Principia Discordia

Principia Discordia => Apple Talk => Topic started by: Cain on August 28, 2010, 11:50:37 AM

Title: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Cain on August 28, 2010, 11:50:37 AM
....I'm willing to make an exception for Axis Powers Hetalia.  Why?

Firstly, it's a comedy.  Secondly, it's about international relations and history.  Thirdly, all the countries are anthropomorphic personifications.  Therefore, it is utterly hilarious. 

For a foreign writer, he gets some of the national traits and idiosyncracies down perfectly, and certainly doesn't play favourites (Japan is potrayed a hilariously stereotypical, polite-but-evasive Inscrutable Oriental and who initially has problems socializing with others, for example).  Plus, some of the relationships of the various countries are flat out hilarious, especially since they are based on their real-life counterparts (Belarus is Russia's little sister, and wants to marry her big brother, much to Russia's horror.  Given Belarus petitioned IRL to join the Russian Federation and was denied, despite historically being part of Russia, this isn't too far from the truth).  America is England's little brother, Austria and Hungary have divorced (and fan favourite, Prussia, is currently bunking at Austria's place), Italy is taken under Germany's wing and is something of a harmless idiot, more preoccupied with chasing tail and doing art than helping his allies, France is a lecherous bisexual trickster mentor and Canada is constantly mistaken for his "big brother" America.

Scheduled to be released next month in manga format, many of the strips are available online for free, as it originally started out as webcomic. 

All in all, I recommend it.  The history gets a little mangled in places, due to artistic licence, but it makes up for it with the characterization, and the way the series can easily piss off humourless nationalists (such as those in South Korea, who got it banned despite the fact the series was far more offensive towards the Japanese than it ever was in how it treated SK).
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: East Coast Hustle on August 28, 2010, 01:43:47 PM
might have to put on a disguise and go hit the manga section of the nearest Borders to pick that up.
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Suu on August 28, 2010, 02:54:27 PM
No.

NO.


NO.


It gives fat 16 year old girls reasons to dress like Nazis at conventions. It's a fucking Cosplague, and when I have a girl tell me how she "identifies with England  because..." one more time, I'm going to fucking snap her neck. 
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Kai on August 28, 2010, 03:28:52 PM
Seems interesting.
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Jasper on August 28, 2010, 06:18:53 PM
Quote from: Doktor Princess on August 28, 2010, 02:54:27 PM
No.

NO.


NO.


It gives fat 16 year old girls reasons to dress like Nazis at conventions. It's a fucking Cosplague, and when I have a girl tell me how she "identifies with England  because..." one more time, I'm going to fucking snap her neck. 


Added to the list of things I have got to see at least once. 

It kinda makes you feel sorry for them.

The anthropologists, that is.  :lulz:
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Shibboleet The Annihilator on August 28, 2010, 06:21:18 PM
Quote from: Doktor Princess on August 28, 2010, 02:54:27 PM
No.

NO.


NO.


It gives fat 16 year old girls reasons to dress like Nazis at conventions. It's a fucking Cosplague, and when I have a girl tell me how she "identifies with England  because..." one more time, I'm going to fucking snap her neck. 

NERRRRRRRRRRRRD RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE!
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Faust on August 28, 2010, 07:02:39 PM
Quote from: Doktor Princess on August 28, 2010, 02:54:27 PM
No.

NO.


NO.


It gives fat 16 year old girls reasons to dress like Nazis at conventions. It's a fucking Cosplague, and when I have a girl tell me how she "identifies with England  because..." one more time, I'm going to fucking snap her neck. 
You make that sound like a negative thing, need I remind you the SS uniform was designed by hugo boss and is FABULOUS.
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on August 28, 2010, 07:03:24 PM
My daughter and her friends are really into this. Obsessive little nerdgrrrls! Awwww! As a result, they spend hours researching politics, history and geography, and then discussing it.

FWIW, my daughter looks a lot like me and her friends are all tall lissome blondes. Yes, they're into cosplay, but they're 13 ferchrissakes. Nothing wrong with kids putting on costumes and playing pretend!
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Cain on August 28, 2010, 07:17:21 PM
Quote from: Nigel on August 28, 2010, 07:03:24 PM
My daughter and her friends are really into this. Obsessive little nerdgrrrls! Awwww! As a result, they spend hours researching politics, history and geography, and then discussing it.

That reminds me, I promised a while back to arrange something concerning that with ebooks.  I'll go through my collection and pick out some promising and useful titles in those areas which may be of interest.  Not sure exactly how long it will take, however.
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Bruno on August 28, 2010, 07:26:54 PM
Waitaminnit... the Good Korea banned it?

Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on August 28, 2010, 08:45:55 PM
Quote from: Cain on August 28, 2010, 07:17:21 PM
Quote from: Nigel on August 28, 2010, 07:03:24 PM
My daughter and her friends are really into this. Obsessive little nerdgrrrls! Awwww! As a result, they spend hours researching politics, history and geography, and then discussing it.

That reminds me, I promised a while back to arrange something concerning that with ebooks.  I'll go through my collection and pick out some promising and useful titles in those areas which may be of interest.  Not sure exactly how long it will take, however.

Awesome! She'll be so happy. :)
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Dysnomia on August 29, 2010, 03:07:25 AM
GUNDAM WING


OR GET THE FUCK OUT
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Rumckle on August 29, 2010, 03:53:04 AM
I watched a pilot, or teaser or something of it. It was kinda short, and while i usually don't mind subtitles, it was hard to follow as the screen became really busy. Is the rest of it like that? Because i still think  the premise is cool
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Prince Glittersnatch III on August 29, 2010, 05:56:42 AM
How exactly was the Cold War handled?

A staring contest?
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Bruno on August 29, 2010, 06:04:01 AM
Hulu has 52 five minute "Episodes". Is that the whole series, or just excerpts?
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: BadBeast on August 29, 2010, 08:51:24 AM
Quote from: Faust on August 28, 2010, 07:02:39 PM
Quote from: Doktor Princess on August 28, 2010, 02:54:27 PM
No.

NO.


NO.


It gives fat 16 year old girls reasons to dress like Nazis at conventions. It's a fucking Cosplague, and when I have a girl tell me how she "identifies with England  because..." one more time, I'm going to fucking snap her neck. 
You make that sound like a negative thing, need I remind you the SS uniform was designed by hugo boss and is FABULOUS.
(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx128/ChuckFukmuk/GIFS/Adolf-Hitler-Funny-Pictures-2.jpg)Yup. Fabulous.
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: eighteen buddha strike on August 29, 2010, 08:59:16 AM
This sounds pretty hilarious, I'm going to check it out.
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: themenniss on August 29, 2010, 11:46:26 AM
sounds pretty cool may have to check it out. It's a bit of a stretch from some of the anime i've watched by the sound of it.
FLCL is fecking kickass though.
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Suu on August 29, 2010, 08:54:31 PM
Quote from: BLARFINGARF on August 29, 2010, 03:07:25 AM
GUNDAM WING


OR GET THE FUCK OUT

THIS.

MECHA.

ANGST.

DOROTHY CATALONIA'S EYEBROWS.
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Suu on August 29, 2010, 09:02:51 PM
Quote from: Nigel on August 28, 2010, 07:03:24 PM
My daughter and her friends are really into this. Obsessive little nerdgrrrls! Awwww! As a result, they spend hours researching politics, history and geography, and then discussing it.

FWIW, my daughter looks a lot like me and her friends are all tall lissome blondes. Yes, they're into cosplay, but they're 13 ferchrissakes. Nothing wrong with kids putting on costumes and playing pretend!

The fact that it's helping kids research history is a plus, and you all know I'm a huge history geek, but I just can't see a swarm of young adults who should KNOW better, marching through NYC in a couple of months at NYCC/NYAF dressed as Nazis. I just see this ending really poorly. From what I understand there was a serious issue in Baltimore as well, and Anime Boston has already moved to ban any "Nazi Germany" costumes.

It's just in poor taste. If guys can't dress as Manji from Blade of the Immortal because he wears a Crux Gammata on his kosode, then it needs to be equally, if not more severely enforced for girls who dress intentionally as SS officers.

Common sense: Anime fans don't have it.

Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: ThatGreenGentleman on August 30, 2010, 04:06:29 AM
Quote from: Cain on August 28, 2010, 11:50:37 AM
....I'm willing to make an exception for Axis Powers Hetalia.  Why?


You watch that too?
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Triple Zero on August 30, 2010, 05:05:35 PM
Quote from: Doktor Princess on August 29, 2010, 09:02:51 PM
The fact that it's helping kids research history is a plus, and you all know I'm a huge history geek, but I just can't see a swarm of young adults who should KNOW better, marching through NYC in a couple of months at NYCC/NYAF dressed as Nazis. I just see this ending really poorly. From what I understand there was a serious issue in Baltimore as well, and Anime Boston has already moved to ban any "Nazi Germany" costumes.

It's just in poor taste. If guys can't dress as Manji from Blade of the Immortal because he wears a Crux Gammata on his kosode, then it needs to be equally, if not more severely enforced for girls who dress intentionally as SS officers.

It's not only in poor taste (which it is), there's also the danger that neo-nazis have the tendency to infiltrate groups like this. Like happened to Ska (bald heads + black boots) and Gabber (bald heads + eh... uniforms maybe, the training suits Gabbers wear had a rather strict dress code attached to it).
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Rumckle on August 31, 2010, 01:47:01 AM
Quote from: Triple Zero on August 30, 2010, 05:05:35 PM
It's not only in poor taste (which it is), there's also the danger that neo-nazis have the tendency to infiltrate groups like this. Like happened to Ska (bald heads + black boots) and Gabber (bald heads + eh... uniforms maybe, the training suits Gabbers wear had a rather strict dress code attached to it).


Ha, I knew there was something wrong with that show.

(http://www.thehype.fm/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/yo-gabba.jpg)
Title: Re: Most anime is crap, but....
Post by: Nast on August 31, 2010, 03:01:40 AM
The green one is clearly executing the Hitler salute, while the pink one contemplates the extermination of Life Unworthy of Life.