Cartoon Pairings

Kay, I know this blog is supposed to be about anime, but you know, cartoon is kinda like anime just not so... Japanesy. Not a real word, by the way. Try to search it in the dictionary and watch me laugh at you. I'm not a bad person or anything, but seriously, you must be really stupid if you try to search up the word 'Japanesy' in a dictionary.

Anyways, before I get even more off-topic, I started watching videos of cartoon pairings on YouTube and realized there are some really cute cartoon pairings out there! Here's some of the lovely pairs I saw~

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Zuko x Katara

If you have never watched Avatar: The Last Airbender, go right now and search 'episode one avatar the last airbender'. You are missing out on so much! I watched that show every day on Nickelodeon for one hour with my bro with intense passion.

Technically, it's kinda the first anime show I've ever watched, but it's considered a cartoon show. Honestly, they kinda look anime like and cartoonish. Hmm, it shall be categorized as... Anitoon or Carnime! I like Carnime it sounds like caramel... Mmm... caramel...

I'm pretty sure y'all heard the saying: opposites attract. Am I right? Well, Zuko and Katara are the complete opposites. Literally they have the opposite element bending powers. Katara's a waterbender while Zuko's a firebender.

Even in social status. Zuko is a prince, heir of the Fire Nation. Katara's just a commoner living in the South Water Tribe. Hopefully, you can know acknowledge the fact that they're opposites.

In the beginning, they're mortal enemies. They hate each other. When I say hate, I mean really, really, hate each other. Since Katara's mother was murdered by the Fire Nation she's been holding a grudge over all firebenders. Zuko is just that typical firebender that doesn't like waterbenders.

Stereotypical, eh?

So, in the middle of the show, Zuko suddenly has this major change in his life and realizes he has to teach Aang the Avatar how to bend the element fire.

The Avatar's job is to save the world yada yada yada. But, he or she is not just instantly born with all four elements as prophesied. Aang has to have other benders teach him the other three elements: water, earth, and fire.

So, everyone eventually accepts Zuko in the group, but Katara is a different story. She still doesn't trust him and thinks he's trying to get on their good side and turn on them in the most unexpected moment.

Zuko is frustrated and gains Katara's trust by searching for her mother's killer to rid the grudge she has over firebenders. Then, finally, after like thirty episodes or more, they're mutual friends.

Near the finale, Zuko saves Katara from getting hit from Azula's blue lightning and almost dies. Zutara moment right there guys! Katara defeats Azula and chains her up while using water around her to disable her bending.

Fortunately, Katara still has the healing water so she heals Zuko. I was literally fangirling here and saying, "Kyaaaaaaaaaa~!!! Zutara for the win!"

My bro's just rolling his eyes and trying to concentrate on the episode.

Sadly, Katara chooses Aang to be with and all those Kataang fans are all happy. Unfortunately, Zuko got back together with Mai. *sigh* Yes, the emotionless girl from the Fire Nation who broke up with Zuko in the on-and-off relationship.

Why didn't they make Zuko and Katara a couple in the finale?! 

I swear, Zutara would have been way more popular than Kataang. Just look at YouTube for proof. There's so many Zutara videos in comparison to Kataang.  

~ Reasons Why Kataang isn't Meant to Be ~

• Age Difference - Katara is 14, Aang is 113 and acts like a thirteen year old mentally and looks physically 13
• Aang's a monk, and technically speaking, monks aren't supposed to get married.
• Katara taught Aang how to waterbend and teacher-student relationships are forbidden in the countries A:TLA was based on.
• The couple is kinda kiddish together, no offense to any Kataang shippers out there.

Reasons Why I Ship Zutara...

• In my opinion, they just look better together.
• I like the 'Opposites Attract' theme for couples, it makes the story less cliche and more unpredictable.
• Enemies in a relationship sounds much cooler to me.

• Katara's a waterbender and Zuko's a firebender.

• I know some people are gonna hate me for saying this, but I think Zuko looks physically more attractive then Aang... *hides under a cardboard box from Aang fans*

• Both lost someone they loved which were their mothers.

•  In "The Fortune Teller", Katara eagerly asked Aunt Wu if her future husband would be tall. Aang's not exactly tall (Didn't say he would never be. I understand that he's still twelve, but...), but Zuko is rather tall.

• In "The Chase", Katara tells Zuko (Still considered her enemy) that she can help heal Iroh, going so far as actually reaching out to him- literally.

• Katara is the first person that we actually know Zuko let touch his scar.

• In "Bitter Work", Zuko smiled and looked down when Uncle Iroh told him that the move he was about to teach him he learned from the waterbenders. Maybe, just maybe, he was thinking of Katara?

• Zuko wore Katara's necklace around his wrist in "Bato of the Water Tribe". Seriously, look for yourself.

• Zuko never objected when Jun called Katara his girlfriend. However, on his date with Jin, he yelled at the waiter for calling her his girlfriend.

• Zuko was the Blue Spirit and Katara was the Painted Lady

• During that beach episode, Zuko reunited with Mai, but he didn't seem happy.
• 
  

• Zuko is a lot more gentle with Katara than he was with Aang. And no, it's not just because she's a girl.

• In Episode 14, Aunt Wu predicts that Katara will marry a powerful bender.  Right, fair enough, now lets look at the language used.  'A powerful bender' (singular). Aang is the Avatar, therefore can bend four elements (plural).  Zuko can only bend fire.  Aang is not a bender, he's an Avatar.

• In Episode 15, Jun says three times (roughly) that Katara was Zuko's girlfriend, and he never denied it. Also, he kept Katara's necklace around his wrist. He mostly keeps things in his belt (Like the waterbending scroll) but he wears Katara's necklace around his wrist.

• In Episode 2 'The Cave of Two Lovers', the story of Oma and Shu was more Zutara than Kataang. Two lovers, separated by war, The war isn't between water and air, but between fire and the other elements. Fire and Water

• When Iroh is explaining balance to Zuko, and he moves onto water, Zuko face softens considerably. Showing that he has a soft spot for the element, or someone who uses that element.

• In Episode 20, Katara offers to heal his scar, using the water from the spirit oasis, which is probably one of the most valuable things she owns. Zuko then lets her touch his scar, something we have never seen even Iroh do, never mind anyone else. Then, in true avatar fashion, the moment is spoiled, but, if you look closely, you can see that Katara takes a step closer to Zuko, a new link has formed between the two. As Katara walks away with Aang, her eyes linger on Zuko, while Zuko glares at Aang, angry.

• Katara screamed, "I thought you'd changed" Zuko answers, "I have changed." he shows emotion, showing that, whatever it seemed when he was fighting Aang, his earlier emotions are still there, and, I think, in control. 

Yeah, there's a load of reasons why I ship Zutara with pride. No offense to any Kataang fans reading this. Everyone has their own opinion and this blog is centered around my opinion generally. Just wanted to point that out to any haters as well...

Reference List:

Proof of zutara. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.freewebs.com/zutarachick/evidence.htm


Winter, G. (2006, December 3). Zutara evidence. Retrieved from http://avatarscoolest.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=avatardebates&action=display&thread=195