Avatar: The Abridged Series

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Katara: It's a random stranger that I can exhibit naive optimism towards! Yay, naive optimism! Aang: Uh... who are you? Katara: An optimist! Sokka: And I'm a skeptic! Skepticism, skepticism, skepticism... ... Katara: Hopeful optimism? Sokka: Continued skepticism.... —Characterization, Cliff Notes style.

In yet another Follow the Leader version of Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series, GanXingba made an abridged version of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Can it capture the flavor of the original?

No, it really can't, which is sort of the point, but it keeps the basic character concepts roughly the same and just Flanderizes the bejezus out of them. Aang is an annoying, clueless idiot even more hopelessly in love with Katara, Katara is shrill, overbearing, and needlessly optimistic, Sokka is much snarkier, Zuko is a stereotypical Emo Teen, and, inexplicably but hilariously, Momo is Mexican and Iroh is a stereotypical Jewish old man (not to mention that Ozai sounds like Hulk Hogan, Azula speaks Valley Girl and Pakku is the only Scottish Water Tribesman). It works. It also gave us "Kung Fu Action Jesus".

The first episode can be viewed here. Now has its own website.

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Tropes used in Avatar: The Abridged Series include:

• All Girls Like Ponies: "Our wedding's gonna have ponies... and flowers... and ponies..."
• All Girls Want Bad Boys: Viciously parodied with Jet and Katara.
• Alter Kocker: Iroh
• Armor Is Useless: "This papier-mâché armor is useless!"
• Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: See Foreign Queasine below.
• A-Team Firing: Zuko's gunships. "I don't even have to dodge. He just kinda misses."
• Attention Whore: Aang.
• Author Avatar: Sokka may be turning into this.
  • Much of the series is Author Avatar for GanXingba to point out plot holes and other logical inconsistencies. The comet conversation between Aang and Avatar Roku, for example.
    • So, the Avatars are the Author Avatars?
• Ax Crazy: King Bumi.

Katara: "Well, at least we know we weren't in any real danger." Bumi: "Oh no, I was definitely going to kill you."

• • Also Jet, with a healthy dose of paranoia.
• Badass Mustache: In the "Day of Black Stache" special, Haru's mustache which is so powerful that it can single-handedly defeat Fire Lord Ozai.
• Because I Said So: Roku's explanation about the comet giving firebenders more power.
• Berserk Button: Do not be the guy who didn't call Mike Tyson 'Iron Man' (ep. 6). Also see Trash Talk below.
  • "THEY'RE NOT MUTTON CHOOOOOOOPS!!!!"
• Brain Bleach: "Now I'm scarred physically and mentally!"
  • The closest Aang can manage is to burn Appa's harness, bathe him a dozen times and find a therapist (re. ep 11).
• Brainless Beauty:

Jin: You're lucky you're hot, you know that?

• • Poor, poor Zuko.
• Breaking the Fourth Wall: Episode 6 was devoted to this very concept.

Jet: You're too late to stop me. Aang: Please. I'm the Avatar. You can't even bend! You don't stand a- (crashes into tree with a loud thud) Okay, seriously, what the crap? Who wrote this episode? It was Zuko.

• Bring My Brown Pants: Episode 5.
• Brick Joke:

Katara: *sigh* Crushed optimism...

• Butt Monkey: Sokka

Sokka: Well Aang, because when I'm being pursued by people who want to kill me, I'd rather throw them off by walking through a dense forest than fly through an empty sky on a giant freaking bison! Katara: That may make sense, but since you're trying to be the leader, I'm guessing this is gonna fail horribly. Sokka: Oh c'mon, the writers don't hate me that muuuu....

• • He hangs a lampshade on it in Episode 9.

Bato: You should try to find your friend Aang. one transition later, Sokka and Katara are being chased by a mercenary Sokka: Why do I ever listen to anybody!?

• • Zuko is as well, and he hangs a lampshade on it in Episode 9.

Zuko: That's it! I'm not gonna let myself be humiliated anymore--* gets struck by the shirshu's tongue* OH THIS IS JUST EXCESSIVE!

• Calling the Old Man Out: Katara calling out Master Paku about his ideals of female fighters
• Calling Your Attacks

Katara: BESERKER BARRAAGE!

• Camp Gay: Haru. Just... Haru.
• Canada, Eh?: Lieutenant Jee.

Zuko: "Jee, your accent is ruining our image!"

• Casting Gag: The warden in "Imprisoned" is gay. Who voiced him in the actual show? George Takei.
• Character Exaggeration: Naturally.
• Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkeys: Hinted at with Zhao's naval crew, as opposed to Zuko's (see Canada, Eh? below)

"They're all lined up in a straight line with their guns pointed the same way... they're probably French."

• Chick Magnet: Iroh, to the tune of 5000 points on "The Game of Love". Also qualifies as a Kavorka Man.
• Combat Commentator: added to the big Katara vs Pakku fight in ep. 11.
• Combat Pragmatist: Iroh's fireball.
• Completely Missing the Point: "Zuzu's Date". At first.

Zuko: I don't think rabbits can operate screwdrivers without opposable thumbs.

• Conspiracy Theorist: Jet, with his "crazed theories" about the Freemasons and Illuminati. In fact Viacom deleted this episode because Jet knew too much of the truth.
• Crazy Survivalist: Jet, leading the battle against the Martians... Er, Fire Nation, basically Expying a mix of Solid Snake and The Question from Justice League Unlimited.
• Cut and Paste Translation: Will rearrange the order of episodes, paste two (or more) episodes as one, and radically alter some plots instead of just abridging them. But this is likely more for Rule of Funny than anything else. And a bit of Fridge Brilliance when you realise why the Blue Spirit's first scene comes before Zuko's first scene in ep. 8.
• Department of Redundancy Department: Episode 9 again.

"Now that we can conveniently move, I have a convenient plan that conveniently involves these convenient vats of perfume they conveniently make at this temple!" "How convenient!"

• Does Not Understand Innuendo: On the Zuzu's Date episode, his date tries every innuendo short of saying that she wants to have sex with him, failing to get across her meaning to Zuko. In the end, she flat out says that she wants to have sex with him, and instantly, Zuko is transformed from whiny bitch to lady's man extraordinaire.
• Don't Explain the Joke: King Bumi has this as almost his entire personality:

Bumi: So in other words, they went postal! Get it? Postal, mail delivery system...

• • Yes? No? Maybe? Lobster?
• Early Bird Cameo: Chong in episode 5.
• El Spanish O: Sokka attempting to communicate with Momo.
• Emo Teen: Zuko.
• Everything's Better With Penguins: Yeah, Aang's gonna go play with penguins now. Yeah, penguins, yeah!
• Eyedscreen: Episode 8. At least twice.
• Follow the Leader: Sister production ATAS TV is modelled after AMV Hell.
• Foreign Queasine: Episode 9. Batou serves up whale testicles and even more in Episode 11: "In honor of the Avatar's arrival (and my daughter Yue's sweet sixteen) please enjoy this feast of seal testicles, penguin testicles, polar bear testicles, and gazpacho.".
• For Science!: Complete with Trumpet Music, and that makes everything okay.
• Funny Background Event: In Episode 6, when the kids are cheering for Jet's speech, you can hear someone say 'sieg heil' among the cheers. May also double as Crosses the Line Twice.
• Gambit Roulette: Episode 8

Zhao: Well darn, it looks like I'm out of luck barring a sudden promotion, like the one arriving right now. Colonel Shinu: What!? There's no way you could have timed this down to the second! Zhao: Of course I can. I went to the Light Yagami School of Strategy. I can practically predict the future.

• Giving Up On Logic: Sokka comes dangerously close to it when he lampshades the Schizo Tech of the series.
• Hey It's That Voice: Takahata101, who voices Nappa in DBZ Abridged voice acts in episode 8
• Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: Zuko

Aang: I don't even really have to dodge. He just kind of misses."

• Kung Fu (Action) Jesus:

"Kung Fu Action Jesus! He's fightin' the bad guys And making them pay, With magic kung fu He'll save the day! It's Kung Fu Action Jesus!"

• Larynx Dissonance: Especially Katara. Or at least until she Took a Level In Badass.
• Leet Lingo: from the generic "ROFLMAO learn to play n00bs!" (ep 5) to the less common "TTFN!" (ep 9).
• Man of a Thousand Voices
• Mile High Club: "You did WHAT with Yue on APPA?!?"
• My Friends and Zoidberg: Sokka even more than in the original series.
• My God, What Have I Done?: Steam. Powered. Jet. Skis.
• Naked People Are Funny- Do not bother Iroh during "Naked Iroh Time".

Zuko: Awww, now I'm scarred physically and mentally!

• Naughty Nuns: Once again, Episode 9

Sokka: Wow Bato, the nuns let you stay here for free?! Bato: Let's just say they haven't exactly seen a man in a while...

• No Periods Period: Averted to the fullest extent possible

Sokka: Now sis, remember what we said about Waterbending when you're PMSing...

• • In a commentary of episode one, the creator of the series explicitly stated that that joke is the one that he's gotten the most criticism for and admits that it wasn't a very good idea anyway.
• Now You Tell Me:

• Oh Crap: Pakku in Episode 11 during his fight with Katara.

Pakku: Ohohoho!!!! Oh, you sure showed me lass! Ohoho--CHRIST ON A CRACKER!!!

• Only Sane Man: Definitely Sokka. This status is firmly established in episode 10.
• Out-of-Character Moment: "If I acknowledge that part of my character, the plot falls apart! I don't have a choice."
• Precision F-Strike: Katara's calling Pakku out in episode 11.
• Punctuated for Emphasis: "Give... me... that... chocolate!"
• Sarcasm Mode- "Sarcastic skepticism"
• Schizo Tech:

Sokka: Let Me Get This Straight: you can invent tanks (invented 1915), jet skis (invented 1973), and a gi-gantic friggin' drill (invented 20XX)... but the concept of a hot air balloon(invented 1783)... eluuuuudes you. ...I hate this world and everyone in it.

• Shallow Love Interest: Yue's dialog is replaced with giggling.
• Shout Out: Tons, in The Abridged Series tradition.
  • It's not lupus.
  • Aang questions why Bato doesn't have cybernetic eyes.
  • Heart being crossed out of the four elements. Also note Katara's pronunciation of 'mmwwwwWATER' towards the end.
  • And Jet's obsession with shoelaces alludes to one of the Question's best known lines. "The tips of shoelaces are called aglets - their true purpose is sinister."
  • There's no way June's voice isn't a nod to Doctor Girlfriend.
  • In episode ten, Aang wants to be absolutely sure that they will be flying into a zone that is extremely dangerous. A "Danger Zone", if you will.
  • Episode 8: "Gentlemen, BEHOLLLD!!"
  • "Why a duck? Why a duck?!"
  • Zhao went to the Light Yagami School of Strategy; he can practically predict the future!
    • Culminating in a dramatic "Just as planned... Oh Crap." moment.
  • "Hey, Wolverine, nice side burns!" "Why thank you, Cyclops, how's the eye?"
  • Yue sounding like the chick from Kung Pow initially.
  • Bumi: What... is your name? [...] What... is your quest?
  • Zhao: When we last met, I was but the learner. Now, I am the master!

Jeong Jeong: Only a master of evil, Zhao

• • Colonel Avdol: "Admiral Zhao... I have leaned over a great deal of time the only to defeat the Northern Water Tribe... is to burn it."
    • Which in itself calls back a similar shout-out in Antfish's own series where Abdul has an Imagine Spot where he is crowned as "Fire Lord Abdul," and when he's snapped out of it, he screams "I WILL DESTROY THE AVATAR!" Aang, voiced by Gangxingba, pops in and adds his disapproval of this plan.
• Side Effects Include: The side effects for Haru's Sexyfine Shampoo are as follows: "Headaches, blood clots, green rashes, gonorrhea, albinism, thumb cancer, chocolate cravings, heroin addiction, pregnancy, ear mutation, increased risk of cyborg koala attack, the apocalypse, and Zutara." Your Millage May Vary if that last one is a case of Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking or not.
• Smite Me Oh Mighty Smiter: "Why a duck? Why a duck?!"
• Snub By Omission:

• Stalker With a Crush: In fact, she is named Stalker Girl.
  • Zuko with Katara. He even had a lock of her hair.

Iroh: You took a lock of that water tribe girl's hair? Zuko: Well, yeah. I just wanted a piece of her with me everywhere I went.

• Stay in The Kitchen: Master Paku believes that if woman aren't healers or summoners they should be this.

Master Paku: '"So go learn to heal or get in the kitchen and make some babies!"

• Steampunk: Addressing its absurdity in episode 10.
  • Sokka: Steam... powered... jet skis.
• Stock Scream: there's a Wilhelm early in ep. 9.
• Straight Gay: Haru
• Strange Minds Think Alike: In the first episode, Sokka, Aang and Zuko all mention the "iceberg pinata" explanation for a Human Popsicle. Later, we learn that Aang and Zuko are both amazingly obsessed with eating Lucky Charms for breakfast.
• Tempting Fate: "Wow, what a normal and uneventful day we're having, surely nothing exciting and life-changing could hap- "
  • Why a duck? Why a duck?!
  • Ep. 11 devotes up to 40 seconds in the opening to this.
• These Questions Three
• Took a Level In Badass: Aang can effortlessly own anyone, provided he's not being written by Zuko.
  • Katara in episode 11.
• Trash Talk: Aang loses it when a glider pilot "does the ancient Airbender equivalent of You Got Served."

Aang: So you think you're hot shit, huh, but I got news for yo' punk ass! You ain't got nothin'! Ho ho, what is this, loop-de-loops? Get that J.V. shit outta here, son!

• • The Guy Aang's trashing? Teo. Sokka treats it as a What the Hell, Hero? after the reveal.
    • He's handicapable.
• Valley Girl: Azula, apparently.
• Weirdness Censor: Sokka is starting to question some of the absurdities he runs into.
• "Well Done, Son" Guy: Zuko ("Time to make Daddy love me!")
• What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart Anyway: When Aang states that he's master of all the elements, the four main elements' symbols are shown around him. A heart symbol then suddenly appears but is quickly X'd out.
• What the Hell, Hero?: Aang gets the recieving end of this for laughs in episodes 9 with the map (Then they wouldn't be paying attention to ME!!) and in episode 10 with Aang trash-talking Teo (you remember, the kid in the wheelchair.)

Sokka: Wow, Aang! You're an ass!

• The Worf Effect: Zuko. "Not so fast Avatooooh noooo..."
• Worth It: Sokka's attitude to sacrificing the air balloon's fuel source to get rid of Kenny Loggins music.
  • Also why Zhao just watched Aang kick Zuko's ass rather than stop him from getting away.
• Wrong Genre Savvy: Master Paku. His sexism is now a combination of Stay in The Kitchen and the exception that female protagonists must remain in the back row and heal or summon monsters.
• Yandere: One episode character Meng is turned into one.
• Yiddish As a Second Language: Iroh.
• Your Other Left: "Down Fluffles, down! * ffwump* "No, the other down!" * whump*

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Katara: Encouraging optimism? Aang: Yeah, I'm gonna have to ask you guys to stop doing that.