Hunter X Hunter (1999) is the first anime adaptation of Yoshihiro Togashi’s critically acclaimed manga. Produced by Nippon Animation and directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi, this version aired from October 1999 to March 2001. It follows the adventures of Gon Freecss, a young boy striving to become a Hunter and find his missing father, Ging. Alongside his friends Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, Gon faces numerous challenges, dangerous opponents, and intricate storylines filled with mystery and emotion.
Compared to the 2011 adaptation, the hunter x hunter 1999 version covers fewer arcs, stopping before the Chimera Ant saga, but it contains a higher proportion of filler episodes. The filler content in this version was often used to extend the anime’s run and fill gaps while the manga was ongoing. This guide will help you navigate which episodes are filler and which are canon so you can enjoy the main story without unnecessary detours.
Skip Episodes 2, 7, and 18–20 — that’s it. Out of 92 total episodes, only 5 are true filler, giving Hunter x Hunter (1999) one of the lowest filler ratios (about 5%) of any long-running anime. You can safely skip straight from the core story without losing any plot continuity.
What is Filler and Canon in Anime?
Canon Episode (Watch) : In anime, canon episodes are those that follow the original storyline from the manga or light novel — they are directly adapted from the source material and are essential to the main plot.
Filler Episode (Skip) : These episodes are anime-original content that does not appear in the manga. These episodes are often created to give the manga time to progress ahead of the anime, and while some fillers offer fun side stories or extra character moments, others can feel disconnected from the main narrative. Knowing which episodes are canon and which are filler helps viewers decide whether to watch everything or skip directly to the core storyline.
Hunter x Hunter (1999) Stats
- First Air Date: October 16, 1999
- Last Air Date: August 18, 2004
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Episodes | 92 |
| Filler Episodes | 5 (Episodes 2, 7, 18, 19, 20) |
| Filler Ratio | ~5% |
| Arcs Covered | Hunter Exam through Greed Island (no Chimera Ant arc) |
Filler Episode Guide
Should You Watch the Filler Anyway?
Given how little filler this version actually has, the case for watching everything is stronger here than it is for most long-running shonen anime. These five episodes tend to blend smoothly with the surrounding story rather than standing out as obvious detours, largely because Furuhashi’s direction leaned into a slower, more atmospheric pace throughout the series, which makes anime-original material feel less jarring than it might in a faster-paced show. If you’re a completionist, or simply want a bit more character time with Gon and his friends before the Hunter Exam’s second phase ramps up, there’s little downside to watching all five.
That said, if your priority is a lean, manga-faithful watch, skipping Episodes 2, 7, and 18–20 costs you almost nothing in terms of plot continuity — you’ll land back in the main story without missing a single canon beat.
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Helpful Tips for Watching
The hunter x hunter 1999 version is known for its faithful adaptation and minimal filler content, so even the so-called “filler” episodes often blend seamlessly with the main story. If you’re aiming for a pure manga experience, you can skip the few non-canon episodes without losing track of the plot. However, these fillers often add extra depth to character relationships and give more screen time to fan-favorite moments, so completionists and first-time viewers may still find them worth watching.
Read About Hunter x Hunter 2019 Filler Guide in Detail
Conclusion
Hunter x Hunter 1999 remains a genuinely faithful, lightly-padded adaptation of Togashi’s early arcs, and the reputation it sometimes gets for heavy filler doesn’t hold up against the actual numbers — just 5 episodes out of 92, a filler rate around 5%. Whether you skip those five or watch the whole run, you’re getting one of the more manga-accurate long-running shonen adaptations of its era, right up through the final OVA-covered chapters of the Greed Island arc.
Are you watching hunter x hunter 1999 version for nostalgia, or working through it for the first time before jumping into the 2011 remake? Let us know in the comments.
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