Fans thinking that fanon is better than canon...

[nodokaotonashi]

It wasn't my intent at first to make a post about it, until I saw a Tumblr entry that really pissed me off...

Basically, the whole entry was talking about new characters in Hetalia. The poster wished Himaruya would stop making new characters. If this was because the others haven't got a lot of appearances, I would be okay with this, but it wasn't.

Comments

[vikingconqueror]

You know, I'm quite surprised something I wrote (and I was the original submitter; I later wrote a follow-up rant on the post) has generated this much discussion. To be honest, my expectations were that it would be ignored or receive little feedback at all, but the response has been staggering.

That said, you've actually raised some points I wouldn't mind addressing, so if you will give me a moment to compose a proper response I would be happy to... explain my view, perhaps, or at the very least make some clarifications.

(1/2)

[vikingconqueror]

He moreover added that OCs and fanon portrayals of the characters were obviously much better than canon. You know ? The basis of the fanon.In some instances? Yes. I do think some original characters are better than canon

(2/2)

[vikingconqueror]

Really, it’s so much easier to mesh canon and fanon as I please, and write the versions (either canon, like England, or fanon, like a fanmade India) of characters I enjoy best. That’s what fandom is about, isn’t it? Fun and enjoyment? Again, as long as I am not forcing it on anyone or claiming the fanon characters I use are canon, I don’t see a problem.

And last but not least, I find it extremely silly and ridiculous to drop the series just because you aren't happy with Himaruya's decision about a character.

Oh, don’t worry, I’m not about to drop the series. I still love Hetalia, even if I don’t love the new characters. All I meant with my parting line in the original rant was that I would start ignoring the canon designs I didn’t like, and use fanon designs in their stead. That’s all.

Re: (2/2)

[hoshiko_2000]

'Yet certain fans out in the fandom have also created things I love. Those fans, in some cases, have created things I love more than the things Himaruya has created. So why not combine the best of both worlds? Why can’t I have my favorite Hetalia characters interact with my favorite fan-characters for the series?'

Well do that then 0.0. I think a lot of people do that. There's no reason not to. Don't like a character, then ignore them. Go for your OC version instead. 'Why not blend the best of two worlds' - totally, go for it! As long as it remains your headcanon, and you're not trying to claim that OC *are* canon.

To be honest (and because it needs to be pointed out), I do think that a lot of people's annoyance with your entry was down to your arguments coming across as very fan-entitled. Whether or not it was *meant* that way, that was how it came across to people.

[whittertwitter]

I, personally, find the "love it or leave the fandom" attitude extremely annoying. Claiming your version is better than canon is douchey, but if someone has an OC they prefer to the canon version and they're respectful about it, why shouldn't they be able to use it and stay in the fandom?

[vampirenaomi]

That's exactly what I was thinking. Some people have spent a really long time developing their OCs, so of course it's not going to be easy to just let them go. I see no problem with people continuing to use their own characters as long as they don't throw an immature fit about it.

Besides, lots of other elements in canon get ignored or altered in fanworks. For example, it's canon that Prussia is alive in modern days. Yet it's almost every other day that I see someone has written a new death fic about his dissolution in 1947. I see nobody complain about that and claim that death fics about him should be banned, so why should OCs be treated more harshly?

[whittertwitter]

Yep. Also, it might help if they indicate that they're using the OC version of the character in the summary so people who prefer the canon version can be made aware.

Exactly! :)

[hoshiko_2000]

'I, personally, find the "love it or leave the fandom" attitude extremely annoying. Claiming your version is better than canon is douchey, but if someone has an OC they prefer to the canon version and they're respectful about it, why shouldn't they be able to use it and stay in the fandom?'

This is my thoughts on the issue in a nutshell.

[mizu_takishima]

Personally, I think it would be boring if Himaruya constantly catered to the whims of the fandom. One of the reasons why I love him so much is that he's just so darn unpredictable and creative! <333

I mean, if Mexico turns out to be an Edwardo clone, I'd just be like: "oh. I was kinda excited to see if he could come up with something else entirely, just wondering what he'd have up his sleeve, but I guess that's cool too". Not that I have a problem with Edwardo, just that I wanna see how different Himaruya's canon is. (If that makes any sense)

Also, can you imagine what it'd be like if Himaruya made his Scotland character exactly like Pixiv!Scotland just because that's what J-fandom wants? That would be...just...horrible, imo x_x

Not to mention; wanting him to stop creating characters is not only insulting to him, (if an artist wants to create a character then what right do you have to tell them "no, you can't do that"??) its totally unfair to those fans in other countries who have been waiting to see representation in a series that

[whittertwitter]

Also, can you imagine what it'd be like if Himaruya made his Scotland character exactly like Pixiv!Scotland just because that's what J-fandom wants? That would be...just...horrible, imo x_x
Ew. I sincerely hope that he doesn't do this; Pixiv!Scotland is quite possibly the most inaccurate and insulting Hetalia OC I have had the misfortune to come across.

[hoshiko_2000]

That is the problem that can often arise from fan OC's >.<;. They do have a potential to be incorrect, stereotyped, and at times even downright insulting and offensive.

[hoshiko_2000]

'If this was because the others haven't got a lot of appearances, I would be okay with this, but it wasn't. Instead, it complained about India's gender, Romania having vampire traits, too much males and character who pop up randomly

[nodokaotonashi]

That's precisely why I said leaving a series because of a character is ridiculous, whether it is for a character's death or pictural. Luckily, not all the fans are like that (thanks God...).

[hoshiko_2000]

'That's precisely why I said leaving a series because of a character is ridiculous, whether it is for a character's death or pictural.'

People do that 0.0;?

[nodokaotonashi]

With some popular series, such as the Shonen Jump series. I did that with Naruto or Death Note when I was young, actually. OTL

[sandfordstreet]

God-damn, people are so damn...picky.

'Instead, it complained about India's gender'

Coincidentally, I made a stamp about that.

Honestly, to those complainers, bitch some more - your bawwing isn't going to change a damn thing. Totally unrelated but, is it Romania or Rumania? Because I've using the latter one and...

[nodokaotonashi]

The name is Romania. Rumania is the Romanian name.

And that stamp made me realise why I was particulary elitist when it came to India. I'm glad he was shown in canon because all the female India-OCs I've seen were either copycats of Alexiel-VIII's OC or paired with England bcuz colonisation is ttly sweet amirite with only the British Raj and contemporary era kept in mind. Hello ? There was something about British Raj ! Unsurprisingly, the male OCs didn't involve any ship or whatever. Just pictures of them with some monuments. Or they're used as avatars to show cultural stuff (BRIC).

No one is saying you can't ship UKIndia, but keep in mind that colonisation wasn't cute nor romantic.

[sandfordstreet]

Yeah, the "I want India to be England's sexy girlfriend" camp got kind of freaky, even if unintentional. I understand wanting more women in Hetalia, but when you have fans griping about how anti-feminist the comic apparently is, fandom doesn't make things much better.

[nodokaotonashi]

You can throw stones at me but I've always seen it as a competition for USUK/FrUk because fans could get a huge and potential het pairing. The camp you mentionned got so obnoxious that it wasn't possible for them India could ever be a male.