Canary

"Master Killua is depending on me. He's risking everything to save his friend. I'll help him even if I lose my job... or my life!!" — Canary in "Butler"

Canary
Kana	カナリア
Rōmaji	Kanaria
Portrayal
Japanese Voice	Reiko Kiuchi (1999) Motoko Kumai (2011)
English Voice	Rocio Barahona (1999) Mela Lee (2011)
Debuts
Manga Debut	Chapter 41
Anime Debut	Episode 33 (1999) Episode 23 (2011)
Characteristics
Gender	Female
Age	13 (Debut) 15 (Current)[inference 🖱]
Height	164 cm* (5′4.5″)
Weight	52 kg* (115 lbs)
Birthday	1986
Eye Color	Green (1999) Grey (2011)
Hair Color	Red (1999) Dark Purple (2011)
Blood Type	AB*
State	Alive
General Status
Affiliation	Zoldyck Family (Employers)
Occupation	Zoldyck Butlers' Apprentice
Nen
Type	Unknown

Canary (カナリア, Kanaria) is an apprentice butler of the Zoldyck Family. Anyone attempting to pass her post on the estate will be expelled via force.

Appearance

• 2011
• 1999

Canary's 2011 anime adaptation design

Canary's 1999 anime adaptation design

Canary is in her early teens. She has grey eyes and dark purple hair pulled into thick bunches, each tied with a string towards the tip, which vaguely resembles stars. She has a round face, a small nose, and thick lips. Her skin is dark brown. She wears the standard Zoldyck butler suit.

In the 1999 anime, Canary's hair is mostly red, her eyes are green, and her skin is lighter.

Personality

Canary is very loyal to the Zoldyck Family. She is initially introduced as a ruthless guardian who does not hesitate to attack trespassers, but, as noted by Gon, she is not as heartless as she pretends to be, and just for a fraction of a second, her eyes convey gentleness or concern, although she tries to suppress it. She was deeply moved by his attempts to reach Killua, due to her feeling affection for her young master. Killua was kind to her and wanted them to be friends, but she declined due to her station. Her loyalty to Killua has caused her to disobey her orders to different degrees on more than one occasion.

Background

Canary defeating one hundred men

Canary grew up in Meteor City*, a junkyard city inhabited by outcasts. People who live there do not exist in any official records and the existence of the city itself is known to very few people. When she was ten years old, within minutes, she took down a Blacklist Hunter together with a hundred of his men attempting to go through her post.

Plot

Hunter Exam arc

Canary strikes Gon

As Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika walk down the pathway to the Zoldyck residence, they approach Canary, who orders them to leave as they're trespassing on private property. Gon tries to reason with Canary saying they called in advance and managed to go through the Testing Gate, but Canary still refuses as they're all still trespassing on the property. Gon persists in inquiring how they can pass because they're Killua's friends. However, due to them not having any permission from her seniors and no precedent, Canary refuses to let them pass. Seeing no alternative, Gon chooses to trespass further, and Canary warns Gon that if he crosses the line, he'll be removed by force. Gon does so, and his face is struck by Canary's cane, sending him backward. Gon gets back up and stops Leorio and Kurapika from retaliating against Canary.

Canary continues to beat up Gon

Gon then tries to reason with Canary that all they wish to do is see Killua, but Canary still refuses. This continues throughout the day as Gon's face becomes severely bruised and swollen. Trying to hold back her emotions, she tries to ask Gon to go away, but Gon refuses and is struck again by Canary's cane. She then implores Leorio and Kurapika to stop Gon, but they continue to observe silently. Hesitant as Gon approaches her, he asks Canary why she won't allow them to see Killua, as he then smashes the pillar she stood beside. Gon then claims he's crossed the line again and has yet to be hit. Canary reluctantly tries to, but is too frightened, as Gon explains that she's different from Mike the guard dog, because while she suppresses her emotions, she has a soul.

Kikyo knocks out Canary

Canary, moved by Gon's words, tries to request that he save Killua, but is shot in the head by a very tall woman accompanied by her child. The tall woman introduces herself as Killua's mother and the child as Killua's younger sibling Kalluto as Leorio examines Canary stating she's merely knocked unconscious. Canary regains consciousness after Killua's mother and younger brother leave. She informs the group that the butlers' quarters are close by, and there's a telephone that's connected to the mansion, and if master Zeno answers, then they may see Killua. The group reaches the quarters at night and is greeted by Gotoh and his fellow butlers. Inside the mansion, Gotoh proposes a coin game to help pass the time. Gon and their friends win the game three times, but to raise the stakes, Canary is held hostage, and if they were to lose, then Canary would die. Kurapika and Leorio are both eliminated in the first and second rounds, but Gon wins the last round, and Canary's life is spared.

13^th Hunter Chairman Election arc

Canary and Gotoh escorting Killua and Alluka

Canary returns alongside Gotoh as Killua's guardian for the requirements of the Level 4 Restriction placed upon him after he released Alluka out of the Zoldyck Estate. The senior butler Tsubone and her granddaughter Amane also were assigned to accompany them. Although Killua becomes nervous and distraught by Tsubone's presence, Canary promises to protect {Killua, even if it means losing her position or life. Amane then presents herself in front of Canary, and the two introduce one another. Tsubone shocks everyone by giving Alluka her pinky nail. Tsubone takes her leave but not before promising that she'll keep a close eye on Killua. Canary was in charge of driving the limousine to the hospital Gon was stationed at.

Canary driving the limousine

When Illumi contacts Killua, he surmises a family and butler relationship diagram where Canary and Gotoh, along with Tsubone and Amane, are mutually cautious of one another. At the same time, Zeno is Canary and Gotoh's employer, and they both trust Killua. After Killua challenges his older brother, he sends a car and a truck with manipulated drivers after them. This causes Canary to lose control of the limousine, sending it off a cliff and crashing down below. Everyone in the car manages to escape unharmed, but due to Amane failing to gain Killua's trust, he uses his Godspeed Nen ability to escape.

Canary and Amane ready to fight Hisoka

Surprised by Killua vanishing with Alluka, Gotoh contacts someone to update said person on the current situation. The group is then confronted by Hisoka, and Gotoh orders Canary and Amane to go after Killua as he'll deal with Hisoka. The two comply and leave. As soon as Tsubone contacts Canary, informing her she lost sight of Killua, Amane has Canary follow her, claiming it's faster to ride on her grandmother's bike. Canary, perplexed by Tsubone actually being the motorcycle, rides down the highway road and manages to catch up to Killua. However, he leaps into the forest in order to lose them again. Discussing the situation over they decide to intercept Killua at Parasta Airport.

Canary trying to call Gotoh

This impresses Killua, who meets Canary and Amane at the airport and is informed that they have reserved a blimp for him. Killua argues that he needs 5-6 blimps to lose the Illumi track. So as Amane reserves said blimps, Canary pesters her for Killua to escape, much to Amane's dismay. Frustrated by Canary's actions, Amane demands that they go after Killua, but Canary refuses in order to pilot one of the decoy blimps. As Amane begins to pout, Canary points out that she's cute when she expresses her emotions. In the decoy blimp Canary tries to contact Gotoh but to no avail. Later that night, Killua contacts Canary and is informed she couldn't get in contact with Gotoh either. So Killua orders her to get in contact with Hishita to send three cars to specified points. Canary informs Killua that four cars are already heading his way.

Canary visiting Gotoh's grave

Canary is shown to be shocked by the overpowering feeling from Alluka's ability to heal Gon. Back at Kukuroo Mountain, after Gon reunites with his father, Canary and Amane visit Gotoh's grave. Canary informs Amane that Gotoh's death is unknown to him, and she also learns that the Kiriko's son was hired to impersonate the departed Gotoh.

Abilities & Powers

Canary fighting a Bounty Hunter

Due to Canary being born in Meteor City*, her existence is not recorded in any database, which makes obtaining information about her nearly impossible. Her weapon is a rod that she always carries with her. In the 2011 anime adaptation, she is shown to be adept with assassination techniques like Shadow Step, although she was not aware of its name and claimed she might have learned during her days in Meteor City. It is later shown she is adept at learning quickly, as seen when Killua demonstrated the Rhythm Echo once, and precisely executed the technique moments later during an attack by Seaquant and about 100 of his henchmen.

Preternatural Perception: Canary was able to notice that there were intruders on the mountain, and unlike Killua, she also noticed that Kikyo was watching them from afar.

Enhanced Strength: Canary is strong enough to send enemies flying with just one attack. As a butler of the Zoldycks, she is also able to open the Testing Gates, although the number of doors she can open is unknown.

Enhanced Speed and Reflexes: Canary was able to react quickly in a car crash, and she was also fast enough to keep up with Killua, Amane, and Gotoh at a high speed.

Master Hand-to-Hand Combatant: As an apprentice butler of the Zoldyck Family, she is an expert fighter. She can defeat a Hunter and his 100 henchmen trying to intrude on the Zoldyck estate in mere minutes without breaking a sweat.

Rhythm Echo: The Rhythm Echo is an advanced art of assassination, thanks to which the user creates several after-images of his body through a variable cadence of steps. There is a total absence of noise during the movement. According to Netero it is the advanced version of the "Silent Gaits" technique.

Skilled Driver: Canary is an excellent driver, as seen by how she managed to avoid most obstacles in the car crash caused by Illumi.

Nen

Canary using Nen as fuel for Tsubone

So far, she has not shown any Nen abilities of her own; however, since she used her aura to fuel Tsubone's motorcycle, its clear that Canary knows how to use Nen, and consequently, uses Ten. She was also able to sense Illumi's Ren and she saw the aura unleashed by Nanika while healing Gon.

Manga Appearances

Hunter Exam arc
1. The Day of Departure	Absent
2. An Encounter in the Storm	Absent
3. The Ultimate Choice	Absent
4. Kiriko: Wicked Magical Vulpes	Absent
5. The First Phase Begins, Part 1	Absent
6. The First Phase Begins, Part 2	Absent
7. Respective Reasons	Absent
8. The Other Enemy	Absent
9. A Struggle in the Mist	Absent
10. An Unexpected Task	Absent
11. The Inevitable Outcome	Absent
12. The Chairman Awaits	Absent
13. A Game at Midnight, Part 1	Absent
14. A Game at Midnight, Part 2	Absent
15. The Path of Majority Rules	Absent
16. Enter the Taskmasters	Absent
17. Disparate Choice	Absent
18. The Two Aces in the Hole	Absent
19. The Trap of Majority Rules	Absent
20. Gambling Time	Absent
21. Resolution	Absent
22. The Last Question	Absent
23. Two Enemies	Absent
24. Crash Course	Absent
25. The Second Day	Absent
26. The Night Before the Showdown	Absent
27. A Volatile Situation	Absent
28. A Huge Favor	Absent
29. Killua's Case	Absent
30. The Slithering Trap	Absent
31. By the Skin of Their Teeth...	Absent
32. And the Final Test...?	Absent
33. The Final Test Begins!	Absent
34. The First Candidate Accepted?!	Absent
35. Light and Darkness, Part 1	Absent
36. Light and Darkness, Part 2	Absent
37. Light and Darkness, Part 3	Absent
38. Ging Freecss	Absent
39. Intruder	Absent
40. The Zoldycks, Part 1	Absent
41. The Zoldycks, Part 2	Debut
42. The Zoldycks, Part 3	Appears
43. The Zoldycks, Part 4	Appears

13th Hunter Chairman Election arc
319. Lottery	Absent
320. Voting	Absent
321. Monster	Absent
322. Siblings	Absent
323. Job Offer	Absent
324. Butler	Appears
325. Joining the Fray	Absent
326. Open Hostilities	Appears
327. Riddle	Appears
328. Arrangements	Appears
329. Spy	Appears
330. Confession	Absent
331. Day of Reckoning	Absent
332. Applause	Absent
333. Rumble	Appears
334. Total Defeat	Absent
335. Decision	Absent
336. Release	Absent
337. Repentance	Absent
338. Atop a Tree	Absent
339. Stillness	Appears

Battles

Battles
Hunter Exam arc: Canary vs. Seaquant and about 100 of his henchmen† (Past) Canary vs. Gon Freecss Canary vs Kikyo Zoldyck 13th Hunter Chairman Election arc: Canary, Killua Zoldyck, Alluka Zoldyck, Gotoh, and Amane vs. Illumi Zoldyck (car crash)

Trivia

• Canary has a rather large role in the Hunter × Hunter musical, The Nightmare of Zaoldyeck, as she is identified as one of Killua's precious friends.
  • She was portrayed by Masami Suzuki in The Nightmare of Zaoldyeck.

Anime and Manga Differences

• Canary's past was never revealed in the manga, but a character guidebook for the 1999 anime adaptation revealed that she originated from Meteor City.
  • In Madhouse's adaptation, a scene is added in which Canary states that she was from Meteor City and she knows how to use the Shadow Step.
  • In the 2011 anime series, she says that if Killua ever wishes to visit the city one day, she will act as his guide.
• Canary did not wear a suit jacket when she fought with Seaquant in the 2011 anime adaptation; however, when Seaquant recollected the memory, Canary is portrayed with a jacket on.

Intertextuality and References

• In a 1999 doujinshi titled "Weekly Togashi Empire" (週刊冨樫帝国, Shūkan Togashi Teikoku), Togashi revealed that Canary was based on Hitoe Arakaki, a singer most known as a member of the former Japanese pop group SPEED.

Miscellaneous

• In the Japanese 2011 anime adaptation, Canary is voiced by Motoko Kumai. Coincidentally, she voiced another black anime character: Chocolove McDonell from Shaman King.

Translations around the World

Language		Name
Arabic		كاناري (Knari)
Brazilian Portuguese		Kanaria
Chinese		卡娜莉亚/卡娜莉亞* (Kǎ nà lì yà)
French		Kanaria
Korean		카나리아 (Kanaria)
Polish		Kanaria
Russian		Канария (Kanariya)