Leorio Paladinight comes from a world of Hunters. A word that applies to many- those being artists, killers, assassins, adventurers, heroes and villains. It's Leorio's dream to become a Hunter and gain an enormous amount of wealth, because once you're a Hunter, you have the keys to the world. Well, at least most of it. His journey begins on a ship leaving a small patch of land called Whale Island, and there he encounters the two friends who will continue to hound them for the rest of his days. Of course, they all want to become Hunters- it's the very reason why they met to begin with. To pass the Hunter Exam and gain Hunter licenses, so they can explore and achieve their own individual goals. 

 

From them on it's a journey in itself- meeting villains of all shapes and sizes, rescuing friends from all situations, and aiding each other diligently along the way. In time it is revealed that Leorio's real goal is to become a doctor, so he can treat sick patients for free. It's a goal born from Leorio's childhood, when his best friend- a young boy named Peitro- died of a deadly but treatable disease. Leorio swore he would become a doctor, and help sick children like Peitro gain a second chance at life without a single cost to their families. Leorio's goals are different from that of his companions, but together they aid each other and support each other in any way possible, regardless of the consequences faced before them.



Personality:

DEFENSIVE, RESERVED:

From the beginning of the series in general, pertaining to both the original and reboot anime, the viewers can surmise that Leorio is a generally happy, accepting and kind character. One assumes he accepts his position as an older member of the group and somewhat of a guide for the younger members to look to. They assume Leorio Paladinight wholeheartedly acknowledges his role as the paterfamilias of the group. What many might not notice of him first hand, however, is that Leorio is actually-


a teenager. Yup, he’s actually nineteen from the start, and his age truly does show once the viewer is actually introduced to him, name and all. Leorio is first and foremost defensive around others he doesn’t know. Harbored possibly from experience or perhaps his own observations from traveling alone, Leorio believes one shouldn’t be so trusting of others they just met, and he makes note to remark this when Gon shows his trusting side all too easily. Leorio is gruff all around his edges, and would easily blend into a crowd of distrusting, glaring strangers. We can tell from the start of his journey towards becoming a Hunter than he had no intention of making friends, or keeping them from that matter- as he was willing to part with Gon and Kurapika after arriving on ___ island from the ship. However, that was mostly due to his own stubbornness, which he is also infamously known for.


In the same vein of events, Leorio refuses to give his name to the ship’s captain and his reasons for wanting to become a Hunter. It’s clear he isn’t privy to revealing such personal information, and feels a lack of empathy for Kurapika’s once it’s made known. It’s only after the captain claims he’s a proctor does Leorio admit his “reasons”, which much gusto and glamor as he can manage- and even then, in the end they prove to be false. Leorio keeps his barriers up for a significant part of that journey, one which not only tested his ability to trust others, but to allow others to trust him as well. The cautious front is met several times with his own reluctance to admit that perhaps, he could have friends- and trust them, as much as they’d like to trust him. Of course, it doesn’t develop as easily as one would expect- but as he progresses in the series with his three companions alongside him, the viewer can easily see those shields fall away.


Despite his growing trust in his friends, Leorio still remains on the alert around strangers, and finds himself at a loss of words when shoved in front of a huge crowd. It’s safe to assume Leorio shows his true self around his close companions (and possibly when he’s drunk) although there is one instance where Leorio truly did fail in holding himself back. After finally meeting Gon’s mysterious father Ging, Leorio demands that he go see Gon in the hospital after the boy had been seriously mangled. Ging, in layman's terms, declined, which soon provoked a violent reaction from Leorio. He quite frankly punched Ging out of his seat, which was met with a roaring applause. Leorio’s vicious defense for his friend and overall lack of control speaks volumes- Leorio is a passionate person, a loud and sometimes angry person- but a dedicated.


INDULGENT, OUTSPOKEN:

Leorio has no problem admitting what he wants, when he wants it, and how. He has no qualms about expressing his displeasure of hiking up a steep mountain for hours, or being tricked by an old woman and her creepy robed groupies. Sometimes he says he has to take a dump. Sometimes, Leorio has little to no filter. His loud voice rises above the others in their group- Gon coming in at a close second. Leorio often lets everyone know what he’s feeling, or what he’s thinking about a particular situation. Whether he does it purposefully to add context or he simply does it on impulse, it shows Leorio has gone a great way to accept the trust and companionship of his friends. It’s with them that he genuinely expressing his emotions, be they negative or positive. By remaining true to himself and his feelings, Leorio indulges in an art of self-expression that is somehow lost within the other members of the group- those usually being Kurapika and Killua. Leorio understands that along with pains, there is also great pleasures to be had in life. It’s this very notion that Leorio uses as an excuse to become a Hunter to begin with. “Big houses, nice cars, great liquor, beautiful women-” Leorio is a creature of indulgence, finding happiness in the smallest of comforts and taking pride in being able to enjoy the finer luxuries of life (that is, if he ever does get to enjoy them). Unlike his companions who would rather enjoy something more humble to their tastes, Leorio likes to imagine greater plans for his enjoyment.


However, the idea that his false dream was to obtain all these monetary items of wealth does truly tie in with his urge to have a substantial amount of money. Leorio doesn’t want to just become a doctor, he wants to become a great doctor. He doesn’t just want to heal and take care of sick children, he wants to do it for free. Leorio is constantly stepping up his expectations, be it his luck in the Trick Tower or his resolution to go to medical school- he doesn’t allow mundane restrictions to hold him back. He rarely holds himself back, emotions and all, and rarely lets himself settle down once he’s made his objectives known. Leorio flares his feelings onto his friends, his enemies, and most of all, himself. At times he’s greatly animated, expressing his concern and happiness with waving arms and a wide smile. Sometimes, he feels force would get his words across (he’s nearly punched Kurapika twice now) and that in itself shows what little restraint Leorio has at times. Luckily, his intentions are almost always good natured (and some, not. re: being able to touch a boob). One can argue that out of the four in the group, Leorio allows himself to the most human, the most expressive and difficult to manage. In reality, these traits are merely a part of him as everything else is.


AMBITIOUS, RELIANT:

Leorio easily admits, that out of the four in their little group, he is undoubtedly the weakest. In terms of raw physical strength, he has many beat. But in terms of deadly combat and skill, as well as profound knowledge of using Nen, Leorio is low on the totem pole. In comparison to his companions, who have all excelled in their abilities and strengths, Leorio still has a long way to go. In the series we see him thwarted several times, and in all the years Leorio has been traveling and studying, he has yet to find a true enemy and participate in a true battle. But one can hardly expect a promising doctor to go around beating enemies, let alone learn about offensive Nen techniques. Leorio’s interests aren’t in fighting bad guys, or even going after those who have wronged him- Leorio wishes to become a doctor, and that in itself is enough to drive him through any obstacle. In the first arc where the Hunter applicants are forced to run for an unknown amount of time, we see Leorio nearly give into defeat. He stops and laments, feels for himself and allows himself to wallow, before picking himself up again and racing back to the start. Gon had been watching him at the time, and one might assume it was indeed Gon who encouraged Leorio simply by waiting for him- further proving how much Leorio relies on his friends. But much of Leorio’s own self-reliance comes from his own heart, as he is met with several formidable foes during his travels- all who outrank him in skill and strength. But Leorio is not one to back down, despite the odds that pile high against him. It’s enough for the viewers to balk at the screen and exclaim: “Leorio, what are you doing there?! Run!” Sometimes, Leorio isn't very wise. It’s Leorio who goes up against Hisoka when others run for safety, and it’s Leorio who ends up beaten with one single punch. It’s instances like these where fear seizes to exist in him, and Leorio barely thinks twice about his own mortality.


In his stubbornness and refusal to give into any challenge that might bring him down, Leorio also shows amazing durability throughout the series. From the hunter exam to training in Kukuro Mountain, to helping Kurapika evade the Phantom Troupe- Leorio has always stuck close to his friends and endured many hardships those particular trials called upon.


KIND, LOYAL:

For all of Leorio’s gruffness and temperament that flares at any moment’s notice, he is the one character that many of the viewers feel they can relate to the most. His struggle that juggles both inadequacy and realistic expectations give the viewers someone to root for, someone they can both judge and see themselves in. There are several instances in which Leorio as described as the “kindest” character, and perhaps the one that is the most soothing to everyone else. Senritsu, a Music Hunter who excels in hearing heartbeats, claims Leorio’s heartbeat is “the most soothing” one out of an entire city of people. She suggests changing his career options to something more along the lines of a doctor or a teacher. Leorio is naturally embarrassed by this claim, but he takes her words to heart, and one can truly see his determination shine through after that encounter with Senritsu. It isn’t hard to imagine at all, that Leorio out of the others is the most human and perhaps the most gentle- despite his tall and somewhat intimidating posture.