Don't Just Build A City In The Conference Room.

[rionaleonhart]

My second year of university is officially over! None of the topics for which I had been preparing came up in the literature exam, hurrah, but I didn't cry or faint and I did actually manage to write things, which means that it went better than expected. (I was terrified about that exam.)

Entirely because of futuresoon, I found myself celebrating with the twenty available episodes of Hetalia: Axis Powers (Axis Powers: Hetalia? Oh, I'm just going to call it Hetalia). They are only five minutes each, and watching them has been one of the most confusing experiences of my life.

I think I may have enjoyed it.

Here are some notes:


- Personifications of countries are adorable. I feel like a slightly awful person for finding it all so cute. World War II is absolutely not supposed to be cute.

- It is educational! Sort of! I didn't know that the prime minister of France proposed a union with England in 1956, and, given the way in which it was portrayed in Hetalia, I'm not likely to forget it. Also, should I ever need to remember historical events in the future, I shall probably find it easier now that I have the option of imagining little anthropomorphic countries acting them out.

- Apparently, England has a flying green rabbit, which I don't quite understand. I have lived here all my life, and my encounters with flying green rabbits have been few. Also, his eyebrows are spectacular.

- Oh, my goodness, the flashback to England giving young America toys in the seventeenth episode is actually really cute. And sad!

- The eighteenth episode: ...did America seriously say 'I choose you, China!'? Is it too early to be considering Pokémon crossovers? (Is it ever too early to be considering Pokémon crossovers?)

- I appear to be 'shipping Germany with Northern Italy. This is not really something I ever expected to think.

- Germany is sort of hot.


(Here, if you are interested in experiencing the bewilderment for yourself, is the first five-minute episode. It is An Experience. (A warning: Hetalia is a very silly series involving anthropomorphised countries. It likes to draw on and absurdly exaggerate national stereotypes. Much of it, although it avoids the particularly unpleasant aspects, is set during World War II. As a result, it has the potential to be really quite offensive, and even if you're not offended you may feel vaguely as if you are doing something wrong by watching it.))

Comments

[dancesontrains.livejournal.com]

I should point out that on the Hetalia kink meme there is Japan/China non-con set during the Rape of Nanking.

...And I've just been an offensive arsehole in your journal (again) /o\

[rionaleonhart]

...I - I do not know how to respond to this news. I don't even know what to think about it.

(Something about even watching and posting about Hetalia feels horribly immoral. I don't think I'll ever be able to get involved in the fandom.

Of course, now that I've said that...)

(EDIT: If you've made a habit of being an offensive arsehole in my journal, I certainly haven't noticed it!)

[dancesontrains.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was how I responded as well. But then, I only tried a tiny bit of the show.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE, if you're interested in history, have you tried Kate Beaton's/beatonna's comics (http://harkavagrant.com/archivecat.php)? They are adorable.


Oh, good! Perhaps I was an arse somewhere else.

[futuresoon.livejournal.com]

And on the Supernatural kink meme there's two guys having sex with an eight-year-old. It's a kink meme. Don't expect the extreme stuff on it to be representative of the fandom, or definitely the canon, as a whole. The vast majority of Hetalia fic I've read has either not covered the sensitive issues of history or done so in a reasonable, intelligent manner. I won't claim that every single person in it is a shining example of non-squickiness--there are the occasional Russia/Lithuania things that make me a little uncomfortable--but by and large, no, the fandom is not offensive.

[futuresoon.livejournal.com]

I agree with all of your points. I think the thing about Hetalia is that it has the potential to be offensive--hello portraying Germany as a sympathetic character--but for the most part, it mysteriously isn't, by dint of simply not mentioning anything horrible. I remember being hesitant that something with Germany would end up squicking me out and I'd have to stop watching, but it just...didn't. That plus the manga's implication that the characters don't necessarily have to agree with what their bosses tell them to do makes the series okay for me.

[rionaleonhart]

Oh, thank goodness I am not alone in my attraction to the personification of Germany.

Watching Hetalia makes one come out with some very odd sentences.

but for the most part, it mysteriously isn't, by dint of simply not mentioning anything horrible.

I think that's the reason I can actually watch it. I was terrified that it would deal with, for example, the Holocaust, which I very much doubt Hetalia would be able to portray sensitively, and I was terribly grateful when it didn't go in that direction.

I remember seeing those manips! It is good to see them after watching the series and realise that all of the Pokémon choices are absolutely perfect. I particularly like the visual effect on Cleffa; it fits in beautifully.

[mad-lemming-89.livejournal.com]

I must admit, I do love Hetalia! :D And I'll agree - whilst at times I suppose it's got the potential to be offensive, but to quote TV Tropes I think it takes refuge in absurdity. I like the idea that Germany-the-character doesn't really agree with his boss' actions, and I just find Italy adorable.

Have you seen Sealand yet? OMGHE'SSUCHALITTLECUTIE. It makes me want to visit a tiny little oilrig off the coast of the UK. XD!

[rionaleonhart]

I have yet to really meet Sealand, but I have seen this rather charming strip about his becoming a country.

(And Italy is so adorable.)

[perrie.livejournal.com]

Totally not on any sort of subject - I caught enough of Steve Wright on Radio 2 today to know that Derren Brown is going to be on his show tomorrow! Thought you might like to know. (:

[rionaleonhart]

Thank you so much for the alert!

[dracothelizard.livejournal.com]

"My second year of university is officially over!"

When I first found out about Hetalia, the first thing I did was find out if there was a Netherlands involved, and was saddened that there wasn't, but apparently there's gonna be one soon!

"Holland is a tall, muscular guy who's in super good shape!
After all, he beat up Spain, who was in control of him during Spain's golden age.
And he likes young women (too young?) and also thinks some shady drugs are okay, so he's kind of a punk in that way.

He fought over the title of "The Tulip Country" with Turkey (Turkey has been cultivating them since the era of the Ottoman Empire, so he said his history was longer), but Holland is more famous by far so he wins I suppose.

His younger sister, Belgium, has fought her brother along with Spain before. So their sibling relations might not be so good..."

My country's gonna be a fit man who likes young women, enjoys drugs and tulips and is probably gonna get into an abusive relationship with Germany when World War II gets done.

[rionaleonhart]

I look forward to the appearance of your country! (I do have quite a fondness for England. I don't know whether that's some bizarre national pride displacement or just because he's sort of adorable.)

[lovestories.livejournal.com]

I feel like my entire f-list is slowly coming down with Hetalia Fever. GOD WHY AREN'T MY FINALS OVER YET.

[rionaleonhart]

Ooh, are you going to watch it when your finals are over? My flist, with the exception of futuresoon, seems to be more or less devoid of Hetalia at the moment, alas.

[cryforthemoon.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on finishing your second year. :) Hetalia sounds rather interesting.

[rionaleonhart]

Thank you!

Hetalia is bizarre, but it is interesting, and I find that I am actually learning things about history and geography from it. Even if I am learning them in 'ENGLAND TOOK FLOWERS TO GERMANY'S HOUSE, BUT GERMANY REJECTED HIM OH NO' terms.

[saaski-moql.livejournal.com]

So you've finally discovered Hetalia! I've followed the comics but I've only seen a few of the anime episodes. I think the reason I find it okay is that they successfully make fun of everyone so there aren't er, places singled out as really bad or good.

I think the entire world (thinking on that phrase, considering, makes it a weird one) ships Germany/Italy, so you''re not alone. I'm not that into it because Italy is, ah, sort of too much of an idiot for me to really like (again, THIS IS WEIRD TO SAY) though.

Must say though, I met the best America cosplayer at youmacon last year. This was when I was still new to the series, and didn't recognize the character until the cosplayer pulled out a burger. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUjjNZaV3aU)

[rionaleonhart]

So you've finally discovered Hetalia!

Hee, did you anticipate this?

I sometimes feel a bit uncomfortable with 'shipping Germany/Italy, just because Italy is such an idiot that it feels a bit like I'm 'shipping Germany with a child, but then they're adorable and I forget my qualms.

[thrennion.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on finishing your second year! You must tell me more about the literature exam at some point.
HETALIA! I am, at the moment, watching the second episode while drunken revellers stumble around the corridors. I am having a much better time than they are.

And does anyone else 'ship Russia/Lithuania? Or am I the only one. Srsly. They have chemistry.

[rionaleonhart]

The states of 'watching Hetalia' and 'being drunk' are probably more or less indistinguishable.

Isn't their relationship terribly abusive? (Not that that makes them un'shippable.)

[amy-wolf.livejournal.com]

Okay, that was quite possibly the strangest thing I have seen on your journal. And considering the thing with Noel Fielding and the giant space jellyfish, that's saying something.

My brain hurts a little now.

(And of course you wouldn't have seen the flying green rabbit very much! It's the national flying green rabbit! They're not rampant!)

[rionaleonhart]

Always happy to fling bizarre things at my friends! Are you interested in watching any more, or have you been confused enough for the moment?

(Ah, that explains it. I'm going to assume they're the national ridiculously huge eyebrows as well, because not even my eyebrows are that impressive.)

[moogle62.livejournal.com]

HURRAH YOUR EXAM IS OVER, ASDGHGHFSGDH WELL DONE

Watching that Hetalia episode felt a bit like I imagine actually losing my mind would feel, except I am now a lot more disorientated. WHAT. Just. What. If I put all of my scruples aside, I can like it! FRANCE IS FREAKING ATTRACTIVE, OH MY GOD, well, I am not predictable at all. I will watch more of this when a) my exams are over (ONE WEEK TO GO) and b) it is not stupid o'clock. That second bit may be a lie.

[amy-wolf.livejournal.com]

France is the bishie. It makes total sense, in an utterly mad way.

[rionaleonhart]

France is rather good-looking, yes, but none of the countries are as attractive as Germany to me. I can't even explain it.

Good luck on your remaining exams!