Avatar: The Last Airbender - Vev

Avatar: The Last Airbender

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Modèle:Infobox Television</ref>//www.avatarspirit.com/index.php#493 | title= Season 3 To Have 21 Episodes | accessdate = 2007-11-30 | publisher = AvatarSpirt.net |date=2007-11-21}}</ref> www.nick.com/shows/avatar/index.jhtml//www.nick.com/shows/avatar/index.jhtml | imdb_id = 0417299 | tv_com_id = 28841 }}

Image:Zhongwen.svg This article contains Chinese text.
Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (also known as Avatar: The Legend of Aang in several countries) is an award-winning American animated television series that currently airs on the Nickelodeon television network.

Set in an Asian-influenced world of martial arts and elemental manipulation, the series follows the adventures of the latest of a long line of Avatars, Aang, and his friends in a quest to save the world from the ruthless Fire Nation. The series is shown as a book series, with each episode serving as a "chapter" and each individual season as a "book."

www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=bit022607.htm | title= BitTorrent Launches Download Platform | accessdate = 2007-03-19 | publisher = worldscreen |date=2007-02-26}}</ref> Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are the creators and executive producers of the series. The show receives high ratings in the Nicktoons lineup, even outside its intended 6-to-11-year-old demographic. Avatar: The Last Airbender is popular with both audiences and critics,<ref> Fitzgerald , Tony



     (2005-06-10)
   
.    Aang the Avatar, our kids' newest hero 
. TV.com Tracking
. Media Life 
   

. Retrieved on 2006-12-10. </ref> garnering 4.4 million viewers on its best-rated showing.<ref>Modèle:Cite journal</ref>//www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=bit022607.htm | title= BitTorrent Launches Download Platform | accessdate = 2007-03-19 | publisher = worldscreen |date=2007-02-26}}</ref> Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are the creators and executive producers of the series. The show receives high ratings in the Nicktoons lineup, even outside its intended 6-to-11-year-old demographic. Avatar: The Last Airbender is popular with both audiences and critics,<ref> Fitzgerald , Tony



     (2005-06-10)
   
.    Aang the Avatar, our kids' newest hero 
. TV.com Tracking
. Media Life 
   

. Retrieved on 2006-12-10. </ref> garnering 4.4 million viewers on its best-rated showing.<ref>Modèle:Cite journal</ref>

www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-24-2006/0004266998&EDATE= | title = Article on Launch of Avatar Card Game | accessdate = 2006-12-03 | author = Carlsbad |date=2006-01-24 | publisher = PR Newswire}}</ref> and third<ref name="as_S3airdate"> Season 3 to Premiere at 8 PM EST on September 21st!

 (2007-07-27)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-07-27. </ref> seasons. Merchandise based on the series includes nine DVD sets of episodes, six-inch (15.34 cm) scale action figures, a trading card game, two video games based on the first and second seasons, stuffed animals distributed by Paramount Parks, and two Lego sets.<ref> Jim Cordeira



     (2006-08-21)
   
.    THQ Announces Games Convention 
. Gaming Age 
   

. Retrieved on 2006-12-03. </ref>//www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-24-2006/0004266998&EDATE= | title = Article on Launch of Avatar Card Game | accessdate = 2006-12-03 | author = Carlsbad |date=2006-01-24 | publisher = PR Newswire}}</ref> and third<ref name="as_S3airdate"> Season 3 to Premiere at 8 PM EST on September 21st!

 (2007-07-27)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-07-27. </ref> seasons. Merchandise based on the series includes nine DVD sets of episodes, six-inch (15.34 cm) scale action figures, a trading card game, two video games based on the first and second seasons, stuffed animals distributed by Paramount Parks, and two Lego sets.<ref> Jim Cordeira



     (2006-08-21)
   
.    THQ Announces Games Convention 
. Gaming Age 
   

. Retrieved on 2006-12-03. </ref>

The Chinese characters 降卋(世)神通 (pinyin:Jiàngshì Shéntōng) appear with the English logo. They translate to "The divine medium who has descended upon the mortal world."

Sommaire

Background

select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30912F93F550C718DDDAB0994DE404482 | title = SpongeBob SquareProfits: Nickelodeon Swears By Cartoons | accessdate = 2006-12-31 |date=2006-12-12 | author = Edward Wyatt | publisher = NY Times}}</ref>//select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30912F93F550C718DDDAB0994DE404482 | title = SpongeBob SquareProfits: Nickelodeon Swears By Cartoons | accessdate = 2006-12-31 |date=2006-12-12 | author = Edward Wyatt | publisher = NY Times}}</ref> www.musogato.com/avatar/magazine/avatarmag1_scan08.jpg "In Their Elements." (September 2006) Nick Mag Presents, p. 6]</ref></blockquote> The co-creators proceeded to successfully pitch the idea to Nickelodeon VP and executive producer Eric Coleman just two weeks later.<ref>It's Elementary -- Avatar: The Last Airbender</ref>//www.musogato.com/avatar/magazine/avatarmag1_scan08.jpg "In Their Elements." (September 2006) Nick Mag Presents, p. 6]</ref></blockquote> The co-creators proceeded to successfully pitch the idea to Nickelodeon VP and executive producer Eric Coleman just two weeks later.<ref>It's Elementary -- Avatar: The Last Airbender</ref>

avatarspirit.net/index.php#493 Season 3 To Have 21 Episodes]</ref>//avatarspirit.net/index.php#493 Season 3 To Have 21 Episodes]</ref>

Premise

Image:Avatar world map.jpg
A very cool map of the four nations. The characters at the top, 群雄四分, mean "the heroes divide [the world or the country or the land] in four." The characters of the four lands are 水善 (Water Peaceful), 土强 (Earth Strong), 火烈 (Fire Fierce), and 气和 (Air Harmony). The phrase at the bottom, 天下一匡, reads "correct all things under heaven." The "correct things" phrase, with roots of the Confucian analect phrase 一匡天下, refers to reunification.

//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Avatar_world_map.jpg for rationale --> www.nick.com/all_nick/tv_supersites/avatar2/ | title = Nickelodeon's Official Avatar: The Last Airbender Flash Site | accessdate = 2006-12-02 | publisher = Nick.com}}</ref>//www.nick.com/all_nick/tv_supersites/avatar2/ | title = Nickelodeon's Official Avatar: The Last Airbender Flash Site | accessdate = 2006-12-02 | publisher = Nick.com}}</ref>

In each generation, one person is capable of Bending all four elements; this is the Avatar, the spirit of the planet manifested in human form. When the Avatar dies, he or she is reincarnated into a baby native in the next of the four nations in the Avatar Cycle, which parallels the seasons: winter for water, spring for earth, summer for fire, and autumn for air.<ref name="Southern"/> While legend holds that the Avatar must master the elements in order, starting with their native element, this can sometimes be compromised when the situation requires it. Learning to bend the element opposite one's native element is extremely difficult because opposing Bending arts are based on opposing fighting styles and doctrines. Firebending and Waterbending are opposites, as are Earthbending and Airbending. <ref name="LearnEarthbending"> "Bitter Work".

       Avatar: The Last Airbender.
    Nickelodeon .
 
  2006-06-02.
 
 No. 9, season 2 (Book 2).
 </ref>.

The Avatar possesses a unique power that resides within him or her, called the Avatar State. It is a defense mechanism that empowers the Avatar with the skills and knowledge of all the past Avatars. When the state is reached, the current Avatar will be able to wield the combined power of all past lives. When the Avatar enters this state, his or her eyes and mouth, and tattoos in the case of an Airbender, begin to glow. The glow is the representation of all the Avatar's previous incarnations focusing their energy through his or her body. However, if the Avatar is killed in the Avatar State, then the reincarnation cycle will be broken, and the Avatar will cease to exist.<ref name="AvatarState"> "The Avatar State".

       Avatar: The Last Airbender.
    Nickelodeon .
 
  2006-03-17.
 
 No. 21, season 2 (Book 2).
 </ref>

Through the ages, countless incarnations of the Avatar have served to keep the four nations in harmony and maintain world order.<ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml"/> The Avatar also serves as the bridge between the physical world and the Spirit World, home of the world's disembodied spirits.<ref name="SpiritWorld"> "The Spirit World".

       Avatar: The Last Airbender.
    Nickelodeon .
 
  2005-04-08.
 
 No. 7, season 1 (Book 1).
 </ref>

Plot synopsis

A century prior to the series' opening, Aang, a 12-year-old Airbender of the Air Nomads' Southern Air Temple, learned from the elder monks that he was the Avatar. Usually, the Avatar is told of his or her true identity after turning sixteen; however, the monks feared that a war between the four nations was on the horizon and that soon the Avatar would be required to maintain balance and order in the world. Shortly thereafter, the monks decreed that Aang would be separated from his guardian, Monk Gyatso, and sent to the Eastern Air Temple to complete his training.

Confused, frightened, and overwhelmed by these recent events and his new responsibilities as the Avatar, Aang fled from his home on his flying bison, Appa. While traveling over frigid southern ocean waters, a sudden storm caused Appa to plunge deep into the sea. Aang unconsciously entered the Avatar State, and used a combination of Airbending and Waterbending to protect Appa and himself. By creating an air bubble around them and then freezing it, Aang was able to ensure that he and Appa could breathe and be protected from the storm until it dissipated. However, the storm transferred the bubble very near the south pole and it could not thaw, forcing the two of them into a state of suspended animation.<ref name="Southern"> "The Southern Air Temple".

       Avatar: The Last Airbender.
    Nickelodeon .
 
  2005-02-25.
 
 No. 3, season 1 (Book 1).
 </ref>

The series opens one hundred years later, with the Fire Nation on the brink of victory in its imperialist war. All of the Air Nomads are believed to have been destroyed. The Water Tribes are in crisis — the Southern Water Tribe's warriors have left to wage war, leaving their home defenseless, while the Northern Water Tribe, though largely intact, is continually on the defensive.<ref> "The Boy in the Iceberg".

       Avatar: The Last Airbender.
    Nickelodeon .
 
  2005-02-21.
 
 No. 1, season 1 (Book 1).
 </ref> The vast Earth Kingdom is now the only true barrier to the Fire Nation's conquest, but as the Fire Nation continues to encroach on its borders and conquer its territories, hopes of victory grow bleaker with each passing year.

Two teenage siblings from the Southern Water Tribe — Katara, an inexperienced Waterbender, and her brother, Sokka, a warrior and caretaker of the tribe — discover and free Aang and Appa from the iceberg. Aang soon discovers to his horror that, during his absence, a century-long war has been waged. The very year he vanished, Fire Lord Sozin took advantage of both the Avatar's absence and the Firebending-enhancing powers of a passing comet (later renamed "Sozin's Comet," in his honor) to launch a war on the other nations.<ref name="Roku"> "Avatar Roku".

       Avatar: The Last Airbender.
    Nickelodeon .
 
  2005-04-15.
 
 No. 8, season 1 (Book 1).
 </ref> To Aang's shock and disbelief, the Fire Nation's opening gambit had been a genocidal assault on the Air Nomads. The Air Temples were stormed and the Airbenders slaughtered in the Fire Nation's effort to break the Avatar Cycle, leaving Aang as the last known Airbender in existence.<ref name="Southern"/>

As the Avatar, Aang's duty is to restore harmony and peace to the four nations. Along with his newly discovered friends Katara and Sokka, his flying bison Appa and his winged lemur Momo, and later the blind Earthbender Toph, Aang travels the world to master all four elements. During his quest, he must constantly avoid being captured by the banished Prince Zuko (who later joins the Avatar) and, later, Zuko's cleverly deceptive and fiery sister, Princess Azula.

Although normally years of disciplined training are required to master a single Bending art, Aang must be a master of all four and defeat Fire Lord Ozai by summer's end, when the return of Sozin's Comet will give the Firebenders the power to win the war. If these events come to pass, not even the Avatar will possess the ability to restore balance to the world.<ref name="Roku"/>

Characters

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Main Characters

Aang (Mitchel Musso in the unaired pilot, Zach Tyler Eisen onwards) is the fun-loving, 12-year-old (chronologically 112-years-old) protagonist of the series. He is the current incarnation of the Avatar, the avatar of the planet manifested in human form. As the Avatar, Aang must master all four elements to bring peace to the world and balance between the four Nations.<ref name="TheAvatarReturns"> "The Avatar Returns".
       Avatar: The Last Airbender.
    Nickelodeon .
 
  2005-02-21.
 
 No. 2, season 1 (Book 1).
 </ref> Every way the reluctant hero, Aang openly expresses that he would rather be searching for fun adventure and making new friends than being charged with saving the world. Compounded with his energetic nature and childish naïvete, at times Aang can be somewhat oblivious of the world around him and others' true feelings, as he is often too preoccupied with the events immediately surrounding him to notice what occurs on a more in-depth level. However, over the course of the series, Aang matures drastically as his experiences cause him to fully realize the state of the world and gradually shape him into being physically and mentally suited for the task set before him.
Katara (Mae Whitman) is 14 years old, and one of the remaining Waterbenders of the Southern Water Tribe. Katara, along with her brother, Sokka, discovers Aang at the beginning of the series. She and Sokka accompany him on his quest to defeat the Fire Lord and bring peace to the war-torn nations. Katara is mature, loving, and responsible. Always looking out for the well-being of others, after the passing of their mother at the hands of the Fire Nation, Katara took on a bossy role over Sokka, a nature that she later took to in relation to Aang and Toph. She is an apt leader when the situation calls for one.<ref name="TheDesert"> "The Desert".
       Avatar: The Last Airbender.
    Nickelodeon .
 
  2006-07-14.
 
 No. 11, season 2 (Book 2).
 </ref> However, she can be extremely nasty at times, and believes without exception that her way is the right way, never relenting on her views even when they are disproved.<ref name="TheChase">  "The Chase".
       Avatar: The Last Airbender.
    Nickelodeon .
 
  2006-06-02.
 
 No. 9, season 2 (Book 2).
 </ref> Despite Katara's kind nature, she has a temper which, when combined with her impressive waterbending skills and idealistic views, can be quite destructive. She is the only one who shows hatred towards Zuko once he joins the group, openly threatening to kill him if he messed up.
Sokka (Jack DeSena) is a 15-year-old warrior of the Southern Water Tribe who, with his sister Katara, accompanies Aang on his quest to defeat the Fire Lord. Sokka describes himself as "meat-loving" and "sarcastic."<ref name="LearnEarthbending"/> Unlike his companions, Sokka cannot bend an element. However, the series frequently grants him opportunities to demonstrate his true gift: ingenuity. He takes great pride in his mental and physical strength, though it is often overshadowed by others' ability to bend. He is extremely skilled though in the art of boomerangs, and later the art of a sword. He is extremely clever, relying on science where the mystical and martial arts elude him, though his silly and immature manner often causes others to underestimate his intellect.
Toph Bei Fong (Jessie Flower) is a 12-year-old, blind Earthbender (also known as the blind bandit) who leaves her wealthy lifestyle and home to join Aang on his quest in order to teach him earthbending. Though blind, Toph "sees" with Earthbending, feeling vibrations in the ground that objects make when they are moving, which also allows for certain other abilities unique to her. Toph has largely lived in seclusion all her life due to overprotective parents, which makes her somewhat selfish, sarcastic, and, at times, bitter and arrogant. She does not hesitate to speak her mind and is bluntly truthful. With the presence of friends, Toph gradually becomes less overly abrasive towards others and learns what it means to be part of a team. She also seems to be the only Earthbender who has the ability to bend metals.
Zuko (Dante Basco) is the exiled 16-year-old prince of the Fire Nation and original primary antagonist of the series. Zuko was obsessed with capturing the Avatar in his quest to restore his honor and redeem himself in the eyes of his father, Fire Lord Ozai, who deems him a complete failure. Ironically, he would eventually join the Avatar's team as a firebending teacher. The most defining aspect of his appearance is the scar over his left eye, which he received during a forced Agni Kai with Ozai.<ref name="TheStorm"> "The Storm".
       Avatar: The Last Airbender.
    Nickelodeon .
 
  2005-06-03.
 
 No. 12, season 1 (Book 1).
 </ref> As a result of his conflicted life, including the loss of his beloved mother Ursa, Zuko often acts temperamental, bitter, and cold to anyone he comes in contact with. However, his character is subjected to the most significant amount of development throughout the series, influenced by both the presence of his Uncle Iroh and his time as an exile.
Azula (Grey DeLisle) is the 14 year-old-princess of the Fire Nation, Zuko's younger sister, and Fire Lord Ozai's pampered favorite child. Azula has been cruel and self-centered her entire life. Her mind is set on war and power; she manipulates and even tortures others to advance her own desires, ignoring family and emotional bonds whenever necessary. As a firebending prodigy with a sadistic personality, Azula is a dangerous opponent. Azula is one of the few Firebenders shown to possess the ability to generate lightning. The only others known to create lightning are Fire Lord Ozai, Iroh, and Prince Zuko at one time. She also has the unique ability to generate blue fire. Azula sees others as expendable, and intimidates her lackeys and all those under her command.
Iroh (Mako in seasons 1 and 2, Greg Baldwin onwards) is a retired Fire Nation general and Prince Zuko's uncle. Iroh is the older brother of Fire Lord Ozai and was the original heir to the throne of the Fire Nation.<ref name="ZukoAlone"> "Zuko Alone".
       Avatar: The Last Airbender.
    Nickelodeon .
 
  2006-05-12.
 
 No. 7, season 2 (Book 2).
 </ref> A powerful Firebender of great renown and respect (he is known as the Dragon of the West), he looks upon Zuko as a son more than as a nephew, especially after the loss of his own son, Lu Ten. On the surface, Iroh is a cheerful and kind old man whose hobbies include drinking tea, playing Pai Sho, and singing. But inside he is a very determined individual who would do anything to protect those he cares about. So far, he is the only one shown to know about Zuko's ancestry and destiny. Much older and more experienced than any of the other main characters, Iroh chooses to take a less active role in the affairs of the series, acting as more of a mentor and guide to Zuko and nearly everyone he meets, including Aang and company.

Secondary Characters

  • Appa (Dee Bradley Baker) is the ten-ton flying bison companion of the Avatar Aang, who was also trapped with him in the iceberg. Being capable of airbending and flying, Appa has been the group's main form of transport in their quest to help Aang, and occasionally assists in battle as well. He is Aang's animal guide, with whom he shares a spiritual connection. Appa is stubborn, uncomfortable when underground, and often irritable, but is gentle, loyal, and very protective of his friends, often losing his temper when confronting someone who is a threat.
  • Momo (Dee Bradley Baker) is an intelligent and curious Winged Lemur who travels around the world with the group. Momo also loves to eat, and will eat as much as possible when a lot of food is available. He has a tendency to dislike other flying creatures of his size and often picks fights with them. Momo mainly serves as comic relief for the show, but has often played an important role in the plot. He and Appa share a close friendship; they often share food, and protect each other from harm.

www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=40634 | title = Avatar To End With Battle | accessdate = 2007-06-13 | last = Szymanski | first = Mike |date=2007-03-20 | publisher = Sci Fi Wire}}</ref> Jet used Twin Tiger-Head hook swords as his weapons. He was killed while helping Aang and the others save Appa from the Dai Li.//www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=40634 | title = Avatar To End With Battle | accessdate = 2007-06-13 | last = Szymanski | first = Mike |date=2007-03-20 | publisher = Sci Fi Wire}}</ref> Jet used Twin Tiger-Head hook swords as his weapons. He was killed while helping Aang and the others save Appa from the Dai Li.

  • Long Feng (Clancy Brown) is the intelligent and cunning Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se, head of the Dai Li secret police, and advisor to the Earth King. In reality, the Earth King is merely a figurehead of Ba Sing Se's government, as it was actually Long Feng who held the real power, until Azula overthrew him in the final episodes of season 2.
  • Mai (Cricket Leigh) is an impassive, bored, and mysterious fifteen-year-old girl who, along with Ty Lee, accompanied Princess Azula on her quest to capture Zuko, Iroh, and the Avatar. Mai specializes in throwing weapons, which she conceals in many parts of her clothing. She has a crush on Zuko and, later in the series, the two start dating each other. The reason she seems so depressed is revealed in the episode 'The Beach'. When she was a child she got anything she wanted as long as she was quite and behaved, which led her to being distant from others.
  • Fire Lord Ozai (Mark Hamill) is the ruthless ruler of the Fire Nation, father of Zuko and Azula, younger brother of Iroh. He is leading his country in a century-long war against the other three nations to create an empire and awaits the arrival of Sozin's Comet so that the Fire Nation can utilize its Firebending-enhancing powers to win the war.
  • Avatar Roku (James Garrett) was the Avatar before Aang, who was born to the Fire Nation. He was best friends with Fire Lord Sozin until the latter revealed his plans for conquest, and died underneath a landslide of an erupting volcano after Sozin left him for dead. Throughout the series, Avatar Roku appears as a spiritual advisor to help Aang fulfill his duties as the Avatar.
  • Suki (Jennie Kwan) is a fifteen year-old girl, the leader of the young female warriors of Kyoshi Island. She is a staunch ally of Aang, Katara, and Sokka. Towards the end of Book two, she was captured and taken prisoner by Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee, as revealed in The Day of Black Sun.
  • Ty Lee (Olivia Hack) is a cheerful and energetic 14 year old who, along with Mai, accompanies Princess Azula on her quest to capture Zuko, Iroh, and Aang. Ty Lee is a skilled acrobat who strikes opponents's pressure points to stop the flow of chi in her opponent's body. Disrupting chi flow against benders temporarily disables their bending ablilities. Ty Lee also appears to have a crush on Sokka.
  • Princess Yue (Johanna Braddy) was the beautiful Princess of the Northern Water Tribe. She is Sokka's second love interest introduced in the series. Yue sacrifices her life to restore the Moon Spirit at the end of Book 1. As a result, she becomes the Moon Spirit herself.
  • Admiral Zhao (Jason Isaacs) was a hot-tempered Fire Nation admiral in pursuit of the Avatar and Zuko's principal rival throughout Book One. He was killed by the Ocean Spirit after he killed the Moon Spirit and tried to cripple the Northern Water Tribe.

Influences

Cultural references

www.nicksplat.com/Whatsup/200510/12000135.html | title = Interview With The Creators | accessdate = 2006-12-02|date=2005-10-12 | publisher = NickSplat.com}}</ref> and Yoga.<ref> Mark Lasswell



     (2005-08-25)
   
.    Article On Avatar: The Last Airbender 
. NY Times 
   

. Retrieved on 2006-12-02. </ref> The production staff employs a cultural consultant, Edwin Zane, to review scripts.//www.nicksplat.com/Whatsup/200510/12000135.html | title = Interview With The Creators | accessdate = 2006-12-02|date=2005-10-12 | publisher = NickSplat.com}}</ref> and Yoga.<ref> Mark Lasswell



     (2005-08-25)
   
.    Article On Avatar: The Last Airbender 
. NY Times 
   

. Retrieved on 2006-12-02. </ref> The production staff employs a cultural consultant, Edwin Zane, to review scripts.

Avatar

www.musogato.com/avatar/calligraphy.html | title = Calligraphy Writing In Avatar | accessdate = 2006-12-02 | author = KTChong | publisher = Distant Horizon}}</ref>//www.musogato.com/avatar/calligraphy.html | title = Calligraphy Writing In Avatar | accessdate = 2006-12-02 | author = KTChong | publisher = Distant Horizon}}</ref>

When Aang was a child, he unknowingly revealed that he was the Avatar when he chose four toys out of thousands that symbolized each of the main elements. These four toys were the same ones that past Avatars had chosen for generations when they were children, revealing that Aang was the reincarnation of the Avatar. There is a similar test a child must pass in order to be recognized as the reincarnation of a Tulku Lama in Tibetan Buddhism. According to the book Magic and Mystery in Tibet by Alexandra David-Neel, "a number of objects such as rosaries, ritualistic implements, books, tea-cups, etc., are placed together, and the child must pick out those which belonged to the late tulku, thus showing that he recognizes the things which were theirs in their previous life."<ref>David-Neel, Alexandra. Magic and Mystery in Tibet. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1971 (ISBN 0-486-22682-4)</ref> Avatar's official site states "the successor is expected to show signs of continuity with the previous Avatar, such as being born within a week of the death."<ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml"/>

Elements

Avatar draws on four classical elements for its bending arts (rather than the 5 Classical Chinese Elements): Water, Earth, Fire and Air. Although each has its own variation, most ancient philosophies incorporate these four elements in some way, including the classical Hindu, Buddhist, Greek and Japanese elemental traditions.

In the show’s opening, each element is accompanied by 2 Chinese characters — an ancient Chinese seal script character of the element on the left, along with a more modern Chinese character of the corresponding attribute on the right:

www.musogato.com/avatar/calligraphy.html | title = Distant Horizon: Avatar Calligraphy | accessdate = 2006-12-09 }}</ref>//www.musogato.com/avatar/calligraphy.html | title = Distant Horizon: Avatar Calligraphy | accessdate = 2006-12-09 }}</ref> When read from right to left in the way Chinese characters used to be written, they form actual Chinese phrases — namely, the "benevolent water", the "strong earth", the "intense fire" and the "harmonious air".

Western culture

Cinema and books

tv.ign.com/articles/818/818284p1.html | title = IGN: Interview: Avatar's Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino | accessdate = 2007-09-24|date=2007-09-06 | publisher = IGN.com}}</ref>//tv.ign.com/articles/818/818284p1.html | title = IGN: Interview: Avatar's Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino | accessdate = 2007-09-24|date=2007-09-06 | publisher = IGN.com}}</ref>

Asian culture

Calligraphy

Chinese characters done in traditional East Asian calligraphy styles are used for nearly all the writing that appears in Avatar. For each instance of calligraphy, an appropriate style is used, ranging from the seal script (more archaic) to the clerical script.<ref name="calligraphy.html"/> The show employs calligrapher Siu-Leung Lee as a consultant and translator. See also: the Oracle Bone Script for the origin of many Hanzi characters and some Oracle Bone characters themselves are even used in the Avatar series.

Fighting styles

www.avatarspiritmedia.net/con_reports.php?id=3 San Diego Comicon 2006 panel question and answer part 2] - Avatarspirit.net</ref> Northern Shaolin for firebending, and Ba Gua for airbending.<ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml"/> The show employs Sifu Kisu of the Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association as a martial arts consultant.<ref> The National Shaolin Information Resource

. The Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2006-12-02. </ref>//www.avatarspiritmedia.net/con_reports.php?id=3 San Diego Comicon 2006 panel question and answer part 2] - Avatarspirit.net</ref> Northern Shaolin for firebending, and Ba Gua for airbending.<ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml"/> The show employs Sifu Kisu of the Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association as a martial arts consultant.<ref> The National Shaolin Information Resource

. The Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2006-12-02. </ref>

Each fighting style was chosen to represent the element it projected:

  • Yang Style Tai Chi creates flowing energy, and fluid movements to represent water, turning an opponent's force against them. The Waterbenders find their offense in a strong defense, using the principles of energy in Tai Chi to redirect force, rather than meet it head on.
  • Hung Gar was chosen for its firmly rooted stances, linear patterns, and powerful strikes to represent the solid nature of the earth. The martial art is based on the movements of animals, particularly the tiger, which represents Hard Power, and the crane, which represents Soft Power.
  • Northern Shaolin Long Fist uses fast, aggressive attacks and techniques, making it the perfect candidate to mimic the power of fire. The strong kicks and jabs of the style, and the speed with which they are executed were meant to replicate the ferocity with which fire spreads and burns. The forms of Changquan are beautiful to watch, almost resembling dances, but also incredibly deadly, such is the nature of fire. In comparison to others, the style does not employ extensive defensive movements.
  • Ba Gua's erratic, circular movements were chosen to represent air's unpredictability and cyclical motion. Centrifugal force plays a vital role in generating power in Ba Gua, as the style lacks many finishing moves. This is echoed in the Air Nomads' belief that all life is precious, and should be protected.

www.avatarspiritmedia.net/interviews.php?id=8 | title = Interview with Sifu Kisu part 1 | accessdate = 2007-01-20 | author = Acastus | publisher = Avatarspirit.net |date=2006-10-05}}</ref>//www.avatarspiritmedia.net/interviews.php?id=8 | title = Interview with Sifu Kisu part 1 | accessdate = 2007-01-20 | author = Acastus | publisher = Avatarspirit.net |date=2006-10-05}}</ref>

Non-Chinese arts have also appeared. The pirates who appear in Book One, Episodes Nine and Eighteen, employ Japanese weapons, a possible nod to the historical clashes between Shaolin monks and Japanese pirates. In The Headband, Aang's adaptation of martial arts forms into dance techniques evolves into a game of Brazilian capoeira, complete with roda and batteria, with Katara.

The flow of chi is the engine behind the bending arts. Benders require chi to flow from the breath as form of energy derived from breathing and oxygenation, and then extend that energy past their body to manipulate or manifest their element. This chi is stored in the abdomen of the bender, known among martial artists as the Dantian. Different choices of directing energy are referred to different kinds of Jing (Modèle:Zh-tsp), a system used to describe movements in sparring such as positive, or aggressive, negative, or defensive, and neutral, which is neither aggressive nor defensive.

www.avatarspiritmedia.net/con_reports.php?id=2 | title = Pacific Media Expo | accessdate = 2006-12-02 | author = Gowa-Chan | publisher = AvatarSpirit.com}}</ref> //www.avatarspiritmedia.net/con_reports.php?id=2 | title = Pacific Media Expo | accessdate = 2006-12-02 | author = Gowa-Chan | publisher = AvatarSpirit.com}}</ref>

Asian film

Asian cinema had a profound effect on the utilization of the choreographed martial art bending moves. Avatar creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino stated the particular influence in a magazine interview: www.musogato.com/avatar/magazine/avatarmag1_scan08.jpg "In Their Elements." (September 2006) Nick Mag Presents, p. 6]</ref>}}//www.musogato.com/avatar/magazine/avatarmag1_scan08.jpg "In Their Elements." (September 2006) Nick Mag Presents, p. 6]</ref>}}

Anime

www.scifi.com/sfw/anime/sfw12366.html|title=SciFi Channel Anime Review|accessdate=2006-10-16|work=SciFi}}</ref> In addition, Avatar has many features of anime such as having a different color palette from other animated shows.<ref> Avatar: The Last Airbender Article

. Animation World Magazine 
 
 (2005-02-18)
   

. Retrieved on 2006-12-16. </ref>//www.scifi.com/sfw/anime/sfw12366.html|title=SciFi Channel Anime Review|accessdate=2006-10-16|work=SciFi}}</ref> In addition, Avatar has many features of anime such as having a different color palette from other animated shows.<ref> Avatar: The Last Airbender Article

. Animation World Magazine 
 
 (2005-02-18)
   

. Retrieved on 2006-12-16. </ref>

Avatar creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino confirmed a particular anime influence in a magazine interview: www.musogato.com/avatar/magazine/avatarmag1_scan08.jpg "In Their Elements." (September 2006) Nick Mag Presents, p. 6]</ref>}}//www.musogato.com/avatar/magazine/avatarmag1_scan08.jpg "In Their Elements." (September 2006) Nick Mag Presents, p. 6]</ref>}}

According to an interview with the artists involved in creating Avatar, Appa's design was based on the Catbus in My Neighbor Totoro, due to the peculiar task of creating a mammal with six legs.<ref>Modèle:Cite video</ref>

www.musogato.com/avatar/magazine/anime_insider-dec06.jpg|title=www.musogato.com/avatar/magazine/anime_insider-dec06.jpg|accessdate=2007-03-20}}</ref> Bryan has commented that some of his most cherished Watanabe fight scenes were the fight between Bebop's Spike Spiegel and a drug smuggler in "Asteroid Blues," as well as the duel between Mugen and a blind female Jojutsu-user in the Champloo episode "Elegy of Entrapment (Verse 2)." Avatar director Giancarlo Volpe also claims the staff "were all ordered to buy Fooly Cooly and watch every single episode of it."<ref>Modèle:Cite video</ref>//www.musogato.com/avatar/magazine/anime_insider-dec06.jpg|title=www.musogato.com/avatar/magazine/anime_insider-dec06.jpg|accessdate=2007-03-20}}</ref> Bryan has commented that some of his most cherished Watanabe fight scenes were the fight between Bebop's Spike Spiegel and a drug smuggler in "Asteroid Blues," as well as the duel between Mugen and a blind female Jojutsu-user in the Champloo episode "Elegy of Entrapment (Verse 2)." Avatar director Giancarlo Volpe also claims the staff "were all ordered to buy Fooly Cooly and watch every single episode of it."<ref>Modèle:Cite video</ref>

Response

Ratings

www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=1066 | title = Avatar: Season 3 | accessdate = 2006-12-16 |date=2006-06-30 | author = Aaron H. Bynum | publisher = Animation Insider}}</ref> The show averages 1.1 million viewers on the Friday Night block of programming on Nickelodeon when new episodes premiere at 8:30 EST.<ref name="animation"/> The one-hour special showing of Secret of the Fire Nation (consisting of the episodes "The Serpent's Pass" and "The Drill"), which was aired on September 15, 2006, gathered an audience of 4.1 million viewers. According to the Nielsen Media Research, the special was the best performing cable television show airing in that week.<ref> Aaron H. Bynum



     (2006-09-20)
   
.    Secret of the Fire Nation Ratings 
. Animation Insider 
   

. Retrieved on 2006-12-16. </ref> Avatar is currently syndicated to more than 105 countries around the world and is one of Nickelodeon's top rated programs across broadcast and cable in multiple markets. The series is ranked No. 1 on Nick in Germany, Indonesia, Belgium and Colombia.<ref>http://www.viacom.com/NEWS/NewsText.aspx?RID=1077954</ref>//www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=1066 | title = Avatar: Season 3 | accessdate = 2006-12-16 |date=2006-06-30 | author = Aaron H. Bynum | publisher = Animation Insider}}</ref> The show averages 1.1 million viewers on the Friday Night block of programming on Nickelodeon when new episodes premiere at 8:30 EST.<ref name="animation"/> The one-hour special showing of Secret of the Fire Nation (consisting of the episodes "The Serpent's Pass" and "The Drill"), which was aired on September 15, 2006, gathered an audience of 4.1 million viewers. According to the Nielsen Media Research, the special was the best performing cable television show airing in that week.<ref> Aaron H. Bynum



     (2006-09-20)
   
.    Secret of the Fire Nation Ratings 
. Animation Insider 
   

. Retrieved on 2006-12-16. </ref> Avatar is currently syndicated to more than 105 countries around the world and is one of Nickelodeon's top rated programs across broadcast and cable in multiple markets. The series is ranked No. 1 on Nick in Germany, Indonesia, Belgium and Colombia.<ref>http://www.viacom.com/NEWS/NewsText.aspx?RID=1077954</ref>

Awards and Nominations

Awards Outcome
2005 Pulcinella Awards:
Best Action/Adventure TV Series Won
Best TV Series Won
33rd and 34th Annual Annie Awards:
Best Animated Television Production Nominated
Storyboarding in an Animated Television Prodcution (The Deserter) Won
Writing for an Animated Television Production (The Fortuneteller) Nominated
Character Animation in a Television Production (The Blind Bandit) Won
Directing in an Animated Television Production (The Drill) Won
2007 Genesis Awards:
Outstanding Children's Programming (Appa's Lost Days) Won
Primetime Emmy Awards:
Outstanding Animated Program (City of Walls and Secrets) Nominated
Individual Achievement Award (Sang-Jin Kim for Lake Laogai) Won

Viewer Audience

Surprisingly, Avatar the Last Airbender, has attracted an audience that is quite different from its intended age. The show was originally created for roughly 6-11 year old demographics, but the 13-19 demographics has also taken a liking to this show, represented by high seeding and torrenting on online torrent sites. An estimated of at least 1/2 of the viewers of Avatar: The Last Airbender, are not directed at the demography intended for.

Media information

Broadcast history

www.nick.com/all_nick/tv_supersites/video.jhtml?show_id=ava&clip=16 | title = Avatar: The Last Airbender Sneak Peak|accessdate = 2006-12-10|puisher = Nickelodeon}}</ref> It was scheduled to air on Nickelodeon on November 29 of that year, but was delayed until February 21 of 2005. The first two episodes<ref> Avatar: The Boy in the Iceberg


.</ref> of the series were shown together in a one-hour premiere event in the United States.//www.nick.com/all_nick/tv_supersites/video.jhtml?show_id=ava&clip=16 | title = Avatar: The Last Airbender Sneak Peak|accessdate = 2006-12-10|puisher = Nickelodeon}}</ref> It was scheduled to air on Nickelodeon on November 29 of that year, but was delayed until February 21 of 2005. The first two episodes<ref> Avatar: The Boy in the Iceberg


.</ref> of the series were shown together in a one-hour premiere event in the United States.

Promotion and merchandising

Avatar's success has led to promotions with Burger King and Upper Deck Entertainment, an Avatar-themed roller coaster that debuted on April 14, 2006, at Kings Island amusement park and a second to open in 2008 at The Park at MOA, and two special issues of Nick Mag Presents dedicated entirely to the show. Various members of the Avatar staff and cast appeared at the 2006 San Diego Comic-Con International convention, while co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko appeared as guests of honor with Martial Arts Consultant Sifu Kisu at the Pacific Media Expo on October 28 2006. Avatar also has its own line of t-shirts, LEGO playsets, toys, a trading card game, a cine-manga, and two video games.

wheres-katara.blogspot.com | title = Where's Katara? The Avatar, Mattel, and Sexism |accessdate = 2007-08-02}} </ref> However, Mattel has since released information stating that they have taken account of Katara's increased role within the program and also that she will be included in the figure assortment for mid 2007 release,<ref>http://community.livejournal.com/avatar_fans/1658088.html</ref> yet, as of December 10 2007, there is no female-based figurine available on the official Avatar Toy website <ref>http://www.avatartoys.com [accessdate = 2007-12-10]</ref>.//wheres-katara.blogspot.com | title = Where's Katara? The Avatar, Mattel, and Sexism |accessdate = 2007-08-02}} </ref> However, Mattel has since released information stating that they have taken account of Katara's increased role within the program and also that she will be included in the figure assortment for mid 2007 release,<ref>http://community.livejournal.com/avatar_fans/1658088.html</ref> yet, as of December 10 2007, there is no female-based figurine available on the official Avatar Toy website <ref>http://www.avatartoys.com [accessdate = 2007-12-10]</ref>.

www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-20-avatar_N.htm | title = Nick pins hopes on Avatar - USAToday}}</ref>//www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-20-avatar_N.htm | title = Nick pins hopes on Avatar - USAToday}}</ref>

Feature film adaptation

i14.tinypic.com/4qqwrcn.jpg</ref> The film is now in a dispute with James Cameron's film Avatar regarding title ownership.<ref> Pamela McClintock


  . 
 "
   Shyamalan's 'Avatar' also to bigscreen 
     
 " , Variety
  , 2007-01-08
 
  . Retrieved on 2007-01-09
 . </ref>//i14.tinypic.com/4qqwrcn.jpg</ref> The film is now in a dispute with James Cameron's film Avatar regarding title ownership.<ref>   Pamela McClintock
     
   
  . 
 "
   Shyamalan's 'Avatar' also to bigscreen 
     
 " , Variety
  , 2007-01-08
 
  . Retrieved on 2007-01-09
 . </ref>

www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=3&id=40610 | title = Avatar Creators Praise Night | accessdate = 2007-03-17 | author = Mike Szymanski| date = 2007-03-17 | publisher = Sci Fi Wire}}</ref>//www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=3&id=40610 | title = Avatar Creators Praise Night | accessdate = 2007-03-17 | author = Mike Szymanski| date = 2007-03-17 | publisher = Sci Fi Wire}}</ref>

Musical score

www.izotope.com/artists/track_team.asp | title = The Track Team | Publisher = iZotope |accessdate = 2007-03-19}}</ref>//www.izotope.com/artists/track_team.asp | title = The Track Team | Publisher = iZotope |accessdate = 2007-03-19}}</ref>

References

<references />

External links

Modèle:Wikiquote

www.nick.com/shows/avatar/index.jhtml Official site]//www.nick.com/shows/avatar/index.jhtml Official site] www.nick.com/shows/avatar/index.jhtml Official site]//www.nickelodeon.com.au/fullynick/tvshows/shows/index.php?show_id=56 Official site (Australia)] www.nick.com/shows/avatar/index.jhtml Official site]//www.nick.co.uk/#/avatar/ Official site (UK)] Modèle:Featured article

Modèle:Avatar

Modèle:Nicktoonsbn:অ্যাভাটর: দ্য লাস্ট এয়ারবেন্ডার bg:Аватар: Повелителят на четирите стихии de:Avatar – Der Herr der Elemente dv:އެވަޓާރ - ދަ ލާސްޓް އެއަރ ބެންޑަރ es:Avatar: la leyenda de Aang eo:Avatar: The Last Airbender fr:Avatar, le dernier maître de l'air id:Avatar: The Last Airbender it:Avatar: La Leggenda di Aang he:אווטאר (סדרה מצוירת) nl:Avatar (tekenfilmserie) no:Avatar: The Legend of Aang pt:Avatar: The Last Airbender ru:Аватар — Легенда об Аанге simple:Avatar: The Last Airbender sv:Avatar: The Last Airbender tl:Avatar: The Last Airbender tr:Avatar: Son Hava Bükücü