Finnish Embassy Smitten by Eila, Interviews Creator
- Categories: Anime, News
- Date: May 11, 2012 21:21 JST
- Tags: Anthropomorphisation, Finland, History, Marketing, Military, Otaku, Pantsu, Strike Witches
No less than the Embassy of Finland in Tokyo has interviewed the creator of Strike Witches about the inception of adorable Finnish witch Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen.
Finland’s Tokyo embassy operates an official Twitter account (run by “Fin-tan”), and when curious Strike Witches fans quizzed them as to whether they knew of the appropriation of the Nazi-allied nation’s top fighter ace in the form of Eila, they were amazed to discover that the embassy’s answer was “we know everything.”
This later saw the embassy courting Japanese otaku by graciously honouring Eila’s birthday and soliciting Finland shaped mascots for an official competition (this was in fact loosely based on a fairly unsuccesful 2ch thread, which itself was based on an earlier effort with bashful Britannia):
The winner:
This all culminated in the latest overture to otaku – an interview with Strike Witches creator Shimada Fumikane:
Eila can now be called the driving force behind the embassy’s official Twitter account. Fin-tan spoke with her creator Shimada Fumikane about her inception.
“The Strike Witches project began 7 years ago,” he says. “I aimed for those who are interested in WWII history and warfare, and used the aces of each nation as a motif for the characters. Those characters are the ‘dream team’ battling against the Neuroi, and that forms the setting.”
[…]
Each of the Strikes Witches is based on their respective national characters. In Eila’s case, he conferred with staff as to how to represent Finland’s character: “Her trademark monotone delivery, calm aloofness, sense of duty and compassion, and willpower, along with her cool and smart looks, all of which hide her passion, are Eila.”
[The embassy also generously plugs the Strike Witches movie]
Where Eila’s highly cordial relations with Sanya come into all this (given that it was Russia which attempted to invade Finland, forcing Finland into reluctant alliance with Hitler) is perhaps something neither he nor embassy staff are keen to dwell on.
Resorting to the antics of a squadron of young nymphomaniacs flying around in their pantsu to engage the interest of the Japanese certainly constitutes a unique marketing coup for Finland, although it is not clear whether any of the other nations so featured will be following suit…
Ero-Figures of Wonder Festival 2016 Unseasonably Searing
Rites of Adulthood WoW H-Tribute Quite Amorous
Spice & Wolf Sequel Light Novel Announced
Bloodborne’s Saw Cleaver Finely Forged
Dance with Devils Musical PV Absolutely Rotten
Valkyria: Azure Revolution Demo Unloads
Psycho Pass Dominator Replica A Sight to Behold
Star Ocean 5 Trailer Introduces Emmerson
Shoujo Kara Shoujo e Raunchy & Retro
Orgakill – “A Kill la Kill H Parody!”
Teto Futanari Ero-MMD Sexually Chaotic
Massive Snow Miku Figure Magical Indeed
Medabots: Girls Mission Trailer Tears It Up
Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Introduces Helena
Saijaku Bahamut Senseless Romance Anime
Sapporo Snow Festival 2016 “A Winter Wonderland!”
Street Fighter V CG Trailer “The Anticipation Grows!”
Dimension W More Abusive Than Ever
Hitomi Tanaka Wins AVN’s Most “Colossal T*ts”
Wonder Festival 2016 Cool As Ice
Taiga Seifuku Cosplay Infinitely Charming
Junko Ero-Cosplay by Mion Sonoda Crazy Hot
Gokou Ruri Maid Cosplay Truly Extravagant
Alluring Achellia Cosplay by Tasha
Carnivore Taiga Cosplay Too Cute For Words
Alluring Ahri Cosplay Magically Charming
Tsukihi Araragi BDSM Ero-Cosplay by Komugi Platinum Sexy
Goddess of Twitter “Pink & Perky!”
Serene Horo Cosplay Pure Gold
Iona Ero-Cosplay by Komugi Taking on Water
Observe ladies and gentlemen.
The power of moe.
It has now officially conquered entire nations.
I am so proud of Eila. Finland should be proud of this too.
As a Finn, I can say that I am very proud of this.
seconded
regards another finn
And from third, if that number is enough!
AHAHAHA SO TRUE
yeah I hope Germany recognize Laura Bodewig too with her Schwarzer Hase unit(or Black Rabbit)
could not have said it better myself. It's good that its slowly bringing people together
Finns, be proud.
Yes, i am! Born in Finland, but living in Sweden now. No reason to hide my birthplace.
How many in here knows Eila has real predecessor in Fighter Ace Eino Juutilainen? And same hair color too. Eino was in his 20`s during WWII.
About Finns being Nazi German allies during WWII, Finland never had any choice. Finland had to face Soviet occupation threat all the time, from The Winter War, when western powers tried to help, but could not.
In 1941 Germany began it`s attack at Soviet, Finland again had to choose between Soviet occupation or fight alongside Germans. Soviet wanted to take over Finland`s land area to fight against Nazis from there too.
Germany did not threaten Finland with aggression, how would you choose in same situation?
Western powers tried to help? No. Western powers offered help, but the Finnish government declined it, knowing that their only agenda was to control the Swedish metal and preventing it from being sold to Germans.
During Winter War 1939-40 USA did send 44 Brewster F2A Buffalo fighters, but those were ready for fight too late. Eino Juutilainen flew Brewsters later in Continuation War.
Sweden did send a volunteer fighter unit to Northern Finland, and they fought successfully, taking care of northern front in air.
England And France were mostly talk, until it was too late, and Finland had to make very bad peace treaty with Soviet.
I did not know Finnish government had power to control Swedish iron and other metals. Sensational news concerning the history of WWII.
Finnish government welcomed any help they could get.
Yes. There was recently an interview of the ambassador on TV about the popularity of their Twitter, and while he didn't actually confess to being otaku he sort of gave that impression of himself.
I'd say he is the perfect man for the job! good job ambassador! (+- -)b
I believe pic 002 is the traditional view of the Finnish maiden.
Also, did you know there is a Finnish missionary in the Japanese diet. We're exporting conservatism.
All girls in those pics are wearing different traditional clothes.
I don`t know about some missionary in Diet, but socialist Tsurunen from Finland (he has lived in Japan 30 years)is in Diet.
Tsurunen came to Japan as a missionary.
When I saw his interview, he talked about how the youth these days are no good. Sounds like conservatism to me.
But he has been politically to left for long time, and belong in Socialist Party.
Not conservative as i see it.
THE POWER OF MOE COMPELS YOU....
This strange and wonderful sensation in my body.....
It's...the Moe. It's...healing me!!
That's the thing with moe bishoujo's with guns. Their bullets heal for negative damage.
Coincidentally Max Factory has just recently opened Eila's figma for pre-order. Oh, what a happy month for my beloved and favourite witch~
"..it was Russia which attempted to invade Finland.."
Accurate enough, Sanya's Ultimate moe power and Imouto wave invaded Eila's heart and leaded her to serve their squadron in order to stay by Sanya's side. Now I'd like to know what's behind the tsun [http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20101019221556/strikewitches/images/7/74/Perrine_gets_her_glasses_stolen.jpg]-tsun [http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100816082828/strikewitches/images/7/70/I_can't_see_shit,_captain.jpg] relationship between France and Finland...
I wonder what they think about the Fin in Upotte...
Me like. once in a while Finland gets to be the evil bitch <3
heh, thats funny, I saw those picks in my local libary
"I aimed for those who are interested in WWII history and warfare, and used the aces of each nation as a motif for the characters."
Don't forget the people who only watched the series for the pantsu and yuri. These guys also tend to look down and laugh at the "military buffs" who hoped for a plot in the story. To the point that some Strike Witches fans alienate fellow Strike Witches fans, it looks quite sad.
Then again, if your plot is about the world challenging a thoughtless armada of drones, it doesn't really make for an interesting story.
I like to watch this kind of anime in both ways, from each point of view. That military side is not aimed to be taken too seriously by creators, i think...
I have a feeling that if Chuck Yeager found out he was being turned into a big titted bunnygirl, he would probably hop a plane to Tokyo and punch Fumikane in the face.
Why would he waste his waning days of his life for that? He's still a public figure in some sense and could be portrayed in various media.
I think he'd get a kick out of it.
the only thing I knew about Finland until now was Jari Litmanen
Make room for Mugi!
Best anime ever.
lol thats brilliant!
Taking over one country at a time
Japan's Finnish embassy is bro tier.
I should move to Finland.
If you can stand the cold in november-march, and you have some good modern profession, it can be feasible.
But in time you must learn the language, after you have been using English initially which many Finns can talk.
Finnish language can be tough, if you aren`t one of those persons who can learn new languages easily and fast. I believe there is very distant connection with Japanese and Finnish, grammar and words have some similarities.
If you are after catching some cute blond girls, yes, they can be found in Finland...
But does she have her own stamp in Finland?
well she's from Orussia not Russia in which the communist revolution never happened. So i guess you can't look at it that way ;>
she either has great influence or it proves how weak and spineless finnland is lol i kid finnland and eila are great
Strange, I thought fake cp was banned in Finland.
No, it's not. Infact Finland is one of those countries where such craziness (banning drawings, what the hell?) is looked down even by many "normal" people. There was so called "Dragonball-scandal" in Finland, but it was mostly just some crazy Christians going apeshit over Bulma's tits and the following proposal for "banning immoral drawings" was laughed at by parliament and people.
Sweden next to Finland is a different case though, they have even banned "Dead or Alive Dimensions" as CP.
thats sweden
Strike Witches is not classed as cp in Sweden.
The whole hysteria seem to calm down now. Cp in cluding real children are more of officials target today.
Tehköön seuraavaksi Simo Häyhään perustuvan hahmon.
Who is Simo Häyhä? Is he moe? I doubt it.
Simo Häyhä was a finnish sniper back in Winter War. He still holds a rank among one of the highest number of kills (estimates vary between 200 and 500) world wide. Sniper training in Finland is still based largely on his methods.
He was so feared that Soviet actually ordered full bombardments just to get rid of him. Exploding round destroying half of his face prevented him from taking part during the Continuation War.
Funny thing is he refused to use a telescopic sight claiming it would get him found out.
Yep, that is the beauty of mr. Häyhä's achievement - it will not be beaten. However it is well possible that some allied sniper fighting in Afghanistan will get over 200 kills. Unfortunately those scope kills do not count. These modern snipers wouldn't have snowball's chance in hell fighting the way mr Häyhä did - open sights and in snow.
>(estimates vary between 200 and 500)
You got that wrong buddy. It's 200 PLUS 500. Five hundred and five confirmed sniper kills, and on top of those 200 other kills. He's the deadliest infantry soldier in recorded history.
He was also a really short guy, five foot one or something.
Is not such a girl in Upotte already?
Her name is Sako. That is a 1995 hand weapon too.
But the story in Upotte is much different. Girls weapon play school...far cry from eastern border war in deep snow forests in -40C cold.
Simo Häyhä was using no scope before it was cool.
Sure, anytime!