Hetalia

I wonder if any of you ever heard about it. It's a tale about Italy contribution to Axis during WWII.
IMO, it's a really harsh insult. it's kinda funny, but i won't think it's funny if i'm Italian.

Heard about it, but have not watched either anime series.

I love the show.

It's pure crazyness,I watch an episode from time to time.Might marathon it ounce it's all done

I say that you can't truly poke fun at something unless you really care about it. Which is why, despite the fact that I love Elfen Lied, I always think of The Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail during the fight between Lucy and Nana (those of you who have watched Elfen Lied will understand). But I still see the show as being a serious, awesome story. And now I say that in regard to Hetalia. They poked fun at WW2, not out of anger, but out of appreciation, out of acknowledgement that it was serious. Not being able to take a well done joke only show people that you have a stick up your ass. Yeah, it's not an accurate portrayal of WW2, but it's an awesome parody. Have you read that old article, "If WW2 Was an Online RTS Game"? It's kinda similar. It makes fun of the event, but the jokes are all logical and true. Just watch it for fun, not as a serious show. Allowing yourself to laugh at while still acknowledging its seriousness is a good thing. It's part of what distinguishes the 'fanboys' (WW2 fanboys?) from the real 'fans', so to speak.

EDIT: Here's the "WW2 as an RTS" thing: http://www.strategypage.com/humor/articles/military_jokes_20057151.asp
As I said, the jokes are all so very, very true. "o this fockin sucks i got a depression!" cracked me up.

Even thought i have decent knowledge of ww2 alot of the jokes in this are way over my head. I'm only watching it as the dvd releases get subbed by GG.

Why should it be an insult? Italy was, indeed, part of the Axis during WWII.

From what I understand, the series originally spent a lot of time making fun of how little help Italy was to Germany during World War II. The word 'Hetalia' is a portmanteau of the japanese words for 'failure' and 'Italy' IIRC.

Although the series seems to have broadened it's horizons considerably since the start from what I've been able to gather. I read a bit of the original comic and wasn't that impressed, though I've though about reading more, because at the very least, the concept of a comic where the characters are personifications of countries and the interactions are thinly veilied histories references seems interesting. Plus, some of what the author has come up with for characterisations for some of the countries is kind of amusing. Like Belarus being a yandere towards Russia... (for those not in the know, a yandere is a character who seems sweet but is actually completely psycho).

Well, the failure bit was pretty darn true, as well. They ought to accept it and suck it up.

I guess them Italians made up for it by building cyborg assassins.

I've read the manga and it was awesome with personality complex issues of everybody plus the US.