Talk: List of Episodes (1999 series)

1999 Series Alternate Ending

Hunter x Hunter Finale Storyboard

According to some working documents (storyboard), an unsourced affirmation and a contributor analysis of the character arcs, the 1999 series director Kazuhiro Furuhashi might have planned to end the anime by killing Kurapika and Chrollo in a battle.

Manga author Yoshihiro Togashi apparently (according to rumors) disliked and rejected the idea of this ending.

Claim

“	Many might not know this, but the 1999 series was actually intended to conclude the series with more finality with an anime-only ending. The last two episodes initially were entirely different from the manga. Furuhashi intended for Kurapika to engage in a climactic battle against the leader of the Phantom Troupe, both men dying in the process (in order to round out the "eye for an eye" motif in the 1999 series). And you know how the 1999 series features a ton of little moments shipping Kurapika and Leorio? The 1999 series was supposed to end with Kurapika dying in Leorio's arms in a tearful goodbye. Apparently the storyboards were auctioned off a few years ago and you can find images of them online; here's an example.	”
—Mr. Toto

Anime News Network Forums
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/bbs/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=2106912#2106912

Analysis

“	The 1999 series didn't have too many moments of filler in its latter half, but the instances it did have threw off continuity. Firstly, the "an eye for an eye" thing stems from phrase Killua states throughout the 1999 series and eventually becomes a recurring theme. I believe that it first makes its appearance between the second and third phases of the Hunter Exam. There was a filler character named Anita who stowed away on the Hunter Association's airship for the sake of revenge against Killua, whom she believed to have killed her father (it ended up being another Zoldyck). The major idea was that people get what's coming to them; people who do "bad things" to others are always punished. This filler set the precedent for the rest of the show, as director Kazuhiro Furuhashi continued to explore and connect these themes to canon moments. "An eye for an eye" became one of the series' filler catchphrases (there are plenty). And once Nen was introduced, a second portion was added to the catchphrase to make a rhyming pun: "An eye for an eye, Nen for Nen" (目には目を、念には念を Me ni wa me wo, Nen ni wa Nen wo). Now I've mentioned before that Kurapika is a different character in the 1999 series. This is because if you pay close attention, there are some key differences in the ways that Kurapika responds to one of the most major trials in his life: the murder of Uvogin. In the Nippon Animation version, Kurapika is disgusted with himself for having killed a man. He can't stand it. He nearly retches. Throws away his bloodstained clothes. Gets physically ill from having committed such an act. But in the manga, Kurapika doesn't even flinch after killing Uvogin. In fact--his expression doesn't change a bit. It's cold and resolved at the same time. Despite being such a moralist in the beginning of the series, you start to realize that it was all talk and that Kurapika is a much darker-minded character than he originally portrayed himself to be. In the Hunter Exam arc, Kurapika at first is on a bit of a high horse. He finds Leorio reprehensible for his desire for money and carries himself in a pure manner. Kurapika states that his goal is to become a Blacklist Hunter in order to only capture the Phantom Troupe. But the more we learn about Kurapika, the more we begin to question it. During the First Phase, he has a conversation with Leorio in which he states that he isn't adverse to infiltrating society's underworld in order to arrest the members of the Phantom Troupe. Then in the Third Phase, Kurapika nearly kills Majitani for disguising himself as a member of the Troupe and thereafter threatens to do it. Gon is the only one to take notice of and consider Kurapika's change in demeanor. This comes to a head when Kurapika first encounters a member of the Phantom Troupe. He gets irrationally angry and impulsive. All of his morals go out of the window and the only thing on his mind is blood instead of justice. Furuhashi might've believed that Kurapika was in inner turmoil over his personal morality and his sense of justice. In fact, he goes so far as to imply that Kurapika was indoctrinated by the Kurta clan. In episode 58, he nearly breaks down whilst chanting a prayer that goes as follows: "The sun upon my face, the grass beneath my feet. My skin cleansed by the water of a lake. My spirit soars among the clouds, my path illuminated by the moon and stars. I honor my ancestors for bringing me to this place and defend my brethren with my dying breath. I will step forward to humbly share in their joy and carry the burden of their sorrows. By my word and deed, their name will live on... For my Scarlet Eyes and my blood are one with theirs; I will take up the mantle, and accept any wrongdoing I commit, to preserve the Kurta people, until we are redeemed forever. On the Scarlet Eyes, I swear." Key lines include "defend my brethren with my dying breath," "carry the burden of their sorrows," and "I will take up the mantle, and accept any wrongdoing I commit, to preserve the Kurta people, until we are redeemed forever." When you think about it, Kurapika's clan was eradicated when he was only twelve. Therefore, he would have been taught this prayer in his childhood. You get the sense that Kurapika's revenge (in the 1999 series) isn't solely being driven by his own will--he's following his ancestors' will and it conflicts with his personal moral code. So his anguish over killing Uvogin is because he knows that he's done something wrong. He feels guilt for having done it. Therefore, an eye for an eye. Blood will be repaid with blood. Uvogin was killed by Kurapika for having killed his clan, so Furuhashi intended Chrollo Lucilfer and Kurapika kill each other to settle their grudges. There are scenes and motifs Furuhashi places within the Nippon Animation version foreshadowing Kurapika's intended demise. The bloody moon dripping downward, Kurapika's floating corpse in a lake of blood in episode 45, etc. Of course, these are all pretty much the opposite of what the creator intended. Kurapika doesn't feel guilt over his actions even though we (as viewers) believe that he should. Uvogin's murder is ugly, merciless, and brutal. Kurapika is portrayed almost as a villain in this scene in the manga. And Chrollo is the opposite because he doesn't hold grudges like that. In fact, he champions ignoring Kurapika in order to focus on the Troupe's true objective.	”
—Mr. Toto

Anime News Network Forums
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/bbs/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=2109270#2109270

- Posted by: LighthalzenFR (Talk)