Avatar: The Last Airbender
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Lets say you want something that is fantasy, set in a large complex world that in no way rips off JRR Tolkien, is presented in visual form and is just well made all around. Well Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko had come to your aid with Avatar: The Last Airbender and its new followup The Legend of Korra. It is in no way related to James Cameron's similarly titled work (thank god).
Setting
You have a world modeled primarily off east Asian civilization, in which there are people able to manipulate the elements using martial arts moves (called bending). Benders are capable of bending either Earth, Air, Fire or Water, with the exception of the Avatar who can master all four and is re-incarnated every time he or she dies. There are, for the most part four civilizations...
- The Water Tribes: Eskimo like people who live in the North and South polar regions. The South Pole tribe consists of stereotypical Eskimos, whereas the ones living at the North Pole got bored of making simple igloos and carved their entire city out of ice. And then added canals to troll the physicists.There is also a swamp tribe that can manipulate the plants using the water inside them
- The Earth Kingdom: A large loose continental power ruled out of the massive fortified city of Ba Sing Se. Culturally diverse, but largely modeled on China and Korea.
- The Fire Nation: A technologically advanced state based off of a volcanic island chain with Imperialistic Ambitions (so, Japan). And by technologically advanced, we mean they have steampunk tanks, ships, a giant freaking drill and airships.
- The Air Nomads: A group of monastic people who lived in a series of temple cities, exterminated by the Fire Nation a century before the events of the series. Aang, the protagonist and avatar of Avatar: The Last Airbender was...we'll let you figure that out.
A war has been going on for about a hundred years, in which the Fire Nation has been taking over the world during which time Aang was sealed away in ice. By chance he gets thawed out by two young members of the southern water tribe and goes on a quest to master Water, Earth and Fire.
Cast
- Aang: Protagonist de jour. Mostly optimistic (when he's not panicking) and the nimblest motherfucker you'll ever meet. Favorite mode of transport: flying bison. Known to go godmode when shit hits the fan.
- Katara: Feminist motherly waterbending love interest. Occasionally kicks ass. WARNING: FRIENDSHIP SPEECHES AHEAD.
- Sokka: Katara's bigger brother, the smart logical one in a world of magic Kung Fu and Spirits that get pissed off if you over log an area. The non bender of the group and has to think his way to victory. Man's man, lady's man, master swordsman, brilliant scientist, leader of men, and a genius in the use of comedy in all its shapes and forms, from the one-liner to the pratfall. We all wish we were Sokka.
- Toph Bei Fong: A blind twelve year old girl introduced in Season 2. Also a massive badass and the best Earthbender in existence.
- Zuko: Exiled firebender prince. Originally a whiny bitch attempting to hunt the avatar, but undergoes *gasp* CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT [/gasp] and transitions to antihero and then companion.
- Iroh: Zuko's uncle. Basically what would happen if one of the dirtier-minded Buddhas could shoot lightning, breathe fire, and drink enough tea to cause a younger man's heart explode.
Legend of Korra
Long story short, Aang and his Gaang manage to bring an end to the war and its seventy years latter. After they won, the colonies that the Fire Nation set up in the Earth Kingdom get put together into a new multicultural state called the United Republic, ruled from Republic City. In the following years, things have progressed to a level of development about that of the 1920s with radios, film and mass produced automobiles. The New Avatar comes in, a young lady named (as the title would lead you to believe) Korra. And she spends her days getting her ass kicked by Eliphas the Inheritor's bastard son. Just another indicator of how awesome Eliphas is.
Cast
- Amon: Eliphas the Inheritor's bastard son and a hero of the common man and working class who strives to end the oppression of foul bending class and bring about true equality and a golden age of happiness.
- Korra: The title character, and a brash tomboy and athlete who lacks spiritual aptitude (which means she punches people instead of meditating and talking things through like some kind of hippy). Gets her ass kicked a lot despite already mastering three of the four elements. The team's Avatar.
- Mako: Writers said he's "Zuko without the angst" however they forgot Zuko had other traits and so is just some generic dude Korra wants to make out with, and kind of a creepy asshole. His primary characteristic is a scarf. Team's Firebender.
- Bolin: Mako's younger brother unlike Mako, Bolin is an earthbender and has character traits. He's the team's "funny guy."
- Asami Sato: Daughter of this world's inventor of the automobile and easily the most rounded and best member of Team Avatar (unless you're a Mako/Korra shipper, in which case she's an evil rich slut and totally going to be a traitor, you guys). The token normal, and oddly enough the only good guy to never lost a fight (namely because she bring a taser to a kung fu fight).
- Naga: Korra's pet Polar Bear-Dog.