This series is popular among fans internationally, not just because of its rich storytelling, but of how aware the creators are and their support for the LGBTIQ+ community. Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino introduced the first ever for the network: bisexual characters. Korra the Avatar falls for Mako who eventually dates Asami, but eventually Mako realizes that he has feelings for Korra while dating Asami. After Korra and Mako break up, Korra and Asami become even closer though it is not explicit, which is so necessary to show that two characters who happen to be female, can fall in love organically without it being laid out completely.
I have bragging rights as the first Korrasami shipper (I win!). As we wrote Book 1, before the audience had ever laid eyes on Korra and Asami, it was an idea I would kick around the writers’ room. At first we didn’t give it much weight, not because we think same-sex relationships are a joke, but because we never assumed it was something we would ever get away with depicting on an animated show for a kids network in this day and age, or at least in 2010 (Bryan Konietzko).
Here, shows the progression within animated programs and people’s ideology. Konietzko supported the idea of having Korra and Asami end up together but in order to do so, they had to limit themselves in how much they can present on screen. However, their take on it could not have been more perfect because the scene paid homage to the first series, Avatar: The Last Airbender’s last scene where Aang and Katara are seen embracing and kissing. Therefore, the scene with Korra and Asami standing and holding hands resembles that iconic moment that the fans and clearly the creators wanted.
As a result, it is important to have positive representations of queer folk in media and especially in television programs geared towards children to show them that it is normal to identify a certain way. Further, it can help them realize that who they are is important and worthy of being treated as an equal. Unfortunately, society still has a lot to learn but with characters like Korra and Asami can offer a sense of possibility of human acceptance among cisgender straight people and queer people.
2015.