Japanese Artists Reimagine Countries And Their Flags As Anime Characters For 2020 Tokyo Olympics (30 Pics)
While Tokyo is busy preparing for the 2020 Olympic Games, people are already psyched for it. A few Japanese artists have come together to create an unofficial promotion campaign for the Tokyo Olympics, drawing inspiration from a subject they're incredibly passionate about. Anime. They have been reimagining the participating countries as badass anime characters who are ready to go into combat, and the designs are very Japanese. In the best way. Each os the Olympic sports competitor is created with the culture, history, and national identity of the corresponding country in mind, offering a pretty visual harmonious diversity. Which is what the Olympics is all about.
Now, character drawings and concepts are always 'love it or hate it,' but we think that the artists behind these awesome anime drawings did an amazing job. All you have to do is scroll down below and check their drawing ideas out for yourself!
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Mexico
"There are six people working on the project, but more creators will join soon," World Flags told Bored Panda. "We've been doing it for about a year now." And even though the crew haven't done every participating country yet, they said the won't stop until everyone who is participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics gets their own character.
Philippines
"We feel so much respect for all of the countries around the world. They and their symbols (flags) are very important to us," the artists said. "We know we can't treat any of them in a way that would disrespect them and that's what we're constantly trying to do."
UK
Not everyone in Britain walks around dressed as a Lord Admiral, we only do it three or four days a week at most
"We started this project after recognizing the diversity between all of the people in the world. Also, we believe that illustration is the perfect tool to highlight this. Our motto is 'The whole world is cool!'"
Vietnam
"Japan and Tokyo have already started promoting the Olympics and they're doing a good job. We want to remind that World Flags is not a part of the Olympics. We just wanted to contribute. We believe that art -- and anime in particular -- can truly do wonders when it comes to both celebrating the bond between the Japanese culture and the rest of the world and acknowledging their differences."
Venesuela
South Korea
Japan
China
Malaysia
South Africa
Italy
Not certain on the strong influence of samurai on Roman culture but nice pic...
Finland
Sweden
Canada
Spain
Belgium
France
I love this one even though I live in another country it truly reflects my French heritage and pride😁
Germany
I like it but a sword would have been better that a katana. ;)
Switzerland
Argentina
Singapore
Norway
Thailand
Indonesia
Brazil
Netherlands
India
🔥 aaawesome... but is he some wrestler samurai or what...they gave him no weapon.
Russia
Denmark
Sorry, but nothing that reminds me here of denmark. The white towel should be the cross from the flag? The swiss version looks more like denmark.
USA
These are all really good, but honestly, I'd prefer their outfits were inspired by the respective country's traditional clothing. Would make it more interesting. Regardless of politics.
These are amazing! Do away with the standard cutesy Olympic mascots and use these! To those asking "Why is there not ___ represented?": This is a work in progress, and the site lists all of the countries participating, even if they haven't finalized the character for them yet. This is in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, so you are seeing just the beginning of the series!
VAQUERO culture and fashion belong to northern Mexican people. Americans appropriated that lifestyle, but vaquero life is part of Mexican culture.
A little sad that there is no Czech Republic... With a high sock in the sandals, with the Beer belly and the sword which was made at home from a components from old "Skoda Rapid" car 😂😂😂
Egypt is not in the list although we are participating in the Olympics2020\2021 my disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined
How surprising is the fact that this was made to honor Olympic games, but Greece is not being represented (yet)? Shame...
VAQUERO culture (know as cowboy in usa) is part of northern Mexican people. American appropriated VAQUERO culture. COWBOY culture ain't American.
I wish there was room here for ALL the countries' representations. I'd like to see New Zealand's (they'd definitely need to be wearing jandals -- and I mean, perfect, since the term "jandal" came from "Japanese sandals"), and Ireland's, and some of those teeny-tiny countries no one pays much attention to (sadly).
THESE ARE SO COOL. SORRY I'M SHOUTING. JUST VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE CONCEPT.
Now I want all of these anime-flag characters together in an anime sequel!! I would def watch !! That would be so so cool <3
They are beautiful and inspired , but why somes countries missing and especialy Greece where the Olympic Games came from.
Wow such disrespect to those county which they didn't make for. If you are gonna make should have made for every country. F**k you 🖕🖕
They are so beautiful but I couldn’t find my country... because of sanctions?!! We the people are so lonely and heartbroken here!! We Iranian people love peace and humanity (you shouldn’t judge us by our dictator government) :((
Love it!! These are amazing and so creative. It would have been so cool to have one athlete from each country dress in this costume. Or have them all come out after all the countries under the Olympic flag. haha - anyway - hats off to this creativity.
Human nature is so that someone accidentally reinvents hetalia ever so occasionally
Umm.. usually there isn't Israel.. but this time i really hoped they'll have one :< this kind of art is my favorite :< i guess Finland is similar. Amazing art..
It s reaIly good, I like all pictures, and I would like to see my country (Slovakia).
This whole list is ridiculous. WHITEN every country/ethnicity in the world. And you manga otaku see nothing wrong with it!
With all the negative comments (lack of understanding their directions and objective of their project, and appreciating their initiative and good will, and the difficulties of designing, illustrating and colouring more than 100 of these pictures), I would not be surprised if the artists stopped their project before Olympic even begin.
Venesuela? With and S? No one even cared to look for the right spelling?? Lol
Fantástico el trabajó de los artistas al representar las diversas banderas de los participantes de las olimpiadas
Why do I find these manga characters more attractive than the boys in my class...
Love all of them! Can't wait to see what the Aussie Guy looks like!!
This is literally a ripoff of Hetalia. Like can we not. Thankkksssss UwU
This is literally a ripoff of hetalia. Can we not. Thankkssss. UwU
These are all awesome and I wish I could draw this good but there were countries I kinda wished I could see... like Australia
I love the samurai inspired outfits for each country. It'd be freaking cool if each country could have a cosplayer and wear these during Olympics!!! Hahah!!!
Aren't these just typical anime characters with a flag colour theme? I'm not seeing what's so interesting about these.
As a citizen of Canada, I found Canada looks like an arrogant scoundrel. Also, I don't think Canada is totally White. Should have been mix-race. And as a Vietnamese, I found Vietnam looks nothing Vietnamese. One more thing, this is kinda sexist, don't you think? No female here, all male. Why? Beside from those issues, great arts as usual.
I help make cosplay costumes. While these would be a challenge, the end results would be AMAZING!! I love the details of history interwoven in the art. Thank you for sharing!
Anime might be Japanese, but you have drawn every country’s rep as Their culture; not our own. There is nothing Japanese about my ancestral culture. — You are a good artist, for how you have shown the way you wish to represent each country. Samurai is very much “your” forte. Unless it is traditional with anime portrayals, perhaps you could balance the size ratios of the feet and heads with the body sizes.
This is a pastiche of mechanically styled illustration and soulless, witless cliches. Far too many people indulge in this stuff, then send it to BoredPanda to be presented with a fill-in-the-blanks title like "I Draw --- as If They Were _____ Today."
I've never really cared much for the Olympics but throw anime into it and I'll like anything lol
These are all really good, but honestly, I'd prefer their outfits were inspired by the respective country's traditional clothing. Would make it more interesting. Regardless of politics.
These are amazing! Do away with the standard cutesy Olympic mascots and use these! To those asking "Why is there not ___ represented?": This is a work in progress, and the site lists all of the countries participating, even if they haven't finalized the character for them yet. This is in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, so you are seeing just the beginning of the series!
VAQUERO culture and fashion belong to northern Mexican people. Americans appropriated that lifestyle, but vaquero life is part of Mexican culture.
A little sad that there is no Czech Republic... With a high sock in the sandals, with the Beer belly and the sword which was made at home from a components from old "Skoda Rapid" car 😂😂😂
Egypt is not in the list although we are participating in the Olympics2020\2021 my disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined
How surprising is the fact that this was made to honor Olympic games, but Greece is not being represented (yet)? Shame...
VAQUERO culture (know as cowboy in usa) is part of northern Mexican people. American appropriated VAQUERO culture. COWBOY culture ain't American.
I wish there was room here for ALL the countries' representations. I'd like to see New Zealand's (they'd definitely need to be wearing jandals -- and I mean, perfect, since the term "jandal" came from "Japanese sandals"), and Ireland's, and some of those teeny-tiny countries no one pays much attention to (sadly).
THESE ARE SO COOL. SORRY I'M SHOUTING. JUST VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE CONCEPT.
Now I want all of these anime-flag characters together in an anime sequel!! I would def watch !! That would be so so cool <3
They are beautiful and inspired , but why somes countries missing and especialy Greece where the Olympic Games came from.
Wow such disrespect to those county which they didn't make for. If you are gonna make should have made for every country. F**k you 🖕🖕
They are so beautiful but I couldn’t find my country... because of sanctions?!! We the people are so lonely and heartbroken here!! We Iranian people love peace and humanity (you shouldn’t judge us by our dictator government) :((
Love it!! These are amazing and so creative. It would have been so cool to have one athlete from each country dress in this costume. Or have them all come out after all the countries under the Olympic flag. haha - anyway - hats off to this creativity.
Human nature is so that someone accidentally reinvents hetalia ever so occasionally
Umm.. usually there isn't Israel.. but this time i really hoped they'll have one :< this kind of art is my favorite :< i guess Finland is similar. Amazing art..
It s reaIly good, I like all pictures, and I would like to see my country (Slovakia).
This whole list is ridiculous. WHITEN every country/ethnicity in the world. And you manga otaku see nothing wrong with it!
With all the negative comments (lack of understanding their directions and objective of their project, and appreciating their initiative and good will, and the difficulties of designing, illustrating and colouring more than 100 of these pictures), I would not be surprised if the artists stopped their project before Olympic even begin.
Venesuela? With and S? No one even cared to look for the right spelling?? Lol
Fantástico el trabajó de los artistas al representar las diversas banderas de los participantes de las olimpiadas
Why do I find these manga characters more attractive than the boys in my class...
Love all of them! Can't wait to see what the Aussie Guy looks like!!
This is literally a ripoff of Hetalia. Like can we not. Thankkksssss UwU
This is literally a ripoff of hetalia. Can we not. Thankkssss. UwU
These are all awesome and I wish I could draw this good but there were countries I kinda wished I could see... like Australia
I love the samurai inspired outfits for each country. It'd be freaking cool if each country could have a cosplayer and wear these during Olympics!!! Hahah!!!
Aren't these just typical anime characters with a flag colour theme? I'm not seeing what's so interesting about these.
As a citizen of Canada, I found Canada looks like an arrogant scoundrel. Also, I don't think Canada is totally White. Should have been mix-race. And as a Vietnamese, I found Vietnam looks nothing Vietnamese. One more thing, this is kinda sexist, don't you think? No female here, all male. Why? Beside from those issues, great arts as usual.
I help make cosplay costumes. While these would be a challenge, the end results would be AMAZING!! I love the details of history interwoven in the art. Thank you for sharing!
Anime might be Japanese, but you have drawn every country’s rep as Their culture; not our own. There is nothing Japanese about my ancestral culture. — You are a good artist, for how you have shown the way you wish to represent each country. Samurai is very much “your” forte. Unless it is traditional with anime portrayals, perhaps you could balance the size ratios of the feet and heads with the body sizes.
This is a pastiche of mechanically styled illustration and soulless, witless cliches. Far too many people indulge in this stuff, then send it to BoredPanda to be presented with a fill-in-the-blanks title like "I Draw --- as If They Were _____ Today."
I've never really cared much for the Olympics but throw anime into it and I'll like anything lol