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The legend of Korra is an animated American television series with an Avatar fictional universe set up. It was created by Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino for Nickelodeon and was premiered between April 14, 2012 and December 19, 2014. It is a sequel to Konietzko and DiMartino’s former series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The first two episodes of the series were released online on March 24, 2012.
The series is fully animated with animation done by Studio Mir from South Korea and Pierrot Co. of Japan. With the fictional universe set up, Avatar alone is able to bend all four elements: water, air, earth and fire and is able to balance the world.
Characters
Korra is the main character in this series and she is the one to succeed Aang. She declares herself as the chosen one in the series and she has a polar bear dog known as Naga. Mako (David Faustino), a firebender was raised on the streets of Republic City together with his younger brother, Bolin (P.J. Byrne), an earthbender, who introduces him to Korra.
Asami Sato (Seychelle Gabriel) is Hiroshi Sato’s daughter who goes through tough times regardless of her fancy life. She is polite and an expert driver qualified with extensive self-defence training. She is a strong supporter of the pro bending technique and we see her take over her father’s company after he is incarcerated.
Tenzin (J.K. Simmons) is the younger son to Aang and Katara. He is a master in airbending, calm but very serious in what he does. His mission in the series is to offer protection to Korra and Republic City. He lives on Air Temple Island with his wife and four children.
Lin Beifong (Mindy Sterling) is the head of the Metalbending Police Force of Republic City. She is the daughter to Beifong and she uses military might as a way of bringing peace in the society.
The legend of Korra evolves around Avatar Korra who faces political and spiritual unrest in the current world. Korra is a rebellious young girl aged only 17 years who is about to complete an airbending training so that she accomplishes her role as Avatar. This is seventy years after the end of the hundred year war. The series begins with Korra attending her airbending training with Tenzin in the Republic City. Tenzin is married to Pema and the two have two daughters named Jinora and Ikki. Jinora is a bookworm whereas Ikki a motor-mouth. They also have a son named Meelo and they get another son in the 10th episode called Rohan.
However, Republic City where Korra is staying and doing her training is Anti-benders known as Equalists and they strongly oppose the arts of bending. Led by Amon, the community uses techniques like chi blocking as a form of revolution. Korra is on a mission to fight Anti-bending Revolution and she is joined by two kind brothers, Mako, a firebender and Bolin, who is an earthbender. She is also assisted by Republic City Police Force led by Lin Beifong and her animal friend Naga.
There are things that happen behind the scenes and below are some of the compilations in the legend of Korra:
The Legend of Korra needs hundreds of artists from three different countries
Apart from the artists at the Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, Studio Mir in South Korea is involved in designing characters and backgrounds. The studio also helps in the animation and compositing for season 1. Besides, Technicolor studio in India was in charge of CG vehicle models and airships. Also, although computers are used in making the show, all the animation of the character and character bending effects are drawn manually using hands.
Korra’s polar bear-dog character, Naga was created 10 years ago
The sketch of the bipedal polar bear-dog character was initially done by Bryan in 2002. The sketch never found its place in Avatar: The Last Airbender. It found its way when Korra’s character was introduced as her mode of transport.
Dee Bradley Baker acts as a voice acting virtuoso
It is not easy to know that Dee Bradley Baker is a voice acting virtuoso until you are told. He is flexible to transition from human to animal voice character. Besides, he plays Councilman Tarrlok in The Legend of Korra and acts as a voice of Naga, Pabu and Oogi. He is an amazing character.
The character of the next Avatar after Aang was created towards December 2009 but her name was hard to get.
The producers of The Legend of Korra couldn’t agree on the right name of the next Avatar after Aang. It took long before they agreed even though they had names related to a certain sound to water Tribe names like Sokka and Katara with familiar sounds as ‘a’ and ‘k’. Soon after, they visited at the eco-lodge where they were to take photo workshop the whole week. The owner of the eco-lodge introduced them to his dog named Cora and immediately they found the name suitable for the character. They made a spelling tweak, Korra which was familiar with Water Tribe culture.
Pro bending idea was developed long before Korra’s character was established
The idea for Pro Bending was developed long ago but resurfaced when developing the 1920 vibe of the Republic City in Korra. The idea existed between Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. It was initially based on Avatar story that existed before hundred year war where there was the art of world bending of the four elements competition. The idea was then transformed to Pro Bending which is in a form of a box-like spectacle. Instead of individual elements benders against each other, there was a twist in the whole idea to teams comprising of water, earth and fire. This was to prove that the United Republic was a melting pot in regard to the division of the cultures during the time of Aang. It was a sporting aspect that tried to modernize bending styles for fun when you watch Legend of Korra.
