#also a kataango

[queen-morgana91]

The headband is the most UNIQUE episode of atla. Like, i still can't get over that episode, it was so perfect and different 😭

Never did i expect “kids from an imperialist nation being taught to resist imperialist order and propaganda through the concept of freedom in the art of dancing” to work as a plot point, but it does so WELL

Aang being empathetic and kind is the most important part of this episode, he knew that those kids are being directly harmed by the imperialist propaganda of the Fire Nation (the nation that genocided his people) and he's not blaming them for it. Instead, he bring joy to a bunch of children who had been robbed of the freedom to be kids. And at the end of the episode they helped Aang in return!

Aang learning how Sozin's propaganda has completely erased the true history of the air nomads it's extremely sad but still emphasizes that there is hope, there are always means to overcome and grow away from that sort of stifled society...... in the form of dance! Seeing Katara and Aang dance together was such an inspiring, beautiful scene, and i love how both of them have that moment to embrace the childhood they've both been robbed of ❤

Also Kataango is the most iconic scene of the series btw

[dukeofdelirium]

your top 5 kataang moments? 🩵🧡

oh god that’s a tough one but I’ll try

1) the desert scene when Aang goes into the avatar state and everyone else runs away, but Katara stays and pulls him out of it.

I cant believe love was invented in 2006! seriously though, everything about this scene was so well done from the music to the animation to the writing. it’s one of my favorite episodes in the entire series and one of their best moments imo

2) the scene when Aang tells Katara how much she means to him/how much he loves her at the end of the Serpent’s Pass. It’s seriously such a beautiful scene for them and the fact it’s the episode that follows up The Desert makes it even better. The emotional weight of the scene is so good and it’s just so so sweet

3) the finale scene/the final kiss

It isn’t even specifically the kiss that I like the most. I actually love the hug more. The animation is so beautiful and they look so in love with each other 😭 it’s so well done and the second I hear that Cave of Two Lovers music start playing I start crying fr

4) the entire Kataango dance scene in The Headband. Listen, this remains probably my favorite episode in the entire show. There is something so comforting and feel-good about it! And their little dance is the cutest thing ever. I especially like when he approaches her to dance and she starts nervously playing with her hair (something she does a few different times around him in the series if you pay attention). I just love all the cute details like that and this scene is just so great to see especially since it follows up The Awakening which is also a heavy kataang episode!

5) the “I did get to meet you” scene in the second episode of the show. Idk why, but it’s always just stuck with me. There’s just something very wholesome and pure about such simple dialogue from Aang, and I think it really embodies their entire relationship. That yes, they have suffered extreme loss, but they also would never have met otherwise, and through their meeting they can make something new. And I think that’s such a wonderful message

I could yap about them all day. They’re one of my favorite ships ever, and are very special to me bc they were the first pairing I ever shipped :)

[antizutara]

what are your top 5 kataang moments in the show?

this is such a sweet ask but it’s also so hard, anon!! i love them alllllll

my number one is For Sure but idk abt the others

1. katara finding aang on the fire nation island, running and falling on her knees to hug his head. then she looks at him with happy tears streaming down her face and they share a small forehead touch

2. the serpent’s pass speech when aang indirectly tells katara he loves her and she cries happy tears and they hug :’)

3. first two cheek kisses (s1 and s2) are fighting for this spot—i think i lean towards the second bc it also came with a hug and an interrupted confession, but the avatar’s love playing for the first is so sweet!

4. any time katara’s eyes sparkle bc of aang (two waterbenders, sifu katara, the painted lady glance after he called her a secret hero)

5. all of the cave of two lovers (hand holding under the lights? “even if you’re lost you can’t lose the love because it’s in your heart” foreshadowing katara’s uncertainty to begin a relationship?? the way they parallel oma and shu??? peak)

i refuse to categorize the following:

- the desert hug

- their final kiss

- the kataango

they’re just too iconic.

(i’d include more pictures but tumblr limit :/)

[atla-confessions]

The cloudbending scene was Katara and Aang's first dance together, and almost a year later, the kataango at the dance party shows hows far they've come and how they way they see each other and fit together in each other's movements has deepened, but also that they're still just these two drift-compatible kids who match each other's stride and have fun when they do it.

X

[anxiouslychill]

Cave Jivin'!

An excerpt from my Kataang/Kataango flash fic. ❤️ Also, if you've seen this on tumblr before, it's because my last acct was deleted so here we are 🙃

Summary: Aang's flirting has gotten better. Katara notices. Partly inspired by Episode 2 of Book 3: The Headband. And also the comic Aang's Epic Adventures/Love Potion #8

Aang flitted and flipped around, proudly showing off the dances he learned over 100 years ago, dances that the fire nation generations before them should have passed down. He was enjoying showing the fire nation kids how to express themselves with dance as he had learned to do, but his eyes searched for Katara. He spotted her looking downcast at her table with Sokka and Toph while they seemed to be having a great time. He saw Katara watching him earlier, smiling.  Could it be because he was dancing with On Ji?  He didn't want to assume this, but could it be possible she was...jealous? Aang blushed at the thought. He was only being friendly and showing OnJi some dance moves, but he quickly thought of what he could do to make sure Katara knew who Aang really had his eyes on. 

"Everybody freestyle!" Katara barely heard Aang over the echoing bass of the drums and sat with her chin resting on her palm, trying to look everywhere but the dance floor. She quickly realized that she didn't like seeing Aang dancing with OnJi and her staring at him in adoration, blushing. She didn't blame OnJi, because Aang was, admittedly, naturally charming.  

I have no right to be jealous…Aang is not mine. Katara could feel herself deflate, her stomach sinking, but wouldn't let it show that she was definitely jealous. Katara’s frown deepened, Aang’s approach going unnoticed until he held his hand out to her with a soft smile, a silent invite to dance. Looking up, she met his eyes and instantly smiled, her heart speeding up a bit, but quickly looked down shyly and began fiddling with her hair in the way she did when she was self-conscious or nervous.

"Oh, I-I don't know Aang, these shoes aren't the best and I don't know if I know how to-"

"Take my hand." Aang interrupted gently, his gray eyes so warm and welcoming. Katara didn't hesitate another second to take his hand. She trusted Aang fully.

"Okay." She grinned and allowed Aang to gleefully pull her to the center of the flailing fire nation students.

He whispered in her ear, "Just like water bending practice," Katara nodded eagerly, great idea! Now this she could do. 

Aang and Katara practiced nearly every day, sometimes just to relax they would push a sphere of water in a circle, so that's where they started. They crossed their wrists in a beginning stance, circling. Push, pull. Beginning stance. Circle. Push, pull. Repeat. Soon they found the rhythm of the music.

As they circled each other, more and more eyes became drawn to them and soon Katara looked around to see every pair of wide eyes on them.

"Aang, everyone is watching," she laughed nervously, looking at him to see if he noticed as well.

But Aang's eyes were not on anyone else, no one but Katara. When Aang answered, there was a new glint of self-assurance in his eyes.  His past flirting techniques got him nowhere fast, but right now in this moment, he felt more comfortable than ever to express his affection and attraction for her without actually saying the words. He wouldn't hold back this time. 

"Don't worry about them," Aang said reassuringly. Katara watched as his cutesy smile turned to a smirk. "It's just you and me right now."  

She flushed hotly for a moment, taken aback at first. She had never seen this side of Aang before…and she quickly realized Aang was flirting with her, no hesitation and no uncertainty. This stirred something in Katara, butterflies began fluttering in her stomach, and she instinctively returned his flirtatious energy, showing Aang she was on the same page. 

When they returned to the dance, Katara no longer paid attention to the eyes on them. She only watched Aang, their eyes stayed locked and in that there was a brief moment of unguarded vulnerability that connected them further.

As the music went on, filling the room with its exciting melody, Aang and Katara found themselves lost in a dance that mirrored the deep connection between them. They flowed naturally much like the water they pretended to bend.  The air between them crackled with an electric energy that neither could ignore as they whirled and spun across the dance floor smoothly. 

Aang let himself get lost in this spark that had was kindling between them there in the dimly lit cave. Most importantly, Katara seemed aware of the spark and invited it, reciprocated it even. Aang watched as the background blurred until all he could see was Katara and the way she moved so elegantly, a confident smile playing on her lips. At one point, they twirled into a move that brought their faces mere inches apart, the chemistry between them palpable. Gasps of awe echoed off of the cave walls.

Their moves had become more complex as they added flips and fancy spins, and sweat had built on both of their foreheads. Aang wasn't sure if the pounding in his chest was the drums echoing, or if it was his heart racing from the adrenaline of their connection, either way he didn’t care. 

For the end of the song, Aang took Katara’s hand and twirled her into a dip.  His heart still raced with new desire that their connection had ignited, as they stared wide eyed and grinning at each other, faces flushed and both out of breath.  Aang knew he could release her now, the dance was over, everyone was cheering, but there was a magnetism holding them there for a few moments longer. 

Thabk you SO MUCH for reading! 💖 But wait, it's not the end yet! ❤️ Please take a look at my AO3 for the rest of the story, you dont even have to be a member! What went down between Katara and Aang after they escaped the fire nation that night? Could a simple dance mean something deeper than what they intended? If not, why were they suddenly so nervous around each other? 😉

https://archiveofourown.org/users/anxiouscontent

[northerngoshawk]

For the ask meme, #8 🥰 A fic that gives you warm fuzzy feelings, please!

thanks for the ask!

8. 🥰 A fic that gives you warm fuzzy feelings

a fic that gives me warm fuzzy feelings.... hmmmmm...

interestingly enough it’s oftentimes angst that actually gives me that feeling 😅 buuuuut i shall pick instead a fic that is truly fuzzy and fluffy 😌

i really loved look into your eyes (and the sky's the limit), which is @penguinsledder’s Hamilton AU for ATLA. it’s just filled with so much fluff, from charming but awkward Aang to the Kataango between them and the flirting, there’s just so much in this fic that fills me with so much fuzziness 🥰and! if you want a sequel to this fic, you should also read helpless (i am so into you) by @itsmoonpeaches, which is such an amazing, natural continuation of atarah’s fic. honestly, check them both out, they’re such amazing fluff bombs!

Fic Recs (Ask Meme)

[flameohotwife]

Unspoken, Undeniable Chapter 5

Story summary: Slight AU where Aang and Katara never kiss on the submarine or at EIP, and don't get together on Iroh's balcony after the war. They remain close--best--friends, though, and when Aang reaches adulthood and leaders and nobles try to pressure him into a relationship, he seeks out Katara's help in avoiding them.

Rating: T | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Kiss

By the time they entered the ballroom, many of the invited nobles and dignitaries were already arriving. The air was quickly filling with excitement and chatter and the sound of clacking shoes on marble floors. Katara wove her arm through Aang’s at some point as they made their way through, and she kept admiring the muscle there, stroking his bicep with her hand again. It was no mistake that the robes she’d commissioned resembled his postwar, one-shoulder style more than his official yellow monk’s robes. She purposely positioned herself on the arm that wasn’t draped in yellow and orange and almost melted into a puddle when she realized that the heat she kept feeling was radiating off of his bare chest.

They greeted many various officials and leaders as they wove their way through the growing crowd and towards their seats at the front of the room, Katara’s heart fluttering every time he called her his “girlfriend.” There was a long table set for the Avatar, his closest friends, and King Kuei (and Bosco, of course). Many of the people they greeted on their way did not seem surprised to see the two of them together, although they often looked disappointed. Several people even looked disgusted.

“Oh,” one Earth Kingdom noblewoman said when Aang introduced Katara as his girlfriend. “That’s…an interesting choice.” She looked Katara up and down with her nose pointed in the air and her face scrunched as if she had tasted something very bitter. “You had so many far prettier girls willing to convert to Air Acolytes, you know. Maybe you try one of them, next.”

She gestured at her own daughter—who looked absolutely mortified—before taking her leave. Katara was too shocked to even respond, but the daughter leaned over as she walked past them, the decorative tassels in her hair falling in her face as she whispered, “I am so sorry. If it’s any consolation, I’m very happy for the two of you—congratulations!”

Katara stared after the girl as she scurried away with her parents. She realized her mouth was still hanging open and quickly closed it. Despite the girl’s encouragement, and despite fully expecting this sort of criticism, she could feel her confidence waning. Aang really did deserve someone better, she thought. Someone who would be able to adopt his whole culture and be everything he needed. After all, he had lost everything. She was being selfish to think she could keep him to herself.

Read more on ao3 or ffn

[northerngoshawk]

Rating: G

Words: 712

Katara stared down at the cave floor, feeling rather empty. Seeing Aang dancing with that other girl — what was her name? An Ji? On Ji? — stirred a smoldering, crackling heat in her belly that she couldn’t understand but left her feeling agitated all the same.

She seethed silently to herself as she pictured the blush painted across that girl’s face when Aang offered her his hand. She didn’t understand why Aang chose her to be his dance partner for the demonstration.

As quickly as the anger had come, though, it dissipated, replaced by a sadness that was more than just sadness, an emptiness that went right into her bones.

Why didn’t he choose me?

Logically, she knew it was because the girl was closest to him at the moment. Logically, she knew Aang chose her because he had managed to … acquaint himself with her. Yeah, that was it. Out of all the kids there, he would’ve gone with the people he’s met before. Yeah, that … that made sense.

Logically, she knew she had no reason to be so torn up about it.

But she was anyways.

And so she averted her eyes from the dancing, joyful crowd. She yearned to join them, yearned to feel the playfulness they felt, yet it was as if a chasm had opened up in the cave between her and the party. She felt so … distant. So forgotten.

And nothing could bridge the gap between her and the party.

Nothing except for the footsteps that padded towards her, or the boy who suddenly appeared right in front of her, a soft smile on his face and a hand outstretched in a silent request.

Katara flushed. Her affirmation was right on the tip of her tongue, yet what flew out of her mouth were excuses — excuses, excuses, excuses. Her fingers jumped to her hair by their own will. Her tongue twisted in her mouth in a jumbled mess of words tripping over themselves, but she stilled when she heard three simple words.

“Take my hand.”

This time, only one word jumped from her mouth: “Okay.”

And as Aang pulled her into the dance she would remember for the rest of her life, Katara felt nothing but the fast-paced beating of her heart, the fluttering in her stomach every time Aang’s skin brushed against hers, the thrill of adrenaline as she moved in sync with him.

And when she found herself mere inches away from Aang’s face, a plea sat right on the tip of her tongue. But she swallowed it and instead returned the smile Aang gave her.

As they stood there, sweat pouring off of each other and chests heaving for breath, submerged in the cheers and applause of the kids that had gathered around them, Katara thought she knew what it was like to be carefree again.

Aang helped her back to her feet with a wide grin, a grin that she had seldom seen since Ba Sing Se and so desperately missed, and waved at the kids to continue on before they both stumbled back to Katara’s table, laughter shaking their forms and giddiness making them unsteady on their feet.

When Katara slid back into her seat, she looked back up at Aang, suddenly feeling shy. “Thanks for dancing with me,” she said bashfully.

Aang hesitated for a moment before — much to Katara’s surprise and delight — he leaned forward and kissed her on the tip of her nose. He drew back, red painted across his face, but he looked so ridiculously happy that Katara couldn’t help the giggles that bubbled up from her chest. “It was my pleasure,” he said brightly with a grin and a wink. Heat rose in Katara’s cheeks.

Then, in a blink, he was gone. Katara looked back to see Aang chatting with that girl from before, but the molten mess in her chest from before was gone; there was only a contented hum deep within her, a feeling of fulfillment to replace the deep, aching emptiness in the pit of her soul.

She touched the tip of her nose, still feeling the warmth of Aang’s lips against the skin there, and wondered when it would be her turn to pay him back.

𝗞𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝟮𝟮 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲

𝗡𝗼.𝟬𝟱

鼻梁-玩心

Nose - playfulness

I love fire nation clothes so much!🥰🥰🥰

原表格来自[pixic]illust_id=27336280

二次创作[我]lanjun_lazy

[nautiscarader]

2020 in animation - recap

So, 2020. 

Yeah, I have to say I’m not entirely satisfied. Would not recommend, 1 star. 

But I would be willing to bump it to 1.5, if only because of one factor: the animation. 

Because I have to say, this was the best animated end of the world so far! And if there was something that kept our spirits up, it was the cartoon industry!

Just like last year, I should preface this by saying that this is highly subjective selection. Even when one is confined to their Hobbit holes for better part of the year because of *waves hands* everything around, 

day still only has 24 hours, so I have missed a few shows. (I should also apologise for omitting a few major ones last year, like Milo Murphy’s Law S2, Ducktales, or She-Ra. This is why I started keeping a track this year). I’m sure I will catch up with those I missed this year some time in the future, but for now, let’s see what this year has gifted us with.

And right from the start, January opens the race with very interesting propositions. We were still riding on an incredibly high wave from last year, with Infinity Train season 2.

This one focused on Tulip’s mirror, and pushed the season towards a much darker and complex story, diving deep into one’s personal journey and identity. There were tears, math, deer, and cops being murdered. Brutally. 

t was followed by two newcomers: The Owl House and first season of Kipo and The Age of the Wonderbeast. Both of them would dominate first half of the year, with The Owl House’s traditional, week-to-week airings, and Kipo's seasons appearing in  June and October.

The Owl House, a strong contender in "What will be the Next Gravity Falls?" contest, invited us to a world full of magic, mystery, elongated owl demons and some dark secrets. It has also created a milestone for Disney, introducing an LGBT couple with characters of bisexual Luz Noceda and lesbian Amity Blight. Their Grom dance has risen to the top of my animates scenes, polling very closely to the unforgettable Kataango.

On the other hand, Kipo has taken us to the post-apocalyptic world filled with mutant animals, revealing that despite the end of the world, our old vices and animosities have survived in underground burrows, and we have infected the overworld of giant doggos and suit-wearing frogs with them. 

Kipo did not pull any punches regarding commentary about our society, at the same time giving us hope in the form of the main protagonist, who was able to spread friendship and understanding amongst the mutes, as well as the humans that had to survive. And in the world that we have found ourselves in, it was a pretty darn good lesson.

February would bring end to two seasons of airing cartoons, Big Hero Six season 2 and Miraculous season 3, as well as another newcomer that won the hearts of fans: Glitch Techs, with its "second" season arriving in August. And while in my opinion he show wasn't as good as the other two new titles, I am clearly in minority, as the show about Ghostbuters-like team of game console technicians gained huge popularity... though not enough to keep the show afloat. As of writing this, it is currently in limbo, which is a shame, as the second set of 10 episodes finally added some much needed ongoing story.  

in March, another show from last year ended - Steven Universe Future. As we have expected, it tackled slightly more mature themes, showing how much Steven needed that therapy we have wished him, telling an important tale of finding one's worth and one's self. its ending might not have been as explosive as those of the original show, or the movie, but it left Steven’s story as open as an open road, and deep in our hearts, we all knew it would look like this.   

March was also the time when majority of western world caught the coronavirus, and that caused quite a turmoil with the movie and animation industry. One of the first victim of changed schedule was Disney's Onward, which was released on-line on Disney+ quickly after its theatrical release.

I have mixed feelings towards “Onward”. For such interesting promise, I think it made a few questionable and down right boring turns, though the unorthodox message at the end of it was its strongest point, and it was one I haven’t seen in a while, so it was worth watching just for that.  

April was relatively quiet (aside from more end of the world stuff); brought us third season of Ducktales that spread throughout the year, while May gave us final, fifth season of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. 

To my eternal shame, I missed on this show when it premiered, and due to the lockdown, I binge-watched the previous four right in time for powerful and explosive season 5. And even though Catra and Adora finally gave us exactly what we needed, some fans felt slightly unsatisfied, calling for a movie, like the Steven Universe one to be made. And I’d be all for it, the rest of universe needs saving from the Horde! Also, cats in space - hilarious. 

May also revealed a new player on the streaming field: HBO Max, who surprised us with new Looney Tunes Cartoons, much more in the spirit of the legendary originals than the often-criticised Looney Tunes Show from 2011-2014. And in my opinion, it did; one could feel the same fluidity in animation, dedication to slapstick, and synchronisation with music than in the very first cartoons with Bugs and Daffy.

HBO Max would, however, return in June with first of series of Adventure Time original movies called "Distant Lands". The first centred around BMO, with second one - Obsidian giving us a glimpse into Bonnibel and Marceline's lives.

Distant Lands allowed people to revisit the odd, odd world of Ooo and learn about its colourful inhabitants, taking turns to seeing their past and the future, an, as usual, showing us that post-apocalyptic world can teach us valuable and meaningful lessons.   

Just in time for full lockdown in our burrows, aforementioned Kipo season 2 premiered in June, together with another cartoon movie, this time featuring We Bare Bears. While their movie wasn't anything to write songs about, it was exactly like the show, providing some wholesome content right when we needed it.

And just in case you needed more wholesome adventures, Craig of the Creek's second season ended, and its third season began, reminding us of HOW COOL LIFE WAS WHEN OUTERNET WASN’T SCARY AND WE COULD STILL WALK OUTSIDE FOR FUN AND NOT TO HUNT TOILET PAPER.

Just like last year, July was not dogs' days, but frogs'. Amphibia season 2 started raining on our heads, but unlike last year, its schedule wasn't a daily one, spreading the episodes throughout the Summer and early Autumn, with its second part arriving in February of 2021. There were more roadtrips, more mysteries and MORE MARCY.

August was equally strong: aforementioned Glitch Techs "season 2" premiered, offering better and more plot-heavy episodes than the first ten episodes. Unfortunately, the show's future is unclear; the uneven divide of plot between the seasons probably contributed to the show not being renewed. 10 new episodes apparently are written, but await in sleep mode, until Nickelodeon remembers about it.

HBO MAX picked up Infinity Train for its third season, after being derailed by Cartoon Network. And if you thought that killing a mirror cop was shocking... then this season has pushed the limit of what can be shown in modern children's cartoon to a frightening degree. The schedule was once again, weirder, with first five episodes airing on the day of the premiere, ending with a cliffhanger (literally) that only contributed to the shock factor and made us wait anxiously for its conclusion. It was bold, it was dark, it was memorable. 

And just like Glitch Techs, Infinity Train waits on a side track, unsure if it will be picked up, or will it be abandoned and left as a canvas for graffiti artists.

However, to end the Summer, a truly amazing TV movie has arrived on Disney Plus, where we came back to good, old Danville and could witness Candace against the universe. The new Phineas and Ferb movie brought back the glorious memories of this fantastic show, with the same humour, writing, abundance of catchy songs and a surprisingly deep moral.

In September we have seen the start of Big Hero 6 season 3 and a odd change of format. Instead of standalone 22-minute episodes, the show now consists of two 11-minute segments. In opinion of many, this weakened the stories, forcing them to be more comedy-oriented, and shortening the potential emotional drama. Still, it gave us funny, short stories, but they did clash with the two previous season, not to mention the movie.

However, if that wasn't up to your taste, Ducktales season 3 also started airing, and continued its first part up until December with more action- and plot-driven episodes, including the Darkwing Duck crossover, serving as a pilot of the spin-off. 

Later in December fans have learned that Season 3 will be its last, which broke the hearts of many duck fans; however, it seems that the season has been written as the last one in mind, and the news of the ending was known to the creators, which gives us hope for a kick-ass finale somewhere in 2021.

Miraculous New York, telling arguably one of the most mature storylines, opened the "Heroez" world to some new characters and new opportunities, with two more specials, taking place in Shanghai and Brazil, meant to air somewhere next year. AND I DO HOPE WE WILL SEE MORE LOCAL FOOD VENDOR SUPERHEROES LIKE HOT DOG DAN. 

October was the month of two season 3's: Carmen Sandiego and Kipo. In case of Carmen, as it is usual with Netflix, the "season" was only a half-one, with just a handful standalone episodes, and just a dash of more ongoing plot. 

For Kipo, however, season 3 was the end, and what a glorious one it was. Fans were saddened to learn of it, but Kipo was always imagined as a 3-part story, and it showed. The finale proved more than satisfying ending to the plot, elevating Kipo to one of the smartest cartoon characters we should all try to aspire to.

In November, Distant Lands: Obsidian aired, focusing on everyone’s favourite candy/vampire couple, and the long and complicated love between Bonnibel and Marceline. And as usual, it showed us that relationships are not always as straightforward as we would like them to be, but with enough music and teamwork, no enemy is big enough. 

For the next new show, I’ve waited with the most amount of excitement and anxiety. Because while I was completely fine with other reboots and re-imaginings to take creative takes, new Animaniacs, (airing on Hulu) had to be perfect and had to be the lightning that struck twice. 

And sadly... it wasn’t. It was still good, but some people criticised (incorrectly imho) the amount of political topics, while I mourned almost total cast-ration of additional characters, aside from Pinky and the Brain. This truly weakened the possibilities it could have had. It was still very good, but you can feel that some of the original charm was lost, due to these odd, odd limitations. 

December brought us a new original Apple TV movie, Wolfwalkers. A beautifully animated folk tale of friendship and social divides, and how short-sight can cause the collapse of both arguing sides, reminding me very much of the intelligence and heart of original “How to Train Your Dragon”.  

We’ve had to wait two years for the return of arguably one of the most wholesome shows out there: Hilda. Second season dived into deeper mysteries that permeate the rich and colourful troll-ridden land, we saw the return of some familiar characters, and introduced a whole new storyline, that ended with a surprising cliffhanger. Still as wholesome, but now with a tiny bit of Police incompetence. Also Twig, lots of Twig.   

Just like Onward, Pixar’s highly anticipated Soul aired on Disney+, telling a very mature story about finding one’s purpose in life, what that purpose actually means, and whether it exists at all. Beautifully animated, with fantastic soundtrack, it was a stunning tribute to creativity, and it never dumbed down its profound, open message about following your dream.   

And just if you thought that Soul was going to be 2020′s last note (pun very much intended), right before the year ended, DC Super Hero Girls concluded its first season on a rather anti-climactic two-parter. That being said, the season, running from March of last year, was packed with short, bite-sized, funny stories, taking interesting spins on existing comic book characters. For a comic book noob like me, it was perfectly fine, and I can’t wait for the second season next year. 

And so, we have reached the series finale of humanity. 

2020 ends in just under a day. What will 2021 bring us? I do not know, and if the animated shows of this year have taught me anything, is that the future is an always open book, full of worries and challenges, but also opportunities and possibilities. 

...

And in reality I was too lazy to check any news sites about upcoming projects.

[kataang-dungeon]

Batman ships Kataang

You know in your heart that it’s true. He puts on an emo facade but deep down he is sweet for the sweeties.

He has a soft spot for both of them because he knows their pain of losing parents. But they’re so much better at coping than he is. He doesn’t know if he wants to adopt them or let them adopt him. Every romantic interaction they have is bread that feeds his orphan heart.

He hides in the shadows, watching them and playing Cupid. The Cave of Two Lovers kiss was set up by him. The cave itself and the myth of Oma and Shu already existed, he just manipulated the fire nation soldiers to force their path through the cave. Then he sent the bats that ultimately led to Appa causing a cave-in. Boom, forced alone time in the romantic dark.

And then in Ba Sing Se they were reunited in a cave. The plan was for Aang to confess his newly-admitted love for Katara and to kiss among the glow-y crystals again. That plan was foiled by Azula and Zuko, but it was no less impactful on their relationship.

And then. THEN. The kataango. I mean. This is every kataang stan’s dream. And it also happened in a cave, once again. IT’S NOT A COINCIDENCE.

Batman ships kataang and you can’t change my mind.

[the-last-cuddlebender]

Kataango but with Airbending? Kataango but with Airbending.

👏Kataango👏hc👏time👏 (and ~ficlet~ because I can:D)

*ahem*

Katara 100% returned the flirty but also very loving gesture of the Kataango by tailoring a newer one for Aang, except this one with airbending forms as a base instead of waterbending. 

What would the dance look like?

The original Kataango was a “push and pull” dance because water is the element of change. I think the airbending Kataango would be a “tumble and turn” dance—like the representation of fall leaves being blown around in a giddy wind (since fall is the season for Air).

The airbending fighting-style of spinning behind an opponent’s back could mean that a dance of airbending forms would be each partner spinning and playing around the other, trying to be the “winner” to get behind the other’s back. It’s as much a game as it is a dance, just like airbending is as much a game as it is a form of bending/martial art—it’s why Aang approaches life and his problems as a game to be both won and enjoyed.

Bending helps create the framework of a bender’s worldview. It’s the deepest, most intimate part of themselves because they have to master the nature of their element so they can master their own nature, and only then can the element and the bender work together (interact or “dance”, if you will).

^Katara, being a young master and such a talented waterbender, thoroughly understands the intimate relationship between a bender and their element.

^^Katara also understands what it feels like to be the only bender of an element. 

^^^Katara also also understands, more than anything, the crushing loneliness or ‘other-ness’ from not having a fellow bender of her element to share her bending with. She was waterbending at least since before she was eight-years-old since Kya knew about it. Katara was alone with her waterbending for a very long time. She knows it must be hard for Aang to not have anyone to practice or express the element of his birth with. What’s the point of having a way of interacting with the world if there’s no one to interact with?

How would Katara (secretely) learn airbending forms?

Passively just by proxy of Aang. The airbean can’t take two steps without airbending, and Aang and Katara are each other’s main sparring partners. Katara recognizes/retains the airbender style and movements well enough to replicate them over time. She has to learn to anticipate and predict Aang’s moves to beat him, after all. And because air and water both have flow-y movements since they’re both fluids, it’s all the easier for her to remember and reproduce the forms.

By understanding airbending as a martial art form in addition to understanding it as an extension of Aang’s senses (and in addition to understanding airbender culture) Katara knows she’ll gain a greater understand of Aang overall because she’ll understand his way of interacting with the world (by using that way to interact with him).

Katara doesn’t need to know airbending forms EXACTLY for the dance to work. The original Kataango was waterbending forms just in the beginning. After that, Aang and Katara made like water and found a flow together, even briefly including the Ba Sing Se dance (that Katara was minorly jealous of Aang dancing with On Ji for—except Katara and Aang are an exact mirror when they do it❤️). 

For the airbending Kataango, Katara just needs to know enough to start it off—just needs to know the beat of a butterfly’s wings that they can foster together into a Hurricane, if you will.

How would this all play out???

I’M GLAD YOU ASKED

*ahem*

Katara plans a trip with Aang to clean up/rebuild the Southern Air Temple. She suggests they start with the South Wall since Aang talked about having so many good memories there (all except one—when he wasn’t allowed to play with his friends right before he ran away.)

In the original Kataango, Aang tugging Katara up out of her seat was like a waterbender pulling water up out of a river. For the airbending Kataango, Katara leaves Aang little notes around the temple for him to follow as a trail to where she is waiting for him at the South Wall. 

The last time Aang was at the South Wall (before the Storm and the ice) he was looking for a partner to play with and was pushed away. Katara intends to use the space to dance with him in the playful way of the airbenders so that, this time, when he looks for a partner, Aang finds one ready and waiting for him.

When Aang finds Katara, she’s already doing an airbending form. She’s dancing it in a circle, but she’s doing it slowly. Once she sees him, her moves circle towards and around him. Aang instinctively joins in—very much like how a blowing wind picks up stray currents to swirl with it, ultimately feeding off each other and speeding up.

The original Kataango was in front of a crowd where Aang told Katara to focus on him instead of all the faces she saw. They’re alone at the Southerner Temple, but also not. Aang is haunted by a million faces that he can’t see, but he can feel them watching him.

Katara tells Aang the same as he once told her.

“Don’t worry about them. It’s just you and me right now.”

Aang has no words, and Katara doesn’t want to talk, either, so they ‘talk’ with laughs and giggles (like Aang does whenever he airbends). Their dance speeds up as they feed off each other, and their laughs crescendo all the louder and echo through the halls like howling winds churning into a Hurricane.

Aang hadn’t shared his airbending—hadn’t shared his soul’s dance—with a partner in so, so long...

Aang is crying but still laughing along with her at the end. They still work to out-tumble each other and get behind one another. Katara wins because Aang is laughing so hard and so genuinely that it pains him and gives him a stitch in his side. He’s still crying, but the streams were always—through their whole dance—thin and rolling like watery giggles or wet arms hugging his cheeks.

Instead of twirling him into a dip, Katara spins him (like an airbending swirl, if you will) into her arms for a hug. They speak in giggles and more laughs while they shift their weights from foot to foot and very slowly rock in a calm circle. 

They hold each other tight at the focal point of where they once spun around each other, so they’re essentially standing in the eye of their Hurricane and enjoying a very sudden, very calm, very intimate peace. Then there’s quiet and stillness that, after their dance, leaves their skin humming and their ears hearing an imaginary hush of wind like they had just ducked indoors, into safety and something warm, after sprinting through a storm.

Because when the wind met the water, their dance became a Hurricane~

[imreallyhereforkataang]

This becomes even better when we remember how they share Aang's glider in the comics, relying solely on his bending rather than the currents around the Northern Air Temple.

But also within the show itself, I feel like, in a single moment, that line most resonates here:

Where once again we have Katara demonstrating her total trust in Aang, unwavering even after he himself has burned her.

me, whispering: it’s a metaphor for their relationship

[112aang]

Let’s talk about “The Puppetmaster,” and how it has some pretty heavy Kataang, shall we?

Katara shows her feelings for Aang in “the puppetmaster,” and this episode also has some heavy kataang moments.

Now, many people probably don’t see anything in this episode that shows katara showing feelings for aang. Or that it doesn’t even hold kataang moments at all- but, it does.

At the very beginning when they are telling stories around the campfire, they’re all pretty scared after katara’s story. But what I want to talk about from this scene, is when toph hears the people under the mountain. Aang, katara, and sokka hug each other because they are scared. After sokka let’s go, aang continues to hold onto katara, and I see it as him being scared himself, but also trying to protect her. She leans into him for safety, to show that she trusts him.

Now, let’s skip a little bit towards the end of the episode. Katara’s fight against hama is so legendary, and very amazing. You might be asking yourself, “but, where in this entire sequence does katara show her feelings for aang?” Well, i’ll tell you. When aang and sokka try to join in on the fight against hama, she bloodbends them in order to use them against katara. As she dodges each of them, katara freezes aang to a tree, saying “im sorry, aang.” Aang then proceeds to say, “it’s okay.” He’s literally frozen to a tree, and just doesn’t care. Anyway, back to katara showing her feelings... After this moment, when hama sends sokka and aang flying towards one another, she intends for sokka to kill aang. She doesn’t know (we can assume) that aang is the avatar, much less even has bending. So she is inevitably sentencing aang to death by sokka’s sword. This leads me to my point: when katara chooses to bloodbend as the only option, she does it to save aang. Not sokka- aang. There is no way in this scenario, that aang could hurt sokka. Therefore, she is saving aang. She openly shows her feelings for aang as she screams “no” and bloodbends hama. She doesn’t want to see the boy she loves, her best friend, be killed right in front of her, and she can’t stand losing him.

Now, to my next point: we end the episode with kataang comfort. Notice in the outward scene, as katara falls to her knees crying, it is aang who consoles her. Sokka is there, but he’s a bit off to the side. It is aang who sits by her side and hugs her as she breaks down. This is something that is so beautiful about kataang- the constant comfort they provide for each other. I could go on and on analyzing these many, many scenes in which this occurs, but let’s save that for another post.

In conclusion, kataang can be found in every single episode, whether it be obvious, like the “kataango” in the cave, or the subtle moments like the ones I described. They truly are amazing.

[shifuaang]

For the fandom meme: H, E, Y

H - What is your favorite source text for fandom stuff - I would have to say animation because it really shaped my whole childhood and taste in media.

E- Have you added anything cracky/hilarious to your fandom, if so, what - There are many things that go on in certain discord servers that I cannot disclose. In terms of the more public sphere of fandom, I’m quite proud of my ATLA as Vines videos. ALSO I was part of the Kataangers that invented the term Kataango, so I think that’s pretty special.

Y - What are your secondhand fandoms (fandoms you aren’t in personally but are tangentially familiar with because your friends/people on your dash are in them) - SPOP and the new MCU shows

[thinkingisadangerouspastime]

For the ATLA ask game! 3, 4, and 9?

YEAH I WAS HOPING TO GET SOME OF THESE!!

3. Which character(s) deserves more appreciation?

MAI. EVERYONE SLEEPS ON MAI BC THEY DON'T LIKE MAIKO WHICH IS FINE SURE BUT MAI IS AMAZING AND SHE DESERVES ALL THE LOVE! And of course Aang always deserves more appreciation 👏

4. Favorite moment in each Book?

Water: when Aang discovers Gyatso's skeleton (it hurts™ and also that's when you really get hit with how Aang is the sole survivor of genocide)

Earth: when Aang dies and Katara brings him back to life tied with when Appa gets stolen and Katara calms Aang out of the Avatar state (I love Toph's introduction too tho)

Fire: the Kataango, Kataang kiss (the music?? HELLO?? love it), the lion turtle, "hello, Zuko here", and Sokka's "sculpture" of Suki are honorable mentions but main faves are all of "The Firebending Masters" ep and Aang taking Ozai's bending

(i think book 3 might be my fave lmao)

9. Any unpopular opinions?

lion turtle was not a cop out some of y'all just didn't get the foreshadowing apparently, Maiko really isn't a bad ship idk what's wrong with y'all, not a huge fan of Ty Lee being descended from Air Nomads theory (based on canon like it doesn't make sense to me lol), Katara did not talk about her mom too much y'all are just mean, Aang's arc is as complex and nuanced as Zuko's some of y'all just ignore that bc Zuko is "more attractive", Zuko did not understand Katara as well as fanon tends to think, Zukaang has more roots in canon than Zutara and Zukka (nothing against those ships of course I like aspects of all of them!), Aang taking Ozai's bending was the perfect end to the show, Azula deserves redemption but not within the show of atla (e.g. her spiraling downward and sitting at rock bottom by the end of the series made most sense), I would say Sokka is underappreciated but the fandom is paying him the attention he deserves lately so I feel better about that now 🥰 (y'all still sleeping on Aang tho), Monk Gyatso was pretty much the best parental figure in atla, and Mai is super similar to Toph some of y'all just hate Maiko so much you project that anger onto Mai. smh.

(idk if all of these are unpopular tbh but they're all things I've seen debated so. lol)

[oliviermiraarmstrongs]

SHIP HISTORY MEME

Embrace your past and get to know your friends’s fandom origins!

Rules: Post gifs of your fandoms / ships starting with your most current hyperfixation and work backwards. (Bonus points if you share any stories about how or when you got into that ship! But not necessary!!) Then tag anyone whose fandom history you’d like to learn about!

Tagged by @betweenironyandsilver! 😁

(Not posting gifs bc I’m on mobile and can’t find any good ones. also this will be streamlined and half-remembered fandom history for me so 🤷‍♀️)

Daenerys and Sansa (A Song of Ice and Fire)

I’m gonna cull down my ASOIAF ship list to just a few since I get fixated on a new relationship like every month (honorable mentions: sansa/sandor, sansa/margaery, arya/gendry, theon/jeyne, many others because I’m an extreme multishipper) but dany/sansa has become like, THE ONE. I just want these two sweet girls to find happiness with each other! They’ve suffered so much and just want to go home, and I think they should find it together. I know they’re not gonna be the titular “fire and ice”, but they should be!

Fleabag/Priest (Fleabag)

All I can say is OOF!!!!

Finn/Rey/Poe(/Rose)

I can’t get into just Poe/Finn or Rey/Ben or Finn/Rose because I don’t want any of them to be separated! As much as I love The Last Jedi, it needed more trio interaction, and TRoS only kinda half-delivered on it. And Rose deserves better, and she and Rey should’ve bonded! Kylo Ben is kind of included in here, I just wish he had more interaction with Finn and Poe. I just want these lonely, dysfunctional, emotionally stunted man-children to find a family with each other!

Link and Zelda (Legend of Zelda)

I get very invested in any Zelda game, so naturally I’m very attached to them! I’ve loved them since I was a kid playing OoT and TP (partially because I had a crush on both of them, and also on every girl Link has vaguely romantic interactions with like Malon, Midna, Ilia, etc. where’s my Zelda dating sim). They’re SO CUTE in Skyward Sword, and Breath of the Wild makes me love them even more!

Roy/Riza (Fullmetal Alchemist)

I love it as much as Ed/Winry, Al/Mei, and Ling/Lan Fan, but I gotta say Royai because like, when will a ship go this hard. “Will you follow me?” “If that is what you wish, then even into hell.” The DRAMA! The HISTORY! The DEVOTION!

Stiles/Lydia (Teen Wolf)

I was such trash for this show, but can you blame me with them? Say what you will about “snarky, dorky comic relief best friend gets with popular girl”, but they managed to bypass the common tropes by actually having good chemistry and a lot in common! 14-year-old me started watching because of them! It wasn’t enough to make me finish it though. But apparently they were endgame, so good for them.

Korra/Mako (Legend of Korra)

That’s right, time for a little controversy. I was down to clown for these two before the show even started, and when it did start? Ooooh boy! I will still maintain the opinion that s1 of Korra is the best, but that’s a whole other conversation. Episode three is like, SUCH a good showcase of how these two work so well as a team, with Mako calm and collected and Korra fierce and bold. She helps him break out of his shell, he helps her reign in her impulsive tendencies! I know the romantic drama of s1 could’ve been written better, but I still think they work well together. They just needed to grow more as people. I do like Korra/Asami, but I don’t love how their relationship was handled; but that’s a bigger discussion about my beef with the last two seasons. Anyway, I’m still a huge Mako defender, and an even bigger Korra defender, and I am humble enough to admit that I was one of the many who were prepared to pop the biggest bottles. (I still follow the girl who made that post, avatarskorra. She’s funny and takes the whole thing really well).

Maka/Soul (Soul Eater)

I’m just a sucker for ships who don’t have an explicitly romantic relationship, but are such a good team and have a such a close bond that it seems like they’re undergoing a veeeeeery slow burn.

James/Lily (Harry Potter)

They were my first experience reading fanfiction! I loved looking at a lot of fanart and gifsets and other creations on tumblr, and I was just losing my mind over this relationship between two dead characters! Just. The DRAMA of it all. I mean, I liked the magic parts of Harry Potter, but I really wanted a seven-year-spanning slow burn teen drama about the marauders and their shenanigans. Also, I was into the other canon HP ships (yeah, I was and still kinda am a canon fucker), but what I really loved was luna/neville because they were my faves.

Aang/Katara, Zuko/Mai (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

The canon fuckery strikes again! ATLA was one of my first experiences with fandom, which is a terrible introduction because y’all were a bunch of feral children ready to throw hands at any moment (same goes for LoK). But the show itself delivered so many pure, joyful moments. Aang’s face when he first sees Katara? Katara’s devastation when Aang nearly gets killed by Azula, followed by her relief at managing to resurrect him? The Kataango? Don’t try and tell me this ain’t the cutest shit ever. And I will go to bat for my moody teens Zuko and Mai! “I don’t hate you.” is some romantic shit!

Chuck/Ned (Pushing Daisies)

I loved romance as a kid, but I was afraid of sex and marriage, so they were made for me. Everything about this show made me happy, and also I had a crush on both of them.

I tag @sctine, @anipokie, @the-ginger--mermaid, @borispavlikovskys @trxters, @altraviolence, and anyone else who wants to get in on it!