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Yeah, I watched some stuff on YouTube after reading the Wiki page before I started posting in this thread (give it a fair chance, etc). It's an entertaining show, I agree. But it's very dismissive of real cruelty and suffering. And even when people do acknowledge those painful realities (keeping in mind that some Japanese do not even do this) this does come across as something of a rehabilitation, which is totally out of line.

"See, not all Germans were Nazis. Some were just hard-working patriots who knew how to obey orders!"

Oh, I give up. Just delete this thread, please. Not lock, delete.

How about a show called Hecivil.

The characters are:

Union: believes in progress; wants everyone to live according to his standards; bossy and righteous

Confederate: Union's brother; gentlemanly but not too smart and ignorant about most modern technology; criticizes new things as "fancy city ideas"

Britain: used to be good friends with Confederate but has drifted away since the brothers started fighting; now spends more time with Egypt and India but he treats them like crap

Slave No that would be too intense for a kids show

Manchu wrote:How about a show called Hecivil.

The characters are:

Union: believes in progress; wants everyone to live according to his standards; bossy and righteous

Confederate: Union's brother; gentlemanly but not too smart and ignorant about most modern technology; criticizes new things as "fancy city ideas"

Britain: used to be good friends with Confederate but has drifted away since the brothers started fighting; now spends more time with Egypt and India but he treats them like crap

Slave No that would be too intense for a kids show

You forgot poor, confused Wester X. Pansion(Wes to his friends), who can't decide which of the brothers to side with.

Good catch!

Surely, such a show could not possibly offend anyone?

I'm offended already...

I'd watch it. In fact, it sounds hilarious.

I actually agree. That does sound hilarious

<Insert generic lighten up comment>

Not everything is a plot of obfuscate the truth that has already been obfuscated for decades. A lighthearted cartoon won't change that.

Making a light-hearted cartoon is a tasteless and shameful way to address these issues.

Manchu, regardless of the title, to the best of my knowledge, Hetalia takes place in a generalised chronological setting. The characters are based quite heavily upon national stereotypes,and aren't intentionally tied to any specific period. WW2 is glossed over in general from all perspectives,as are the unpleasant details from pretty much every period. It's not WW2 period specific, any more than it is the Franco Prussian war specific. Occasionally their little skit storylines will revolve around specific event in history, but it tends to be more about placing the developed characters in historically inspired setting and scenario.

With the greatest of respect, you're taking a hardline stance on something with little in the way of actual knowledge on it. I personally utterly despise Hetalia and its entire hyperactive yaoi obssessive fanbase, and I'm working my way towards being a professional historian.But it in no way attempts to obfuscate WW2, than it does the Vietnam War, WW1 atrocities, or Roman ones(Rome is a character as well if I remember correctly).

I don't think you can explain away the basic premise of the show as a portrayal of the Axis powers as flawed but cute anime characters -- which is my objection.

Manchu wrote:I don't think you can explain away the basic premise of the show as a portrayal of the Axis powers as flawed but cute anime characters -- which is my objection.

The Chaos gods disagree, everything flawed and evil is forgiven when turned into cute animu. Uguu.

Ok...

And, umm, how does liking Hetalia make me a yaoi fan? Most of the Transformers are male, but liking Transformers doesn't make me a yaoi fan.