Opalescence

I Wish I’d Gone to NYCC… April 24, 2008

… cuz I would have wanted to see this firsthand.

The journey ends in July.  Don’t miss it!

Lovin’ My Avatar: the Last Airbender Season 2 DVD Set September 13, 2007

I acquired the Avatar: the Last Airbender season 2 DVD set on Tuesday, and watched some of the special extra features with Sarabeth today. Of particular praiseworthiness were the chibi-fied short cartoons, Bender Battle, Swamp Skiin’ Throwdown, and School Time Shipping. Sarabeth had apparently seen the last one, but we still both enjoyed all three. They were amusing, silly respites from the semi-silly-seriousness of the “regular” cartoon.

For those of you not familiar with this, the current obsession of my fanboying, Avatar: the Last Airbender is a cartoon worth checking out, one that might surprise you. It’s a show that runs on Nickelodeon, suggesting it’s aimed primarily at kids. While this may be the case (apparently its primary intended audience is the 6-11 year age range), the plot, characterization and artistry of the show in reality appeals to a much wider audience.

It takes place in a fantasy world that draws heavily from Asian-inspired mythology, culture, and language to create an imaginative and inspiring take on the coming-of-age quest story. The world is made up of four peoples, each conforming to a classical element: the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom, the Water Tribes, and the Air Nomads. A combination of genetics and spirituality allows certain denizens of each people to “bend” an element, and once each generation an Avatar (the human embodiment of the spirit of the world) capable of wielding all four elements may walk the planet.

For the purpose of this show, Aang is the Avatar. He is a 12-year-old Airbender, and apparently the last of his kind after his people were decimated by the imperialist Fire Nation a century earlier. Emerging from suspended animation after a hundred years, Aang finds the world in a state of war as its people try to hold off the Fire Nation’s militaristic advances. As the Avatar, it is his responsibility to restore harmony between the four peoples.

It won’t be easy. In order to face down the Firelord, Aang must master the four elements and learn to control the power within him, and he’ll need help. While already a remarkable Airbender, he must still master Water, Earth, and Fire. Oh, and do it by summer’s end, when an imminent comet will give the Fire Nation unstoppable augmentation to their powers and allow them to destroy the world.

He is joined in his quest by his friends Katara and Sokka, Water Tribe teens who freed him from suspended animation, Toph, a young blind Earthbender of tremendous ability, and Appa and Momo, animal companions that, along with Aang, represent the last vestiges of the Air Nomads. He is pursued by Prince Zuko, Firelord Ozai’s dishonored and exiled son; the prince’s Uncle Iroh, a former Fire Nation general; and Princess Azula, Zuko’s sadistic and gifted younger sister.

I’ll end this by saying that there are plenty of opportunities for character development, and the show makes excellent use of them, from Aang’s gradual acceptance of his role in the world to Zuko’s struggle to determine what his destiny should be. The story is top-notch, making the good-vs-evil tale one that can have no clear winner: while the Fire Nation are portrayed as “the bad guys,” they will be necessary to the restoration of balance between the elements and their respective peoples. In the mean time, the struggle against a superior foe is masterfully woven, culminating in some intense battle scenes and a compelling story that has made me willing to watch the episodes over and over again.

**sigh** I’m so glad I have season 2 now. And I’m so glad season 3 starts next Friday…