Hunter x Hunter – Season 6: Election Arc (2014)

The Aftermath of the Chimera Ant War & the Rise of New Leadership

Season 6 of Hunter x Hunter (2011) marks a dramatic tonal shift — from the brutal, almost apocalyptic tension of the Chimera Ant Arc to a political, emotional, and deeply character-driven epilogue centered around the rebuilding of the Hunter Association and the next chapter in Gon and Killua’s lives.

This season is not about world-ending battles. It is about healing, legacy, morality, friendship, and the future of the Hunter world. It wraps up everything the series built since Episode 1, and it does so with surprising emotional maturity.

Season 6 Overview

Title: Hunter x Hunter – Election Arc
Japanese Title: ハンター×ハンター 選挙編 (Hantā Hantā – Senkyo-hen)
Episodes: 12 (Episodes 136–148)
Air Date: July 8, 2014 – September 24, 2014
Studio: Madhouse
Director: Hiroshi Kōjina
Streaming Platforms: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Prime VideoPrime Video, DVD/Blu-ray
Opening Theme: “departure! –second version–” by Masatoshi Ono
Ending Theme: “Hyōri Ittai” by Yuzu feat. Hyadain

Story Summary

The Election Arc picks up immediately after the devastating end of the Chimera Ant Arc. The world is still reeling. Hunters are exhausted. Key leaders are dead. And Gon Freecss, once the embodiment of optimism and determination, lies on the brink of death after sacrificing everything in his battle with Neferpitou.

Meanwhile, the Hunter Association faces a crisis.

Netero — the legendary Chairman — has fallen. His absence leaves a power vacuum, and with it comes chaos, ambition, and political games. The Zodiac Twelve, Netero’s closest companions, are forced to organize a new election. But even within this elite group, alliances fracture, motivations collide, and one man stands above the rest in cunning:

Pariston Hill — the smiling serpent who thrives in disorder.

Two Parallel Stories Define Season 6

• The Hunter Association Election — a political war full of manipulation, strategy, and moral dilemmas  — Leorio, previously treated as comic relief, emerges as a powerful, inspiring voice of justice. His anger toward Ging builds one of the most iconic moments in the series — a moment where Leorio punches Ging so hard the entire Association cheers.

• Killua’s desperate journey to save Gon — a story of friendship deeper than blood — Killua, once a trained assassin conditioned to fear and obey, stands taller than ever. He brings with him the key to Gon’s survival: Alluka Zoldyck — a mysterious sibling with a godlike ability wrapped in tragedy, fear, and misunderstanding. The two storylines collide as the future of the Hunter world and the future of Gon rest on impossible choices. In the end, this arc is not about battles. It’s about choices, loyalty, forgiveness, and the weight of past sins.

Major Arcs Covered

• The Chairman Election Arc — A complex multi-stage voting system reveals corruption, alliances, manipulation, and surprising heroism. Pariston and Cheadle emerge as the central political rivals, each embodying different interpretations of Netero’s legacy.

• Killua & Alluka Rescue Arc — Killua returns home to the terrifying Zoldyck estate. Family tensions explode as Killua risks his life to break Alluka free from a lifetime of imprisonment. The revelation of Nanika — the dark half of Alluka — reshapes the entire power structure of the Zoldyck family.

• Gon’s Redemption & Recovery — A dying Gon confronts the emotional consequences of his choices — not physically, but spiritually. His apology to Kite is one of the most powerful moments in the entire series.

• Ging Freecss — The Father Appears — After 148 episodes, the core mystery of Hunter x Hunter is resolved: Gon meets his father, Ging, in a beautifully understated and emotional finale.

Main Characters

• Gon Freecss — A boy defined by optimism, forced into darkness by grief. Season 6 begins with him dying — and ends with him rediscovering who he is.

• Killua Zoldyck — Arguably the true protagonist of this arc. Killua defies his toxic family, confronts his trauma, and chooses love over fear.

• Alluka Zoldyck / Nanika — One body, two beings. Alluka is innocent and kind; Nanika is powerful and feared. Together, they represent the limits of human kindness and the terror of the unknown.

• Leorio Paradinight — Finally gets the respect he deserves. His speech and punch during the election turn him into a true hero.

• Pariston Hill — Smiling. Playful. Terrifying. A genius manipulator who hides cruelty under a cheerful mask.

• Cheadle Yorkshire — Intelligent, steadfast, and moral. She becomes the heart of the Association when the world is at its weakest.

• Ging Freecss — The mystery father. Selfish yet wise, distant yet strangely genuine — the most complicated “dad” in anime.

Themes and Style

• Leadership and Responsibility — Netero’s absence forces characters into roles they were never prepared for. The election becomes a reflection of the Hunter world: chaotic, flawed, and full of ambition.

• Family — Both Found and Biological — Killua risks everything for Alluka. Gon finally speaks to Ging. The Zoldyck family's cruelty contrasts sharply with Killua’s compassion.

• Consequences of Power — Gon’s physical death represents his emotional collapse. His recovery symbolizes self-forgiveness.

• Healing After Trauma — After the horrors of the Chimera Ant War, Season 6 becomes a long exhale — a path toward emotional recovery.

• New Beginnings — The world changes. The characters grow. And for the first time, the Hunter Association enters a future without Netero.

Animation & Visuals

Madhouse continues the tradition of high-quality, emotionally expressive animation — but the focus shifts from intense battles to nuanced character acting.

Highlights include:

• Killua crying while begging Nanika for help

• Leorio punching Ging

• Gon apologizing to Kite

• The brilliant comedic timing during the election debates

• The final sunset scene between Gon and Killua

The art style softens after the brutal intensity of the previous arc, using warm colors and gentle lighting to emphasize the season’s healing tone.

Yūzō Kondō’s background art paints a world slowly recovering from trauma.

Hyadain and Yuzu’s ending theme "Hyōri Ittai" perfectly captures the bittersweet bond between Gon and Killua — hopeful yet painful.

Where to Watch

You can stream Hunter x Hunter – Season 6 on:

• Crunchyroll

• Netflix

• Prime Video

• DVD/Blu-ray (Official Release)

Popularity & Reception

The Election Arc received global praise for its emotional depth and character-focused storytelling.

Fans love this season because:

• Leorio gets his long-awaited spotlight

• Killua’s development reaches its peak

• The animation remains gorgeous despite limited action

• Gon’s character arc finally comes full circle

• Ging’s introduction delivers the moment fans waited over 100 episodes for

• The finale is both hopeful and heartbreaking

Episode 148, “Past × And × Future,” is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful, quiet, and emotionally perfect anime conclusions ever made.

Final Thoughts

Hunter x Hunter – Season 6 is not about battles. It’s about closure. It’s about growth. It’s about stepping forward after surviving darkness.

This season is the emotional epilogue the series deserved — gentle, thoughtful, and filled with gratitude for the journey the characters endured. The friendship between Gon and Killua reaches its most poignant moment as they decide to walk separate paths, not in sadness, but in acceptance.

The Election Arc closes one chapter and opens a thousand more possibilities.

Even without a continuation, Season 6 is a masterpiece of emotional storytelling — a quiet, powerful reminder that not every ending needs a fight… sometimes it just needs a goodbye.