Because you may - or may not - like this.
I can see it now:
Zuko: Aang, I am your father!
Everyone: WOW! What a TWIST!
Ah Avatar, the show you barely watch apart from a few scattered episodes here and there...yet deep down you know it is one of the finer shows out there currently and you really should watch it more.
But a live-action movie already?
Wait, didn't it say that he was set up to direct more than one?
Of course, there is confusion/argument with the James Cameron film, Avatar, coming out in 2008/9.
Avatar's one of those shows that continually surprises me with how good it is. Especially considering the sourcce, it should be little more than tripe for tweens, but every time I watch it, I can't believe that someone out there was able to put out an intelligent, creative, wonderful show that works both for kids and older audiences, and they did it on Nickelodeon no less.
But I agree, it seems a little too soon to be thinking live action, especially since the second season just ended (and judging by the format of the show, it looks to be a four season work).
Isn't Avatar that Nickelodeon not-anime with the prematurely bald kid?
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Isn't Avatar that Nickelodeon not-anime with the prematurely bald kid?
Yes, Wesu.
On another note, I haven't watched the show in a while, but I do like it. It's also one of my sister's fave shows. I wonder how she'll react to this when I tell her?
Personally, I don't think Aang should be heading to the big screen just yet.
While I am a larger Danny Phantom fan, Avatar is one of the best children's show to ever walk the earth of it's time...period. Engaging plot and characters, beautiful animations, and very awesome fight sequences. This and DP are the only Nicktoons I can ever watch.
As for movie, eh, as I've said before in similiar topics, I'm very mixed on this, but I won't say much until I--I don't know, see it or something.
I am a fan of avatars in general, with mine clearly being the best.
(Come on, you knew somebody was going to say it)
But why oh why did it have to be you, groaned the audience.
Season 2 made me a believer.
I always thought this show had potential. The animation style is great, and truly one of the first (I think) American made shows that give a good homage to the basic Japanese anime style.
In other woods: they do good copy amine. 😛
As much as I thought it had potential, I never personally really cared for it, and didn't draw me in like other shows. I guess I must have missed the important parts or the really sweet parts that made the show awesome. I also hear the choreography and art direction when it comes to the major action scenes are well friggin' done.
Now, not just in defense to Avatar, because again, I don't care, but to all animation fans who hate to see their beloved shows get ass raped into oblivion after going LIVE ACTION...
WHY LIVE ACTION?! This show would benefit from a big budget animated movie. Look at all the friggin' anime movies! Dragon Ball, Bebop, Fullmetal, and all the other countless ones; look how amazing they look on the big screen with that bigger budget, and how much smoother the animation style is!
I hate stupid decisions...
I think Jin hit the nail on the head there... Avatar's charm is it's animation. Why would they make a movie which removed the one thing which draws attention to itself. I mean "Bald monk with a staff" is nothing without a hook, like being Bulletproof, or something.
I mean "Bald monk with a staff and an arrow on his head" is nothing without a hook, like being Bulletproof, or something.
Fixed. 😛
Uh...guys?
The actual animation studio for Avatar is based in South Korea.
Isn't the animation studio for every cartoon ever?
As was said, a HUGE amount of animation studios for US based shows are in Korea, China, and all parts of Asia. Clerks the Animated Series, for example, was outsourced to Asia. The show's style looked nothing like anime.
It's all based on art direction, there, buddy. The original creators of Avatar obviously wanted that anime feel. If that's their direction, then that is their direction, and the animation team has to abide by it. If the art direction says for them to start drawing Peanuts style, then they start drawing Peanuts style.
Even animation studios in Japan outsource to Korea. That being said, whether it's Eastern or Western-borne; all designs, storyboarding and preliminary pencil animation is done on home turf. Thus, you cannot use "it's done in Korea lulz" to determine an animation's "ethnicity". In Avatar's case, the work's done in Nickelodeon Studios, Florida before being shipped out.
Clerks the Animated Series, for example, was outsourced to Asia.
The fact that I now know I'm not the only one on the board who knows what that show is makes me immediately want to hump you.
Bend over, Jin.
Turning it into live-action is stupid. Most cartoons are not supposed to be live action, yet movie companies have some obsession with doing it anyway. Would a SINGLE Avatar fan actually be attracted to this movie by "wow, THAT'S a show I wanted to see in live action." *Looks at Sonic movie proposal, ok, a fan who has taste*
I've only seen Avatar a few times, and it seemed ok but nothing spectacular. The main thing I didn't like about it was the so-overused Aristote elements theme. Couldn't they at least introduce some original ones?
M. Night Shyamalan is one of my favorite directors, but I'd rather see him doing one of his original movies instead of an adaptation.
They really are thinking of making a movie?! Ugh... but live action is the last thing i want for an Avatar movie. 
It would still be cool for them to make a movie, but can't they make it animated?! Real people would just come out too corny, and goes against so much of what like about the program.
About the last posts question, yes, the whole four elements theme is a bit over used, but they use the concept of the four elements idea, and take it even further. It might seem alittle bland and unoriginal at first, but the show does a great job of redoing an old idea like the four elements, and adding more original ideas to it, adding more originality to the program. 
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The fact that I now know I'm not the only one on the board who knows what that show is makes me immediately want to hump you.
lol
lurk moar
Yeah, I sorta am. Like GT, I watch it sporadically; sometimes watching a new(er)episode one day and then watching an older one the next. One reason why I don't watch it much is because I don't always know when the new ones, or old ones for that matter, are on. Also, I don't care much for the whole reincarnation thing, but hey, I watch Naruto regularly though I don't care much for the sealing of the Nine-Tailed Fox thing so meh.
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the show does a great job of redoing an old idea like the four elements, and adding more original ideas to it, adding more originality to the program
Examples?
In my textbook on screenwriting, there's a chapter on writing for animation. The writer of the book (Joe Michael Straczynski, before B5 and Spiderman he did 80's cartoons) says that because most animation is outsourced to Korea, you need to be very careful about describing the action in the scene. He talked about how one show he worked on, he described in the script notes that a character "...hauled ass across the room"
The finished product had the character running accross the room clutching their behind.
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Clerks the Animated Series, for example, was outsourced to Asia.
The fact that I now know I'm not the only one on the board who knows what that show is makes me immediately want to hump you.
Bend over, Jin.
I'm surprised that anyone who watched the show DIDN'T know that. Hell, the last 5 minutes of the fourth episode are a dead giveaway.
"WHO IS DRIVING! OH MY GOD BEAR IS DRIVING HOW CAN THIS BE?!"
Anyway, on topic, Avatar the cartoon is good stuff, but a live action movie? Not so much.
I'm surprised nobody's mentioned the voicing issue. As hard as it would be to have the actors look the part (will they find a blind actress to play Toph? Or just slap sunglasses on Dakota Fanning), there's even less chance they'd SOUND convincing. You get so accustumed to the VAs any change would seem odd.
Ah well I s'pose if it really sucks they'll be some fun to be had mocking it, right? And fans can always talk about how much cooler it would've been if they'd made it.
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The main thing I didn't like about it was the so-overused Aristote elements theme. Couldn't they at least introduce some original ones?
Isn't Aristotle's concept is more along the lines of all matter containing such elements? Avatar doesn't use it in such a way; there are just cultures centered around the four elements and a part of each population (varying percentages depending on which) is able to manipulate their inhereit element. They're not throwing themed magic spells around like Final Fantasy or something, and the usages are often rather well thought-out. For instance, Firebenders work through the breath; they can create as well as manipulate flames. The others need the element present in order to do anything with it, and one's environement will influence how they're able to use it. Earthbenders for example generally work with dirt, rocks and minerals, and most used to that form will have trouble with sand since it's less solid - others who work with sand alone might be less adept with more solid structures (I found an interesting note that beach sand can't be used as it's mostly crushed shell rather than rock).
In addition, each element is generally worked into a martial arts style that compliments its form and movement, which makes for some really nice visuals. For example, waterbending is modeled from tai chi, with an emphasis on smooth, flowing motions.
Anyway, though, considering the show's strong east Asian influences (kinda refreshing to see something more rooted in Chinese and Indian culture than Japanese lately), it's not surprising to find elemental symbolism.
Seriously, you don't pay attention much, or haven't been lurking around. I am not the only one who has mentioned that series in the MoFo. 
But... *bends over anyway* XD
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I'm surprised nobody's mentioned the voicing issue. As hard as it would be to have the actors look the part (will they find a blind actress to play Toph?
If they can get Toph's eyes in live action that lovely pale green they do in the show, I'll be durn pleased.
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If they can get Toph's eyes in live action that lovely pale green they do in the show, I'll be durn pleased.
Eh, they'd prolli do that with colour contacts or digitally edit 'em in. I think they did both with Mystique in the X-men movies.
