Hunter x Hunter: The Chimera Ant Squadron Leaders, Explained

Hunter x Hunter: The Chimera Ant Squadron Leaders, Explained

As a long-time observer of this enthralling series, I must say that among the intriguing cast of characters, the Squadron Leaders have left an indelible mark. Each, in their unique way, has contributed to the rich tapestry of the storyline, captivating viewers and the cast alike.


In terms of exceptional anime, Hunter X Hunter consistently ranks among the best for numerous reasons. One particular strength lies within its captivating story arcs, with the Chimera Ant arc being a notable highlight. This arc is rich in intriguing character introductions, such as the Ant-Queen, the Royal Guards, and the Squadron Leaders, which make it visually striking.

Instead of centering on the powerful Queen Ant or the mighty Royal Guards, the story primarily highlights the lesser-known Squadron Leaders in the Ant Colon. While their role may seem insignificant at first glance, they are crucial to the military structure of the colony. However, it’s worth noting that the impact these leaders made during the Chimera Ant arc was relatively smaller compared to the potential greatness they were expected to achieve. Here’s a look at the significant roles played by some of the notable Squadron Leaders throughout the Chimera Ant saga.

Who Are The Chimera Ant Squadron Leaders?

Hunter x Hunter: The Chimera Ant Squadron Leaders, Explained

In the beginning, the Squadron Leaders were initially part of the colonial Royal Guard and tasked with leading the primary military forces. Ranking just below the Royal Guards and the Ant Monarch (Ant King or Queen), they held a significant position within the hierarchy. However, following the emergence of the Ant King, their authority shifted to be directly under the Queen’s command. Their responsibilities include supervising at least 4-5 other officers while each officer oversees around 10-15 worker ants, establishing the colony’s hierarchical order.

In a chimera ant colony, the organizational structure resembles a military hierarchy, with the queen or king at the top. The queen is responsible for finding a suitable nest and produces numerous worker ants to assist in gathering food. These worker ants then hunt for larger prey, enabling the queen to produce even stronger soldiers. As the queen gives birth to more offspring, she assigns them roles according to their strength and authority. The strongest workers become squadron leaders, followed by officers beneath them, while the weaker ones become either combat soldiers (peons) or chores ants (drudges). Once the main military force is established, the queen then creates the royal guard, a rank superior to the squadron leaders.

How Do They Tie Into The Story?

Hunter x Hunter: The Chimera Ant Squadron Leaders, Explained

During the Chimera Ant storyline, Squadron Leaders played crucial roles within the Colony’s military. Initially, they were responsible for gathering human nutrients to strengthen the Colony’s forces. Notably, leaders like Colt and Alligator often competed with each other over who could collect more. Meanwhile, other leaders such as Turtle focused on reinforcing the defenses of the newly occupied NGL nest.

The King was born shortly afterward, surrounded by the Royal Guards and senior military leaders. This event initiated a split in allegiances among the colonists.

With the King finally born and the Queen no longer needed, the Royal Guards spare no attention or resource for her, which does not go down well with some of the Squadron Leaders who, unlike the Royal Guards, have their loyalty only for the Queen for some mysterious reason. Loyalty which got the Squadron Leader Peggy killed by the Ant King shortly after his birth. Effectively, it could be said that this singular action became the undoing of the Chimera Ants in a way. Out of loyalty to the Queen and the mixed reactions to her treatment by the Royal Guards, Squadron Leader Colt begins to act as a diplomatic representative of the colony with the Hunter Association under the condition of saving the Queen. By doing so, Colt reveals important information about the Ant King and the Royal Guards to the Hunters, even evaluating the strength of the Hunters in comparison to the Royal Guards and the King, stating that Netero, the strongest hunter, probably gets killed by Neferipitou before he can even get to the King, Meruem, sparking a mixed reaction of fear and excitement among the Hunters. During the meeting, the Queen reaches out to Colt telepathically in her final moments, asking about the King and his wellbeing, after which she eventually dies. The death of the Queen kickstarts somewhat of a meltdown among the remaining Squadron Leaders, as there is no fealty towards the King and his Royal Guards, with Cheetu and Alligator and some other taking on faux-King personalities and leaving the colony to establish their own colonies.

The Most Notable Squadron Leaders In The Series

Although they had minimal overall influence on the series, certain Squadron Leaders made a noticeable mark on the narrative, the characters, and even captivated viewers.

Squadron Leader Colt: Loyal to a fault, Colt, who appears as a blend of a condor and human, was a dedicated servant to the Queen until her demise. He became an invaluable resource for the Extermination Team regarding Chimera Ants, having served the Queen till the end. Originally a human child named Kurt, he sacrificed himself to protect his younger sister from the Queen’s attack. As a chimera ant, Colt maintains a strong sense of duty in all his actions, especially those related to the late Queen. However, he is also exceptionally efficient in his duties and approaches them with gravity at all times. Compared to regular Chimera ants and humans, Colt possesses significant power as both a chimera and Squadron Leader. What sets him apart most, though, is his unwavering code of conduct, which he never compromises despite any threat. Following the Queen’s death, Colt assumes responsibility for raising the last offspring of the Queen that remains among the Chimera ants.

Squadron Leader Peggy: Peggy, another leader within our squadron and a good friend of Colt, is similar to a crested penguin but actually an intelligent chimera ant. He spends most of his time studying, collecting knowledge about human weapons, and analyzing them. Like Colt, he was fiercely loyal to the Queen. This devotion led to his tragic demise at the hands of the Ant King, Meruem.

Squadron Leader Leol: Casually noncompliant and easygoing, the lion-like Chimera Ant known as Leol previously went by Hagya before the Queen’s demise. Despite his relaxed demeanor, Leol harbored a ruthless streak, taking great pleasure in killing humans more than most of his fellow chimera ants. After the Queen’s passing, Leol was among the first to depart the colony with aspirations to form his own. As a Squadron Leader, Leol possessed exceptional strength compared to other chimera ants and had the ability to use telepathy. His charisma was so potent that his subordinates were virtually devoted to him, much like how loyal the other Squadron Leaders were to the Queen. Regrettably, Leol met his end at the hands of Morel.

Squadron Leader Cheetu: As the swiftest among the Squadron leaders, Cheetu was a unique chimera ant with cheetah and humanoid traits. Confident in his speed, Cheetu was both simple-witted and arrogant, placing great faith in his speed as an unbeatable advantage against his adversaries. However, unlike Leol or others who harbored grand ambitions or loyalty to the Queen or King, Cheetu found contentment solely in his speed. In terms of Nen abilities, Cheetu was a conjurer, enabling him to physically touch his target and transport them into another realm for a game of tag. This power, while impressive, also posed significant risks due to its time-limiting nature, approximately eight hours.

Among the other commanding gamers I often encounter in our virtual battles are Alligator, Baital, Bihorn, Bloster, Mantis, Melereon, Octopus, Small Bear, Turtle, Welfin, Yunju, and Zazan. These warriors never fail to give me a run for my money!

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2024-09-16 03:33