Michael Dante DiMartino, co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender, is humbled that the show has inspired its audience to become activists. Avatar: The Last Airbender is an animated TV series that deals with subjects such as war, totalitarianism, systemic injustice, and genocide and shows how an authoritarian government rises to power. The series, while dealing with subjects such as these, shows how oppressed characters in these situations seek out justice and fight back against the Fire Nation, who wishes to subjugate them and rule the world. The show’s story and its characters have inspired many of its audience members to become activists.
In Avatar: The Last Airbender, the Fire Nation commits acts of genocide against the Airbenders and Waterbenders, imprisons anyone who opposes them, and has turned powerful cities, like the Earth kingdom Ba Sin Se, into puppets for its nefarious purposes. The injustices that the Fire Nation wrought upon the world in Avatar: The Last Airbender are happening around our world today. During the Black Lives Matter protests, some protesters used signs with quotes from the Avatar: The Last Airbender character Avatar Kyoshi. One quote used was, “Only Justice will bring peace.” The use of this specific quote brings to light the injustices brought upon the black community by the police and the judicial system in the United States.
In an interview with The Washington Post discussing how Avatar: The Last Airbender became one of this summer’s most popular shows, co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko expressed how humble they feel knowing that fans of the show are becoming activists. Dimartino stated, “I’m in awe and gratitude to all those courageous people out in the streets, making calls, speaking truth to power, and working to make this world a more just place… And if ‘ATLA’ had a tiny amount to do with that, I am humbled to say the least.” Konietzko assumed that the show would resonate with its audience during the COVID-19 lockdown because the series shows justice being served in an easy to comprehend manner. Konietzko described the show’s fanbase as a group of individuals who are passionate about social issues and are compassionate towards others.
Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, who are choosing to fight for change, are using these lessons they learned about peace and social justice from the show to keep their fight for a better world going. In the episode "Imprisoned", Katara inspires the jailed Earthbenders to rise up and use their Earthbending abilities to fight against the Fire Nation soldiers. Katara’s call to action is just like that of the protestors who shout, “No Justice! No Peace!” Avatar: The Last Airbender has shown audiences that if they want a better world, then they need to fight for it.
While Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko may not have been able to see what kind of impact Avatar: The Last Airbender would have on the world, they are humbled by the fans who have connected with their show and chosen to become activists. At its core, Avatar: The Last Airbender is about how fighting an unjust system can make the system better for all those it is supposed to serve. The show has taught children and adults that remaining silent and not fighting for what is right can change the world for the worse. Avatar: The Last Airbender is more than a children’s cartoon; it has become an inspiration to many activists who know that only justice will bring peace.
Source: The Washington Post