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At the beginning of the Hunterpedia segments at the end of episodes of the 2011 Heaven's Arena arc, the opening image contains the English text:

Brush Your Teeth.
Unripe Fruit

enter image description here

The rest of the writing is in Japanese, I assume there is some sort of inside joke. Can anyone provide a context for those two lines?

Ero Sɘnnin
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RichF
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  • Those two lines are subtitles, not present in the original video. "Brush Your Teeth" is a translation of the blue text immediately to the left of Killua's head. "Unripe Fruit" is a translation of the green text in the lower left, above the drawing of an apple. I suspect it's just random writing. (But then again, I don't know anything about HxH.) – senshin Dec 12 '15 at 02:15
  • Thanks -- should have guessed that the lines might be translations. I still think that there might be some sort of context there which is zooming right over my head. If you like anime, check out HxH. While starting out as typical Shōnen, the strong characterization and deeper plots and themes add up to something really good. – RichF Dec 12 '15 at 04:26

2 Answers2

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I may have the phrases figured out. Initially I was extra confused as to why there would be such out-of-context English phrases printed in a Japanese anime. Senshin cleared that up, and I realized everyone could read the text.

I've now watched some of the original 1999 Hunter x Hunter anime series. In those, the psychotic villain (and sometimes ally) Hisoka occasionally refers to Gon as "unripe fruit". (I do not believe he ever says that in the 2011 version.) The context is, even though Hisoka feels sorely tempted, it is too early to destroy Gon (and perhaps Killua) now. He is like unripe fruit, and it will be much more enjoyable to destroy the boy mentally and physically once Gon is older and gained significant skill.

Knowing that everyone can read "brush your teeth" helped me see the image afresh. I thought Killua was just smiling, but now I see it is a huge, clenched-teeth smile. Plus his right hand seems to be grasping an invisible tooth brush and motioning as if demonstrating proper tooth brushing technique. The "Hunterpedia" environment is being presented as a classroom.

The one remaining puzzle is why Gon's left hand seems to be motioning as well.

RichF
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  • I'll do that, Ashish. Now I am rewatching some of the 2011 HxH. It turns out Hisoka did use the term "unripe fruit". In reference to accepting a deal with 2 other young protagonists, Kurapika and Leorio, Hisoka says (to himself) "Why must unripe fruit be so tantalizing?" – RichF Dec 25 '15 at 21:45
  • Yeah, seems about right for someone like Hisoka to say. Feel free to edit that in your answer. – Ashishgup Dec 25 '15 at 21:51
  • 'Brush your teeth': it's also (I think) something a parent would say quite commonly to a child in Japan. Combined with the ai-ai-gasa in the corner, I would think it's a collection of classroom doodles. – eha1234 Apr 05 '16 at 10:02
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'Brush your teeth' is for Killua (so it is blue) and 'Unripe Fruit' is for Gon (so it is green).

Killua is such a great sweet tooth. 'Brush your teeth' is meant for Killua. I don't think he has ever brushed his teeth. Or even if he has, (just like a parent does) he is just told to put more effort on his brushing.

KILLUA SWEET TOOTH

AnimeHunterFai
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AnimeHunterFai
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