Micronation-chans
Micronation-Chans | |
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Author(s) | Various |
Website | Various |
Launch date | 1 May 2020 (De-Jure), 28 March 2008 (De-Facto) |
Alternate name(s) | GUM-Chan,Micro-Chan |
Genre(s) | Political cartoons, comedy. |
Micronation-chans (popularly referred to as Micro-chans)[1] are a form of micronational comic designed to satirize current events within the MicroWiki sector. Similarly to Microball, Characters are represented as an often over-the-top allegory of political and historic events as well as more general cultural comparisons. Similar to the popular anime Hetalia: Axis Powers, the countries (and organisations) are represented as humans. Both positive and negative cultural stereotypes form part of each character's personality. Unlike Microballs, countries are usually just referred to as their country or organisation name.
History
The predecessor of the Micro-chan phenomenon was Polandball, a similar set of comics satirizing recognized states. After Polandball's creation, the comics became wildly popular. A few comics portrayed Sealand. Around the same time, Japanese Manga Writer Hidekaz Himaruya began to create a series about humanized real life nations named Hetalia: Axis Powers. Interestingly, the personifications of micronations were also included, with Sealand appearing in the first volume, arguably the first example of a micronation being created in the -chan form.
In the wider micronational community, however, the idea of personifying their nations as anime-style characters didn't kick off until the 24 Hour Quorum of 2020, where Amelia I of Lytera jokingly suggested to create a 'GUM-Chan'[2] in a similar vein to the Earth-Chan meme. The representative of Gaia drafted up a design idea, but Amelia formalised the GUM-Chan's most recognised design with the approval of Christina I. For the rest of the Quorum, Sketches were made of GUM-Chan, and by the next day, people were discussing creating more characters in -Chan form.
Examples of characters
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An Image of GUM-Chan holding the GUM logo.
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The first ever GUM-Chan design.
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The first image of GUM-Chan in colour
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Another Sketch of GUM-Chan
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The personification of Sealand in the Hetalia: Axis Powers universe.
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Principality of Hutt River in the Hetalia: Axis Powers Anime.
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The Republic of Kugelmugel in the Hetalia: Axis Powers Anime.
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The Principality of Wy in the Hetalia: Axis Powers Anime.
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Ladonia in the Hetalia: Axis Powers universe.
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Molossia in the Hetalia: Axis Powers universe.
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The Republic of Nikoniko in the Hetalia: Axis Powers universe.
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The Principality of Seborga in the Hetalia: Axis Powers universe.
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A comic by Chloris of Gaia showing a 'fight' between GUM-Chan and Unidentified Microballs
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Representation of the Republic of Lomoria
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Fan-art made by @kotomo190 in Twitter for the Republic of Lomoria
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Unaffiliated fan-art of the Republic of Lomoria
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A design made by @sebo-chan on Twitter for Cycoldia
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A design by @sebo-chan on Twitter for Independence Day for Cycoldia
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Drawing of Hosamia-chan representing the Principality of Hosamia
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Hosamia-chan under Cycoldian rule, known as the Tequrovidean Sub-Duchy of Hosamia
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Picture of Orientia-Chan representing the People’s Republic of Orientia
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Unaffiliated fan-art of the Republic of Theodia[3]
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Picture of Wendatia-Tan representing the Republic of Wendatia
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Personification of Sawdustistan (Sister Sawdustistan) created for the 6 anniversary of the nation's founding
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Sister Sawdustistan eating a glizzy
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Dali-chan, representing the Republic of Daliwood
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Blazdonia-chan, better known as "Blazzie-chan", represents the Kingdom of Blazdonia. He is classified as a national mascot and an advertising asset.
Legal status
Micro-Chans are generally considered to be in the public domain, and no claim of copyright is ever known to have been attached.
References
- ↑ Skye, Zabëlle (18 October 2022). "Micro-chan". Micronational Dictionary. MicroLunarius Publications. Institute of Micropatriological Research. p. 10. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ↑ Amelia suggesting the idea
- ↑ APH_Theodia. (2014). Theodia. Le Book of Characters. Retrieved 2020-08-01.