The critically acclaimed animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender may have been off the air for almost 10 years now, but its impact is still felt today. Not just because its sequel series The Legend of Korra was equally great (it was), but because Avatar elevated American animated storytelling to a level equal to, if not greater than, the best Japanese anime. One of The Last Airbender‘s greatest strengths in building a community of fans was its impressive magic system known as bending, which allowed its users to control the four elements–air, water, earth, and fire.
One of the most dazzling arts on the show, firebending is characterized by its combination of raw power and dance-like attacks. And now, much like Zuko, YouTuber Sufficiently Advanced has captured the spirit of a firebender.
He created two flamethrower gauntlets that are activated by literally punching the freakin’ fire out of your hands. An accelerometer measures your punches and only activates the gauntlet on solid hits, demonstrated here by kung fu master Oscar Perez. Those of you looking to try this at home, remember that “master” is the operative word here.
Holy mother of the Avatar! Did he just launch himself off the ground with a blast of fire? Because it sure looks like it. Perez perfectly replicates the attack that Azula uses in the show’s opening credits.
This attack isn’t meant to be a movement that actual humans can perform; it is meant to portray just how dangerous and agile Azula can be. As if the firebending gauntlets weren’t cool enough, they’re also wielded by a martial artist on par with the Firelord’s daughter.
Now that we’ve successfully replicated firebending, how long until we do the same for earth, water, and air? Let us know in the comments below.
Featured Image: YouTube/Sufficiently Advanced
