The Hunters Guild: Red Hood was canceled and ended earlier than expected.
In this article, we explain why it ended so suddenly.
目次
Why Was The Hunters Guild: Red Hood Canceled? Full Explanation
The Hunters Guild: Red Hood was unfortunately canceled and ended before reaching its full potential.
“The Hunters Guild: Red Hood” was first published as a one-shot in issue 42 of *Weekly Shonen Jump* in 2020 as an entry for the Kinmirai Cup.
It won the 14th Kinmirai Cup and was serialized in the magazine from issue 30 to issue 49 of 2021.
Slow Pacing and Losing Readers
“The Hunters Guild: Red Hood” was canceled largely because the story progression and pacing were too slow.
レッドフード。
無限に展開が遅い。ケイドロが長けりゃ試験自体が長い。
もう村長の追記のせいにはできんぞ？？？
けど、キャラデザが強いので応援している。
それに、なんとなくベローくん好きよ。— こまたろう (@komataro8) September 29, 2021
レッドフードって言われるとどうしても話の半分ケイドロで終わったほうがちらついちゃうんだよな
— キューはすら (@Finalres_Cue) September 15, 2024
レッドフードを読んでたときは「面白くないわけじゃないし、設定やストーリーの流れはけっこういいんだけど、なんだろう、これでいいのか？この漫画は？」って違和感があったんだけど、「展開が遅い」っていうのが違和感の正体だったようだなhttps://t.co/G6zj4eNgaR
— 食べる🍳 (@gattsuri_eat) July 7, 2022
For example, the slow pace in the early stages—such as spending five chapters just to leave the village and seven chapters on the Hunters’ Guild exam—may have created a situation where the manga faced a high risk of declining popularity and cancellation, particularly during the exam arc.
Lacking the rich content and brisk pacing that readers sought, and with the werewolf battle in the village dragged out until Chapter 6, it is likely that many readers felt the story had “fallen flat.”
The fact that the “Tag” exam arc took up as many as 7 chapters, with the protagonist Beroo barely featured and the story focused almost entirely on the battles and flashbacks of minor characters, was another factor that dampened readers’ interest.
I analyze that this sluggish pace betrayed readers’ expectations and became a contributing factor leading to the series’ cancellation.
The protagonist's lack of appeal and inconsistencies in the setting
The cancellation of *The Hunters Guild: Red Hood* was reportedly influenced by the protagonist, Bero, lacking charm and the story’s premise failing to meet readers’ expectations.
Despite being the protagonist of a battle manga, he lacked easily recognizable special powers or techniques, had no established fighting style, and his character design was perceived as “too plain.”
Consequently, unlike Deku from “My Hero Academia,” who grew by inheriting a Quirk while working as an assistant, Bero was intended to fight using his wits. However, he failed to make a notable impact in battle and thus couldn’t leave a strong impression on readers.
Furthermore, the fact that the protagonist was originally set to be Grimm in the one-shot version but was changed to Bero in the serialized version creates an unshakable impression that the character’s core identity was inconsistent.
I believe this lack of appeal and inconsistency led to a loss of reader interest and ultimately sealed the series’ cancellation.
The Flawed Shift in Direction and the Failure of the Meta Plot
It is possible that “The Hunters Guild: Red Hood” was canceled because its shift toward isekai reincarnation and metafiction left the story direction unclear, confusing readers.
レッドフード最初の人狼vs狩人の構図続けてたら打ち切りエンドでも後味良かったのにな
いきなりテコ入れでメタフィクション路線に突入されても困る— ぶぶぶ (@Chaliceveil) October 25, 2021
レッドフード、ようは劇場版ドラゴンクエストの結末と同じようなことしてる
多分全部造られた世界の話なんだろうけど、読者が求めていたのは狩人vs人狼のバトル漫画であって、こんなメタ漫画じゃねーんだよ#レッドフード— 平田神虫 (@yoyattoru7) October 17, 2021
In Episode 15, the meta plot twist in which the village chief rewrote the script to make Bero the protagonist betrayed expectations of a “Hunters vs. Werewolves” showdown, leading many to question, “Who among the readers actually wanted this?”
By shifting course from the original simple battle story toward the complex themes of the world depicted in the book and the destruction of the script, the story seemed to lose its coherence.
Although this meta-plot twist generated some buzz, it lost support because it proceeded without the tension and battles that “Weekly Shonen Jump” readers crave.
I analyze that this loss of direction and failure led to reader disappointment and paved the way for the series’ cancellation.
Difficulty in reading and structural flaws
“The Hunters Guild: Red Hood” faced ongoing issues with its hard-to-read art style and structural flaws, which lowered reader satisfaction and contributed to speculation that the series would be canceled.
レッドフード面白いんだけどまさかの最下位なのかー。少し絵がごちゃごちゃしててストーリーが追いづらいせいも有るのかも。頑張ってほしい。
— カトウコミック (@katoucomic) September 13, 2021
話メチャクチャなのはぶっちゃけ大人の事情で後付けされまくった結果超ごちゃごちゃしてるよねレッドフードくん…読者投票で殺され、復活したかと思いきやそうじゃなかった、とおもいきや本人だったり、爆弾仕掛けたり…
— mogu* (@mogex2ta) May 12, 2023
The frequent use of cross-panel storytelling and cluttered layouts may have drawn criticism for being “hard to read” and hindered readers' understanding of the story.
The decline in art production costs, which led to a deterioration in the highly praised art style seen in the early volumes by the later volumes, also gave readers the impression that the work was “sloppy” and contributed to a loss of trust.
The rules of the Kedoru exam were extremely lax, and the examiners’ leniency and lack of tension likely further diminished the story’s impact.
I believe these issues with readability and shortcomings accelerated reader attrition and were the decisive factors in the series’ cancellation.
Why the Cancellation of the Manga *The Hunters Guild: Red Hood* Is Such a Shame
Stunning artwork and expressive power
“The Hunters Guild: Red Hood” features an overwhelming artistic skill and dynamic expressiveness far beyond what one would expect from a newcomer, which is the main reason why its cancellation is so deeply regretted.
The density of detail in the artwork and the excellence of the character designs have been major attractions that captivated many readers from the very beginning of the serialization.
In particular, the creation of a rich, Nordic-style fantasy atmosphere and the powerful visual composition in the action scenes have received extremely high praise.
Techniques that were simple yet visually striking—such as the iconic shot of the protagonist, Bero, standing side by side with the giant-hunting woman, Grimm—truly shone.
This high quality was maintained throughout the series, including in the additional episodes in the tankōbon volumes and the one-shot stories, and readers who became fans of the art style continue to lament its premature end to this day.
It can be said that the solid manga technique cultivated through extensive experience as an assistant shone with a brilliance that stood out even among Jump titles.
A unique worldview and themes
“The Hunters Guild: Red Hood” drew deep impressions on readers with its ruthless yet sincere premise, which uses the Grimm's Fairy Tales as a motif while portraying werewolves as “prey.”
Rather than following a simple structure of rewarding good and punishing evil, this work depicts a battle of wits between the hunters and the hunted, taking the unique stance that “there is neither justice nor evil in a meal.”
The meticulous depictions of daily life in the village early on and the realistic portrayal of hunting life gave the story a profound depth suitable for adults, despite being a classic shonen manga.
Furthermore, the story incorporates a surprising metafiction element: the world exists solely for the entertainment of a higher power.
The hint of diverse beings—such as witches, vampires, and dragons—made for a compelling setting that strongly hints at future developments and the expansibility of the world.
It is precisely because of this meticulously crafted world that fans are left with a lingering desire to have enjoyed this story over a longer span.
Character Appeal and Relationships
“The Hunters Guild: Red Hood” is beloved in large part due to its charming characters, each with a strong, distinctive personality, and the relationships they form.
In particular, Grimm, a giantess hunter with overwhelming charisma, captured the hearts of many fans and served as the series’ flagship character, commanding an immense presence.
The story of the protagonist, Bello, who grows through the use of her wisdom, and the mentor-apprentice and partner dynamic she builds with her companion is truly compelling.
Furthermore, from Bonkers, a member of the Hunters’ Guild, to the supporting cast, each character’s design was highly distinctive.
Even when the story came to an abrupt end, the narrative included developments that embodied the characters’ refusal to be “bound by the story.”
The charm of these characters, portrayed with unwavering consistency until the very end, remains vividly etched in the memories of many readers long after the series concluded.
Overall potential and the possibility of reaching its full potential
“The Hunters Guild: Red Hood” is a series whose immense potential is deeply regretted—it undoubtedly would have become one of Jump’s flagship titles had the story’s various elements meshed more effectively.
Expectations were extremely high even during the one-shot phase before the serialization began and when the official PV was released, and many fans were hoping for a timeline where it would grow into a massive hit.
Even now, many people say that if the story structure and pacing had been better, it could have become a long-running series that led the industry.
It is not uncommon for readers to re-evaluate the series after its conclusion, reading it from the beginning and finding it more engaging than they initially thought, with glimpses of its high potential evident throughout.
Despite being such a brilliant raw gem, many manga fans express regret over the fact that the series ended so abruptly.
The fact that it drew to a close before its hidden potential could fully blossom is the primary reason why this work will forever be spoken of as a “masterpiece that fell just short.”
The Hunters Guild: Red Hood Synopsis
The battle between hunters and werewolves, depicted with a truly unique style, is about to begin.
Who will emerge victorious from this life-or-death struggle—humans or monsters?A hunting fantasy bursting with creativity is about to begin!!
Final Thoughts on The Hunters Guild: Red Hood
In conclusion, The Hunters Guild: Red Hood was canceled and ended earlier than expected.
Overall, several factors discussed above likely influenced how The Hunters Guild: Red Hood ended.
The slow pacing, combined with a story that quickly became complex and difficult-to-follow battles, made it hard for the series to gain strong support from Weekly Shonen Jump readers.
Even so, The Hunters Guild: Red Hood had stylish characters and impressive action scenes, while its unique setting and dark atmosphere introduced early on gave the series a strong identity.
It may still be worth checking out for yourself.
