Dan K
is a writer and screenwriter who majored in film and deeply regrets it. Shout at him on Twitter @The_True_DanK
Konami
Aside from evil, irredeemable monsters, and perhaps also people with very bad allergies, everyone loves to pet animals.
Video games provide a space of limitless possibilities, where we can just as easily step into the greaves of a 13th century samurai as we can ride a motorcycle across a futuristic cyberpunk cityscape. Sometimes video games also have animals in them, and in a world where so much is possible, we must be allowed to pet them.
Sadly, far too many games fail this most basic of tests. Imagine going to all the trouble of intricately rendering a virtual animal and then deciding that you're not going to give players the ability to scratch its fuzzy widdle head. Absolutely ludicrous. Thankfully, some games—the best games—do deliver. These are some of those games:
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Pokemon X & Y and Pokemon Sun & Moon
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU1OTQ2Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzExMDkwNX0.l-J8jct-bk4Odkxy14t_wPXZQpK-rkFjRfUFsXUjeLU/img.jpg?width=980" id="a10b3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="eb59a118cb093bfa1f149fe6c34208f5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Pokemon Refresh" />The Pokemon Company
<p><em>Pokemon Sword & Shield</em> had one glaring problem, and it wasn't Game Freak's decision to cut a large chunk of the Pokedex. No,<a href="https://www.popdust.com/pokemon-sword-shield-game-freak-2641330594.html" target="_blank"> the biggest issue in Sword & Shield</a><em><a href="https://www.popdust.com/pokemon-sword-shield-game-freak-2641330594.html">Sword & Shield</a> </em>was the fact that it removed the ability to pet your Pokemon. Through the Pokemon-Amie and Pokemon Refresh mechanics, both <em>Pokemon X & Y</em> and <em>Pokemon Sun & Moon </em>give trainers the absolutely necessary ability to nuzzle their adorable friends (or giant gods, in Arceus' case). <em>Sword & Shield</em>'s Pokemon Camp lets you throw balls at your Pokemon, but it doesn't let you pet them. Why would they take this from us? Just...why?</p>Ghost of Tsushima
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU1OTQ2My9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NTkxNzA1NX0.4DeVw-Pe3b0EIycI8kK72I4Ealu86Okc8K-5MwavZcg/img.png?width=980" id="a2e96" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bec2ac5d3df2f0805cd92393bc8b85e7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Ghost of Tsushima" />Sucker Punch Productions
<p>In <em>Ghost of Tsushima</em>, you traverse the gorgeous Japanese island of Tsushima as Jin, a noble samurai forced to adopt dishonorable tactics if he hopes to stand a chance against the invading Mongol army. But while a vast open world and fluid sword combat may be the game's biggest draws, the best thing about <em>Ghost of Tsushima</em> is the fox shrines hidden throughout the island. If you spot a fox along your journey, you can follow it to a hidden shrine where you can pray and then pet the fox. Then you can enter the fully decked out camera mode and take pictures of yourself petting the fox. This is what <em>Ghost of Tsushima </em>is really all about.<span></span></p>Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU1OTQ4Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMjU1MzI4OX0.NyliA1NzOp_eNeO8I-vro6woTXWKv-vmeyTC23x8V7k/img.jpg?width=980" id="7c2ef" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="879fa5cee31c31bbacc3b1a7666d7e5d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Metal Gear Solid 5" />Konami
<p>As the fifth installment of Hideo Kojima's deeply complex <em>Metal Gear </em>saga, <em>Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain </em>features incredibly violent scenes and gameplay that convey the stark realities of war. You can also recruit a one-eyed canine companion named D-Dog who will help you distract foes and locate equipment. D-Dog is a very good boy, so naturally, Hideo Kojima wants you to pet him. Unfortunately, D-Dog can also die permanently, so you must protect him at all costs.</p>Dragon Quest XI
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU1OTQ3MS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMzk0NjA4NX0.PQ9lDodh46QnkTS6aI_nCukK1opOE9j-s_YqI9TF4m0/img.png?width=980" id="ceaf1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c25f241df164f40694b5f66321c8d514" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Dragon Quest 11 Dog" />Square Enix
<p><em>Dragon Quest XI </em>is a sprawling, old school-inspired <a href="https://www.popdust.com/best-jrpgs-ps4-era-final-fantasy-7-remake-2646941761.html" target="_blank">JRPG adventure</a> across a massive fantasy world, but even fantasy worlds have dogs. In this case, they're Akira Toriyama-style anime dogs, which means that they're extra cute and cartoonish. So while your quest may be large in scale, remember that no quest is too lofty to prevent you from taking a quick breather to pet every dog you see whenever you're in town.<br></p><p><!-- Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph --> <div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-813"><center><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:468px;height:60px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-4301469008561137" data-ad-slot="9626795938"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></center></div> <!-- End Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph --></p>The Sims 4
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU1OTQ3Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNzY1NzMyNH0.i1AH48bDAkyKXace6QUUwc40_7Uz4iZzz-pJroTQTUo/img.jpg?width=980" id="4b749" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5f6c000442d1e63201892919fd630488" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="The Sims 4 Cats and Dogs" />EA
<p>In the world's most popular lifestyle simulator, you create people from scratch and force them to live out whatever bizarre scenarios you place them in. But, assuming you have <em>The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs </em>expansion, you can also just have your Sims pet animals. Of course, you can also create monstrous, Lovecraftian abomination animals to fill your Sim's house with in order to further enact your twisted design. But even if you do that, you can still make your Sim pet them.</p>Cyberpunk 2077
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU1OTQ3NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMjg5NjkwOH0.JdseFJxFSHeycvP_dv-imgCZKnw51L4Vqd6I0fV_yEY/img.jpg?width=980" id="1fc01" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d131f4177f9b423158c773704341b558" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Cyberpunk 2077 Cat" />CD Projekt Red
<p><em>Cyberpunk 2077 </em>hasn't come out yet (it's been delayed over and over again), but as CD Projekt Red's first major release after <em>The Witcher</em>, it's easily the single-most anticipated console title. Plenty of details about the game have been revealed so far, from the choice to adopt various gameplay-altering "lifepaths" to the fact that, unfortunately, you will not be able to romance Keanu Reeves. But you know what you can do? Pet cats. Yes, it has been confirmed that cats sometimes wander the world of <em>Cyberpunk 2077, </em>and you can, indeed, touch them. Thankfully, even if the world turns into a cyberpunk dystopia, we can still trust that petting cats will always be in-fashion.</p>Dream Daddy
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU1OTQ3Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxODgyNjQ5Mn0.95-VizJ1OWgkKAj1mYD4A2CbUS5FC5dL3SS_16vzG1c/img.jpg?width=980" id="5c2f4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1e0c49e99e1b096a31248e97695efe64" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Dream Daddy" />Game Grumps
<p><em>Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator </em>is, as the name suggests, a dating simulator that lets you date daddies. The scenarios are very well designed because, at one point, you see a dog and the game gives you the option to pet it. This provides a wonderful little moment in between your daddy dates, although this is a rare case the awesomeness of petting an animal still doesn't overshadow the awesomeness of dating daddies.</p>Nintendogs
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU1OTQ3OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMzAzNTc4OX0.ZdFvs0nyle_KxaQb1Thq6XxM0VYMevq0ec0tJvk0BcM/img.jpg?width=980" id="9d9c1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6b09f90bc0573e5530d9efccf508fc57" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Nintendogs" />Nintendo
<p>In many video games, it's a nice little bonus when you discover that you can pet the dog. In Nintendogs, that's the whole game. Nintendo was straight-up like, "Oh, you like petting dogs? Time to prove it." There are so many dogs to pet in Nintendogs. It's actually a pretty full-on dog simulator, so they expect you to do other things, too, like train and feed the dogs. But that's not why you bought the game. You bought the game to pet. </p>
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Ed Markey
Massachusetts senator Ed Markey might look like your average outdated boomer, but make no mistake—Markey is a legend.
Markey may be 74 years old, but he's been fighting the good fight for a long time, serving as one of the most progressive members of Congress for over four decades. He co-sponsored the Green New Deal alongside Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernies Sanders, strongly advocates for single-payer healthcare, and believes in preserving an open Internet. In short, this dude is the real deal.
<p>But let's face it: Leftists generally skew younger; and as such, we tend to gravitate towards other younger people who share the same progressive ideals and sensibilities that we do. You know: Eat the rich, save the world.</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-632"></div>
<!-- End Ezoic - undersecond12 - under_second_paragraph --></p><p>Enter Markey's primary challenger in the battle for Senate: 39-year-old <a href="https://www.bustle.com/p/rep-joe-kennedys-net-worth-makes-him-one-of-the-richest-lawmakers-in-congress-8037889" target="_blank">Joe Kennedy, the grandnephew of President John F. Kennedy, with a net worth upwards of 43 million dollars</a>. Wait, what? When we said we wanted younger progressives in congress, we weren't really talking about privileged<a href="https://www.popdust.com/jordan-peterson-and-the-myth-of-the-modern-man-2624950387.html" target="_blank"> failsons</a>. </p><p>In fairness to Kennedy, <a href="https://theintercept.com/2020/07/28/joe-kennedy-ed-markey-primary/" target="_blank">his stated policies are actually pretty progressive and he also supports the Green New Deal</a>. At the same time, it's baffling why he would choose to run against Markey when Markey is already one of the most respected, proven progressive voices in the Senate. As such, Markey has picked up endorsements from fellow big-name progressives like AOC, more moderate progressives like Elizabeth Warren, <em>and</em> <a href="https://twitter.com/sunrisemvmt/status/1293332742713880577" target="_blank">major progressive organizations like Sunrise Movement</a>.</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-633"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent1 - mid_content --></p><div id="8417f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4f373704344725e305c82d8b552016f6"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1293669522902265856" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Let’s GO! Massachusetts, we need to turn this into VOTES.
Reasons to vote for Ed Markey:
1. He is one of the stro… https://t.co/w0GxPJ8vwz</div> — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez)<a href="https://twitter.com/AOC/statuses/1293669522902265856">1597269824.0</a></blockquote></div><p>But age is a big deal for a lot of voters, and in a race between a 39-year-old Kennedy heir and a 74-year-old incumbent, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/496783-kennedy-leads-markey-ahead-of-massachusetts-senate-primary-polls" target="_blank">it didn't come as a huge surprise that Kennedy boasted an early double-digit lead</a>.</p><p>Except here's the thing: Markey isn't just some boomer. He's an old Boston dad-style boomer, and oh man, this guy can dish it out.</p><p>See, Joe Kennedy, in spite of all of his supposedly progressive values, has a good deal of Super PAC money in his corner. That money is largely being used to air a constant stream of attack ads against Markey, and as it turns out, the Super PAC also happens to be run by Joe Kennedy's twin brother, Matthew Kennedy, and potentially funded by his father, Joseph P. Kennedy II.</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-635"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent2 - long_content --></p><p>Markey uses this connection to—there's really no better way to put this—spank the sh!t out of Joe Kennedy in the middle of a debate.</p><div id="2fa0f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5a48fd88636fa93d2bc6333253275c25"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1294073668629389312" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Ed Markey is dad shaming, and I'm here for it https://t.co/KuSQzbTk6k</div> — David Sirota (@David Sirota)<a href="https://twitter.com/davidsirota/statuses/1294073668629389312">1597366179.0</a></blockquote></div><p>"My question is this: Is your father funding that Super PAC that is attacking me right now?" asks Markey.</p><p>"No clue. No idea," replies Kennedy. </p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-636"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent22 - long_content --></p><p>"I'm sure your father's watching right now," says Markey. "Tell your father right now that you don't want money to go into a Super PAC that runs negative ads. Just tell your twin brother and tell your father you don't want any money to be spent on negative ads in Massachusetts in 2020 in the era of Donald Trump."</p><p></p><center><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- Popdust Mobile Banner 320x100 --><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:320px;height:100px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-4301469008561137" data-ad-slot="6952751205"></ins><script>
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</script></center><p></p><p>"I've said that multiple times," stammers Kennedy. Markey just keeps going.</p><p>"Have you told your father that? Have you said it to your father?" he asks again and again. </p><p>Each utterance of <em>"father" </em>might as well be a dagger in Joe Kennedy's heart, as we watch Markey eviscerate his campaign in real-time. </p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-637"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent3 - longer_content --></p><p>Markey comes off looking like a warrior, and Kennedy a little boy.</p><p>And then, shortly after, Markey delivered a death-blow in the form of, quite possibly, one of the best campaign videos ever made.</p><div id="6fb49" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8d7d9f638d7c6081249956c6b29684ed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1293986122318610435" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">When the government abandons its people, it’s up to us to rise up and make a revolution. We’re fighting for dignity… https://t.co/xI4EGmAScs</div> — Ed Markey (@Ed Markey)<a href="https://twitter.com/EdMarkey/statuses/1293986122318610435">1597345307.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Ed Markey, playing a slowed down version of the same Nine Inch Nails "34 Ghosts" sample used in "Old Town Road," drums up John F. Kennedy's most famous words: "Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country."</p><p>Markey re-contextualizes this sentiment within the era of Trump's administration: "We asked what we could do for our country, they looked for what they could take. But there's a truth written in every history book. If you break the sacred contract, the people make a revolution." Cut to mass protests for Black Lives Matter and the American people demanding a "new deal."</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-638"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent33 - longer_content --></p><p>Next, Markey plays old footage of his younger Congressional campaigns—pro-unions, freezing the arms race, and recently, backing the Green New Deal. He's indisputably a man of the people in opposition to the ruling class.</p><p>Then comes the clincher: "We asked what we could do for our country. We went out. We did it. With all due respect, it's time to start asking what your country can do for you."</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-639"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent4 - longest_content --></p><p>Yes, in a race against a privileged, multi-millionaire Kennedy heir, Markey used JFK's legacy to empower the working class against jingoistic imperialism. Bravo.</p><p><strong>Well, Gen Z took notice. <a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/ed-markey-gen-z" target="_blank">Ed Markey is a true, bona fide cool boomer</a>.</strong></p><p>Markey's Senate re-election prospects have shifted dramatically since the start of the race. <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/511752-new-poll-shows-markey-with-wide-lead-over-kennedy-in-massachusetts" target="_blank">He now boasts a double-digit lead over Kennedy, with vast majority support amongst younger voters</a> and an entire meme campaign behind him. One <em>Esquire </em>article said that he was "<a href="https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a33598400/ed-markey-senate-race-joe-kennedy/" target="_blank">Closing the Massachusetts Senate Race Like F*cking Secretariat</a>." </p><p class="media-headline">Ed Markey has sneaker game.</p><div id="3f263" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3acbe4619cc3d0c650ebbcbee1e9e1c1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1294008075540738048" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">can we all take a moment to appreciate Ed Markey's sneaker game? https://t.co/Rv3ijnbIpH</div> — keyvan (کیوان) (@keyvan (کیوان))<a href="https://twitter.com/shafieikeyvan/statuses/1294008075540738048">1597350541.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Ed Markey has girls Tik Tok dancing for him.</p><div id="23432" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bae569ae8a805d0ef717c7d8dd6cade1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1294032655961522178" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">learned a new tik tok dance anyway if you’re in massachusetts vote for ed markey september 1st https://t.co/BD794jxz17</div> — ed markey reply girl (@ed markey reply girl)<a href="https://twitter.com/ssummersabrina/statuses/1294032655961522178">1597356401.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Ed Markey has hot girl energy.</p><div id="d39e8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="06c59f6c170ad062eb86e80212fec18b"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1293282107058528259" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">me arriving to vote for ed markey with my different identities, hot girls vote for ed markey https://t.co/6JCBIUCSTE</div> — Yéné (@Yéné)<a href="https://twitter.com/YeneOuattara/statuses/1293282107058528259">1597177456.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Ed Markey even has some moms certified simping for him.</p><div id="b9504" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7896f3b2050d202b791a7f3da2cc0269"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1294110634980843520" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">My mom, certified simp for Ed Markey https://t.co/9YofKikMLn</div> — Sam (@Sam)<a href="https://twitter.com/SamDelgadoTX/statuses/1294110634980843520">1597374993.0</a></blockquote></div><p>So, yeah, you could say that Ed Markey is proving that even boomers can be pretty cool. Don't let his efforts go to waste. If you're a boomer in Massachusetts, you can be cool, too.</p>
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Netflix's Live-Action "Avatar: The Last Airbender" Is Probably Ruined
Hopes for a decent live-action series based on a beloved cartoon are always too good to be true.
08.13.2020
Nickelodeon Movies
While live-action adaptations of beloved animated series are typically horrendous, fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender were tentatively excited for the upcoming Netflix adaptation.
Even after 2010's universally loathed live-action The Last Airbender movie directed by M. Night Shyamalan, fans held out hope that when Netflix announced a new Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action series, this time would be different. After all, series creators, Michael Dante Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko, would be helming the project.
<p>This seemed promising because Dimartino and Konietzko have guided every successful <em>ATLA </em>story to-date, from the original cartoon that aired on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008 to the acclaimed 2012 spin-off series <em>The Legend of Korra </em>to the ongoing <em>Avatar the Last Airbender </em>comic book series. If Netflix was really putting their live-action <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> show in Dimartino and Konietzko's hands, surely it stood a chance of actually being great.</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-632"></div>
<!-- End Ezoic - undersecond12 - under_second_paragraph --></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU1Njg5MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjMxNDc4MH0.JZPu9zAGEGh4p5XZhVdVoo0kOBazYhcI80Uvoo1eRUc/img.jpg?width=980" id="51a86" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4c93b816fbef278304971376d4298eb8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Avatar the last airbender">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Nickelodeon</small></p><p>But alas, the hope for a decent live-action series based on a beloved cartoon (especially an anime or an anime-inspired series, in this case) is always too good to be true. <span></span><br></p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-633"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent1 - mid_content --></p><p>In an incredibly depressing turn of events, Konietzko released a statement on Instagram announcing that he and Dimartino had both left the show due to creative differences with Netflix.</p><p>"When Netflix brought me on board to run this series alongside Mike two years ago, they made a very public promise to support our vision," he said. "Unfortunately, there was no follow-through on that promise. Though I got to work with some great individuals, both on Netflix's side and on our own small development team, the general handling of the project created what I felt was a negative and unsupportive environment."</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-634"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent11 - mid_content --></p><p>Konietzko goes on to explain that "this was not a simple matter of [he and Dimartino] not getting [their] way," and that they "ultimately came to the belief that [they] would not be able to meaningfully guide the direction of the series."</p><p>"Perhaps the team that remains might still be able to make something fans of the original and an entirely new audience can enjoy," said Konietzko. </p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-635"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent2 - long_content --></p><div id="6ae22" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f98be2203838d80104e54f307d0244a0"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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</div></blockquote></div><p>Dimartino, too, <a href="https://www.michaeldantedimartino.com/an-open-letter-to-avatar-the-last-airbender-fans/" target="_blank">posted an open letter to <em>ATLA</em> fans on his website</a>, writing: <span></span></p><p>"Look, things happen. Productions are challenging. Unforeseen events arise. Plans have to change. And when those things have happened at other points during my career, I try to be like an Air Nomad and adapt. I do my best to go with the flow, no matter what obstacle is put in my way. But even an Air Nomad knows when it's time to cut their losses and move on."</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-636"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent22 - long_content --></p><p><a href="https://www.indiewire.com/2020/08/the-last-airbender-creators-exit-netflix-adaptation-1234579624/" target="_blank">In response, Netflix told Indiewire</a>: "We have complete respect and admiration for Michael and Bryan and the story that they created in the 'Avatar' animated series. Although they have chosen to depart the live-action project, we are confident in the creative team and their adaptation."</p><p><!-- Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph -->
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<!-- End Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph --><p></p><p>Many fans are speculating on the nature of the disagreement, with many concerned that the series—which follows a young, Asian-coded boy named Aang who has the power to manipulate natural elements (namely wind) and seeks to end the militant Fire Nation's endless conquest against other nations—might be getting whitewashed by Netflix. Others worry that Netflix is insisting upon romantic relationships between characters that were not romantically connected in the original series.</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-637"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent3 - longer_content --></p><p>The only thing we can be sure of right now is that whatever the reason was, it was big enough for both of the series creators to depart the show as showrunners. This bodes incredibly poorly for the future of Netflix's adaptation. </p><p><span></span>Dimartino put it nicely, saying, "Who knows? Netflix's live-action adaptation of <em>Avatar</em> has the potential to be good. It might turn out to be a show many of you end up enjoying. But what I can be certain about is that whatever version ends up on-screen, it will not be what Bryan and I had envisioned or intended to make."</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-638"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent33 - longer_content --></p><h2></h2><p>So we'll say it another way: We won't be holding our breath.</p>
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