Hello everyone! I’m back again this week with another review. This time we’ll be discussing the anime Hetalia: Axis Powers. This anime is about the nations of the world, and how their arguments shape the world around them. However, Hetalia personifies these nations as actual people, which turns all of the hypothetical scenarios that your history teacher would say about countries “being buddies” all too real. Let’s jump right in.
Hetalia is an anime comedy, and I love it. There’s nothing more fun than to crack jokes about history, and still make people laugh. However, the personified countries themselves are very…controversial. Most of the countries portrayed are very stereotypical. America is a burger-eating, superhero-loving, violent prone idiot. Canada is very shy, and is not noticed by anyone. Japan talks about honor all of the time, and says the letter “L” as the letter “R”. Italy is a pasta-eating wimp, Germany is a beer-loving intimidator, and the list goes on and on. Many jokes and moments arise from these stereotypes, like other nations will make fun of other nation’s stereotypes. In fact, South Korea (the actual country, not the anime version), wanted to ban this anime from being aired there due to the personification of their nation.
While the anime is funny, it is also educational. A bit strange, but the show actually teaches about many different wars and topics. It talks about how Italy joined with Germany and Japan, because it needed the support of both nations to be able to fight in the war. It shows how Russia forced its satellite states to join the Warsaw Pact. That’s one of the great things about Hetalia, it teaches people about wars in the world that you might have not known, while still having a lot of fun with the show.
There is one thing that I don’t like about the anime, and that is the length of the series and episodes. Each episode is only 5 minutes long, and the first two seasons are only fifteen episodes each. Not near enough for an anime this well made. However, word is that the makers of the anime are making a third season. Also, there is a movie of it called, Hetalia: Paint it White, which is about an hour and half, and involves the nations banding together to fight a horde of evil aliens. It’s a great movie, with enough comedy and action to keep you interested.
This anime is great, with funny moments, controversial stereotypes, and educational humor. And with the accuracy of how the scenarios of the world play out with the nations, it leads me to believe that the developers care enough to do their research before each episode. The animation is great, and so is the voice acting. They actually had people voice act nations they came from. However, due to the short length of each episode and seasons leaving the viewer to want more I give Hetalia: Axis Powers 4/5 Lukes.
