Does the Overlord anime/light novel creator like nazis?

Rackham · Jan 11, 2019

So there's this character called Pandora's actor who dresses in a nazi uniform and has nazi mannerisms and the Overlord character- Pandora's creator- said he made Pandora because he thought he was cool and his uniform was cool.

Does the author have some fascination with nazis? What's with the weird love some Japanese weebs have for aryan and white supremacy?

As far as I can tell, the main character was a gamers rise up weeb before he got stuck in the Overlord world.

Am I mistaken about this? Is the author just trying to make a weird main character? Is the main character a self insert for the author? Tried looking it up. Didn't see anything about it.

Overlord-Anime-Character-Pandoras-Actor_Haruhichan.com_.jpg

gdt · Jan 11, 2019

There is definitely some love for Nazi uniforms and other Nazi stuff going on in a lot of anime. It's always thinly veiled but as a casual anime fan it's off putting.

Khanimus · Jan 11, 2019

There's a lot of fetishization around the Nazi aesthetic in anime.

Razgriz417 · Jan 11, 2019

Isn't ainz embarrassed as fuck of the way Pandora's actor looks and acts, said he thought it looked cool at the time when it was a game but no regrets it?

Rackham · Jan 11, 2019

Razgriz417 said:
Isn't ainz embarrassed as fuck of the way Pandora's actor looks, said he thought it looked cool at the time when it was a game but no regrets it?

Yeah he said the way Pandora was acting was lame but that the uniform was still cool.

Inugami · Jan 11, 2019

There are certainly a few anime that have fetishized nazi imagery... I haven't watched overlord so I can't comment on that specifically. It's problematic as hell, but it's rarely outright "nazis are good y'all, they're just misunderstood".

Just to be 100% clear, it's still very gross and very off putting. About the only thing with that kind of stuff I've actually sat through was the second arc of Jojo and it got a LOT of side glares from me. Everything else? Nah... I don't have time for that nazi shit.

The Silver · Jan 11, 2019

Nazi aesthetic being seen as cool is a thing in Japan and other parts of Asia.

For Overlord in particular the backstory is that Ainz made Pandora's Actor when he was going through a phase when he was younger and thought that kind of aesthetic looked cool. Now that he's older he's completely embarrassed by Pandora's Actor and how he ever thought that stuff was cool and initially tried to hide him away in the treasury so no one would see him. He's slowly started to warm up to him because Pandora's Actor is actually really smart and useful.

Candescence · Jan 11, 2019

Pandora's Actor is clearly portrayed as a construct who Ainz is clearly embarrassed by as he was made during the guy's 'edgy' phase, and is basically a joke half the time. Ainz even tells him to never speak German, and to tone down the ham and cheese.

Slayven · Jan 11, 2019

The Silver said:
Nazi aesthetic being seen as cool is a thing in Japan and other parts of Asia.

For Overlord in particular the backstory is that Ainz made Pandora's Actor when he was going through a phase when he was younger and thought that kind of aesthetic looked cool. Now that he's older he's completely embarrassed by Pandora's Actor and hwo he ever thought that stuff was cool and initially tried to hide him away in the treasury so no one would see him. He's slowly started to warm up to him because Pandora's Actor is actually really smart and useful.

Came to post this, yeah main character acknowledges it was edgelord as fuck

Rackham · Jan 11, 2019

This is the scene where he says that his clothes are still cool but dislikes his flamboyant mannerisms.

Trickster · Jan 11, 2019

Rackham said:
This is the scene where he says that his clothes are still cool but dislikes his flamboyant mannerisms.

Thinking Nazi clothes look cool isn't the same as liking Nazi's though

AnansiThePersona · Jan 11, 2019

Never watched this anime but "Ainz" is the protag's name? Something is up with that name but I can't figure it out. Ainz....Ainz...NOPE, CAN'T PUT MY FINGER ON IT

Slayven · Jan 11, 2019

AnansiThePersona said:
Never watched this anime but "Ainz" is the protag's name? Something is up with that name but I can't figure it out. Ainz....Ainz...NOPE, CAN'T PUT MY FINGER ON IT

one of the gods of the world is called Lord Touchme

Rahfiki · Jan 11, 2019

Opened the thread really worried that something horrible had come out about the author. I'm so glad it's just talking about Pandora's Actor lol

Speaking from a fashion enthusiast perspective, there are a lot of elements in the Nazi uniform that are well liked in Japan on a general level . This being completely disconnected from the uniform or its history. Imo it's easy to see how an edgelord teen would think the Nazi uniform as a whole is dope and I appreciated the way they addressed it

Razgriz417 · Jan 11, 2019

AnansiThePersona said:
Never watched this anime but "Ainz" is the protag's name? Something is up with that name but I can't figure it out. Ainz....Ainz...NOPE, CAN'T PUT MY FINGER ON IT

MC took on the name of his guild Ainz Ooal Gown(his real character name is Momonga) in the hopes that he wasn't the only one of his guild sent to this world and wanted to use it to get in contact with his old guild mates

Dracil · Jan 11, 2019

Nazi aesthetics is definitely a thing. But so is Christianity and Japan's hardly Christian.

I don't think Japan thinks too much about the stuff behind these things, just whether or not the designs look appealing to them.

Kinthey · Jan 11, 2019

Rackham said:
As far as I can tell, the main character was a gamers rise up weeb before he got stuck in the Overlord world.

Wasn't he just a normal gamer?

Dracil · Jan 11, 2019

As far as I can tell, at least in the anime, the main character seems like a pretty normal person, at least from the way he self-monologues about stuff.

Inugami · Jan 11, 2019

Dracil said:
Nazi aesthetics is definitely a thing. But so is Christianity and Japan's hardly Christian.

I don't think Japan thinks too much about the stuff behind these things, just whether or not the designs look appealing to them.

Which, I think we can all agree, is still pretty problematic.

Heromanz · Jan 11, 2019

Japan really loves Nazis

Dracil · Jan 11, 2019

KojiKnight said:
Which, I think we can all agree, is still pretty problematic.

Probably. I would put it in the same category as people who fetishize Confederate aesthetics in the US.

But talking about Japan and WW2, I'd rather they deal with the whole comfort women issues first, which they still refuse to do.

Razgriz417 · Jan 11, 2019

Kinthey said:
Wasn't he just a normal gamer?

Yeah thought he was a regular Japanese salaryman who played this mmo in his free time for a few years. Not show what this gsmers rise up bit has to do with anything

Einchy · Jan 11, 2019

You could make the same post about Star Wars, Killzone, Hellboy and the billion of other media that steals the Nazi look for their characters.

The Silver · Jan 11, 2019

Razgriz417 said:
MC took on the name of his guild Ainz Ooal Gown(his real character name is Momonga) in the hopes that he wasn't the only one of his guild sent to this world and wanted to use it to get in contact with his old guild mates

And the clan was originally called Nine's Own Goal for the original nine members but changed it to Ainz Ooal Gowl(rearranged the letters) when they became a full fledged guild.

If you were completely literal with the translation you would call him Ainzu(pronounced Ainz). Many translators have also used Ains instead. Ainz is closer to the literal translation so fan translators always use that.

Deleted member 35077 · Jan 11, 2019

Dracil said:
Nazi aesthetics is definitely a thing. But so is Christianity and Japan's hardly Christian.

I don't think Japan thinks too much about the stuff behind these things, just whether or not the designs look appealing to them.

They definitely do, and I think I seen more Christians in anime than I have in cartoons. Take Fate for example:

Dracil · Jan 11, 2019

Einchy said:
You could make the same post about Star Wars, Killzone, Hellboy and the billion of other media that steals the Nazi look for their characters.

There's certainly that too.

Also the whole Hail Hydra meme I think.

Although now that I'm thinking about it some more, if this was reversed, we'd probably be talking about cultural appropriation instead.

Candescence · Jan 11, 2019

To be fair, nazi uniforms are commonly used as an aesthetic inspiration for 'evil military' uniforms, because, well, as much as I hate to say this, they certainly knew how to look good in military uniforms, and if you want to give the impression of a slick operation, you make the characters dress the part.

Fat4all · Jan 11, 2019

Castile said:

sister act 3 looking good

Quad Lasers · Jan 11, 2019

Einchy said:
You could make the same post about Star Wars, Killzone, Hellboy and the billion of other media that steals the Nazi look for their characters.

This is a pretty good point. Love of fascist a e s t h e t i c seems pretty universal.

Fat4all · Jan 11, 2019

hugo boss was like a buff of +10 to nazi propaganda because of how striking the designs and styles were

Mechaplum · Jan 11, 2019

Orbital Edge said:
This is a pretty good point. Love of fascist a e s t h e t i c seems pretty universal.

It is, but people like to knee jerk about anime.

Vee · Jan 11, 2019

Isn't that also what the Impel Down uniforms in One Piece are based off?

The Silver · Jan 11, 2019

Also it should be said that the guild were all about role playing as evil villains in the game. Creating an NPC that looks like a nazi would fit with that lol.

VaporSnake · Jan 11, 2019

Yeah I mean, I must say I thought Kroenen in Hellboy 1 was a pretty dope design. Doesn't mean I'm into what it stands for though.

ladislav-beran-as-karl-ruprecht-kroenen-in-e1499141826801.jpg

It's more of a problem that in ep1 of Overlord our main character uses his new found abilities to grope a woman's breasts...but that's another discussion.

Austriacus · Jan 11, 2019

Why are you calling japanese characters and actual real japanese people weebs? Do you know what the pejorative means? I think you should start learning your insults before throwing them around

FluxWaveZ · Jan 12, 2019

Frozenprince · Jan 12, 2019

Anime and manga have a profoundly unhealthy obsession with these uniforms for Nazi's and yeah, as above, weird religious garbs that are basically nazi uniforms.

It's weird, but it's not inherently fetishistic, they just like the aesthetic design and when they need a blanket "military uniform" for a character it's usually stylized after the SS officers uniform because it's easily recognizable as "military".

People think the Nazi's aesthetic was "badass" when in reality it was just a rote bastardization of common European military uniforms and meant to inspire fear and repress individuality within society but lets not talk about that part.

Kaz Mk II · Jan 12, 2019

I watch a lot of gundam and the Zeon faction clearly takes some inspiration from them as well as other notable anime series. It's something worth looking into the history of and asking artists what they like about it, but I dont find it particularly suspect in most cases as the ideologies arent normally present in a positive way in anime.

Rackham said:
What's with the weird love some Japanese weebs have for aryan and white supremacy?

Liking the uniform/aesthetic of the nazi/ SS is not the same as liking nazis/the ideology.

But yeah it's undoubtedly the inspiration in that design you posted. I think the appeal is to design a military character who's clearly capable and dangerous but with some of the flair that other modern military factions lack. Still these aspects generally go towards bad/antagonist factions (Like Zeon or Overlord's group). Storm troopers/ the empire while not sporting the exact same fashion present similarly and plenty of well adjusted people enjoy them and their designs.

Even I gotta admit. That Overlord design is pretty good. Never seen that aesthetic in yellow/orange.

kurahador · Jan 12, 2019

Huh...didn't realize that was a Nazi uniform. I thought it's pretty similar to this:

And it's a pretty common uniform in various japanese manga, anime and games.

AlexFlame116 · Jan 12, 2019

Pandora's Actor is a heap of adorable at times lol. But yeah Ainz/Momonga made him during his edgy phase. Now he acknowledges that he's super lame but still treats him like a son.

Cantaim · Jan 12, 2019

Baphomet · Jan 12, 2019

Don't hate me but I've always been fascinated with military asceticis and rank structure , I used to read about it for hours.

Trantorian · Jan 12, 2019

Khanimus said:
There's a lot of fetishization around the Nazi aesthetic in anime.

To be honest, the uniform design is top notch

Rackham · Jan 12, 2019

Einchy said:
You could make the same post about Star Wars, Killzone, Hellboy and the billion of other media that steals the Nazi look for their characters.

I don't think think it's the same at all. In those movies/games the nazi aesthetic is used for the antagonists. In Overlords we're dealing with the protagonist who is speaking positive about this trash

SilentPanda · Jan 12, 2019

Well, it's not just Japan, but similiar to how Asian history isn't taught in the west, western history isn't exactly taught that deeply in the school, it's how we get situation like this in Taiwan, where the student staged a nazi themed parade with uniform and stuff.

http://time.com/4618183/taiwan-nazi-high-school-hitler-cosplay/

Since the event didn't exactly occur in their part of the world, the European theater is just something that is seen in popular media, be that movie, book or other form.

And the Nazi uniform is designed to be good looking, and since they didn't know of people or the european situation, so they can just think that it's ok to dress u p in the good looking uniform, and will often use excuse of westerner dressing up as native american or other culture without permission.

But it's the same with alot of westerner liking or placing the KMT on a pedastal on what a "democracy" should be in Asia. since their the counter to the Communist party in China, but completely ignoring or not know of their 38+ year of military and martial rule in Taiwan until 1991 with over 140k+ victem placed on military trial, sentence and placed in secret camp and other executed, and people still argueing and figuring out exactly how many people disappeared whether they be Taiwanese, Chinese or abroginal.

LordFish · Jan 12, 2019

OP gonna completely ignore Ains own embarrassment and admission of adolescent immaturity when he made the character?

Noisy Ninj4 · Jan 12, 2019

Trantorian said:
To be honest, the uniform design is top notch

Not too surprising, considering the uniforms were commisioned from a literal fashion designer. (Hugo boss)

KillLaCam · Jan 12, 2019

There's always been a weird liking for Nazi-ish uniforms and aesthetics in Japan. It's probably the same way that average Americans don't automatically think the rising sun flag is bad

Drek · Jan 12, 2019

Einchy said:
You could make the same post about Star Wars, Killzone, Hellboy and the billion of other media that steals the Nazi look for their characters.

Hellboy isn't stealing the Nazi aesthetic, Rasputin was an occult agent for Hitler. Multiple Hellboy antagonists were Nazis. Not the same thing at all.

VaporSnake said:
Yeah I mean, I must say I thought Kroenen in Hellboy 1 was a pretty dope design. Doesn't mean I'm into what it stands for though.

It's more of a problem that in ep1 of Overlord our main character uses his new found abilities to grope a woman's breasts...but that's another discussion.

He was Nazi. The scene you're using is from a time when he was still an active member. Nazis dress like Nazis.

Richter1887 · Jan 12, 2019

Rackham said:
I don't think think it's the same at all. In those movies/games the nazi aesthetic is used for the antagonists. In Overlords we're dealing with the protagonist who is speaking positive about this trash

Not sure how far you are but I would say Ains is the bad guy of the story. So much stuff that happens is clearly evil.

Now the fact Ains is the protagonist I can understand your point because I hate the Nazi asthetic fetishism in anime too and I wish it would stop.

Does the Overlord anime/light novel creator like nazis?

Never read a comic in his life

Started a revolution but the mic was unplugged

Never read a comic in his life

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