Hunter x Hunter's Chimera Ant Arc might be perfect, but I'd still change 7 things

Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc is considered by many as the best anime arc ever, and for good reason. This is an immensely impactful storyline with memorable dynamics, exhilarating battles, and heart-wrenching moments that leave a lasting impression on viewers.

However, even if it is nearly perfect at what it sets out to achieve, there are still certain elements I would change about it. These could smooth out the minor cracks in the storyline while also reducing the number of naysayers in the fandom. Hence, here are 7 things I would change from the amazing Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc.

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7 changes I'd make to Hunter x Hunter's Chimera Ant Arc

1) Introduce the Chimera Ant threat earlier

While the Chimera Ant Arc is supposed to act like a separate storyline from start to finish, it would have been far more effective and realistic for it to be seeded earlier into the story. The sudden shift from the lighter Greed Island to the horror-like insectoid territory dominated by world-threatening monsters can seem abrupt at times.

While it works for shock value, mentioning the impending threat the Chimera Ants possess, potentially through glimpses or rumors during the prior arcs, would have greatly increased the anticipation when heading into it.

As manga readers know, there are also Chimera Ants in Pariston’s possession, and their origin is connected to the Dark Continent. This suggests that certain Hunters were aware of the monsters well before the arc began. Hence, mentioning it in some form would have added greater cohesion to the overarching narrative.

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2) Further emphasis on Gyro

Fans will agree that Gyro is among the most intriguing characters in Hunter x Hunter. As the former leader of NGL, he had been turned into a Chimera Ant but maintained his sanity due to his willpower. We never see Gyro personally, only getting a glimpse into his tragic upbringing, as well as the words of his followers.

His introduction and exit occur within a few scenes, where he was present in the same location as Gon but never encountered the protagonist. His subordinates believed he had headed to Meteor City to rebuild his empire.

A portion of the Hunter x Hunter fandom believes that Gyro is the final antagonist of the series. His subtle parallels with Gon and his goal of spreading evil throughout the world are captivating and terrifying. Unfortunately, that was all Togashi ever revealed about him.

Given the author’s ill health and the constant hiatuses of the story, Gyro is yet to be featured again, and the chances of his reintroduction seem slim. In hindsight, several others and I wish that the Chimera Ant Arc had gone deeper into this figure. His role in establishing NGL and his ideology could have given audiences something concrete to latch onto.

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3) Give Ponzu more time to shine

Ponzu was one of the first major victims of the Chimera Ant invasion, facing an instantaneous death at the hands of the Gun-toting Ant. While this was certainly a memorable moment displaying the fearsome nature of the Chimera Ants, Ponzu’s death faded into oblivion.

What could have been an immensely tragic loss was not impactful, mainly because Ponzu had never shown up in the series since the first Hunter Exams. She had an interesting dynamic with the main characters and creative bee powers, but these were never explored further for fans to remember her.

As a result, if she had been given as much depth as the rest of the cast, her death could have heightened the stakes to another level. It would have completely engrossed fans into the Chimera Ant Arc right from the beginning, compared to some who felt like it was a dull, slow-burn at the start.

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4) Let Kite fight properly before dying

The biggest gripe that many viewers have with Kite is that he is simply not shown enough in Hunter x Hunter. As a testament to this, his own death against Pitou was off-screen. While it is understandable that this was done to hide Pitou’s true powers and maintain an air of mystery surrounding Kite’s survival, it still felt like a missed opportunity.

Kite possessed one of the most unique Nen abilities called Crazy Slots and was a talented Hunter mentored by Ging himself. Even if he was fated to die, watching his struggle against Pitou, or even hearing his final thoughts, would have made his loss more meaningful, and added several emotional layers to Gon’s purpose.

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5) Show more civilian impact

The reason the Chimera Ants were a threat in Hunter x Hunter was that they could rapidly take over NGL, showed little care for human life, and their powers could dominate the whole world. While early glimpses displayed the brutality of the Chimera Ants, where villages were wiped out and people were eaten, this did not remain consistent.

Rather, once the story narrowed in on personal character arcs, it stopped showcasing the lives of the people living in fear and how they adapted to their surroundings. Seeing the stories of the “unknowns” and comparing them to the evolution of the Chimera Ants would have grounded the conflict and moved it past just the main characters and Meruem.

It would have helped provide more complexity and moral weight to the Hunters' mission, illustrating the sheer scale of the disaster.

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6) Reduce the narration

The most divisive part of the Chimera Ant Arc is the narration that constantly occurs in the background. Some believe it was necessary to explain the chaotic series of events and the psychology of characters, while others think that the emotionless voice of the narrator removes the immersiveness of the story.

Personally, I think the narrator is immensely important in this arc. In particular, during moments such as Gon’s descent into darkness, his value cannot be overstated. At the same time, it can also go overboard, especially during the palace invasion.

While the Hunter x Hunter manga is text-heavy and goes into intricate detail, the use of the narrator for telling rather than showing removes the tension at certain points. Viewers can feel spoon-fed, and the pacing may also seem irregular.

While I am certainly not suggesting removing the narration as a whole, limiting it would have helped with the “slow” nature of the Chimera Ant Arc and also allowed audiences to feel more engaged by making their own interpretations.

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7) Palm and Gon's romance storyline

Palm and Gon’s romantic storyline was extremely odd and seemed misplaced in the Chimera Ant Arc. The purpose of their bond was to show Gon’s kindness as well as set up his bond with Palm Siberia, who would later turn into a Chimera Ant.

However, the need for romantic connection and dating was simply unnecessary. No matter how complex Palm’s character and her craving for connection was, making her fall in love with a boy nearly 10 years younger than her was a pill too hard to swallow.

Rather, even if their entire dynamic was omitted or their relationship had no feelings of love involved, it would not have changed the overall outcome. Containing their connection to plain friendship or emotional dependency would have made their dynamic much more digestible, significantly elevating Hunter x Hunter as a whole.