Hetalia: Axis Powers – Complete Series 2

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Axbey Hetalia: Axis Powers – Complete Series 2 - ****

Directed by Bob Shirohata. Anime. Cert 12.

Released in UK on DVD by Manga Entertainment on 11th April, £17.99.

HETALIA: AXIS POWERS might be unique in appealing equally to history buffs and yaoi fangirls. The gist is that the nations of the world are personified as handsome young chaps and that history gets played for laughs. But while the characters are all national stereotypes, and fairly crude ones at that, the show is so good natured about it that it’d be hard to take offence. Italy may be stupid and cowardly – in fact, that’s a fair approximation of the Japanese portmanteau title ‘Hetalia’ – but he’s also pretty darn likeable. In addition, HETALIA: AXIS POWERS is surprisingly clever with its historic references; there can’t be many shows that include wacky comedy skits about the Anglo-Japanese Naval Treaty of 1902 or France and Britain’s struggle for control over America. It’s also rather fascinating to see how the rest of the world looks through Japanese eyes – for example, England can still see mythical beasties because he has kept his traditions, but Japan lost the ability when he embraced Westernisation. Oh, and if this makes HETALIA: AXIS POWERS sound a bit of a grind, far from it. For a start, each episode is only around five minutes long – Series 2 takes us all the way from episode 27 to 52 – giving the show a ‘just one more’ snack-like quality. Also, it’s very silly; in fact, some viewers may find the hyperactive, slapstick humour a touch wearing after a while. Another potential downside is that the animation is amateurish and undercooked, although that’s thoroughly in keeping with HETALIA: AXIS POWERS’ frenetic charm. Overall, HETALIA: AXIS POWERS is mildly risqué, highly original and not as half as dumb as it first appears.

David Axbey.