

It is well-written but with filler, as most anime interpretations on manga do.

The world suddenly gets a lot larger and more characters are introduced, both helpful and as hindrances to their goals. It also follows them after the Hunter exams are over, which is when the story really picks up, as does the action. Gon wants to find his father Leorio, slightly older, wants to become a doctor and help people Curapika(spelling/pronunciation varies for his name) wants revenge Killua, Gon's closest friend of the 3, was bored. The story covers all 4 and their reasons for becoming "Hunters". He meets the 3 others in the exams to become a Hunter and they remain close, despite physical distance at times. Meeting a man, a Hunter, who claims to have known his father sets Gon off on his journey.

The central character, Gon, grows to ~12 without knowing his father. Essentially it is a story of four friends (a la Yu Yu Hakusho which is another Togashi creation). The only problem there is that if you watch the whole series and the 3 OVAs, Genei Ryodan saga and Greed Island and Greed Island Final, it will leave you wanting more which you can't get without reading the manga(which currently isn't that high in US releases). Firstly, it gets a 9 from Togashi being more than a little lazy and stopping the manga which put a LOT of holds on the anime, which is why the series was cancelled and OVAs were put out instead.
