Feb 22, 2010 | by: Ahmei Vang | See more from Movies...
One hundred years before the start of this epic tale a 12-year-old Airbender named Aang learns he is the new Avatar. Unforeseen circumstances cause Aang to disappear for 100 years. During this time the Fire nation launches a genocidal campaign to rid the world of every last Airbender and plots for world domination.
The animated series aired for 3 seasons on Nickelodeon and the Nicktoons Network. It was popular with both audiences and critics. It gained fans far beyond its 6-11 year old demographic.
The world of Avatar is one of the most richly detailed settings I have seen in a children’s animation series. For example the arrows on Aang’s skin. They are traditional Air monk tattoos and they are identical to the markings on the sky bison, a species of quiet enormous animals, who air bend in order to fly. Legend states that Sky bison taught the Air nomads how to bend at the beginning of civilization. Also, when Aang sits to meditate all of his arrows point inward towards his stomach/his center, which is believed to be the physical source of one’s qi.
On the surface it looked like another American attempt to create an anime show. Many anime fans were skeptical at first but soon discovered the gem and helped to grow the shows fan base by leaps and bounds causing Nickelodeon to quickly add a second and third season onto its roster after initially just signing on for one.
The show is set in an Asian influenced world of martial arts and elemental manipulation. When the live action movie was first announced with its possible cast there was much outrage in the inter-webs. The Media Action Network for Asian Americans even posted a letter to Paramount expressing their unhappiness with the producers for their lack of endeavoring to find Asian actors to fill the roles. You can read their letter here: http://www.manaa.org/lastairbender.html .
I for one am just happy that someone is going to attempt to bring this wonderful trilogy to life. At first I was a little disappointed that Paramount didn’t select more Asian actors but it will not detour me from seeing this film. I am not at all apprehensive about M. Knight Shyamalan directing either. I think that M. Knight is a very talented director and screenwriter. He has a magic touch for creating worlds that have an essence of magic and intrigue. He has always used strong casts, his cinematography is always vivid, dialogs always poignant and his ideas, in my mind, always well-executed.
The trailers have been wonderful and the film does look quite beautiful. I am anxious and excited for this film and I know that regardless of what other fans say they too are looking forward to this adaptation.
The animated series aired for 3 seasons on Nickelodeon and the Nicktoons Network. It was popular with both audiences and critics. It gained fans far beyond its 6-11 year old demographic.
The world of Avatar is one of the most richly detailed settings I have seen in a children’s animation series. For example the arrows on Aang’s skin. They are traditional Air monk tattoos and they are identical to the markings on the sky bison, a species of quiet enormous animals, who air bend in order to fly. Legend states that Sky bison taught the Air nomads how to bend at the beginning of civilization. Also, when Aang sits to meditate all of his arrows point inward towards his stomach/his center, which is believed to be the physical source of one’s qi.
On the surface it looked like another American attempt to create an anime show. Many anime fans were skeptical at first but soon discovered the gem and helped to grow the shows fan base by leaps and bounds causing Nickelodeon to quickly add a second and third season onto its roster after initially just signing on for one.
The show is set in an Asian influenced world of martial arts and elemental manipulation. When the live action movie was first announced with its possible cast there was much outrage in the inter-webs. The Media Action Network for Asian Americans even posted a letter to Paramount expressing their unhappiness with the producers for their lack of endeavoring to find Asian actors to fill the roles. You can read their letter here: http://www.manaa.org/lastairbender.html .
I for one am just happy that someone is going to attempt to bring this wonderful trilogy to life. At first I was a little disappointed that Paramount didn’t select more Asian actors but it will not detour me from seeing this film. I am not at all apprehensive about M. Knight Shyamalan directing either. I think that M. Knight is a very talented director and screenwriter. He has a magic touch for creating worlds that have an essence of magic and intrigue. He has always used strong casts, his cinematography is always vivid, dialogs always poignant and his ideas, in my mind, always well-executed.
The trailers have been wonderful and the film does look quite beautiful. I am anxious and excited for this film and I know that regardless of what other fans say they too are looking forward to this adaptation.
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