The Hetalia Crisis
Okay, this is a blog concerning the popular anime/webmanga series, Axis Powers Hetalia.
Now, for those of you who don't know what Axis Powers Hetalia is, let me clear that up for you.
Axis Powers Hetalia (also referred to as Hetalia: Axis Powers, APH, or just Hetalia) is a popular satirical webmanga turned anime about the exploits of the world powers during the era of WWI and WWII, but also encompassing certain facts and events from the Middle Ages to present day. Each country is represented by an anthropomorphic character. These characters are made of exaggerated stereotypes.
Each episode of the anime is five minutes long. They were originally supposed to air on Kids Station on January 24, 2009. On Janyary 16, 2009 it was announced that this show would not be aired because, according to the official website, “due to circumstances afflicting the broadcast station, the broadcast has been cancelled”. That did not, however, stop the series from circulating around the internet and mobile phones.
What were these circumstances, you ask?
A group of Korean nationallists protested the airing of the anime because of the way the character Korea was portrayed. They used, for their argument, manipulated comic strips and fanart. And yet, in Korea, it was denounced as "equivalent to criminal conduct."
This makes me angry. Why? Because Korea wasn't even in the anime. Not to mention that if anyone should be upset, it should be Italians. The title mixes 'hetare' - the Japanese word for useless - with 'Italia'. Useless Italy. And in the theme song it says "Hetare Italia". The theme song is Marukaite Chikyuu (Draw a Circle, There's Earth), sung by Daisuke Namikawa, who did the voices of North and South Italy.
Here is the link to the Wikipedia page, which has descriptions of the characters.Here's the Official Website as well, if you can read in Japanese.
Basically, these Korean protestors have little to no right to be upset. Look at how they portray the other countries!
I can't believe they have the audacity to protest, when the whole thing plays on how utterly useless Italy supposedly is. And how they portray the other countries.
Funimation is considering doing dubs of APH and selling it on DVD, but they can't do that if it's wiped off the face of the earth! Here, read it. And Watch it, if you want.
Now, if you don't want it wiped off the face of the earth, sign this petition.
Thank you.
Now, for those of you who don't know what Axis Powers Hetalia is, let me clear that up for you.
Axis Powers Hetalia (also referred to as Hetalia: Axis Powers, APH, or just Hetalia) is a popular satirical webmanga turned anime about the exploits of the world powers during the era of WWI and WWII, but also encompassing certain facts and events from the Middle Ages to present day. Each country is represented by an anthropomorphic character. These characters are made of exaggerated stereotypes.
Each episode of the anime is five minutes long. They were originally supposed to air on Kids Station on January 24, 2009. On Janyary 16, 2009 it was announced that this show would not be aired because, according to the official website, “due to circumstances afflicting the broadcast station, the broadcast has been cancelled”. That did not, however, stop the series from circulating around the internet and mobile phones.
What were these circumstances, you ask?
A group of Korean nationallists protested the airing of the anime because of the way the character Korea was portrayed. They used, for their argument, manipulated comic strips and fanart. And yet, in Korea, it was denounced as "equivalent to criminal conduct."
This makes me angry. Why? Because Korea wasn't even in the anime. Not to mention that if anyone should be upset, it should be Italians. The title mixes 'hetare' - the Japanese word for useless - with 'Italia'. Useless Italy. And in the theme song it says "Hetare Italia". The theme song is Marukaite Chikyuu (Draw a Circle, There's Earth), sung by Daisuke Namikawa, who did the voices of North and South Italy.
Here is the link to the Wikipedia page, which has descriptions of the characters.Here's the Official Website as well, if you can read in Japanese.
Basically, these Korean protestors have little to no right to be upset. Look at how they portray the other countries!
I can't believe they have the audacity to protest, when the whole thing plays on how utterly useless Italy supposedly is. And how they portray the other countries.
Funimation is considering doing dubs of APH and selling it on DVD, but they can't do that if it's wiped off the face of the earth! Here, read it. And Watch it, if you want.
Now, if you don't want it wiped off the face of the earth, sign this petition.
Thank you.
Stereotypes anger people a lot. They might be irritated by the way they've been portrayed.
padfoot, July 10th, 2009 at 12:25:05pm
huh?
broken dreams blvd., July 9th, 2009 at 07:28:20pm