Hunter x Hunter: Why Gon and Killua Have One of the Best Friendships in Anime

Highlights

• Gon and Killua’s friendship in Hunter x Hunter is a constant source of support and growth, overcoming intense battles and life-threatening situations.
• Gon’s caring nature helps Killua break free from his family’s influence, while Killua’s strategic thinking contributes to Gon’s development.
• Despite the challenges they face, Gon and Killua find time for fun moments together, such as fishing by a river during the Hunter Exam or playing rock-paper-scissors in the Greed Island arc.

While friendship is at the center of most animes – Naruto and Sasuke, The Straw Hats, and Sailor Moon and the Sailor Scouts – none compare to the friendship between Gon Freecss and Killua Zoldyck in Hunter x Hunter.

In Hunter x Hunter, Gon Freecss is a young boy from Whale Island. He aspired to become a Hunter as a way to meet and follow in the footsteps of his absentee father – Ging. Killua Zoldyck is a member of the Zoldyck family – an infamous group of assassins who are feared all over the world, who want to become a Hunter as a way to separate them. While the story’s focus is primarily on Gon’s journey to find his father, what shines through is the friendship between Gon and Killua. But, what makes their relationship so special?

Killua Learns How to Care Through Gon

When Gon and Killua meet during the Hunter Exam, Gon befriends Killua despite learning about his background. Gon even goes so far as to go to Zoldyck Estate on Kukuroo Mountain with their friends – Kurapika, and Leorio – to rescue Killua from his family.

During the Chimera Ant arc, Killua discovers his brother, Illumi, implanted a Nen needle in his head, which causes him to avoid danger, hindering his personal growth. Removing the needle marked a significant turning point, allowing Killua to overcome fear, become a more supportive friend to Gon, particularly during the Chimera Ant arc, and showcase remarkable growth and bravery as he faced danger to protect his best friend.

After Gon almost dies from his battle with Pitou in the Chimera Ant arc – the battlle that saw his transformation into Adult Gon – Alluka, Killua’s younger sibling, plays a crucial role in healing him. Alluka possesses a mysterious and powerful ability known as “Wish Granting.” Killua utilized this ability to heal Gon, risking his life and navigating a series of challenging conditions to fulfill Alluka’s requests and make the necessary wishes to restore Gon’s health.

Gon Became Smarter Through Killua

During the Greed Island arc, Gon’s optimistic outlook led him to initially underestimate the challenges within the game. Killua, with a more realistic perspective, helped Gon recognize the complexity of the tasks they faced.

Gon and Killua clash with a group of Nen users known as the Amori Brothers during the Heaven’s Arena arc. Gon is eager to fight, causing him to not properly assess the situation. Recognizing the danger posed by the skilled Nen users, Killua advised Gon to approach the confrontation more strategically.

As they face the overwhelming threat of the Chimera Ants, Killua’s ability to assess situations strategically contributes to the planning and execution of their efforts. He helps Gon understand the importance of teamwork and tactics, guiding him in developing a more comprehensive strategy for dealing with the evolving challenges posed by the Chimera Ants.

Gon and Killua Made Each Other Stronger – Literally

In the Hunter Exam, Killua felt a little jealous of Gon’s progress. Instead of getting mad, Gon noticed how Killua was feeling and decided to help him. Gon shared his knowledge and encouraged Killua.

When Gon and Killua met Zushi – a young martial artist – and Wing – Zushi’s mentor – and discovered how to use Nen during the Heaven’s Arena arc, they practiced a lot to get better at it. Both of them worked hard and helped each other improve.

After Gon and Killua ran from Pitou at the behest of Kite, they trained with Bisky – an extremely muscular woman who uses her Transmutation Nen to appear as a small girl. Gon learned a move called Paper Rock Scissors. This is a move that is three in one – Rock is a punch, Scissors emits a sword from his fingertips, and Paper focuses the aura around his fists

Killua discovered how to use electricity as part of his Nen abilities – using it to cover his body in an electric aura. They challenged each other and trained together, showing that having someone beside you who can help you get stronger is always better.

Gon and Killua Have a Lot of Fun Together

At the end of the day, Gon and Killua are still kids. Although they often face serious battles and near-death battles, it is great to see that they can have fun together and sometimes just be kids. During the Hunter Exam, Gon and Killua take a break to fish by the river. Greed Island Arc: Gon and Killua take time off from searching for cards during the Greed Island arc to play a game of rock-paper-scissors. In Yorknew City, Gon and Killua take some time to laugh and shop. During the final episodes of the series, Killua joins Gon on Whale Island and he gets to meet his Aunt Mito. They eat dinner and laugh and it is beautiful to see them enjoying family moments when we have seen the tremendous stress they have lived through up to this point. As they are sitting on a tree branch, looking out onto the ocean, Gon tells Killua “Let’s travel around and see the whole world together, just you and me”, further cementing the friendship and bond we had seen grow.

In the world of anime friendships, Gon and Killua’s bond in Hunter x Hunter shines brightly. Despite facing intense battles and life-threatening situations, their friendship remains a constant source of support and growth. Gon’s caring nature helps Killua break free from his family’s influence, and in return, Killua’s strategic thinking contributes to Gon’s development. They share numerous fun moments, whether it’s fishing by a river during the Hunter Exam or playing rock-paper-scissors in the Greed Island arc. The depth of their friendship is evident in how they overcome challenges together, be it Gon helping Killua face his fears or Killua risking everything to heal Gon. Their journey is a testament to the strength of true friendship, adding a heartwarming layer to an anime that often explores darker themes. Gon and Killua’s friendship is truly one of the reasons Hunter x Hunter is one of the best shonen anime of all time, proving there is strength in friendship.

Hunter x Hunter is now available to stream on Prime Video.

More: The Best Anime To Hunter x Hunter’s Ending & What It Means For The SeriesIf You Like Hunter X Hunter