Hetalia Observations & Ponderances.

[bijou-cho.livejournal.com]

Hi all! Just de-lurking  for a quick question, don't mind me.

As we know, the characters of Hetalia and their stories are largely inspired by certain real facts, be they general stereotype(e.g: Italia loving pasta, France being very affectionate), or an event triggered by history (e.g: why russia carries a faucet around, and China's copyright infringement saga- this one made me giggle hard because I've ever watched this on youtube way before Hetalia came about and made the instant connection ) and so on, but all the same, has anyone else ever found themselves observing/reading something about a character or a particular strip that they can't quite explain how the association came about?  I seem to do so a bit and it got me wondering very inane things, and I was hoping someone could enlighten me, or at least share your theories of how or what may have inspired it.

My personal ponderances run along the lines of: 

1) Is there any particular reason why Sweden (Su-san) is portrayed with 'scary eyes'? (Are those eyebags? And if they are, why Sweden?)

2) Is there any particular reason why UK is portrayed as the 'pure' one who can see things others can't (like Unicorns? for that matter, is the selection of a Unicorn based on certain references to UK as well?) 

These are the two topmost questions that come to mind, so if anyone has any theories or actual references they would be most appreciated! Also, do post your own questions (and answers too) if you've got them.. eh, so I don't feel alone with my idiosyncrasies? =D

Thanks in advance for all your lovely thoughts!

edit: Squee, a discussion Kumbaya! (Man, the things you miss while you're working!)

Comments

[mumumugen.livejournal.com]

As for the UK question, it isn't so much as him being "pure", but rather him being supernaturally inclined. As he is the United Kingdom, this not only includes England and its many supernatural sites, haunted houses, etc., but also Northern Ireland, another land rich in magical lore. He's by no means "pure" either, occasionally portrayed as more than happy to practice black magic or cast curses on others.

I have yet to find out the motivation for Sweden's "big scary guy with a soft core" portrayal, but I'm sure someone will be able to answer your question. ^^

[bijou-cho.livejournal.com]

"occasionally portrayed as more than happy to practice black magic or cast curses on others".

Hmm, I can't seem to remember which strip that came from, would you point me in the right direction if you can?

[kataankoryu.livejournal.com]

As well as having a unicorn in the royal coat of arms, or whatever...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_coat_of_arms_of_the_United_Kingdom

I always assumed that's what was with the unicorn gag anyway... lol

[pajee.livejournal.com]

I don't get the whales with USA. Tony I get, but why the whale?

[happimimi.livejournal.com]

shamu?

[kyo-starr.livejournal.com]

Yeah, aliens & the US make sense, but I wonder if there's any reason Tony started appearing around Lithuania during the outsourcing series? (Liet's had crop circles (http://www.nso.lt/lt/circles.htm), too, but decades later.) The whale's also been in a Sealand strip, so I have no clue what it has to do with anything |D;

While I'm at it one more question: what the heck is this blobby thing (http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/Blehing/Axis%20Powers%20Hetalia/US/?action=view&current=mosya.jpg), and why does it eat lettuce? Is it canon or fan created? (Hm... many mysteries surround the Ameriblob >D)

(frozen comment)

[tsuki-no-kani.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking "Moby Dick".

[kataankoryu.livejournal.com]

:/ The alien has a name!?

[writinthrees.livejournal.com]

Um, de-lurking.

I think it has something to do with the whaling debate. America plays a big role in enforcing anti-whaling laws (I think there is even a new show airing on the Discovery Channel about this - Whale Wars?), while Japan is trying to continue their tradition of whale hunting.

So, Americans love whales.

[draconis-tatsu.livejournal.com]

Eh, well, if you ignore Alaska, the US of A looks kindof like a whale. Y'know, with the head on the left, and little fins down there..

Okay maybe it's just me. XD

[kainoliero.livejournal.com]

Continuing the fae theme, what is that little creature you often see with Norway and why? Is Norway also able to see supernatural creatures?

[midsommartid.livejournal.com]

(This is what I gleaned from my research for my RPing and writing of Norway. As of yet, there is absolutely no canon information on Norway or whatever abilities he might have.)

It's a nisse! I am 95% sure of this. It's a creature that represents the soul of the land and often helps out around farmhouses (a la brownies of more western folklore...) -- as long as you don't make them angry, that is! :) No word yet on Norway's affiliation with magical beings, but Norway is a country entrenched in its folklore -- it's such an intrinsic part of its national identity that I wouldn't be surprised if Norway followed in England's footsteps with the whole mystical thingum...

[monomatt.livejournal.com]

It's strange it's not a troll, seeing as I am Norwegian and usually we're much more stringed together with trolls than faeries, and the creature hanging about with Norway really doesn't remind me of what I'd picture a nisse or a tusse.

[sibiriens.livejournal.com]

The little creature you can se with Norway is called a nisse, from what I have gathered, which is a mythological creature that's common to all of the scandinavian countries. As I'm swedish, I know it from swedish folklore. It is called many things; Tomte, Tomtegubbe (Tomte-"old man"), Tomtenisse or simply Nisse/Nissen. I think it's only us Swedes who call the nissen "Tomte", but I'm not sure. They are ancient creatures who lives at the area of where a farm is, sorta. "Tomt" means in swedish "house lot", I think.

The nisse is clothed in gray or red and has got a long, gray (or sometimes white) beard. It was he who kept track of the things that happened on the farm, he was/is rather grumpy and if you misbehave, the nisse is sure to punish you in some way...

[butachanlj.livejournal.com]

Why does Russia carries a faucet around? D: I think I'm the only one who doesn't know

[kyo-starr.livejournal.com]

xD According to a post I read earlier, a group of rural Russian soldiers during World War II found faucets while they were in another country and thought, "Hey, if we have one of these we can get water anywhere!", so they ripped them out and carried them around.

[picnicbird.livejournal.com]

Re: Sweden, there's a stereotype that claims Swedes are unfriendly and gruff, rarely willing to talk and prefering to keep to themselves. In Scandinavia, Sweden is also sometimes seen as the country associated with state power and inflexible rule by ages-old nobility/royalty. (And veering toward the mangaka's interpretation, he does state in Sweden's profile that 'due to the cold, Sweden doesn't talk much.')

So with this in mind, Sweden's dominating and intimidating stare could be seen as a reflection of that severe background and the Swedish stereotypes of being generally unwarm to strangers (evidenced by his staring at Estonia in such a way [though he meant no harm]).

There's also a very popular stereotype that among the Scandinavian countries, Sweden is the most arrogant, spoiled, and materialistic. ... But that's just a footnote. XD

OH YEAH -- As for the eyebags... I think it's just a matter of how to make Sweden look as horrifying as possible. XD

Aaaannndd, you got good answers for the UK question. :Db

[sasorion.livejournal.com]

Oh hm. I always thought the unicorns/UK thing possibly had something to do with the crest of the Royal family (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_coat_of_arms_of_the_United_Kingdom)...

[tsuki-no-kani.livejournal.com]

I always thought the author was a fan of Harry Potter. XP

[gem-gamgee.livejournal.com]

YOUR ICON!!!! A;LDSFHAD;SLKFJ <3333333 I actually screamed when I saw it X3;;

Oh, and yeah, I second what everyone has said about UK. I have no idea abou Su-san, though... D:

[bijou-cho.livejournal.com]

I think what Picnicbird said with regards to Sweden makes sense, actually!

Azumanga Daioh icon wave~!

[bijou-cho.livejournal.com]

Where I live (Singapore), the only association I know with regards to Sweden is IKEA, lol, and Finland I can't even name one off the top of my head, but I'm learning so much about both countires right now it's pretty amazing how much of this 'common knowledge' is new to me. :)

[zero-rechter.livejournal.com]

I don't get why Francis is blond. Seriously, i don't.

[cavechan.livejournal.com]

I think it's because in Japan their hair color is naturally very dark/black, so when they think of European countries/USA/Canada etc, they instantly associate lighter hair colors. Even though where I live in the US, most people tend to have dark hair.

[tsuki-no-kani.livejournal.com]

What's up with China?

As much as I love him, he's the one character whose personality I don't get.

[bijou-cho.livejournal.com]

Which part, specifically? Example?

[gingerbreadmoon.livejournal.com]

Just agreeing with other people regarding UK :) I assumed it was a reference to the folklore it's cultures are seeped in and to all the fantasy the UK's produced (Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Narnia, Arthurian legends etc.) As sasorion noted, our royal coat of arms even has a unicorn on it ^_^

I occasionally get confused about things, like, why is Lovino so grumpy? Why does China add "aru" to the end of his sentences? :3 Also, the UK "keeps appearing in the news for stupid sex acts"?! ~.~'

[bijou-cho.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's one thing I didn't quite get either, I get the 'Aiyaa' because it does resemble some chinese (or a chinese dialect) I'm familiar with and have heard before, but not so much the 'Aru', which strongly feels more like plain '-'de aru' sentences in Japanese. Curious indeed!

[kataankoryu.livejournal.com]

I'm curious as to why America and Canada wear glasses. Is it because they're shortsighted?

[pajee.livejournal.com]

LOL! I know right? I was expecting the Asians to be the ones with glasses. But Sweden and Austria has them too.