Ever since Avatar: The Last Airbender made its way to Netflix, fans of the show have fallen in love all over again. It is a wonderfully creative and extensively explored world that imagines abilities of bending the elements. Audiences' adoration for the imaginative storytelling, in-depth characterization and diverse Asian representation.
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Fans are also adoring Avatar's humor, from the characters' witty one-liners to the show's perfect comedic timing. Scene transitions offer a comedic parallel that's only available to the audience. These editing cuts may be subtle but still offer hilarious and entertaining moments for all to enjoy, and Avatar: The Last Airbender has undoubtedly perfected this technique.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAYHiding out in the Western Air Temple after their defeat during 'The Day of Black Sun', leads the GAang to returning to their old plan of defeating the Fire Lord before Sozin's Comet. One problem is that they've got no one to teach Aang Firebending.
The scene smoothly cuts from Sokka and the others pondering on a potential teacher to Zuko in all his awkwardness. It is the setup for one of the most iconic lines in Avatar. Zuko's practice introduction to the frog is brilliant and awkward. While he decides to leave out most of his speech, he still begins with "Hello, Zuko here!" making this quote a staple of the show and a fan-favorite.
In Toph's debut episode, the audiences are treated to a strong and confident character who doesn't let her blindness deter her from doing what she loves: fighting. Though Toph is one of the strongest female characters in the entire Avatar franchise, her parents just don't realize it.
When Toph is kidnapped, her mother, who assumes her daughter is helpless and fragile, believes she is terrified. A quick transition shows that Toph is anything but. In line with her personality, Toph is actually harassing and threatening her captors. It's a simple transition that allows the audience to truly understand the character before she becomes everyone's new favorite.
Before his brilliant character arc, Zuko was the villain of season 1. At the beginning of his search for the Avatar (in order to reclaim his honor), Zuko is having a little trouble finding him in 'The Warriors of Kyoshi'. Though it seems the Avatar "is impossible to track down", Sokka shows that it is actually because Aang "has no idea" where he's going.
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Zuko's stiff and humorless demeanor contrasted Avatar Aang's entire personality which is perfectly timed in this scene. It also gives reason as to why Sokka soon becomes the map guy: Aang has no sense of direction other than comedic.
When picking "mini-vacations", Katara picks a lovely-sounding place called The Misty Palms Oasis which is only cemented when Aang's been there before. Calling it "one of nature's wonders" is in fact the antithesis to what the GAang finds.
The scene transition is simple with the soundtrack music slowing down to show a slovenly hovel. Rather than the pristine refreshing Oasis, it is instead a small lump of ice surrounded by degenerates, criminals, and sandbenders as well as the occasional member of the White Lotus. Aang's awkward retort about a change in ownership only brings out the hilarious difference from what the GAang and the audience were imagining to what the so-called Oasis actually looks like.
While Sokka's character at the beginning of the show was sexist and overly-confident, he soon becomes insecure for his lack of bending skills. After Toph, Katara and Aang save a town from a meteorite, Sokka begins to feel unexceptional in comparison.
Katara, being a great big sister, knows exactly how to cheer up her glum brother despite his hesitance. In an immediate scene transition, he goes from hopelessly crestfallen to cheerfully clapping. Aware of "the power of stuff", shopping is just what he needs (as well as a master) in one of Sokka's best episodes in the show.
In a rickety old house owned by creepy innkeeper Hama, Sokka can't sleep. Until he can. In one scene, he's brandishing his meteorite sword and talking to Momo and in the next he's fast asleep, a perfect example of a classic comedy trope known as The Gilligan Cut.
Though Sokka is clearly on his guard, his hypervigilance is soon drowned out by the sound of his snoring. It is hilarious and very in-character for the "meat and sarcasm guy" who is comical without meaning to be. And Sokka drooling onto his pillow with his hair everywhere is definitively funny.
In a rare instance, Aang finds himself in an Earth Kingdom town that hates the Avatar and even has a day to celebrate this hatred. In order to prove his innocence for supposedly murdering Chin the Great in his past life as Kyoshi, Aang must stand trial and pay bail.
Thinking it'll be "no problem", the scene rapidly transitioning into Aang behind bars wearing a stockade suggests otherwise. This perfectly timed sequence is especially funny given the expressions of his friends — Sokka, Katara and Momo look so done with Aang's "Avatar stuff" — and as they were able to pay for food with Water Tribe money before being discovered. But who knows, maybe it's not just valid for legal tender in the Earth Kingdom.
It's a rare sight to see Aang not honoring his word but he is quick to do so when it comes to scams. He is in awe of Toph being able to cheat a scam artist using her Earthbending to 'see', and while not usually condoning this sort of behavior, Aang is all for it. However Katara, the mom of the group, is not.
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The scene jumps from Aang promising Katara no more scams to Aang with coins to spare and an immediate montage of Sokka, Aang, and Toph committing a plethora of scams. They even go as far as convincing a man that he killed Toph. It is simple but hilarious. While it's odd to see Aang go back on his word to the love of his life, it's refreshing to see him having so much fun being a kid.
The Avatar episode featuring the music-loving Nomads has rapidly become a fan-favorite, mostly for the headbanger that is "Secret Tunnel" which is considered one of the funniest Avatar quotes of all time. This smash cut shows the GAang finding themselves surrounded by Fire Nation soldiers on their way to Omashu. Firing at them in all directions, it is impossible for poor Appa to fly and is safe to say that he was definitely not comfortable.
In a quick transition, they go from screaming and surrounded by flames to where they left the Nomads, but are now covered in soot and look incredibly desolate. They decide to take the underground passage through the "Secret Love Cave" with some musical accompaniment. If only they had made that decision earlier.
Toph is authoritative to say the least. Her approach to teaching Aang Earthbending is tough-love, with an emphasis on the tough. Before she gets deeper in her regiment, Katara advises the newest GAang member to shower the Airbender with encouragement, kind words and praise, something that is very different to Toph's character.
Agreeing to try "a gentle nudge in the right direction" suddenly transforms into Toph becoming his drill sergeant, humiliating (but later affectionate) nicknames and all. This moment is only made funnier when Toph lets Katara believe at the end of the episode that her positive reinforcement tactics worked. Toph's lessons may seem tough but it's just what Aang needed in order to become a more well-rounded Avatar.
NEXT: Each Main Character's Hidden Talent In Avatar: The Last Airbender
ShareTweetEmailThe Boys Season 3 Trailer Secretly Reveals How Powerful Soldier Boy Will Be Related TopicsAbout The AuthorRebecca Budgen (12 Articles Published)Rebecca Budgen is a queer (biromantic asexual), neurodivergent writer and artist from England. With a BA in Creative Arts and a MA in Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University, Rebecca has had creative nonfiction, mixed media pieces, poetry and reviews published in various magazines and anthologies. Rebecca is a dedicated fan of every conceivable fandom, from Supernatural to Schitt's Creek.