Mas

after eight years, I finally updated my huge Historical Fashion Reference & Resources Doc! Now in the form of a MUCH more easily updated Google Doc with better organization, refreshed links, and five more pages of books and online resources.

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

ZK Fanwork Appreciation Week Day 2: Media Monday

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

(Mature Content warning for below link. Do not click if under 18 or not into E-rated stories.) Adapted from Chapter 3 of Something Brewing  By @dracosollicitus (Draco_sollicitus on AO3) Rated E - EXPLICIT. (I cannot emphasize enough that while I only adapted the fluffy bits of build up in this chapter, this story is EXPLICIT and NSFW with Adult Zutara. DO NOT INTERACT/READ/REBLOG/LIKE IF UNDER 18 or if it’s not your thing. You have been warned.)

Credits Zuko … Dante Basco Katara … Soopersara 

HUUUUUGE Shoutout to Dante Basco @rufiozuko and @soopersara for being so kind and generous with their time so as to record a few lines of dialog for this. Their participation is NOT an endorsement of the fic so please don’t bother them about that. (Also, just to temper expectations, I was only able to do dialog for one of two animatics, and this one was shorter and more Zuko-heavy so it got picked.) My storyboard does NOT cover the NSFW parts; it is just pining and fluff. At this point in the story, Zuko and Katara have had a passionate kiss in the garden after a lot of yearning and build up to that point (not pictured) but it was interrupted. Katara’s trip to the fire nation is nearing its end. So they have to decide if they tell each other how they feel or leave things unsaid as she is set to leave. ToT Music: All Time Chump - Hercules (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Meg’s Garden - Hercules (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) This is all done with no intention of making money off these animatics; it’s purely fanart. >.> DO NOT REPOST. And if Zutarians are going to screencap some frames, I think it is imperative to also acknowledge Draco_Sollicitus too, because it’s based on their concepts and story. I simply translated it into visuals.

More ramblings below the line 

It’s been a really difficult few months and to see something so gorgeous and thoughtful and lovingly made??? I cannot tell you how much this means to me ❤️ you are so talented and kind (and WOW the voice acting!!! The beautiful animation!!!! Also so many thanks to the voice actors and WOW Dante Basco oh my GOD I’m going to treasure this for the rest of my life!)

ZK Fanwork Appreciation Week Day 4: Angst Wednesday

In case Tumblr can’t play the video (or you want a higher than 480p quality version), here’s the Vimeo Link  

Based on Chapter 6 of i’m still here By @owedbetter (owedbetter on AO3) Rated T - Teen and Up Audiences

Is this angst? I am not really an angst person myself (Fluff all day, babey) but I knew I had to do owedbetter’s heart healing scene from i’m still here because it made me cry when I read it *sad lol* I just… it made me so saaad. The setup here is that Azula’s lightning that Zuko took for Katara actually did serious damage to Zuko’s heart beyond the power of the single healing session in the actual finale. So, Zuko is basically dying, everyone has returned from their various battles and are saying goodbye. But in i’m still here, Katara’s bloodbending from The Southern Raiders is actually discussed between Zuko and Katara prior, and that reminds Katara to try everything she’s got to save Zuko.  What I really loved about owedbetter’s story is just how powerfully she writes Katara, especially in this scene. Katara is just so cool. I love that she has the power to both end people and also save their freakin’ lives! And you know I gots to have my full moon imagery AGAIN. Apologies, I can’t stop; it’s like the best framing object to work with. I really think I went a bit overboard on the melodrama and effects too, but I just wanted to try to go as full throttle with neat imagery as I could with the time that I had. Katara deserves some spirit magic glowy shit too, dammit! Haha Hope owedbetter specifically likes it.

Line read by Dante Basco (Thank you for the additional line read, @rufiozuko) 

Music: Requim II - Princess Mononoke (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Requim - Princess Mononoke (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) The Legend of Ashitaka Theme - Princess Mononoke (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) This is all done with no intention of making money off these animatics; it’s purely fanart. >.>

DO NOT REPOST. And if Zutarians are going to screencap some frames, I think it is imperative to also acknowledge owedbetter too, because it’s based on their concepts and story. I simply translated it into visuals.

More art rambling and note to owedbetter below the line

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

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!

(Here’s AO3 link)

—

When the wind shifted down the portico, the attendant could catch the ever-so-slight aroma of sweet fried dough from the karinto or the tangy seafood smell of the takoyaki placed with intent for an appealing design upon the tray he held. The gentle slosh of the half-filled teapot followed the trailing older man’s gait as he fell in step behind the Fire Lord, the advisor beside him droning on. Purposefully, the younger man strode from one meeting to another. The previous four years had finally begun to settle on his shoulders, and his advisors had learned that to truly keep the young man appraised of whatever matters they deemed necessary, they would have to keep apace as he moved from appointment after appointment.

And so it was, on the crisp mid-morning, as the hint of autumn traced in the wind, that they moved swiftly and with determination, the advisor murmuring on about the current status of an upcoming function with an inbound dignitary and - my Lord, have you considered the plans for the open courtyard, or it’s surrounding areas, the plans were on your desk last week - when a familiar sight paused the younger man in midstep. It wasn’t possible, Zuko was certain, she wasn’t expected for a few more days, and yet…

A Northern Water Tribe vessel sat docked, it’s banners catching on the chilled air. There were no expected shipments from the Water Tribe, and the vessel seemed much too small for a passenger crew. It had to be her.

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

Jester has never experienced transient friendships. As a child, Jester’s only close relationships were ones she saw as unconditional commitments: Marion, and the Traveller. Jester never left her hometown to go to school, like Caleb; she was never separated from a love interest like Beau, or – until Molly – suffered a bereavement like Yasha. Marion was always at the Chateau, never absent like the Clay parents. Even Bluud seems to have been a constant in Jester’s life.

Jester’s model for love is being there, no matter what. As far as Jester knew, the Traveller was always watching over her. Marion might have been busy with clients, but Jester knew her mother’s love would never be retracted. Her biggest times of stress have been when those loves stopped seeming 100% constant: when Marion’s package took time to reach her, and whenever the Traveller failed to show.

And this is so, so clearly Jester’s template for love and loyalty now. For Jester, affection is a commitment, one she doesn’t retract.

Caduceus has Sending, but it’s always Jester who maintains relationships over time and distance, refusing to let people pass out of her life. She checks in on Kiri, even though they knew her so briefly and left her behind ages ago. She never once questions Yasha’s goodness. She reaches out to the Inevitable End. She keeps her promise to send Isharnai more cupcakes. Jester’s goal when we meet her is to reach out to the one person - her father - who broke that ‘important people in my life will always be there’ rule, and fix that. When she finds him, she keeps being affectionate until at last he lets her in.

And then there’s Essek. On the day they met, she told him ‘I hope we can be friends,’ and she followed through. Hugging him, giving him a cupcake and a parasol, holding his hand through his confession. Messaging him to ask how he’s feeling, to ask for help and pastries, so that he knows he’s still welcome.

When Beau says ‘he’s a war criminal, you know?’ Jester gets quiet, and shares an uncomfortable look with Caduceus. Because of course Jester knows that. And of course she cares anyway, because she’s made a commitment to Essek, and Jester doesn’t do take-backs on that.

It’s just… so impressive that Laura looked at Jester’s models for relationship dynamics and has had Jester mirror them so consistently. I’m sure even Jester’s loyalty has limits, and there are situations where this attitude hurts her (as we’re seeing now re: her finding out the Traveller isn’t always there.)

But god, Jester really is the summary of that ‘I’m going to love you on purpose / I’ll love you without any strings attached’ post. She has 20 Wisdom; her kindness isn’t naive. It’s so, so deliberate, and I adore her for it.

Jester is the last one to realize the Gentleman is her father. 

Bonus: