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axis powers hetalia

Axis Powers Hetalia (alternatily Hetalia Axis Powers) began in 2003 as an online webcomic by Hidekaz Himaruya, using personifications of various countries across the globe (the ones featured in the comic so far have all had some historical significance in World War I and II) and are portrayed in a comedic fashion. All the characters are based off various stereotypical traits (both ones known around the world and specific to the Japanese creator's knowledge) on respective nations, no character is without its own embarrassing actions. Even so, the characters seem to take on a spirit of themselves and are less literaly the "nations" they are meant to represent, but people themselves that fans can come to love or hate.

While the title characters are the 3 nations a part of the Axis Powers in WW2: Northern Italy, Germany and Japan, the series also focuses greatly on the Allied Forces: The United States, Great Britan, China, France and Russia. It also features many sides characters from the former nation of Prussia, Spain, Greece, Canada, and even micronations such as Sealand.

Even with the serious backdrop of World War II as the characters playground of sorts, the series never drives into the realm of seriousness, touching on only more lighter topics during the time and never letting itself fall into anything that shouldn't been taken lightly by made-up, pretty boy characters. The series is always lighthearted and all in good fun and entertainment.

While the basis of the series begin centered around WW2, Himaruya has not drawn anymore comics in the main storyline since around 2005 (he's ended the main timeline right before the invasion of Poland) and has moved on to draw more random paneled comics featuring the various characters at different points in time (Ranging from WW2 to our current time).

Hetalia has been published so far into two compilation volumes (with much redrawn art and rewritten dialogue from the original online versions) and has received a three season animated version consisting of 5 minute episodes from Studio DEEN in 2009. In January of 2010 is was licensed for North American distribution by Funimation Entertainment. There has also been various character song CDs, four Drama CDs adapting the various comics to the voices of the Japanese voice actors and lots of merchindise.