thoughts on the a:loa movie leak?? there's so much, from the beautiful backgrounds and animation style to zukka and fruity fire lord zuko, to eldery!zutara and aang getting ragebaited 💀
I just wish they were still doing a theater release instead of paramount+ bc that kind of hard work is smthg all atla fans deserve to see!!
--anon.
So I got two asks about the new movie leaks, you asked a few more points then the other Anon asked so I grant to you my long(er) winded opinion.
I am in one of those timezones where I wake up to bombshell news and completely miss the initial action. These two asks in my inbox about the leaks were the way I found out there were leaks.
I feel torn. Part of me thinks, 'Yes, make it accessible to all of us plebeians.' But another part of me knows how hard creators and artists work on these projects, and I worry about them losing revenue because Paramount is treating the franchise poorly, not advertising it, pulling its theatrical release, not seeming to take care with it, allowing leaks to happen in the first place. But genuinely, I think the widespread desperation around finding the whole film through leaks and hacks has been caused by losing that communal in-theatre experience—it is very disappointing.
However, I understand that this might not actually be a decision made by the creators at Avatar Studios. They are a creative and production company, not a distributor. If Markiplier’s Iron Lung taught me anything, it is that making a thing and then actually getting that thing to an audience is an entirely different process. I just hope that the movie is successful and that the artists and creators won’t suffer from this too much. BUT if there was a way to make only Paramount suffer without harming Avatar Studios you can bet your first-born son I would take it. Fuck Paramount for being greedy and report them for animal abuse because they are mistreating their golden goose.
Regarding the art style: I do appreciate the lighting and quality, though I prefer the style of the original series. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind this new look, but the characters feel less unique when compared to other animated shows now, like… If I had to try and put my finger on it, it think it’s the facial features and eyes; they look too generic when compared to the original series. It’s like the eye colours and shapes aren’t as bold. I generally like the costumes for the most part. As you may have noticed I am disappointed in Zuko’s hairpiece: seem they are trying to shy away from the fact that he is the Fire Lord, how very modern and progressive of you Avatar Studios. I also do not like Katara’s yellow accessories;🤮 I maybe would have appreciated them if Aang had also been given some blue accessories as well instead, but he was not. Icky, icky gross gross Katara is a person, not a possession.
I also saw some stills from leaks other than those two scenes today of the Gaang looking incredibly jacked—muscles are not my cup of tea. I am not entirely onboard, partly because the martial artist in me thinks those muscles do not make sense for the kind of bending these characters perform, and partly because of my personal grudge against vanity muscles in real life and their correlation with ‘male power fantasy' in media. I suppose they are going for a ‘these are adults now' aesthetic, and most people like muscles think they are attractive and aren’t examining the muscle placement on a person and making sherlockian level deductions about their personality and values like I am. I am also glad they didn't shy away from giving the girls muscle too. Well done team Avatar Studios.
The backgrounds, however? No thoughts; only awe. I am in love. It is all about the backgrounds for me. I think the backgrounds in the original series and TLOK are what made the Avatar world so unique. They are so detailed and I have always been a big fan of them.
Plot wise, this is all just on face value as I have not seen more than those two scenes and a few snippets of the script and stills. I must admit, I am never a fan of the “there is another” trope—the idea that someone is not actually the last of their kind, especially when we have already spent an entire series reiterating that fact, and already had an Airbender who survived by being frozen. The other survivors trope is a pet peeve of mine, and it has become so commonplace, like in the Star Wars franchise for example, at this point the number of Order 66 survivors is starting to undermine the whole tragedy of the Jedi being "wiped out". I mean one airbending guy does not equate—but I hope you get my point.
I don’t understand why they took the risk of undermining some of the character beats in TLOK to have this villian? The comics and the original series set up so many rich issues and plot points for the Gaang to tackle—bender supremacy, technological advancement, spiritual imbalance due to pollution, and decolonisation. Instead, they disregarded nuance and established themes to create the ATLA version of Ötzi the Iceman as a new, mystic, powerful threat to overcome through awesome Avatar power and the help of friends (oh male power fantasy, my old nemesis, you are pervasive).
The only reason I can imagine they would make the villain an Airbender is so that Aang faces the dilemma: 'I cannot kill this guy because he is an Airbender, last of our kind.' But we established in the original series that he refuses to kill even people who objectively, need to be, so the tension is moot. So is the new conflict just, 'Oh no I can't kill him but I shouldn’t take away his bending either because he might have Air bending techniques that will be lost, and our culture will suffer?' It is an answered question, a solved problem, character wise the stakes aren’t high. But who knows, maybe plot wise the stakes are high.
Does that mean I’m not going to watch it or am not interested in it? NO. I am thrilled. We are blessed with a movie about the original Gaang! I love ATLA, sooo much. My love is tough, though. I am critical of it because I am so invested in it. Again, I haven’t seen the whole movie. (And I won't until it is released officially) This is just my opinion from what I’ve seen. At this point, my expectations of any media are so rock bottom. I don’t get my hopes up for anything, to protect myself. It is better to be pleasantly surprised than to be disappointed.
Now, probably what I am most disappointed about is the treatment of Zutara because it feels petty. It is petty to the point where it becomes detrimental to the work itself. Let me be clear, I understand that Kataang is canon, I did not expect Bryke to suddenly have a change of heart and create a movie that made an alternate universe; I knew we weren’t going to see Zutara actualise. BUT I expected them to actually try fix Kataang, for them to try to win me; because I’m open-minded. As a child I wasn’t against Kataang or invested in it—when I matured, I found I had many issues with Aang’s “attachment” to Katara; but I can see a way they could work if effort was put it to emphasise what Kataang-ers say the ship is all about; Aang giving Katara a place to have fun, being sweet and supporting her sense of hope and her genuinely desiring to be with him.
BUT NOOOO, from the script leaks I have seen, instead of putting in the effort to making Kataang feel healthy and mutual, they have just doubled down—keeping things exactly as they were! To what end? To try prove they are right? Bryke, if you wanted to change people's minds, this was your chance, and you kind of blew it.
As much as I like Zutara, Kataang could be a fine ship; it is just that, as written, it isn't. It doesn't feel like a relationship of equals or that Katara’s an individual person. If they worked on Aang’s unhealthy attachment and his unconscious objectification, and made more effort to show Katara’s individualism and Aang making compromises for her; their relationship should work—foolproof. But it is still unbalanced.
In the Original series Katara started off as a strong female character with agency, and she still is, but not in scenes with Aang. In "romantic" scenes she’s written to be more of an extension of Aang. All the relationship’s emotional labour is heaped onto Katara.
Like how can a relationship between a couple both from egalitarian, that aren’t materialistic, discourage selfishness, and traditionally share domestic responsibilities equally, be seemingly more one-sided than a relationship where one is a monarch, from an enemy nation that is known for being invasive and possessive, and even killed one of the pair's mother? Well, that’s because it’s shown through demonstrated character interactions, not theoretical character interactions. (I don’t hate Aang BTW, I just think he is a victim of some personal writer’s choices bleeding through)
So the elderly Zutara scene fed me in multiple ways. Like @demaparbat-hp said; it shows their souls are old they are spiritually compatible. Also, it fed both my rage and satisfaction that Zutara haunts the narrative. Bryke have set up this weird paradox that to affirm Kataang is legitimate they have to constantly clarify it by… having the characters “correct” people who mistake Zutara for a couple. HUh? Bruther, write some fricken chemistry between the characters that makes them feel and look like a couple then; show, don’t tell, mate.
I am glad they did not do what the comics did, which was to ensure zero interaction between Zuko and Katara and diminish the friendships the group had with each other. Apparently the movie has some scenes with Katara and Zuko, and they are great and work well together. So that’s a plus.
But my point remains: if the goal was to show Aang’s relationship as healthy and “correct”, but the script clips I've seen suggest they are not doing a good job of it. It really is just petty actively spend screen time to kick Zutara while it’s down. And honestly, they could spend the time dropping a few lines about, I don’t know… maybe, where the heck is Suki? They could have given us more Sokka and Suki—everyone loves them, even hardcore Zukka fans never speak ill of Suki! But Suki, Mai, and Ty Lee are not even in the film. It is a bit of a missed opportunity. Robbed. Again.
We still do not know what is going on with Zuko’s love life, who Izumi’s mother is, if it is Mai? Or if Izumi has even been born yet. But as for the 'fruity Fire Lord' allegations? I’m quite happy. My personal headcanon is that Zuko is on both the autism and the asexual spectrum; I read him as demisexual. You can think whatever you want about that, but my headcanon does not conflict with what we see in the movie. In fact, his response to Toph reinforces it. Tell me, what is more gay:
Toph asking a serious question, receiving no answer, pressing for it, and Zuko feeling obliged to not leave her hanging gives a direct answer followed by clinical rubric for what makes a person attractive—not realising that it is socially awkward to do so and that his answer has connotations about his own preferences?
OR
Sokka grabbing old Zuko’s face and lamenting that his beautiful face is all wrinkled now, then immediately getting up in his grill when old Zuko slumps forward?
I feel people are really brushing over that. I think one action is more of an indicator of "fruitiness" than the other. Either way, I think it is interesting to possibly have Bi Zuko and I am glad they are at least feeding the Zukka stans. Or perhaps.. The Zukki fans. 😏
Hey Ty, have you seen the new movie leaks? What did you think of the new airbender and the 'Zuko 🏳️🌈' line? And what about the Zutara bait? I love ur work
So I got two asks about the new movie leaks ( I'm flatered really, that people want my opinion on something) I will answer your queries anon but also put them together with the other ask's queries cause they had a few others that yours in a longer post on their Answer here.
Thought's on the new Airbender: Plot wise, this is all just on face value as I have not seen more than those two scenes and a few snippets of the script and stills. I must admit, I am never a fan of the “there is another” trope—the idea that someone is not actually the last of their kind, especially when we have already spent an entire series reiterating that fact, and already had an Airbender who survived by being frozen. It is a gripe of mine that there is another survivor has become so common place, like in the Star Wars, franchise for example, at this point the number of Order 66 survivors is starting to undermine the whole tragedy of the Jedi being "wiped out".
I mean one airbending guy does not equate but I hope you get my point. I don’t understand why they took the risk of undermining some of the character beats in TLOK to have this villian? The comics and the original series set up so many rich issues and plot points for the Gaang to tackle—bender supremacy, technological advancement, spiritual imbalance due to pollution, and decolonisation. Instead, they disregarded nuance and established themes to create the ATLA version of Ötzi the Iceman as a new, mystic, powerful threat to overcome through awesome Avatar power and the help of friends (oh male power fantasy, my old nemesis, you are pervasive).
The only reason I can imagine they would make the villain an Airbender is so that Aang faces the dilemma: 'I cannot kill this guy because he is an Airbender, last of our kind.' But we established in the original series that he refuses to kill even people who objectively, need to be, so the tension is moot. So is the new conflict just, 'Oh no I can't kill him but I shouldn’t take away his bending either because he might have Air bending techniques that will be lost, and our culture will suffer?' It is an answered question, a solved problem, character wise the stakes aren’t high. But who knows, maybe plot wise the stakes are high.
Does that mean I’m not going to watch it or am not interested in it? NO. I am thrilled. We are blessed with a movie about the original Gaang! I love ATLA, sooo much. My love is tough, though. I am critical of it because I am so invested in it. Again, I haven’t seen the whole movie. ( And I won't until it is released officially) This is just my opinion from what I’ve seen. At this point, my expectations of any media are so rock bottom. I don’t get my hopes up for anything, to protect myself. It is better to be pleasantly surprised than to be disappointed.
As for the 'fruity Fire Lord' allegations? I’m quite happy. My personal headcanon is that Zuko is on both the autism and the asexual spectrum; I read him as demisexual. You can think whatever you want about that, but my headcanon does not conflict with what we see in the movie. In fact, his response to Toph reinforces it. Tell me, what is more gay:
Toph asking a serious question, receiving no answer, pressing for it, and Zuko feeling obliged to not leave her hanging gives a direct answer followed by clinical rubric for what makes a person attractive—not realising that it is socially awkward to do so and that his answer has connotations about his own preferences?
OR
Sokka grabbing old Zuko’s face and lamenting that his beautiful face is all wrinkled now, then immediately getting up in his grill when old Zuko slumps forward?
As a child I wasn’t against Kataang or invested in it—when I matured, I found I had many issues with Aang’s “attachment” to Katara; but I can see a way they could work if effort was put it to emphasis on what Kataang-ers say the ship is all about; Aang giving Katara a place to have fun, being sweet and supporting her sense of hope and her genuinely desiring to be with him. BUT NOOOO, from the script leaks I have seen instead of putting in the effort to making Kataang feel healthy and mutual, they have just doubled down on keeping things exactly as they were! To what end? To try prove they are right?
I feel people are really brushing over that. I think one action is more of an indicator of "fruitiness" than the other. Either way, I think it is interesting to possibly have Bi Zuko and I am glad they are at least feeding the Zukka stans. Or perhaps.. The Zukki fans. 😏
And as for the Zutara bait; it feels petty. It is petty to the point where it becomes detrimental to the work itself. Let me be clear, I understand that Kataang is canon, I did not expect Bryke to suddenly have a change of heart and create a movie that made an alternate universe; I knew we weren’t going to see Zutara actualise. BUT I expected them to actually try fix Kataang, for them to try to win me; because I’m open-minded.
Bryke, if you wanted to change people's minds, this was your chance, and you kind of blew it.
The elderly Zutara scene fed me in multiple ways. Like @demaparabat said; it shows their souls are old they are spiritually compatible. Also, it fed both my rage and satisfaction that Zutara haunts the narrative. Bryke have set up this weird paradox that to affirm Kataang is legitimate they have to constantly clarify it by… having the characters “correct” people who mistake Zutara for a couple. HUh? Bruther, write some fricken chemistry between the characters that makes them feel and look like a couple then; show, don’t tell, mate.
I am glad they did not do what the comics did, which was to ensure zero interaction between Zuko and Katara and diminish the friendships the group had with each other. Apparently the movie has some scenes with Katara and Zuko, and they are great and work well together. So that’s a plus.
So as many as you know, technology has a lot of roads that lead to different opportunities and different learning curves. You need to decide who you are going to be early on or you are going to try to do as much as you can and most of the things you do will end up feeling half assed. And I don’t mean the people around you, you yourself are going to feel this way because you will want to be great for everything always. That will make anyone go insane. That is where direction is good. If you like data, go back end, if you like design, do front end, if you can successfully do both right off the bat, do that. If you are forced into a role like that, just go with the flow, even if you don’t know everything. It usually is around one language. So I would like to specify something, I mean languages, I didn’t mean job titles. I should have said: Ruby Application versus Node. I also not telling you to give up once you have mastered a platform. I would say a couple years down the road, pick up the dusty languages that you shelved to be good at your current job and play around with them. And sometimes you move jobs and need to learn a whole new language, and thats okay too. As long as you don’t loose the master of the first one.
