Michael B Jordan Red CarpetImage via Instar Images
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Collier Jennings
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Collier Jennings is an entertainment journalist with a substantial amount of experience under his belt. Collier, or "CJ" to his friends and family, is a dedicated fan of genre films - particularly science fiction, fantasy and comic book adaptations, not to mention all forms of animation animation. This stems from a close bond with his father, who introduced him to these genres via copies of X-Men comics and reruns of the original Ultraman series. Using his near-encyclopedic knowledge and bottomless love of genre, he's been able to tackle a wide variety of articles.
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Michael B. Jordan has become a significant presence in genre fare across the years. Not only did the surprise success of Chronicle propel him to superstardom, but he's also joined frequent collaborator Ryan Coogler for the Black Panther films and the horror hit Sinners. Jordan has a deep love for anime, and during a press tour for Creed III, he revealed some of his favorite series that newcomers should watch — including Hunter x Hunter, which is now available to stream on Netflix. "One Piece, Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, Bleach, Hunter X Hunter...that’s a pretty good starting five," Jordan told BBC Radio 1.
Created by Yoshihiro Togashi (who's also married to Sailor Moon creator Naoko Takeuchi), Hunter x Hunter is the story of Gon Freecs, a young orphan who discovers that his father, Ging, is alive and a Hunter. Hunters are tasked with tracking down some of the world's rarest beings and treasures, as they're the only ones with the skills to find these lost legends. Therefore, Gon undergoes rigorous training to become a Hunter so he can reunite with his father.
'Hunter x Hunter' Is Infamous for Its Multiple Versions and Multiple Hiatuses
The heroes of Hunter x Hunter looking a bit worse for wear after another stage of the Hunter Examination.Image via Nippon TV
Many elements make Hunter x Hunter stand out from other shonen anime. First off, there's the tone, which starts lighthearted but introduces darker elements as the story progresses. Hunter x Hunter also possesses a well-thought-out magic system that prevents the "power scaling" issues that often plague other shonen stories. What really seperates Hunter x Hunter from the pack is the fact that it's been adapted multiple times; there was the original series that aired in 1999, concluding in 2001 with a trio of original video animations. A second series debuted in 2011, introducing Yoshihiro Togashi's work to an entirely new generation.
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Posts 13 By Hannah Saab Jul 9, 2025Just as infamous are the hiatuses that Hunter x Hunter has run into. Despite the manga launching in 1998, Togashi has yet to complete the series, even teasing four possible endings in 2023. These hiatuses have affected the anime, though a pair of films have expanded upon the world of Hunter x Hunter. Hunter x Hunter: Phantom Rouge and Hunter x Hunter: The Last Mission both supply Hunter x Hunter fans with new stories while also managing to break from the flow of the manga; Phantom Rouge is even based on an original story that Togashi planned for another manga project.
Michael B. Jordan Was Influenced by 'Hunter x Hunter' and Other Anime During 'Creed III'
Hunter x Hunter isn't just one of Michael B. Jordan's favorite anime, but also a significant influence on how he approached fight scenes during Creed III. While Jordan said that the final battle between Naruto and Sasuke in Naruto Shippuden was his touchstone for the final fight between his Adonis Creed and Jonathan Majors' Damian Anderson, a struggle in Hunter x Hunter also parallels this brutal boxing match. While Gon is taking his Hunter's exam, he runs afoul of Hisoka, a sadistic clown-like figure who seeks to become a Hunter so he can track and kill others without consequence. Hisoka knocks Gon out during one battle, leading the aspiring Hunter to claim that he'll return the blow.
Gon finally gets his chance during the "Heaven's Arena" storyline, where he and his friend Killua enter a fight club, eventually encountering Hisoka. During their battle, Gon delivers a massive punch to Hisoka's face that sends him reeling, mirroring a moment in Creed III where Adonis and Damian slam their fists into each other's faces. It's a significant example of anime's visual language influencing Jordan's projects; Killmonger's suit in Black Panther is visually similar to Vegeta's Saiyan armor in Dragon Ball Z, and he recently discussed a tragic moment in My Hero Academia with Austin Butler and Paul Mescal. Jordan's even produced and headlined his own anime project with gen: LOCK, which pays homage to mecha anime, including Mobile Suit Gundam.
Hunter x Hunter is worth a watch, even with its multiple hiatuses. It helped shape the landscape of shōnen anime, and Michael B. Jordan is right when he says it's one of the best introductions to anime.
Hunter x Hunter
Like TV-14 Animation Action & Adventure Comedy Fantasy Science-Fiction Release Date 2011 - 2014 Directors Hiroshi Kôjina Writers Atsushi Maekawa, Tsutomu Kamishiro Franchise(s) Hunter X HunterCast
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