M. Night Shyamalan Addresses Race Issues In The Last Airbender
By Krystal Clark
The Last Airbender was a popular Nickelodeon television series that gained a huge following because of its story and its characters. When people heard that a live action movie was being made by director M. Night Shyamalan there was a mixed reaction, not only because of his hit and miss filmmaking history, but because of his casting choices. The director finally decided to shed some serious light on the white elephant in the room regarding The Last Airbender and race…
Shyamalan was at a recent press event surrounded by journalists and the people at i09 posted his responses to some of the burning questions a lot of us have regarding the casting for The Last Airbender. We’ve previously written about our take on his choices at length so I definitely advise you to give The Last Airbender: White-Washed Like A Fence a read. As for Shyamalan’s thoughts, he finally broke down the logic behind his decision to hire prominent white actors to play characters that look ethnic in the animated series.
Here’s the thing. The great thing about anime is that it’s ambiguous. The features of the characters are an intentional mix of all features. It’s intended to be ambiguous. That is completely its point. So when we watch Katara, my oldest daughter is literally a photo double of Katara in the cartoon. So that means that Katara is Indian, correct? No that’s just in our house. And her friends who watch it, they see themselves in it. And that’s what’s so beautiful about anime.
I’m going to have to disagree with you on that Night. When I look at the characters on the show I see brown skin, which gives me the indication that they stem from a culture that’s of Asian decent, where Indian would definitely be more of a possibility than someone who looks like Jackson Rathbone. This response was a generalization and a safe way for him to justify an issue that I refuse to give him a pass on, sorry.
He also spoke to the folks over at UGO about this hot “racebending” topic.
There you go. Well, it is the most culturally diverse tent-pole movie ever made. And I’m proud of it. It’s part of what drew me to the material, to see the faces of our whole world in this new world. And only time will assuage everyone and give them peace. Maybe they didn’t see the faces that they wanted to see but, overall, it is more than they could have expected. We’re in the tent and it looks like the U.N. in there.
Once again, I disagree. What U.N. table has he seen that looks like the cast of this movie? Perhaps he’s counting all the ethnic extras that are featured in the BACKGROUND. I’ve heard rumors that this will turn into a full on trilogy and we will see plenty of other representations including Asians and even African-Americans in the sequels yet I won’t hold my breath.
I’ll wrap this up by saying the “dark guy” playing the villain is a movie convention that got old a long time ago and I’m not happy seeing it resurface in something that’s directed towards a younger audience. He could have really done better with this.
What do you think of Shyamalan’s point of view regarding race and The Last Airbender?
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 7:42PM
I agree, his take on anime was a safe answer. It's not necessarily incorrect though. Anime characters are usually ethnically ambiguous. His UGO answer was a bit defensive, but if it turns out to be a trilogy and there is more diversity it would hopefully ease some concerns. Although the tribes in Avatar are overall homogenous, so the main characters should represent their tribes. Unless that's been changed also.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 7:53PM
It's obvious that the person who wrote this article has not seen the cartoon series; otherwise, they would realize how foolish their "person of color = bad guy" assumption is.
Don't judge until you see it. The story has real, fantastic potential for a great trilogy.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 7:58PM
I'm down with having my mind changed after the film is released but as for the not watching, I have. I've seen both sides bad and good have a decent dose of color in them. That's where my argument was coming from.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 8:55PM
Some anime characters are ethnically ambiguous, but the characters in The Last Airbender were not.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 9:02PM
Exactly my reaction. Thank you for writing this!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 9:07PM
Honestly, Why can't people enjoy a film for what it is and not make such a fuss over it. I swear it is rediculous. Yes there is diversity in the casting but why can't we just say that it is what it is and leave it be, What happened to enjoying a movie for once. What happended to just leaving things be. At least the critics gave time for James Camerons Avatar to come out and then start making comments that the film is racial (which I very much disagree). I guess I am sensing a trend where people just calling off left and right that a movie is this and the movie is that. I really hope people can just deal with it. There are a couple of things that I am kind of dissapointed about the film but it wont change how I feel about it. I really think this film will be amazing. The name changing I really dont agree on but it was Night's decision. So, why cant all of you just agree to dissagree and move on and not spoil it for others who actually want to see the last airbender. The last airbender will be a great series. I am very much looking forward to it.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 9:29PM
Yes, why can't we just enjoy being written out of our own stories and not make such a fuss over it? I mean, we have to deal with racism all the time in our everyday lives, why not in our entertainment!
The Last Airbender *is* a great series. The movie shows no signs of maintaining this.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 9:38PM
A. This is an American cartoon that features Asians and Native American culture. It ain't anime.
@ Steve: B. Anime characters are NOT ethnically ambiguous. Their cultures, religions, names, schools, how they react to situations, their foods, their architecture in some cases, their myths… are on full display. It ain't their fault that western audiences tend to be largely ignorant of these or can't recognize non-white peoples without sterotyped exaggerated features, see for more explanation : The face of the other
C. Going back to this American cartoon: a. Diversity does not mean "white people and…" There was plenty of diversity without making all the good main characters white and after outcry, changing teh white villian to a brown one. South Asians, Inuit, Japanese and Chinese elements do equal diversity thanks. Lj group aang aint white points out what the cartoons were based on: Inuit culture and here is a picspam pointing out actual cultural signifiers that have bases in the real world. Ya may have noticed that there aint no white culture involved here. Or you can watch this video instead which makes the contrast even sharper.
@ Andrew 123 D. Stories are not just stories. They have consequences on the watchers imagination and sense of self. There is no such thing as "just fiction"
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 10:02PM
Whats the point of being against this movie if you're willing to still support it by paying to see it. It was great to hear you speak out against this movie, but apparently it was meaningless by your reply to jsj. M. Night and jsj are going to win thanks to your actions.
Thursday, April 1, 2010 2:34AM
If this is M. Night's attempt to excuse all the whitewashing, it's only making him sound ignorant. Anyone who is a REAL fan of anime will know these things
Thursday, April 1, 2010 4:29AM
People will find ANY reason to cry racism. Grow the fuck up.
Thursday, April 1, 2010 7:06AM
No, anime characters default to Japanese unless there are cultural or ethnic indicators to show otherwise. Caucasians in anime are invariable, blonde, blue-eyed, and speak with a funny accent.
Thursday, April 1, 2010 10:33AM
Oh so you are one of those people from the fictional world of Avatar that can bend Earth, Water, Air or fire? I can now see why you feel "written out of your own stories".
Thursday, April 1, 2010 11:47AM
This is such a minor issue. There are more important thing in life than the casting choices of 3 characters in fictional movie that is based on a work of fiction.
I'll tell you all what I read. Go ahead and boycott it all you want to. I don't mind paying to see it twice.
No I am not a "white person who doesn't get it". I'm not a white person at all.
Thursday, April 1, 2010 6:59AM
And many people will find any reason not to believe it’s racism and to avoid talking about race.
Have a little courage and leave your comfort zone.
Friday, April 2, 2010 3:39AM
Its not that i want asian actors in the film but characters are inuit, chinese and other races. It takes away something from the film. For instance if watch Fantastic Four and see jessica alba in the blonde it just does not match. And I wish he did not say that the races in the cartoon is ambigous because if really believed that what his casting is ok why would he make up such a lame excuse. We can all see that the original materials characters have brown skin or asian features. Besides that the creators hired a cultural consultant to make sure they are true to Asian symbols and writings in the cartoon. So for him to make a comment like that just opens him up to more questioning. Again im not in this for the race thing but what i want is that the film remain true to the original material and with the director making comments like this its obvious his going to make this film as he sees it not the way the original plot was meant to be. Just look at Iroh…
Saturday, April 3, 2010 12:16AM
I believe that the subject of race is too much talked about. Can't we all just kick back, have a beer, and enjoy the movie for what it is? We can't change it now, no matter how much we complain about it. It is what it is.
Saturday, April 3, 2010 12:18AM
lol. Well spoken.
Saturday, April 3, 2010 8:16AM
Um Inglorious I hate to break it to you but all you have to do now days to see racism is go on to yahoo message boards for associated press news articles and usually there will be someone on there.
Racism is real but to get over it people need to have the attitude you have but remember to be respectful no matter what the situation because that is the first step.
Saturday, April 3, 2010 8:23AM
Honestly there is no way to tell what goes on in auditions. Sometimes its for a specific look and sometimes its for acting skill, It even could just be that the director could get along easily with the actor. I say cut them some slack and if the movie is bad we still have the TV show. I hope for the best for this film and honestly expect the worst. But that isn't because of the actors the movie might fail it falls with the script, Director, and Producers. (sometimes the test audience has a say) A movie will never be perfect but hopefully it will be entertaining.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 12:00AM
What M. Night S. said would have been beautiful and great. But there's one problem. 3 or the 4 main characters are white actors. And what's more disturbing is that all would have been white if Jesse McCartney didn't drop out of the film. This isn't a multiracial cast.
And no, racism is not over. I really don't get some of these comments that if it's a good movie, it'll somehow make up for the discriminatory casting. As if the ends justifies the means. I'm sorry, but I think there is just an ignorance about Hollywood racial casting. It definitely does exists. in fact, it's more the rule. I'm sure the producers' best friends are asians. But you don't have to hate asians to still participate in discriminatory casting procedures. Asians, especially asian male actors still punk'd when it comes to competing for acting roles. I think Harold and Kumar is the only film where an asian actor plays the lead that didn't require him to do kung fu.
Look, asians rarely ever cry racism over things in Hollywood. Not much of a fuss was made over 21 or Dragonball. But with this film, the fact that not just asians, but whites, blacks and other ethnic groups are all together sort of pissed by these casting decisions, don't you think there's maybe something there? Rather than accuse minorities of being paranoid or hysterical?
Thursday, April 8, 2010 8:04AM
I completely agree with tereage. just how many times do you see asians pulling out the "Race card"? really? how many times?
it's so interesting to see people declare, "it's the 21th century, racism is over!!" who are you to claim that? let me give you an example, a professor of the university of british colombia did an experiment. resumes that are almost identical in education/experience/etc are made and mailed out to different companies. the only thing different about them is the LAST NAME of the applicants. result: the applicants with a WHITE name are 50% more likely to receive a call from the company than a person with colour.
racism is over? don't make me laugh. maybe the violent, hate-crimes decreased a bit. but the subtle racism and discrimination definitely exist.
finally a cartoon that is deeply rooted in asian culture made it to mainstream. it's an excellent opportunity to give asian actors and others of color a chance to shine. and what do they do? they white washed the cast, and the only asian is the WRONG type of asian. (tokenism) zuko is east asian NOT indian!
an east asian myself, i'm very sensitive at the lack of asian actors in main stream media. maybe you don't care and don't see what the big deal is, and i wouldn't force you to sympathize with our feelings (yes, there are many of us). but please DO NOT tell me how i'm SUPPOSE to feel about these acts of discrimination.
Sunday, April 11, 2010 2:22AM
There is a differences between tokenism and diversity, having the hero played by whites and giving the villains and background character roles to people of color is NOT diversity, its tokenism! Certainly if (god forbid) he does makes a trilogy out of this and he adds an Asian Toph and the Indian Zuko to the hero list it only adds injury to insult, it will appear as if he tried to appease the racism complaints by adding one or two prominent roles to people of color while still retaining the white hero core, again tokenism.
Sunday, April 11, 2010 2:41AM
Why can't people just enjoy the bus ride and not complain about being forced into the back seats? Certainly racism complaints about a movie based on an Asian fantasy world (as so admitted by the show creators) but staring white heros saving all the other races from the evil Indian and Arab lead villains is totally unfounded.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 5:20AM
Let me get this straight: you care more about some cartoon becoming converting to live action then about if real people are actually offended and discriminated against? A:TLA was not the greatest things since slice breed, get over it!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 5:30AM
No one cares what race you are, you could be a martian for all anyone cares, who race you are does not change the importance or lack of, of your statements. No matter what race you are you can still be apathetic, prejudice, discriminator, racist or even a uncle tom of some kind.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 9:59PM
You apparently lack the skills to type properly. I suggest you re-read your post over before you look like an idiot for not learning how to read or write. Also, fuck this posting system for only allowing 3-20 characters for your posting name. I had to drop my trip.
Thursday, April 22, 2010 6:23PM
[...] Airbender. The last time we checked people already had issues with this film because of its “racebending” and now Paramount wants to lace it with 3D? Is that supposed to peak our interest and make [...]
Thursday, May 27, 2010 11:10AM
Racism is over? So, I'm guessing all the disporportionate under-representation of minorities in every aspect of society is all a fluke? Racial hate crimes are just a coincidence? Stop being so naive and brainwashed. Just because you say your race "barely exists" doesn't give you the right to assume no other minorities experience "true racism." Wtf is true racism anyway?
Thursday, June 17, 2010 1:35PM
I admit in anime, there are many fantastical worlds where the characters don't really represent a certain nation, like many of the Sci-Fi stories such as Robotech. The issue with Avatar The Last Airbender is that it has a very old, cultural asian and native american theme, and it doesn't make any sense to me to cast non asian/native american actors as the heroes. If you look at the Matrix trilogy, one could tell it was inspired by Japanese anime Ghost in the Shell, which I thought was a brilliant idea. Why couldn't M. Night do the same? Why didn't he come up with his own story that was inspired by the Nickelodeon show rather than taking it directly from a very old asian/native american theme but don't include any of those descendants as the heroes?
Thursday, June 17, 2010 2:30PM
Noah Ringer doesn't look half asian, he may have some mixed ancestry but the character he portrays is assuredly of asian decent specifically Tibetan. The color of the character's eyes were done because of the elements they represent. Dev Patel is playing a villain, and even though he has dark skin doesn't mean it's racist, it's just the fact he's playing a villain while the lead heroes are non asian in a world that's mostly a pan asian fantasy.