Though a totally Western product, Avatar: The Last Airbender might be thought of a shonen anime based mostly on themes, character designs, and battle sequences. The narrative borrows significantly from Japanese tradition, the protagonist is a twelve-year-old boy, and the villains are typically stretched to the purpose of hyperbole.
On the similar time, Avatar reveals a number of distinctive components that clearly set it other than shonen, shattering the style’s most worn-out tropes with sensitivity and class. The plot is perhaps simplistic, however the story can hardly be described as a cliché.
10 Narrative Exposition Is Minimal
Whereas not each shonen anime is responsible of over-exposition, there are manner too many who help the trope. Fortuitously, Avatar does not ramble by means of its numerous storylines. Extra importantly, combat sequences aren’t prolonged over the course of a number of episodes.
The present ensures that the plot is streamlined, tossing out extraneous scenes and retaining solely the impactful moments within the narrative. One of the best tales are instructed in a restricted variety of phrases, and something greater than that’s often pointless.
9 The Protagonist Is Extremely Charming And Lovely
In all equity, there are lovable shonen protagonists like Tanjiro Kamado from Demon Slayer and Izuku Midoriya from My Hero Academia, however a big fraction of them might be categorised as “punk-ish.”
Bleach‘s Ichigo Kurosaki is terse and aloof, FMA: Brotherhood‘s Edward Elric is hot-headed, and Assault on Titan‘s Eren Jaeger is ridiculously melodramatic. Compared, Aang is a gentle boy with a pleasing disposition: teenage riot has no place in his cheerful life.
8 The Energy Scaling Is Plausible
Energy scaling is a obligatory part of shonen anime, however there may be little consistency within the price of energy appreciation. Characters in Dragon Ball and Gurren Lagann obtain sufficient power to wipe out total universes, whereas scaling in Hunter x Hunter and Naruto sometimes conflicts with itself.
Energy ranges in Avatar rise in proportion with the emotional growth of its characters, linking potential with maturity. There are, after all, just a few outliers like Azula and Ozai who do not appear to grasp that energy comes with duty.
7 The Story Is not Primarily based In And Round Japan
Though not universally the case, shonen anime tends to be set in Japan, or, at the least, round Japanese tradition. Distinguished examples embrace Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, One-Punch Man, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Gintama, amongst others.
Avatar‘s world is split into 4 main areas, every representing a classical factor, but it surely have to be famous that the traits of the 4 nations correspond with real-life cultures, three of which have originated in Asia.
6 Character Outfits And Appearances Aren’t Exaggerated
Avatar characters have giant eyes and broad smiles, bodily tropes that correspond with a whole lot of shonen anime on the market. Their emotional reactions are usually over-the-top, partly to alleviate the dramatic rigidity of a specific storyline.
However, they do not sport neon pink hair like Saiki from The Disastrous Lifetime of Saiki Ok. does or put on uncomfortably tiny uniforms. The truth is, characters in Avatar seem to comply with the sweetness traits of their respective societies, elements of realism that the shonen style does not at all times subscribe to.
5 Fanservice Is Out Of The Query
Fanservice, specifically of the sensual kind, has develop into a extremely contentious presence in shonen anime. Sequence like My Hero Academia, One Piece, and Bleach include dozens of eventualities during which feminine characters are depicted in both scanty clothes or revealing poses (or each).
That is particularly problematic as a result of these vogue decisions haven’t any relevance to the plot in anyway. Avatar depicts its characters in smart outfits that match the state of affairs they’re in at any given time, with skimpy clothes being aptly reserved for episodes like “The Seashore.”
4 The Protagonist Is not The Entire Image
Shonen protagonists are nearly at all times bathed in limelight, whether or not they get pleasure from all the eye is irrelevant. They accrue extra energy than all of their friends, surpassing even their mentors, to not point out the truth that the narrative in its entirety typically revolves across the protagonist.
Aang is arguably the most important character within the collection, however his desires, ambitions, and experiences should not the main target of the story. The truth is, Avatar covers the lives of varied characters with as a lot depth because it does the protagonist.
3 There Is No Filler By any means
Filler episodes are the bane of shonen anime, and some have entire arcs crammed with filler materials, one thing a sure collection about an orange-haired Shinigami is accused of.
There are innumerable causes for the presence of filler storylines in shonen anime, however their lack of canonicity might be fairly vexing to followers. Avatar steers away from the idea by a large margin; almost each episode contains occasions that additional the plot and/or develop the characters.
2 Ladies Are Celebrated, Not Sidelined
There are various notable feminine characters to emerge from the boy’s membership that’s shonen anime, similar to Yu Yu Hakusho‘s Genkai, FMA: Brotherhood‘s Olivier Mira Armstrong, and Biscuit Krueger from Hunter x Hunter.
These ladies have earned the precise to have their tales instructed and revered, however they sadly stay aspect characters regardless of serving to forge paths for the hero to take. In Avatar, Katara, Toph, and, to an extent, Azula show that feminine characters aren’t merely there to be stepping stones for Aang.
1 Tender Masculinity Is A Focal Level Of The Story
Shonen anime treats the idea of masculinity as synonymous with power and energy, typically giving protagonists the license to run free with their powers.
Aang, nevertheless, consciously chooses the trail of least aggression and refuses to inflict violence on opponents as sly and harmful as Fireplace Lord Ozai. Tender masculinity is current in various Avatar subplots, a number of of which trace Sokka’s journey as a young man of the Southern Water Tribe.
About The Writer
