Hetalia: World Series 42 Hetalia: World Series Episode 42

Plot Summary: Italy, once home of the strongest empire in the world, has changed. This is the story of Italy, now a cowardly pasta-loving fool, and his friends (other personified countries of the world) as they live through strange moments in world history.
Genres: comedy
Themes: historical, parody, World War I, World War II




ADV's English dub's greatest strength is probably its writing. The translation of any particular exchange can be quite loose, but it never loses sight of what the characters are saying or what the purpose of the exchange is. The looseness allows the dialogue a much more natural cadence than is the norm for dubs and also adds a level or two of cleverness to the dialogue. The only translation misstep is a later exchange involving Yvon that is played for laughs when it really shouldn't have been. The acting is somewhat more uneven. The main cast does solid work, and even the bit players—including an increasing number of thankless single-episode characters with bad ends—dig into their roles with relish. However, both Yvon and Monica Rial's Kurau have problems getting the more intense scenes exactly right. That, and the fact that Rial is reinterpreting some of popular seiyuu Ayako Kawasumi's best work, insures that preferences for this dub will split down the usual dub/sub battle lines.