Legend of Korra Troll Secrets

stelmarias:

Michael Dante DiMartino, creator of the critically acclaimed Avatar series, announced Wednesday that the second season of Nickelodeon’s most anticipated show of 2013, Legend of Korra, will feature the network’s first openly gay character, confirming hopes within fan circles for a wider representation of LGBT youth in a children’s program. DiMartino and co-creator Mike Konietzko hope this development will promote inclusion of society’s unspoken minority groups in kid’s shows, introducing the idea of equality and respect early in a child’s life.

“After serious thought and contemplation, we realized we had a responsibility as creators to provide role models for kids who don’t see themselves on screens enough, if at all,” DiMartino said in an exclusive interview.

DiMartino and Konietzko have flirted with the idea for years since the success of Avatar, but Nickelodeon’s higher-ups have never given the green light until last year, when production of Korra’s second season officially began. “We’re very excited for the debut of this character. It’s something we’ve put a lot of time and effort into for a very long time, and to see it really come to life is really very rewarding,” Konietzko revealed. “I just hope the fans are as pleased with our work as we are.”

These creators are certainly not new to the introduction of unexplored and often controversial themes in youth media. The Avatar world built in their series features a cast entirely made of non-white characters, pulling cultures and ethnicities from China to Mesoamerica, one of the first and certainly the most successful Western cartoons to do so. 

When asked for more details about the upcoming season, both men wouldn’t budge. “Spoilers!” Bryan Konietzko said, laughing. But they did reveal a romantic plotline would be introduced for their debut character. The question of whether the show’s lead, Korra, an up-and-coming young Avatar, would be involved was quickly dismissed, but not denied, so perhaps there’s hope for popular fan theories.

Legend of Korra’s new season will premiere on April 13th, 9:00 AM Pacific Standard Time, with voice talents Janet Varney, David Faustino, P. J. Byrne, and Seychelle Gabriel.

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