Hetalia: Axis Powers

[masamuneehs]

Hetalia - Axis Powers
Genres: comedy
Themes: World War II
Plot Summary: Italy, once home of the strongest empire in the world, has changed. This is the story of Italy, now a cowardly pasta-loving fool, and his friends (other personified countries of the world) as they live through strange moments in world history.

Yes, that's correct folks. This anime (<Yukimura> "...basically a webcomic-turned-manga-turned-anime about the world's countries turned into bishonen and left to play out World History") is a comedy about world history, based somewhat largely on satirical characterizations of countries from around the WWII era.


The first episode is subbed by GG
GG - Hetalia Axis Powers - Episode 01 - Webcast

It is a webcast (meaning low quality, because of the sub-story that is the real reason I'm bothering to make a post about this show: Korea's furious reaction towards the show that has resulted in it being pulled from Japanese TV stations.

Basically, from what I'm hearing, Korea get all upset about how its country was portrayed in the show (although that character doesn't appear in the first episode at least) and brought some wicked heat towards Japan about it. The issue was even raised in official government meetings of the South Korean federal government. In turn, the Japanese network airing the show decided to cancel it, although web/mobile phone broadcasters are saying they'll air it.

So, what the fuck? A ridiculously silly (if not a little irreverant) yaoi fangirl's dream come reality about poorly drawn bishounen earns the wrath of a nation and pressures it off the air? Have these Koreans even seen shows like South Park or Family Guy? Could this possibly be the best thing ever for Axis Powers' popularity?

Wikipedia says
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hetalia#Anime
ANN reports
Korean Protests Call for Anime Cancellation
Japanese Station Cancels Hetalia Run
Some rather biased coverage:
http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2009/0...minal-hetalia/

Actually, I'll say that the first episode was pretty entertaining in some regards. It surely is silly, and there's too many characters all at once, but, hey, that's the world in a way. Some of the jokes in the first scene were both pretty cleverly delivered and funny.

[00:18] <masamune> this is almost actually keen political commentary
[00:18] <masamune> wrapped in low-budget, yaoi fan catering bishounen
[00:19] <masamune> it's like reverse inverse parallel Zetsubou sensei
[00:19] <masamune> Reversed appeal / presentation. Inverse scope (the world and not Japan), but the same kind of deal
[00:27] <masamune> the 'chibi' section actually does good show with the more recent history of Italy
[00:27] <masamune> which is basically becoming enamored with its ancient glory and cultural prowess and becoming the bitch of wave after wave of invader

[Yukimura]

I found it quite funny for such a short little thing. The personifications of the countries for the summit seemed to hit stereotypes dead on. America is a lot like Tamaki from Ouran but without the suave romantic elements, coming up with crazy plans, England is stuck up, France is a douche, Russia just creepily follows smaller countries around trying to merge with them, and China just thinks everyone is retarded but has stuff to sell if they're interested.

I hope the net releaes will at least continue as this seems like it could be both fun and god forbid even mildly educational to those with no or very little knowledge of international politics and history.

[David75]

It seems the ruccus made quite a bit of advertising as this thing gets lots of seeders and leechers...
and since it's small, it comes fast.

Well it's hard to say anything based on a so small ep.

And yup, France tends to disagree everyone, evenmore if they are americain or from uk

But it works with Germany quite well too.

[KrayZ33]

well, it was very funny to watch, it definitively got my interest and I really hope they will go on with all the stereotypes if the real series starts(?).

will the quality improve (even though it's a webcast is the quality always so low)?, if not... damn korea! Can't they even laugh about themselves?

I liked the "Chibitalia"-story, actually I liked everything in this small and short episode.. this is good stuff! Looking forward to it from now on

by the way, I wonder if there will be something like "love" too neatly explained with historical events, because there was a female "country" too (if it wasn't a trap)

[TheBladeChild]

I dont know if I should be entertained or disturbed by this show O.o

[Pandadice]

ah yes, definitely watched this. i was anticipating it ever since that list of up coming winter shows was out, and then all that talk about cancellation had me worried. but i didn't need to worry because it's still being subbed.

[Lucifus]

Haha, oh man, I busted a gut at the pasta. xD

Interesting, small, and fast. Definitely watching this one.

[Kraco]

Quite a strange series... The extra short episodes suit it, because honestly if this had full-length eps, it could be a bit much.

[Pandadice]

episode 2 is out

[gg] Hetalia Axis Powers - 2 [webcast] torrent mkv

[KrayZ33]

"Mr. Germany this is terrible! Italy... became Germany's Ally!"

Noeeeeeees....

[Pandadice]

hey, episode 3 is out

[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_03_[Webcast]_[882566EA].mkv

[enkoujin]

Man, whatever happened to this thread?

[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_04_[Webcast]_[9C2ABCCE].mkv
[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_05_[Webcast]_[810BEFBF].mkv
[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_06_[Webcast]_[B0ED137C].mkv
[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_07_[Webcast]_[210E67E0].mkv
[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_08_[Webcast]_[850036B7].mkv
[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_09_[Webcast]_[25095D9E].mkv
[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_10_[Webcast]_[3898260C].mkv
[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_11_[Webcast]_[A52896C9].mkv
[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_12_[Webcast]_[01CD5571].mkv

Are Italy's hugs a symbolic diplomatic embrace or acknowledgment?

[enkoujin]

[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_13_[Webcast]_[020774B7].mkv

A second season of the anime adaptation of Hidekaz Himaruya's Hetalia - Axis Powers comedy web manga has been green-lit for production. Like the first season, it will run on the web and on mobile phones after this summer. More details will be provided on the official homepage.

The "cynical gag" manga and anime take the archetypal characteristics of about 20 countries and regions, and anthropomorphize them as (mostly) bishōnen characters. The story re-imagines various historical eras including World War I and II. 700,000 copies have been sold of the two published manga volumes since 2008.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news...ason-green-lit

[enkoujin]

[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_14_[Webcast]_[80585269].mkv
[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_15_[Webcast]_[7E929E43].mkv

[enkoujin]

I like men.

[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_16_[Webcast]_[D05E2C2E].mkv

DVD releases are out on the gg tracker.

[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_01-07_[DVD]_Batch

[enkoujin]

[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_17_[Webcast]_[30E14A3F].mkv

[enkoujin]

[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_18_[Webcast]_[4DB0313A].mkv

[enkoujin]

[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_19_[Webcast]_[97D967E6].mkv

[Death BOO Z]

watched the seven first episodes

I'm divided as for how to think of it.
it's obviously wrong in every fiber of it's creation, and it does nothing but reinforce negative stereotypes about just about anyone.

on the other hand, it's just so wrong that it feels like the equivalent of a Tijuana donkey show.

best line so far:

"he's probably mass producing white flags as we speak!"

[enkoujin]

While it does reinforce negative stereotypes about the different countries, it is all in good fun because there does not seem to be any explicit actions that could cause a huge controversy (except the part where [South] Korea grabs Japan's chest). After all, they're basically biased political cartoons, and they typically don't tend to cause that much harm...with a few exceptions.

[gg]_Hetalia_Axis_Powers_-_08-13_[DVD]_Batch