The reason I decided to share about this show is because I noticed that many elements of the show tie into my own series. In fact, C.E. Stone told me that some of my ideas for the Kinzoku also are featured in Korra. However, I fully admit that I had only seen maybe 1 episode of Avatar: the Last Airbender before I wrote my books. The only part I “stole” ideas from was the idea of having different elemental powers, but I don’t have air powers or benders. I also have never seen The Legend of Korra. So, Nickelodeon, please don’t sue me for copyright infringement. I promise my books only have a few things gleaned from your show. What are those things? Well, let me explain:
1. Elemental Powers
As I mentioned before, I have elemental powers in my story (earth, water, fire). However, I do not have air power, and I do not have an Avatar that can master all four elements. I do have some powers which I discovered were used in Legend of Korra (metal-bending, for example), but I did not know were part of the canon of this story. I also have the power to heal, the power to tame wolves, griffins, unicorns, and wildcats.
2. Power Usage
Basically, I think of my powers as only being limited by the user’s physical ability. That means you can make shapes, fists, vortexes, cups, etc as long as you have the physical ability to do so. However, unlike Avatar, my people have the ability to conjure the actual element (earth, fire, water) without needing it nearby. It is certainly easier if earth or water is present, but it isn’t necessary.
3. Chosen One Trope
I’m sure if the chosen one trope is really unique to Avatar. After all, many shows have the chosen one. In my case, my story has the chosen one, Etania, who is chosen by God to humble evil beings. Aang is chosen to master all four elements and bring peace to the world. Etania also only has the ability to transform Skazic. Aang has multiple abilities, which makes him more like a Lehrling in my world. Lehrlings, however, can only master two powers.
4. Spiritual World
Let me be clear: Avatar’s spiritual world is vastly different from mine. It is based on Eastern mythology and mine is based on Christianity. I also do not have meditation or connecting with your spiritual self in my story. I do have prayer and dreams, which are more biblically based. However, I will say that the idea that spiritual life can affect the power of a person is something similar to Avatar. Etania’s powers are given by God, so if her relationship with God is affected, she loses them. Aang doesn’t lose his power, but he certainly is affected by the spiritual realm.
5. Broken Fire Prince
Honestly, this one was unintentional. In my original canon, Zaden was named Aden and had no abilities to speak of. He was a competing love interest for Etania, and he wasn’t a prince. I eventually decided to change his name to Zaden because I knew too many Adens, and I gave him fire-powers. Then, of course, I realized that Zuko is awfully similar to Zaden after I did all of this. However, their personalities are very different. Zuko often has emotional outbursts, and then changes into someone who turns his anger into a cold dagger that stabs at its victims (at least, that is how I see it). On the other hand, Zaden is very cunning and will use anyone and everyone to reach his personal goals. I don’t really see Zuko as being cunning—more like the fight first, ask questions later type.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, some of the elements of Avatar: the last Airbender were incorporated into my stories, but there are enough differences that I don’t think anyone will read my books and think they are a carbon copy of the show. If you haven’t been able to get a visual in your mind for how my powers work, I highly recommend watching Avatar: the last Airbender. The show is great by itself, and it would certainly give you some of the same feels as my book, even if they are very different!
Watch Avatar: the Last Airbender: https://www.amazon.com/Avatar-Last-Airbender-Complete-Blu-ray/dp/B07BC5STNG/
Read my books: https://storyoriginapp.com/universalbooklinks/ec0c97aa-1870-11ef-abfd-e353f6633d6e
Great article, M.H.! What do you think about the live action version? I’ve heard a few unfavorable comments about it, but I’ve never seen it myself.
Thanks! I haven’t watched the live action, yet, either x.x. So I don’ t have an opinion.