Hunter x Hunter hasn't released a new episode in the anime for almost a decade at this point, but the fandom has arguably never been stronger. Though the show carries many of the tropes and expectations of a typical fantasy action adventure, it features plenty of heart and character. The show's name comes from the in-universe occupation of becoming a Hunter, an elite member of humanity who is capable of tremendous physical feats and powers.
They basically travel the world with free reign and are showered with gifts and rewards for simply obtaining a Hunter license. Hunter x Hunter itself focuses on the personal journey of a young kid named Gon Freecss who wants to become a Hunter simply to find out what happened to his father. Among the current 148 aired episodes, there are more than a handful of interesting side characters fans still have questions about.
8 Razor
Who knew that the world of Hunter x Hunter would have better prison reform and rehabilitation than what's found in the real world? Razor appears during the Greed Island arc of the anime and originally presents as a sturdy and capable leader of men who has a knack for athletics. As a victim of childhood abuse Razor grew up into a murderer and criminal who was set to be killed as a result of a death sentence.
Gon's father, Ging, gave the man a second chance and appointed him as the controller of the game taking place on Greed Island. Thanks to Ging both giving him a second chance at life and addressing him by his real name, it gave Razor a new lease on life and unending respect for Gon's father.
7 Menchi & Buhara
When the concept of Hunters is first introduced most people gravitated towards bounty hunters and treasure hunters, as those seem like the most interesting paths to obtaining an official license. During the Hunter Exam, Gon meets a pair of Gourmet Hunters named Menchi and Buhara who offer a more eclectic Hunter path.
They use their gifts to hunt down rare and exotic animals and cooking ingredients in hopes of it resulting in the best dishes the human palate has ever experienced. Buhara is a very large man who fits the profile of what someone would expect a Gourmet Hunter to look like, whereas Menchi is a fit and athletic woman with a personality as colorful as both her hair color and hairstyle.
6 Shadow Beasts
How interesting can a group of people be if they're introduced and killed off in the same episode? This may be the thought process of some people out there who maybe even forgot that the Shadow Beasts existed. They were a group of Nen users who served as the personal bodyguards of the power mafia group known as the Ten Dons.
In the anime, viewers are introduced to half of them, each named after an animal related to the Nen ability they developed. The five featured in the show were known as Leech, Owl, Porcupine, Rabid Dog, and Worm. Off-screen the other five were essentially killed, going presumably by the names Fish, Hedgehog, Mule, Frog, and Bat.
5 Koala
Despite how crazy the concept of the Chimera Ant arc is in Hunter x Hunter, it happens to withstand the test of time as one of the most rewarding and exciting arcs in all of anime. The idea of human/animal hybrids goes from immediately off-putting, to a place where the human thought and condition seep through the ridiculous character designs.
Koala is a Chimera Ant who takes on the form of a pink koala in a business suit. As ridiculous as that sounds he is the source of captivating and intellectual conversation regarding the philosophical realities of what Chimera Ants are in relation to their previous lives and the concept of souls.
4 The Zodiac
Hunter x Hunter features numerous groups of overpowered individuals, with the Zodiacs coming in as both the latest to be introduced and possibly the strongest. One could argue that the Phantom Troupe is equally interesting and powerful, but they are much more heavily involved in the plot of the anime, and much more is known about them.
The Zodiac is a group of twelve people each representing an animal featured in the Chinese Zodiac. Each of them also has physical traits that make their connection to said animal much clearer, which can also be seen in their personality and emotional responses.
3 Ging Freecss
From the very beginning of Hunter x HunterGing Freecss sits at the forefront of viewers' minds as they drive themselves crazy wondering who he is and where he went. That mystery and intrigue continue throughout most of the anime but subsides a bit when he's finally introduced.
Sure, the stories of his adventures and what he's done are still welcome, but it becomes clear he's a bit of a selfish jerk. It makes sense in context considering he abandoned his kid to pursue his interests, but a little bit of self-awareness and empathy for Gon would make him a much more endearing anime father. With the anime possibly coming back and continuing the story there's still hope that the relationship between the two powerful Hunters could be mended even further.
2 Wing & Zushi
A great relationship between a mentor and mentee can cement an anime as one of the greats, and the best example of that in Hunter x Hunter has to be the one between Wing and Zushi. On his Wing is critical to the eventual triumphs of both Killua and Gon as he teaches them about Nen.
Some viewers might have seen Zushi as nothing more than a comparable example of just how strong Killua and Gon were by comparison, but the seven-year-old wasn't a pushover in the slightest. It's unclear if Zushi and Wing will pop up again in the anime, but with each passing month, it's safe to assume Zushi will one day be a Hunter.
1 Gyro
One of the biggest remaining mysteries in all of Hunter x Hunter revolves around the violent madman known as Gyro. He was once the ruler of the NGL and it was believed that despite his being turned into a Chimera Ant, his willpower allowed him to retain his memories and personality in this new state. It is assumed that Gyro, or whatever he goes by now, is stationed in Meteor City and is looking to rebuild his kingdom following the events of the Chimera Ant arc.
Despite Gyro's backstory showcasing a kid who was thrust into a life of abuse and violence at the hands of his father, he grew up to be a charismatic leader whose followers would give their life for his own. In some ways, it feels as though Gyro serves as a reflection of Gon, where one grew up without a father but with plenty of love and the other with a father resulting in nothing but hate and anger.