History ShoutOut / TheLegendOfKorra

* The Earth Queen has a love-hate relationship with animals [[spoiler: she hates them due to allergies but she (allegedly) loves them as ExoticEntree[=s=]]] like ''ThePiratesInAnAdventureWithScientists''[='=] Queen Victoria.

** Unalaq's goal is to force the heroine to open a portal to allow his master -- the [[BlackAndRedAndEvilAllOver red and black]] [[UltimateEvil embodiment of evil, darkness, and chaos]] -- to come to Earth.

[[AC:"In general"]]

** Zhu Li is in a very similar situation to Pepper Potts, having trouble conveying her feelings for her brilliant but extremely ego-centered boss.

* [[SealedEvilInACan Sealed Evil in a tree]], thanks/[[NiceJobBreakingItHero no thanks to the hero]]: ''Korra'': [[spoiler:Vaatu, evil spirit of chaos]], freed from [[spoiler: his fight with Raava, good spirit of peace]] by [[spoiler: future first Avatar Wan]] who then re-sealed him in a dead tree in a desert [[spoiler: in the spirit world]] --> ''SamuraiJack'': Aku, evil spirit(?) of greed, sealed in a dead tree in a swamp, unsealed by [[spoiler: Jack's dad]] --> ''FerngullyTheLastRainforest'': Hexxus, evil spirit of pollution, sealed in a dead tree in a wasteland, accidentally unsealed by woodcutter Zak.

* Immediately following this scene we have Mako being released from prison, greeted by a crowd of admirers, and told by his boss that he has been promoted to detective, while Lu and Gang have been fired. The dialogue in this scene is very similar to the ending of {{Mulan}}.

* Vaatu (and [[PaletteSwap Raava's]]) design is similar to [[WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack Aku's]].
* A [[DroneOfDread deep, bass noise]] plays whenever Vaatu fires off his energy blast, giving an allusion to the Reapers from the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series, especially with Vaatu's pose at the time. May double as a reference to ''Film/TheWarOfTheWorlds'', which inspired the Reapers to use that note in the first place.

* The {{kaiju}}-style battle between [[spoiler: Korra's spirit and "Vaatuunalaq"]] is like a cross between ''{{Evangelion}}'' [[spoiler: Vaatu/Unalaq looking really angel/Eva-y vs. a giant blue woman]] and ''{{Paprika}}'' [[spoiler: the heroine's dream-self becomes huge to battle her mentor-turned-evil before he can throw the world into chaos]].

* The manner in which Korra is [[http://i.imgur.com/57ZLYDe.png restrained]] by [[spoiler: the earth queen]] is very reminiscent of [[Film/TheSilenceofTheLambs a certain cannibalistic serial killer.]]

* [[http://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/104817322157/for-bolins-new-book-4-outfit-i-wanted-to-give Bolin's outfit in Season 4]] was based on the iconic ''[[ComicBook/TheRocketeer Rocketeer]]'' outfit.

* When told they need money to compete in a tournament, Bolin asks Korra if she has [[Franchise/HarryPotter a secret account filled with gold]].

* Varrick later creates the Avatar-verse version of Film/NanookOfTheNorth, "Nuktuk, the Hero of the South", with Bolin in the lead role. It's remiscent of 30s sci-fi serials like Flash Gordon while doubling as pro-South propaganda. Further, its title puns on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanook_of_the_North Nanook of the North]], a classic "[[DocumentaryOfLies documentary]]" on the Inuit (of whom the Water Tribe are a partial FantasyCounterpartCulture).

* A few of them also look like ''Videogame/{{Pokemon}}'' and [[Manga/{{Mushishi}} "mushi"]]; the green No-Face expy's flat face is similar to a character from ''Webcomic/RiceBoy''.

* [[SealedEvilInACan Sealed Evil in a tree]], thanks/[[NiceJobBreakingItHero no thanks to the hero]]: ''Korra'': [[spoiler:Vaatu, evil spirit of chaos]], freed from [[spoiler: his fight with Raava, good spirit of peace]] by [[spoiler: future first Avatar Wan]] who then re-sealed him in a dead tree in a desert [[spoiler: in the spirit world]] --> ''SamuraiJack'': Aku, evil spirit(?) of greed, sealed in a dead tree in a swamp, unsealed by [[spoiler: Jack's dad]] --> ''FerngullyTheLastRainforest'': Hexxus, evil spirit of pollution, sealed in a dead tree in a wasteland, accidentally unsealed by woodcutter Zak.
* The {{kaiju}}-style battle between [[spoiler: Korra's spirit and "Vaatuunalaq"]] is like a cross between ''{{Evangelion}}'' [[spoiler: Vaatu/Unalaq looking really angel/Eva-y vs. a giant blue woman]] and ''{{Paprika}}'' [[spoiler: the heroine's dream-self becomes huge to battle her mentor-turned-evil before he can throw the world into chaos]].
** Korra turning into a giant glowing blue person after accessing the energy of the universe resembles Dr Manhattan in ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', although thankfully without the detachment from humanity or the nudity.

* Wan is introduced like Disney/{{Aladdin}}: a thin young man, having just stolen a loaf of bread, is running through the city streets chased by well-armed fat men.

* Tonraq saying he had been running from the past for so long in ''Civil Wars part 2'' is similar to what Simba from ''Disney/TheLionKing'' said.

* She's also [[Disney/TheLionKing surrounded by idiots.]]
* Ghazan can turn rocks into a magma glaive, which looks and acts just like the one in ''Film/{{Krull}}''

* Hiroshi Sato, inventor of the Satomobile, is an obvious reference to Henry Ford, inventor of the Model T.
* Varrick, on the other hand, is a fairly obvious {{Expy}} of Howard Hughes and a myriad of eccentric fictional inventors/entrepreneurs based on his persona, most notably [[IronMan Tony Stark]]. The similarity is acknowledged further when he develops suits of PoweredArmor for Kuvira and is being forced to work for her at gunpoint to create a superweapon.
** Zhu Li is in a very similar situation to Pepper Potts, having trouble conveying her feelings for her brilliant but extremely ego-centered boss.
* The [[http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121110215101/avatar/images/f/f8/Mecha_tanks.png Mecha tanks]] built by [[spoiler: Hiroshi Sato]] bear a strong resemblance to the [[http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100610234325/bioshock/images/e/ef/Bouncer_Big_Daddy.jpg Big Daddies]] of [[VideoGame/BioShock BioShock.]]
** Their successors, Varrick's [[http://i.imgur.com/igz7S5K.png Mecha suits]] built for Kuvira's army in Book 4, have more of a resemblance to a generic [[IronMan Hulkbuster]], with the domed helmet and the Earth Empire sigil replacing Stark's arc reactor light.
* Zaheer's speech in the finale of book three, about ending the avatar cycle, is [[ShoutOutToShakespeare rather reminiscent of the Bard's]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Crispin%27s_Day_Speech Saint Crispin's Day Speech]] from ''Theatre/HenryV''.
-->So we lucky[[note]][[ShownTheirWork which is what the original's "happy" meant in Shakespeare's time]][[/note]] few, this BandOfBrothers and sisters [...]

* The co-star for Varrick's "mover" is a red-headed actress named Ginger, now why does [[Series/GilligansIsland she sound familiar?]]

* Season 4 [[http://38.media.tumblr.com/1f40c8cfac346f7280081e7f59e0e926/tumblr_nby53xZauv1rogcuio1_1280.jpg Korra]] and ''Film/TronLegacy''[='s=] [[http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130915150150/disney/images/7/7f/035_quorra_highrez_01.jpg Quorra]]. In addition to the name and design similarities they're both powerful, big-hearted though somewhat sheltered ActionGirl[=s=] in a world on the verge of being conquered by a [[ControlFreak perfection-obsessed]], DangerouslyGenreSavvy [[BadassLongCoat badass in a long coat]] who's got [[DaddyIssues issues with their "parent"]] and itching to expand their territory. Additionally they had an elder from a previous story heal their physical wounds and [[spoiler: in the end our heroines pair up with the heir to a major tech company who loves motorcycles and has a very complicated relationship with their father, who sacrifices himself to save his child and the world. The two are last seen holding each other tightly while going into a warm, blazing light onto another adventure (or just a vacation)]].

* [[http://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/104817322157/for-bolins-new-book-4-outfit-i-wanted-to-give Bolin's outfit in Season 4]] was based on the iconic ''[[ComicBook/TheRocketeer Rocketeer]]'' outfit.
* Wan, the first Avatar, stole fire form the spirits to help the humans survive, just like the Greek mythological figure Prometheus stole fire from the gods to help humanity. Both were punished for their actions.
* While giving humans the power to control an element (in this case, fire) in "Beginning Part 1," the Lion-turtle tells them, "[[WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers The power is yours]] to keep..."

* A [[DroneOfDread deep, bass noise]] plays whenever Vaatu fires off his energy blast, giving an allusion to the Reapers from the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series.

* When Vaatu fires his purple beam, both the beams effect and the way Vaatu stands is eerily reminiscent of the Reapers from MassEffect. Vaatu even looks a little like a Reaper when he prepares the beam for the first time.

** Varrick's updated designs for Kuvira's army in Book 4 bears more of a resemblance to a generic [[IronMan Hulkbuster]], with the domed helmet and the Earth Empire sigil replacing Stark's arc reactor light.

* The character Mako is a shout out to the deceased voice actor of Iroh in the original series, {{Mako}} Iwamatsu.

* The Avatar memorial statue on its Island is strongly reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty.

* Zaheer's speech in the finale of book three, about 'we few, we happy few', is rather reminiscent of the Bard's [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Crispin%27s_Day_Speech Saint Crispin's Day Speech]]

* While giving humans the power to control an element (in this case, fire) in "Beginning Part 1," the Lion-turtle tells them, "[[WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteer The power is yours]] to keep..."

* Wan, the first Avatar, stole fire form the spirits to help the humans survive, just like the Greek mythological figure Prometheus stole fire from the gods to help humanity. Both were punished for their actions.

* [[http://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/104817322157/for-bolins-new-book-4-outfit-i-wanted-to-give Bolin's outfit in Season 4]] was based on the iconic ''[[ComicBook/TheRocketeer Rocketeer]]'' outfit.

* The explosion that creates the new spirit portal in the middle of Republic City looks very much like the one in Neo-Tokyo from ''{{Manga/Akira}}''.

* The explosion that creates the new spirit portal in the middle of Republic City looks very much like the one in Neo-Tokyo from ''Manga/Akira''.

* Season 4 [[http://38.media.tumblr.com/1f40c8cfac346f7280081e7f59e0e926/tumblr_nby53xZauv1rogcuio1_1280.jpg Korra]] and ''Film/TronLegacy''[='s=] [[http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130915150150/disney/images/7/7f/035_quorra_highrez_01.jpg Quorra]]. In addition to the name and design similarities they're both powerful, big-hearted though somewhat sheltered ActionGirl[=s=] in a world on the verge of being conquered by a [[ControlFreak perfection-obsessed]], DangerouslyGenreSavvy [[BadassLongCoat badass in a long coat]] who's got [[DaddyIssues issues with their "parent"]] and itching to expand their territory. Additionally they had an elder from a previous story heal their physical wounds and [[spoiler: in the end our heroines pair up with (A)Sam(i), the heir to a major tech company who loves motorcycles and has a very complicated relationship with their father, who sacrifices himself to save his child and the world. The two are last seen holding each other tightly while going into a warm, blazing light onto another adventure (or just a vacation)]].

* The entire tail-end of the finale is a huge shout out to the ending of the previous series.

* The entire tail-end of the finale is a huge shout out to the ending of the previous series.

** Last is the reactor overload explosion, which minus vaporizing the whole ship, creates the same explosive ring when it finally detonates.

* Season 4 [[http://38.media.tumblr.com/1f40c8cfac346f7280081e7f59e0e926/tumblr_nby53xZauv1rogcuio1_1280.jpg Korra]] and ''Film/TronLegacy''[='s=] [[http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130915150150/disney/images/7/7f/035_quorra_highrez_01.jpg Quorra]]. In addition to the name and design similarities they're both powerful, big-hearted though somewhat sheltered ActionGirl[=s=] in a world on the verge of being conquered by a [[ControlFreak perfection-obsessed]], DangerouslyGenreSavvy [[BadassLongCoat badass in a long coat]] who's got [[DaddyIssues issues with their "parent"]] and itching to expand their territory. Additionally they had an elder from a previous story heal their physical wounds and [[spoiler: in the end our heroines pair up with (A)Sam(i), the heir to a major tech company who loves motorcycles and has a very complicated relationship with their father, who sacrifices himself to save his child and the world. The two are last seen holding each other tightly while going into a warm, blazing light]].
* Yet more shout outs to StarWars occur in the finale:

** First when Su and Lin try and fail to metalbend the Colossus' feet (failure because the outer shell is platinum, which is virtually unbendable), the twins follow up with a length of metal cable tied around its feet, before the airbenders and Korra attempt to push it over. Unfortunately it doesn't work like on [[TheEmpireStrikesBack Hoth]], instead only staggering the Colossus.

* Season 4 [[http://38.media.tumblr.com/1f40c8cfac346f7280081e7f59e0e926/tumblr_nby53xZauv1rogcuio1_1280.jpg Korra]] and ''Film/TronLegacy''[='s=] [[http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130915150150/disney/images/7/7f/035_quorra_highrez_01.jpg Quorra]]. In addition to the name and design similarities they're both powerful, big-hearted though somewhat sheltered ActionGirl[=s=] in a world on the verge of being conquered by a [[ControlFreak perfection-obsessed]], DangerouslyGenreSavvy [[BadassLongCoat badass in a long coat]] who's got [[DaddyIssues issues with their "parent"]] and itching to expand their territory. Additionally they had an elder from a previous story heal their physical wounds and [[spoiler: in the end our heroines pair up with (A)Sam(i), the heir to a major tech company who loves motorcycles and has a very complicated relationship with their father, who sacrifices himself to save his child and the world. The two are last seen holding each other tightly while going into a warm, blazing light]].