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this post was submitted on 07 Jan 2024
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Avatar: The Last Airbender
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I don't know anything about Avatar but curious why it seems to be based on East Asian cultures (I'm guessing mostly Chinese) but the name "Avatar" is Indian? Like I get why James Cameron's Avatar is called that but any reason why here?
Edit: lol looked it up, Aang literally reincarnates. Makes sense. Also - https://in.mashable.com/entertainment/39388/desi-twitter-is-upset-about-avatar-the-last-airbender-live-action-casting-heres-why-it-makes-sense
There are definitely themes in ATLA based on Indian cultures, such as the name of the show itself, but most of the characters are more based on East and Southeast Asian cultures. Dunno why things ended up that way. Lots of the characters are lighter skinned like the actors but Katara and Sokka are definitely exceptions. Both actors are indigenous North American but their animated versions were much darker. As a fan of the show, I think the actors seem like good choices so far but I can see it being seen as lightwashing for sure. Having more South Asian looking characters would feel very normal in-universe so they could do that in later seasons.
Just found out that Inuits are kinda Asian, thought about this show