ShadowBuuProductions on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/shadowbuuproductions/art/ATLA-Earth-Kingdom-Dagger-480846514ShadowBuuProductions

Deviation Actions

ShadowBuuProductions's avatar

ATLA: Earth Kingdom Dagger

Published:
1.6K Views

Description

So for Melbourne Oz ComicCon 2014 Dante Basco came out, and it was my first chance to go and see him.
Being as massive A:TLA fan, an avid Zuko cosplayer, and a true admirer of Dante Basco in everything I've seen, I wanted to do something special; and to give him something special. I had been wanting to make Zuko's Earth kingdom dagger for some time so Dante coming out was the perfect excuse to make it!

I knew that Mako Iwamatsu had had a great impact on Dante, and wished to give him a gift centred around Iroh to show how much Dante's own portrayal had had an impact on me. I sourced a short Tanto blade, cut it, moulded the handle over it, and engraved the symbols on each side.
As the "Never give up without a fight" side is the only side you see in the show, I had a good friend translate "Made in Earth Kingdom" for me to put onto the other side. The sheath was actually a fair bit difficult, but with the help of another friend to finish it I got it done in time.

Along with the Knife I included an Iroh portrait I had made a while back. It reflects the Lu Ten portrait we see Iroh use in 'Tales of Ba Sing Se', both in style and message (though specialised to Zuko). I also included my Fire Prince headpiece that I had sculpted and used in cosplays before (Dante has a Zuko cosplay in his Prince armour himself, but didn't have the head piece to go with it).

It was a great labour of love and Dante was very very touched to be given it (in a very appropriate tea box). He was quite speachless for a time, asking me if I was really giving it to him, and admiring the craftsmanship of the handle/sheath. Near the end of the day that I gave it to him I heard my name called and turned around to see Dante there, my present to him tucked securely under his arm, and I chatted to him for a couple of minutes before he left and my heart caught up with my mind and i started truly fanboying (Dante is so nice/easy to talk to that he puts you completely at ease while he's talking to you).

I actually had his main handler from that day message me that night, saying how moved he was by the gift and that he was showing it off to the other guests in the green room.
 
There were so many Dante interactions during the next day of the convention but I can safely say that I am so proud of the work I put in and feel so happy to have made such a unique prop from A:TLA and that Dante Basco now owns this unique piece of fandom.

Bangeraang my dear hotman.


PS. That table the dagger is resting on is indeed a Pai Sho table I made :)
Image size
1776x1548px 700.4 KB
© 2014 - 2024 ShadowBuuProductions
Comments5
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Living4Christ11's avatar
So, are you looking to make and sell more of these? I'd totally buy it!! It's EPIC!!! :D