| France フランス | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Character Information | |
| Name |  French Republic (République française) |
| Human Name | Francis Bonnefoy (フランシス・ボヌフォワ, Furanshisu Bonufowa)[1] |
| Alternate Spellings | François Bonnefoi |
| Age | 26[2] |
| Gender | Male |
| Birthday | July 14[3] |
| Hair Color | Blond |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Height | 175 cm (5' 9")[4] |
| Debut Appearances | |
| Volume | Volume 1 |
| Strip | Chapter 2: Allied Forces |
| Game | Gakuen Hetalia |
| Drama CD | Hetalia Drama CD: Prologue |
| Anime | Episode 01 |
| Voice Actors | |
| Japanese | Masaya Onosaka Ciaou Sasaki (Flower Of Iris) |
| English | J. Michael Tatum |
France (フランス, Furansu) is a main character in the series Hetalia: Axis Powers. Between 2007 and 2008, Himaruya gave human names to some of the characters and he received the name Francis Bonnefoy (フランシス・ボヌフォワ, Furanshisu Bonufowa).[1]
Attributes
Appearance
France has shoulder-length blond hair and blue eyes, and has a slight amount of facial hair which he believes makes him look like a "big brother" (it is said to represent the Gorges du Tarn, or Tarn Gorges) that he'd been growing since the late 18th century. Sometimes his eyes appear more violet, and his hair has ranged in hue from bright blond to light brown. He wears a long blue coat and matching capelet, with red pants and brown boots. He is often depicted with a rose, which is also used to censor his genitals in his nude scenes.
When France initially appeared in the webcomic, his hair was drawn shorter and less wavy, but was drawn longer over time as the art style changed and evolved. Initially his hair was parted in the middle and fell at the sides of his face; however, Himaruya changed his bangs in Volume 5, so that his hair is now parted on the left with his right bang somewhat falling into his face.[5] He also originally wore white spats over his boots, a detail that was dropped in later artwork.
Himaruya has mentioned that he has a rather nice body though he's not at all macho, instead being rather lanky but with muscles "in the right places."[5]
Personality and Interests
France was once a large nation, but after Napoleon Bonaparte died, he no longer excelled at war and instead focused on attracting tourists to his country with his wine. A great cook, he is called the nation of arts and a lover of everything beautiful. He has an intense rivalry with England and loves to argue with him over trivial topics. While he used to hate Germany, they've been spending a lot of time together in more recent strips. His hobbies are manipulation activities, agriculture, fashion design, sketching, singing, and telephones, as well as wandering around the art museums and fashion boutiques of Paris. He likes places that are a little odd or chic. According to his Volume 6 profile, his special skill is leaving Paris.
France often seems infatuated with most of the nations and is known to make blatant sexual comments at every opportunity and is very affectionate, often shown streaking or touching other nations inappropriately. However, he believes love is not something to be forced on others and, if given a firm no, will usually avoid touching or stripping, and he will stop if what he's doing isn't enjoyed. He is attracted to beautiful things, which include men and women of any age (supported by statements such as "Sure, I'll settle for boys! Boys are the best!" and "This big brother here loves pure and innocent children like you." in response to a fan not knowing the meaning of the term "tachi") and maybe even some non-human beings. He has stated "be gentle to the ladies and be gentle to the earth" is his motto. He's admitted to being "the dandiest among the dandies." He loves himself so much that he does not bother to remember English and considers French the "language of love." In addition, he has referred to the others as insignificant characters.
France actually seems to be rather responsible and sometimes appropriately fits his "big brother" role. In a scrapped strip, because of America's young age (or, rather, the age he appears) he didn't allow him to drink alcohol, even when he begged (in contrast to England who took him out to do so, though it was in order to get information out of him.)
He likes men who have exquisite bodies and give him a good impression, and has no preference in their personalities, so long as they are not like England. He said he would like cool but passionate women, and might latch on best to someone who is good at singing. He also mentioned, in response to that the French supposedly fall in love due to other's body odors, that a faint, flowery scent could have him curled up in pleasure. In response to another fan suggesting their lack of will to stand near him because of his overbearing scent, he stated that he only wore a little perfume.
He stated that he's afraid of computers, Germany (and that he supposedly hates Germans in general, despite that he seems to get along with both brothers as of recent), Russia, Switzerland, England's anger, and possibly Turkey. He stated this through a response to a fan, thus over the computer, and that doing so was bad enough for him. It seems that gardening relaxes him, and that he isn't intimidated by other technologies, as he claimed to be playing Bokosuka, a video game, with Germany and England. However, he was seen using a laptop in a strip where he said he wanted to go sightseeing in England and asked him to recommend hotels, so it's unknown if his cyberphobia is retconned or if he simply used the computer out of necessity.
He's referenced his old age several times, saying things like how his waist is always creaking, his back hurts, and that he had to surrender to sleep early in the day. Despite this, he gets upset when said that he's a grandpa as opposed to a big brother, and claims he is still young.
According to Volume 4, he holds the belief that those who have been "toyed with by history" are always reborn, but into a normal life and get to live regular, happy lives. He felt this was confirmed when he met a girl named Lisa who had come to France for her birthday whom he believed to be the reincarnation of Joan of Arc.
Relationships
America
Main Article: America
France fought with his rival England for ownership of a baby America. Despite losing the battle, France has nothing against America, treating him like a younger brother at times. When America went on a diet in Supersize You, he asked France for a suggestion; however, whatever was said was censored out. Later in the Hetalia Fantasia 2 C.D., France feels remorse for telling America that a snack diet was a great way to lose weight. This comes after he stumbles into a dungeon area he believes America based off of the Palace of Versailles, and he becomes very emotional. In Volume Four, after a lot of hard work on his part, France presented America with a dismembered Statue of Liberty to celebrate America's 100th year of official independence. InIndependence Day, France's gift was a censored object along with champagne, to which America asked him not to show such things in public. France has offered to feed America his food instead of England's cooking multiple times, once becoming very depressed when a young America stated that both France's and England's cooking were "sweet and tasty". In the stripAmerica's Brewster F2A Buffalo France refuses to offer a depressed America a drink after he has a horrible day, stating that he is still a child.
Austria
Main Article: Austria
Not much is known about these two's relationship, although in Big Brother France And The Frying Pan! France is seen outside Austria's window, ranting about how much he desires him, and talking about how good looking and talented Austria is. The Christmas Rampage 2007 strips show France tricking Austria into stripping down in order to get Hungary a hat, yet this may have only been to make Prussia feel better. In A Kind of Aristocratic Comic, photos from France's camera revealed France had been stalking Austria (although France claimed that England had made him do espionage, which is probably a lie, as he had been taking seemingly useless photos of Austria). In The Austrian Anschluss it is explained that France's and Austria's relationship was abysmal at the time of Austria's annexation, and that Austria had been at about every anti-France alliance held.
England/UK/Britain
Main Article: England
Despite both being members of the Allied forces, England and France have a deep-rooted historical rivalry between them. While they can be seen to constantly argue with each other over the littlest things (like language and culture), they appear to have a level of respect for each other and are quick to team up with each other if a third party should enter the argument. France even tried to marry England to save his country once, though neither of them really wanted it. In strips focusing on England's childhood, he is often shown being picked on by a pre-teen France, who on one occassion, scoffs at him for not growing his hair long - and when England's long hair turns out a mess, France teases him by saying he'll cut it into a "cool" style - by cutting it back to the style he had before. In Crossing Through the Year 1000, the two younger countries are fooled into believing that the world will soon be over, and England agrees to let France pretend to have conquered him, since it is only for a little while. They later reminisce about their childhood when Japan makes the same mistake.
Germany
Main Article: Germany
The state of their relationship depends on the specified time period; however, generally, like England, Germany and France have a history of being one another's enemies, and as such the two don't seem to get along. In Let's Think About The G8 members, when Germany suggested France be removed from the group, he argued that they had actually been getting along recently. In Kusogame the two and America went to a maid cafe in Japan together. Both are set in the present day. During his April Fools sitejacking, he seemed to know a fair amount about him, especially that he, like Italy, often ran around naked, thus he needed a different idea of what to do to him as he had been stripping the others (in the end he forced him into a maid cosplay and cat ears.)
Italy
Main Article: Italy
France grew up with a small Chibitalia, but after Chibitalia returned from spending time with Roman Empire, France only wanted to control him. Italy refers to France as "France nii-chan" in strips set in both the past and present. Once Italy had grown into a teenager, he visited France again, resulting in the older man suddenly becoming enthusiastically attracted to him. During the visit, Italy saw the word "intercourse" in a book and asked him what the definition was. France replied by saying that intercourse is something you do with someone you like, then proceeded to ask "So Italy, do you like me?" (This was changed in the anime to France using body language to express the meaning of intercourse.) France seems to have a soft spot for Italy, becoming frantic when England suggests they spread rumours about Italy and responding with "I know he's kind of dumb, and he's weak and useless, but he's not a bad guy...." He then proceeds to break down in tears, causing England to note that France, while always insulting Germany, never really brings himself to badmouth Italy.
Monaco
Main Article: Monaco
Monaco acts as a younger sister figure to France and is solely dependent on him for military strength, as well as intervention in other affairs. Due to this, Monaco often accepts his various requests.
Seychelles
Main Article: Seychelles
In the Gakuen Hetalia universe, it is revealed (via flashback) that he helped raise her as a child, while in the present day he carries an affection for her and attempts to undress her, apparently to see what her body has become like, much to her shock and embarrassment.
Their relationship in the mainstream Hetalia universe has not been mentioned, outside of France appearing with her in Shipwrecked and an illustration in Christmas Rampage 2007, which depicts him groping Seychelles.
Spain
Main Article: Spain
The two get along rather well, having grown up and fought in wars together, though Spain remains oblivious to France's more perverted tendencies and cannot see why Romano hates him. It is said in production notes by Himaruya that their relationship is actually undesirable, yet the two remain inseparable. Recently, it seems Spain is aware that France is a bad influence on him, calling him "despicable" before defeating him in The Battle of Garigliano with the help of his pet bull. France's first bird named Pierre is used for communication with him.
Appearances
Anime
France first appears at the world meeting in Episode 01, opting to disagree with both America and England in their argument.
After being left out of the second Allied Forces meeting in Episode 10, France reflects on his history of past "victories", insisting that he was successful a long time ago.
In the Axis Powers and World Series anime, his dark blond hair is changed to a bright yellow color. In The Beautiful World, his hair is lightened to a platinum blond color and restyled to reflect his hairstyle in Volume 5.
Trivia
- His birthdate (July 14th) corresponds with the date of the French national holiday known in English-speaking countries as Bastille Day, a celebration of the anniversary of the Fête de la Fédération, which was held on July 14th, 1790.[3]
- In notes included in the special edition booklet for Hetalia: Axis Powers volume 3, Himaruya stated that France was originally meant to look more middle-aged, and that he was intended to have a completely suave personality. The "older", shorter-haired design could be seen in early chapters of the webcomic, but faded as the style changed.[6]
- Because of England and America's inability to recognize and fear of him, it has been hinted that an abruptly awoken France is not a pleasant sight, and that he may be a sleepwalker.
- France shares both Japanese and English voice actors, Masaya Onosaka and J. Michael Tatum respectively, with Issac Dian, a character from the animeBaccano! He also shares J. Michael Tatum as an English voice actor with Sebastian Michealis from Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler.
- In volume 4 it was revealed that he is a member of the Academy Gourmet Food Club along with Turkey and China. In the same scene of this colored chapter, a graphic hue edit or lighting error used to accentuate the punchline of this scene accidentally discolored these three characters' uniform pants to an odd shade of green, opening a door for some fan confusion.
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