I think they should have just stuck to what the characters actually looked like.... And used the correct names for the characters..... Then maybe it wouldn't have sucked so much.
i literally CRIED after watching the last airbender. WHY?! Why ruin such a beautiful series, M Night Shylaman?! Me and my brother grew up watching this epic show and this series was a big part of my childhood. The movie was horrible and boring. The only good things were the effects. sometimes i pray that someone else will redo this movie. and it's not only the cast that sucked. the whole thing was lacking excitement. plus, how would you like it if they casted Harry Potter with black people?
I have proudly never seen nor bought the movie. I have been offered to join a friend who owns it to watch it and turned it down. I do NOT support racebending and will stand firm despite it being over.
the sad thing is that m night shayamalan isn't even listening to the complaints from the fans. and at least pick actors that can be funny and act better. i know i'm spamming but really, i am UPSET. i have watched the series for about, what, 5, 6 years? and i can't believe that after the uproar that came with the first movie, he's making a second and third movie, too. at least there's going to be a new series of the cartoon. the creators are probably trying to salvage what's left.
and then there was the rich comedy that you associated with avatar. IT WAS NEVER THERE! it was just angst and terrible terrible portrayals, too. and don't even get me started on the name pronunciations. correct me if i'm wrong but the spirit world didn't play that sort of role in the cartoon. honestly. it's just terrible. and the actress for azula. she looks right for the part but in the movie, she was trying so hard to be sinister. they shouldn't have even touched this franchise.
don't get me wrong, i wasn't against the idea of a live action movie. but then i watched it and it was terrible. race does not matter but in a series where it is so set on central asia, it's just disrespectful to make all the extras the right race but the main characters not. and the bending. honestly, how is the fire nation supposed to be the most powerful if all they have is martial arts and have to carry around a pot of fire when invading another nation?
Anyone who TRULY paid attention and loved the series knows that although the architecture and general feel of the series borred a lot from eastern cultures, every living thing from the animals to the "humans" was purposely meant to convey peaceful mixtures of ethnicity and breeding. There was no reason to cast all Asians as the characters on the show did not even look Asian or any other discernible ethnicity more than they did any other ethnicity.
@lim213 If anyhting, they should have went out of their way to find actors of mixed heritage if they had tried at all to honor the source material. The movie sucked abysmally for any number of other reasons any way, but this constant racial crap about the casting has always annoyed me. People missed the entire "one world, live in harmony ffs" message the series tried to showcase.
They didn't use photo shop to make the actors look like the characters. Just because someone looks caucasian, has light skin and speaks english doesn't mean there caucasian.
Could someone tell me why ppl make live action movies from anime series? It just seems like a horrible idea to me. It just seems to me that it would be impossible to translate what makes anime so awesome into real live movies. As beautifully demonstrated by the teaser trailer. Well done on that. It made me giggle.
Has anyone EVER seen a good live action from an anime?
Great video. Thank you for making it. the many individuals who are insulting and trying to silence those who protested the casting are, whether they know it or not, perpetuating the racist system in America that places whites squarely in the center of everything. By their line of ignorant "thinking," whites should play EVERY single role cast for a movie. That's what all their arguments come down to. When they race shouldn't matter, they mean they can't be bothered with minorities getting roles.
the rant its fucked up there all should be asian... well aang looked alright i gues and the water tribe could be caucasian but make them look a bit asian
This is really random, but I just don't understand why they'd describe the airbenders as a "once powerful nation" in the trailer when they don't fight... When I think of powerful, I think of the Fire Nation because they were dominating the world and all that stuff. When I think airbenders, I think kind, playful, enlightened, etc, etc.
im not mad about the fact that the races of the characters is wrong ........im mad about the fact that the movie sucked.........it was totally different from the TV show
It's a good thing Caucasians were in this movie, cause if the races were chosen as per the source material, then the BO failure will be blamed on the cast. Cause less face it, the biggest problem wasn't the casting(though it did play a role) but the godawful direction of M. Night Shyamalan. At least now we know whose fault it is.
Everyone knew this movie was going to suck when the Director tried to get Jesse McCartney to play Zuko...what is he gonna do SING Them to death! Yes i know they went with Dav Patel But that was because jesse had to Go on tour... So they Got him... The Movie got an 8%...Thats the directors fault for setting up a bad movie and casting a bad cast...Im just saying
YES! I COMPLETELY AGREE! WAY TO SCREW IT UP! and what was with the frigging fire benders??? seriously. now, hollywood is trying to make death note. and bleach. fuck the world. i mean, i don't want to be racist, but seriously. you couldn't even see the scar for zuko!! haha. and nice song. haha. azula. did you see azula? she is terrible. i mean, she reminds me of the girl from how to be indie. and she's terrible. haha, i love d-techno life.
I understand that the bending in the show is derived from real life martial arts. To say that the culture is from a certain area is questionable. Everyone that type casts Aang as Asian is sadly wrong. I am not saying that the casting for the movie were good choices, I actually do not agree with the choices myself. All that I am trying to get people to understand is that the place where this story takes place is a made up world. THE STORY DOES NOT TAKE PLACE ON THE PLANET EARTH!ThereforenoASIA
@monnkeythemaster That is REALLY said excuse in dismissing the ATROCITY that was committed in this PIECE OF SHIT film. Lord of the Rings people! Narnia bitches! That shit AIN'T ON EARTH EITHER, but the characters in those universes were derived FROM WHITE FUCKIN PLACES, and as they should be muthafuckin white, simple as fuckin that, and likewise in this story, the characters WERE CLEARLY ASIAN, it was deliberate and malicious, and should be burned da fuck up!
I'm still going to watch it for the sake of argumentation. Chances are I'll like it anyway. haha. But a valid point that's been raised before is that it's a huge slap in the face that the series is about EAST-Asian culture and bam, we get non EAST-ASIAN actors. granted, said actors are in rare supply (especially the skilled kind) but hey, that's what auditions are for. cheaper talent fees, no?
that was a thoughtful piece, very well done. And I love the way you added the true Aang Katara Sokka and co. critiquing the movie with the ersatz Aang as they did in the episode when they saw the fire nation acting troup's version of them...THANK YOU for that!
so why is everyone so mad about this? Karate Kid is coming out and they replaced a white actor from the old movies with a black one and all the others white people with asians! i dont find that offensive but why do you get mad about airbender but not about that? other races can do anything but as soon as a white person does or says something about another race he's a racist.
It's safe to say that it doesn't fucking matter what you guys say because he won't change it. Anyone who says their going to "boycott" the movie, shut the hell up because you know you are still going to see it. That boycott shit is getting old. Just wait for the movie to come out then you can give your opinion.
@Ballaballa175yahoo, yah i know your gonna say it dnt matter if i dnt pay to watch it, but it will make me feel alot better and no TRUE fan of avatar will spend any money on that crap!!!!
@sylverwicca Lmao, I don't give a shit, if you said your boycotting it, BOYCOTT IT don't still watch the movie. Dam I mean honestly. Well it doesn't matter, even if you guys do end up liking the movie, you won't admit it because you are too stubborn to admit that you were wrong. Can't beleive all of you guys are screaming"boycott" when your still going to watch the movie, stfu or boycott the movie. Choose one.
@Ballaballa175yahoo, hey im not saying its gonna be a shit movie, it might be good... all im saying is im not going to pay to see it there is a big difference.
First time watching this. I couldn't agree more with your stance on the issue. I will not be seeing this movie nor will I ever recommend it to any of my friends. It's insensitive and egregious. There are plenty of talented Asian-American actors who could of played these characters. The sad fact that they had preferential treatment toward Caucasians for a clearly Asian role says it all. Best wishes and keep up fighting. I will use this video to make a stand. Thanks.
I find it funny that even IN the show, they had a play that was basically off the mark. I guess the creators of Avatar had a little foreshadowing to know that a live action movie based on the show would be just as bad as the play.
As for the video, are you sure that Zuko is Japanese. He really came off as Chinese, even with the topknot.
i laughed to tears at the "The trees will be set alongside the asian actors in the movie. IN THE BACKGROUND" XDDD seriously, the asian actors might as well be playing trees.
It's important to remember that this is an Asian-inspired world. Sokka and Katara are not Inuit. They are Water Tribe people. Now, my issues with the casting are not that these people are/aren't Asian, but that they bear little to no resemblance to the characters they're portraying. Given the heavy Asian influence in the world though, it was a great chance to get some ethnicities exposed and it totally missed the boat....
But I agree totoally with everything you said in this video. I'm a film student myself and when I saw the cast for Avatar my jaw literally droped. Since then my friends and I have been working on a fan creation of Avatar. It's on the back burner because of school but come this summer we should be able to film and put it out on youtube (hopefully lol). And I can assure you that everyone in our cast looks like the original characters I made dead sure of that ;)
@xDarkxMousyx Wow, that sounds excellent! I'd love to hear about details of your fan movie work-in-progress, because that sounds awesome! I would have loved to have done something like that myself but I don't have the resources or equipment or skill to do it, hehe. Keep me updated once you get started. =)
I am also a film student who after first hearing that M. night was directing, decided to put together a fan based film. I've spent some time working on it but it was delayed due to various reasons. Now that I've seen the atrocity that Night has brought upon us, My vigor has been renwed to restore the honor of this great series.
Very well made movie. I mean I was upset that they didn't get the casting right initially, but I love this series so much that I really wanna see how it'll look as a movie. But boy, more than anything, the last few mins of your video put some perspective onto the issue. If the gaang were real, they would SOOO have that reaction the Avatar live action movie. Hahahaha. "But the effects were decent!"
I kinda agree with you while I think Aang was ok(I mean I think if they could find an Asian that looked like him they should have used it but I don't they could) and with Zuko I would say he should be Chinese rather then japanese. As for Katara and Saka while I think that an Inuit actor would have been great I just don't think there are many Inuit actors
You people need to find something better to do with your lives. First of all, DBZ's Goku was an Alien. Excuse us for not making him Asian like we did with every character that wasn't an Alien.
Second of all, Zuko uses broadswords(chinese) and a topknot(Japanese). If you really cared about this character's proper representation, you wouldn't be able to ever be happy with whoever played Zuko unless he were half Japanese and half Chinese.
@trivium666fan Which is what the fans wanted. I cant even begin to tell you about all the backlash I've heard from fans (which is mostly a child/parent fanbase due to it's Nickelodeon audience) who are sooo disgraced about the actors not even being CLOSE to the original characters background. The cultural standing of the characters was a very integral part of the series and without that there the movie will never live up to the original show case.
You do realize that almost no one who worked on the show, including most voice actors, were white, right? Even the Martial Arts expert was African Canadian.
It's almost as if the esipode about the "Ember Island Players" was kind prophetic in a sense. You know how Aang and everybody didn't agree with the casting or didn't like the acting, but as Sokka said "aleast the effects were decent". That's exactly what the movie seems it has going for it. Everything seems out of place accept for the visual effects. CRAZY AIN'T IT!!!
you have good points. and yes, hollywood is generaly sickish in casting these kinds of movies.
but remember, in the world of avatar, theres no asian, east asian, caucasian, or indian. Theres just Water Tribe, Earth kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads.
@TinaPT95 When the teaser trailer came out, a few fans remarked that Aang's robe looked a lot like a Jedi robe. Plus, Shyamalan had mentioned that he wanted this movie to be like Star Wars, or something. Hence the joke. :D
@Chaobunny12 Uh are you serious? Star Wars? I know it's a classic in terms of the hero storyline and it's a great movie, but seriously, how about getting your own inspiration, Mr Night? Uggggh.
I feel the same. First I thought that maybe they just couldn't find anyone who knew any martial arts but then I though, and not to be stereotypical or anything, how hard can it be to find someone of Asian decent who is practiced in martial arts. Really, people? Really? The casting direction should be slapped.
You know, I don't understand why people defend the casting. Why is it okay for people of non-Asian descent to be cast as asian? How about this? If Avatar was based in an AFRICAN world, would they cast white people? NO! They would not DARE. Why should this be any different?
@ValOrden actually they would try and find a way too or they would cast the whitest black people too play the roles like black people mixed with white or something they do it all the time and it is just sickening
@tugspuppy - True. I tried to explain to a white friend why I was offended, but they only got it when I had to use this specific example: the casting of white people in an African based tale. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't do this to African-Americans (because there would be Hell to pay and Americans know this), but it's okay to do this to Asian-based characters? I mean, really?
The racist element here is not with the fans who noticed the color of the actors skin rather than their potential talent, but with the producers and casting directors who were under the assumption that a diverse cast could only be created in this clearly asian inspired world by introducing white (and later "other") faces. The four nations represent just a sliver of the vast asian diaspora, each with distinct cultural markers. Failure to understand this is ignorance on their part.
I am so sad about this movie's casting. I will NOT spend my money in support of such things. I want to see some f%&king Asians in a story about Asian people...is that really too much to expect?
I've been boycatting ever since I saw the cast. I do have to admit the effects are wonderful. The fire temples are awesome, the water tribe half fails, the clothing needs some help, but they can't be perfect if they're trying to make it realistic. I will watch the movie but I can't wait to complain about it after words.
they wanted this show to look like a full world not just asians my friend that is an asian wants it this way she loves the casting and loves the show. also of cose they look asian its anime. but the funny thing is, is in this clip here they compare it to people that are located in asia but is this show located there no its in its own world ok so calm the frick down and just be understanding. you are only going off what they look like not how they act go off the acting please?!
@theaterass Is it so much to ask that we get a world with minorities not chock full of white people? The show is based off of asian culture and since there is no blonde in the show, we can safely assume that they are NOT white. If Avatar took place in an African culture and the movie was cast with white poeple, you'd bet the movie'd be canned. As for the acting - really? We're going to use the Twilight guy who just stands there?
You have to be very quick with the pause/play button but if you time just right around 7:56, you can see that the person Airbending in the temple being attacked is not Aang but an older monk.
Just pointing it out as there seem to be some people who believe it is Aang and are raging about how about how it doesn't match the established story line in the anime.
...ignoring the larger argument the Racebending folks are making, about the lengthy HISTORY of whitewashing that has taken place in Hollywood. Even if we conceded to you that the Avatar cartoon characters looked white - we don't, mind you - this movie follows the long PATTERN of such practices since the dawn of Hollywood.
Why do you even feel the need to argue this? Obviously some people feel slighted by the casting and they are voicing their concerns. While you defend obvious racism.
Sandman, you're an idiot. Appearances aside (meaning your argument about the characters being white is absurd), have you ever heard of symbolism? Let's say the characters do look white. Great. They clearly symbolize characters of Inuit and Asian ethnicities. If they had blue skin, then what? They'd STILL be Asian and Inuit characters for the CULTURE that surrounds them. And Hollywood would still be casting white people and painting them blue.
This would be a problem if they were ACTUALLY going to put makeup on to tan themselves or make them look more "East Asian" but they're NOT! The movie is taking a different direction than the show and it has NOTHING to do with discrimination. If they were looking for males up to age 20 for Sokka, why did they go with Jackson? BTW, he DID audition for the part just like everyone else did. THEY got who THEY wanted for THEIR story not for the original. The same thing=boring. Different=interesting.
Actually now Jackson is saying he "auditioned" but some months ago around march in an interview he said he was called in. He didnt even audition for the part, just like Jesse McCartney was called in for the part of Zuko in the begining.
Jackson thinks he can look the part of Sokka(an inuit) by just shaving his hair and getting a TAN. THAT is called brown facing. Hes doing it to look another ethnicity.
Hahah, I thoroughly enjoyed how butthurt the maker of this vid is and how much effort he put into it.
If you want to blame anyone for the casting, blame the artists of the cartoon for making the characters look too white for the race they are supposed to portray. Noah Ringer looks a buttload more than Aang than any asian kid could, and the kid is half asian himself!
The characters do not look white. They have anime features which exagerate their eyes and mouth. Since when do caucasians have eyes that cover 50% of their face? None. People who worked on the show already said the characters are asian and native american. And thats the end of it.
Wow haha,thank you for that incredibly weak counter argument! Since when do asian eyes cover half their faces? Hahahah geez., They don't look white because of their big round eyes, they look white because of their blue eyes, or in the case of say.... naruto.. blond hair blue eyes and pink skin. Deny it all you want but it's just making you guys look more and more pathetic, really :p Goku looked like a proper asian...until his poweriup mode was going caucasian, lol. I'm only 1/4 white btw.
People in anime have pink hair and purple eyes, how do you explain that? I know how, its hair dye, most animes represent the youth of Japan which dye their hair and wear different colored eye contacts.
But thats not with Avatar thought. Avatar pretty much carbon copied real humans just made them anime style which exagerates facial features. Go buy the manga Sozin's Comet and look in the back at the original sketches of the characters in a more realistic style. They look completely asian.
Yes, all anime characters use hairdye contact lenses and a buttload of plastic surgery, how could I've been so ignorant d:
Asian features are slanted eyes, and a slightly yellowish tone of skin to very pale, most anime characters don't have those, so who's to blame here for miscasting? The artist who doesn't stay true to the races characteristics or the casting director for searching for people who look like the fictional characters?
Wow, wtf! You lost all credibility by just saying that. I wont even go further with you since you make your self look like an idiot. Hey, while you're add it why dont you say black people have big red lips and look like monkeys or that native americans have red skin and eat people. I mean, you might as well.
See, I'm all fine with that, my point is is that the actors look just as much like the characters or even more so than if they were asian, regardless of what ethnicity they're supposed to be portraying. The races are fictional :P I would've been fine with anyting but I just like poking fun at you guys, if this movie was made in bollywood the actors would all have been indian, if it was made in japan they would've been all japanese. Sometimes I wonder if you anime fans remember real asian folk.
Well this movie is being made in the united states which last time I checked was a melting pot of different ethnicities. There are plenty of Asian American or atleast Asian Canadians looking for acting jobs but Paramount didnt even think of looking for them. Oh no, they GAVE away two part to two caucasian actors, and for the auditions they asked for "CAUCASIANS or any other ethnicity" for parts ment to be asian and native american. And at the end they picked 2 caucasian kids for the parts.
Asians range from extremely dark brown skin to extremely pale or pink skin. They can have an epicanthic fold or not.
Blue eyes are found all over Asia. For instance, in Northern India and Western China, blue eyes are (while not as common as brown) definitely represented. Blond hair is actually quite common among Kashmiri in India, and in South Asia, the Kalash.
Blue eyes aren't even the most common eye color among white people: brown eyes are.
Okay. I'm sorry, I really didn't know that. It's just that I've seen boomerangs associated with Austraila so very often. (Though that would explain Sango from "Inuyasha :/)
Well Bryke did do their homework right. Katara's hair loopies are an authentic inuit hairstyle. Their foods are inuit (compare the food list from "The Lost Scrolls: Water" to a list of inuit food. They are almost completely the same) Their rituals, their ways of living are very inuit and native american.
Hmmm i dont care about the ethnicity either, i just feel the actors aren't going to do the gang any justice :( and i as much as the movie is probably gonna suck-cause from the trailer it has nothign to do with the series- ima go see it anyway casue i just love avatar!
And not that i'm complainng or anything but i wanted a cuter zuko!! and Aang's arrow is solid AND where in god name is zuko's scar!?
I don't really care what ethnicity the actors are. If they act like the characters well, I'm okay. I'd rather have a white guy who could play Aang well than an Asian guy who stinks at it. (Not saying the ethnicity would make a difference)
Oh, well. I do find it odd that they put "Caucasion or any other".
aan isnt actually asian hes tibetan. heres a snippet out of my own ss book: In Thailand many buddhist boys and young men serve as monks for a short period. these tempoary monks follow the lifestyle of actual buddhist monks,shaving their heads,wearing robes,and maintaining a life of simplicity.they then study budhisism and meditation. and then some of these thai teens decide to become monks permanantly. this is considered a great that cuz it souded like aang when i read it.
I dunno if this was mentioned or not already... Legend of Earthsea was first a series of books by Ursula K Le Guin ( an american author) and not an anime from Studio Ghibli. How was the cast choosen for the live action adpation rasism?
In the Syfy (they were still Sci-fi back then) version of Earthsea, the main character was cast as white and so was his best friend (they were red-brown and black-brown in the original, as described by the author.) Le Guin wrote an angry letter about it in Salon, I think. I'm pretty sure she has a link to it on her website.
Hollywood must think us white kids are stupid, huh? Honestly, I feel like I've been slapped in the face. Maybe Paramount doesn't think white people are intelligent enough to notice that all the lead Asian roles have been replaced by Caucasian actors. It's jarring. In all the photo's they've released I can't actually concentrate on what's happening because seeing white kids dress up in traditional Asian or Inuit clothing is just too distracting.
I liked the casting for zuko because no matter how I looked at, I always saw the fire nation with an arabian feel to it. Just like the Water tribe had a native american eskimo feel to it. I'm just glad jesse mccatastrophe isn't playing zuko. I do agree they should change casting for Katara and Sokka. I mean, their just casting famous ppl in the teen world so more kids will go and watch it. My primary concern is now: STOP ZAC EFAG FROM BEING CASTED AS LIGHT YAGUMI!!
Is there proof that these white actors were chosen over equally or more talented Asians/Inuits for these roles because of their skin color? I'm willing to believe both sides here, but I find it interesting that nobody has proof of anything. Just saying "Caucasian or any other ethnicity" doesn't exclude Asians from the casting call, and certainly doesn't prove racism. This is an important unknown and I hope someone knew what went on and can enlighten us.
While it's true that "Caucasian or any other ethnicity" doesn't explicitly exclude Asians, the wording strongly suggests that Caucasians would be preffered for the part. To a casting director who has never seen the original show in his life, provided with only the description available he would probably belive all the characters are Caucasian and then therefore look for Caucasian actors.
That wording also discourages minority actors from auditioning. Agents look for roles that their clients can possibly get; they won't, for example, show their Asian client a role described "Caucasian or any other ethnicity" because they have little to no chance of getting the part. In Hollywood, unless that casting sheet says "Asian" on it, an Asian actor isn't getting the part. "Any ethnicity" works, but usually means default to white. "Caucasian or any other ethnicity" ensures a white actor.
god damnit im so sick of everyone caliing everything racist!ITS FUCKING RETARTED! we are all just PEOPLE. WE ARE ALL THE SAME..STOP FUCKING CATEGORIZING EVERYONE! THATS WHAT RACISM IS! AND SAYING STUFF IS RACIST IS STUPID! WHENEVER SOMETHING IS CHANGED EVERYONE JUST FLIPPS OUT AND CALLS IT RACIST..ITS JUST GOD DAMN ANNOYING...ALL YOU NEED TO CHILL OUT IF YOU DONT WANT TO SEE THE MOVIE FINE BUT YOU DONT NEED TO GO AROUND COMPARING IT TO THE HOLOCAUST OR SLAVERY BECAUSE THAT IS JUST SICK AND WRONG
Just because this discrimination doesn't 'compare' to some other greater tragedies in history does NOT make what they have done okay.
Racism isn't so much categorizing as it is judging someone based on their race and ethnicity. Hollywood doesn't see any other color but green, the color of MONEY. That's what they were thinking when they chose this cast. The Hollywood system is deliberately set up to keep POC from staring in major leading, non-stereotyped roles.
omg its a fucking business! no one makes movies for sentimental reasons! tey just want to make movies! i mean they can be motivated to make becaused they like the source material but its there job to make movies! of course they want to milk it for as much money as they can! thats what they do..thats how they make a living..JESUS. i cant think of any director who would make a movie just for the sake of making it..its all about money
Yes, they want to make movies. They want to make money. They DON'T CARE ABOUT ARTISTIC VISION. They DON'T CARE if they are denying roles to POC, EVEN WHEN the role(s) CALL FOR THEM and EVEN if said POC actors are talented and good-looking. Hollywood is of the mindset that POC leads are RISKY INVESTMENTS and DON'T MAKE MONEY.
Hence why (mostly) Caucasian actors were cast for these lead roles.
HOW is financially motivated discrimination an better than hate discrimination?
because with them its nothing personal! if they have the weird mindset that white makes money or whatever your saying than they'll do it i guess! its not like theyre saying they hate asians or are going around killing them! hate discrimination is A LOT worse than not being cast for a movie i mean would you rather be denied a role for a movie or be shot because of your race? because to YOU for some stupid fucking reason thinks its all the same you fucking retard
You think being denied a film role because film execs don't think you're profitable on account of your race is 'nothing personal'? It is and can be VERY personal. Films like this play a part in Western views about Asians. Watch 'The Slanted Screen' here on YouTube.
With the casting, they're saying that Asians aren't important or profitable enough to be the heroes/leads in a major film and they don't deserve media recognition because Caucasian audiences can't relate to them, which is insulting.
but you are being retarted and saying that they are the same as hate crimes..that is what i mean by blown out of proportion..there are a lot worse things that are happening to people because of there race than being denied a role for a movie and if they are doing it to make money than it isnt personal to any one person..with hate crimes people are being singled out and harassed because of there race...wich one would you perfer? being beten up? or being denied a role for a movie?
Just because there are worse things that could happen to people on account of their race does NOT make other things like this casting okay.
Your basically saying that it's okay that talented Asian actors were turned away because the studios want to make money. That's NOT okay and and in fact, could very easily be ILLEGAL. If that happened anywhere else, the company would have been sued.
no i never said it was okay..i was saying that it is fucked up that you are saying that this casting decision is the same as hate discrimination....ive lost friends to hate discrimination and i have heard of ANY ONE dying from losing a casting call
No, it's not the same, but it can be just as painful. Ignorant racism is not only prevelant, but accepted and even supported in this society.
If we're not willing to stand up to ignorant racism the same way we stand up to hate racism, then what does that really say about us? A person doesn't have to die or anything like that to not be hurt or for something like this to cause them harm.
but im saying that whats going on with this and hate discrimination are two totally different things! if someone is having a hard time getting a job acting maybe they should get another job until this is all taken care of! its that easy! and people getting butt hurt over it need to suck it up and put on some big boy pants..and you can just brush off hate discrimination because people get physically hurt from that..not emotionally..do you get what im saying?
Often they have to get other jobs to support themselves and their families, but this WON'T be resolved by walking away. It will be when people MAKE the big wigs in Hollywood get a clue on America's rapidly changing demographics market.
The one's who need to 'put on big boy pants and suck it up' are the Hollywood execs. who deny rolls to POC actors because they're of the mindset that they're not profitable.
You think people DON'T get hurt emotionally from hate discrimination??? Says WHO?
im not even arguing! im saying that this whole 'RACISM' thing is totally blown out of proportion..your probably one of those people that thinks 911 was a conspiracy..its just very stupid..and some people are treating this like its a huge thing that we all need to be worried about when there are bigger things to worry about than a few bad casting decisions for a movie
This 'racism thing' is not 'blown out of proportion'. Two different kinds of people exist in this debate; those who understand racism exists in many forms and those who have the privilege to ignore it. The marginalization of minority actors is a VERY REAL problem and will only stop when people speak out.
Don't make assumptions about people you don't even know, you'll just look foolish.
The thing with the bigger problems in the world; they ALL started out as 'small problems' that were ignored.
And if YOU'RE 'sick of it', how do you think all those POC hopefuls; Talented Black, Asian, Hispanic -American actors feel? Getting turned down for role after role. Roles that they'd be good at- because Hollywood execs, don't think they will bring in as much money as a Caucasian actor?
If you're so 'sick of it', then stop posting. Your ranting is a clear sign that you can not think of any legitimate argument to present.
And WHY would you hold a casting call in Texas where the majority of people are Caucasian and NOT hold it in a place like say New York or Southern California that has a HUGE population of Asian-Americans?
i dont fucking know! they probably went there because they got a hint of some martial artists or someone who looks like aang..hence noah..he looks a lot like aang..and maybe they didnt want to travel over there because they were maybe filming close to there..and i know for a fact that there intention isnt to single out asians and tell them they cant act..they probably just made some bad desisions on where to cast
How do you know 'for a fact' that they weren't trying to single out Asians? They DID, in that they clearly showed preference in the casting and that Paramount execs HONESTLY BELIEVE that Asian actors WILL NOT BE A LARGE DRAW for movie-goers. Nevermind successful Asian-made films like 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. As far as Hollywood execs are concerned, Asian actors are NOT PROFITABLE UNLESS they are cast in a stereotyped/non-heroic
I think they should have just stuck to what the characters actually looked like.... And used the correct names for the characters..... Then maybe it wouldn't have sucked so much.
Hellgirl135 1 month ago
It's Azula's Theme! WHY??????? Comment to AangRaj please.
microtechghrock 7 months ago
THIS. :)
AmyFanRetaken 8 months ago
i literally CRIED after watching the last airbender. WHY?! Why ruin such a beautiful series, M Night Shylaman?! Me and my brother grew up watching this epic show and this series was a big part of my childhood. The movie was horrible and boring. The only good things were the effects. sometimes i pray that someone else will redo this movie. and it's not only the cast that sucked. the whole thing was lacking excitement. plus, how would you like it if they casted Harry Potter with black people?
TheNightWolfie 10 months ago
LOL at the trailer bit!!
willhermbibeast 11 months ago
I have proudly never seen nor bought the movie. I have been offered to join a friend who owns it to watch it and turned it down. I do NOT support racebending and will stand firm despite it being over.
Karitwilightmist 11 months ago
i loled at the end, cus if you watch the commentary on the episode, the writers put that in at the end as a refrence to the movie
superhotguyodell 1 year ago
@superhotguyodell they said it could be a reference. they dont know
Crazehtom 1 month ago
the sad thing is that m night shayamalan isn't even listening to the complaints from the fans. and at least pick actors that can be funny and act better. i know i'm spamming but really, i am UPSET. i have watched the series for about, what, 5, 6 years? and i can't believe that after the uproar that came with the first movie, he's making a second and third movie, too. at least there's going to be a new series of the cartoon. the creators are probably trying to salvage what's left.
angelalovesharry 1 year ago
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angelalovesharry 1 year ago
and then there was the rich comedy that you associated with avatar. IT WAS NEVER THERE! it was just angst and terrible terrible portrayals, too. and don't even get me started on the name pronunciations. correct me if i'm wrong but the spirit world didn't play that sort of role in the cartoon. honestly. it's just terrible. and the actress for azula. she looks right for the part but in the movie, she was trying so hard to be sinister. they shouldn't have even touched this franchise.
angelalovesharry 1 year ago
don't get me wrong, i wasn't against the idea of a live action movie. but then i watched it and it was terrible. race does not matter but in a series where it is so set on central asia, it's just disrespectful to make all the extras the right race but the main characters not. and the bending. honestly, how is the fire nation supposed to be the most powerful if all they have is martial arts and have to carry around a pot of fire when invading another nation?
angelalovesharry 1 year ago
Anyone who TRULY paid attention and loved the series knows that although the architecture and general feel of the series borred a lot from eastern cultures, every living thing from the animals to the "humans" was purposely meant to convey peaceful mixtures of ethnicity and breeding. There was no reason to cast all Asians as the characters on the show did not even look Asian or any other discernible ethnicity more than they did any other ethnicity.
lim213 1 year ago
@lim213 If anyhting, they should have went out of their way to find actors of mixed heritage if they had tried at all to honor the source material. The movie sucked abysmally for any number of other reasons any way, but this constant racial crap about the casting has always annoyed me. People missed the entire "one world, live in harmony ffs" message the series tried to showcase.
lim213 1 year ago
They didn't use photo shop to make the actors look like the characters. Just because someone looks caucasian, has light skin and speaks english doesn't mean there caucasian.
JORDMAN1001 1 year ago
Could someone tell me why ppl make live action movies from anime series? It just seems like a horrible idea to me. It just seems to me that it would be impossible to translate what makes anime so awesome into real live movies. As beautifully demonstrated by the teaser trailer. Well done on that. It made me giggle.
Has anyone EVER seen a good live action from an anime?
pienkunicorn 1 year ago
I was like: yeah, this is kindoff entertaining. And then, I went: Ooooooooooh!! Light!!!!! I love that guy :P
I also love what you did to the trailer.. Thank you Ember Island Players for your utter failness..
MentalFreakShow 1 year ago
I was like: yeah, this is kindoff entertaining. And then, I want: Ooooooooooh!! Light!!!!! I love that guy :P
I also love what you did to the trailer.. Thank you Ember Island Players for your utter failness..
MentalFreakShow 1 year ago
This video is pure win. Then to think they probably gonna fuck up Bleach big time, because they have planned to make a live movie of it.
Iyoulikeyoutoo 1 year ago
Great video.
Bmr4life 1 year ago
Lol "white washed!!"
Tachikawa92 1 year ago
Ahahahahaha are you kidding me!? Zuko's being played by Jesse McCartney!? xD Putting that aside, good video :D
Glowbear0414 1 year ago
Nice video
...you should have used L instead his eyes creep me out...*shudder*
and I loved how you used that episode for the trailer
tchao1995 1 year ago
You might kill me for saying this, but I'll admit it.
I loved the Fire Nation ships. If there was anything about the movie to enjoy, that would be it.
Those dang ships.
Shack11 1 year ago
Great video. Thank you for making it. the many individuals who are insulting and trying to silence those who protested the casting are, whether they know it or not, perpetuating the racist system in America that places whites squarely in the center of everything. By their line of ignorant "thinking," whites should play EVERY single role cast for a movie. That's what all their arguments come down to. When they race shouldn't matter, they mean they can't be bothered with minorities getting roles.
DarthMakaveliSithMC 1 year ago
Woah. What's the song?
fowad27 1 year ago
@fowad27 By which I mean the song that went, " there's no asians in the movies..."
fowad27 1 year ago
I see your points but its just not rasist to me
Kataang102 1 year ago
@Kataang102 lol at ur "rasist"
princesssookeh 1 year ago
@princesssookeh exuse me I have an opion and so do you so respect mine and I will respect yours and I will block you
Kataang102 1 year ago
@Kataang102 what does your opinion have to do with my comment? ...unless your reply was about the right to spell in a shitty manner.
princesssookeh 1 year ago
the rant its fucked up there all should be asian... well aang looked alright i gues and the water tribe could be caucasian but make them look a bit asian
1337Skiiez 1 year ago
This is really random, but I just don't understand why they'd describe the airbenders as a "once powerful nation" in the trailer when they don't fight... When I think of powerful, I think of the Fire Nation because they were dominating the world and all that stuff. When I think airbenders, I think kind, playful, enlightened, etc, etc.
Hanako3144 1 year ago
im not mad about the fact that the races of the characters is wrong ........im mad about the fact that the movie sucked.........it was totally different from the TV show
0utsied 1 year ago
were you get all that music from ?
mikejahn2791 1 year ago
It's a good thing Caucasians were in this movie, cause if the races were chosen as per the source material, then the BO failure will be blamed on the cast. Cause less face it, the biggest problem wasn't the casting(though it did play a role) but the godawful direction of M. Night Shyamalan. At least now we know whose fault it is.
Jack35914 1 year ago
LOL this video gets across your point brilliantly with sarcasm. Loved it, don't know why I didn't watch it sooner! I definitely agree with you
tackyhearts 1 year ago
Everyone knew this movie was going to suck when the Director tried to get Jesse McCartney to play Zuko...what is he gonna do SING Them to death! Yes i know they went with Dav Patel But that was because jesse had to Go on tour... So they Got him... The Movie got an 8%...Thats the directors fault for setting up a bad movie and casting a bad cast...Im just saying
awesomejoejonas96 1 year ago
YES! I COMPLETELY AGREE! WAY TO SCREW IT UP! and what was with the frigging fire benders??? seriously. now, hollywood is trying to make death note. and bleach. fuck the world. i mean, i don't want to be racist, but seriously. you couldn't even see the scar for zuko!! haha. and nice song. haha. azula. did you see azula? she is terrible. i mean, she reminds me of the girl from how to be indie. and she's terrible. haha, i love d-techno life.
angelalovesharry 1 year ago
Lol! It really WAS an epic fail. I really don't think casting Asians would have saved it.....It really was that bad.
Eternalsummersong 1 year ago
THANK YOU! Seriously. After the movie sucked ass people still don't get it.
DaTruth2024 1 year ago
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itzbananas 1 year ago
I bow down to you (asian way) chaobunny. I bow.
look2thestars4ever 1 year ago
lol I like what you did with the trailer at the end x) ahaha
kurichanmichele584 1 year ago
I understand that the bending in the show is derived from real life martial arts. To say that the culture is from a certain area is questionable. Everyone that type casts Aang as Asian is sadly wrong. I am not saying that the casting for the movie were good choices, I actually do not agree with the choices myself. All that I am trying to get people to understand is that the place where this story takes place is a made up world. THE STORY DOES NOT TAKE PLACE ON THE PLANET EARTH!ThereforenoASIA
monnkeythemaster 1 year ago
@monnkeythemaster That is REALLY said excuse in dismissing the ATROCITY that was committed in this PIECE OF SHIT film. Lord of the Rings people! Narnia bitches! That shit AIN'T ON EARTH EITHER, but the characters in those universes were derived FROM WHITE FUCKIN PLACES, and as they should be muthafuckin white, simple as fuckin that, and likewise in this story, the characters WERE CLEARLY ASIAN, it was deliberate and malicious, and should be burned da fuck up!
blueslayzler 1 year ago
I'm still going to watch it for the sake of argumentation. Chances are I'll like it anyway. haha. But a valid point that's been raised before is that it's a huge slap in the face that the series is about EAST-Asian culture and bam, we get non EAST-ASIAN actors. granted, said actors are in rare supply (especially the skilled kind) but hey, that's what auditions are for. cheaper talent fees, no?
Eikouden 1 year ago
that was a thoughtful piece, very well done. And I love the way you added the true Aang Katara Sokka and co. critiquing the movie with the ersatz Aang as they did in the episode when they saw the fire nation acting troup's version of them...THANK YOU for that!
(((SONIC HUGS)))
~*~aNg~*~
mochawitch 1 year ago
i support !
IndoJaps 1 year ago
lol, this video says it bettter than anyone else does sarcastically, lol.
zillatamer 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
so why is everyone so mad about this? Karate Kid is coming out and they replaced a white actor from the old movies with a black one and all the others white people with asians! i dont find that offensive but why do you get mad about airbender but not about that? other races can do anything but as soon as a white person does or says something about another race he's a racist.
phonebush 1 year ago
Just want to say that I love your videos, Chaobunny! Keep 'em coming! :D
jmlew 1 year ago
Great video :)
swordaddict 1 year ago
that ending was epic. So brilliant. I think thats how they actually would have reacted.
ricep1cker 1 year ago
It's safe to say that it doesn't fucking matter what you guys say because he won't change it. Anyone who says their going to "boycott" the movie, shut the hell up because you know you are still going to see it. That boycott shit is getting old. Just wait for the movie to come out then you can give your opinion.
Ballaballa175yahoo 1 year ago
@Ballaballa175yahoo.... yes i am gonna watch it on pirate, online for free or not at all, that git will not get my money!!!
sylverwicca 1 year ago
@Ballaballa175yahoo, yah i know your gonna say it dnt matter if i dnt pay to watch it, but it will make me feel alot better and no TRUE fan of avatar will spend any money on that crap!!!!
sylverwicca 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@sylverwicca Lmao, I don't give a shit, if you said your boycotting it, BOYCOTT IT don't still watch the movie. Dam I mean honestly. Well it doesn't matter, even if you guys do end up liking the movie, you won't admit it because you are too stubborn to admit that you were wrong. Can't beleive all of you guys are screaming"boycott" when your still going to watch the movie, stfu or boycott the movie. Choose one.
Ballaballa175yahoo 1 year ago
@Ballaballa175yahoo, hey im not saying its gonna be a shit movie, it might be good... all im saying is im not going to pay to see it there is a big difference.
sylverwicca 1 year ago
Lol loved it!
dancefan18 1 year ago
LAWLZ, uber appropriate song
dudemanamedud 1 year ago
First time watching this. I couldn't agree more with your stance on the issue. I will not be seeing this movie nor will I ever recommend it to any of my friends. It's insensitive and egregious. There are plenty of talented Asian-American actors who could of played these characters. The sad fact that they had preferential treatment toward Caucasians for a clearly Asian role says it all. Best wishes and keep up fighting. I will use this video to make a stand. Thanks.
jmlew 1 year ago
I find it funny that even IN the show, they had a play that was basically off the mark. I guess the creators of Avatar had a little foreshadowing to know that a live action movie based on the show would be just as bad as the play.
As for the video, are you sure that Zuko is Japanese. He really came off as Chinese, even with the topknot.
Maverynthia 1 year ago
i laughed to tears at the "The trees will be set alongside the asian actors in the movie. IN THE BACKGROUND" XDDD seriously, the asian actors might as well be playing trees.
orenji196 1 year ago
i got a feeling this is gonna be another DRAGON BALL EVOLUTION!!!!
mattakudesu 1 year ago
It's important to remember that this is an Asian-inspired world. Sokka and Katara are not Inuit. They are Water Tribe people. Now, my issues with the casting are not that these people are/aren't Asian, but that they bear little to no resemblance to the characters they're portraying. Given the heavy Asian influence in the world though, it was a great chance to get some ethnicities exposed and it totally missed the boat....
tehjai 1 year ago
Dr. Horrible FTW <3
But I agree totoally with everything you said in this video. I'm a film student myself and when I saw the cast for Avatar my jaw literally droped. Since then my friends and I have been working on a fan creation of Avatar. It's on the back burner because of school but come this summer we should be able to film and put it out on youtube (hopefully lol). And I can assure you that everyone in our cast looks like the original characters I made dead sure of that ;)
xDarkxMousyx 2 years ago
@xDarkxMousyx Wow, that sounds excellent! I'd love to hear about details of your fan movie work-in-progress, because that sounds awesome! I would have loved to have done something like that myself but I don't have the resources or equipment or skill to do it, hehe. Keep me updated once you get started. =)
Chaobunny12 2 years ago
Dude, could you put me on a mailing list for that?
FoxQuarry 1 year ago
@xDarkxMousyx
I am also a film student who after first hearing that M. night was directing, decided to put together a fan based film. I've spent some time working on it but it was delayed due to various reasons. Now that I've seen the atrocity that Night has brought upon us, My vigor has been renwed to restore the honor of this great series.
Tathanor 1 year ago
ok who here is really gunna boycott the movie?
johnboo941 2 years ago
@johnboo941 Me and I'm making sure none of my family members see it either.
rfxrlf 1 year ago
Very well made movie. I mean I was upset that they didn't get the casting right initially, but I love this series so much that I really wanna see how it'll look as a movie. But boy, more than anything, the last few mins of your video put some perspective onto the issue. If the gaang were real, they would SOOO have that reaction the Avatar live action movie. Hahahaha. "But the effects were decent!"
MaiaX3 2 years ago
I meant Very well made video* (referring to this one)
MaiaX3 2 years ago
Does it matter that Caucasians are playing Asian characters?
This movie is and will be full of fail!
Let's not forget, this movie is being directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
One who has a notorious rep for breaking every movie he touches.
HazzJam 2 years ago
Well, at least its not Uwe Boll.
legofanomega 2 years ago
Loved your editing. Love your humor. Love the message! Thank you for spreading the word.
lilchinagurl442 2 years ago
I kinda agree with you while I think Aang was ok(I mean I think if they could find an Asian that looked like him they should have used it but I don't they could) and with Zuko I would say he should be Chinese rather then japanese. As for Katara and Saka while I think that an Inuit actor would have been great I just don't think there are many Inuit actors
cucuachuAKAHawkeye 2 years ago
You people need to find something better to do with your lives. First of all, DBZ's Goku was an Alien. Excuse us for not making him Asian like we did with every character that wasn't an Alien.
Second of all, Zuko uses broadswords(chinese) and a topknot(Japanese). If you really cared about this character's proper representation, you wouldn't be able to ever be happy with whoever played Zuko unless he were half Japanese and half Chinese.
trivium666fan 2 years ago
@trivium666fan Which is what the fans wanted. I cant even begin to tell you about all the backlash I've heard from fans (which is mostly a child/parent fanbase due to it's Nickelodeon audience) who are sooo disgraced about the actors not even being CLOSE to the original characters background. The cultural standing of the characters was a very integral part of the series and without that there the movie will never live up to the original show case.
xDarkxMousyx 2 years ago
@xDarkxMousyx
You do realize that almost no one who worked on the show, including most voice actors, were white, right? Even the Martial Arts expert was African Canadian.
trivium666fan 2 years ago
It's almost as if the esipode about the "Ember Island Players" was kind prophetic in a sense. You know how Aang and everybody didn't agree with the casting or didn't like the acting, but as Sokka said "aleast the effects were decent". That's exactly what the movie seems it has going for it. Everything seems out of place accept for the visual effects. CRAZY AIN'T IT!!!
thasaga87 2 years ago
haha love the ending great stuff!
vang53 2 years ago
you have good points. and yes, hollywood is generaly sickish in casting these kinds of movies.
but remember, in the world of avatar, theres no asian, east asian, caucasian, or indian. Theres just Water Tribe, Earth kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads.
crankdatcharizard 2 years ago
L.O.L.
TheKataangCritic 2 years ago
Wait, can these actors use chopsticks? That would be funny.
pawoon 2 years ago
Wait... I really didn't get that with the Star Wars theme & the teaser trailer... =X
TinaPT95 2 years ago
@TinaPT95 When the teaser trailer came out, a few fans remarked that Aang's robe looked a lot like a Jedi robe. Plus, Shyamalan had mentioned that he wanted this movie to be like Star Wars, or something. Hence the joke. :D
Chaobunny12 2 years ago
Aaah, now I get it... xD Thanks for explaining =)
TinaPT95 2 years ago
@Chaobunny12 Uh are you serious? Star Wars? I know it's a classic in terms of the hero storyline and it's a great movie, but seriously, how about getting your own inspiration, Mr Night? Uggggh.
blackwinddragon 1 year ago
I feel the same. First I thought that maybe they just couldn't find anyone who knew any martial arts but then I though, and not to be stereotypical or anything, how hard can it be to find someone of Asian decent who is practiced in martial arts. Really, people? Really? The casting direction should be slapped.
CandyInTheClouds 2 years ago
You know, I don't understand why people defend the casting. Why is it okay for people of non-Asian descent to be cast as asian? How about this? If Avatar was based in an AFRICAN world, would they cast white people? NO! They would not DARE. Why should this be any different?
ValOrden 2 years ago
@ValOrden actually they would try and find a way too or they would cast the whitest black people too play the roles like black people mixed with white or something they do it all the time and it is just sickening
tugspuppy 2 years ago
@tugspuppy - True. I tried to explain to a white friend why I was offended, but they only got it when I had to use this specific example: the casting of white people in an African based tale. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't do this to African-Americans (because there would be Hell to pay and Americans know this), but it's okay to do this to Asian-based characters? I mean, really?
ValOrden 2 years ago
This video...is made of so much win. My thoughts exactly lol
YamapiDaisuki02 2 years ago
The racist element here is not with the fans who noticed the color of the actors skin rather than their potential talent, but with the producers and casting directors who were under the assumption that a diverse cast could only be created in this clearly asian inspired world by introducing white (and later "other") faces. The four nations represent just a sliver of the vast asian diaspora, each with distinct cultural markers. Failure to understand this is ignorance on their part.
queensbaby19 2 years ago
I am so sad about this movie's casting. I will NOT spend my money in support of such things. I want to see some f%&king Asians in a story about Asian people...is that really too much to expect?
EpicTegan 2 years ago
I've been boycatting ever since I saw the cast. I do have to admit the effects are wonderful. The fire temples are awesome, the water tribe half fails, the clothing needs some help, but they can't be perfect if they're trying to make it realistic. I will watch the movie but I can't wait to complain about it after words.
KuraiSuiryoku 2 years ago
they wanted this show to look like a full world not just asians my friend that is an asian wants it this way she loves the casting and loves the show. also of cose they look asian its anime. but the funny thing is, is in this clip here they compare it to people that are located in asia but is this show located there no its in its own world ok so calm the frick down and just be understanding. you are only going off what they look like not how they act go off the acting please?!
theaterass 2 years ago
@theaterass Is it so much to ask that we get a world with minorities not chock full of white people? The show is based off of asian culture and since there is no blonde in the show, we can safely assume that they are NOT white. If Avatar took place in an African culture and the movie was cast with white poeple, you'd bet the movie'd be canned. As for the acting - really? We're going to use the Twilight guy who just stands there?
kagnomi 2 years ago
Sokka: But atleast the effects were decent.
I have a feeling I will say the exact same thing after the movie. HA. HA. Ahah...
alphawolfnami 2 years ago
Excellent video. It expresses my sentiments exactly.
flameow152 2 years ago
You have to be very quick with the pause/play button but if you time just right around 7:56, you can see that the person Airbending in the temple being attacked is not Aang but an older monk.
Just pointing it out as there seem to be some people who believe it is Aang and are raging about how about how it doesn't match the established story line in the anime.
reader111089 2 years ago
...ignoring the larger argument the Racebending folks are making, about the lengthy HISTORY of whitewashing that has taken place in Hollywood. Even if we conceded to you that the Avatar cartoon characters looked white - we don't, mind you - this movie follows the long PATTERN of such practices since the dawn of Hollywood.
Why do you even feel the need to argue this? Obviously some people feel slighted by the casting and they are voicing their concerns. While you defend obvious racism.
Godheval 2 years ago
Sandman, you're an idiot. Appearances aside (meaning your argument about the characters being white is absurd), have you ever heard of symbolism? Let's say the characters do look white. Great. They clearly symbolize characters of Inuit and Asian ethnicities. If they had blue skin, then what? They'd STILL be Asian and Inuit characters for the CULTURE that surrounds them. And Hollywood would still be casting white people and painting them blue.
And you're also...
Godheval 2 years ago
Pro-casters are retarded. Tru fax.
Phoenix Wright backs me up.
commandershadebetter 2 years ago
WHy are you so utterly obsessed with race and skin color? YOU are the one who sounds like a racist!
zigfried64 2 years ago
This would be a problem if they were ACTUALLY going to put makeup on to tan themselves or make them look more "East Asian" but they're NOT! The movie is taking a different direction than the show and it has NOTHING to do with discrimination. If they were looking for males up to age 20 for Sokka, why did they go with Jackson? BTW, he DID audition for the part just like everyone else did. THEY got who THEY wanted for THEIR story not for the original. The same thing=boring. Different=interesting.
palooka125 2 years ago
Actually now Jackson is saying he "auditioned" but some months ago around march in an interview he said he was called in. He didnt even audition for the part, just like Jesse McCartney was called in for the part of Zuko in the begining.
Jackson thinks he can look the part of Sokka(an inuit) by just shaving his hair and getting a TAN. THAT is called brown facing. Hes doing it to look another ethnicity.
Please do your research before talking.
lostchild06 2 years ago
Hahah, I thoroughly enjoyed how butthurt the maker of this vid is and how much effort he put into it.
If you want to blame anyone for the casting, blame the artists of the cartoon for making the characters look too white for the race they are supposed to portray. Noah Ringer looks a buttload more than Aang than any asian kid could, and the kid is half asian himself!
Sandman37 2 years ago
The characters do not look white. They have anime features which exagerate their eyes and mouth. Since when do caucasians have eyes that cover 50% of their face? None. People who worked on the show already said the characters are asian and native american. And thats the end of it.
lostchild06 2 years ago
Wow haha,thank you for that incredibly weak counter argument! Since when do asian eyes cover half their faces? Hahahah geez., They don't look white because of their big round eyes, they look white because of their blue eyes, or in the case of say.... naruto.. blond hair blue eyes and pink skin. Deny it all you want but it's just making you guys look more and more pathetic, really :p Goku looked like a proper asian...until his poweriup mode was going caucasian, lol. I'm only 1/4 white btw.
Sandman37 2 years ago
Hahaha because of their blue eyes is your reasoning?
Water Tribe: Blue eyes or grayish blue eyes
Earth Kingdom: Green or brown eyes
Air Nomads: Gray eyes
Fire Nation: Gold, orange, or amber eyes.
Their eye colors represented their cultural elements, not their ethnicity.
Eye color and hair color have nothing to do with anything in anime...
lostchild06 2 years ago
People in anime have pink hair and purple eyes, how do you explain that? I know how, its hair dye, most animes represent the youth of Japan which dye their hair and wear different colored eye contacts.
But thats not with Avatar thought. Avatar pretty much carbon copied real humans just made them anime style which exagerates facial features. Go buy the manga Sozin's Comet and look in the back at the original sketches of the characters in a more realistic style. They look completely asian.
lostchild06 2 years ago
Yes, all anime characters use hairdye contact lenses and a buttload of plastic surgery, how could I've been so ignorant d:
Asian features are slanted eyes, and a slightly yellowish tone of skin to very pale, most anime characters don't have those, so who's to blame here for miscasting? The artist who doesn't stay true to the races characteristics or the casting director for searching for people who look like the fictional characters?
Sandman37 2 years ago
Wow, wtf! You lost all credibility by just saying that. I wont even go further with you since you make your self look like an idiot. Hey, while you're add it why dont you say black people have big red lips and look like monkeys or that native americans have red skin and eat people. I mean, you might as well.
lostchild06 2 years ago
See, I'm all fine with that, my point is is that the actors look just as much like the characters or even more so than if they were asian, regardless of what ethnicity they're supposed to be portraying. The races are fictional :P I would've been fine with anyting but I just like poking fun at you guys, if this movie was made in bollywood the actors would all have been indian, if it was made in japan they would've been all japanese. Sometimes I wonder if you anime fans remember real asian folk.
Sandman37 2 years ago
Well this movie is being made in the united states which last time I checked was a melting pot of different ethnicities. There are plenty of Asian American or atleast Asian Canadians looking for acting jobs but Paramount didnt even think of looking for them. Oh no, they GAVE away two part to two caucasian actors, and for the auditions they asked for "CAUCASIANS or any other ethnicity" for parts ment to be asian and native american. And at the end they picked 2 caucasian kids for the parts.
lostchild06 2 years ago
Sandman: You're wrong.
Asians range from extremely dark brown skin to extremely pale or pink skin. They can have an epicanthic fold or not.
Blue eyes are found all over Asia. For instance, in Northern India and Western China, blue eyes are (while not as common as brown) definitely represented. Blond hair is actually quite common among Kashmiri in India, and in South Asia, the Kalash.
Blue eyes aren't even the most common eye color among white people: brown eyes are.
YellowGoodbye 2 years ago
fark kyu holywoot! kan ni nabu chao jibai holywoot!
taufiq1991 2 years ago
Actually most of the watertribe weapons are a mix of different native american weapons, especially the ball clubs and spears.
lostchild06 2 years ago
That part about "Inuit weapons and tools"...
I didn't know Eskiomos were so good with boomerangs. (They should take Austraila to court for ripping them off !)
Jangobadass 2 years ago
Actually boomerangs have been found all over the world and even some native american tribes had boomerangs.
The water tribe is a mix between inuits and other native american culture but its mostly inuit.
lostchild06 2 years ago
Okay. I'm sorry, I really didn't know that. It's just that I've seen boomerangs associated with Austraila so very often. (Though that would explain Sango from "Inuyasha :/)
Jangobadass 2 years ago
Well Bryke did do their homework right. Katara's hair loopies are an authentic inuit hairstyle. Their foods are inuit (compare the food list from "The Lost Scrolls: Water" to a list of inuit food. They are almost completely the same) Their rituals, their ways of living are very inuit and native american.
lostchild06 2 years ago
Who cares? I mean seriously? If the cast does justice to the show and plays the parts well does it matter what race they are?
I don't go to a movie to see race, if you do then you probably have unresolved issues you need to work out.
TipsyArmadillo 2 years ago
Comment removed
Ardith50 2 years ago
watch?v=_0juJVUfWg4
nikorasu57 2 years ago
Hmmm i dont care about the ethnicity either, i just feel the actors aren't going to do the gang any justice :( and i as much as the movie is probably gonna suck-cause from the trailer it has nothign to do with the series- ima go see it anyway casue i just love avatar!
And not that i'm complainng or anything but i wanted a cuter zuko!! and Aang's arrow is solid AND where in god name is zuko's scar!?
b3st0fxoy0u 2 years ago
I don't really care what ethnicity the actors are. If they act like the characters well, I'm okay. I'd rather have a white guy who could play Aang well than an Asian guy who stinks at it. (Not saying the ethnicity would make a difference)
Oh, well. I do find it odd that they put "Caucasion or any other".
KnightOfLightning 2 years ago
7:55 wat is that?
kataang4eva2 2 years ago
ok i dont think that aang is tibetan anymore but idk
kataang4eva2 2 years ago
aan isnt actually asian hes tibetan. heres a snippet out of my own ss book: In Thailand many buddhist boys and young men serve as monks for a short period. these tempoary monks follow the lifestyle of actual buddhist monks,shaving their heads,wearing robes,and maintaining a life of simplicity.they then study budhisism and meditation. and then some of these thai teens decide to become monks permanantly. this is considered a great that cuz it souded like aang when i read it.
kataang4eva2 2 years ago
Aang was designed after Sifu Kisu's son Arjuna who happens to be half chinese, making Aang asian.
lostchild06 2 years ago
I'm boycotting this by simply downloading online instead of paying for movie tickets! =D Easy as crap.
darthbullwinkle02 2 years ago
I dunno if this was mentioned or not already... Legend of Earthsea was first a series of books by Ursula K Le Guin ( an american author) and not an anime from Studio Ghibli. How was the cast choosen for the live action adpation rasism?
MishaReiFuan 2 years ago
In the Syfy (they were still Sci-fi back then) version of Earthsea, the main character was cast as white and so was his best friend (they were red-brown and black-brown in the original, as described by the author.) Le Guin wrote an angry letter about it in Salon, I think. I'm pretty sure she has a link to it on her website.
So it's not the anime that we're talking about.
7Babbitt 2 years ago
where/ how did you get the clips of the show?
kalin666 2 years ago
I ripped the DVDs.
Chaobunny12 2 years ago
ah, what program did you use?
kalin666 2 years ago
A combination of DVD Decrypter, DGIndex, AviSynth, and VirtualdubMod.
Chaobunny12 2 years ago
I'll go look those up, thanks!
kalin666 2 years ago
Hollywood must think us white kids are stupid, huh? Honestly, I feel like I've been slapped in the face. Maybe Paramount doesn't think white people are intelligent enough to notice that all the lead Asian roles have been replaced by Caucasian actors. It's jarring. In all the photo's they've released I can't actually concentrate on what's happening because seeing white kids dress up in traditional Asian or Inuit clothing is just too distracting.
XedOurRubicon 2 years ago
Anyway, i enjoyed the vid. itwas really funny and touched on alot of key concerns of avatar fans
23RockSuperStar23 2 years ago
I liked the casting for zuko because no matter how I looked at, I always saw the fire nation with an arabian feel to it. Just like the Water tribe had a native american eskimo feel to it. I'm just glad jesse mccatastrophe isn't playing zuko. I do agree they should change casting for Katara and Sokka. I mean, their just casting famous ppl in the teen world so more kids will go and watch it. My primary concern is now: STOP ZAC EFAG FROM BEING CASTED AS LIGHT YAGUMI!!
23RockSuperStar23 2 years ago
Is there proof that these white actors were chosen over equally or more talented Asians/Inuits for these roles because of their skin color? I'm willing to believe both sides here, but I find it interesting that nobody has proof of anything. Just saying "Caucasian or any other ethnicity" doesn't exclude Asians from the casting call, and certainly doesn't prove racism. This is an important unknown and I hope someone knew what went on and can enlighten us.
whyamithewerewolf 2 years ago
While it's true that "Caucasian or any other ethnicity" doesn't explicitly exclude Asians, the wording strongly suggests that Caucasians would be preffered for the part. To a casting director who has never seen the original show in his life, provided with only the description available he would probably belive all the characters are Caucasian and then therefore look for Caucasian actors.
Chaobunny12 2 years ago
That wording also discourages minority actors from auditioning. Agents look for roles that their clients can possibly get; they won't, for example, show their Asian client a role described "Caucasian or any other ethnicity" because they have little to no chance of getting the part. In Hollywood, unless that casting sheet says "Asian" on it, an Asian actor isn't getting the part. "Any ethnicity" works, but usually means default to white. "Caucasian or any other ethnicity" ensures a white actor.
Chaobunny12 2 years ago
god damnit im so sick of everyone caliing everything racist!ITS FUCKING RETARTED! we are all just PEOPLE. WE ARE ALL THE SAME..STOP FUCKING CATEGORIZING EVERYONE! THATS WHAT RACISM IS! AND SAYING STUFF IS RACIST IS STUPID! WHENEVER SOMETHING IS CHANGED EVERYONE JUST FLIPPS OUT AND CALLS IT RACIST..ITS JUST GOD DAMN ANNOYING...ALL YOU NEED TO CHILL OUT IF YOU DONT WANT TO SEE THE MOVIE FINE BUT YOU DONT NEED TO GO AROUND COMPARING IT TO THE HOLOCAUST OR SLAVERY BECAUSE THAT IS JUST SICK AND WRONG
stratisfire 2 years ago
Just because this discrimination doesn't 'compare' to some other greater tragedies in history does NOT make what they have done okay.
Racism isn't so much categorizing as it is judging someone based on their race and ethnicity. Hollywood doesn't see any other color but green, the color of MONEY. That's what they were thinking when they chose this cast. The Hollywood system is deliberately set up to keep POC from staring in major leading, non-stereotyped roles.
SunnasChariot 2 years ago
omg its a fucking business! no one makes movies for sentimental reasons! tey just want to make movies! i mean they can be motivated to make becaused they like the source material but its there job to make movies! of course they want to milk it for as much money as they can! thats what they do..thats how they make a living..JESUS. i cant think of any director who would make a movie just for the sake of making it..its all about money
stratisfire 2 years ago
Yes, they want to make movies. They want to make money. They DON'T CARE ABOUT ARTISTIC VISION. They DON'T CARE if they are denying roles to POC, EVEN WHEN the role(s) CALL FOR THEM and EVEN if said POC actors are talented and good-looking. Hollywood is of the mindset that POC leads are RISKY INVESTMENTS and DON'T MAKE MONEY.
Hence why (mostly) Caucasian actors were cast for these lead roles.
HOW is financially motivated discrimination an better than hate discrimination?
SunnasChariot 2 years ago
because with them its nothing personal! if they have the weird mindset that white makes money or whatever your saying than they'll do it i guess! its not like theyre saying they hate asians or are going around killing them! hate discrimination is A LOT worse than not being cast for a movie i mean would you rather be denied a role for a movie or be shot because of your race? because to YOU for some stupid fucking reason thinks its all the same you fucking retard
stratisfire 2 years ago
You think being denied a film role because film execs don't think you're profitable on account of your race is 'nothing personal'? It is and can be VERY personal. Films like this play a part in Western views about Asians. Watch 'The Slanted Screen' here on YouTube.
With the casting, they're saying that Asians aren't important or profitable enough to be the heroes/leads in a major film and they don't deserve media recognition because Caucasian audiences can't relate to them, which is insulting.
SunnasChariot 2 years ago
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but you are being retarted and saying that they are the same as hate crimes..that is what i mean by blown out of proportion..there are a lot worse things that are happening to people because of there race than being denied a role for a movie and if they are doing it to make money than it isnt personal to any one person..with hate crimes people are being singled out and harassed because of there race...wich one would you perfer? being beten up? or being denied a role for a movie?
stratisfire 2 years ago
Just because there are worse things that could happen to people on account of their race does NOT make other things like this casting okay.
Your basically saying that it's okay that talented Asian actors were turned away because the studios want to make money. That's NOT okay and and in fact, could very easily be ILLEGAL. If that happened anywhere else, the company would have been sued.
SunnasChariot 2 years ago
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no i never said it was okay..i was saying that it is fucked up that you are saying that this casting decision is the same as hate discrimination....ive lost friends to hate discrimination and i have heard of ANY ONE dying from losing a casting call
stratisfire 2 years ago
No, it's not the same, but it can be just as painful. Ignorant racism is not only prevelant, but accepted and even supported in this society.
If we're not willing to stand up to ignorant racism the same way we stand up to hate racism, then what does that really say about us? A person doesn't have to die or anything like that to not be hurt or for something like this to cause them harm.
SunnasChariot 2 years ago
but im saying that whats going on with this and hate discrimination are two totally different things! if someone is having a hard time getting a job acting maybe they should get another job until this is all taken care of! its that easy! and people getting butt hurt over it need to suck it up and put on some big boy pants..and you can just brush off hate discrimination because people get physically hurt from that..not emotionally..do you get what im saying?
stratisfire 2 years ago
Often they have to get other jobs to support themselves and their families, but this WON'T be resolved by walking away. It will be when people MAKE the big wigs in Hollywood get a clue on America's rapidly changing demographics market.
The one's who need to 'put on big boy pants and suck it up' are the Hollywood execs. who deny rolls to POC actors because they're of the mindset that they're not profitable.
You think people DON'T get hurt emotionally from hate discrimination??? Says WHO?
SunnasChariot 2 years ago
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im not even arguing! im saying that this whole 'RACISM' thing is totally blown out of proportion..your probably one of those people that thinks 911 was a conspiracy..its just very stupid..and some people are treating this like its a huge thing that we all need to be worried about when there are bigger things to worry about than a few bad casting decisions for a movie
stratisfire 2 years ago
This 'racism thing' is not 'blown out of proportion'. Two different kinds of people exist in this debate; those who understand racism exists in many forms and those who have the privilege to ignore it. The marginalization of minority actors is a VERY REAL problem and will only stop when people speak out.
Don't make assumptions about people you don't even know, you'll just look foolish.
The thing with the bigger problems in the world; they ALL started out as 'small problems' that were ignored.
SunnasChariot 2 years ago
And if YOU'RE 'sick of it', how do you think all those POC hopefuls; Talented Black, Asian, Hispanic -American actors feel? Getting turned down for role after role. Roles that they'd be good at- because Hollywood execs, don't think they will bring in as much money as a Caucasian actor?
If you're so 'sick of it', then stop posting. Your ranting is a clear sign that you can not think of any legitimate argument to present.
SunnasChariot 2 years ago
you know the casting call was in texas right? most of the population in texas is white...
stratisfire 2 years ago
And WHY would you hold a casting call in Texas where the majority of people are Caucasian and NOT hold it in a place like say New York or Southern California that has a HUGE population of Asian-Americans?
SunnasChariot 2 years ago
i dont fucking know! they probably went there because they got a hint of some martial artists or someone who looks like aang..hence noah..he looks a lot like aang..and maybe they didnt want to travel over there because they were maybe filming close to there..and i know for a fact that there intention isnt to single out asians and tell them they cant act..they probably just made some bad desisions on where to cast
stratisfire 2 years ago
How do you know 'for a fact' that they weren't trying to single out Asians? They DID, in that they clearly showed preference in the casting and that Paramount execs HONESTLY BELIEVE that Asian actors WILL NOT BE A LARGE DRAW for movie-goers. Nevermind successful Asian-made films like 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. As far as Hollywood execs are concerned, Asian actors are NOT PROFITABLE UNLESS they are cast in a stereotyped/non-heroic