This is a long post, so I'll actually post the question I wanted to pose last, first instead. My own piece follows after the farce of a text composition you see below.
For Discussion Purposes:
******************************
I would rather stray from spoilerific discussions, so it might be tricky for other like minded fans to actually partake in this discussion. But heck, theres a spoiler function, so use it if you must.
SO... What shows/films/books/games etc. would you say had a similar or even more profound impact on you? Anything at all can be discussed but try to refrain from throwing peoples opinions and tastes back in their faces.
TIP: For those who don't know how to add spoilers tags, just type (spoiler) put your text here (/spoiler) but instead of round brackets e.g "(" use the square brackets e.g "["
******************************
-
This show first Aired on Nickelodeon here in the UK some time around the Summer of 2005. I was around 15-16 at the time of it's premier showing so I was slightly above the ideal demographic. As with quite a few people at the time, I became a big fan of this uncharacteristic show out of the same studio that gave us "Ren and Stimpy" and "Rugrats" (2 good shows mind you).
This was also around the time I had watched Spawn, the animated series, on some obscure channel that has since ceased airing. I was also getting into Anime in a big way, having watched some of the all time go-to anime films (Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scrolls etc.) I was also approaching some sort of critical mass of teenage angst. The result of this was a deliberate effort on my part to find shows that were more graphic, "dark" and "mature" in its depictions. Upon reflection the things I found were definitely more graphic, but seldom matured. But at the time I was just looking for these things as a way to break away from my innocence and expose myself to the reality. Everything else specifically aimed at my demographic didn't satisfy me. Sometimes I wish I never went through this phase as I feel like I missed out on better things because of it, but that isn't what this topic is about so enough on that.
So.. What does this have to do with the Avatar series I hear you say. Well here's the thing:
At the time I couldn't say why, but Avatar had pretty much everything I wanted in a TV series. In my mind I couldn't distinguish the affect Avatar had on me from any of the hyper-violent dystopian Sci-Fis from japan or the Uber-Gritty and Dark comic book characters of the west. The impact was equally profound but completely opposite in execution, but for the life of me I could not see why this was the case.
Now I'm not stupid, Avatar was definitely not graphic and it played on the levity a lot, it was also as far removed from Dark as you can get (what with the prominent hero being your typical peace loving monk). It carried with it the same themes of friendship, innocence and love, along with the expected Moral values of a childrens show. It used violence in the same way the A-Team used violence, with deadly powers resulting in scrapes and minor concussions (for the first season at least) and when it had to deal with heavy issues it added padding (humour, heart warming reversals, comforting words etc.). Essentially the show never gave the viewer a hard edge without softening it in some way. I was aware of all these things and yet...
This show stood the test of time for me. Spawn was forgotten, some of my old favourites from the hyper-violent animes and gritty western stories have fallen down my list of must see films/shows or even off the list altogether (though Ghost in the Shell still ranks high). Every subsequent show that I thought had what I wanted had degraded in worth, but Avatar still stands strong.
I recently re-watched the whole series again on Netflix (last 3 part episode tonight in fact) and despite having only finished watching the series 2 or 3 years ago (was a bit late catching up on the final season) I had just as much a connection to the show as I had when I was 15. Despite having 7 years of mental and emotional development and 3 years of an Animation course under my belt, this show is still recognisably one of the best things I've watched to date. My tastes have broadened substantially since my angsty teens and I no longer have the urge to exclusively seek out media with Mature or Dark themes, I just like experiencing as much as I can, whenever I can.
This has, if anything, only strengthened the appeal of this show for me.
From an Animators stand point, the show has spectacular visuals and superbly well executed animations. It's a technical powerhouse for western animated serials. The plot and setting are both refreshing and thematically distinctive. The intentional emotional draw to the show is very profound, with scenes of strife, humour, resolve and closure all getting the appropriate responses. All the characters feel alive, like I could personally know them if they were real, even the once off characters have a lot of weight behind them. The caricatures and stereotypes are few and far between, some are even used for deceptively clever plot devices or to throw you off a specific line of thought only to come back around and surprise you later. Even though it's a kids show, the sense of peril towards the characters can get pretty heavy. I'm talking ass on the edge of seats tension.
And possibly the most impressive aspect of the show is the dynamic between the characters. Few shows have reached such a standard of believably strong bonds between the different characters, let alone develop some of them from scratch and feel completely natural while doing so. The weight of their burdens is almost palpable towards the tail end of the show but at the same time every success and moment of respite is felt just as strongly.
I won't tarnish the positive vibe I'm generating about the show by discussing the few missteps along the way and quite frankly, that would just be nitpicking. They are negligible, nay forgettable once you start to see this series come together.
I recommend this show to pretty much anyone who just wants to try something new or has a passion/interest for animated series. It might not resonate with others as well as it has for me and to others it might not appeal at all, but I think everyone should give it a chance. A personal, must watch before you die.
I'll leave this trailer here for the first season for anyone who hasn't watched or heard of this:
-
Also, I'm sure some people will suggest it as I haven't actually mentioned it above, but rest assured I am definitely following The Legend of Korra. It was one of the reasons that got me back into watching the first series. I hope it can live up to its heritage.
Personally, so far so good.
EDIT: Okay, I've come to the realisations that I suck utterly at basic maths. I'm 23, and I watched the series in 2005 so I was at the very least 16 then. Minor issue.
For Discussion Purposes:
******************************
I would rather stray from spoilerific discussions, so it might be tricky for other like minded fans to actually partake in this discussion. But heck, theres a spoiler function, so use it if you must.
SO... What shows/films/books/games etc. would you say had a similar or even more profound impact on you? Anything at all can be discussed but try to refrain from throwing peoples opinions and tastes back in their faces.
TIP: For those who don't know how to add spoilers tags, just type (spoiler) put your text here (/spoiler) but instead of round brackets e.g "(" use the square brackets e.g "["
******************************
-
This show first Aired on Nickelodeon here in the UK some time around the Summer of 2005. I was around 15-16 at the time of it's premier showing so I was slightly above the ideal demographic. As with quite a few people at the time, I became a big fan of this uncharacteristic show out of the same studio that gave us "Ren and Stimpy" and "Rugrats" (2 good shows mind you).
This was also around the time I had watched Spawn, the animated series, on some obscure channel that has since ceased airing. I was also getting into Anime in a big way, having watched some of the all time go-to anime films (Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scrolls etc.) I was also approaching some sort of critical mass of teenage angst. The result of this was a deliberate effort on my part to find shows that were more graphic, "dark" and "mature" in its depictions. Upon reflection the things I found were definitely more graphic, but seldom matured. But at the time I was just looking for these things as a way to break away from my innocence and expose myself to the reality. Everything else specifically aimed at my demographic didn't satisfy me. Sometimes I wish I never went through this phase as I feel like I missed out on better things because of it, but that isn't what this topic is about so enough on that.
So.. What does this have to do with the Avatar series I hear you say. Well here's the thing:
At the time I couldn't say why, but Avatar had pretty much everything I wanted in a TV series. In my mind I couldn't distinguish the affect Avatar had on me from any of the hyper-violent dystopian Sci-Fis from japan or the Uber-Gritty and Dark comic book characters of the west. The impact was equally profound but completely opposite in execution, but for the life of me I could not see why this was the case.
Now I'm not stupid, Avatar was definitely not graphic and it played on the levity a lot, it was also as far removed from Dark as you can get (what with the prominent hero being your typical peace loving monk). It carried with it the same themes of friendship, innocence and love, along with the expected Moral values of a childrens show. It used violence in the same way the A-Team used violence, with deadly powers resulting in scrapes and minor concussions (for the first season at least) and when it had to deal with heavy issues it added padding (humour, heart warming reversals, comforting words etc.). Essentially the show never gave the viewer a hard edge without softening it in some way. I was aware of all these things and yet...
This show stood the test of time for me. Spawn was forgotten, some of my old favourites from the hyper-violent animes and gritty western stories have fallen down my list of must see films/shows or even off the list altogether (though Ghost in the Shell still ranks high). Every subsequent show that I thought had what I wanted had degraded in worth, but Avatar still stands strong.
I recently re-watched the whole series again on Netflix (last 3 part episode tonight in fact) and despite having only finished watching the series 2 or 3 years ago (was a bit late catching up on the final season) I had just as much a connection to the show as I had when I was 15. Despite having 7 years of mental and emotional development and 3 years of an Animation course under my belt, this show is still recognisably one of the best things I've watched to date. My tastes have broadened substantially since my angsty teens and I no longer have the urge to exclusively seek out media with Mature or Dark themes, I just like experiencing as much as I can, whenever I can.
This has, if anything, only strengthened the appeal of this show for me.
From an Animators stand point, the show has spectacular visuals and superbly well executed animations. It's a technical powerhouse for western animated serials. The plot and setting are both refreshing and thematically distinctive. The intentional emotional draw to the show is very profound, with scenes of strife, humour, resolve and closure all getting the appropriate responses. All the characters feel alive, like I could personally know them if they were real, even the once off characters have a lot of weight behind them. The caricatures and stereotypes are few and far between, some are even used for deceptively clever plot devices or to throw you off a specific line of thought only to come back around and surprise you later. Even though it's a kids show, the sense of peril towards the characters can get pretty heavy. I'm talking ass on the edge of seats tension.
And possibly the most impressive aspect of the show is the dynamic between the characters. Few shows have reached such a standard of believably strong bonds between the different characters, let alone develop some of them from scratch and feel completely natural while doing so. The weight of their burdens is almost palpable towards the tail end of the show but at the same time every success and moment of respite is felt just as strongly.
I won't tarnish the positive vibe I'm generating about the show by discussing the few missteps along the way and quite frankly, that would just be nitpicking. They are negligible, nay forgettable once you start to see this series come together.
I recommend this show to pretty much anyone who just wants to try something new or has a passion/interest for animated series. It might not resonate with others as well as it has for me and to others it might not appeal at all, but I think everyone should give it a chance. A personal, must watch before you die.
I'll leave this trailer here for the first season for anyone who hasn't watched or heard of this:
-
Also, I'm sure some people will suggest it as I haven't actually mentioned it above, but rest assured I am definitely following The Legend of Korra. It was one of the reasons that got me back into watching the first series. I hope it can live up to its heritage.
Personally, so far so good.
EDIT: Okay, I've come to the realisations that I suck utterly at basic maths. I'm 23, and I watched the series in 2005 so I was at the very least 16 then. Minor issue.
