7 Intriguing Details About The Legend of Korra

The Nickelodeon show Avatar: The Last Airbender made its grand debut on Netflix in May, earning a huge amount of praise. Now, its monumental sequel, The Legend of Korra, is available on Netflix as well, quickly gathering a devoted following. Set 70 years after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the series chronicles the adventures of Korra, a teenager learning the art of Airbending under the guidance of Tenzin, all while striving to stop a rising anti-bending faction in Republic City. Fans from the original series, along with new viewers, are delighted by the show's captivating artistry, thrilling action, and compelling storyline.

Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, The Legend of Korra explores themes not commonly addressed in children's animation, such as egalitarianism, communism, PTSD, and queerness. The story begins in Republic City, a diverse city-state founded by Avatar Aang (Tenzin’s father) after the events of The Last Airbender. Inspired by the 1920s, this bustling metropolis introduces advanced technology and a new Avatar team. Here are a few facts that might surprise you about the series.

1. Producing The Legend of Korra involved the efforts of hundreds of artists across three different countries.

Much like the diverse characters in The Legend of Korra, the show's creators come from different parts of the world. In a guest post for The Hollywood Reporter, DiMartino and Konietzko wrote that:

"Along with the talented artists at Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, California, we also collaborated with Studio Mir from South Korea. They were responsible for designing characters and backgrounds as well as handling all the animation and compositing for the first season. We also partnered with Technicolor in India, which took care of the CG vehicle models—such as cars, airships, and other CGI vehicles. However, despite using computers for assistance, every piece of character animation and bending effects was still hand-drawn."

2. Pro-bending as a sport was conceived long before the creation of Korra.

The creators of Avatar had already imagined an arena-style competition involving the world’s strongest benders well before they developed Korra and her storyline. Konietzko and DiMartino believed that the vintage themes in The Legend of Korra made it the ideal setting to bring their pro-bending concept to life, which combines elements of traditional boxing with martial arts and bending.

3. The name "Noatak" is derived from a city and a river in Alaska.

Amon, the main antagonist of the first season of The Legend of Korra, was originally named Noatak, a name inspired by both a city and a river in Alaska. As water-benders are loosely based on Inuit culture, the name Noatak served as a significant clue to audiences about Amon's background and the nation from which his bending abilities originated.

4. Mako's name honors the actor who voiced Uncle Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Japanese-American actor Makoto "Mako" Iwamatsu passed away from cancer in 2006. He was renowned for voicing Haku in Samurai Jack and for his iconic portrayal of Uncle Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender, lending his voice to the character in the series’ first two seasons. In a tribute to his legacy, the creators of Avatar named one of the main characters in The Legend of Korra after him.

5. TENZIN'S NAME WAS INSPIRED BY THE DALAI LAMA, also known as TENZIN GYATSO.

In Tibetan, Tenzin means "upholder of teachings," while Gyatso means "ocean" and is a part of every Dalai Lama's name. The Dalai Lama, Gyatso, also inspired the character Monk Gyatso from the original Avatar series. Both Aang and Korra were mentored by characters named after the Dalai Lama.

6. The relationship between Korra and Asami continues beyond The Legend of Korra.

In the graphic novel Turf Wars, fans dive deeper into the beloved “Korrasami” dynamic between Korra and Asami, two of the series' central female characters. The novel explores their coming-out journey to friends and family, and the evolution of their relationship as they grow closer. Korra's family initially struggles to accept her bisexuality, and Korra becomes fiercely protective of Asami. Many fans and critics praised the series for its thoughtful portrayal of LGBTQ characters.

7. The Legend of Korra boasts an impressive lineup of voice talent.

If some of the voices in The Legend of Korra sound familiar, it’s likely because many of the actors are well-known from previous roles: Lisa Edelstein, who portrayed Lisa Cuddy on House, voices Kya; Daniel Dae Kim, famous for playing Jin on Lost, provides the voice for Asami’s father, Hiroshi Sato, and General Fong in Avatar: The Last Airbender; Kuvira is voiced by Zelda Williams, the daughter of the late Robin Williams. You’ll also hear Parks and Recreation's Aubrey Plaza bringing her signature deadpan tone to Eska, and Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons lends his voice to Tenzin.