Korea protests Hetalia anime

[Elycien]

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-13/korean-protests-call-for-hetalia-anime-cancellation

A number of online Korean protestors are calling for the cancellation of the upcoming Hetalia - Axis Powers anime series, although the anime's Japanese television channel insists that the anime does not have the controversial Korean character from the original manga. The "cynical gag" story takes the stereotypical characteristics of about 20 countries and regions, and anthropomorphizes them as (mostly) bishōnen characters. The protestors say that part of the story, which re-imagines various historical eras but focuses mainly on the World Wars, is insulting to Koreans. As of Monday, one portal site has collected 10,000 names in protest.

KIDS STATION, a cable television channel aimed at children, issued the following statement: "[KIDS STATION] was unaware of the criticism in Korea. However, a Korean character does not appear in the anime version." The series of five-minute weekly anime shorts is slated to premiere on the channel on January 25.

The creator of the original manga, Hidekaz Himaruya, is a 23-year-old design student and manga artist living in New York. After the web-posted manga gained popularity, Gentosha Comics, Inc. printed them into volumes and said the manga sold over 500,000 copies.

----

Nngh, we were just discussing this on the Hetalia comm and here it is on ANN now. Greaaat, more bad publicity for Hetalia? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but it's rather irritating. Shouldn't stop the anime from airing, not this close to the release date, but the fact that this may prevent a second season is pretty sad. Not, again, that I am incredibly surprised. It's stupid, but it was kind of obvious that Hetalia was going to offend someone.

I wonder if all this is going to make fansubs harder to find...

(And the timing of this is impeccable, by the way. I had just started an AMV about Korea. >.>;; Now I don't feel like doing all that work when I'd be reluctant to even put it on Youtube. Thanks guys. XDD)

[Puguni]

Because I don't have a life, I perused the comments on the ANN article. I found one that might be enlightening.

Of course both this news article and Yomiuri Shinbun fails to mention their sources. From other sources it seems like that yes, some people in Korea are protesting about the show but apparently they're mostly right-wing nationalist netizens, and some people are blowing this way out of proportion.

On the other hand, I wish those who bash Koreans for protesting (or anyone who finds the series offensive) would just get the hell out of this fandom. I love this series and don't think it's any more offensive than Hogan's Heroes or 'Allo 'Allo, but it is controversial, and there are lots of reasons why someone might find it offensive. Do the show and its fandom a favor and don't make us fans look bad okay?

[minakichan]

KOREAAAAAAAAA WHYYYYYYYYY Ryan this is all your fault.

I love Hetalia for all of its offensiveness. America and China are probably the most stereotyped and insulting characters in the series, but they also happen to be two of the awesomest. Japan isn't as offensive, but he's extremely boring and not really lovable. ><

[Shao Feng-Li]

Hey, sounds like a fun red/watch.

[minakichan]

It got cancelled from Kids Station in Japan.

CURSE YOU KOREAAAAAAAAA.

[Debitt]

The sound and fury over this series simply astounds me -- not gonna question anyone's right to be wary of the series, but man, worse stuff airs on the telly around here, IMO. At least it'll still be streaming online. :X

[Pettos]

Hahah! I watched the first ep of the Hetalia, funny stuff. But cmooon 5 min long?! Oh well, it wasnt that offensive though but...yea...it...wasnt so offensive....yea. Yea?...yea.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Mwahahaha! MISSION SUCCESS!

[Debitt]

Mwahahaha! MISSION SUCCESS!

Burn the witch!

[minakichan]

From Sankaku Complex, which is admittedly a bit biased, and I really can't link on this site:

The Korean furore over supposedly racist WWII parody anime Hetalia, which resulted in a partially successful campaign to force the anime off the air in Japan, did not stop at threats of cyber-terrorism; it appears even death threats have been issued against the author, 日丸屋 秀和 / Hirumaya Hidekazu.

The threat in question originates from the same boards (Daum’s “Agora”) responsible for spawning the various petitions which initially led to the anime’s cancellation; the commenter is succinct about his wishes: “Let’s go to Japan and kill the b******! The author’s name is Hirumaya Hidekazu!”

The author actually lives overseas (in New York), so some research is evidently lacking on the part of the would be assassin, and his potential victim may be safe as a result.

Still, calling for the murder of a comic author is something which puts him amongst extraordinarily dubious company, as you may recall from recent similar events elsewhere.

As if issuing such a distasteful call to arms were not enough, the same commenter goes on to say whilst affirming his vote on the petition to ban the anime: “I sign! We’ve all got to kill every last one of those filthy Japs!”

The threat was actually made on the 12th, around the time of the original attacks on Hetalia, but for some reason no Koreans saw fit to report it, or remove it. Thus it was left to Japanese observers to uncover.

It is not clear whether any more such threats, or exhortations to murder or genocide, have been made, though sadly this does not seem entirely improbable.

Of course, nobody would deny that such froth is a frequent characteristic of boards the world over; however, in many nations such grave threats are dealt with seriously by police, due to the knowledge that a small but tragic proportion will inevitably turn out to be genuine, something understood only too well in Japan. Whether Korean authorities will be investigating this is not clear.

AAAAARGH these people should actually go and READ Hetalia-- like, ALL of it, not just the 3ish strips that actually have Korea in it. Then they might realize how cute, funny, awesome, and NON-POLITICAL and NON-OFFENSIVE it is.

Now, Afuganisu-tan, that's one potentially offensive political manga, but no one goes up in arms about it. It's scary to think that perhaps Americans have better sense.

(But as long as they get Hirumaya's country of residence wrong, hey, whatever XD)

[Puguni]

AAAAARGH these people should actually go and READ Hetalia-- like, ALL of it, not just the 3ish strips that actually have Korea in it. Then they might realize how cute, funny, awesome, and NON-POLITICAL and NON-OFFENSIVE it is.

Then I'm sure they'll all see the error of their ways and resume their normal, rational lives.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Burn the witch!

HEY COME ON. WE'RE ALL ASIAN. WHERE IS OUR MUTUAL SUPPORT?

[Debitt]

AAAAARGH these people should actually go and READ Hetalia-- like, ALL of it, not just the 3ish strips that actually have Korea in it. Then they might realize how cute, funny, awesome, and NON-POLITICAL and NON-OFFENSIVE it is.

I'm sure you probably realize this, but it's definitely more than politics and the mere feeling of feeling offended that lies behind the Hetalia affair. I'm not in any way underplaying the troubling (at best) history between Korea and Japan, but Korean nationalism can be crazy radical so some crazy right-wingers were probably just looking for a reason to get all up in arms.

[minakichan]

HEY COME ON. WE'RE ALL ASIAN. WHERE IS OUR MUTUAL SUPPORT?

YOU DON'T GET ANY. I FEEL LIKE SMACKING THE NEXT KOREAN I SEE.

I'm sure you probably realize this, but it's definitely more than politics and the mere feeling of feeling offended that lies behind the Hetalia affair. I'm not in any way underplaying the troubling (at best) history between Korea and Japan, but Korean nationalism can be crazy radical so some crazy right-wingers were probably just looking for a reason to get all up in arms.

Hmm, if Hetalia had proposed that the Nanjing Massacre never happened, I suppose that the Chinese would react similarly-- except they might actually fulfill the death threats.

I guess it's like the Danish Muhammed cartoon incident, but while that one openly ridiculed the holy man of one of the world's biggest religions, Hetalia makes some obscure metaphorical reference to a disputed piece of land. Maybe I don't understand the circumstances correctly, but geez, this puts Korean uppityness on a whole new level...

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Korean ultranationalism is scary and dumb. D:

I had trouble with an ultranationalist once... he didn't like me cause I was all white-washed.

[Shao Feng-Li]

It's scary to think that perhaps Americans have better sense.

/is offended now

[minakichan]

I said "perhaps" and it was in jest XD;;;

Saying "it was in jest" automatically absolves one from any crime or guilt.

[Fish and Chips]

Korea and Japan are bestest pals.

[Shao Feng-Li]

[quote="minakichan (post: 1286277)"]I said "perhaps" and it was in jest XD]

Take note of the smiling tongue-sticking-out face XD

[blkmage]

Leaving aside all the Korea stuff, I find it interesting that this was supposed to air on KIDS STATION. Who's idea was it to target a historical parody to children?

[MasterDias]

Leaving aside all the Korea stuff, I find it interesting that this was supposed to air on KIDS STATION. Who's idea was it to target a historical parody to children?

I don't believe it's exclusively a children's network. It airs shows for older audiences. I mean, it ran Narutaru of all things.
Similar to Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, I guess.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Korea and Japan are bestest pals.

George Bush and Hugo Chavez cried together as they watched a romantic movie the other day.

[goldenspines]

Hey there, this thread is over 2 years old and we discouraged gravedigging on CAA.

Please try to check the previous post dates before you post in the future.

Locked thread to avoid further confusion.