User blog comment:Hudamer/Kurapika 1999 vs 2011/@comment-4932025-20160225190417

The 1999 adaptation was centered around Kurapika, the director Kazuhiro Furuhashi, was a big fan of Kurapika and even wanted to give the series an anime original ending in the Yorkshin arc.

It's no wonder he was given much more care and characterization in the 99 anime.