Avatar: The Last Airbender / The Legend of Korra

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The latest Korra video from E;R came out over the weekend. This time covering how badly Korra ruined the concept of bending.

At least how I remember Korra it also did away with the martial arts in bending and it was very super power-esque.

In general, the more I think of the Avatar franchise in retrospect the shallower it gets. A lot of the Asian influences are as oriental as a California Roll - Just theme park level Asian influences to appear deep without real respect and depth about history, tradition and depth. You don't need the comics afterwards, it was always made to appeal to western audience.

Compare with media like Golden Kamuy that gives the viewer a in depth look into Ainu culture which includes the silly, scary and morally objectionable. Heck, even Harry Potter had better world building with bureaucracy and day to day.

 

[Prophetic Spirit]

At least how I remember Korra it also did away with the martial arts in bending and it was very super power-esque.

Not even middle-ground. Nah, just like any capeshit thing.
And now, what i mean about "middle-ground"?
Just any pre-Yakuza: Like a Dragon game from that franchise: flashy, quickly and pretty awesome in gameplay. I think visually can be astoundish in right hands.
In other words, just take a aggresive way with ATLA's base and put some modern philosophy as a excuse in TLOK.

 

[LordofCringe7206 Vol. 2]

In general, the more I think of the Avatar franchise in retrospect the shallower it gets. A lot of the Asian influences are as oriental as a California Roll - Just theme park level Asian influences to appear deep without real respect and depth about history, tradition and depth. You don't need the comics afterwards, it was always made to appeal to western audience.

For Korra it was. I would give the first series a little bit more credit. You would be shocked at what references you find in that show to pieces of Eastern philosophy, history and mythology. The martial arts aspect and aesthetic options were also heavily studied.

Was it on the level that Lord of the Rings is to Medieval Europe? No. But for a children's cartoon they definitely put in a lot of research and effort than most other programs would.

 

[madethistocomment]

For Korra it was. I would give the first series a little bit more credit. You would be shocked at what references you find in that show to pieces of Eastern philosophy, history and mythology. The martial arts aspect and aesthetic options were also heavily studied.

Was it on the level that Lord of the Rings is to Medieval Europe? No. But for a children's cartoon they definitely put in a lot of research and effort than most other programs would.

There's a neat blog on tumblr (I know, I know, but stay with me) called ATLAculture that goes over the different cultural inspirations of the original series. It's actually a really cool blog, and it showcases that pretty much every single aspect of the show takes some level of inspiration from real-world Asian or subarctic cultures. This ranges from big stuff like the designs of the Lion Turtles, the philosophies of the different factions and characters, and the general mythology of the world, to really small stuff like the different dishes seen in background shots, the architecture of towns we'll only see once, the Fire Nation royal crowns, or even the Cabbage Guy's hat.

Korra is deserving of the title of "Asian as a California Roll" since it stripped pretty much everything genuinely Asian from the series minus the basic aesthetics. However, the original series was Asian to its core. It's damn near overflowing with details and concepts that go over Western heads, but really stand out to people actually from those cultures. I think they deserve credit for that.

 

[Rome's rightful successor]

He was discount Soka without Soka's different character layers. But to be fair it's been like a decade since I watch Korra so I don't remember all of the details about Bolin.
Maybe I should watch it again.

Admit it @verissimus, @Rome's rightful successor, @Chilson, @Acrid Alchemist Bolin made the show

Ok having starting to rewatched that show again to see if it was like I remembered it be, Bolin and Tenzin so far are the best parts of the show.

 

[Kabobs]

Ok having starting to rewatched that show again to see if it was like I remembered it be, Bolin and Tenzin so far are the best parts of the show.

That's still barely saying much at all since the characters are mostly bland. They are more tolerable than Korra herself though.

 

[Thiletonomics]

Admit it @verissimus, @Rome's rightful successor, @Chilson, @Acrid Alchemist Bolin made the show

Ok having starting to rewatched that show again to see if it was like I remembered it be, Bolin and Tenzin so far are the best parts of the show.

The fact that Bolin's voice actor was also in Final Destination 5, makes me have a bit of a soft spot for Bolin as well.

 

[Chilson]

At least how I remember Korra it also did away with the martial arts in bending and it was very super power-esque.

In general, the more I think of the Avatar franchise in retrospect the shallower it gets. A lot of the Asian influences are as oriental as a California Roll - Just theme park level Asian influences to appear deep without real respect and depth about history, tradition and depth. You don't need the comics afterwards, it was always made to appeal to western audience.

Compare with media like Golden Kamuy that gives the viewer a in depth look into Ainu culture which includes the silly, scary and morally objectionable. Heck, even Harry Potter had better world building with bureaucracy and day to day.

You can say all you want about Korra, but the original ATLA was very dedicated to being authentic and digging deep into Asian cultures. I still remember the commercials for ATLA where some martial artist told and showed the audience where the bending styles took real world influences from Asian martial arts.

Along with all the other stuff everyone else has pointed out.

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

For Korra it was. I would give the first series a little bit more credit. You would be shocked at what references you find in that show to pieces of Eastern philosophy, history and mythology. The martial arts aspect and aesthetic options were also heavily studied.

I don't remember a lot of depth besides episodes referencing mythology and folk lore.
The Air Nomads were modern day hippy pacifists, the water tribe was chauvinistic until you proved yourself (not really making a lot of sense when fighting a numerically superior enemy, the Earth Nation was post communism China (ironically Korra had it more ancient without the 1984 bits) and Fore Nation was WW2 Japan.

 

[Prophetic Spirit]

I don't remember a lot of depth besides episodes referencing mythology and folk lore.
The Air Nomads were modern day hippy pacifists, the water tribe was chauvinistic until you proved yourself (not really making a lot of sense when fighting a numerically superior enemy, the Earth Nation was post communism China (ironically Korra had it more ancient without the 1984 bits) and Fore Nation was WW2 Japan.

Earth Kingdom was until S3, with the queen's death in the hands of the red lotus.
Earth "Republic" (just a fine name) was basically Cambodian's dictatorship in S4.
Best girl Kuvira

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

Earth Kingdom was until S3, with the queen's death in the hands of the red lotus.
Earth "Republic" (just a fine name) was basically Cambodian's dictatorship in S4.
Best girl Kuvira

Her turning out as evil made me drop the series after enduring all that bullshit until then since. There could have been some message on how sometimes you need strong authority for a short while to restore order, but no, muh fascism. It doesn't help Korra pretty much magically recovers from being a cripple.

 

[Prophetic Spirit]

Her turning out as evil made me drop the series after enduring all that bullshit until then since. There could have been some message on how sometimes you need strong authority for a short while to restore order, but no, muh fascism. It doesn't help Korra pretty much magically recovers from being a cripple.

Yeah, the ending is pure crap.
Literally the writers turned Kuvira from a pretty idealistic and authoritarian leader from a "OH NO, WHAT I DONE ALL THIS TIME? MOMMY CAN'T BE SO PROUD OF ME" bullshit.
I mean, i know Kuvira is literally Bryke's take from Azula... an actual antagonist.

 

[TVB]

Yeah, the ending is pure crap.
Literally the writers turned Kuvira from a pretty idealistic and authoritarian leader from a "OH NO, WHAT I DONE ALL THIS TIME? MOMMY CAN'T BE SO PROUD OF ME" bullshit.
I mean, i know Kuvira is literally Bryke's take from Azula... an actual antagonist.

It's complete rushed crap

 

[LordofCringe7206 Vol. 2]

It looks like we have our first look at the upcoming movie. This was taken from some Paramount meeting.


They officially made the announcement yesterday via Instagram announcing both the movie and the release date. Verifying that the above image is likely true.

 

[starborn427614]

It looks like we have our first look at the upcoming movie. This was taken from some Paramount meeting.
View attachment 5096713

They officially made the announcement yesterday via Instagram announcing both the movie and the release date. Verifying that the above image is likely true.
View attachment 5096704

Guess it makes sense to lead with the OG's before branching out.

 

[Cisna H. Scumale]

It looks like we have our first look at the upcoming movie. This was taken from some Paramount meeting.
View attachment 5096713

They officially made the announcement yesterday via Instagram announcing both the movie and the release date. Verifying that the above image is likely true.
View attachment 5096704

Geez, announcing this 2 and a half years till release (assuming it will come out without delays)? Clearly cashing in on Avatards giving constant word of mouth and freaking out about every little peek of this movie.

 

[Ughubughughughughughghlug]

Air Nomads are Tibetan monks
Water Nomads are Eskimos
Earth Kingdom are Chinese Empire
Fire Nation are Showa Japanese
Sandbenders are Turkic Central Asian desert dwellers
Whatever the dragon people from that one episode were was Mesoamericans

 

[DeadwastePrime]

Air Nomads are Tibetan monks
Water Nomads are Eskimos
Earth Kingdom are Chinese Empire
Fire Nation are Showa Japanese
Sandbenders are Turkic Central Asian desert dwellers
Whatever the dragon people from that one episode were was Mesoamericans

i mean technically its more complicated than that since theyre all a mish mash of existing cultures rather than just one sole basis

 

[cactus]

It looks like we have our first look at the upcoming movie. This was taken from some Paramount meeting.
View attachment 5096713

They officially made the announcement yesterday via Instagram announcing both the movie and the release date. Verifying that the above image is likely true.
View attachment 5096704

Is Aaron Ehasz involved? If not, I'm concerned.

 

[TVB]

It looks like we have our first look at the upcoming movie. This was taken from some Paramount meeting.
View attachment 5096713

They officially made the announcement yesterday via Instagram announcing both the movie and the release date. Verifying that the above image is likely true.
View attachment 5096704

Idirs Elba or Chris Pratt as Aang