America

America (アメリカ, Amerika) is a main character in the series Hetalia: Axis Powers and leads the Allied Forces. In 2008, Himaruya gave out human names to some of the characters and he received the name Alfred F. Jones (アルフレッド・F・ジョーンズ, Arufureddo F. Jōnzu).

Appearance
Main article: Uniform Guide: America 

He has short blond hair with a cowlick, representing Nantucket, sticking up and blue eyes. He wears a tan uniform and a brown bomber jacket with a "50" on the back for the fifty states. His glasses are said to represent the state of Texas. America is often shown holding a hamburger or a large-sized soft drink, usually a cola, and flashing a thumbs-up.

When America initially appeared in the webcomic, his hair was drawn smoother, parted in the center, and he had no cowlick. Eventually as the art style changed, Himaruya added in the strand and made America's hair slightly wilder. America also was shown to have his pants tucked into his boots in older designs, but more modern artwork depicts him wearing his pants over the boots.

Personality and Interests
America is a cheerful, energetic, yet somewhat conceited young man who is obsessed with heroes, justice, and freedom. He has the habit of sticking his nose into everyone else's business, which causes him to have difficulty making friends. He loves hamburgers and junk food, to the point of an obsession, and can even eat strange and inedible things due to inheriting England's sense of taste (or lack thereof).

America is also known for not being aware of how "the atmosphere" is when he is around others (which, at one point, he was told to read it), but it has been noted that it is not that he lacks the ability to "assess the situation", he simply chooses not to. His profile states that his hobbies are sports, games, and making movies, but he also enjoys watching movies specifically of the horror genre. On multiple occasions, he has forced Japan to watch movies that he calls "Too freaking scary!" because they are about ghosts and paranormal activity. Japan gives him zombie video games to come over his fear of ghosts. Furthermore, in the side-story Black Ships Have Come, in introducing himself to Japan, he states that his hobbies are "quick-draw, archaeology, and adventures" (which is translated to Japan as America's hobby being lechery).

He possesses an abnormal amount of strength, shown even as a child by easily swinging a full-grown buffalo around, and has been once seen running around dragging a heavy Rolls Royce that belong to England behind him for an hour in order to ask permission to borrow it. In the NotoSama 6 game, America was able to stop a car with the heel of his foot.

America is shown to be ignorant of the geography outside his own home, believing that maps of the United States constitute the "world map" and believes that he can simply get to other countries by car travel. He is shown becoming concerned about his weight in the strip Supersize You! and it is mentioned that he has invented strange diet machines as well as becoming obsessed with exercise which has caused him to become paranoid about his rising weight, as he is unaware of his building muscle. Aside from being afraid of ghosts, scary movies, and weighing scales, he also fears marmite. As America is obsessed with heroes and happy endings, he hopes that his future will be that way.

Though he is friends with a space alien named Tony, he does not believe in England's magical friends, fairies, or unicorns, except on Halloween.

Canada
Main Article: Canada

America's kind-hearted brother, who is frequently overshadowed by him and is constantly mistaken for him. While most other nations either ignore or don't notice Canada, America seems to have no trouble noticing Canada most of the time and is actually the one who spends the most time with Canada. The two have a typical sibling relationship, with America being the more dominate one and trying to get Canada to be tougher and Canada simply wanting to be recognized as himself.

England/UK/Britain
Main Article: England

America was adopted and cared for by Britian when he was young and the two view each other as brother's. When America was young, he greatly adored Britian and loved the Englishman's cooking. However, their relationship became heavily strained when America started to become more independant and no longer needed Britian's support. Over the years after the Revolution, they appear to have re-established their bond but both are still haunted by those events. They work well as part of ther Allied Forces but many, if not all, of America's suggestions are met with disapproval and heavy criticism from Britian.

While they often argue with one another, it is hinted they truly care about each other. America often teases Britian for acting like an "old man" and his love of tea, calling him "Limey" during arguements.

Japan
Main Article: Japan  America has been close friends with Japan since he got him to open his borders but appears unaware of how he made Japan feel during that time. They stayed friends as they would visit each others house often even as America struggled with Japan's culture, such as cute things being reported as news and the difference in size regarding food portions. America often tries to get Japan to loosen up but finds the task quite difficult since Japan is so set in his ways. Although he occasionally teases Japan, America is aware of some of concerns and fears, the biggest one being that Japan was worried about not being able to make friends with others when he opened the country. While they are different in many ways, they do share several interests.

Lithuania
Main Article: Lithuania

After falling into poverty due to WWI, Lithuania started to work for America as his housekeeper, finding himself a happy freedom in the process. When the Great Depression hit, Lithuania found himself having to return back home with Russia.

It seems like Lithuania actually cares for America since in Episode 29 he asks Russia about him, although a trembling Estonia interrupts to remind him that he cannot talk to Russia about America. He also was one of the people who went to America's birthday party.

In the Anime
America makes his first appearance at the beginning of Episode 01 where he announced his (albeit far-fetched) plan to stop global warming.

His childhood is spotlighted numerous times in the anime, including Episode 25, Episode 39, and Episode 40, which tells of how France and England battled each other over his ownership.

In a minor difference from the manga design, the "50" was left off of America's jacket in the anime adaptation.

Name
"Jones" is one of the most common surnames in the United States. His last name could also refer to the action movie hero Indiana Jones, as America once stated that one of his own hobbies is archaeology.

"Alfred F." is most probably an allusion to Alfred E. Neuman; the "F" in his middle name possibly inspired by John F. Kennedy, one of the most recognized presidents of the United States. It is also possible that his name is a reference to the USS Alfred, the first ship to fly the Grand Union Flag. The man who hoisted the flag was John Paul Jones. Another likely reference would be Alfred Hitchcock, who is famous for his suspense films, which would explain America's video game and movie preference.

According to an answer to a fan's question in one of Himaruya's blog post, the "F" in Alfred F. Jones was initially thought as "Foster" but after a while "Franklin" could also be a possibility, America's true middle name is still yet to be revealed.

Character Songs
Marukaite Chikyuu (America)

Hatafutte Parade (America)

Mawaru Chikyuu Rondo (America)

Hamburger Street

W・D・C ~World Dancing~

Cowboys Boot Camp Vol. 1

I Am Your Hero

Wa! Wa!! World Ondo (featured)

We Wish You A Merry Christmas (featured)

United Nations Star (featured)

Gallery
America Image Gallery

Trivia

 * His birthday corresponds with the Independence Day of July 4th, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was approved by the U.S. Continental Congress.


 * Although commonly referred to as America, some merchandise refers to him by the full term United States Of America, or simply U.S. for short.


 * In some fanart, he is often portrayed with a rabbit, as "U.S.A." can also be "usa", which means "bunny" in Japanese. The child version of America was also shown to have a bunny following him when he first met the older nations.Earlyamerica_vol3.jpg


 * According to Himaruya, America's personality was based off of his teacher's. The same teacher is said to have a strong disinterest in world geography. Meanwhile, America's appearance is based off of that of a Canadian that Himaruya met when he went to America.


 * Notes in the special edition booklet for Hetalia: Axis Powers volume 3 revealed that America was originally intended to be smarter and more cocky, but evolved into a louder, heroic-wannabe type of character. Himaruya noted that in retrospect, the original character personality would have been harder to use.


 * In a set of character notes, it is revealed that America has mingled a lot with Germanic blood, and that he was insecure for having no history of his own before England adopted him.


 * In England, Dreaming About The Past, it was revealed by a sleeping England that America used to wet his bed when he was younger.


 * It is a source of debate among fans as to whether it is America or Canada that is the older of the two brothers (with Hidekaz Himaruya having not confirmed a set age difference between the two). A common fanon assumption is that the two are twins, due to their similarities and the fact that Canada is easily mistaken for America (due to having the same face), though the two do not share the same day of birth. Supporters of the twin theory point out the nations' birthdays merely refer to their date of independence or unification, and that a "nation" may not have an official birthday in the same sense as humans.


 * The number "50" on his jacket, representing the 50 states, is historically incorrect. Hawaii became a state on August 21, 1959, and Alaska became a state on January 3, 1959, both after the end of World War II, the time in which the story primarily takes place. This is most likely the reason the "50" is not present in the anime adaption.