Unpacking further Misconceptions about Hetalia

In previous posts, I’ve already debunked the misconception that
Hetalia promotes fascist, racist, and imperialist narratives and linked both an
academic source and primary source materials from the manga [x] [x]. 

This post will unravel additional misconceptions that arise
when people 1) don’t read the manga and/or watch the anime 2) think the anime
is entirely representative of the manga, and 3) falsely think that the dub,
which has made some crudely offensive lines, is affiliated with Himaruya.

In no way am I advocating to wholeheartedly and blindly support
Himaruya, as he has made some culturally insensitive choices in the past—mistakes
of which he has clearly learned from in the following decade of content he has
produced.

Creators are capable of evolving from their mistakes, so to
hold them presently accountable for something that they did in the past is
childish and counterproductive. Outrage culture is the antithesis of growth; it’s
fueled by anger instead of reason and inhibits discussion rather than promotes
it.

On the other hand, what I am advocating for is that people
do their research and look into the series before hopping on the bandwagon to
hate Hetalia and make assumptions that have zero canon substantiation.

“The nations being ‘cute
and relatable’ is offensive.”

This would be a good argument if Hetalia’s tone intended for
serious discussion and historical accuracy.

It doesn’t.

Hetalia is a satire and a historical parody. Its entire
premise is stereotypes and making fun of them. Stereotypes aren’t always
accurate either, so to come to Hetalia expecting accuracy is to set yourself up
for disappointment. Stereotypes inherently implicate an outsider’s perspective.
You need to possess a certain humour for it and it isn’t meant for everyone.

Nonetheless, the series is oriented around poking fun at history
and at a deeper, more implicit level has an anti-war and anti-fascist agenda. The main genre is humour, so of course the nations are going to have
several comic gags, foolish blunders, and jokes. To expect otherwise is to again, mistakenly set yourself up for disappointment.

In working with a humour genre, Himaruya can’t cover certain
subjects, and, therefore, has to gloss over events. It’s not erasing history
nor is it trivializing the atrocities that occurred. The genre constrains what events
he can depict.

As mentioned before, there’s a stark difference between historical
situation and promoting a rotten ideology. Just because fascism and war are
depicted doesn’t inherently mean that it’s being glorified. What matters is how
the information is presented.

For example: People outside of Hetalia think that Nazism is
celebrated and that Germany is held up on a pedestal.

The real Germany that we see in the series is someone who is
morally opposed to annexing Austria but is forced to [x] . Remember that this is a
core theme of the series: nations are forced to follow their bosses’ orders [x] [x]. While unfavourable at times, this theme is understandably necessary for
avoiding the slippery slope where nations would be given more free will over such
matters. 

Another strip alludes to the fact that should Germany
disobey his boss [Hitler] he could be imprisoned. Rather than the heroic, brave,
blindly patriotic, and invulnerable German man that would be depicted in propaganda,
we see the opposite in Hetalia [x] [x]. 

Germany is instead depicted as a tortured and worn man who
equates his daily life to torture. He claims that the pains of being a prisoner
of war is a mere mosquito bite in comparison.

Tell me, in what way is this promoting fascism and Nazi
Germany?

Colonialism:

Just like Hetalia mocks fascism, it also mocks sentiments of
colonialism.

Imagery is used to reduce colonizing nations to mere children
having squabbles. Their conquests aren’t glorified. They’re instead made to
appear foolish, ridiculous, and immature. France and England’s constant bickering
in the context of their conquests best highlights how colonialism is undermined
in the series [x]. 

Hetalia doesn’t erase the many planes of genocide that the indigenous
populations experienced at the hands of colonial powers. The humour genre restricts
what can be depicted, so it instead frames its focus on belittling the idea of
colonization by undermining historical narratives that have asserted the false
and non-existent racial superiority of these powers.

Ex: The nations
building holiday homes in America is a deliberate euphemism for the actual
practice of colonization.

Lastly, I have to point out that the criticism that America’s
personification is European-centric is false. America’s explicitly referred to
as “an ingredient for a country” during this colonization phase. Several groups
and cultures were present, which, as logic follows, would include both the
colonizing powers and indigenous populations in America at the time. In other
words, he wasn’t born as the outright personification of the country but rather
seems to have evolved into the title.

“【America, at this time】

He’s more like an ingredient for a country right now, to be
frank.
The East Coast in the 17th century is like a cauldron for the birth
of unique American culture, which may well have been a sign.”

Conclusion:

Overall, it’s ironic that as a series based on stereotypes
Hetalia is wrongly stereotyped for what its content consists of. Likewise, instead
of looking at Hetalia as a series that’s simplistic in nature, analyze how said
simplicity is able to mock and criticize imperialism, colonialism, fascism, and
racism via the device of satirical humour.