Funimation will be the exclusive streaming home in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, United Kingdom and Ireland for Hetalia: World Stars this spring.
The fifth anime series in the Hetalia franchise will premiere on April 1. This is the first new Hetalia anime since Hetalia: The World Twinkle in 2015.
Based on the manga by Hidekaz Himaruya, Hetalia follows the comedic antics of attractively-drawn anthropomorphic personifications of the nations of the world. The first series focused in particular on the Axis Powers from World War II, a focus which attracted controversy, while subsequent series have introduced more characters and drawn from more parts of history. Episodes are five minutes long and draw on both ethnic stereotypes and historical trivia for humor.
Studio DEEN is still producing the animation. Hiroshi Watanabe, who directed the previous two series, The World Twinkle and The Beautiful World, will be returning as director.
Much of the original Japanese voice cast from the first four series will return for World Stars. Voice actors confirmed to return include Yuki Kaida (the Narrator and China), Daisuke Namikawa (Romano), Go Inoue (Bulgaria and Spain), Katsuyuki Konishi (Canada and the United States) and Atsushi Kosaka (Greece, Estonia and Prussia). The English dub cast has not yet been announced.
AnimeLab will stream Hetalia: World Stars in Australia and New Zealand. Wakanim has the rights in France, Germany, Russia and Scandinavia.
Source: Funimation
