Water is the element of change

Tides: A Katara Zine is a nonprofit, for-charity fanzine about Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender and her development throughout the series.

About

Tides: A Katara Zine is a nonprofit fanzine celebrating ATLA’s groundbreaking central female character and her development throughout the series.As the show's titular female character, Katara embodies her element as she grows, changes, and adapts to her environment. This zine examines and celebrates Katara's growth through the different states of her element: ice, storm, ocean, and rain.Stay tuned to learn more!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who can contribute?
A: Artists, writers, cosplayers and more! If you love Katara and have something to show for it or something to say about it, we'd love to have you onboard!
Q: How can I contact the mods?
A: Feel free to send us an ask on Tumblr, DM our Instagram or Twitter, or send us an email at [email protected].
Q: Will contributors be paid?
A: This project is a nonprofit, so all proceeds will go to a charity decided on by the team. If the zine is made physical, all contributors will receive a full zine bundle for free or at manufacturing cost.
Q: Do you need to have experience to apply as a contributor?
A: Nope! Experience for merch artists is preferred, but not required.
Q: What is the content rating for the zine?
A: This zine will have a maximum content rating of PG-13 or Teen, and any potentially sensitive content will have proper content warnings.
Q: How old do you have to be to contribute?
A: Contributors must be 18 years or older at the time of contributor applications.
Q: Will the zine be physical or digital?
A: We will have both digital and physical options!
Q: How do I participate?
A: Contributor applications will open October 25th to November 25th. Communication will take place in our Discord server. And results will be sent by email by December 2nd.

Guidelines

Overall Guidelines

  • All contributors must be 18+ years of age. Applications by individuals younger than eighteen will not be accepted.

  • We are volunteers. Everyone participating in this project is a volunteer dedicating their hard work, time, and energy to creating something amazing. Be considerate of others and understand that other things in someone's life may take priority over the work of this zine.

  • Communication is key. If something comes up, let the mod team know! We are more than happy to work with you for any situation.

  • Keep your workload in mind. Zines are a lot of work! Please keep in mind deadlines, check-ins, and other notes. Don't try to push yourself past your limits when it comes to work. Your personal health comes first!

  • Be respectful and mindful of others. Bullying of any kind will not be tolerated within this project. Any contributor found to be bullying, harassing, or otherwise being rude to another contributor or person within the space may be dismissed from the project.

  • We communicate via Discord. All contributors must have a Discord account and join our server to participate in our zine. Our team disseminates all important information via Discord, and cannot make exceptions for those that wish to not join the server.

General Application Guidelines

  • No prior experience is needed to apply. If you have not participated in a zine before, now's your chance!

  • Applicants must have a viewable digital portfolio. Google Drive folder links are preferred; make sure sharing settings are set to "Everyone with the link can view" before submitting. Social media profiles will not be accepted.

  • Choose your portfolio pieces carefully. Portfolios should be curated to each application and thus should have hand-picked work that best meets our criteria.

  • Portfolios may not contain NSFW content. Artistic nudity and light gore is acceptable, but portfolios containing suggestive content or heavy gore will not be reviewed.

  • Portfolios do not have to contain Avatar: The Last Airbender work, but is highly recommended. Let us see how your style translates into the Avatar: The Last Airbender style! Don't fret if you don't have any work related to Avatar: The Last Airbender.

  • All artwork must be your own. Portfolios containing AI-generated content will not be reviewed.

Page Artist Application Guidelines

  • Portfolio must contain 3–10 pieces. Portfolios containing less than three or more than ten pieces will not be reviewed.

  • Portfolios must contain at least one piece with a fully-rendered background. Abstract shape, pattern, or solid-colored backgrounds do not meet this criteria.

  • Artwork must be drawn in the style you intend to use for the project. Do not submit artwork in a style you are unwilling to work in or replicate.

  • Artwork should be high-quality. All screen-only artwork must be minimum 72 DPI, and all print-only artwork must be minimum 300 DPI.

  • Page Artist Application Judging Criteria:

  • Portfolio must contain 3–10 pieces. Portfolios containing less than three or more than ten pieces will not be reviewed.

  • Portfolios must contain at least one piece with a fully-rendered background. Abstract shape, pattern, or solid-colored backgrounds do not meet this criteria.

  • Artwork must be drawn in the style you intend to use for the project. Do not submit artwork in a style you are unwilling to work in or replicate.

  • Artwork should be high-quality. All screen-only artwork must be minimum 72 DPI, and all print-only artwork must be minimum 300 DPI.

  • Page Artist Application Judging Criteria:

Writer Application Guidelines

  • Portfolio must contain 2–3 works with a total of 1.5K–3K words. Portfolios containing less than two or more than three pieces will not be reviewed. Combined, your portfolio should not exceed 3K words.

  • Samples must be written in the style you intend to use for the project. Do not submit writing samples in a style you are unwilling to work in or replicate.

  • Samples are encouraged. Feel free to cut or pull samples from longer works in your portfolio.

  • Portfolios must be written in English. American English and British English are both accepted.

  • Text must be legible. Do not submit work in illegible typefaces.

  • Writer Application Judging Criteria:

  • Consistency in writing style.

  • Distinct and engaging writing style.

  • Correct grammar with consistent tense and voice.

  • Ability to portray mood and tone through text.

  • Engaging storytelling through dialogue and prose.

Merch Artist Application Guidelines

  • Portfolio must contain 3–10 pieces. Portfolios containing less than three or more than ten pieces will not be reviewed.

  • Artwork must be drawn in the style you intend to use for the project. Do not submit artwork in a style you are unwilling to work in or replicate.

  • Fully-realized merchandise is preferred, but not required. If you have examples of physical merch, please show us!

  • Mockups are preferred, but not required. If you do not have physical mockups, please show us digital ones instead.

  • Artwork should be high-quality. All screen-only artwork must be minimum 72 DPI, and all print-only artwork must be minimum 300 DPI.

  • Merch Artist Application Judging Criteria:

  • Consistency in art style.

  • Understanding of anatomy, especially in simplified form.

  • Understanding of silhouettes, especially in simplified form.

  • Examples of past merchandise, such as but not limited to, acrylic keychains, sticker sheets, enamel pins, and prints.

Schedule

The schedule is subject to change. Please refer to our social media pages for the most recent updates.

EventDate
First Interest CheckAugust 18–September 5, 2025
Second Interest CheckSeptember 15–October 14, 2025
Moderator ApplicationsSeptember 10–September 25, 2025
Moderation Application ResultsOctober 12, 2025
Contributor ApplicationsOctober 25–November 25, 2025
Contributor Application ResultsDecember 3, 2025
Check-In #1January 25, 2026
Check-In #2February 28, 2026
Check-In #3March 29, 2026
Final SubmissionsApril 30, 2026
PreordersJune 1–June 30, 2026
LeftoversTBD
ShippingJuly 2026