Everything You Need to Know About City Hunter#
If you are looking for a high-octane mix of crime-fighting and romantic comedy, City Hunter is a classic that delivers. But with multiple series, numerous movies, and various spinoffs spanning decades, it can be intimidating to know where to start and whether the story actually concludes.
What is City Hunter About?#
Set in the bustling streets of Tokyo, the story follows Ryo Saeba, a legendary “sweeper.” Ryo is a professional troubleshooter who handles everything from bodyguard work to assassination, effectively cleaning the city of “vermin” and aiding those in desperate need.
While Ryo is an expert at his job, he has one glaring weakness: his hormones. He is hopelessly enamored with women, often turning into a complete idiot when they are around. Fortunately, his partner Kaori Makimura is there to keep his impulses in check, providing a hilarious dynamic to an otherwise gritty world of yakuza, gangs, and police intrigue.
If this blend of action, drama, and fanservice sounds like your cup of tea, you can watch the anime on Prime Video.
Is the Anime Really Finished?#
In terms of the original core narrative, the primary anime run concluded in 1991. However, City Hunter is a massive franchise. While the main series provides a foundation, the story continues to expand through various movies and related projects, including the recent City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust (2023).
If you only watch the original anime series, you will get the essence of the characters, but you may find yourself wanting more. Because there are so many “related” works and movies released over the years, the “conclusion” is more of an ongoing legacy than a single final episode. For those who want the most complete version of the story, the original manga (1985-1991) is the definitive source. You can buy the City Hunter manga to see where it all began.
Recommended Watch Order#
Because of the way City Hunter was released, there are a few ways to approach the series. You can refer to the relationship tree on this page for a visual breakdown of how these titles connect.
The Release Order (The Standard Path)#
If you want to experience the show as the original audience did, follow the primary sequels:
- City Hunter (1987)
- City Hunter 2 (1988)
- City Hunter 3 (1989)
- City Hunter ‘91 (1991)
The Completionist Order (Everything)#
For those who want every single piece of content, follow the release order above but weave in the related OVAs and movies as they were released. This includes titles like .357 Magnum, Bay City Wars, Million Dollar Conspiracy, Secret Service, The Motion Picture, Death of the Vicious Criminal Ryo Saeba, and eventually the modern entries like Shinjuku Private Eyes (2019) and Angel Dust (2023).
The Source Material Path#
If you don’t mind reading, the best way to experience the story is to start with the original manga. This provides the most cohesive narrative before you dive into the anime adaptations and movies. With new omnibus editions being released, it has never been easier to collect the series.
If you’re enjoying this guide and want to help us keep investigating your favorite series, feel free to support us on Ko-fi!
Additional Tips for Fans#
- Spinoffs: If you love the world of City Hunter, look into Angel Heart. It is a spinoff that began as a manga in 2001 and received its own anime adaptation in 2005.
- Gaming: For the retro gaming fans, keep an eye out for the “Revival Version” of the City Hunter PC Engine game.
- Collectibles: Between the stylish 80s aesthetic and Ryo’s iconic gear, there is plenty of great memorabilia available. You can buy City Hunter merchandise here.
Whether you are here for the detective action, the Yakuza battles, or the comedy of Ryo’s romantic failures, City Hunter remains a cornerstone of the action-comedy genre.
City Hunter • manga • 1985-02-26 to 1991-11-19 (Weekly Shonen Jump, 1985 #13 - 1991 #50)
└─(adaptation)→ City Hunter • anime • 1987-04-06 to 1988-03-28
└─(sequel)→ City Hunter 2 • anime • 1988-04-02 to 1989-07-14
└─(sequel)→ City Hunter 3 • anime • 1989-10-15 to 1990-01-21
└─(sequel)→ City Hunter '91 • anime • 1991-04-28 to 1991-10-10
└─(related)→ City Hunter: .357 Magnum • anime • 1989-06-17
└─(related)→ City Hunter: Bay City Wars • anime • 1990-08-25
└─(related)→ City Hunter: Million Dollar Conspiracy • anime • 1990-08-25
└─(related)→ City Hunter: Secret Service • anime • 1996-01-05
└─(related)→ City Hunter: The Motion Picture • anime • 1997-04-25
└─(related)→ City Hunter: Death of the Vicious Criminal Ryo Saeba • anime • 1999-04-23
└─(related)→ City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes • anime • 2019-02-08
└─(related)→ City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust • anime • 2023-09-08
└─(spinoff)→ Angel Heart • manga • 2001
└─(adaptation)→ Angel Heart • anime • 2005-10-03
└─(sequel)→ Angel Heart 2nd Season • manga • 2010-10-25 to 2017-05-25 (serialized in Monthly Comic Zenon)
└─(spinoff)→ City Hunter: From Today, City Hunter • manga • 2017-07-25 (serialized in Comic Zenon, Jul 2017)
└─(spinoff)→ City Hunter Gaiden: Ijūin Hayato-shi no Heion Naranu Nichijō • manga • 2018-04-29 to 2021-08-27
