This a thing apparently

I'm sorry????

Zuko said, “When I saw the Dai Li attack you, I didn't think. I just helped.”

And I heard, “When I saw Azula attack you, I didn't think. I just jumped.”

Manifesting the Final Agni Kai in NATLA.

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Sketches + full view of the lightning burn under the cut!

A Comic About How Zuko Got His First Gray Hair (alternatively A Comic in which Aang Yeets a Baby)

This was spawned out of witnessing a humorous exchange between @cablesscutie and @gemgirl28 in which they discussed some steambaby headcanons and how Zuko would probably be over-protective and cautious with the first baby at least. Then Cablesscutie said, “Aang has never had one fear and gets that first steambaby for the first time and Uncle Aang just yeets that child so high and that is the story of how Zuko got his first gray hair” and I was like…. MUST. DRAW. So yes, I did shoehorn my own first Zutara child in there, but really this idea works with any zk baby if you ask me haha I didn’t draw the instance of the gray hair (that has to grow in) but this is certainly the precipitating incident. Were it not for this quote, I myself would probably not use the phrase “yeet” as I am far too elderly, but it was so perfect in this context, so it stayed. The power of Aang: what are his flings into the air but yeets. u.u 

You know that point at which you notice a mistake in your drawings, but it’s far too late to change anything… yeah. ANYWAY. I haven’t read any of the Avatar comics, but I’ve seen bits and pieces of Imbalance, and I really like the style, so I took a stab at emulating it. Unfortunately I suck at reverse engineering coloring/painting styles (and get impatient and give up), so alas… is what it is. Comics are hard, coloring is harder… I can’t tell you how long it took me to sort out Katara’s colors… I ultimately decided she doesn’t need to wear red to be a leader of the Fire Nation… I love the Water Tribe aesthetic too much to let it go (I’m sure as Fire Lady, or whatever title she’d be, she’d bring light furs and blues very much into vogue in the Fire Nation).

So Thank you again to cablesscutie and gemgirl28 for their galaxy brain headcanons and for letting me draw it. Also thanks to @neincraff and @kashicanhaz for some help with some of the dialog n.n (Check out all their stuff if you’re looking for great Zutara fanfiction!)

Zutara: I'm the perfect mix of saturday night and the rest of your life.

ZK Fanwork Appreciation Week Day 6: Fluff Friday

Based on For Your Eyes Only Chapter 2: These Arms Were Made For Holding You  By @hinaoyamas (lettersfromnowhere on AO3) Rated G - General Audiences

Give me a fluffy one shot full of cute banter and domesticity, and I’m a happy camper; and that is exactly what the progenitor of ZK Fanwork Appreciation Week, @hinaoyamas , did. I loved this ficlet from For Your Eyes Only. It’s just so sweet. I wanted to go for a really cozy vibe between Katara and Zuko in the Southern Water Tribe, and oh man, I cannot do painterly-without-lineart things, so excuse my attempt at a painterly Background. Kill me. lol Sorry too if it’s a little dark… you’re going to want to turn that brightness ALL the way up ToT Things always seem to look brighter on my tablet PHEW! I cannot believe I did two fanart weeks in one year. This was all so fun, and I am very grateful to the Zutara community for liking my stuff but also for all the creativity and ingenuity I get to see from you all on a daily basis. Thank you, Sarah, for putting this all together!

Zutara Family Sketch Collection 3

It’s funny, I was looking at my page and I was like, oh I haven’t posted Zutara in a while… which is hilarious because I feel like I’ve only been drawing Zutara stuff these past few weeks because I’ve been storing up all my Zutara Fanwork Appreciation Week art lol Anyway, just some more snippets of family fare that popped into my head. It started with Older Zuko and Katara… I’m not super great at drawing older people, so it was interesting to take a stab at it. I realize if I ever did a teen story with my ZK kids, it’d be imperative to draw Zuko and Katara older…. Ack. I’m still on the fence… I like a good beard, but I can’t really picture Zuko going with facial hair?? Just me? I don’t know. As far as the kids, I feel like Kya would be the biggest rabble-rouser of the three. Kallik is the sweetest but uses her bending as an outlet for pent up anger, and Satoshi… just a lot of emotions going on for that boy (feel your feelings, I say!) Besides that, I just want to do embraces. Does anyone feel like when the Fire Nation gets a little overwhelming for Katara (and she can’t get away to take a trip to the SWT), she might give her kids an extra tight hug because she sees her family reflected in their features? Anywayyyy…. Hopefully Tumblr doesn’t totally destroy the quality of the image, but alas. Hope you enjoy!  EDIT: NOT ME FORGETTING ZUKO’S LIGHTNING SCAR WHOOPS. 

Zutara Week 2020 Day 6: Affirm

In case Tumblr can’t play the video here’s the Vimeo Link

Having second thoughts about this one because it is a bit more niche (I know everyone has their own headcanon for Zuko and Katara’s future together and this is just mine), a bit more indulgent, and SO cheesy; the dragging-a-loved-one-to-a-special-place-while-they-keep-their-eyes-covered-and-then-you- tenderly-tell-them-to-open-their-eyes trope for instance… Leave me alone; I couldn’t help myself. Haha I think we all know that Zuko would not abide Katara not getting an honorary statue if she was his Fire Lady. >.> This animatic gets in and out quickly, since I’m still working full time, and also at the time, I had quite a few prompts left. But now that I’m working on a Reunion Part II, I kind of wish I could have saved this one for later, but oh well, I gotta post for the prompt!

Further explanation below the line

Zutara Week 2020 Day 1: Reunion

In case Tumblr can’t play the video here’s the Vimeo Link

This prompt inspired this whole animatic in my head, and I just HAD to get it out. Dedicated to my best friend from High School and my fellow Zutara comrade, @bekahknotmarley-blog. Also SOUND ON!

Zutara Week 2020 Continuation: Reunion Part II

In case Tumblr can’t play the video here’s the Vimeo Link

I couldn’t help myself.

Shoutout to @crayolasaurus again and their Zutara - peace AMV. It sparked this image in my head of a continuation of Zuko and Katara’s meeting in the Reunion animatic. It kept me up at night, honestly, so I had to make this! It takes place later in the day following the events of Reunion Part I. Katara is settling in at the palace as the Southern Water Tribe Ambassador and is taking some time to decompress out in a breezeway, and after he had returned to a long day of Fire Lord duties and state business, Zuko follows up with her there. Both stripped of artifice and defenses (he’s in casual wear, she’s without her water pouch)… and they are able to enjoy each other’s company finally… as old friends… and more.

Music used:

Peace by The Track Team for Avatar: The Last Airbender  

Reconciliation by The Track Team for Avatar: The Last Airbender

No reposting the video, please.

Further ramblings below the line

“You scared?” 

Zuko’s mouth pulled down slightly at the corners, but after years of practicing diplomacy and his uncle’s lessons on holding his temper, that was the only show of Zuko’s displeasure. 

“I have no reason to be afraid,” he said. He quirked his brow at Katara and met her gaze pointedly. “According to you.” Katara shrugged, though it was difficult to tell under her heavy, fur lined parka. 

“Well, Dad and Sokka already like you,” she reminded him.”It’s just everyone else you have to convince.” 

Zuko rolled his eyes, wishing that the Southern Water Tribe was like…well any place else in the world. Having the Chief and his heir on his side would have been enough in literally any other country in the world. But this wasn’t anywhere in the world. This was the Southern Water Tribe. Their numbers were still small after all this time, and they were fiercely loyal to each other. Families were intimately involved in each others’ lives. Beside him, Katara nudged him gently. He felt the comforting pressure of it through his own thick parka. 

“You’re going to be fine,” she promised, flashing him a reassuring smile.

Zutara Month 2021: A Farewell Kiss of Longing and Good Luck

In case Tumblr can’t play the video, here’s the Vimeo Link 

Happy Zutara Month! (It’s funny, I was overwhelmed at the idea of Zutara month… like 30 different drawings?! No way… * proceeds to do over 100 panels for an animatic * @-@ )

And for more Zutara month fun, check out @ifyouwereamelodymeg’s Zutara EP Where the Water Flows (updated post with information about saving to spotify here) which I made art for along with @favlie and @doodleladi.

A big thank you to my friend @fictionissocialinquiry for help with the story!

This animatic came to me in a hazy naptime dream a month or so ago, but I finally had time to sit down and finish it recently. I just had a vision of Zuko and Katara in the Southern Water Tribe with Zuko about to head out on a hunting trip with Sokka and Hakoda (a la stories like the-badger-mole’s Traditional Series ), and then Katara sends him off with a giant, warm fur and a goodbye kiss. Ultimately, I wanted an excuse to do some cute domestic SWT Zutara fluff and kissing. God, I want to work on an animated romance show so bad (even though drawing kisses is so flipping hard help). ToT On one hand I wish I had it in me to do more grand animatics, but really, I like making calm fluffy things and I’m alright with that. 

Music:

The Journey to the West - Princess Mononoke (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

No monetary gains are made from these animatics. I make these for free and fun, and I want to keep it that way. They are purely fanart.

PLEASE DO NOT REPOST.

More rants and ramblings below the line

The No “I Love You” Animatic In case Tumblr can’t play the video, here’s the Vimeo Link

Link to the AO3 collection So, when @fictionissocialinquiry laid out this challenge, it was mainly for writers; but she included some extra prompts therein, and one was a line from Hozier’s “Shrike”.

I couldn’t whisper when you needed it shouted This led me to listen to “Shrike” on repeat while I feverishly started doodling the thumbnails for the animatic I got in my head (so I hope that some of that emotion from Hozier’s amazing song comes through in the final board, ‘cause I listened to it. A. Lot.). While I think it’s a bit easier for drawings to express “I love you” without any words needed at all. I wanted to try and approach the task by thinking of ways one can confess that they love someone through acts of service and tenderness versus super obvious displays of love, I guess. It came out with a sort of courtly love-ish vibe that I really ended up liking. (Though I suppose reciprocation makes it not courtly love ANYWHO…)

I’m in an Ambassador Katara/Fire Lord Zuko state of mind! I just love any love story with them in these roles. There are so many different ways to play with the set up of them as Ambassador and Fire Lord. In this one, I kind of picture that they haven’t gotten together yet (this is divergent from whatever I did in the Reunion animatics; this is it’s own thing). Perhaps they are on the precipice of realizing they want to be together… I don’t know; it’s open to interpretation. XD but what I hope I portrayed clearly is how one can show that they love another. u.u

Music: The Princess Pleads for Wallace’s Life - Braveheart: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

OP: How I created this visual magic (cr 阿梓蔗)