Spotlight: Legend of Korra

Contrary to popular belief, cartoons are not just for children. Well, okay, that may not be popular belief what with networks like Adult Swim playing cartoons like Family Guy, Futurama and South Park, respectively. Still, when it comes to cartoons on Nickelodeon, it’s a safe bet that most people associate their cartoons with children. However, this 19 year old college student heartily disagrees.

I can still enjoy the stupid hilarity of “kid” cartoons; I may not drown myself in them on Saturday mornings - two inches from my TV screen - anymore but I certainly watch them. Specifically, I watch the ones that can draw me in for more than one episode at a time. I’m talking about the ones that tell a continuous story just like any other live-action TV show, not just a single plot spit out, developed, and wrapped up in a 22 minute block. Admittedly, this can be hard to come by on Nickelodeon. That’s why, in 2005, when the show Avatar: The Last Airbender debuted, it was the complete package: funny characters, back to back action, subtle romance and a continuous story line.

For those who have never heard of the show, I’ll give a brief synopsis. The entire series is based around the four basic elements: water, earth, fire and air. The idea is that certain people (benders) are given the ability to “bend” these elements, or manipulate them to their will. However, no one can bend more than one element - no one, that is, except the “Avatar.” This series followed the young Avatar on his quest to help end the war between the nations and restore peace to the world.

This past April, however, the follow up series, The Legend of Korra debuted and, because it is everything all Avatards (fans of the previous series) have been waiting for, I’m putting it under the spotlight. The Legend of Korra picks up years after the first series left off. The previous Avatar, Aang, has died and, following tradition, his spirit has been reincarnated into a new Avatar named Korra. This series follows Korra on her own mission which is to, once more, bring peace to the world as a dangerous rebellion has threatened to overthrow her and all other benders.

The amazing part about this new series is the believable way it was created. By “believable” I don’t mean I now expect to see people levitating rocks and shooting fire out of their hands (though, let’s be real, that would be awesome). Rather, it is believable because the show has evolved. While the first series was set in a primitive time before electricity and when animals were the only form of transportation, this new series has appropriately changed its society to “catch up” in the same way that our world has. There are now skyscrapers, cameras, radios and even cars. The action and bending style remains the same but the setting is different, allowing for new troubles and possibilities that fans of the previous series hadn’t even dreamed of.

Ultimately, if you’re a fan of cartoons, check this one out. It has all ingredients for success and, in my opinion, can make you feel young again. While the older you get, the more mainstream and mature your television preferences may become, there’s nothing wrong with getting up early on a Saturday morning to catch your favorite ‘toons.