Happy 11th Birthday, Hetalia
I always forget today is Hetaliaās birthday, always. I always switch it in my mind with October 24th (Hetalia Day).
So I donāt have anything planned for today. I am working on a mochi gif edit series, but that wonāt be out for a while.
I will say a few words, though. First of all, I canāt believe Hetalia is now the age of an American 5th grader. This makes me feel so much older.
In these eleven years, weāve seen so many things as a fandom. Weāve seen hundreds of webcomics, published and unpublished, six seasons of anime, one movie, three musicals, a few games, guide books, music CDs, and more. Weāve seen dedicated fans producing amazing artwork, cosplays, fanfiction, RP groups, and more. Weāve created memes, in-jokes, events, gatherings, and the occasional bout of drama that weāve just gradually accepted is always going to happen somehow, and much, much more.
And weāre still going.Ā
While Hetalia now isnāt the behemoth it was when I first joined in 2011, itās still got a very strong, dedicated fandom with a passion for all the characters, and itās still a wonderful, fantastic series. Itās a fun webcomic filled with great characters, tons of humor, and a lot of heart. I remember falling in love with it almost the minute I watched it for the first time on Funimationās Youtube channel. And I still love it to this day. Itās inspired me to research other cultures and languages, and if I hadnāt had that interest I probably would not have taken two years of classes in Mandarin or received a Minor degree in History.
And itās not just me who feels this way. I think almost everyone in the fandom can relate a story as to how Hetalia has changed their lives. And thatās the magic about it. Itās a series that has brought all of us together. Even when the world around us seems so dark, Hetalia reminds us of how good the world can be, and how weāre not so different after all. That no matter where weāre from, we can still laugh at our nationās stereotypes and find a newfound appreciation for who we are. And thatās a very important thing to remember. Laughter and joy is what our world really needs right now, and even if we can do it in our little fandom space, then that may be enough for some of us.
Letās look forward to another year, Hetalians! Keep smiling, and rememberā¦ā¦ā¦.
Watch out for the white mochi with glasses, I donāt trust that thing
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