One good 100% Rotten Tomatoes fantasy TV present has an iconic opening sequence, due to a shocking however legendary line spoken by a personality. The present in query is usually touted as one of many best ever made and has an unimaginable timelessness to its storytelling, themes, and cultural influence.
A present’s opening can enormously affect how viewers find yourself participating with it. Weak and boring opening sequences can typically immediate viewers to surrender on a present even earlier than it dives into its meatier story bits. Sturdy and compelling early arcs, in distinction, can encourage audiences to remain invested until the narrative ball begins gaining extra momentum.
Whereas many fantasy TV exhibits make the error of beginning too slowly and never giving viewers sufficient causes to stay round, a extensively acclaimed sequence of the style does the other. It doesn’t start with any slam-bang motion scenes or main story revelations, however merely makes use of one line as a tool to present viewers a glimpse of what lies forward.
Avatar: The Final Airbender Has One Of The Most Memorable Fantasy Present Openings
The Nickelodeon cartoon does a superb job of giving viewers some exposition in regards to the world it’s unfolding in earlier than diving into its important story beats. After strolling by means of a quick historical past of the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Hearth Nation, and the Air Nomads, the present introduces Katara and Sokka.
At this level, a viewer doesn’t know what to anticipate from the sequence earlier than issues take a shocking flip, and the siblings unleash Aang from an iceberg. With this, the epic animated TV present establishes that it isn’t simply another animated sequence however a lore-rich epic with immense depth and huge mythology.
Nevertheless, simply when a viewer is about to take it too significantly, Aang awakens and asks Katara if she is going to go penguin sledding with him. The benefit and seamlessness with which Avatar: The Final Airbender goes backwards and forwards between severe and lighthearted story beats within the opening sequences establishes how unimaginable it will likely be in future arcs.
Aang’s “Penguin Sledding?” Quote Cements The Present’s Opening As One Of The Biggest
Earlier than Aang awakens within the opening scene, Avatar: The Final Airbender provides a glimpse of its extra severe story parts by exhibiting how desperately Zuko desires to seize the Avatar. His anger and internal battle within the scene are nearly contagious, as they trace to the viewer {that a} bigger and extra severe narrative is at play.
Did You Know: “Avatar” is a Sanskrit language phrase meaning “one who descends.”
Happily, the present doesn’t take too lengthy to return to a lighter story beat when Aang asks Katara if she desires to go penguin sledding. The sudden change within the present’s tone completely highlights how, despite the fact that it’ll dabble with many severe themes surrounding warfare, imperialism, and genocide, it’ll all the time discover a approach to depart viewers with emotions of heat and hope.
How Avatar: The Final Airbender’s First Episode Completely Units Up The Relaxation Of The Collection
A better take a look at Aang’s “penguin sledding” line additionally reveals a tragic reality about his previous. It highlights how lengthy earlier than Katara freed him from the iceberg, he lived in a world the place he was continuously pressurized to shoulder immense accountability because the Avatar. Beneath his playful request lies the painful story of a childhood reduce brief.
Moments later, when Katara and Aang truly find yourself penguin sledding, the 2 younger characters seemingly expertise the harmless joys of childlike surprise after ages as a result of the world they stay in has been scarred by warfare and divides. With such a layered and refined portrayal of its important characters within the opening itself, Avatar: The Final Airbender completely sells itself as among the finest fantasy exhibits ever.
