During my childhood, I remember watching bits and pieces of a particular TV series on Nickelodeon, "Avatar: The Last Airbender." In fact, many of us remember watching it as kids.
It was not until recently that I started immersing and connecting myself into the series. "Avatar" was available to watch on Netflix, so I decided to take the opportunity to watch it for one to two episodes at a time each day.
"Avatar: The Last Airbender" aired from Feb. 21, 2005 to July 19, 2008 in the United States on Nickelodeon. It is divided into three seasons, known as "books," consisting of 61 episodes, known as "chapters."
Zach Tyler Eisen provided the voice of Aang, the protagonist of the series. Mae Whitman and Jack De Sena voiced siblings Katara and Sokka, respectively. Michaela Jill Murphy provided the voice of Toph. Dante Basco and Grey Griffin voiced Prince Zuko and Azula, respectively. Mark Hamill voiced the antagonist, Fire Lord Ozai.
Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years passed and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang. And although his airbending skills are great, he has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone. But I believe Aang can save the world.
~ Opening sequence, as narrated by Katara
The "Avatar" saga blends elements of Chinese culture with American cartoon styles and anime. In addition, the series also drew on elements from South Asian and East Asian cultures.
The series is set in an Asian-influenced world drawn from Chinese martial arts and elemental manipulation. The four classical elements, which are common in most ancient philosophies, are water, earth, fire and air.
The series was followed by a standalone sequel, "The Legend of Korra." This series has four seasons, or "books," and 52 episodes, or "chapters."
My brother told his fiancée that I was a big fan of the "Avatar" franchise. So, they decided to surprise me with tickets to the Avatar: The Last Airbender Live in Concert for an exclusive experience. Initially, they were planning on going together, but my brother gave me his ticket in order to have a girls' night with his fiancée. I could not be any happier to embrace my love for not only the series, but also the music that accompanies it.
According to the concert website, Jeremy Zuckerman is the man behind the show's original music. Through collaboration with the show's original editor, Jeff Adams, the production gives people the chance to experience the world of "Avatar: The Last Airbender" through a live orchestra concert.
I attended the concert on Sept. 18 of this year at the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land. Luckily, where I sat provided the best view of both the orchestra and the screen.
The concert consisted of a compilation of the show's most iconic moments in chronological order on a full-size cinema screen. This gave passionate fans such as myself the perfect opportunity to relive those moments from "Avatar: The Last Airbender." I even displayed several emotions, ranging from excitement to sadness, and even shock!
The series' music track was played by a live orchestral ensemble, leaving the original spoken audio and sound effects untouched. This magnified the epic scope of the series, as well as elevated the drama.
The music harmoniously combines Eastern and Western musical traditions that reflects the signature "Avatar" sound. Two instruments that were used during the concert included the erhu (Chinese two-stringed bowed instrument) and the taiko (Japanese barrel-shaped drum).
Overall, the concert ran for approximately two and a half hours, including a 20-minute intermission.
By the time the concert concluded, there was a special surprise in store. An encore was played by the orchestra, which was "The Cave of Two Lovers." The screen where the iconic scenes were being played displayed lyrics for the audience to sing along excitedly.
Overall, the "Avatar: The Last Airbender" Live in Concert was definitely worth it because I had always enjoyed watching the "Avatar" saga and listening to its lovely music. I would definitely go again in the future.
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