And I watch the Avatar-verse internet explode.

[elfgrove]

Everybody say, "Hi Korra".

(Click for larger image.)

Source: LastAirbenderFans.com: Nickelodeon Announces Legend Of Korra

Nickelodeon officially announced The Legend of Korra this morning, a sequel to the popular animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Set for a 2011 debut, Korra will be set after the events of the original series and will focus the new Avatar, a waterbender named Korra. According to the Associated Press:

The series will build on the "mythology" of the original "The Last Airbender" series, which inspired this summer's live-action movie from filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan.

The "Legend of Korra" is from the creator-producers of "Avatar: The Last Airbender."

Nickelodeon executive Brown Johnson says the new series will focus on a teenage girl avatar named Korra. Brown describes her as hotheaded, independent and "ready to take on the world."

Are you still alive after reading that? Perhaps you should go get a tissue and wipe that drool off your face. Stick tuned to the site for more announcements - many are suspecting more stuff could be revealed at this year's Comic Con.

Bonus points for a female lead. Not too common for a children's action show. And I'm glad they didn't continue with Aang. That story is pretty complete. Except for Ursa's whereabouts and unrealistic peace expectations, but hey.
Although, if they go with Korra being Aang & Katara's kid/descendant I'll be very disappointed. I still like Zutara, so shoot me. It's kind of lazy and gives the wrong impression on how the Avatar thing works. Not a bloodline.

More info, courtesy of secondlina
Source: ToonZone.net

Nickelodeon has greenlit Avatar: The Legend of Korra, a new animated TV series based on Avatar: The Last Airbender that will premiere in 2011.

BURBANK, Calif., July 21 /PRNewswire/ — Nickelodeon, the number one producer of television animation in the world, has greenlit a new series from the creators of the hit animated TV show Avatar: The Last Airbender, it was announced today by Brown Johnson, President, Animation, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group. The new series The Legend of Korra (working title), from creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, will premiere on Nickelodeon in 2011, continuing the evolution of the animated franchise and its mythology. The original series was the inspiration for the Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies live-action epic adventure, The Last Airbender, which has already grossed more than $115 million at the box office to date.

“Mike and Bryan have imagined a compelling new story inspired by the Airbender mythology that they so brilliantly crafted when the TV series began,” Johnson said. “This new avatar is not only a girl, but also hot-headed, independent and ready to take on the world.”

The Legend of Korra takes place 70 years after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender and follows the adventures of the Avatar after Aang – a passionate, rebellious, and fearless teenaged girl from the Southern Water Tribe named Korra. With three of the four elements under her belt (Earth, Water, and Fire), Korra seeks to master the final element, Air. Her quest leads her to the epicenter of the modern “Avatar” world, Republic City – a metropolis that is fueled by steampunk technology. It is a virtual melting pot where benders and non-benders from all nations live and thrive. However, Korra discovers that Republic City is plagued by crime as well as a growing anti-bending revolution that threatens to rip it apart. Under the tutelage of Aang’s son, Tenzin, Korra begins her airbending training while dealing with the dangers at large.

[...]

The new Avatar series will be produced at the Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, Calif., and is co-executive produced by Joaquim Dos Santos.

Oh gawd. Why must it always be steampunk? I like the asthetic, but in Avatar? Errrr... I dunno. I just worry.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not against the steampunk, and the fire Nation certainly had technology going on, but taking it in an overly-Eurpoean or bandwagon-y direction would make me sad. And I want to see the fantasy aspect of the show remain strong.


I'm still excited for the new show though.


Updated with my bullet-point breakdown and Name Meanings from DA.

So about 8am PST I learned about the new Avatar series, The Legend of Korra.
My buddies and I on LJ have been having massive discussion all morning (especially my Book of Air RP group).

Here's a quick bullet list breakdown of the solid information we have:
♦ The Legend of Korra is a working title. This means it may change between now and airing.
♦ It's set for a 2011 premiere, but no indication of what quarter. We might be looking at December 2011 for all we know right now.
♦ The Legend of Korra is set 70 years after The Last Airbender.
♦ The series and will focus the new Avatar, a female waterbender named Korra.
♦ Korra is from the Southern Water Tribe.
♦ Korra is a teenager, likely making her older than most of the starring cast from TLA.
♦ Korra is described as "hotheaded, independent and 'ready to take on the world'."
♦ Korra will start the show with three of the four elements already mastered (Earth, Water, and Fire).
♦ Korra will be learning her air bending from Aang's son, Tenzin.
♦ The description looks like most of the action will occur in Republic City.
♦ Rebuplic City Notes:
        ♦ A metropolis that is fueled by steampunk technology.
        ♦ A virtual melting pot where benders and non-benders from all nations live and thrive.
        ♦ Plagued by crime as well as a growing anti-bending revolution that threatens to rip it apart.
♦ Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are both working on the new series.
♦ The new Avatar series will be produced at the Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, Calif., and is co-executive produced by Joaquim Dos Santos.


So, Yay! More Avatar. Particularly, more Avatar that doesn't involve M. Night ShamaLlamaDingDongTheWitchIsDead.

My thoughts (For the few that care):

Good:
♦ I am incredibly happy this is not a straight sequel. I feel Aang's story was basically done.
♦ I love that it's a strong-willed female lead in a children's action adventure show. Usually female-lead shows get mired in make-up and boys.
♦ And that she's a bit older and (hopefully) more mature.
♦ I think a few people are nay-saying it, but I like that she's basically already mastered 3 elements. We've seen that story. Time for a new one. Leaving air to go lets us see what we missed in Aang's training.
♦ I love that she's not Aang's descendant. I think that would send the wrong message about the Avatar being a bloodline rather than a spiritual succession. (Also, the I am my own father/grandfather would be weird.)
♦ I am so excited for the anti-bending movement. We have it as a "Book Of Air" RP plot point, and I'm excited to see a canon interpretation of the concept.
♦ I'm hyped to see Avatar-verse significantly post-100-years-war. I'm curious of the long term effects.
♦ Much as that final Zutara SDCC parting shot irked me, I'm happy to see Bryke running the show again. I doubt I'd be happy with any other team doing it. (Maybe Greg Weisman, because he can do no wrong in my eyes.)

Meh/Concerns/Thoughts:
♦ Not really a concern, just neutral curiosity. Since Aang's not going to be having kids at 60-something, I wonder how old Tenzin will be. Likely in his 30s at least, right?
♦ I'm wary of the steampunk vibe. If done right, it will be a cool natural progression of the Fire Nation technology. Executed wrong, it'll be "Look at the shiny bandwagon, HUR HUR."
♦ I also worry a steampunk theme might kill the fantasy and mythological aspects that first drew me into the original.
♦ I know Tenzin is going to be Aang & Katara's kid. I don't have a problem with that. I just hopeful Bryke won't feel the need to be jerks about it (again). Fandom, let's just not go there with re-igniting ship wars, please.
♦ If we have Aang's offspring, maybe we'll have other offspring as well. Potentially fun, but I don't want the new show too mired in the past one. It would hurt storytelling ability.

Bad:
♦ Korra being a teenager means at least 13~14, (especially looking at the image) most likely older. That means Aang only lived 68 years at the longest (ignoring the Rip Van Winkle syndrome). Pretty short life-span for an Avatar based on known history. Means chances are high he died violently. It has fun plot potential, but it makes me sad. :(
♦ I'm really hoping the spirit/energy bending is treated as a lost art and glossed over. It felt a little too Deus Ex Machina for me, and I'd like to be able to ignore it. Also, the implications of it being available to anyone, even if it is just Korra in the face of an anti-bending movement has frightening implications.

[ADDED.]
Name Meanings:
Korra
♦ Grass [Gender: F | Origin: Australian]
♦ a companion; maiden [Gender: F | Origin: Greek]

Tenzin
♦ Protector of Dharma; upholder of teachings; this is one of the given names of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. [Gender: U | Origin: Tibetan/Sherpa]

My assumption? Aang named his child after Monk Gyatso. XD

Comments

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

I'm really hoping that the new Avatar isn't a descendant of Aang and Katara too. The shipping wars have quiet down nicely, I don't want to see it stirred up again. Frankly, I'm at the point where I can like all pairings, including both Kataang and Zutara. I can see people's points in a lot of pairings. I might forgive it if the Avatar is a descendant of Sokka, but I would still prefer no relations since that's how the Avatar lines work.

With that said, I LOVE that fact that the main lead is a girl. This should prove to people that you can have a good action cartoon series with a girl as the main character. I can't wait for this!

[elfgrove.livejournal.com]

It's not! Yay!
I can get every ship, and don't particularly hate any of them. Thank god the shipping wars are mostly silent now. I just happen to prefer personality clashes like Zutara, and the attitude Mike & Bryan got with the fans at the very end of the first show about Zutara was frankly a little over the line. Let us enjoy our fanon, don't be mean and insulting about it.

Me too!

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Mike and Bryan's remarks really left a bad taste in my mouth. It's not like people liking a different couple is going to force them to change their story. As long as fans aren't harassing other people, it's harmless.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

The new Avatar is NOT a descendandt of aang, but will train with his son.

BEHOLD A REALLY INFORMATIVE ARTICLE.

http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/34425/new-series-avatar-the-legend-of-korra-premieres-in-2011

[elfgrove.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. That much at least makes sense.

Thank you for the article!
A couple of thoughts:
1. Anti-bending movement. HAHAHAHA. QiShi.
2. Steampunk. Oh pleas don't go over bandwagon on us Bryke.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

1. I KNOW WE ROCK WE TOTALY SAW THAT COMING
2. Like I said below, I kinda saw that one coming. Hopefully it will be "asian" style steampunk. It could actually be done well. I've seen a french comic do it. It was badass.

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

I like steampunk, but I'll be keeping my fingers cross it will still be Asian theme and they don't go over board with it.

*laughs at the anti-bending movement* It will be interesting to see where the creators take this.

If we see Aang's son, I wonder if we'll be seeing Zuko's kids too...he may eve be still alive ruling the Fire Nation.

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

Also, am I the only one remembering of how Aang spirit bend to remove Ozai's fire bending and how that would be useful to the Anti-bending movement? Why do I get the feeling Aang's spirit bending is going to haunt Korra?

[eveshka.livejournal.com]

Thank heavens. I mean, talk about a mixed up family tree. Kid would be her own father.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

...I never though about it that way. Now this makes the whole avatar lineage thing non-canon.

[elfgrove.livejournal.com]

Oh. That's kind of a disturbing...

...Wait. I'm my own uncle. SHIT.

[eldanildiel.livejournal.com]

Crossing my fingers for awesome, 'cause I'll be watching either way. :D

Glad she's not Aang and Katara's daughter, and I'll be interested to see how they're doing with repopulating the air nomads and how that culture has changed.

[elfgrove.livejournal.com]

You and me both,

I am interested to see that. If my fanon for restoring air benders became true, it would be uber badass.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Following Edit - Avatar always had steampunk a bit. With the tanks and the airships. You could see that the next step in the world evolution would have been steampunk.

"anti-bending revolution that threatens to rip it apart"

LOOK WE PREDICTED SOMETHING

[elfgrove.livejournal.com]

It did (Fire Nation was already that direction with their tech), but the question is do they take it to where it looks like bandwagon? Not really against it, just worried.

THAT WE DID.
WE R SMART.

[blacksheep91.livejournal.com]

I...I...wha?

[elfgrove.livejournal.com]

Korra, older female avatar. New series 2011. WIN.

[the-firefly.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty interested to see how this would go. I trust the creative team behind the cartoon far more than MNS...

[elfgrove.livejournal.com]

Yup yup. I worry because Bryke caught a bad case of asshole to your fanbase towards the end of season 3, but overall, I think they can pull it off. I'm excited.

[serika-san.livejournal.com]

...I only JUST watched the first series, so I am EXCITE. Even if the fandom scares me like whooooooooooooooooa.

Do want strong female lead, though. :D This looks very promising.

Reading the comments, apparently the creators said something about fans of fanon pairings? o.o; I must have missed this. And I ship Zutara, big surprise. Not.

[elfgrove.livejournal.com]

Yup. The fandom's actually pretty decent. There's just some vocal bad eggs. Avoid the shipping wars, and you don't have problems. At least I haven't.

MmmmmHMM.

Yeah. They were pretty jovially getting along with us for a while (even did the "School Time Shipping" short to indulge fans), then as season 3 ended... Well, they pulled this video using a lot of fanart (without even bothering to ask the artists, including some R-rated art) and said some really just vicious things about Zutara fans at an all ages SDCC panel.
Most of the fandom thought it was a bit unnecessary. And smut in an all-ages panel == bad move.

[koneko.livejournal.com]

I'm so excited about this, especially since my excitement for the fandom has returned <33333

[elfgrove.livejournal.com]

Yes! Me too!

[asatira.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to hear this. I hope they play up their version industrial steampunk well, especially since they had a bit of with the Fire Nation (likened it to the industrial revolution) and that stuff is not going to go away. I am so glad they have a female lead this time. Maybe this time we'll get some female figures if they make the toys. Also, very glad that she isn't a descendant of Aang and Kataara if only because it gets out of the whole lineage thing. Girl has enough to worry about just being the Avatar.

[itsplashes.livejournal.com]

Basically, all I can say is...I am psyched. After the disaster that is the Airbender movie (which I didn't watch), this is very welcome news.