Few anime series command the same level of reverence as Hunter x Hunter. Yoshihiro Togashi’s masterpiece is celebrated for its labyrinthine power system, morally ambiguous characters, and arcs that reinvent the show’s tone. But with 148 episodes in the 2011 adaptation and an earlier 1999 series that ran for 62 episodes, new viewers often face a familiar question: is there filler, and what can be skipped? The answer is more nuanced than a simple list of non-canon episodes—because unlike many long-running shonen, the 2011 Hunter x Hunter contains virtually no traditional filler. This guide will clarify the filler situation across both adaptations, highlight the episodes you can safely skip or compress, and explain why the common “filler lists” you see online are often misleading.

What Actually Counts as Filler in Anime?

Filler refers to content in an anime that was not present in the original source material—usually manga—and is created by the animation studio to give the author more time to write. In series like Naruto or Bleach, filler episodes often manifest as entire arcs with no connection to the main plot, introducing new characters, powers, or conflicts that are never acknowledged later. Some filler can be entertaining, but it almost never impacts the core storyline, and skipping it often improves pacing.

Hunter x Hunter subverts this pattern. The 1999 adaptation did add some anime-original episodes and scenes, but the 2011 version by Madhouse is famously faithful, adapting every story beat from the manga without inventing side arcs. That doesn’t mean there aren’t slow episodes or content you might want to speed through. It simply means the series is so tightly constructed that labeling anything “filler” requires a shift in definition—from non-canon material to canon content that some viewers feel slows momentum.

The Two Adaptations of Hunter x Hunter

Before we discuss what to skip, it’s vital to distinguish between the two anime versions. The original 1999 anime, produced by Nippon Animation, covers the Hunter Exam, Zoldyck Family, Heaven’s Arena, Yorknew City, and a small portion of Greed Island. It also includes several anime-original episodes and extended sequences, making it the only version with true filler content. The 2011 Madhouse adaptation, on the other hand, begins from scratch, adapts all the way through the Election arc, and adheres strictly to the manga—recaps aside.

Most viewers today opt for the 2011 series because of its broader coverage and sharper animation. If you’re following that version, the idea of “skipping filler” is almost a non-issue. If you’re exploring the 1999 series for its darker aesthetic and unique pacing, a filler guide becomes more practical. Let’s break down both.

Hunter x Hunter (1999): A Genuine Filler Episode List

The 1999 adaptation aired 62 episodes and introduced filler arcs and partial filler episodes that have no manga counterpart. While some of these offer neat character moments, they can be dispensed with if you want a manga-faithful experience. Below is a reference of the filler episodes in the 1999 series, along with notes on what they contain.

Episodes 18–20: The Ship Exam – Trap Island Filler

During the Hunter Exam, the candidates are shipwrecked on an island and must survive a series of trials not seen in the manga. The anime expands the ship sequence into a multi-episode mini-arc. While it gives screen time to side characters like Ponzu and Pokkle, none of the events affect the later story. Skipping episodes 18, 19, and 20 will not cause any confusion going into the Fourth Phase of the exam.

Episodes 45–46: Kurapika’s Memories (Partial Filler)

These two episodes adapt the bonus manga chapters “Kurapika’s Memories,” but they also pad the content with anime-original flashback material. The core backstory about Kurapika’s childhood and the Kurta Clan massacre is canon; the extended Pairo scenes are not. Some fans find the additional worldbuilding worthwhile, but if you are strictly following the manga’s main story, you can treat these as supplementary.

Episodes 55–56: The Search for the Chain Bastard (Partial Filler)

During the Yorknew City arc, the 1999 version inserts extra sequences where the Phantom Troupe investigates Kurapika’s abilities. While it doesn’t contradict canon, episode 56 in particular is largely padding. Watching the key climaxes of Yorknew without these episodes is still perfectly coherent.

Episodes 62: The Last Episode of the 1999 Series

The final episode is an anime-original conclusion that wraps up the story before the OVA continuation. It features a tournament-style competition among Gon, Killua, and others that never happened in the manga. If you plan to transition to the 2011 series or read the manga from that point, you can skip this episode entirely.

All other 1999 episodes either follows the manga closely enough that skipping them would cost you important character and plot development. For a minimal watch order, skip episodes 18-20 and 62, treat 45-46 as optional, and skim through 55-56.

Hunter x Hunter (2011): A “Filler” List That Isn’t Really Filler

A quick online search will turn up filler guides claiming that episodes like 4-5, 26-30, 91-92, or 136-138 of the 2011 anime are non-canon. That is incorrect. Every one of those episodes adapts chapters directly from Togashi’s manga. The confusion arises because the 2011 adaptation moves more slowly in certain arcs or rearranges minor events, leading some viewers to label the episodes as filler. In reality, they are simply canon material that can feel like filler due to pacing or a focus on side characters. Let’s sort the facts from the fiction.

The Only Skippable Episodes: Recaps (13 and 26)

The 2011 series contains exactly two episodes that can be skipped without missing any new storyline content: episode 13 and episode 26. Both are pure recap episodes that summarize previous events and were created to refresh viewers’ memories between arcs.

  • Episode 13: Recaps the first three phases of the Hunter Exam. No new footage, only narrated flashbacks.
  • Episode 26: Recaps the Zoldyck Family mini-arc and the beginning of Heaven’s Arena. Again, nothing original.

If you feel confident in your memory or are marathoning the series, skip these two. Otherwise, all other content is new and canon.

Why Some Guides Label Canon Episodes as Filler

The misconception stems from a few factors:

  • Early Hunter Exam episodes (4–5): The 2011 adaptation begins at a more leisurely pace than the manga, stretching the journey to the exam site and the encounter with Hisoka. Some viewers mistake the additional dialogue and minor expansions as filler, but these moments are present in the manga—just compressed. Skipping them means missing character introductions and the first glimpse of the series’ trademark tension.
  • Greed Island “game mechanics” episodes (26–30): Episodes like 26 through 30 are often lumped into filler lists because they explore the rules of the Greed Island card game in detail. In truth, these are essential for understanding the arc’s stakes, abilities, and Gon’s training. Removing them would leave the later strategy and battles incomprehensible.
  • Chimera Ant side character episodes (91–92): These two episodes focus on Kite’s companions and the developing Nen abilities of the Ants. While they don’t feature Gon and Killua prominently, they establish critical worldbuilding and emotional weight for the impending conflict. The claim that they “do not contribute to the Chimera Ant Arc’s development” is simply false; they are the very foundation of that arc’s multi-protagonist structure.
  • Election Arc episodes (136–138): Episodes 136 and 137 detail Alluka’s ability and the internal politics of the Zodiacs. Episode 138 handles the fallout of the election. All come directly from the manga’s final arc and contain pivotal resolutions to character arcs. Skipping them would mean missing the climax of Killua’s family storyline and the fate of the Hunter Association.

If you see a guide labeling these as filler, it’s safe to ignore it. The 2011 Hunter x Hunter is one of the rare long-running shonen with zero filler episodes in the traditional sense, aside from the two recaps.

What Can You Actually Skip or Skim in the 2011 Version?

While all episodes are technically canon, every viewer has different patience for slower stretches. So if you’re looking to streamline without damaging the narrative, here’s a pragmatic approach.

1. Skip Episodes 13 and 26

As noted, these are recaps. They contain no new information. Jump from episode 12 to 14, and from 25 to 27, and you won’t miss a single scene of story progression.

2. Consider Compressing the Early Hunter Exam (Episodes 1–3)

The first three episodes are not filler, but they spend extended time on Gon’s home life and the boat ride to the exam. If you’re eager to reach the action, you can read a synopsis of these episodes and start at episode 4, where the exam properly begins. Be aware, though, that much of Gon’s characterization and his relationship with Mito and the sea captain are established here, so you’ll lose some emotional grounding.

3. Don’t Skip Any Greed Island Episodes

Despite the occasional lull in training montages, every episode in the Greed Island arc (episodes 59–75) feeds into the arc’s resolution and Gon’s progression with Nen. Skipping any would create holes in your understanding of the card system, the Bomber threat, and the ultimate showdown with Genthru.

4. Chimera Ant Arc: Watch at Your Own Pace, but Don’t Cut

The Chimera Ant arc (episodes 76–136) is notorious for its methodical pacing, especially the palace invasion which spans many episodes. Some viewers feel restless during the narrative digressions into side characters like Ikalgo and Welfin. Still, every one of these threads converges in the finale, and the payoff relies on the investment built through those episodes. If you find your attention drifting, take breaks instead of skipping. The arc’s thematic richness—exploring humanity, selfhood, and evolution—demands patience, and the reward is considered one of the greatest climaxes in anime history.

5. Election Arc: Watch Everything (Except Recaps)

Episodes 137–148 are a tightly packed political drama mixed with a deeply personal rescue mission. Skipping even a single episode would fracture your understanding of Alluka’s power rules, Pariston’s manipulation, or Leorio’s resurgence. The arc is only 11 episodes after the recap, so it’s already concise.

A Minimal Watch Order That Preserves the Core Story

If you absolutely must cut the runtime while retaining essential plot threads and character arcs, here is a compact viewing plan for the 2011 series. Note that this “light” version skips recaps and minimal early content but otherwise respects the integrity of every arc.

  • Hook: Watch episodes 1–2 to meet Gon and understand his motivation. Read a brief synopsis of episode 3 (the boat trip, meeting Leorio and Kurapika) and start watching from episode 4 onward.
  • Skip recaps: Watch episodes 4–12, then jump to 14–25, then 27 onward.
  • Do not skip any episode between 27 and 148.

This reduces the series from 148 to about 144 episodes, saving only the two recaps and a few minutes of compressed early material. The story remains fully intact, and you won’t encounter any narrative dead ends.

External Resources to Confirm Filler Status

Several reputable sites maintain filler databases and watch guides to help you verify the canon status of Hunter x Hunter episodes. I recommend checking:

Why Hunter x Hunter’s Lack of Filler Matters

In a medium where popular series often inflate their episode counts with months of irrelevant side stories, the Madhouse adaptation of Hunter x Hunter stands as a benchmark of fidelity. The decision to adapt the manga almost panel-for-panel—slowing down for psychological battles and dialogue-heavy confrontations—results in a show where every scene moves the plot or deepens character. That’s why the 148-episode count, far from being padded, feels densely packed with meaning.

Skipping episodes in this series isn’t about avoiding filler; it’s about skipping canon material that some viewers find slow. But that slowness is often the point: Togashi’s writing deliberately builds exhaustive tension and explores moral greyscapes that a faster pace would gloss over. The palace invasion, for instance, would lose its crushing sense of real-time despair if you cut the internal monologues and parallel storylines that fill those hours.

For anyone starting the show, my recommendation is to watch everything (minus the two recaps) and let the series breathe. The payoff in character arcs, emotional stakes, and narrative intricacy is immense, and you’ll finish knowing you experienced the story as it was meant to be told.

Conclusion: Fill Your Time, but Don’t Fill the Story

Hunter x Hunter is an outlier. The 1999 version does contain some genuine filler, primarily early in the Hunter Exam and at the tail end of its run, which can be safely skipped. The 2011 version, however, is a fortress of canon, with only two recap episodes standing between you and a complete, unsullied experience. Lists that claim otherwise are based on misunderstandings of the material, not actual anime-original content.

If you’re pressed for time, skip episodes 13 and 26, maybe skim the very beginning, but commit to the rest. In doing so, you’ll traverse one of the most richly constructed journeys in anime—one where every moment has purpose, and where the only real filler is the space left behind when the story ends.