Now this is where my connection to this show becomes as strong as a tree roots to the ground. Starting from The Last Airbender, I became glued to his show since the very beginning.
This show, believe it or not, is filled with wisdom, is entertaining and a learning experience for kids, and also for adolescent guys like as me. As I have mentioned I wasn't that much into cartoons apart from Disney, but this show was an exception. And this blog that I am putting up is actually like a sort of tribute which I am paying to it, to its creators and the entire cast and storyline that made it happen.
The Last Airbender series is a great approach towards modern day story-telling. It not only combines fiction to reality but somehow encourages the viewer to imagine a world where there exists a sense of 'unity' in a world of racial diversity. Initially what attracted to me as a form of a standard level animation cartoon gradually changed into something that can be value-indebted if observed carefully.
Firstly, lets discuss the ways and topics that has been covered by this show in its two running seasons back & forth.
1. Equality & Tolerance: Now since I have already discussed the fusion of different cultures into one cartoon and the differences in accepting & tolerating different 'nations' to co-exist with each other, this show depicts clearly the need to have harmony and peace, amongst all. For even so we may appear very different, each one of us are dependent on each other for our very survival and mutual-coexistence. Without each other, life would cease to to exist.
( General Iroh teaches his nephew Prince Zuko the importance of all the four elements)
2. Hope: When the rays of light shuts down in our lives, we become at times overcome by grief. At times, we even fail to see with our clear vision and question if there really is any silver lining on the 9th cloud? Well, from a personal approach, this show has manipulated in its many forms and episodes that Hope is not something one has to search for, it will be right there in front you of you as a disguise, as a mere unseen force of nature, we only need to nit give up on ourselves, and all those who depend on us, because Hope opens our doors for entirely new possibilities. However, downtrodden we maybe in our lives, we must never give up on hope. Cause It not only open our door to another feeling or a world, but can change people and from within and and attain peace and serenity.
(Aang restores Korra's powers after being drained of all her powers, restoring her connection to the Avatar spirits and thus making her more conscious of who she is)
3. Causes: The show has garnered attention from all its critics and well wishers for its coverage of a variety of topics related from depiction of physically-handicapped people to animal torture. For instance, this show has received and escalated to a massive fan base, after the introduction of a blind Earth-bender girl named Toph, who can control the element Earth by using its voluntary senses touching the ground. Also, a few other depictions have been based where differently-abled people were a continuous recurring figure on the show to show that they too are capable of performing all that which a fit person can do, and not judging them based on their disability, Additionally this show has reached critical acclaimed or being one of the few cartoons ever to effectively generate heart and show the unjust being done to animals in many corporates either as a means for exotic trade or for mere 'unethical' testing.
(Episode titled: Appa's Lost Days: This video shows .... well see it for yourself) ;)
4. Honour and Determination: This is something I find is rather really very interesting. In all the episodes since the beginning, the second main protagonist I find has to be the exiled Fire-Nation Prince, Zuko. Ever since the series began, from the 'The Boy In the Iceberg', his character was a prominent feature where he is determined to regain back his honour by capturing the Avatar and delivering back to his Father, who happens to be the Fire-Lord. Zuko may have appeared as he main antagonist in the first saga of the series but as the show developed, his true colours came to the light after each successive episode highlighting his importance, what I may have earlier apprehended to be the main adversary. Zuko's character gives justice of what we mean by the words 'determination' and 'honour'. Prince Zuko has been constantly trying to bring down the Avatar at any cost, even if it means, challenging his own uncle or battling against his own sister, he makes it seem as if 'he' is the sole 'hunter' whose only ambition is to track down and deliver the Avatar to his father. That has been proved and that is what I would say determination, going against all odds even if no one believed in you. The nest thing he proves in this show is what it means to be 'honourable'. Zuko's character spent the first two seasons speaking to regain back his honour from his father. After am incident long ago, because he deliberately went against his great grandfather's expectations his father, always skeptical of him challenged him for a duel, which if defeated would wipe away his princely credentials and would make him an exiled son. As can be expected, he was stripped of his honour, and was forced into exile by his own father, with the condition that he would regain his honour back only if he would find the Avatar and deliver it to him. And this trait of 'honouring' himself as well as to his father, is what I suppose teaches us a few of the many things in life, of what and how deep the meaning is indebted in a few of a 'heroic' traits.
(Zuko's confrontation with his father)
5. Faith: As all great fanatics of anything, unless you have faith, you really cannot be a 'fan' of anything. Anyways, now as the story goes, the child Avatar or Aang (as he is called in the first series) was initially discovered by two Southern-Water tribe teenagers who were on their way for some foraging or hunting. And ever since they discovered they Aang was the Avatar, after all the turmoil the world has been into, after learning that he was only a mere child of roughly 12 years old, learning that he is no way close to a fully-conscious Avatar, armed with only his birth element; they had full hope that no one else but him, only he can save the world from falling into complete imbalance and maintain peace and harmony amongst all nations. Katara, the female protagonist, constantly demonstrates and guides and helps Aang on his way to become a full Avatar, even at times when she was the only obstacle barring him from ding so. She also became the love interest of the young Avatar but nevertheless her self-lessness in all her actions made her seem as a female hero, who is perceptive, courageous yet tenderhearted. Katara's belied towards Aang can be seen from the very beginning of this series episode that establishes the fact that, "if you believe in what you do, if you have faith, then surely change will come".
(S1 Episode 3: The Southern Air Temple, clearly depicts what I mean to convey)
There are lots of things what I have learnt from this show, above all, humility and all the qualities that I have listed out here, is what truly made an impression. Well I hope, the same goes for you all too. And if it did something more, or change your perspective about a mere animation kids show to a life-changing event that you are glad to have witnessed in your times, then I would say, go ahead and make a tribute to it, hope one the creators of the show will get impressed and start creating more of such amazing shows. :)
This show, believe it or not, is filled with wisdom, is entertaining and a learning experience for kids, and also for adolescent guys like as me. As I have mentioned I wasn't that much into cartoons apart from Disney, but this show was an exception. And this blog that I am putting up is actually like a sort of tribute which I am paying to it, to its creators and the entire cast and storyline that made it happen.
The Last Airbender series is a great approach towards modern day story-telling. It not only combines fiction to reality but somehow encourages the viewer to imagine a world where there exists a sense of 'unity' in a world of racial diversity. Initially what attracted to me as a form of a standard level animation cartoon gradually changed into something that can be value-indebted if observed carefully.
Firstly, lets discuss the ways and topics that has been covered by this show in its two running seasons back & forth.
1. Equality & Tolerance: Now since I have already discussed the fusion of different cultures into one cartoon and the differences in accepting & tolerating different 'nations' to co-exist with each other, this show depicts clearly the need to have harmony and peace, amongst all. For even so we may appear very different, each one of us are dependent on each other for our very survival and mutual-coexistence. Without each other, life would cease to to exist.
2. Hope: When the rays of light shuts down in our lives, we become at times overcome by grief. At times, we even fail to see with our clear vision and question if there really is any silver lining on the 9th cloud? Well, from a personal approach, this show has manipulated in its many forms and episodes that Hope is not something one has to search for, it will be right there in front you of you as a disguise, as a mere unseen force of nature, we only need to nit give up on ourselves, and all those who depend on us, because Hope opens our doors for entirely new possibilities. However, downtrodden we maybe in our lives, we must never give up on hope. Cause It not only open our door to another feeling or a world, but can change people and from within and and attain peace and serenity.
3. Causes: The show has garnered attention from all its critics and well wishers for its coverage of a variety of topics related from depiction of physically-handicapped people to animal torture. For instance, this show has received and escalated to a massive fan base, after the introduction of a blind Earth-bender girl named Toph, who can control the element Earth by using its voluntary senses touching the ground. Also, a few other depictions have been based where differently-abled people were a continuous recurring figure on the show to show that they too are capable of performing all that which a fit person can do, and not judging them based on their disability, Additionally this show has reached critical acclaimed or being one of the few cartoons ever to effectively generate heart and show the unjust being done to animals in many corporates either as a means for exotic trade or for mere 'unethical' testing.
(Zuko's confrontation with his father)
5. Faith: As all great fanatics of anything, unless you have faith, you really cannot be a 'fan' of anything. Anyways, now as the story goes, the child Avatar or Aang (as he is called in the first series) was initially discovered by two Southern-Water tribe teenagers who were on their way for some foraging or hunting. And ever since they discovered they Aang was the Avatar, after all the turmoil the world has been into, after learning that he was only a mere child of roughly 12 years old, learning that he is no way close to a fully-conscious Avatar, armed with only his birth element; they had full hope that no one else but him, only he can save the world from falling into complete imbalance and maintain peace and harmony amongst all nations. Katara, the female protagonist, constantly demonstrates and guides and helps Aang on his way to become a full Avatar, even at times when she was the only obstacle barring him from ding so. She also became the love interest of the young Avatar but nevertheless her self-lessness in all her actions made her seem as a female hero, who is perceptive, courageous yet tenderhearted. Katara's belied towards Aang can be seen from the very beginning of this series episode that establishes the fact that, "if you believe in what you do, if you have faith, then surely change will come".
There are lots of things what I have learnt from this show, above all, humility and all the qualities that I have listed out here, is what truly made an impression. Well I hope, the same goes for you all too. And if it did something more, or change your perspective about a mere animation kids show to a life-changing event that you are glad to have witnessed in your times, then I would say, go ahead and make a tribute to it, hope one the creators of the show will get impressed and start creating more of such amazing shows. :)
