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Yoshihiro Togashi, the brilliant mind behindHunter x Hunter, is known for his detailed and thoughtful approach to storytelling and character development. In a Q&A, Togashi reveals his personal method of crafting characters, which he describes as drawing from a “mental inventory.” This is exactly how his work setsHunter x Hunterapart from other legendary manga series likeNarutoandOne Piece.
Togashi’s unique approach to creating his cast, particularly how he categorizes them into appearance, personality, and circumstances, makes the characters ofHunter x Huntertruly stand out in the anime and manga universe. These are the three pillars of the iconic characters we know and love today. WhileOne PieceandNarutoare classic anime with incredible character development, there’s something about Togashi’s process that madeHunter x Hunter’snarrative superior.
The Key to Togashi’s Genius for Making Superior Characters
In several manga, the appearances of characters are almost always symbolic of their personalities and backstories. Moreover, it can also mirror the powers, affiliations, or general demeanor of the character. In Naruto, for example, characters are often visually distinct based on their ninja village or family clan. In One Piece, the vibrant and exaggerated designs often reflect a character’s Devil Fruit or eccentric persona.Togashi’s approach, on the other hand, is more nuanced and something familiar to real life. He says inthis Q&A on Iwakura and Yoshizumi’s Show:
When deciding on appearance, I refer to my mental inventory of manga, novels, movies, music, historical and cultural figures, entertainers, and athletes that I’ve seen.
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He blends cultural references and his admiration for other manga authors into consideration when creating characters. It reflects his own take on the characters and his creative process. He also goes the extra mile of thinking about their circumstance and how that would affect their personality so appearance isn’t the end to it all. Their appearance compliments their complex circumstances and layered personality.
Togashi’s Process Makes His Characters Memorable
Togashi’s use of circumstances is perhaps where his process truly shines and makes his characters iconic. These characters are never just defined by their looks and the personalities that complement them but also by the circumstances they have to struggle through. These situations are then intricately written into the storyline and serve as a driving force behind the character’s personality and development.
The characters created by Togashi are incredibly memorable for the right reasons. Let’s take Kurapika, for instance. His design is incredibly attractive and elegant yet his restrained appearance mirrors his calm and focused demeanor. However, his scarlet eyes, which are tied directly to his emotions, are a visual marker tied to his clan’s tragic history. It hints at the deep rage and sorrow that lie beneath his composed exterior.
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These aspects make Kurapika who he is – personality, appearance, and circumstances. Similarly, Gon is not a perfect protagonist. Even someone as controversial asHisoka is a complex character, something Togashi intended to perfect in his process of making a character. No one is pure or evil in the world ofHunter x Huntereither and he made sure these characters were never just one aspect. This is how it remained superior in the world of anime.
Hunter x Hunteris available on Crunchyroll.
Bidisha Mitra
Articles Published :802
Bidisha is an Anime Content Writer at FandomWire with over 700 published articles. With over 7 years of writing experience, she’s versatile and adept. When she’s not writing, she’s also a voice actor on the side.Bidisha is currently continuing to learn Japanese and gets more fluent everyday. Her expertise is One Piece, Bungo Stray Dogs, and Haikyuu, but has been watching anime for over a decade. She was previously a Content Writer reviewing the latest Kpop music.
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