| Bryan Konietzko | Hey, everybody. This is Bryan Konietzko, co-creator and executive producer. |
|---|---|
| Michael Dante DiMartino | And this is Mike DiMartino, the other creator person. |
| Joaquim Dos Santos | And this is Joaquim Dos Santos, co-executive producer. |
| Colin Heck | And this is Colin Heck, director of this episode. |
| Mike | Hi, Colin. [Colin chuckles.] |
| Bryan | Hi, Colin. |
| Mike | Welcome to this... |
| Colin | [Interjects.] Hey, guys! |
| Mike | ... welcome to the show. |
| Bryan | So, uh, as I, you know, I gave the little personal history with uh, Ian Graham on the last episode; Colin, and uh, Colin, and Mike and I go way back, and we-we definitely met Colin when he was a-a wee child. [Mike and Colin laugh.] He was uh... |
| Mike | [In the background.] It was-we... |
| Bryan | ... uh, a young man of nineteen. [Colin affirms.] I'm sure he was already half a foot taller than me back then, [Colin chuckles.] but um, yeah, we-we met um, I had only been out in LA working in animation for I guess for about six months, and uh, Mike and I were working together on Family Guy, and then we moved over to a show called Mission Hill, with Lauren MacMullan, and uh, Colin was uh, fresh outta high school and stocking shelves, I think at Pepsi, [Colin affirms.] and then he became a uh, layout artist on that show. |
| Colin | Yeah, it was-it was a-it was quite a change, [Mike chuckles.] Really, it's a-it's a totally different thing; I barely managed to not get fired. |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] No, Colin is just-he showed up with tons of raw talent, and uh, so, yeah, we worked together on that show, and then um, I moved over to Nickelodeon, and then um, we ended up, you know, we've been friends for years, but then uh, worked together on, well, you helped out on Book One. |
| Colin | I helped, doing revisions on Book One, [Bryan affirms.] and then I went and did an episode of Allen Gregory, and then uh, you guys asked me to direct for Book Two, and I-and I-I did it. |
| Bryan | And then directed... |
| Colin | [In the background.] It was cool. |
| Bryan | ... through Book Three [Colin affirms intermittently.] and Four as well. |
| Mike | Yeah, and unlike Joa-I guess you-your background is more like mine was, which was like the primetime animation world, right? |
| Colin | Absolutely. |
| Mike | As-as opposed to the Warner Bros. action-ad-adventure world. |
| Joaquim | Well, this is the weird thing, though, that you were on Teen Titans at Warner Bros. [Colin affirms.] |
| Mike | Oh, were-yeah. [Colin affirms.] |
| Joaquim | Well, yeah, he's kinda done it all. [Colin chuckles.] |
| Mike | Alright. He's a rell-well-rounded man. [Colin laughs.] I take it back. |
| Bryan | Well, I like to say Colin is sort of like uh, Max in uh, Rushmore. He's-he's a man of many extra-curricular [Mike, Joaquim, and Colin laugh.] activities. |
| Mike | That's true. |
| Bryan | Once a month, he's like, "yeah, I'm learning the oboe," [Colin and Joaquim laugh intermittently.] and then-and then-then, you know, the next month, he's like, "yeah, I'm learning the Tokyo drift". And uh, and then-and then he-that wasn't enough, and then now he's like-he's like, "yeah, I think I'll have a kid on top of it all, just to make it harder." |
| Colin | [Makes a mock frustrated noise; laughs.] It wasn't the oboe, it was a clarinet. |
| Joaquim | Wow. |
| Bryan | Well... |
| Colin | [Interjects.] And I stopped taking lessons. I... |
| Bryan | ... it could be the oboe [Colin laughs.] next month, I don't... |
| Colin | [Brief pause.] Uh, but this is-I-of Book Two, definitely my favorite episode. Um... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] It's a good one. |
| Colin | I was-I was really happy when I got the script, it was really funny. |
| Bryan | Annie nominated. |
| Colin | It's true. |
| Joaquim | Boom. |
| Bryan | Colin is up for a Dire-Best Director Award, which-which Joaquim won years ago on Avatar. |
| Mike | That's right. |
| Joaquim | Little Orphan Annie actually gives it to you [Mike and Colin laugh.] herself, it's amazing. |
| Bryan | Oh man. [Joaquim laughs.] But yeah, this-this episode is, I really like it because it's super dynamic, it's got a lot of really funny stuff, a lot of amazing action. It's got some really serious-it's got like fun action and then goofy action. Oh, I'm sorry, those are the same thing; [Mike and Colin chuckle.] and uh, really kind of emotional, tragic, you know, brutal action. [Colin affirms.] And always feels like two episodes to me, [Colin chuckles.] when-at the end of act two, I'm like, "well, that was great, [Joaquim affirms.] everybody worked hard," and then act three comes around, I'm like, "what?!" |
| Joaquim | This might be the one where that trend started because there-there was a whole run of shows I remember we were watching, and at act two, I would-I would literally clap my hands... |
| A faint clanging noise sounds in the background as Joaquim audibly claps his hands. | |
| Joaquim | ... and be-oh, there goes my water. [Bryan laughs.] I'd clap my hands and say like, "alright, let's leave," and then it's like, "no, there's a whole other act, bro." [Colin laughs.] |
| Mike | [Laughs.] Yeah, the... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] So, this-oh, sorry, go ahead. |
| Mike | [Refers to when Bolin saves President Raiko from Varrick's henchmen.] Oh, I was just gonna say, like, 'cause-'cause all season, Bolin's been a bit on the sidelines action-wise, uh, and we kinda realize like, "hey, he needs to do some-somethin' exciting," and, you know, this-this whole season was about him like figuring out his place in playing this fake hero in the movers, and stuff, and we wanted to give Bolin-in his own moment in the sun. [Refers to Bolin saving the day at the nighttime finale premiere for Nuktuk: Hero of the South.] Or moon, or whatever. [Bryan laughs.] |
| Joaquim | [Refers to when Bolin refers to himself and Ginger as a couple.] The fact that... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Before... |
| Joaquim | ... he gets kinda confused. [Mike affirms.] |
| Bryan | Easily confused. [Refers to the giant mover poster hanging above the entrance to the Pro-bending arena, displaying Nuktuk holding an unconscious Ginger in his arms.] I just wanted to point out that-the-that movie poster for The Nuktuk Chronicles, uh, was inspired by this fun illustration Colin had done, um, you know, harkening back to the old, uh, like Tarzan-type movies, [Colin affirms.] movie posters, and he had done this cool illustration at the beginning of the season. So, uh, Christie Tseng, our character designer, you know, kinda based it on that, and came out really great, I love it. I actually-I-I keep meaning to make a big movie poster of it. |
| Joaquim | Ooh! |
| Bryan | It'd be cool. [Colin affirms.] Put it in my office. |
| Mike | [Refers to Varrick escorting President Raiko and his wife, Buttercup Raiko, from their limousine.] Just have to point out Buttercup Raiko. [Bryan and Joaquim laugh.] I forget if Jo-Jo-if it was Josh or Tim who named her. [Colin laughs.] |
| Bryan | [Laughs; refers to Buttercup Raiko's detailed face.] She kind of freaks me out, like she's-talk about characters that are like sorta real. [Mike and Colin laugh.] She's not-although, she doesn't have a lotta screentime, but sh-her design's sort of realistic. |
| Joaquim | She does seem very real. |
| Colin | And so... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] And she-yeah, they always draw her very real, and freaks me out. |
| Colin | So, the president's name is Raiko. |
| Bryan | Yeah. |
| Colin | And she's Buttercup Raiko. |
| Mike | Yeah. |
| Colin | Did... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] I don't know his first name. [Laughs.] |
| Colin | Oh, okay. [Laughs.] |
| Bryan | Oh, yeah, I think it's just like uh, people just call him by his last name. His first name's Phil. [Colin laughs.] |
| Mike | Yeah. [Colin and Joaquim laugh.] Whenever we don't know someone's name, we just give 'em a really generic name. |
| Joaquim | Phil Raiko. [Mike affirms.] |
| Bryan | Yeah, that is Phil, for sure. She always reminded me-I never saw a picture, but uh, Mike and went to-to Rhode Island School of Design, and the mayor was uh, "Buddy" Cianci, very infamous and famous mayor, and uh, "Buddy" Cianci's wife's married name was Nancy Ann Cianci, [Colin and Joaquim chuckle.] and uh, I don't know why, Buttercup Raiko just always... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Could've been her. |
| Bryan | ... always reminds me of her. |
| Colin | [Refers to the showcasing of the Nuktuk mover.] Uh, this-this movie, the fake movie stuff coming up was my favorite stuff, ever. Like, I-I-I would love to just direct a terrible [Bryan laughs.] Nuktuk movie, the whole time. |
| Bryan | We've talked about it many times, it-it comes up a lot when we meet with Tim and Josh; just [Mike affirms.] doing a whole Nuktuk uh, series or mover, or something, just for fun. But uh... |
| Colin | [Interjects.] The-when we were going over-launching with uh, with Mir, who did the-the boards, the original passed the boards for this episode. [Refers to when Nuktuk does a waterbending move at the Northern Water Tribe automatons, with someone holding a bucket of water partially coming into frame and splashing it on the Northern mechs.] The-it was so much fun, like going over, like, "alright, and then he's gonna do like terrible bending, but like water's gonna be thrown off-screen," or like-like, "alright, you," [Refers to when Juji fires laser beams from his eyes to free Nuktuk from confinement.] explaining exactly how the-the lasers were, of what's-his-name's eyes, were like off. |
| Bryan | Pabu, yeah. |
| Colin | Yeah. That-that was the most fun I've had with an overseas studio. |
| Bryan | And really complicated for-for boarding because you guys had to, you know... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] Intimate, yeah. |
| Bryan | ... [Refers to the sequence of Bolin fighting against Varrick's henchmen paralleling with the sequence of Nuktuk fighting the Evil Unalaq on the projection screen in the background.] 'cause they were double scenes, you know? It's like any time there's footage playing within a scene, it has to be boarded separately, but planned for. But man, you guys did such a great job. |
| Joaquim | And strangely enough, it's-it's... |
| Colin and Bryan laugh as, in the Nuktuk mover, the scene jump cuts from Nuktuk being carried through the air in the talons of the Evil Unalaq's giant pet bird, to Nuktuk falling through the air, suddenly out of the bird's clutches. | |
| Joaquim | Just the fact that it just cuts to the falling. [Colin laughs.] |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] Really bad splice. |
| Joaquim | It's-when it's intentionally bad, it's hard to do intentionally bad, [Bryan affirms.] it's-it's... |
| Bryan | [Brief pause.] But... |
| Mike | [In the background.] I love it. |
| Joaquim | Like the... |
| Bryan | [Interjects; refers to the shot of Republic City in the Nuktuk mover, the buildings being miniature models filmed with a closeup shot.] But that, we had talked about this in an earlier episode, but like, making that look like cardboard [Laughs.] boxes, [Mike and Colin laugh.] like the perspective, you know? It's easy to do in a photograph, but harder to do in-in, you know, handmade artwork. [Refers to Nuktuk asking the president, who bears a striking resemblance to Raiko, for help.] So, the idea was that [Colin laughs.] Varrick, he... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects; refers to the extreme closeup shot of Nuktuk, his chin and most of his hair being out of frame.] Framed in so close. [Colin affirms.] |
| Bryan | Yeah, bad cropping; that's one of my favorite shots. [Refers to when Raiko informs Varrick that he knows the business tycoon is trying to use his mover to convince him to intervene in the Water Tribe Civil War.] The idea is that this is a propaganda film totally made to get this guy, Raiko, you know, to go to war. And uh, so the idea was that Varrick cast this young, dashing, handsome guy, [Laughs.] but I don't know if it's very clear, [Joaquim and Colin laugh.] just kinda looks the same. Because I think he was supposed to be like, just like a ridiculous hunk. Uh... |
| Mike | [Interjects; refers to when Buttercup Raiko whispers to her husband that his depiction in the mover is "right on the money".] Well-well, Buttercup likes him. |
| Bryan | She... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] She's impressed by his... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] She sure is, but uh, but I think the voice ended up [Mike chuckles intermittently.] being kinda goofy. So, I don't know, like the-the hunk aspect was diminished, I think. |
| Joaquim | And then the... |
| Bryan | [Interjects; refers to Gang licking the icing off his Varri-cake.] This is just Tim and Josh to me, you know? [Joaquim and Mike laugh.] Like... |
| Mike | [Brief pause.] Just eatin' cakes. |
| Bryan | I don't... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects; refers to when Lu puts the entire Varri-cake in his mouth.] This is Ryu magic, too, [Mike and Colin affirm.] with the-with the... |
| Mike | [Brief pause; refers to Lu chewing on his cake, his cheeks puffed up, and the red coloring his mouth and moustache.] That. [Laughs.] |
| Bryan | [In a disgusted tone.] Oh! |
| Joaquim | I mean... |
| Bryan | [Interjects; laughs.] Going way back to Avatar, I've had this, sort of a contentious relationship with the writers, all of them, [Mike and Colin laugh.] in that I, you know, I'm not trying to act like I'm a, you know, Mr. Goodbody, or something, but [Colin laughs.] I-I try to, I believe in pro... |
| Colin | [Interjects.] You wear that suit around sometime? [Mike and Joaquim laugh.] |
| Bryan | Yeah. I try to promote, like, you know, I-I believe that uh... you know, I don't believe cake is food, really, [Mike chuckles.] and-and uh, especially processed, corporate, you know, made uh, processed food, cakes in packages, and all this stuff. But man, like, every time there's a scene with food, the writers love to make it dessert; it's always desert... |
| Mike | [In the background.] Of course. [Colin laughs.] |
| Bryan | ... you know? And this is like a kid-a very influential kids show, [Mike and Colin laugh.] and-and uh... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] I've gotta say, our, compared to most other cartoons, I think our characters eat alright. |
| Colin | Your desserts have always been really healthy. [Joaquim affirms.] |
| Mike | They have noodles, they have vegetables. They have a well-rounded diet. |
| Bryan | I think it's terrible! It's dis-it's-could be way better, [Mike and Joaquim laugh.] like way better, I'm ashame... |
| Colin | [Interjects.] You don't know the... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] You are Mr. Goodbody. |
| Colin | You had the kale cookie run forever, [Mike affirms.] those are the... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] That... |
| Colin | All these cookies... |
| Mike | [In the background.] Eating kale cookies like a madman. |
| Bryan | The kale cookies were th-Tim and Josh, I take it as they were like, "oh, let's... [Colin laughs.] |
| Mike | [Interjects.] No, that was me, I wrote the kale cookies. |
| Bryan | ... let's," oh, was that you? That was like... |
| Mike | Now, you're just taking credit for the kale cookies. |
| Bryan | ... "oh, Bryan-Bryan's gonna whine about it, I'll put kale [Colin laughs intermittently; Mike affirms.] in the cookies". They're still cookies, but there's kale in them. So... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Anyway. |
| Bryan | ... [Refers to Juji licking Nuktuk's hand in his final moments.] this death scene is hilarious. |
| Joaquim | This is the greatest. |
| Bryan | He licks his finger, [Refers to the mover jump cutting to a now dead Juji, his eyes shut and his mouth agape as his head lies listless in Nuktuk's arms.] and then it splices... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] Dead. [Everyone laughs.] |
| Bryan | He's asleep. |
| Colin | I love it. |
| Bryan | And uh, yeah. |
| Mike | [Refers to Roh-Tan covering his eyes as he sobs over his friend's death, his arms and paws being prop recreations.] Fake arms coming... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] Crazy arms coming in. |
| Colin | Oh. |
| Bryan | And then uh, Tim-Tim does the voice of uh, uh... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Roh-Tan. |
| Bryan | Roh-Tan. I couldn't remember [Mike affirms.] if it was... Juji. |
| Mike | Juji is... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Juji is... |
| Mike | ... Pabu. |
| Bryan | ... Pabu. So, Tim, our writer, we always love when he does temp voices as we've discussed in the commentary. |
| Colin | [Refers to Asami joining a despondent Bolin as they lean on the fence of the pavilion overlooking Yue Bay.] These drawings came out really nice. [Joaquim affirms.] |
| Bryan | It's lovely. |
| Colin | Awesome Asamis. |
| Bryan | [Refers to when Bolin tells Asami that he feels lonely now that the members of Team Avatar have gone their separate ways.] I like how, you know, this is sort of like Bolin realizing like fame and money and uh, attention from... you know, shallow, attractive actresses, [Colin laughs intermittently.] it doesn't really make you happy, you know? This is an im-this is also an important life lesson. |
| Mike | Don't eat cake, [Colin laughs.] and... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Cake will just make... |
| Mike | ... don't chase the fame train, kids. [Colin and Joaquim laugh.] |
| Bryan | Yeah. I think people are always shocked, like, wh-when someone famous, you know, has a breakdown, or something, and they're like, "I don't understand. They're famous". [Mike chuckles intermittently.] Like, why do they think that's a good thing? Like, haven't... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] 'Cause they're... |
| Bryan | ... aren't there enough examples [Laughs.] in, like, throughout all of history that fame doesn't really [Colin affirms intermittently.] mean something good? [Brief pause; refers to Bolin yelling and waving his arms around as he leans forward out of frame.] This is another great Ryu thing, this slip-slip and slide. |
| Joaquim | Also, beautifully set up... |
| Bryan | [In the background.] That... |
| Mike and Colin break out into laughter as Bolin slips on a Varri-cake, maintaining his poise by keeping his arms in front and behind him, as well as anchoring himself by bending one foot and standing on his toes while keeping his other heel on the Varri-cake. | |
| Bryan | Amazing balance and toe strength [Colin and Joaquim affirm.] by-by uh, Bolin, there. |
| A brief pause in commentary as Bolin, investigating the empty hallway in the Pro-bending arena after almost falling, opens a locker to find Lu and Gang tied up and jammed inside, their faces still flecked with bits of white icing and red filling from their recently consumed Varri-cakes, to which Bryan chuckles. | |
| Joaquim | This-that creeps me out, man. [Bryan, Colin and Mike laugh.] I can't help it, they look kinda zombified. |
| Bryan | That cracks me up. |
| Mike | They stuffed 'em right into one locker. |
| Bryan | [Refers to the extreme closeup shot further zooming in on Bolin as he reacts to Lu's revelation that Varrick is going to try and kidnap Raiko.] It's a similar cropping on Bolin, there, as was in the mover. |
| Joaquim | [Laughs.] That's true. [Bryan chuckles.] It's just for effect. |
| Mike | [Refers to when Nuktuk and Bolin say "I don't think so," in regards to their respective foes' schemes.] So, yeah, this is where it starts getting complicated, [Bryan affirms.] 'cause there's... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] 'Cause they all had to correspond, [Mike affirms.] and you know what was happening in the earlier... |
| Colin | [Interjects; refers to the Evil Unalaq diabolically informing Nuktuk he will be the leader of Ice Earth, once his doomsday device freezes the world.] Oh, fake Unalaq is the best. |
| Bryan | I gotta-oh, he reminds me of the old uh, an-another, um, the uh... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] Ming the Merciless. |
| Bryan | ... Ember Islan-the Ember Island Players... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] Oh! |
| Mike | Okay. |
| Bryan | ... the-the old Avatar like uh, reminds me of the Ozai, of actor Ozai; but yes, also Ming the Merciless, that was intentional. Because all this, all of the Nuktuk stuff was directly inspired and-and-and like, referenced from uh, the old Flash Gordon serials from the Thirties, where they had no pants. [Colin chuckles.] |
| Mike | Yeah. [Joaquim laughs.] They didn't wear pants in the Thirties. [Bryan and Joaquim laugh.] I don't know if he... |
| Colin | [Interjects; refers to the theme playing as Bolin leaps from the president's booth and onto the arena playing field.] I can't really hear it that well, but this is like Jeremy going crazy. |
| Mike | Yeah, this, the Nuktuk music was-he-he told us, like some of the most complicated orchestration [Laughs.] he's ever done. But it was so, I mean, you could tell me that was from like an old movie serial, [Colin affirms.] and I would totally believe it. [Joaquim affirms.] He just nailed that style so well. |
| Bryan | [Refers to the Nuktuk score continuing to play during Bolin's fight.] So, it's a case where some incidental music, the s-you know, it just happens to be playing on the movie, but that-that's doubling as the score, uh, f-for this action scene; it just worked brilliantly. [Refers to when the Evil Unalaq sends a constant stream of water at Nuktuk, waving his hands and arms up and down.] So, where is that moment where actor Unalaq [Colin laughs.] is just doing the little hand flap. |
| Colin | It-it's coming up. |
| Joaquim | Yeah, it's coming up. |
| Bryan | Oh man, my f-that's probably my favorite [Colin affirms.] thing, ever. [Colin chuckles; Mike affirms.] |
| Joaquim | Yeah, that might be the single, greatest thing that has been done on this show. [Mike, Colin and Joaquim laugh.] |
| Bryan | [Refers to Bolin dashing through the playing field as he avoids the henchmen's' waterbending, stopping his momentum and changing course as he evades.] That animation on Bolin, like slipping around and shifting his weight. |
| Colin | [Refers to the Evil Unalaq waterbending a continuous stream of water as the henchmen do the same to Bolin.] There it is. |
| Bryan | There it is! [Mike, Colin and Joaquim laugh.] Oh, man. I just, you know, the-the-not only is it my favorite, I didn't notice it 'til, like, [Mike chuckles.] color correction or the mix, it was really late [Colin chuckles.] in post before I-I saw that. |
| Joaquim | I think Lauren was specifically, like, proud of that like, [Mike chuckles; Colin affirms intermittently.] flippity-flippity. |
| Bryan | Did she-did that-that... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] I think she did the boards for that part. |
| Bryan | ... now that you say that, that makes sense, that... |
| Colin | [Interjects.] No, that came back from Mir, that was... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] Yeah. Oh, okay. |
| Colin | ... ori-that was originally from... |
| Bryan | [In the background.] Oh, okay. |
| Colin | ... from the launch, I think we were telling them all this stuff. I think Lauren mighta told them, she was like... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] Yeah, she was so happy. |
| Bryan | Amazing. |
| Joaquim | I just remember her being really happy, I remember. [Brief pause; imitating and referring to the last remaining kidnapper, cowering against one of the arena posts, pleading for "Nuktuk" not to hurt him.] "Or give me a high five. [Bryan and Mike laugh.] One or two." |
| Bryan | [Refers to Bolin being celebrated for saving the president, and when Unalaq defeats Tonraq.] So, not only is this episode feel like it has two endings, but the action scene has two endings; it always seems like it's over, there. [Colin and Joaquim affirm.] I'm like, "alright, it's done," and then, [Refers to the henchmen Bolin was interrogating rushing him when Bolin turned away.] "no!" the guy's like, "I'll getcha!". [Colin and Bryan laugh; refers to, while the henchmen is launched into the playing field pool by Bolin, the Evil Unalaq spinning around after he's splashed in the face with water, collapsing as the shot in the mover pans away from him.] And I love that it's just like... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] And then you see the-them-the Unalaq death scene in the background. |
| Bryan | [Sighs.] And it's just like a little splash on his face. [Mike chuckles; refers to Asami smiling and clenching her fists after Bolin stands victorious.] Asami looks really nice, there. [Joaquim affirms; refers to Bolin waving and flexing to the crowd as they applaud him.] And then Bolin back to believing being famous [Colin and Mike laugh.] solves everything. His lesson was [Colin and Bryan laugh.] short-lived. [Joaquim affirms.] |
| Colin | Swiftly negated. [Joaquim affirms.] |
| Bryan | Yeah. [Refers to Tonraq and the Southern rebels pursuing the retreating Northern soldiers.] But then, yeah, always forget that this storyline's happening. |
| Mike | [Brief pause.] Yeah, we had a lot to kinda deal with at the-toward the end of the season, 'cause we had left the Southern Water Tribe several episodes ago, and in the meantime, you know, there was some continued Water Tribe warring going on, so this was kinda like catching up with Tonraq, and what was going on there. [Brief pause; refers to when Korra arrives back in Republic City to tell Raiko about Unalaq's true intentions, and Mako being exonerated and released from prison after Varrick's arrest.] But, we-then we also needed to get uh, the gr-the gang back together again. [Colin affirms.] I remember Josh at the writer's room, he was always the one pushing for like, "we got-everybody's gotta get-get [Bryan and Colin laugh.] back together, guys. C'mon". And I'm always like, "eh, let 'em be apart, I don't care." |
| Bryan | You know, that reflects on your personalities. [Mike affirms.] Mike's much more of [Mike and Colin chuckle.] a quiet, "read a book by himself" kinda guy. |
| Mike | Who needs to hang out with people? C'mon. |
| Bryan | Yeah. And Josh... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects; refers to an arrested Varrick being taken away by the police, Lin and Raiko complimenting Mako's detective skills, and Ginger kissing Bolin.] I gotta be hone-this feels like the end of the episode to me. |
| Mike | It does. |
| Bryan | This-this... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] I-I don't know what's going on right now. |
| Bryan | ... is the always thing, this is when... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] It was kind of a different structure because, yeah, normally this would be the end of the episode, but it was like, we had all this other stuff that we had to get to. [Bryan and Joaquim affirm.] Also, so we kinda s-kinda made it like, "well, this is the end of Bolin, but... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] But I think that's great... |
| Mike | ... but we gotta keep go..." |
| Joaquim | ... 'cause I can remember watching shows, and being, like, depressed that it was over. [Mike and Bryan laugh.] So... |
| Colin | [In the background; refers to Asami clearing her throat after Bolin continues kissing Ginger despite her saying they need to go and tell Mako what happened.] I love that. |
| Bryan | [Refers to when Bolin and Ginger kiss after Ginger declares them a couple.] I think uh, Ginger and Bolin need to go to couple's counseling, not as a couple, just they need to learn [Mike and Colin laugh.] what it means to be a-they both have some [Mike affirms intermittently.] serious problems, and a lotta growth. [Colin chuckles intermittently.] I think they should go together, but not with the goal of them being a couple. |
| Mike | [Brief pause; refers to Raiko's disturbed expression after Korra tells him that Unalaq intends to destroy the world.] Oh Raiko. [Colin chuckles.] |
| Bryan | That should've been actor Raiko. We shoulda cut to uh, [Mike and Colin chuckle.] he shoulda had this movie screen [Mike affirms.] behind him. |
| Mike | Or yeah, Korra goes up to him, like, "Raiko, I need your help," and he's like, "oh, I'm not, I'm just the actor." [Everyone laughs.] |
| Bryan | [Refers to Ginger standing with Tenzin, Bolin, Asami, Lin, and Raiko as Korra explains to everyone Unalaq's plans regarding Harmonic Convergence.] I never noticed Ginger [Laughs.] was in on this conversation. [Mike and Colin affirm.] |
| Joaquim | Ginger's just part of the-the crew, right there. |
| Bryan | She's like, [In a mock ditzy tone.] "what... |
| Mike | [In the background.] Yeah, she's a... |
| Bryan | ... are you talking [Joaquim and Colin laugh.] about?" [Scoffs in mock derision.] |
| Mike | She thought she was gonna be part o' Team Avatar, but [Colin chuckles.] no luck. |
| Bryan | [Laughs; imitating Ginger.] "Here's my chance, [Colin chuckles.] if I just-if I just edge into one of these [Mike affirms; Colin and Joaquim chuckle.] world leader conversations." |
| Mike | She kinda disappeared after this episode; I don't think Bolin kept in touch with her. [Bryan laughs.] |
| Colin | My... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects; refers to when Bolin lands onto the playing field, ripping the torn sleeves off his suit as he readied to fight Varrick's henchmen.] Was it-Colin, was it your idea to do the Bolin shirtless, armless thing? Armless? |
| Bryan | I think... |
| Colin | [Interjects; gives a thoughtful murmur.] I think it was Bryan's. |
| Bryan | I-yeah, I don't wanna... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] Okay. [Mike chuckles.] |
| Bryan | ... I don't want to take credit, but that was mine. [Mike and Colin chuckle.] |
| Joaquim | I re-I just remember, like, I was like, [Refers to when the impact of Bolin's landing partially tears his suit where his arms meet his shoulders.] "so, he lands, and his sleeves rip off," [Colin chuckles.] and you're like, "yeah! He's buff... |
| Mike | [In the background.] It's like... |
| Joaquim | ... you know? He like tears 'em off." |
| Bryan | He-he... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Or, you know, like classic wrestling.... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] It is... |
| Mike | ... when you're-it's like... |
| Joaquim | ... like, title holder... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Joaquim, I know the only time you wore a suit was when you wore an Annie, but it uh, [Colin chuckles.] this-and-and my wedding maybe, but they uh, [Mike chuckles.] when you get the suits on... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] That was the same suit, by the way. |
| Bryan | ... they, [Laughs.] when you got a suit on, you know, they're not very... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] No, they're very tight. |
| Bryan | ... they're not for the athletics, they're not for the fighting. So, uh... |
| Colin | [In the background.] Uh, you... |
| Bryan | ... I thought when he landed, it might rip. |
| Colin | You tell that to Jack Palance, man. [Bryan laughs.] |
| Joaquim | That's true, that's true. |
| Bryan | [Brief pause; refers to Mako wearing his undershirt in his prison cell, and then having his usual clothes on when he meets everyone in the headquarters lobby.] Alright, so here's a little continuity thing; we are aware that Mako gets his clothes between the cell [Colin laughs.] and the lobby... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] I'da figured he stopped off, they gave him his clothes and he got dressed between... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] But he was arrested in this, but I'm thinking Asami mighta grabbed some clothes... |
| Mike | [In the background.] Yeah, they probably brought... |
| Bryan | ... for him. |
| Mike | ... his... |
| Bryan | [Interjects; refers to Bolin wearing his usual clothes when he reconciles with Mako.] But uh, the-but the idea is Bolin was also in the [Colin chuckles.] tux in the la-in the previous scene... |
| Mike | [In the background.] Right. Yeah, I guess... |
| Bryan | ... so, they swung by the apartment, [Mike chuckles; Joaquim gives an affirming murmur.] or both of their apartments 'cause I guess they don't live together anymore. [Colin chuckles.] And they got some clothes. [Mike affirms.] |
| Colin | [Refers to Bolin and Mako hugging as the exit the latter's cell, then walking into the lobby, their arms around each other's shoulders.] But were they hugging in the previous scene, and then hugging in the next scene and then Mako just has his clothes on? |
| Joaquim | Yeah. [Colin chuckles.] That's a... |
| Mike | [In the background.] They got... |
| Joaquim | ... that's a magical clothing hug, bro. [Colin laughs.] |
| Mike | ... they got dressed in between. |
| Bryan | Naw, they just were walking arm... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] He was so happy to be walking him to freedom. |
| Bryan | ... arm in arm. [Refers to Bolin sliding up from out of frame, bug eyed as he looks at Korra and Mako after the former unexpectedly kissed the latter; Bryan and Joaquim laugh.] Bolin cracks me up. |
| Mike | Yeah, all this acting came out really good with this awkward uh, beat. [Bryan affirms; refers to Mako telling Korra that the fight they had before she left and lost her memory wasn't that bad.] M-Mako lying to Korra, it's-it's a shame. |
| Joaquim | [Refers to when Mako takes a few seconds before responding to Korra's question if their last fight was a bad one.] I remember, Colin, this-there was a specific beat of your drawing in here, with Mako going like... [Refers to and imitating Mako's wavering affirmative murmur.] |
| Bryan | Yeah, [Colin laughs.] that's very Colin, Colin style expression. I think it's coming up right... [Colin chuckles; refers to Mako's uneasy expression, his eyebrows raised up and his eyes wide open.] that one. [Bryan, Colin, and Joaquim laugh; refers to Mako holding his mouth open as his eyes scrunch up.] That too. Yeah, I like it because, you know, a lotta the notes that Mike and I give in the, like, storyboard and animatic stages about pushing the expressions, you know. And um, especially on, like, the characters like Tenzin and Mako; people tend to draw them very flat. And uh, I always love that Colin is not afraid to push the expressions [Colin and Joaquim laugh.] really far. |
| Colin | [Refers to Varrick saying that Varrick Industries built the prison cells in the Republic City Police headquarters; to the beat of "We Built This City".] We built this prison. |
| Bryan | Yeah. [Joaquim laughs.] We have a lotta lines [Laughs.] like that now that I hear that song. [Mike chuckles.] |
| Colin | [Brief pause; refers to the lavishly furnished jail cell Varrick and Zhu Li are currently occupying.] Are the bars still-the bars were gonna be solid gold at one point. |
| Mike | [Laughs.] Were they? |
| Colin | Yeah, they were. |
| Bryan | That is a great idea, and I'm sorry that I forgot to implement that. [Mike chuckles.] I don't know if I ever heard that idea, but I like that. |
| Joaquim | [Refers to Varrick, confused at Team Avatar's continued anger toward him, saying he had done some good things for them as well.] I say that line [Mike laughs.] all the time. |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] "I did some good things." |
| Colin | [Simultaneously with Joaquim; imitating Varrick's mildly sulky tone.] "Did some good things, too." |
| Joaquim | [Simultaneously with Colin; imitating Varrick's mildly sulky tone.] "I did some good things, too." [Laughs.] |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] Anytime we give you a revision note, [Joaquim affirms; Mike laughs.] and you're like, "hey." [Joaquim laughs.] |
| A brief pause in commentary until Varrick, after using the example of getting Mako thrown in jail as a "good thing", realizes that he did do a bad thing. | |
| Bryan | You should say line that as well. [Colin laughs.] |
| Joaquim | Yeah, that's true. [Laughs.] |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] Like, you also did some bad things, Joaquim. [Joaquim laughs.] |
| Colin | It's just the way he hangs on that "S". [Joaquim affirms; emphasizes the "S" in "Things".] "Did some good things, too." |
| Joaquim | "Too." |
| Bryan | Yes. |
| Joaquim | Awesome. |
| Bryan | John Michael Higgins cracks us up. |
| Colin affirms Bryan's statement, and after a brief pause, chuckles as an incredulous Korra questions Varrick's mention of having a personal battleship. | |
| Bryan | This... |
| Mike | [Brief pause.] We learn a lot about him in this one scene. |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] Yeah. |
| Joaquim | [Laughs.] Yes. |
| Mike | [Refers to Varrick saying he bought the first particular battleship model that was produced.] He's got his fingers everywhere. |
| A brief pause in commentary until Zhu Li, following Varrick justifying naming his battleship after her by referring to them both as "cold, heartless war machines", casually gives Varrick his tea, to Bryan's amusement. | |
| Bryan | Oh man. |
| Colin | [Refers to the half of the flower vase covering Zhu Li's hand and wrist having the same color as her skin.] Oh, that's a weird tangent with the vase in her hand. [Bryan laughs.] |
| Mike | Quick, retake! [Colin laughs.] |
| Joaquim | Whoa, whoa. Yeah, let's call it. |
| Bryan | That's why I don't watch these things. [Colin and Joaquim laugh.] Once-once they air, I'm done; I don't need to be reminded of all the... |
| Colin | [Interjects.] Oh... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Well, yeah. |
| Colin | [Refers to when Bolin brings Korra, Asami, and Mako in for a group hug.] Countdown to Bolin superhug. |
| Bryan | Yeah. [Joaquim affirms.] Hugs. That's what we're good at. |
| Colin | [Refers to Bolin lifting his three friends off their feet in his embrace.] Oh, he can pick 'em all up. |
| Mike | You'll be watching this in five years, Colin, you'll be like, "oh, there's a retake. [Bryan, Colin, and Joaquim laugh.] Why didn't I-why didn't I do that? Oh, man." |
| Colin | [Refers to the light grey stripes going along the hull of Varrick's battleship, contrasting with the dark blue colored hull.] I love the-the stripey battleship. |
| Bryan | Yeah, that's-the... er, for those who don't know, it's not a widely known thing, that's based what was called the dazzle ships, and it was a real thing in World War I. They... it was a camouflage technique, and it wasn't to make the ship blend into the background, it was-it-it uh, it made it hard to determine the size and uh, what direction it was sailing. So, you should look up the pictures, they're crazy; [Colin chuckles.] they look really freaky. |
| Joaquim | [Brief pause.] There was a guy at our jiu-jitsu wearing a, like a rash guard; it's a-something you wear under your gi, that looked like-had that pattern. I said, "hey, you look like a dazzle ship," and he almost punched me in the face. [Colin and Joaquim laugh.] |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] That's a great OMD record, by the way; [Colin and Joaquim chuckle.] Eighties synth-pop band. [Refers to Tonraq bending a wave of ice from the snow, freezing two Northern soldiers where they stood.] So, where do those guys go? They got frozen in the wave... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] They go away. |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] I guess they waterbent... |
| Mike | [In the background.] They-yeah. |
| Bryan | ... themselves out, and ran away really quick. [Joaquim affirms.] |
| Mike | Yeah, they're like... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] They're like... |
| Mike | ... "we're outta here." [Bryan chuckles.] |
| Joaquim | ... "dude." |
| Bryan | [Refers to Tonraq fighting Unalaq.] So, this-this fight is-came out really amazing, um, and it's crazy. [Mike chuckles.] Colin had a lotta very insane ideas, but they all came out great. |
| Colin | Uh, well, Joaquim, like, redid all of them. That's why it came out great. |
| Joaquim | I-I think-I think this was actually another good example of, like, there is kind of everybody's DNA in this, because, I-I mean, I'll ta-I'll... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] 'Cause we spit on it, we all just... |
| Joaquim | ... [Laughs.] I'll-I'll talk about it [Bryan laughs.] here in this commentary; I remember we had a-an-a-a meeting that got a little uncomfortable [Bryan and Colin chuckle.] 'cause I had done choreography for a fight sequence, and Bryan was like, "yeah, buddy. This ain't your best". [Bryan and Colin laugh.] And I remember going like... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] It's-it-you know what, guys? |
| Joaquim | ... "oh my god." |
| Bryan | It's true; [Mike chuckles intermittently.] I'm not always the easiest person [Joaquim and Colin laugh.] to work with. We might as well just-just lay it out there; sometimes, I'm not uh, I'm not so friendly. |
| Joaquim | But then, Colin, you took a stab at it, [Colin affirms.] got it a heck of a lot closer; then I kinda came back in and did like a little-little spit shine on it, and then you re-spit shine on it, [Colin and Mike chuckle.] and then everybody... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] That's how the DNA gets in there, is the spit shine. [Joaquim affirms; refers to the slow motion sequence of Tonraq launching himself off an ice clide toward Unalaq, grabbing his coat as he tries to land a decisive blow.] So, I just wanna point out Studio Mir, uh, started using this cool plugin on the slow-motion scenes. Slow-motion, really hard to do in animation because you have to do tons of drawings for one action, especially with hair, or fire effects, or something-water and... so, what they did was that they did that, which is hard enough in and of itself, but then they use like this in-betweening, smoothing software, and uh, makes it even smoother and silkier, and when we saw it, we were like, "whoa! What's happening?" |
| Mike | Whoa. |
| Bryan | But, anyways, yes. Yeah, so-you know, some fights, some sequences are-they're tricky, they're difficult, and-and it's not a-it's not a, like, you know, like a slight on anyone's talent or skill, or-or anything, but it-they're just hard to execute. And uh, but that one, you know, it was well worth it; I think that was a case where it got better every time, [Joaquim and Mike affirm.] and-and all of those crazy ideas were e-you know, ended up being executed really well. |
| Joaquim | And Mir killed it on the animation. [Colin affirms.] |
| Bryan | Yeah, big part of it. [Joaquim affirms; refers to the diffused and varied colors from the light reflecting off the ice Tonraq and Unalaq bend.] I love all the cool effects they do on the ice, like the refraction; [Joaquim gives an affirming murmur.] looks really neat. So, well, thanks, Colin, for joining us. |
| Mike | Thanks, Colin! |
| Colin | Thanks to you guys. [Joaquim affirms.] |
| Bryan | Good luck winning that Em-Annie. |
| Colin | Well, [Mike laughs.] let's not get ahead of ourselves. [Bryan and Joaquim laugh.] |