Lessons from a Mangaka: Recycling Works…If You Know What You’re Doing (Pt 1?)

I feel old knowing that I grew up watching YuYu Hakusho and now I’m watching Hunter X Hunter. Years apart, the two anime series showcase the best that mangaka Togashi Yashihiro has to offer – concepts and plot progressions he either originated or emulated and made his very own. Hunter X Hunter uses a LOT of elements from YuYu Hakusho, but since they’re used quite brilliantly, I got no beef with that. Indeed, recycling manga elements work, if you know what you're doing.


The most obvious similarity is the composition of the main protagonists. YuYu had Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, and Hiei. Hunter has Gon, Leorio, Kurapica, and Killua. For fans of both series, it’s plain to see which character takes from who. The similarities are so candid and unveiled and insignificant because the mangaka didn’t take it straight out of someone else’s work – it was his own. Guess growing old in the business has its perks.


To reiterate what anime (and Yashihiro) fans already know,

Gon takes elements from Yusuke. Simple and strong-willed, both are also quite athletic to begin with, and both have what my cheesier peers would call a pure heart – of course, Yusuke’s purity was different from Gon’s. Comparing the two, however, I prefer the development and fundamental profile of Gon. His natural, animal-like instincts give him a slight edge (at least IMO), and his kindred emotions are so unalloyed that it’s all merry when he’s amiable, but it’s all hell when he’s pissed (right, Pitou?). Both characters also have legendary fathers, and both had at one point had rock star hairdos owing to sudden power shifts on the higher end of the Geiger counter.


Leorio is basically a more decent version of Kuwabara. Both simple and impulsive, they also end up being the most idiotic of the group, as well as the weakest. Another similarity can be found in their storyline progressions, where after a certain point they get left out completely. Case in point, when Yusuke, Hiei, and Kurama were invited to the Demon World, Kuwabara stayed behind. In essence, the three other protagonists got to have their background stories told. Gon, Killua, and Kurapica have all had their stories told (Killua twice over, and it was more fun the second time around LOL), and so far we got nada about Leorio’s life. Might this change in the following chapters? It might. It’s unlikely, however.


Kurapica is a more ‘emo’ version of Kurama. They also share a feminine look and appeal, as well as intellectual prowess. I like Kurama much better, however, than Kurapica who just had to go all Sasuke on the manga (of course, it was the manga Naruto that could be said to have borrowed that element). It might also be a bit of a stretch, but Kurama’s rose whip resembles Kurapica’s Nen chain.


Killua takes from Hiei. Both had ridiculously abnormal childhoods and a killing streak longer than sunset boulevard. I appreciated Hiei’s back story, but it was zilch compared to the depth of character development and storyline made for Killua. Another element that jumps out is both character’s affinity for speed and quick – as in really quick – kills, which end up being awesome more often than not. Also, both have important sisters which were central to their individual storylines – Yukina and Alluka / Nanika.


The main protagonists are the more obvious facets of both series that simply stand out. Though there are a few more similarities that – given the current course and pace of the Hunter X Hunter manga – have got me thinking on what could happen next in the series now that Gon has met Ging, his vagabond father.

For one thing, YuYu Hakusho’s entire story could be represented by a straightforward:

Series start --> main protagonist event --> additional protagonists acquired --> big fight --> plot line progression / transition & protagonist event --> tournament --> plot line transition & additional, albeit temporary, protagonists acquired --> big fight (again) --> plot line progression / transition --> tournament (again) --> end.

Here’s a more detailed view with the events explained:


Now, let’s compare that to Hunter X Hunter:

Series start --> main protagonist event --> additional protagonists acquired --> hunter exam & one more protagonist --> plot line progression / transition (a rather long one considering there were two mini arcs there – the Zoldyck family arc and the nen learning arc) --> big fight & temporary comrades acquired (and lost) --> plot line progression / transition --> big fight --> plot line transition / progression (rather short one, really) --> big effin’ fight (again) --> plot line transition / progression (another long one, where ANOTHER Zoldyck family mini arc is AGAIN developed IN CONJUNCTION with the elections mini arc) --> ???

Here’s a more detailed version of that:


Evidently, Hunter X Hunter’s plot development has been a bit more complex and longer than YuYu’s, with character story lines explored in different parts or plot line progressions. The emerging elements of storyline though are also quite obvious: progression, big fight, and tournament / exam. Given this setup, it took two tournaments before YuYu ended. The Hunter X Hunter manga chapters are drawing awfully close to the second Hunter Exam. Does this spell the end for Hunter X Hunter?


Well, for one thing, Gon already met Ging. So that loose end has been tied. However, Kurapica’s beef with the Spiders has yet to be concluded, and with Kuroro getting his nen back we can expect more epic fights to come. Another, more recent development is the addition of Alluka. Illumi is now staunchly targeting Alluka by way of controlling Killua – that is a huge loose end. Another loose end that’s bugging me is that certain chimera ant that shook free of the Queen ant’s influence early on – the one named Gyro. An entire chapter was dedicated to his back story, and Welfin and another ant was seen to be in search of him at the end of the chimera ant arc. I doubt Yashihiro ends Hunter X Hunter without bringing Gyro back.


But anyway, I digressed a LOT. I meant to rant about the similarities in YuYu and Hunter, but oh well, I’ll finish up some other time. This has gone on for too long. LOL.