shenanigans for everyone

I’m not reading the books or the comics. I’m not watching anything new. Even Korra was on thin ice for me when I was in college (a long time ago okay?) and while I enjoyed parts of it, I also don’t think we needed it. Sometimes people will be like, “oh well actually Kyoshi isn’t like that because in the books, she —“ no. No, I don’t care. I didn’t read them and I’m not going to. She’s like that in the show and that’s fine actually. I don’t need the backstory.

Free ~

and if this is their royal portrait? what are you gonna do? report them to the fire lord?

What immediately comes to mind are the many touches of Korean culture throughout show. As ATLA was animated in South Korea, it’s not surprising that many of its animators and designers would want to add little Korean Easter eggs throughout this Asian-inspired world whenever they can.

For example, the squat statue that Aang accidentally crashes into in the opening sequence and similar statues guarding Aunt Wu’s village are inspired by Korean protection and fertility totems known as Dol hareubangs (돌 하르방) or “Stone Grandpas”. Cute name, isn’t it?

Fire Nation bridal fashion is heavily based on traditional Korean bridal practices, from clothing to hairstyle.

Book 1 Sokka & Katara wear warrior’s hanbok.

The Northern Water Tribe wear Korean good luck charms.

Long Feng and the Dai Li wear Korean hair ribbons.

The example that most people are familiar with is when Zuko & Iroh stay in a very clearly Korean-inspired village and steal an ostrich horse from a kindly herbalist family. I’ll probably make a more detailed post about this Korea-analog village similar to my Vietnam post.