Fans of the critically acclaimed television show Avatar: The Last Airbender will fall head over heels with The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee. Weaving the story of a much loved character, Avatar Kyoshi, Yee has conjured a unique perspective on an already well established world and takes what we know and love, from the source material, and adds new elements of interest.

I should preface this review by saying that I am a fan of the source material myself and went into this story with high expectations. While these expectations were met in some aspects of the story, overall I felt it may have hindered my experience and enjoyment. Nonetheless, this story is a beautiful depiction of the origins of Avatar Kyoshi.

Kyoshi has always been a compelling character for me. Her storyline in the show—being a more stern and deductive Avatar, and extremely powerful and unyielding—really captured my attention, so this was a treat to read. The ‘humble origins’ that are referenced in the blurb really are the most humble an Avatar could be as a servant to the incorrectly chosen Avatar. The dynamic of that really intrigued me as both a reader and a fan of the show because, as fans, we know her true destiny. Plus to see her in a position where her true identity was being overshadowed by an incorrectly chosen Avatar was quite interesting and it really commented on how people, mostly men, place boundaries on powerful women to put themselves in a position of power. It felt similar to the narrative of Captain Marvel as we watch her grow and accept her destiny. We see her become the Avatar we know, seeing her take on the position and responsibility of the Avatar, and seeing her trust and love others around her really hooked me into rooting for her character.

The thing that has always interested me about the Avatar world is the impact, whether positive of negative, that each Avatar has on the next. For example, Avatar Yangchen created an era of peace and subsequently Kuruk brought about an era of chaos. As Kyoshi grows into her destiny, she develops a contrasting temperament to Kuruk—much like the element of Earth, she becomes stern and unyielding. Her character development throughout the novel really does stand out as a highlight.

As mentioned earlier, the world is in chaos since Avatar Kuruk has died at a young age—younger than anyone could’ve expected. The rush to find the next Avatar really adds to the atmosphere of the story and to the complexity of the antagonist, which I found quite gripping because the world was without an Avatar for a longer period of time than the norm. This opened up new opportunities for there to be a more innovative sense of world building including the introduction of outlaws, the introduction of new groups that used an Avatarless world to plague on the weak, and the introduction of powerful people to take advantage of their positions. But, while this gave more opportunity for this dynamic, it saturated the story. I think the author tried to create a three part narrative, to almost structure the story in a way, but it felt overwhelming to the point that it did hinder the development, and sometimes even the relevance of aspects within the novel.

It does take an incredible amount of creativity to dive deeper in the workings of a world, and Yee has done so by enveloping the story with nuances of political corruption and the seductive nature of power. While this conversation was evident throughout the story, the execution could have been stronger and more streamlined. I think that the intentions were there, and that there were several successful attempts at this, but it did become muddled as the story developed. This would also come down to the pacing of the story. I don’t want to compare this novel with Avatar: The Last Airbender, but the show naturally gave plenty of room for a natural progression of the themes and topics being discussed – friendship, war, power, etc. Also, the fact that this story takes a character from an already established and loved world, means that the story will flock lovers of that world. I feel that perhaps outsiders may find it a tad difficult at first, but as everything progresses, it becomes much easier to grasp.

On another note, when an author gives the perspective of the antagonist to their readers, it should give a deeper insight into the motivations of the antagonist as a way for us readers to empathise with them. While I enjoyed reading the antagonist’s chapters for the dialogue and action it gave, they could’ve been omitted or merged with chapters that involved Kyoshi, even being added the final dialogue at the climax of the story.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this story. Getting to know the origins of such an iconic character was quite a journey. Diving into the past of Avatar Kyoshi has definitely allowed my love of her to grow. Also, getting to understand her need to be the strong figure we know in the show was no doubt a treat. I believe, knowing now the secret of her character and the real origins of her story, has given me the opportunity to grow as a fan.

The Rise of Kyoshi is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Will you be reading The Rise of Kyoshi? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

F. C. Yee’s The Rise of Kyoshi delves into the story of Kyoshi, the Earth Kingdom–born Avatar. The longest-living Avatar in this beloved world’s history, Kyoshi established the brave and respected Kyoshi Warriors, but also founded the secretive Dai Li, which led to the corruption, decline, and fall of her own nation. The first of two novels based on Kyoshi, The Rise of Kyoshi maps her journey from a girl of humble origins to the merciless pursuer of justice who is still feared and admired centuries after she became the Avatar.

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Anyone who has even the slightest knowledge of anime has probably heard of the ill-fated Netflix Death Note adaptation or the upcoming Detective Pikachu movie. The popular opinion seems to be that live-action adaptations are generally a bad idea. However, I am going to play devil’s advocate today and tell you why they are actually worth a watch by talking about two or three of the better live-action adaptations.

1. They give fans more material to dig up and watch

For me, I came into the Death Note fandom about 12 years late. I very much enjoyed bingeing the anime, reading the manga, and digging up the countless adaptations, including the three Japanese movies, the Japanese TV drama, and the notorious Netflix movie. The adaptations allow fans to keep enjoying their favourite characters long after the original show/manga series is over.

2. Some movie studios stay true to the source material

There are live-action adaptations that are actually genuinely good movies in their own right. Sure, the adaptation of Dragon Ball Z, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the Netflix Death Note were terrible and completely desecrated the source material, but there are some note-worthy adaptations. For example, the Fullmetal Alchemist adaptation provided a genuinely interesting take on the series, and the three Japanese Death Note movies stayed fairly true to the manga while providing an almost better alternate ending. And, from what I have heard, the live-action adaptation of Bleach actually hit the mark in many ways.

3. They allow for reinterpretation of characters

The characters are often what draws us into the originals as we come to love them and become genuinely invested in their stories. There are some adaptations that completely reimagine your favourite characters, and you find that they are actually as good, or better, than the originals.

One example of this comes in the TV drama adaptation of Death Note. Fan-favourite L is almost unrecognisable when compared to the original anime, but they did not do the character injustice. The original L comes across as a having a languid and blunt manner, being incredibly eccentric, and having a rather dry sense of humour that only presents itself in rare moments, like his quip to Misa about a world without Light being “dark.”

In contrast, the L from the TV drama’s eccentricity is downplayed significantly. He is much more direct in his offensive measures, going so far as to individually call all of his suspects and to try to get them to confess. This version is also mischievous and frequently plays pranks on other characters; the most notable example being when L is directing a disguised Light through the Yotsuba headquarters and intentionally turns him down a hallway that is actually a wall. Another aspect that differs from the anime is that L possesses a mean, verging on sadistic, streak that makes you question his morality even more than you did originally. All these traits seem like they would work against the character, but actually make him even more interesting.

4. Sometimes characters you hated in the original will actually be likeable in the adaptations or omitted entirely

One character who was omitted from the Fullmetal Alchemist adaptation was the flamboyant Alex Louis Armstrong. Some fans like this character, but others–myself included–find him annoying and unnecessary. His antics in the anime only add some rather weird and uncomfortable attempts at humour that usually fail dramatically. Without his unnecessary strip-teasing, viewers are more able to focus on the captivating story.

5. The adaptations sometimes provide better endings than the source material

Ending a series is incredibly hard for writers and some series hit the mark better than others. Naturally, I must cite the Japanese Death Note movies for an example once again. Death Note’s conclusion in the anime disappointed many fans for its rushed inclusion of L’s successors and the badly-explained switching of the Death Notes. Many of the fans simply stopped watching the series after L’s death because the series lost steam without him.

In contrast to this, the second Japanese movie actually provided a neat and clean ending for the series, while still achieving the same, if not more, emotional affect. This version implements a rule in the death note that was mentioned in the manga but never utilised. L wrote his own name in the death note before Rem did and set his own death for 23 days later, effectively nullifying her attempt to kill him. He and the task force are then able to catch Light and Misa red-handed. It is a clever twist that works more effectively than the clunky anime ending.

6. Annoying anime tropes are often omitted from the adaptations

There are a lot of tropes in anime, and most of them get old fast. A couple such tropes that are common in the anime versions of Fullmetal Alchemist are the overreaction trope and the randomly stripping trope (looking at you, Armstrong). The randomly stripping trope is not present in the adaptation due to the fact that Armstrong is omitted entirely. The overreaction trope is significantly toned down from the anime; there is only so much overreaction possible when you are dealing with human muscles instead of animated ones.

7. You get to see what your favourite characters would look like if they were real

Much like when a novel gets adapted into a movie, live-action adaptations of anime give us an even better picture of our favourite characters (sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse). Animation often looks very unrealistic, so seeing your favourite characters in live-action makes them that much more tangible.

8. It’s not weird to have a crush on your favourite character in adaptations

It is not uncommon for fans to have crushes on their favourite fictional characters; the terms “fangirl” and “fanboy” exist for a reason. It can feel a little weird to have a crush on your favourite animated character. Live-action makes it feel a lot more natural because you have a human actor to pin your attraction on. For example, people may think it’s weird if you have a crush on L, but if you say you have a crush on Kenichi Matsuyama (the actor who portrayed him in the Japanese movies), it is considered socially acceptable.

9. Adaptations provide an increased opportunity for diversity

Increased diversity is almost always a good thing; it gives minority actors more roles and gives minority kids someone like them in popular media. A couple of examples of this in adaptations are Lakeith Stanfield playing L in the Netflix Death Note movie and Ryôsuke Yamada playing the traditionally Caucasian Edward Elric in the Fullmetal Alchemist adaptation. In these cases, the changes are harmless and do not affect the story in any significant way. After all, the Fullmetal Alchemist adaptation was made in Japan, so it makes sense to hire Japanese actors. As for L, his race is not particularly important to the story, so having him played by an African-American adds diversity without negatively affecting his character any more than the movie script did.

10. Adaptations open anime up to a wider audience

There are many excuses the average viewer gives for not watching anime; they misunderstand it or dislike animated TV shows and movies. For example, my entire family cannot stand anime. However, I convinced them to watch the Japanese Death Note movies with me, and they enjoyed them.

Also, some people want to try anime, but they do not have the time to watch an 800 episode TV series that has been going on since the 90s. A two-hour movie can be a much better jumping off point for new fans, and it can encourage them to dive in and explore the originals.

Are adaptations worth it?

Yes, movie studios will always make bad movies from fandom shows to make a profit. But if the studio really tried to make a movie worth watching, it cannot hurt to give them a chance. Good anime adaptations do exist. Even if you dislike the examples I chose to discuss, I guarantee there is at least one anime adaptation out there that you will enjoy!

What do you think? Tell us in the comments below!

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Aaron Ehasz announced back in July that he was working on a new series, The Dragon Prince, which has now been released on Netflix as of last week and it raised a few eyebrows within the animation community. For those of you who are racking your brains trying to remember where he is from, Aaron was the head writer for one of my favourite TV shows of all time: Avatar. With his new show recently released, now is the perfect time to go back and experience the rich worlds that he created.

This is why you should rewatch Avatar: The Last Airbender, and if you haven’t seen it yet, be warned, there are spoilers ahead!

1. The Story Is Full and Rewarding

This is what showcases Aaron’s writing talents. The story of Avatar starts of with a localised mystery where two kids find a strange boy and his flying bison frozen in an iceberg. From there, Aang and crew must defeat the single most powerful man in this world, Fire Lord Ozai. What is a cat and mouse story between the group of kids and an exiled prince who is hellbent on tracking them down, becomes a search for purpose in life and how to deal with the notion of destiny. As they get more powerful, the bigger the challenges become. It really makes you feel for the plight of the group and root for them to succeed. It’s this gradual accumulation of power by the characters that makes the show worth a watch.

2. Beautifully Animated Action Sequences

Avatar draws visual inspiration from all over “The East”. The gigantic Earth Kingdom is based of China. The proud Fire Nation is very Japanese in feel. The Air Nomads, in their orange robes are similar to the Tibetan monks, and the Water Tribes (located on the North and South Poles) lend heavily from Inuit traditions. Each nation practices its own form of martial arts that is inspired by the elements they represent. Each one of these fighting styles are based on real world martial arts. The animators have gone to great lengths to replicate these poses and stances on the screen. This makes for stunning choreography with each fight scene feeling as high stakes and unique as the next.

3. Unique and Engaging World

The only way to describe the world of Avatar is vibrant. As I mentioned before, the world is as distinct as the people who inhabit it. As the characters travel around you get a real feel of cultural change. In the bustling Earth Kingdom city of Ba Sing Se, it’s every man for himself as they struggle to get rich or just survive. While the people in the Water Tribes are driven by traditionalism and rituals. The people reflect their environments and that speaks to the real world. Every class of society is visited in this story too. Beggars, refugees, kings, government officials, university students, farmers, merchants, pirates, priests, illegal ring fighters and cabbage salesmen; everyone gets a chance to tell their story. Not to mention the crazy hybrid animals that dot the wilds. Have you ever stopped to consider what a platypus bear looks like?

4. Avatar Teaches About Religion and Tolerance

Until I watched the show, my teenage mind had rarely stopped to consider other faiths. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a hater I just hadn’t been exposed to much outside of my semi-rural Christian dominant upbringing. But Avatar presents its audience with a wide array of Eastern faiths and belief systems. Centring around Buddhism and Confucianism, it also dabbles in ideas of Taoism and some Hindu beliefs. On top of this, each nation has a different government system. The Earth Kingdom functions as a communist state with an emperor at the head. While the water tribes have the ability to vote in a leader from a recognised family, and the Fire Nation adheres to Imperialist bloodline successions. What is most impressive about the show is that it presents all these different world views to its audience in an equal light. Everything has both pros and cons. Everything is about balance.

5. Every Character Has An Arc

Every character you meet in the show has a past. Everyone gets their time to shine. Everyone has triumphs, and everyone has flaws. While most of the characters learn to “bend” or manipulate the elements, some do not. Sokka, one of Aang’s travelling companions shows a great amount of growth. He doesn’t physically get stronger, instead his story focuses on his feelings of inadequacy and sense of belonging. Throughout the show you see that his strengths don’t lie in physical prowess, but in his ability to plan and improvise as required. On the other side of the story is Iroh, who is the uncle of the outcast Prince Zuko who is dedicated to hunting down the Avatar. His struggle revolves around helping his stubborn nephew to find inner peace and become a better man. While he knows what Zuko is doing is wrong, his conflict is helping him realise these shortcomings on his own.

6. Bending Is Freaking Cool!

So, I’ve been waiting to discuss this. Bending is when a person channels their energy to manipulate the very elements. Water, Earth, Fire, and Air can all be used by the people of this world and it is one of the coolest ideas ever. In the school yard we’ve all had arguments about which super powers would be better than the rest. Bending is that argument made into animation. Each discipline is based on a different martial arts style. The elegant forms used in water bending evoke images of Tai Chi, while fire benders rely on flurries of strikes and kicks like many Shaolin techniques. Earth bending is all about power from your stance like Hung Gar and air bending is similar to Ba Gua where the user rotates their centre of gravity to roll away from blows and utilise an enemy’s energy against them. Once again, these differences in technique create dynamic fight scenes and moments of shock and awe. Bending is one of the coolest “magic” systems I’ve seen. If you don’t believe me, check out this clip:

7. Avatar Makes You Want to Create

Finally, Avatar: The Last Airbender seems to capture some part of our collective imaginations. Most people I’ve talked to about it, love it to bits. Personally, it has inspired me to research more into Eastern mythology and write some stories about it. I know others who have taken to art and even animation because of the impression it made on them. Comics, music compilations, web animations, short stories, you name it, someone will have made an Avatar inspired version. Not to mention there is a sequel story set in the Avatar equivalent of the industrial boom. But I will have to discuss The Legend of Korra another time.

Do you love Avatar: The Last Airbender? Or are there any other reasons you would add? Tell us in the comments below!

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Written by Charlie Johnson

We’ve finally been treated to a teaser of Netflix’s The Dragon Prince at San Diego Comic-Con 2018!

Aaron Ehasz is not a universally recognised name. In fact, very few people know who he is. But when I say that he’s the creative genius behind Avatar: The Last Airbender, that should make you excited. One of the best written western cartoons this side of the year 2000, The Last Airbender and the follow-up series, The Legend of Korra, captured our imaginations with sparkling characters, dense lore and a fantastically real world to explore.

At this year’s San Diego Comic Con, we finally get a sneak peek at his latest project titled, The Dragon Prince. The official Netflix describes it as the head writer of Avatar: The Last Airbender Aaron Ehasz has paired with Netflix for The Dragon Prince, a new animated series about two human princes who forge an unlikely bond with the elfin assassin sent to kill them, embarking on an epic quest to bring peace to their warring lands.

While the premise may sound simple, it is bound to have enough room in it to make us laugh, cry, and think about ourselves. Judging by the trailer, the animation looks crisp and dynamic and the brief voice acting sounded really good. The Dragon Prince isn’t dealing with entirely new voice actors either. The character of Prince Callum will be voiced by Jack De Sena, who is best known as the voice of Sokka from the original Avatar series. Sasha Rojen who will voice Prince Ezran has had parts in the TV series The Flash and Bates Motel, along with Paula Burrows who will be the Moonshadow Elf, Rayla.

All the pieces are in place and all we need to do now is wait and try to contain our excitement. The Dragon Prince isn’t too far away now as all episodes will be ready to stream on Netflix on September 14^th.

Until then you can check out the trailer below and follow The Dragon Prince on Twitter for more nuggets of information.

Are you excited for The Dragon Prince? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

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