Support NeoGAF

[Darkmakaimura]

Something I've noticed with anime and JRPGs is that they use a lot of German or Germanic names and not just for the characters, but even the names of places, or ships or whatever. Never understood why they love using them so much.

 

[ReiGun]

I'd imagine it's because it sounds exotic.

 

[NoTacos]

I'd imagine it's because it sounds exotic.

Pretty much. But not exotic by means of savagery, exotic with a sense of prestige.

 

[Ultima_5]

ww2

 

[Aaron-Lagann]

Because German shit sounds cool, and Japan loves shit that sounds cool. They also love everything about everywhere else in the world except when those people go to Japan.

 

[RedQueensAce]

The mother-load of Japanese-German language and culture lovin'.

 

[Slayven]

 

[Kusagari]

Kubo is the worst.

 

[angular graphics]

Because

Spoiler

scat

porn.

 

[Dali]

Kubo is the worst.

He uses Spanish too at least. Switches it up.

 

[Kinyou]

Ba- Baumkuchen....

 

[ReiGun]

Kubo is the worst.

I actually like the use of German and Spanish in Bleach. One of the better bits of world building.

 

[Espada]

He uses Spanish too at least. Switches it up.

At first he had sprinklings of German, then the whole Hueco Mundo thing started and we got a ton of Spanish, and then he must've went on a WW2 documentary bender because he's laying the German on pretty thick now. Or at least, he was the last time I checked.

 

[Aaron-Lagann]

Kubo is the worst.

I've come around on Kubo, he's terrible and can't write, but there's an endearing quality to his specific brand of stupid nonsense bullshit.

Spoiler

"I'm not #10, I'm #0!"

 

[KillerMan91]

I think it's because Japanese see Germany as a Japan of Europe. Socially introverted hard working people. Not saying that this stereotype is right but that is probably where it comes from.

 

[NoTacos]

I actually like the use of German and Spanish in Bleach. One of the better bits of world building.

During the Espada storyline it was brilliant writing

 

[Lana Del Rey]

This weird character reminds me the boss of Persona 2

 

[SUPREME1]

Dat axis powers love.

 

[cooljeanius]

Because during the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese got most of their modernization done by the Prussians (Prussia is what later became the modern Germany), and German culture came to Japan along with the modernization.

 

[Kinyou]

Dat axis powers love.

The relationship actually goes further back than that

 

[Slayven]

I actually like the use of German and Spanish in Bleach. One of the better bits of world building.

Grimjaw Jaggerjack's name will bot be topped.

 

[ReiGun]

At first he had sprinklings of German, then the whole Hueco Mundo thing started and we got a ton of Spanish, and then he must've went on a WW2 documentary bender because he's laying the German on pretty thick now. Or at least, he was the last time I checked.

But that's how it always worked.

Shinigami = Japanese
Quincy = German
Espada/Hollows = Spanish

So now when we have a ton of Qunicy running around, of course there's more German.

 

[wsippel]

Germany and Japan were allies. Japan adopted many German standards (DIN norms), loan words and whole codes of law. And then there was Philipp Franz von Siebold. Those things might have left an impression I guess.

 

[Kusagari]

Grimjaw Jaggerjack's name will bot be topped.

NaNaNa Najahkoop begs to differ.

 

[Village]

Other languages incorporated into media well, is something I enjoy. Not just manga , but a lot of things. It sounds cool, and you are, while very small , leaning a word or two from a language you may not understand.

Little Happy things.

Grimjaw Jaggerjack's name will bot be topped.

The protagonist's name is strawberry. And his hair is orange, his name is deception.

It has already been topped.

 

[LiK]

They also like the Nazi uniforms. Plenty of variants of the military outfits in anime.

 

[Linkhero1]

I don't know but I like it and I like animes that deal with Germany.

*rewatches Monster*

 

[fader]

He uses Spanish too at least. Switches it up.

to a point where it seemed like an obsession.

 

[plasmawave]

Not only German but French too.

 

[Lautaro]

Hail Kaiser Reinhard-toh!

 

[sixteen-bit]

Not only German but French too.

With France isn't it a two way street? The OG weaboos were French.

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

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Germany and Japan were allies. Japan adopted many German standards (DIN norms), loan words and whole codes of law. And then there was Philipp Franz von Siebold. Those things might have left an impression I guess.

Many countries have been allies with Japan over the years.

But, yeah, Prussia was seen as a strong nation worth learning from when Japan was rapidly trying to modernize itself.

 

[FO-totality]

Blitzendegen!

 

[Valhelm]

So many anime shows involve German names or characters. Evangelion, steins;gate, Madoka Magica, Attack on Titan...

I guess it's a World War 2 thing.

 

[Peru]

Not to mention Norse myhology

 

[kirblar]

Yeah, there's a shared cultural history (hence the WWII alliance) which led to a lot of cultural appropriation/familiarity. It's why you get things like Monster (the Manga/Anime) having a German setting.

 

[Zona]

Their just too dreamy.

Spoiler

I feel like a bad person.

 

[Crocodile]

This topic just reminded me that Full Metal Alchemist takes place in a Germany expy too. The influence really is all over their media huh?

 

[casabolg]

I'm going to need a source, pronto.

 

[TCKaos]

Their just too dreamy.

Spoiler

I feel like a bad person.

That's not even his full power.

 

[Astral/H3X]

That's not even his full power.

...............................................
WUT

 

[foxuzamaki]

That's not even his full power.

Still dont know what manga this is from.

 

[Moonlight]

Still dont know what manga this is from.

The Legend of Koizumi.

 

[Tizoc]

Which Tokusatsu series is that from?

 

[ChubbyHuggs]

They just love having the secret bad guys being Nazis.

 

[foxuzamaki]

The Legend of Koizumi.

thanks

 

[Tizoc]

^Aw I was about to post Super Aryan Hitler XD.
It's also known as 'Mudazumo' BTW.

I recall the Madoka series giving German words to some of the monsters, and don't the Fate series use German words too? Or am I mistaking that with the Melty series?

 

[John Kowalski]

The mother-load of Japanese-German language and culture lovin'.

LoGH was more Prussian than German, though.

 

[javac]

Schwarzwald from The Big O

 

[PdotMichael]

European countries are quite popular in Japan. What's the deal here?

LoGH was more Prussian than German, though.

eh...