When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is, by rule of thumb. So an educational and entertaining anime show? It’s not a sound source for information, but Hetalia: Axis Powers actually has true facts imbedded in the storyline, lots of them in fact, and is very entertaining to many people. Although the show is slammed by critics for sometimes being biased and often off-topic, the show’s point isn’t to provide information, but to entertain viewers, and in the process excite them about learning more on world history.
Hetalia: Axis Powers is an anime show set in the World War II era, the first episode taking place just after WWI. The show also includes a plethora of facts from other points in time. To portray the show flawlessly, the characters are all anthropomorphic versions of countries. The main characters are the Allied Forces: England, America, France, Russia, and China, the Axis powers: Japan, Germany, and Italy, as well as Prussia (who represents East Germany), Austria, Hungary, Canada, Belarus, and many other minor characters who played small roles in the WWI-WWII era, or are there just for comic relief or fun. The relationships between the characters represent those of the actual countries. Austria and Hungary are divorced, Prussia and Germany are brothers, China mentored Japan, Russia is the brother of Ukraine and Belarus, England raised America as an adopted younger brother, and there are two Italys, brothers, to represent the Northern and Southern parts of Italy being governed separately at that time. The characters in the English dub of the anime have accents for each character, and the manga gives names for them. The country’s appearances are based on the culture of said country, and also the size of the region (for example, Russia wears a scarf, coat, snow-boots, and gloves, and is very tall and muscular, while Sealand is small, the size of a child, and wears a sailor outfit).
The show is adored by its large and rapidly growing fan-base, consisting mainly of the target audience: 15-25 year olds. And anyone who knows their history will chuckle at the factual jokes. Hetalia does however, as with any popular work of media, have its fair share of critics. Critics are often older than the target audience and believe the show intends to teach people, which it does not. The facts embedded in the show are actually true, but the majority of the show focuses on the comedy and entertaining aspects of the story, so critics stab at that point, saying you shouldn't learn from this show, oblivious to the fact that most sentient people don't brush up on history with Hetalia. Many fans do develop an interest in learning further about WWI, WWII, and other major world history events, helping spark an interest that other shows can't hold a candle to. And they sure can remember which sides the countries were on for WWII. Another point critics get at is that the characters portray untrue or derrogatory stereotypes of the countries. For instance, Russia sometimes totes a bottle of vodka, France is a romantic, and England has a bit of a sailor mouth. However, if the characters didn't portray actual stereotypes (non-racist ones that is), then they couldn't be distinguished as that country. If China and Germany had the same accent and looked the same, well that wouldn't be any fun now would it? And, our last major point, critics, often American critics, say the show sympathizes too much with the Axis Powers. Okay, let's plug our brains back in for a sec. This is an anime, meaning it was made in Japan. Let's remember that Japan was an Axis Power. They're not going to make themselves the bad guy here. So just keep in mind, this is a Japanese view on the world. It could be worse.
Hetalia: Axis Powers is a fun and humorous show, and very creatively made. Although it was created with mature audiences in mind, it pulls off something many shows can't say they have: it makes you want to learn more about history while having fun.
References:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hetalia:_Axis_Powers>
<http://www.funimation.com/hetalia/>
Picture Source:
<http://www.downloadost.com/Ost-2010-02-10-4046-hetalia-axis-powers-sound-world-ost.html>
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