# 5 Classic Anime That Shaped Hunter x Hunter

> How Dragon Ball, Fist of the North Star and others influenced Yoshihiro Togashi's iconic shonen series.
- Title: 5 Classic Anime That Shaped Hunter x Hunter · CBR | Shortify
- Summary: How Dragon Ball, Fist of the North Star and others influenced Yoshihiro Togashi's iconic shonen series. Yoshihiro Togashi drew from Dragon Ball, Fist of the…
- Keywords: hunter x hunter, dragon ball, fist of the north star, nausicaa of the valley of the wind, yu yu hakusho, shonen anime, yoshihiro togashi, entertainment, culture, Classic, Anime, Shaped
- Source: CBR — https://cbr.com/classic-anime-that-shaped-hunter-x-hunter
- Author: Demi Phillips
- Published: 2026-10-19T14:15:14+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: hunter x hunter, dragon ball, fist of the north star, nausicaa of the valley of the wind, yu yu hakusho, shonen anime, yoshihiro togashi, entertainment, culture
## Dragon Ball's Shonen Legacy
Hunter x Hunter adopted Dragon Ball's battle shonen tropes including young heroes, martial arts training and tournament structures.

> Gon begins as a cheerful child leaving home for an enormous adventure
## Fist of the North Star's Battle Philosophy
Togashi borrowed Fist of the North Star's approach where opponents carry philosophies and emotional burdens into combat.

> The Phantom Troupe are mass murderers but they genuinely grieve for one another
## Nausicaä's Eye Transformation
Kurapika's Scarlet Eyes were inspired by Nausicaä's Ohmu that change eye color when enraged.

> The enormous ohmu normally possess calm blue eyes but their eyes become intensely red when they are enraged
## JoJo's Bizarre Ability System
Hunter x Hunter shares JoJo's love for highly specific abilities with strict limitations and strategic use.

> Knuckle's hakoware essentially transforms a fight into a supernatural debt calculation
## Yu Yu Hakusho's Foundation
Yu Yu Hakusho provided Togashi with experience in supernatural battles and morally complex characters for Hunter x Hunter.

> The Dark Tournament Arc progressively treats villains as characters rather than disposable opponents
## Togashi's Creative Evolution
Togashi transformed Dragon Ball's templates into Hunter x Hunter's darker, more complex battle systems.

> Togashi's admiration for dragon ball has remained visible decades later
## Key Influences on Character Arcs
Meruem's transformation mirrors Fist of the North Star's impact on character development through emotional depth.

> When discussing the scene between meruem and komugi, togashi referenced the lasting impact of iconic death imagery from fist of the north star
## Hunter x Hunter's Unique System
Nen's rule-based combat system builds on Dragon Ball's foundations but adds deeper strategic complexity.

> Togashi built a much more systematic framework around aura categories, restrictions and individual technique development
## The Phantom Troupe's Depth
The Phantom Troupe's emotional complexity shows how Togashi evolved from Fist of the North Star's influence.

> The Phantom Troupe are mass murderers but they genuinely grieve for one another
## Togashi's Creative Legacy
Hunter x Hunter's influence on modern shonen anime stems from Togashi's deep understanding of character and battle systems.

> Togashi has long been an admirer of hirohiko araki's work
## Key takeaway

Yoshihiro Togashi drew from Dragon Ball, Fist of the North Star, Nausicaä and Yu Yu Hakusho to create Hunter x Hunter's complex battle systems and character dynamics.