Hunter x Hunter: 10 Times Hisoka Proved He’s the President of Epstein Island

Hisoka Morow is a masterpiece of discomfort and one of the most disturbing anime characters. While most shonen anime villains want to conquer the world or avenge a tragic past, Hisoka just wants a really good fight, and the way he expresses that desire makes everyone within a five-mile radius deeply uncomfortable. He constantly blurs the line between a martial arts obsession, psychological manipulation, and outright predatory behavior.

Decades after Hunter x Hunter first premiered, the fandom is still fiercely debating whether his motivations are purely driven by the thrill of combat or something much more sinister. By looking past the internet memes and examining actual canon scenes, it becomes clear why Togashi’s iconic antagonist has earned such an unsettling reputation.

Let’s break down the 10 absolute wildest moments where Hisoka’s behavior felt like someone who belongs on a federal watchlist:

Title	Hunter x Hunter (1999)	Hunter x Hunter (2011)
Creator	Yoshihiro Togashi	Yoshihiro Togashi
Production House	Nippon Animation	Madhouse
Release Date	Oct 16, 1999 — Mar 31, 2001	Oct 2, 2011 — Sep 23, 2014
IMDb Rating (as of June 18, 2026)	8.6 / 10	9.0 / 10
Streaming Platform	Not streaming in the USA	Netflix, Crunchyroll, Prime Video

1 Getting Turned On by Raw Fighting Potential

The absolute zenith of Hisoka’s infamy occurs when his crotch literally glows with a bright, luminous light in the anime as he imagines fighting Gon in the future. This is the definitive “Epstein Island President” moment. The infamous “Schwing!” sound effect and the literal glowing crotch are canon expressions of his battle lust. The scene intentionally blurs the line between battle lust and s*xual imagery, which is why it remains one of the most controversial moments in the series. It’s the ultimate evidence that Hisoka is a deeply disturbing predator in anime history.

2 Making Virtually Every Conversation With Gon Sound Wrong

Whenever Hisoka speaks directly to Gon, his dialogue is peppered with heavy pauses, intense eye contact, and suggestive double entendres. Lines like “Until you’re worth breaking” leave the audience sweating. The subtext is aggressively loud. Togashi deliberately structures Hisoka’s dialogue to walk the absolute edge of what is acceptable in a shonen magazine, making every direct interaction feel like a psychological violation that leaves fans questioning how Gon handles the trauma.

3 Following Gon Across Multiple Arcs for Personal Entertainment

From tracking Gon’s badges in Zevil Island to joining their team in Greed Island, Hisoka repeatedly pops up wherever Gon happens to be. His stalking skills are unmatched. He deliberately maneuvers himself into Gon’s vicinity under the guise of casual coincidence or shifting alliances. This relentless shadowing is deeply unsettling because Gon remains wary of Hisoka throughout much of the story, fully aware of how dangerous and unpredictable he is.

4 Treating Every Talented Kid as a Future Obsession

From eyeing Killua’s assassin instincts to tracking the Phantom Troupe’s youngest members, Hisoka consistently targets youth. Although Hisoka actively seeks out powerful adults such as Chrollo, he also displays a recurring fascination with exceptionally talented young “seed.” Fandom discourse frequently notes that Hisoka functions like a talent scout for a deeply warped underworld. His psychological compulsion requires a blank canvas of youth that he can personally corrupt, traumatize, and eventually fight to the death.

5 Openly Admitting He’s Waiting for Gon to “Ripen”

During the Hunter Exam in Hunter x Hunter, following their match, Hisoka explicitly tells Gon to his face that he is leaving him alive for the sole purpose of letting him grow into a worthier target. This repeats his “ripening” fixation but elevates it to a direct threat. By telling a kid, “I’m letting you grow so I can destroy you later,” Hisoka acts as a dark, twisted mirror to the classic shonen mentor, prioritizing a child’s physical maturation for his own timeline.

6 Cornering and “Judging” Applicants in the Swamps

In the thick fog of the Numere Wetlands, Hisoka traps a group of young rookies, including Kurapika and Leorio, to play a twisted game of “Grand Examiner.” He sadistically slaughters the crowd around them just to gauge the boys’ psychological breaking points under pressure. This scene established his core trauma-inducing behavior early on: he purposefully isolates his targets in vulnerable environments, using sheer terror to force young fighters to show him their hidden potential.

7 Staring at Gon and Killua’s Backsides During Greed Island

While walking behind Gon, Killua, and Bisky, Hisoka is caught dead-eyed, staring directly at the boys’ lower halves. Togashi explicitly drew this panel, and the 2011 anime didn’t soften the blow. When Bisky calls him out, Hisoka smoothly claims he was just looking for physical openings to attack. Nobody bought it. The scene stripped away any metaphorical defense of his character, offering a rare, deeply uncomfortable moment of non-combat voyeurism.

8 Rating Children’s Potential Like a Walking Predator Radar

While hanging out at the Hunter Association headquarters, Hisoka casually assigns numerical power scores to passing Hunters. The famous power-scoring sequence occurs during the Election Arc and involves other Hunters, and his internal radar pings with dark excitement. He judges children on a scale of how “delicious” their combat potential is. It’s a horrifying showcase of his psychology; he views the world as a meat market, constantly scouting and mentally cataloging youth.

9 Moaning During His Fight With Gon at Heaven’s Arena

When Gon lands a spectacular punch on his face in Episode 36, Hisoka doesn’t get angry. He lapses into vocal ecstasy. The voice acting choices are legendary for all the wrong reasons, delivering a series of breathy groans. This moment violently forces the audience to realize that physical impact from a child genuinely excites him. It shattered any illusion that his interest in Gon was purely professional, firmly cementing his status as anime’s premier creep.

10 Getting Way Too Excited Watching Gon and Killua Grow Stronger

During their time scaling the floors of Heavens Arena, Hisoka monitors the two boys’ hyper-speed development with a terrifying, deeply intense focus. It’s not just that he’s impressed by their talent; it’s his visible physical reaction to it. His eyes dilate, his face flushes, and the anime portrays his aura as an overwhelming, suffocating pressure. His psychological obsession with their untamed potential completely overshadows any normal martial arts mentorship, solidifying his role as a looming predator.

Here is a summary table for you to have a quick look at:

Rank	Moment	Relevant Arc
10	Getting Way Too Excited Watching Gon and Killua Grow Stronger	Heavens Arena Arc
9	Moaning During His Fight With Gon at Heaven’s Arena	Heavens Arena Arc
8	Rating Children’s Potential Like a Walking Predator Radar	13th Hunter Election Arc
7	Staring at Gon and Killua’s Backsides During Greed Island	Greed Island Arc
6	Cornering and “Judging” Applicants in the Swamps	Hunter Exam Arc
5	Openly Admitting He’s Waiting for Gon to “Ripen”	Hunter Exam Arc
4	Treating Every Talented Kid as a Future Obsession	Ongoing Pattern
3	Following Gon Across Multiple Arcs for Personal Entertainment	Multi-Arc Tracking
2	Making Virtually Every Conversation With Gon Sound Wrong	Heavens Arena / Greed Island
1	Getting Turned On by Raw Fighting Potential	Heavens Arena Arc

Which Hisoka moment disturbed you the most? Let us know below!