e of 12, one does not believe that anything can shake them. One thinks themselves untouchable because they’re just at the precipice of becoming a true teenager. Being at the edge of 13 and being so close to entering junior high makes one feel like they’re on top of the world, being able to do what they want, how they want it, and barely having to answer any questions –– unless mom or dad or a guardian has something to say about it.

I remember “Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA)” airing when I was about eight years old. I also remember that I was adamant to not watch it because I thought it was lame, despite what others told me about it. As I grew older, I was still dead-set on not watching it because I didn’t like the cartoon style or because I claimed I had no time to watch it. I simply didn’t understand the hype surrounding the stupid show. But when one of my best friends pushed me to watch the series, then proceeded to make it so that I had to watch it to complete a research project, I couldn’t peel my eyes away from the screen. Everything about it from the complex, interesting and mature topics addressed to the characters who each have a permanent place in my heart, the series has easily become my absolute favorite show — bar none.

mind, I’m willing to bet whatever sad, spare change I have rolling around in my wallet that the first thing that comes to anyone’s mind when cartoons are mentioned in conversation are children. While it is true that cartoons are often and easily associated with children, animation has depicted overall adult themes and conduct since it was first created in the early 1900s. 

Despite sociologically being identified as a Gen Z-er, I don’t wholeheartedly feel like I should be. As someone who parts her hair to the side, regardless of what that says about what generation I belong to, I’m confused as to who I should claim as my peers: Millennials or Gen Z? For this reason, the internet coined the term “Zillennials” to give this unnamed territory of generations a name.