Hunter x Hunter, the famous anime series based on Yoshihiro Togashi’s manga, has just achieved an impressive feat here in Brazil at the beginning of 2026. Even without receiving a single new episode since 2014, the work managed to surpass giants like One Piece and Dragon Ball in the official Pluto TV Brazil ranking for the year 2025. The result, recently released, places the series alongside Naruto at the top of the most-watched anime on the platform, an achievement that speaks volumes about its legacy and the timeless quality of its narrative.
The phenomenon is a clear example of how well-crafted content withstands the test of time. The ranking, which listed the ten most-watched series on the streaming service last year, was dominated by long-running Western productions, such as CSI: Miami and NCIS. Among the few Japanese animations that managed to secure a spot, Hunter x Hunter shone by securing its position purely through rerun value and word-of-mouth recommendations among fans, without any new releases or marketing campaigns to boost it.
The Secret to Timeless Success
How is this possible? The answer seems to lie in the depth of the story and its unique power system, Nen. Unlike many shonen narratives that follow predictable formulas, Hunter x Hunter begins with a simple premise – a boy searching for his father – and quickly dives into complex arcs, filled with psychological tension and moral consequences. Arcs like Yorknew City and the formidable Chimera Ant Saga are often revisited and debated, years after their original broadcast, precisely because of this narrative richness.
Meanwhile, Naruto also appeared high in the ranking, with a natural boost from its massive presence on other platforms, such as Netflix. However, the complete absence of One Piece and Dragon Ball from the list surprised the community. This achievement by Hunter x Hunter, therefore, goes beyond nostalgia. It validates the idea that, in today’s streaming world, solid writing and memorable characters can generate lasting engagement, competing on equal footing with franchises that are constantly being updated.
Thus, the case becomes an interesting study for the market. In a scenario where most studios and producers believe in the need for constant new content to maintain relevance, Hunter x Hunter proves that excellence is a permanent legacy. The series, currently available on Crunchyroll, shows that sometimes, all you need is for people to keep pressing play, year after year, driven by the sheer quality of the work.
