Michael Dante DiMartino

2 1/2 years ago, Bryan and I returned to Nickelodeon, delved back into the Avatar universe, and created “Legend of Korra.”  The process of bringing Korra’s story to TV was one of the most challenging and demanding periods of my life, but ultimately a  rewarding one.  I’ve worked (and continue to work) with amazingly talented artists, producers, actors, and every other type of job required to create a show.  We set the bar high, then higher again.  There were many times I thought we weren’t going to make it over that bar.  But perseverance, tenacity, and talent from all involved helped breathe life into Korra.  I was very happy when the show finally premiered and was embraced with the same passion and intensity as Aang’s adventures.  And with only 4 more days until the finale, I feel a mix of pride, joy, and relief.  You all finally get to see what happens with Amon and Korra!  I can stop worrying about scenes being leaked!  (At least until Book 2…)  I think it’s a satisfying and exciting conclusion to book 1, but I guess I’m a little biased.  

After co-creating and producing both the original “Avatar” and “Legend of Korra” I’ve definitely learned a lot about crafting a story from the initial concept all the way until the show is complete.  But even so, I still feel like I have a lot to learn and understand about how this mysterious thing called Creativity works.  

The internet is a strange place.  Like most I have a love/hate relationship with it.  But places like Tumblr, Flickr, Deviant Art, and the like are an amazing outlet for creativity and imagination.  Everyone has a need to express themselves, and the online universe is helping to feed that desire.  I figured it was finally time to join the party.

I feel truly blessed to be able to express myself through the Avatar universe and have millions of people tune in to watch.  Thank you for being one of those who tuned in and I hope you enjoy the finale!

I leave you with an interview Bryan and I did for the Wall Street Journal:

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/06/19/the-legend-of-korra-creators-preview-the-finale/

I watched a great documentary last night about the guys behind games such as “Fez” and “Super Meat Boy.”  Now, I’m not a gamer in the least, though I do have a nostalgic spot for the days of the orignal “Super Mario Bros.” and “Legend of Zelda.”  So this doc appealed to me on that level, but mainly because it’s really a story about the creative process — the moments of inspiration and despair, the drive to make something that connects with people, and the inevitable let down after it’s all over and you start on the next idea.  

It also shows how the online world is completely changing how creative people can share their ideas with others much more easily without having to deal with a big game company to produce their game.  These guys are in control of their creations, and get all the accolades and criticism that come along with it.  There is a great scene where Phil Fish (the creator of “Fez”) addresses the fact that his game has taken years and years to develop and still hasn’t come out.  He was getting a lot of flack on the internet for it.  His response was basically that it’s just him and one other guy doing EVERYTHING.  The creative, the programming, the business end, etc.  I could definitely relate to that coming off of book 1 of Korra and people already demanding to see Book 2 –– and we have hundreds of people working on the show!  But it still takes a long time to make anything of quality, whether it’s a video game or a tv show or a book.  

The thing that surprised me most was how personal these games were to their creators.  The way they talked about creating something that connects to people is the same way I feel about creating stories in the Avatar world.  These games are an expression of who their creators are.  I loved the heart-breaking story behind “Super Meat Boy” — he’s just a red, fleshless square that must survive the harsh elements of the world as he tries to reunited with his girlfriend, who is made of bandages.  Edmund McMillen, the creator, basically described it as a metaphor for his relationship with his wife.  On the surface, it looks like silly, fun entertainment, but there is a deeper meaning behind it, which is why I think it ended up becoming a really popular game.  People relate to this little hunk of flesh that is easily damaged by the outside world.  

Create fearlessly.  Follow your passion.  Persevere through the difficult times.  This is what I learned from a little documentary about indie video games.  And now I want to play them too!