The near-simultaneous launch of Tokyopop’s Hetalia:  Axis Powers manga (see “Tokyopop Nabs Hetalia:  Axis Powers”) and FUNimation’s Axis Powers Hetalia anime (see “Axis Powers Hetalia to FUNimation”) is gaining momentum behind Tokyopop’s bus tour and Web promotion, Tokyopop Marketing Director Marco Pavia told ICv2 at Comic-Con.  “We thought this was going to be big, but we’re finding with the tour it has a rabid, passionate fan base,” he said.

A Hetalia cosplay contest run through Facebook, in which the winners will be featured in volume one of the manga, picked up over 700 entries in the first 48 hours, Pavia said.  Fans have also been turning out at bus tour events in costume, eager to pick up Hetalia swag and interact with other fans. 

The audience for the property is an international one, with an International Hetalia Day celebrated worldwide.

Key Hetalia dates:

• September 14th:  Axis Powers Hetalia Season 1 anime release
• September 21st:  Hetalia Axis Powers Vol. 1 manga release
• October 12th:  Axis Powers Hetalia Season 2 anime release
• October 24th:  International Hetalia Day   

Hetalia is getting increased Tokyopop marketing focus this year, with the release of its Priest titles (see “Interview with Stu Levy, Part 3”, tied to the release of the movie (see “Priest Movie Date Shifts”) pushed back to Spring 2011.