The late Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball might’ve popularized anime among Western audiences, but recent releases, such as Avatar: The Last Airbender and Attack on Titan pushed anime into the mainstream. With anime entering the mainstream came merch, and fans could easily get their hands on Bleach mousepads, One Piece straw hats, and Wenqing Yan’s cat ear headphones, which were promoted by Ariana Grande.
So, it didn’t take long before anime entered the world of fashion. Following the release of Astro Boy’s anime boots by MSCHF Sneakers, the world went wild for anime fashion. Soon after, Red Wing Shoes released their Super Mario boots —technically not anime — after which Naruto collaborated with Crocs and ASICS, and One Piece collaborated with Puma. The latter was a rather impressive shoe range, with designs inspired by Blackbeard, the Red Hair Pirates, Luffy, and Whitebeard. Now, the time has come for Hunter x Hunter to enter the world of fashion… Again.
After collaborating with luxury bag designer Samantha Vega, Hunter x Hunter, a rather popular anime show, has now entered a new collaboration with Reebok. The aforementioned collaboration featured a smartphone pouch, wallet, shoulder bag, handbag, multi-case, and several other items as well. Now, the time has come for Hunter × Hunter to receive its own exclusive line of trainers, and it’s up to Reebok to deliver.
The recently released collection features five unique sneaker designs, each embodying the essence, personalities, and traits of respective key characters from the Hunter × Hunter anime, from the vibrant energy of Gon Freecss to the menacing aura of Hisoka. Thus, the sneaker collection reflects the depth of character design in Hunter × Hunter, which is brought to life by Reebok’s craftsmanship and sneaker-making technologies.
Gon’s Reebok LX2200 model, for example, mirrors the protagonist’s adventurous spirit, taking after Gon’s iconic green uniform. This model is the second most affordable in the entire collection, priced at $120. Killua’s Reebok Club C 85 model is actually the most affordable one, with its price tag sitting at $110. Its white and purple design is inspired by his swift and sharp personality — though there’s more to Killua than meets the eye. He’s also a very dangerous individual.
Next up is Hisoka’s Reebok Instapump Fury, featuring pastel hues and elements like playing cards, Bungee Gum, and his signature teardrop tattoo. Also known as Hisoka the Magician and Grim Reaper, he is one of the main antagonists of Hunter × Hunter. Despite this model being the priciest in the entire collection with a tag of $200, at the moment of writing this model has been sold out. Netero’s design takes after Reebok’s Beatnik sandals; they represent Netero’s strength and wisdom, priced at $130.
The Hunter Association sneakers are based on the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure model, and their design, which also incorporates the association’s logo and classic color scheme, represents its unity. All models are priced between $110 and $220. Some of them are already out of stock, which is a bit surprising considering that they just arrived on the market. There are also a few apparel items, like T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts. You can get them all through Reebok’s online store.
For those who aren’t in the know, Hunter × Hunter is an anime television series based on the manga of the same name, which aired from 1999 to 2001. Its narrative focuses on Gon Freecss, who discovers that the father he had always been told was dead is actually alive and well and an elite member of humanity — a famous Hunter. Despite the fact that his father had left him with his relatives to pursue his own dreams, Gon decides to follow in his father’s footsteps, find his dad, and eventually become a Hunter in his own right.
However, the original manga was adapted once again in a rebooted Hunter × Hunter anime airing from 2011 to 2014. The new version featured updated animations, faster pacing, and more modern production values while also having virtually no fillers. It covered more of the manga compared to the original series, including those arcs that weren’t even written during the original series broadcast.
It’s worth mentioning that the reboot of the series was prompted by the manga’s continued success, as well as market demand. The second adaptation was marked by a massive success among the fandom, owing to the additional material available for adaptation. It also introduced the franchise to a new generation of fans, and it’s often credited with significantly increasing the franchise’s popularity worldwide. Even Reebok called it one of the greatest anime of all time while detailing its collaboration with Hunter × Hunter.
Popular anime releases continue to headline the latest in fashion and appeal, with various companies launching new collections each day. The products aren’t limited to fashion and appeal only; consumer electronic accessories inspired by anime are currently a booming market. All that is left is the ODM gear from Attack on Titan; however, that’s not only wishful thinking but also a dangerous mode of transportation. So, would an Attack on Titan electric scooter be a good replacement? Asking for a business-owner friend.