Here are ten secret facts about Avatar
you probably never knew.
To prove your worth as scholars,
you have to contribute some worthwhile knowledge.
Number one:
The idea behind Avatar was conceived
when Nickelodeon asked two creators, Michael DiMartino
and Bryan Konietzko, to come up with an epic fantasy to compete
with blockbuster films like The Lord of the Rings,
which were all the rage in the early 2000's.
Number two:
We all remember this iconic pilot episode.
[gasping]
He's alive. We have to help.
Katara! Get back here!
We don't know what that thing is!
But did you know, there was actually
an alternate pilot episode that never aired?
Water.
Earth.
Fire.
Air.
It still looks mostly like the show we know and love
with some noticeable differences,
Aang had a different voice...
Whoo-hoo! Hang on, Momo!
Zuko had a pet hawk...
[squawking]
Aang appeared to be Katara's waterbending teacher
instead of the other way around.
Here's the secret to bending.
Energy comes from the earth through your roots
and into your branches.
My roots?
Use your legs.
And Katara's name wasn't Katara.
Looking good, Kya.
Number three:
While the name Kya was eventually replaced
with Katara, it was instead used
as the name of Katara's mother.
Dad! Dad! Please, I think Mom's in trouble!
There's a man in our house!
Kya!
And eventually Katara's daughter in The Legend of Korra.
We missed you, Aunt Kya.
Oh. [chuckles]
I missed you, too.
Number four:
The iconic opening of each episode
actually featured recognizable characters
that would eventually appear in the show
of varying importance;
characters like Master Pakku...
Don't expect any special treatment.
Sud...
Ha ha!
Azula...
Do the tides command this ship?
and Avatar Roku.
Our shared past.
The identity of this airbender is still unknown though.
Number five:
Each of the four bending styles
is based on a real world martial art.
Waterbending is based on Tai Chi.
[fighting]
Earthbending is based
on the Hung Gar style of Kung Fu.
[grunting]
Firebending is based
on the Northern Shaolin style of Kung Fu.
[grunting]
And finally, airbending is based on Baguazhang.
[fighting]
Number six:
The music that accompanies the title of each episode
is a different piece of music in all 61 episodes.
[music playing]
Number seven:
In the four part finale, Aang received some help
from an ancient lion turtle.
In the era before the Avatar, we bent not the elements
but the energy within ourselves.
While this creature may seem to come out of nowhere,
what you might not know is that this isn't the first time
a lion turtle appeared in the series.
If you were paying attention, you'll notice that they appear
in the episode, The Library, all the way back in Book Two.
Hey, look at these weird lion turtle things.
I've seen weirder.
And one even showed up in the intro
of that unaired pilot episode, we mentioned earlier.
Whoo-hoo!
Number eight:
Speaking of blink and you'll miss it moments,
in the episode, Sokka's Master, Toph can be seen bending a piece
of space earth into the exact shape
of the classic Nickelodeon logo.
Check this out!
Uh, now that's some brand aware space earth.
You know, I don't think
there's such a thing as space earth.
If it's from space, then it's not really earth.
Must you ruin everything?
Number nine:
You may remember this pregnant couple
from the Serpent's Pass episode in Book Two.
What should we name her?
I want our daughter's name to be unique.
I want it to mean something.
I've been going through a really hard time lately.
But you've made me hopeful again.
I know what I want to name our baby now.
Hope.
That's a perfect name.
Hope.
But did you know that they appeared
in other episodes as well?
Such as Zuko Alone,
where Zuko decides against stealing from them.
And in The Awakening, where they're seen embracing
as the Fire Nation takes over Ba Sing Se.
The armies of the Fire Nation surged through the walls
and swarmed over Ba Sing Se, securing our victory!
[crying]
Number ten:
Okay, Kataang shippers gather round.
I've got some news for you.
Are you ready for this?
Aang was not Katara's first kiss.
Can you imagine that?
Yeah. [chuckles]
I definitely wouldn't want to kiss you.
And sorry, Zutara shippers. It wasn't Zuko.
You see, in the early 2000's
Nickelodeon began airing each episode of the show
with the inclusion of pop up facts
about the series...
to give viewers more information
about development... behind the scenes facts...
and even some extra details about the story itself.
Are you trying to poach my tea maker?
And in the episode, Lake Laogai,
one pop up fact revealed that Katara's first kiss
was actually...
Look!
[grunting]
...Jet.
Maybe Katara could kiss him.
That should bring something back.
Maybe you should kiss him, Sokka?
How come we never hear about any Kajet shippers?
- Hey. - Hi.
That's all for today.
Did we miss any hidden facts? Let us know.
And maybe they'll turn up in our next video.
Until then, flameo hotman.