Avatar: The Abridged Series

"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.

This series provides examples of:
"Katara: "Well, at least we know we weren't in any real danger."
 * 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.

Bumi: "Oh no, I was definitely going to kill you.""

"Jin: You're lucky you're hot, you know that?"
 * Also Jet, with a healthy dose of paranoia.
 * Badass Mustache: In the "Day of Black Stache" special, Haru's mustache.
 * 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!"
 * Brainless Beauty:
 * Brainless Beauty:

"Jet: You're too late to stop me.
 * Poor, poor Zuko.
 * Breaking the Fourth Wall: Episode 6 was devoted to this very concept.

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?"

"Katara: *sigh* Crushed optimism..."
 * Bring My Brown Pants: Episode 5.
 * Brick Joke:

"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!
 * Butt Monkey: Sokka

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...."

"Bato: You should try to find your friend Aang.
 * He hangs a lampshade on it in Episode 9.

one transition later, Sokka and Katara are being chased by a mercenary

Sokka: Why do I ever listen to anybody!?"

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

"Katara: BESERKER BARRAAGE!"
 * Calling the Old Man Out: Katara calling out Master Paku about his ideals of female fighters
 * Calling Your Attacks

"Zuko: "Jee, your accent is ruining our image!""
 * Camp Gay: Haru. Just... Haru.
 * Canada Eh: Lieutenant Jee.

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

"Zuko: I don't think rabbits can operate screwdrivers without opposable thumbs."
 * 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 in ep. 11.
 * Combat Pragmatist: Iroh's fireball.
 * Completely Missing the Point: "Zuzu's Date"..

""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!"
 * 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.
 * Department of Redundancy Department: Episode 9 again.

"How convenient!""

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

"Zhao: Well darn, it looks like I'm out of luck barring a sudden promotion, like the one arriving right now.
 * Yes? No? Maybe? Lobster?
 * Early Bird Cameo: in episode 5.
 * El Spanish O: Sokka attempting to communicate with Momo.
 * Emo Teen: Zuko.
 * Everythings 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.
 * 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

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."

"Aang: I don't even really have to dodge. He just kind of misses.""
 * Giving Up On Logic: Sokka comes dangerously close to it when he lampshades the Schizo Tech of the series.
 * Hey Its That Voice: Takahata101, who voices Nappa in DBZ Abridged voice acts in episode 8
 * Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: Zuko

""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!""

"Zuko: Awww, now I'm scarred physically and mentally!"
 * Larynx Dissonance: Especially Katara.
 * Leet Lingo: from the generic "ROFLMAO learn to play n00bs!" (ep 5) to the less common "TTFN!" (ep 9).
 * Man of a Thousand Voices
 * 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".
 * Naked People Are Funny- Do not bother Iroh during "Naked Iroh Time".

"Sokka: Wow Bato, the nuns let you stay here for free?!
 * Naughty Nuns: Once again, Episode 9

Bato: Let's just say they haven't exactly seen a man in a while..."

"Sokka: Now sis, remember what we said about Waterbending when you're PMSing..."
 * No Periods Period: Averted to the fullest extent possible

"Gyatso: Remember, Aang, if you ever fall into the water during a storm, never freeze yourself in a block of ice like a complete idiot."
 * 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:

"Pakku: Ohohoho!!!! Oh, you sure showed me lass! Ohoho--CHRIST ON A CRACKER!!!"
 * Oh Crap: Pakku in Episode 11 during his fight with Katara.

"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."
 * 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:

"Jeong Jeong: Only a master of evil, Zhao"
 * 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!

"King Bumi: Good try, but if you want to save the girl -
 * 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:

Sokka: And Sokka!"

"Iroh: You took a lock of that water tribe girl's hair?
 * Stalker With a Crush: In fact, she is named Stalker Girl.
 * Zuko with Katara. He even had a lock of her hair.

Zuko: Well, yeah. I just wanted a piece of her with me everywhere I went."

"Master Paku: '"So go learn to heal or get in the kitchen and make some babies!""
 * Stay in The Kitchen: Master Paku believes that if woman aren't healers or summoners they should be this.

"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!"
 * Steampunk: Addressing its absurdity in episode 10.
 * Sokka: Steam... powered... jet skis.
 * Stock Scream: there's a Wilhelm early in ep. 9.
 * Straight Gay:
 * 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.
 * Katara in episode 11.
 * Trash Talk: Aang loses it when a glider pilot "does the ancient Airbender equivalent of You Got Served."

"Sokka: Wow, Aang! You're an ass!"
 * 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.)


 * 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*

"Katara: Encouraging optimism?

Aang: Yeah, I'm gonna have to ask you guys to stop doing that."