bryankonietzko: I’m sure this meme is dead by now, but it still cracks me up. The Legend of Korra has been picked up for an additional 26 episodes, which will be split into Books 3 & 4! Mike and I had been hoping to announce this big news to the crowd at the Korra SDCC panel tomorrow morning, but the network put out a press release yesterday. And as we suspected, people are pretty confused, understandably so. Hopefully people are also excited. I’m sure I’ll be trying to clear this up in posts for a long time to come, but I’ll lay it all out right now: –Book 1 = 12 episodes –Book 2 = 14 episodes –Book 3 = 13 episodes –Book 4 = 13 episodes –TOTAL = 52 episodes Why are the four books split up into those numbers of episodes, you might ask? Initially, Nickelodeon picked up Korra as a 12-episode miniseries. Their idea was to do 12-episode arcs that were more standalone than the original Avatar series. Mike and I were cool with this idea, as we had originally wanted the seasons to be 12 episodes long instead of 20, and creatively we liked the idea of doing tighter story arcs. The original plan was that if Nickelodeon wanted more episodes, they would order them 12 episodes at a time. But while we were in production on Book 1, Nickelodeon decided to change their season lengths from 20 episodes (like Avatar had) to the more standardized international length of 26 episodes. They liked how Book 1 was coming out and decided to round out the order to fit their new 26-episode mold, and we got a 14-episode pick-up, which became Book 2. Then, the network wanted even more Korra, so they picked up another order of 26 episodes. Mike and I wanted to stick with the shorter “books,” so creatively we are splitting the second order of 26 into Books 3 & 4, 13 episodes each. What makes this even more confusing is that the network considers each block of 26 episodes a “season,” which is another reason we try to stick to calling these Korra arcs “books.” So for the network’s purposes, Books 1 & 2 are Season 1, and Books 3 & 4 are Season 2. When will Books 2, 3, and 4 come out? Someday! What will happen after Book 4? Mike and I plan to wrap up the Korra storyline at that point with the close of Book 4. Then I plan to crawl into a dark cave and go into hibernation. And hopefully see my wife more often. I hope that clears it up. SEE YOU IN SAN DIEGO! If you can’t make the panel and Nick booth signing tomorrow, we’ll be signing at the Dark Horse booth on Saturday, I *think* at 2:30 (but I’m not sure). If you are going to SDCC, please be safe! You probably already heard, but tragically a convention attendee died in an accident on Tuesday morning. Take care.
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bryankonietzko:

I’m sure this meme is dead by now, but it still cracks me up.

The Legend of Korra has been picked up for an additional 26 episodes, which will be split into Books 3 & 4! Mike and I had been hoping to announce this big news to the crowd at the Korra SDCC panel tomorrow morning, but the network put out a press release yesterday. And as we suspected, people are pretty confused, understandably so. Hopefully people are also excited.

I’m sure I’ll be trying to clear this up in posts for a long time to come, but I’ll lay it all out right now:

–Book 1 = 12 episodes

–Book 2 = 14 episodes

–Book 3 = 13 episodes

–Book 4 = 13 episodes

–TOTAL = 52 episodes

Why are the four books split up into those numbers of episodes, you might ask?

Initially, Nickelodeon picked up Korra as a 12-episode miniseries. Their idea was to do 12-episode arcs that were more standalone than the original Avatar series. Mike and I were cool with this idea, as we had originally wanted the seasons to be 12 episodes long instead of 20, and creatively we liked the idea of doing tighter story arcs.

The original plan was that if Nickelodeon wanted more episodes, they would order them 12 episodes at a time. But while we were in production on Book 1, Nickelodeon decided to change their season lengths from 20 episodes (like Avatar had) to the more standardized international length of 26 episodes. They liked how Book 1 was coming out and decided to round out the order to fit their new 26-episode mold, and we got a 14-episode pick-up, which became Book 2.

Then, the network wanted even more Korra, so they picked up another order of 26 episodes. Mike and I wanted to stick with the shorter “books,” so creatively we are splitting the second order of 26 into Books 3 & 4, 13 episodes each.

What makes this even more confusing is that the network considers each block of 26 episodes a “season,” which is another reason we try to stick to calling these Korra arcs “books.” So for the network’s purposes, Books 1 & 2 are Season 1, and Books 3 & 4 are Season 2.

When will Books 2, 3, and 4 come out?

Someday!

What will happen after Book 4?

Mike and I plan to wrap up the Korra storyline at that point with the close of Book 4. Then I plan to crawl into a dark cave and go into hibernation. And hopefully see my wife more often.

I hope that clears it up. SEE YOU IN SAN DIEGO! If you can’t make the panel and Nick booth signing tomorrow, we’ll be signing at the Dark Horse booth on Saturday, I *think* at 2:30 (but I’m not sure). If you are going to SDCC, please be safe! You probably already heard, but tragically a convention attendee died in an accident on Tuesday morning. Take care.

bryan konietzko: –Wow! Thanks, everybody! I’m really glad you like the art. –Ha ha,...

bryankonietzko:

–Wow! Thanks, everybody! I’m really glad you like the art.

–Ha ha, some people just see what they want to see, I guess. Korra is not wearing Mako’s scarf, nor his jacket. Look more closely at her costume, and Mako’s.

–The finale on June 23 is the Book 1 finale (episodes 111 & 112). But first,…

bryankonietzko: Here is the final press art I did for the upcoming 1-hour finale of The Legend of Korra, which airs on Saturday, June 23. Thanks for all of the kind words and support as I posted some of the in-progress elements along the way. I was sick and exhausted through most of the process, so the positive vibes were more than welcome. Amon’s mask received a minor nose job since I posted that layer last week: he has less of the signature Konietzko schnoz now.
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bryankonietzko:

Here is the final press art I did for the upcoming 1-hour finale of The Legend of Korra, which airs on Saturday, June 23. Thanks for all of the kind words and support as I posted some of the in-progress elements along the way. I was sick and exhausted through most of the process, so the positive vibes were more than welcome. Amon’s mask received a minor nose job since I posted that layer last week: he has less of the signature Konietzko schnoz now.

Korra Debut Draws 4.5 Million Viewers

bryankonietzko:

Great news! The premiere made quite a splash. At the core of that huge, unfathomable number was surely a dedicated fan base bugging motivating everyone they knew to watch the show. Thanks for that!

It is certainly good news, but I don’t pay too close attention to these numbers. As long as they aren’t horrible enough to draw the ire of the network, then I just see them, shake my head in wonder, and keep plugging away. It is hard to comprehend a group of people that large. Anything bigger than the 2000 fans at the Comic Con panels is more than my brain can imagine. As long as we get to make the show, and people can access it, then I’m happy.

Thank you for such an amazing show, Bryan!