/Trailer below!/ In the spring of 2001 Bryan Konietzko took an old sketch of a balding middle-aged man and re-imagined him as a child. Then he drew this figure in the sky with a flying bison and showed the drawing to Michael Dante DiMartino who at that time was studying a documentary about explorers trapped in ice deserts of the South Pole. With such modest beginning came to life extremely popular and brilliant award-winning animated series "Avatar: The Last Airbeneder" (a.k.a "Avatar: The Legend Of Aang"). I had never thought the production aimed at 6-11 years old audience will be interesting to the point I will be willing to watch all three "Books" (Water, Earth, Fire) consisting of 61 episodes altogether (25 minutes long each). Which, I have to admit I did. However, I consider “Avatar: The Last Airbender” as a one of the best titles in its genre with audience not necessary limited to children.
12-years old boy Aang wakes up from a century-long hibernation. His task will be to defeat the mighty Fire Lord Ozai and save the world. For this purpose he must learn specific “bending” powers of the four elements: Air, Water, Earth and Fire; which also constitute the separate styles of martial arts. Aang also must face guilt and loss. He has to control his emotions, accept responsibility, grow and learn new skills, etc. - which is difficult since he is just a fun-loving, 12 years old …monk. As a small child he had chosen the toys belonging to previously living avatars. Thanks to that fact monks were able to recognize him as a new avatar – a new incarnation, a new manifestation spirit of the planet. Avatar’s task is to maintain a delicate balance in the universe between the four elements and respectively between their four nations. These four nations are: Air Nomads (Aang belongs to this nation), Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation. Due to tense geopolitical situation monks who were raising Aang decided to drastically reduce his childhood, and hasten his training which indirectly and accidentally resulted in Aang being trapped in the ice with his flying bison Appa. After hundred years of time Aang has been found by Katara and Sokka - siblings from the Southern Water tribe from whom he learnt that during his absence Fire Nation had started war in which Air Nomads were destroyed (except Aang) while other nations were closed to being completely defeated and conquered.
I assume after reading the above short introduction every enthusiast of the Far East culture would have been pricking up his or her ears at least a few times. Because the action of "Avatar" is set in a brilliantly created fantasy world saturated in rich Far East culture and history. It is easy to notice various elements of Indian, Chinese, Tibetan, Japanese and Eskimo (Inuit), etc. cultures. It includes spirituality, philosophy, history, arts – everything. So we have references to the history of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhist traditions including the search of tulku. Have you ever seen animation for children about chakras? Here you have a one. The whole episode is devoted to chakras meditation with detailed explanation where chakras are located and how they work. There is yoga, chi energy, Taoism, shamanism (and the shaman's spiritual journey to the spirit world), Chinese calligraphy, eating with chopsticks, brewing green tea, temples, Lotus Secret Society, Chinese Wall, Forbidden City and so on. The previously mentioned styles of fighting are actually the authentic styles of Chinese kung fu (wushu to be correct): Ba Gua for airbending (Air), Tai Chi for Waterbending (Water), Hung Gar for earthbending (Earth) including Chu Gar (Southern Style Praying Mantis) exclusively for Toph, and Bei Shaolin (Northern Shaolin) for firebending (Fire).
In addition to this fascinating cultural spectrum, we have a whole gallery of excellently designed and created heroes. Besides of Aang we have (among others): practically orphaned siblings Katara and Sokka who are accompanying Aang from the very beginning of his journey, blind earthbender Toph raised as the only child of wealthy and overprotective parents, Prince Zuko who wants to capture Avatar to please his father who rejected him. Deep and compelling characters contribute to interesting interactions and vivid action. It is also impossible not to notice the elements of western psychology and therapeutics.
The show is in all its aspects simply great and if you are interested how Far East themes are present in modern pop-culture, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is a must see. By the way, I remember watching on YouTube the reaction of the audience during preview of Avatar’s season three in the theatre. People just freaked out and I was even able to hear shouting adults. Which explains why upcoming on July 2010 live-action film “The last Airbender” is so much anticipated. It may be not as good as the original, I'm afraid, but we will see.
© copyrights MG
PS: Here is the final trailer and creators: Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino. Notice the reaction from the audience! VIDEO
12-years old boy Aang wakes up from a century-long hibernation. His task will be to defeat the mighty Fire Lord Ozai and save the world. For this purpose he must learn specific “bending” powers of the four elements: Air, Water, Earth and Fire; which also constitute the separate styles of martial arts. Aang also must face guilt and loss. He has to control his emotions, accept responsibility, grow and learn new skills, etc. - which is difficult since he is just a fun-loving, 12 years old …monk. As a small child he had chosen the toys belonging to previously living avatars. Thanks to that fact monks were able to recognize him as a new avatar – a new incarnation, a new manifestation spirit of the planet. Avatar’s task is to maintain a delicate balance in the universe between the four elements and respectively between their four nations. These four nations are: Air Nomads (Aang belongs to this nation), Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation. Due to tense geopolitical situation monks who were raising Aang decided to drastically reduce his childhood, and hasten his training which indirectly and accidentally resulted in Aang being trapped in the ice with his flying bison Appa. After hundred years of time Aang has been found by Katara and Sokka - siblings from the Southern Water tribe from whom he learnt that during his absence Fire Nation had started war in which Air Nomads were destroyed (except Aang) while other nations were closed to being completely defeated and conquered.
I assume after reading the above short introduction every enthusiast of the Far East culture would have been pricking up his or her ears at least a few times. Because the action of "Avatar" is set in a brilliantly created fantasy world saturated in rich Far East culture and history. It is easy to notice various elements of Indian, Chinese, Tibetan, Japanese and Eskimo (Inuit), etc. cultures. It includes spirituality, philosophy, history, arts – everything. So we have references to the history of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhist traditions including the search of tulku. Have you ever seen animation for children about chakras? Here you have a one. The whole episode is devoted to chakras meditation with detailed explanation where chakras are located and how they work. There is yoga, chi energy, Taoism, shamanism (and the shaman's spiritual journey to the spirit world), Chinese calligraphy, eating with chopsticks, brewing green tea, temples, Lotus Secret Society, Chinese Wall, Forbidden City and so on. The previously mentioned styles of fighting are actually the authentic styles of Chinese kung fu (wushu to be correct): Ba Gua for airbending (Air), Tai Chi for Waterbending (Water), Hung Gar for earthbending (Earth) including Chu Gar (Southern Style Praying Mantis) exclusively for Toph, and Bei Shaolin (Northern Shaolin) for firebending (Fire).
In addition to this fascinating cultural spectrum, we have a whole gallery of excellently designed and created heroes. Besides of Aang we have (among others): practically orphaned siblings Katara and Sokka who are accompanying Aang from the very beginning of his journey, blind earthbender Toph raised as the only child of wealthy and overprotective parents, Prince Zuko who wants to capture Avatar to please his father who rejected him. Deep and compelling characters contribute to interesting interactions and vivid action. It is also impossible not to notice the elements of western psychology and therapeutics.
The show is in all its aspects simply great and if you are interested how Far East themes are present in modern pop-culture, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is a must see. By the way, I remember watching on YouTube the reaction of the audience during preview of Avatar’s season three in the theatre. People just freaked out and I was even able to hear shouting adults. Which explains why upcoming on July 2010 live-action film “The last Airbender” is so much anticipated. It may be not as good as the original, I'm afraid, but we will see.
© copyrights MG
PS: Here is the final trailer and creators: Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino. Notice the reaction from the audience! VIDEO
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