The world of Hunter X Hunter is vibrant, and filled with colorful and memorable characters. Character designs are important in any anime, as they help connect fans with the heroes and villains they'll be following, and Hunter X Hunter takes this one step further by giving its more minor and even background characters striking appearances.
While the series is filled with incredible character designs, some stand above the others either because of how cool they are or because of how well they inform the character they belong to. Hunter X Hunter characters like Killua, Hisoka, and Chrollo have positively iconic designs, which have aided them in amassing legions of fans.
10 Feitan Portor Resembles Another Togashi Creation
Feitan Portor, one of the deadliest fighters in The Phantom Troupe, is notable for bearing a striking similarity in appearance to Hiei from Yu Yu Hakusho. Given the popularity of his previous work, it makes sense that Yoshihiro Togashi would take inspiration from his past designs. Feitan isn't even the only case of this in Hunter X Hunter, as Knuckle Bine and Ging Freecss resemble Kazuma Kuwabara and Yusuke Urameshi, respectively.
Feitan's short black hair and pale skin are complemented by his baggy black cloak; a bandanna with a skull crest sewn into it that he wears over his mouth; and the spider tattoo that all members of The Phantom Troupe wear. His design is punctuated by his jian-like sword, which he keeps disguised as an umbrella. Feitan is a sadist who delights in torturing others, and his appearance matches this description flawlessly.
9 Biscuit Krueger Appears as Her Idealized Self
Despite being a nearly 60-year-old woman and a veteran Hunter, Biscuit Kruger, better known as "Bisky," uses her Nen to maintain the appearance of a teenage girl. Bisky despises her true tall, muscular, and aging form, and her younger, more demure, and cute visage is how she sees herself and wants to be seen by the world.
Bisky has intricate blonde pigtails and wears a dress with a red and pink mantle and skirt over it, and matching shoes. To complete the doll aesthetic she's going for, she wears short, classy white gloves. As she's chosen every aspect of it herself, Bisky's design is more representative of who she is than any other character's design.
8 Morel Mackernasey Doesn't Try to Be Flashy
A gray shirt, black slacks, and red tie aren't the attire most fans would expect from one of the most skilled fighters in a battle shonen, but it works for Morel Mackernasey. Always lugging around the massive smoking pipe he fights with, single-star Hunter Morel favors practicality over style.
Morel is a laid-back, seasoned professional who keeps his focus on getting missions done. By his own admission, he isn't a fighter, nor does he enjoy fighting, and prefers to spend his free time fishing. It's only because of his immense skill and the versatility of his Hatsu, Deep Purple, that he's called by the Hunter Association into action. Morel's low-key appearance reflects how fighting is just a day job for him, with his pipe and sunglasses still giving him his own flare.
7 Machi Komacine is the Ninja of The Phantom Troupe
Machi Komacine is the first member of the Phantom Troupe introduced in Hunter X Hunter, and her design makes a strong first impression. Not only does her pink, magenta, and yellow color scheme immediately make her stand out from her other characters, but the ninja-inspired aesthetic of her fashion delivers an idea of what sort of fighter she is.
Machi's ninja gear not only gets across what she's capable of before she even does anything, but matches her bright pink hair, which looks excellent both while worn up, and when let down. The constantly bored expression plastered on her face illustrates how emotionally detached she is from the world, and makes the rare moments where she does emote all the more notable.
6 Illumi Zoldyck is Terrifying
Illumi Zoldyck's primary role in Hunter X Hunter is to be an abusive and frightening presence in Killua's life, and his design executes this purpose perfectly. His cold, dark, penetrating, and pupil-free eyes, long black hair, and pale skin all send the message that he is a monster and not to be trifled with.
The eldest of the Zoldyck children wears an all-green outfit with distinctive, poofy shoulders over his slender form. Visible all across Illumi's attire are his Nen Needles, granting him quick access to the weapons he uses to kill, incapacitate, and brainwash his enemies, and puppeteer corpses. Illumi has no need for concern about societal norms and thus has no reason to conceal his weapons.
5 Adult Gon is Tragic
While series protagonist Gon Freecss' base design is iconic, it's his Adult form that stands out most. Unlike most powered-up forms in shonen anime, Gon's Adult form doesn't inspire awe and isn't meant to be cool, as its very existence is tragic, and represents the fall of Gon's character. Everything about Adult Gon deliberately looks wrong. Adult Gon is tall and extremely beefy, but wears the clothes of a child that don't fit him at all.
Adult Gon's hazel eyes are sad, and his endlessly extending hair not only adds to his eerie appearance but also serves as a dark parody of other powered-up forms. The Chimera Ant arc as a whole serves as a deconstruction of shonen tropes, and key events make it crystal clear. Gon's transformation into Adult Gon, for example, is marked by abandoning his will to live. Before his transformation, Gon savagely murdered Neferpitou while in a rage. These aren't the feelings nor deeds of the typical shonen lead.
4 Neferpitou is an Adorable Monster
Born from cat DNA, Neferpitou's design makes their origins clear while also being among the most intimidating in the series. Despite how cute Neferpitou may seem when embracing their more cat-like traits, they are a Chimera Ant Royal Guard, making them one of the most powerful and evil characters in the series.
Neferpitou is non-binary and sports an androgenous appearance. A humanoid cat with expressive ruby eyes that allow them to look either cute or terrifying depending on the situation, Neferpitou is a servant of Meruem before anything else and wears a blazer that most closely evokes a butler's. Their orange socks and shorts pair well with the blue of their blazer, and their segmented legs both resemble an insect's and a mannequin's — which fits Neferpitou perfectly, as they possess puppet-themed Hatsus.
3 Killua Zoldyck is a Fashion Icon
Killua Zoldyck has a simple and charming base design, but if there's one thing he has over every other Hunter X Hunter character, it's his style. Killua's spiky silver hair, blue eyes, short height, and cat-like facial expressions serve as the base design for a wide variety of dapper outfits to build on, with him typically changing his appearance at least once an arc.
Killua's most worn outfit consists of a silver V-neck shirt over a navy turtleneck, with gray shorts and purple shoes. Some of his other most memorable looks are his simple black turtleneck and baggy white pants; his ridiculous, but fitting burgundy tanktop with striped yellow and green pants and sandals; and his pink sweater over a white button-down with jean shorts that reminds viewers he's a rich kid. The silver tank top and blue gym shorts he wears during the Chimera Ant arc are also notable for going perfectly with his Godspeed form, and the wild hair that comes with it.
2 Hisoka Morrow Capitalizes on People's Fear of Clowns
Hisoka Morrow's design is well-known even among those who've never seen Hunter X Hunter, and that's largely because of how unsettling it is. Hisoka embodies the Scary Clown trope, ruthlessly killing everyone who gets in his way and lusting after Gon while looking like he has just stepped out of a circus tent.
Hisoka changes his clothes in each arc, but always keeps the same aesthetic and maintains his spiky red hair, sharp nails, face tattoos, and light skin that makes it appear as if he's wearing clown makeup. His original outfit in the Hunter Exam arc is his most iconic and the best one to get across his motif, with its deceptively innocent baby blue, yellow, and pink color scheme, and curved clown shoes. Hisoka's amber eyes may be the scariest part of him, especially when he's aiming to intimidate someone (or expressing his lust).
1 Chrollo Can Pull Off Any Look
Decorated in tattoos and jewelry with a gorgeous face and some of the best fashion sense in the series, Chrollo Lucilfer, the leader of The Phantom Troupe, has the best design in Hunter X Hunter. Whether he's in his signature coat or a slimming black suit, keeping his coat buttoned, or allowing his pecs and chest to show, Chrollo always looks as immaculate as the head of a powerful crime organization should.
Chrollo's beautiful appearance enables him to easily charm others, and the serenity and warmth of his gray eyes both hide the deep pain he's in. Chrollo's eyes act as a reminder of the sweet child he once was. His tattoos are distinct features; the cross on his forehead could potentially symbolize the righteousness he uses to excuse The Phantom Troupe's atrocities, and his complex as Meteor City's self-appointed savior. The most flashy aspect of Chrollo's design is his stunning coat, with its ornate gold buttons, and elegant fur trim.
