In Defense of Avatar
Now that the first issue of PiQ has come and gone and everybody’s had their chance to chime in, I’d like to talk about one particular criticism that I’ve heard several times. While I anticipated it, I had hoped that the article content itself would deflect such criticism, since I wrote it specifically for the skeptical viewer.
I am referring, of course, to the Avatar: The Last Airbender feature.
Most people who have criticized the piece have done so using much the same logic that has been applied to the rest of our non-anime content—that is to say, “It’s not anime, so I don’t want it.” I find this especially sad because Avatar has so much to offer English-speaking fans of Japanese animation.
A common type of letter that magazines like PiQ and Newtype USA, and websites like Anime News Network receive takes the form of an enthusiastic fan pitching their idea for an anime to us. Occasionally an enterprising column editor will take the trouble to mock the generally awful pitch, or at least tell them that what they’re trying to do isn’t really possible.
But here’s the thing. If you go to school, work hard, refine your ideas and your skills, it is possible to get your show idea made into reality, and Avatar is the proof. Here are a few guys that got into anime, learned what lessons they could from the shows they loved, then put their own together.
As I noted in the Avatar feature, I understand the initial resistance an anime fan might have to a show that seems to be ripping off a genre or medium that they as fans are attached to. I understand that, but with Avatar it simply isn’t the case. The guys that made it are fans, too. They’re the local kids that made good. They are the fans that made their own show. They’re proof that it can be done.
Another reason I find the complaints from anime fandom about Avatar disappointing is that the fandom seems to be missing out on a subtle but important detail: There is nothing between us and the show. It airs in our country, it’s created in our language. Its humor comes from our own sense of comedy, its jokes and puns are meant for us. We don’t need translators, subtitles, and dub tracks to enjoy it. We don’t have to wait, we don’t have to argue about translation minutiae, and the fandom that forms around the show is the core fandom. We don’t have to look wistfully across and ocean for the source, because the source is here.
I understand that the exoticism of anime is one of its draws, for many people. It certainly was for me. But after years of studying the language and culture, years of reading translation notes and explanation and exegesis, enjoying something animated in my own language was a refreshing change. Avatar’s writing is witty, subtle, and emotive, and since it’s in English—with a wonderful voice cast, I might add—it’s easy to understand, and easy to like.
So again, as I did in the feature itself, I urge anime fans to give Avatar a chance. There’s a lot to like, and the fact that the creators were influenced by the very aesthetic that anime fans purport to like should be more reason to enjoy it, not less. That it is seen by some as a ripoff is a cruel irony.
At the end of the day, though, Avatar is wildly successful, having been a consistently highly-rated show in its time slot both within and outside its target demographic. It won the “Best Cartoon” Kid’s Choice Award, unseating Spongebob, the latter show having dominated the award since 2003. It is a huge hit, and deservedly so. A few naysayers aren’t going to have much effect in the face of that kind of popularity. For once, it’s nice to be on the winning side.
its not that i hate it. its just that i payed for a JAPANESSE (once again excuse my atrocious spelling ) magazine and that is the main problem its no real anime. i do love this show though i own a few dvds of it . i just rather not read about it T_T
I was paying for a Japanese anime magazine. It was NEWTYPE USA. Well that has (for whatever reason) has gone down the crapper. I have the complete magazine run, not a single issue missed. Now I have to settle for this PiQ. So far it is not bad. I can accept changes in what is covered as long as I can still get good coverage of what is going to be released or is released in the US in the anime/manga market.
However to get the old level and quality of anime coverage I am going to have to go back to getting NEWTYPE from Japan since not a single American publication does the job anymore. Like the old ADV ads used to say “To get any closer you have to read Japanese”. Looks like I am going to have to get back to learning to read Japanese.
Now if only Nick would FINISH the series, we’d be good to go.
Actually, I enjoyed the feature and find the new direction of PiQ a pleasant contrast to Newtype. In many respects it now reembles a number of magazines available here in the UK, particularly one by the name of Neo (not a bad thing at all), just with an American perspective on things.
Regarding the Avatar feature, I was already a fan of the show, having caught a number of episdoes on early morning tv. Its a shame so many people have responded negatively to your feature, as it provided an excellent primer for those who may want to start watching the most recent episodes, whilst not completely spoiling things for those who want to try and experience it from the start.
I would say that people should try and experience it, and aslo accept that this isn’t Newtype, it’s a different magazine that is quite obviously trying to broaden it’s scope to cover a wider variety of subject matter (the current issues Secret Invasion feature for example).
Avatar: the Last Airbender is a remarkable series that just about any fan of animation, not just anime, will enjoy. But for anime fans specifically; the television animation has all of the quality background artwork, complex and maturing character relationships and outstanding original soundtrack that otaku enjoy about anime programming.
I can understand that, as Paul notes, “the exoticism of anime” is a large draw… but to dismiss quality, contemporary, western animation that contains much of the same elements of Japanese animation (and does some of them much better even), simply because it isn’t Japanese, is foolish. Covering Avatar in the magazine is relevant in the same way that covering popular live-action Asian filmmaking is relevant: the media is of the same interest to similar audiences. It’s not as if the coverage is going to hurt anyone’s fandom, but if anything, strengthen it and broaden one’s appreciation for the industry/business they follow.
I can also understand how one feels if they want an exclusively Japanese popular culture magazine… but since you’re really not going to find such a publication in the United States anymore unless you import, fan’s will have to understand the limitations of niche publishing.
First off, I like the new magazine. I do wish it had more anime, but I can never get enough anime.
I’ve watched a few episodes of Avatar and liked what I saw. I just don’t get to watch it as much as I would like and I tend to spend my money on anime so, as of now, I don’t own any Avatar DVD’s. The point I would like to make is to all of those who complain that this isn’t anime and doesn’t belong in this magazine. Your right, it’s not anime as we know it in the US. Here anime refers only to Japanese animation and not all animation like it does in Japan. Also, this is no longer an anime magazine. That was made very clear from the get go. Yes it has anime, but the magazine is not exclusively anime.
The last point is for everyone who has a great idea for an anime!!! Guess what, if you want to get it made and you publish it yourself, it’s not anime according to the US definition of anime. So I guess you’re all SOL. Sorry to break the news to you like that.
Keep up the great work on the magazine and I’m looking forward to the next issue.
I hate to admit this but I used to be one of these nasayers. I called it an anime ripoff and whatnot but I gave it a chance and fell in love with it. Everything about this show is great. You people need to give it a chance.
@Seth Me too! Eventually I saw the light. So, so good.
@Dan It’s finishing in July, according to the New York Comic Con announcements.
Everything you say is absolutely true. I used to hate anime and manga; was bored, read it, fell in love. That was 3 years ago, and within a few months i’d absorbed about everything i could of the style, culture and quality of manga and anime.
Since Danny Phantom also was a favourite cartoon of mine, and i was yet again bored during summer, i decided to check out this “avatar” thing that always seemed to come after DP. First thoughts: wow, this looks really good, well dubbed…!” At the end of “the avatar returns (ep.2)” I had been blown backwards into my chair once again, discovering that this series, in fact, was American in every way possible! And yes, that is very refreshing! I didn’t mind it at all, even though i’m a die-hard fan of anime/manga.
I think we should try to break away from the whole “anime is japanese, and japanese only” thing. Yes, Japan has the most of it, and yes, they’re very skilled with animation, but it doesn’t mean talent and skill is just a thing from Japan. Mike and Bryan (the makers of Avatar) have proven to many doujinshi from all over the world that it is possible to have a succesfull story in the style from another country, it brings that spark of hope for the artists out there who don’t want to stick to the “cartoon” styles.
I do call Avatar; the last Airbender an anime series, since it has everything a Japanese series would have, with exception of the language.
wow…this is long x)
Ah the major problem that plagues both anime and manga all around the world… what it is and what differentiates it from cartoons and or comics.
I really wish people would just skip stuff they didn’t like and offer decent feedback on what they would like with such things as possibly a sidenote explaining how they were a bit disappointed at what the magazine covered.
Personally I view anime (and it is my own view) to be more detailed in story, sound and visual design than cartoon… People who talk about a certain look can be ignored because of shows like gegege kitaro(the bad version of hakaba kitaro) and say -cough- deadleaves -cough-
I remember when 3D first came into anime in a major way or was obvious (mecha -cough- mecha) and there were many who were up in arms… mind you all the latest gundams are done in 3d and most backgrounds lighting and even base character animations these days and it has allowed the flooding of many different anime series to cater to even the most remote fan.
-ahem-
I was rambling and I apologize for that lol but I like having my piece said and if you want to add or discuss it feel free my msn is on my deviant or better yet use my deviant as a discussion point but whilst I may not like Avatar in any way I do like what it represents, a well animated show that tries to have a story… something that not many cartoons have.
Hey its still better than anything fourkids have chopped into little pieces molested and then glued together with acid (the melty gluing style)… God anyone who knows just how DIFFERENT onepiece is compared to the American version… oh god this is not even talking about the dubbing either… seriously worst mangling they have ever done to a show… lucky I can understand spoken japanese.
I noticed this show early on and since I’m such an anime fan, like I assume most people on this site are, it caught my eye instantly! Everyone should really give it a try. It kinda made me feel a little proud that it was in English too. Like “hey Japan dub this!” ^.^” Finally I count Avatar as an anime because I think real anime is a style and not necessarily dependant on the place it comes from or language it’s in.
I wouldn’t mind reading more about it at all.
Avatar is an EXCELLENT show: it is well drawn, well- written, funny and well-voiced as well. That is all I look for in an animated show (Japanese or otherwise…). I appreciated seeing the feature, too… It is a shame that there are detractors because the show is a quality one. The ONLY problem I have with the show is that they release episodes in a trickle (understandable since one of the voice actors passed away recently). Thanks PIQ for recognizing a great show.
Don’t think so much of it. The magazine is still mainly Japanese they only felt like including something else that’s interesting about a great animated show, not Japanese but still a nice show, one article that’s not pure anime wont hurt anybody, it’s just something cool thrown in there.
@kitty Actually, on the Nick channel in Japan, Avatar IS dubbed in Japanese! There are a few clips wandering around YouTube, I think. It’s pretty amusing.
@okiwa002 I agree with you entirely — and the trickle of episodes is frustrating, but apparently they’re restarting for real in July. (July still seems too far off, sigh.)
I love this show, despite it not being from Japan. It’s true, it was just two guys dream. The show is great, has comedy, and is animated almost like an anime with cel-shading, 2-d-ness, and all that stuff. Avatar should be given a chance, not beaten down like it has been. I’m getting sick of all the Avatar bashing. Show the show some love people!
I love this show, despite it not being from Japan. It’s true, it was just two guys dream. The show is great, has comedy, and is animated almost like an anime with cel-shading, 2-d-ness, and all that stuff. Avatar should be given a chance, not beaten down like it has been. I’m getting sick of all the Avatar bashing. Show the show some love people!
In all honesty, Avater is a good effort at an American adaption to a Japanese tradition, the biggest beef I have with it is we Americanized the media to a point where its once again, kiddy. (ages 7 and up) I’m waiting for an anime-inspired American show that appeals to what most Japanese anime does in reality, 13 years and up, and I don’t mean “oh, well Avatar has a broad range and alot of teenagers enjoy it,” I mean, blood, swearing, and characters who act like people do in real life, kinda like how they are displayed in REAL anime. Also, I agree with the others who said that PiQ needs to center on Japanese content, I know the new magazine was supposed to be different from Newtype, but that zine was brilliant and comparing avatar to real anime is like comparing pokemon to real anime. I miss the old Newtype and authentis coverage of what they’re watching in Japan now.
I love Avatar.
Even if it isn’t japanese anime.
It shows that an american can actually do something, and fool people with it. I was fooled the first few episodes, before information was out about who made it. :/
As a wannabe artist, who wishes to have a career in animation or comics ((And looks up to the japanese)) It gives this american some hope that maybe being an american, doesn’t mean your art work has to suck for the animation world.
the avatar is by far one of the gnarliest show in the history of gnarl man. in anycase i was wondering if not now when we’ll have dvds containing upcomings anime series and trailers regarding other shos that we’ve seen or not have seen already yet.
I am one of the faithful watchers. I gave it a chance a long time ago. I think they really dd a great job. Especially with the voice acting. Which is my main complaint usually about most series. Its like when they try and bring the anime over here they don’t care how its voiced. Naruto and Bleach are two examples of horrible presentations in English. Avatar is the one series I have been waiting for. It will be sad when the season ends. If you haven’t given it a chance then you are missing out.
I’ve seen a lot of criticism for your magazine, and even have my own opinions on certain things after reading the first issue. Of everything in the first issue, though, this is one of the articles I really liked quite a bit. I’m surprised you’ve gotten so much flack about it.
When asked about the show, I joke and tell people that it’s a fake anime that’s actually better than a lot of actual anime that comes out nowadays, and then go on to tell them it’s actually a little more nuanced than that and not to judge it by its looks, anime fan or not. Nick really has the budget to animate things well that the Japanese are lacking for a lot of shows in this day and age, and I think it’s a shame fans of animation are missing out.
The only problem I had with your article is I wish you were able to secure some of the third season designs and art from Nick. There’s some amazing stuff in there, and while I know the point was to introduce it to new fans, it made it look a little dated. I understand this was most likely not your fault, as I know the woes of trying to secure artwork for magazines and not being able to get the cool stuff you want to show from the media companies.
One funny thing to note; Didn’t Newtype do an entire cover feature on Avatar back in the day? Did anyone complain then?