe meruem as cell but actually has journey of the imperfect world he was born as a perfect being.

Dragon Ball's influence on Manga world is UNDENIABLE

HOLY SHIT. I JUST REALIZED THAT THEY ANIMATED A SCENE FROM THE LATEST CHAPTERS 2023 ALL THOSE YEARS AGO. succession war arc. Chrollos childhood. Him running and tossing back and forth a rectangular object. Fucks sake. Togashi planned SO far ahead.

I always appreciated Meruem as a better version of Cell. and I am trying to write too even though I will never publish my own writing I have the same villain as them. But anyway good video, it is really liberating.