Hunter x Hunter was published for the first time in 1998 and remains a prominent anime-manga series to this day. The manga has had a rocky journey with multiple hiatuses, but Yoshihiro Togashi maintains a high standard in terms of quality.

The characters and narrative of Hunter x Hunter have always been exceptional and it’s good to see Togashi never undermine these aspects, even though it sometimes takes him years to complete a single chapter. Having started its journey only a year before Hunter x Hunter, One Piece has been ongoing for nearly three decades with thousands of exciting chapters.

A panel from Hunter x Hunter | Credits: Viz Media

However, there have been times when the manga visibly suffered, especially the quality of its visuals. The reason why this happens also highlights the difference between Eiichiro Oda and Togashi’s approach toward their craft, and it’s worth exploring.

The difference between Eiichiro Oda and Yoshihiro Togashi 

The anime and manga fandom is extremely passionate and it’s hard for them to not notice changes in their favorite titles. Whether it’s foreshadowing within the story or external factors impacting a manga or anime, fans are always alert. One fan pointed out on X how there was a visible dip in One Piece’s visuals with barely any detailing. 

Sandman can you pls tell us why Oda destroys his manga with drawing like this? I know he has some good panels too but most of the time it looks like he don’t care about the art anymore. Like where is the detail? His excuse was the eye surgery it’s gone but the manga still bad pic.twitter.com/dJjhpZzctI— AkainuTheMenace (@Akainu5billion) December 20, 2024

As explained by the X user @sandman, some of the panels in One Piece are presumably drawn by Eiichiro Oda’s assistants. So the ‘dip in quality’ could be a result of the difference between Oda and his assistant’s style. After all, Oda is much more experienced than his assistants, so his art is inevitably going to be a lot better, as far as One Piece is concerned. 

Luffy runs away with Zoro in one of the early chapters of One Piece | Credits: Viz Media

On the other hand, Yoshihiro Togashi is known for drawing Hunter x Hunter all by himself. He has revealed the ending of the manga instead of looking for a successor who could continue the manga for him. So, Togashi takes as long as he needs to draw the manga at his pace. This is why, compared to One Piece, Hunter x Hunter is consistent in terms of quality. 

Related “I nearly cried”: Yoshihiro Togashi’s Attachment to Hunter x Hunter Is Deeply Concerning as Mangaka Continues to Work Despite Being Bedridden

Although it needs to be mentioned that there are chapters where Togashi has overly simplified illustrations, still the transition is not as abrupt as it feels in One Piece. Even though some panels in One Piece are evidently different from what fans are used to, Oda’s approach is pretty wise if we think about it. 

Eiichiro Oda is taking One Piece‘s future in consideration 

Luffy during Dressrosa Arc, Oda’s art style became more complex and detailed | Credits: Viz Media

One Piece has been ongoing for 27 years and it’s admirable how Oda has continued to keep the narrative engaging for millions of fans. Oda taking the help of assistants is a good thing as it could possibly give him more time to focus on the story. After all these years, most fans want Oda to stay healthy and end One Piece the way he wants to, rather than driving himself to exhaustion with every chapter. 

Related “It’s more challenging”: Let Eiichiro Oda Convince You Why One Piece Live-Action Season 2 Will Break New Records

Similar to how Togashi has chosen to continue Hunter X Hunter all by himself, Oda has seemingly shared some of the extensive workload with his assistants. Both choices are valid and there should be no question about it, given that these mangaka have spent years weaving unbelievably beautiful stories, and they should get to end it however they please.

Killua and Illumi speak on call | Credits: Viz Media

Admittedly, it would be great for every chapter of One Piece to feature Oda’s art. However, it’s better that he’s seemingly delegating the tasks, and hopefully, giving himself some time to catch his breath. 

One Piece and Hunter x Hunter are available to stream on the MangaPlus app and website. 
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire