Destined to Be an Action Figure: Avatar and Storytelling

Posted December 18, 2009 by Jennifer Davis - Jennifer is all about technology innovation and is a customer advocate, business executive, mom, and loves her job as Runco’s VP of marketing.

On the opening night of James Cameron’s Avatar tonight, I was in the audience marveling at how it was possible that a love story between blue-skinned aliens could be so compelling.  Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

James Cameron proved again what a great story teller he is.  It appears that all those doodles and space aliens and robots he drew on his homework in high school paid off.
I walked out of the theater wanting to know more about what happened before the start of the movie.  What was Jake’s brother like?  How was picked to be a driver in the first place?  Why did he leave Pandora and find himself in a position to be mugged?  Why did Grace’s school close?  Then, of course, there is the question of what happens after the movie.  What happened to the people after they ushered the humans off Pandora and they got a chance to rebuild their home? 

I am rooting that this becomes a franchise like Star Wars.  The start of many stories, characters, and moral lessons.  To do my part, we have already bought our first action figure.  Consider it our vote, James, for you to create the prequel and sequel.