Hello. Is America actually fat? He is obviously
has some worries about this. He doesn’t like his body? Is he heavy because of
this or is this just muscles and America’s paranoia?
He’s not overweight, but
he thinks he is. He’s just big-boned and doesn’t understand that they’re
muscles. Longer post on that here [x].
Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 23-24.
Hey, if it’s no trouble, could you mind
offering some characterization advice in regards to Russia? His canon
personality is already hard to get a grasp on, and it gets even harder when you
try writing him in more slice-of-life situations such as Human AUs. Is there a
way to ‘tone down’ his unstable personality while still keeping him in
character?
I don’t give direct
advice for characterizations. It’s just awkward for me to tell someone how they
should interpret and write a character. I can offer tools that are useful to
include in your writing, but I don’t push it.
Human AUs are more lenient anyway, since it’s not canonverse.
Why are these boys
cute, Ella? WHy? Please help me understand. Citation: Every Strip
Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 4.
Sorry, I just had to.
If there are no Canon ships, why say HRE x
Chibitalia are one when they aren’t really either (I think, and hoping, Hima
changed his mind onthat cause
that closeness was uncomfortable, and slightly offensive. No offense to those
who do ship.)
They are canon. They had
mutual romantic feelings for each other, even though Holy Rome mistook Chibitalia’s gender. It was an innocent childhood first love that ended with a kiss and nothing more. They shouldn’t be actively shipped because they’re children, obviously.
Source: Hetarchive, Chibitalia.
About the Gay-gun strip: There is a
“Beep” about America’s head… does that mean he fired it at
himself?? (Sometimes I have a hard time understanding Hima…)
I’d assume so, yeah lmao.
Source: Hetarchive, Comic Diary 9.
As far as I know, the post where Sweden was
confirmed to be gay has been deleted by Himaruya later. Do you think this still
makes Sweden’s sexuality 100% canon or around 50% canon?
Last time I’m answering
this. It was canon but was later deleted. Himaruya said that Sweden was homosexual but only for Finland. Some people still consider it to be canon. Others don’t. It’s a big grey area in the fandom with no clear answer.
Source: Link and translation can be found on the last source listed on Sweden’s profile by Hetarchive.
Is it cannon that Russia
has a scar around his neck and he covers it up with his scarf? Or just a really
popular fan thing?
Somewhat canon. We don’t know if there’s a scar, but he covers up his neck with the scarf/ bandage. It’s
from the history Copy Book.
I’ve done a post on how he also covers up his chest if
you’re interested [x].
Source: Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, eng trans., Jan 20th, 2015).
Hello! Is America’s rapid growth the reason for
his dualism? He grown up so fast that his mentality wasn’t able to keep up. So
now it’s like clashing of grown-up and child sides. His grown up side is about
working together, child side about everything being his way; grown up
successfully invested himself in the second industrial revolution, child side
believes in ‘superhero will save the day’ plan etc
Hi! I’m not a hundred
percent sure what you’re arguing but yes for the most part. He did grow up very
fast and still possesses a childish mentality. Posts on that here [x][x]. I attribute the childish mentality to his
isolation. He matured slower because he lacked interaction with other nations and comes off as egocentric without realizing it.
However, you should also
keep in mind that there’s a panel that states that America underwent a
personality change when he became an adult.
Source: Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, eng trans., Feb 25th, 2015).
As a Canadian yourself, how do you feel the
personification holds up to your experiences? (I think America is damn /near/
spot on for me, an American)
Stereotypes aren’t
always supposed to be spot on. The most accurate thing is how much American
content we consume. Other than that, yes, we are crazy about hockey. But no, we’re
not all nice. We’re actually quite smug and use America as the butt of all our
jokes…as if we don’t have our own racist history.
There’s also the fact
that because Canada is so big, there isn’t really a universal experience. There’s
the remote areas where there’s hardly any diversity and then there’s urban
areas like Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver that are extremely diverse.
The weather also ranges drastically across the country lol.
I don’t know if it was canon, but I saw
somewhere that Romano works as exorcist.
It’s not canon. Romano’s just used as a figure head to demonstrate jobs around the world (it’s part of the segment). In this case, it’s the Vatican.
Source: Volume 6.
I know we cannot expect Himaruya to personify
all countries (for obvious reasons) but i still think about how he at least
once thought about Latin American countries. Specifically Mexico, Argentina and
Brazil. I think it’d be fun to see these countries (if it were to ever happen),
what do you think?
Well, as I’ve mentioned before, Himaruya has a tendency to travel to countries before he embodies them in his work. On the other hand, the more I think about it, the more I understand why he hasn’t personified countries from Africa and the Middle East. The stereotype model would be difficult to incorporate without it being highly offensive (e.g., the uninformed and ignorant generalization that every inch of Africa impoverished). It would be pretty tricky to navigate. Although, that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to see them personified.
France and his humourous side.
Source: Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, eng trans., Dec 1rst 2014).
The mood of
the strip isn’t that France isn’t buying their pleasantries. He’s both shocked
and surprised but nonetheless expresses happiness at their reconciliatory
efforts.
The context
of the strip + the context of other strips is important here, not just the
former. You can’t understand the progression in their relationship otherwise.
The strip
shows how America and Russia have progressed from physical threats and a more
volatile relationship from the Cold War to exchanging pleasantries with jabs
here and there. In no way are they best buddies–Russia is incapable of
having a relationship like that because of how unstable and unpredictable he is– but they don’t despise each other either.
Instead,
just like any other friend-rival dynamics, they get on each other’s nerves.
Which is a
far cry from what their relationship used to be like.
Ex: Russia once threatened to make America’s gums bleed.
Source: Together with Russia, Volume 5.
The mood of the strip, or rather, the message of the
strip is that the two get along now. Relics from their Cold War past emerge in
their competitive and passive jabs at each other, which prompts France’s uneasy
reaction at the end. It’s still a new thing for them to interact like this.
You see this in the
2013-2014 Halloween Event too, where Russia agrees to help America with the costume
contest, but only if he’s compensated. Again, not buddy-buddy, but definitely
on good working terms.
Previously, he also helped America scare England, without any compensation either.
Source: Hetarchive, Merry Halloween.
If the message of the
strip was what you’re saying–that is, that they don’t get along–then the strip wouldn’t have ended the way
that it did. They’re facing unbuilt ground, i.e., a new phase in their
relationship.
If you have more to say,
please comment below rather than leaving an anonymous question. It’s easier to
keep track of.
Another relationship I’m pretty confused on is
FrUK. Not nearly as much as RusAme tho.When Himaruya writes these two its more
like the ho yay between them is a joke and twice Himaruya has shot down the
idea of either of them liking each other like that.France got freaked out over
a fan pretending to be England in love with him. England got freaked out over
the idea of France being in love with him. Of course you can ship as you please
but I’m just so bewildered as to why you think they could happen.
The idea of it + my
understanding didn’t just emerge in a vacuum. There is evidence suggesting a
possibility of romance for them, even if the series does give off mixed
messages.
For example: the second
instance you mention (I think it’s the World Stars Chapter you’re referring to)
shows England getting defensive about reciprocating his perception that France may have feelings for him.
“It’s not…it’s not
like I like you all or anything!” (he’s referring both to the French people and France).
Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 317.
There’s also the running
gag where France laments about how England would be cute if he didn’t talk so
much.
Sources: Hetarchive, England Caught a Cold! + Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, Feb 2nd, 2015).
Another example would be
the Dream United Kingdom strip, which I covered already. Please look at my post directory before sending in asks.
Even though England
vehemently opposes the idea of being married to France, he cites that he doesn’t
want to marry him because of the economic desperation generated by the Suez
Canal Crisis.
“I don’t want to get
married for this lame reason,” is a rejection, sure, but it’s odd how it’s not
an outright rejection. It leaves open the possibility that he would be open to
marrying France for a better reason…whatever that is.
Do you really think so positively of a
relationship like…RusAme?Its been stared time and time again that they don’t
like one another,have an extremely tense relationship and the real life
relationship between these two countries is very volatile and just as full of
hate.Russia has even fantasized about destroying something as simple as
America’s glasses.Sure Hetalia has messages of getting along and stuff but
these two just barely tolerate each other at best.
I’m pretty sure this is
the same anon from above.
If anything, I’m a bit bewildered
as to why you claim that I view RusAme so positively? I haven’t said anything
of the such nor have I only illustrated this side of their relationship. It
would be unfair and inaccurate to claim that I have.
On the other hand, what
I have done is prove that their relationship isn’t only hate—that they can
and do get along. In the Shipping Series post I made of them, I claim upfront
that there are no romantic hints of them and instead explain that the parallels
I draw between them can be used as tools for those who ship them to use in
their characterizations.
Both posts can be found
in my post directory [x] [x].
Here’s a quote from
the opening paragraph if you want to verify.
“Below will be a list of parallels between America and Russia that I think would benefit any RusAme writer should they wish to incorporate them into their works. While in canon there is minimal romantic substantiation, this post merely aims to provide writers with tools that highlight the similar chemistries and complexes that America and Russia both experience. In no way is this forcing the ship onto anyone either.“
Lastly, as mentioned
above, while Russia and America get on each other’s nerves—as I have already acknowledged
in a post documenting their rivalry—
there are also many instances where they
get along.
Ex: They’re spotted happily drinking together.
Source: Hetarchive, April Fools’ 2011.
Ex: Russia has visited America
at his home.
Source: Hetascanlatons, World Stars Chapter 157.
Ex: There’s that café scene
in World Stars, which while highlighting how they still grind each other’s
gears, the underlying message is that they nonetheless get along in the end.
Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 53.
I’ll be transparent in
admitting that it’s a pet peeve of mine when people only focus on the glasses
remark Russia makes in that scene while ultimately ignoring how said scene is
wrapped up. It’s cherry-picking.
Not sure if you’ve been asked this before, but
in your opinion what would you say the sexualities of the Hetalia characters
are?
If you’re unsure if I’ve
covered something, you can always check my post directory. I have done a post
on ‘sexualities’, but I use that term for a lack of a better word. I also don’t
believe in assigning labels when they haven’t been given, as I believe that the
characters are open for interpretation, and instead show how some nations are canonically
LGBTQ +.
You also have Greece,
who copes with his mother’s loss by visiting her ruins and holding onto her relics, and Romano, who can’t
be visited by Rome without bursting out into tears of happiness.
Sources: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 99 & 100 Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, eng trans. April 5th 2011).
This guide will give a concise rundown of how the nations experience
and participate in wars.
Status:
They’re no different than any other citizen fighting for
their country. In other words, they aren’t given any special treatment.
Ex: There’s a comic gag regarding how terrible it was to be
a Russian soldier.
So much so, that Russia becomes ecstatic when Germany takes
him as a prisoner of war.
Sources: Volume 1.
Ex: During WW2, Germany is said to tolerate his way through
pain every day.
Source: Hetarchive, Hetare 5: Lietuvis.
When captured as a prisoner of war himself, he states that
torture is no more than a mosquito bite to him.
Source: Volume 1.
Regarding food, they’re not allocated extra supplies. If
their population is starving, so are they.
Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 120.
They’re given rations just like any other soldier.
Source: Volume 5, Let’s Eat Military Rations!
They fight with their people rather than being fought for.
Source: Volume 4, The Ruler of Scandinavia and the King of Eastern Europe.
Post locations:
Nations can serve on the ground, the navy, and
the air.
People often find it perplexing that America can’t see ghosts
or magical creatures, and assert that this is done for seemingly no reason. It’s
quite the contrary. There’s an underlying rule in the manga that’s been used
and consistently drawn on:
That is, whether it’s ghosts, aliens, or magical creatures,
the nation’s ability to see/ believe in them depends on if their citizens
strongly believe in them. In other words, superstitions of the supernatural and
unknown need to be part of the nation’s popular belief system if the respective
personification is also able to believe in them.
I say believe mostly
because as you’ll see soon, sometimes a nation will see an unknown being, and
yet not recognize or acknowledge its existence. For the most part,
however, the nation simply won’t be able to see the being.
The reason listed that explains why America can’t see and
believe in ghosts is because 23% of his people either believe in their
existence or have had an encounter with them. Again, this ability is predicated
around citizen belief.
I can’t attest for the exact figures of this statistic. Point is, this is what Hima cited, and it is thus included into the reasoning
behind America’s skepticism of the supernatural. Of course, this rule doesn’t
mean that these beings don’t exist. It just affects whether the nation will be
able to see them.
Notably, this approximate statistic has since changed. [I’ll
get back to this in a moment.]
Likewise, because Americans strongly believe in the existence
of UFOs, America can see and interact with Tony.
Meanwhile, although England can see Tony, since his people
don’t believe in extra-terrestrial life as strongly, he’s skeptical of the
alien and doesn’t truly believe in it. [x]
Quickly, it’s important to go over some supernatural ground
rules specifically pertaining to America.
On Halloween, the one day of the year where Americans
temporarily, albeit strongly, believe in the existence of the supernatural,
America’s able to see ghosts and other unknown creatures.
England is noted to be able to make anyone who visits his
country see ghosts/spirits; America is the only exception to
this rule. [x]
When accused of seeing illusions by America, England claims that
America can’t see the unicorn because he’s too impure.
Funny, considering that England gives America a
unicorn to celebrate his bicentennial despite knowing full well that the latter can’t see it….yet.
What I’m about to present indicates a considerable shift
in America’s “ghost and monster culture”, whereby it’s strongly hinted that he’ll
soon be able to see ghosts, spirits, and any other magical creatures rather than
just aliens.
Please note that ghost and monster culture are terms that
Hima’s coined in describing a nation’s folklore and superstitional culture.
It’s not like this shift is impossible either. We’ve already
seen with Japan how he’s able to forget and subsequently re-remember the existence of
youkai spirits as a result of his own people forgetting about and later
believing in them again.
For example, in the Meiji era, Japan lost his ability to see
them with respect to his people forgetting about their existence. On the other
hand, because England’s monster culture remained prevalent, he was able to see the spirits (i.e the Tengu and Kappa).
However, later in WW2, when Japan and Italy are taking a
bath in a hot spring, we learn that Japan’s regained his ability to see his
nation’s magical creatures.
The same thing happens with America.
While he initially can’t see and doesn’t believe in ghosts,
he’s still terrified of them.
The fact that he doesn’t believe in them becomes woefully
obvious when a ghost literally taps America on the shoulder and introduces
himself. America doesn’t notice the ghost and instead seems to attribute the poke
on the shoulder to the false feeling of being touched or watched given that he’s
watching a horror movie while this all happens.
It’s only until World Stars where we begin to see a possible
shift in America’s ghost culture.
America visits England in Chapter 290. What I want to place
particular emphasis on is that America admits to his increasing interest in
fantasy movies. If we follow the rule from above, this would mean that his citizens
have taken up an interest in the genre/ supernatural belief, and this interest
is thus reflected in America’s own interests. Movies genres are a reflection of popular culture, after all.
This scene in particular substantiates this claim.
The two take a tour of a haunted citadel. America mistakes ghosts
for current staff members. [They had worked there when they were alive.]
He takes a picture of the ghosts, only to realize that they
don’t show up in the photo. More importantly is the fact that America was actually able
to see the ghosts.
Even if America wasn’t able to make the connection and
realize what they were, it would seem that his newfound interest in fantasy means
that his ghost and monster culture are shifting.
If that’s the case, then we could very well see an America
that’s able to see supernatural creatures in future strips.
England: I’ll never understand kids these days and their hook-up culture.
Ellawritesficssometimes 