DISCLAIMER

Terra Incognita concept was written in 1998 by Emil Malak, who came up with the original concept as a story for his son Matthew. Emil Malak employed a team of three individuals, a co-writer, a graphic designer and a sketcher, that collaborated on developing further story lines and detailed character designs to that enable the entire concept to be developed into a major motion picture and a television series with the ability to create a line of merchandise, books, and toy action figures therefrom. All graphic designs, the initial treatment, the screenplay and the 13-part television series treatments were copyright registered with the Writers Guild of Canada. Terra Incognita was thereupon sent to many motion picture studios, including Lightstorm Entertainment and James Cameron. As of 2004, Emil Malak transferred ownership rights of Terra Incognita to La Rosa Development 2004 Limited.

The purpose of this document is to highlight the prominent similarities between Terra Incognita and Avatar. This document by no means comprises the entirety of similarities; rather, it serves to merely compare the main aspects of the two works. It showcases how Avatar utilizes the same building blocks and template as Terra Incognita.

Emil Malak has currently written a treatment entitled Revenge of the Naviit which can be used as a follow up sequel to Avatar.

For more information on anything contained within this information package, please contact Emil Malak at Bellaggio Cafe at 773 Hornby Street or at 604.889.0516.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Posters 3-7Concept/Plot Comparison 8-9Character Comparison 10Supporting Materials 11-15

-Photocopy of James Cameron's address taken from Emil Malak's notebook -Copy written letter by Emil Malak noting fear of material being stolen-Letter from Writers Guild of Canada indicating copyright status

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CONCEPT/PLOT COMPARISON

Terra Incognita AvatarPremise Terra Incognita was animated as a computer

generated action adventure depicting a world in the future with events and elements that shape a story combining mythology, ancient astronomy and legends. With a classic hero’s quest to explore different cultures and actual mythological figures Terra Incognita is an adventure as well as a story with a message.

Avatar is animated with computer-generated characters by using motion-capture animation technology. Taken from Wikipedia, Avatar is an old-fashioned jungle adventure [set in the future] with an environmental conscience [that] aspires to a mythic level of storytelling.

Storyline The film is set in the future on a distant blue Earth-like planet, Terra Incognita. Earth's existence is threatened. Astronauts, scientists, and the military were sent to the planet to acquire intel and to mine the planet's reserves for a precious mineral. The indigenous people resist the colonists' expansion, which threatens the continued existence of the people and their ecosystem.

The film is set in the future on a distant blue Earth-like planet, Pandora. Earth's existence is threatened. Astronauts, scientists and the military were sent to the planet to acquire intel and to mine the planet's reserves for a precious mineral. The Na'vi—a race of indigenous humanoids—resist the colonists' expansion, which threatens the continued existence of the Na'vi and the Pandoran ecosystem.

Planetary Life The indigenous people, plant life and animal life are philosophically and biologically intertwined. They believe in respect of mother earth and that all of the planet and animal life are connected. The indigenous people communicate with the animals and nature, believing all are equal.

The indigenous people, plant life and animal life are philosophically and biologically intertwined. They believe in respect of mother earth and that all of the planet and animal life are connected. The indigenous people communicate with the animals and nature, believing all are equal.

Planetary Composition

Terra Incognita is a fictional blue Earth-like world in a distant planetary system. (Terra Incognita Background Story pg. 11)

Terra Incognita has a magnetic source that affects transmissions of earthling’s technology.

“... loss of contact could be related to the strange magnetic readings that NASA has previously analyzed. The Professor surmises that Terra's heat and light sources are magnetically generated from within, thus creating a barrier that disrupts radar transmissions of any sort”.Terra Incognita Background Story pg. 12

Pandora is a fictional blue Earth-like world in a distant planetary system. (Avatar 2007 Screenplay pg. 6).

Pandora has a magnetic source that affects transmissions of earthling’s technology.

Grace “See these magnetic formations. We're getting close.”

Trudy “Yeah we are. Look at my instruments.”

On the dash, many of the displays are fritzing out.

Avatar 2007 Screenplay pg. 57.

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Tree Focal Point

The indigenous people and their environment are supported from the energy of the Life Tree.

“[The blue mineral] is the core of their planet and provides all light and heat. It is found within the Life Tree which stands at the planet's center.” - Terra Incognita Background Story for Future Screenplay pg. 8

“Only the pure of heart may remove [the seed of the Life Tree]... it is untouchable by anyone except the one who has fulfilled the prophecies [the protagonist]”. - Terra Incognita Background Story for Future Screenplay pg. 8

The indigenous people communicate with their environment and are strongly connected through the Well of Souls and Hometree.

“[Na'vi's] damn village [on Hometree] is sitting right over the richest [mineral] deposit for a hundred klicks in any direction” Avatar 2007 Screenplay pg. 53 quote by Selfridge

“Seeds of the Great Tree – very pure spirits” touch the protagonist as a sign from Eywa. - Avatar 2007 Screenplay pg. 43

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CHARACTER COMPARISON(Please see the photos at the beginning of this Information Package for direct character graphic design comparisons- note the aspects taken from Terra Incognita characters- the braided hair, the flat noses, the yellow eyes, the skin coloration and freckled body, the pointed ears.)

Terra Incognita AvatarPrincess The princess is the daughter of the ruler of

Terra Incognita. She falls in love with the protagonist. She is quick-tempered, intelligent, communicates with the animals, makes animal sounds and stalks like a panther.

The princess is the daughter of the ruler of Pandora. She falls in love with the protagonist. She is quick-tempered, intelligent, communicates with the animals, makes animal sounds and stalks like a panther.

Protagonist Protagonist comes to the distant planet, falls in love with the princess and helps her to save her people from the colonists seeking to destroy them. Protagonist has to undergo a series of tests to prove himself to the indigenous people. He uses the powers from the legendary serpent god to aid him in his quest.

Protagonist comes to the distant planet, falls in love with the princess and helps her to save her people from the colonists seeking to destroy them. Protagonist has to undergo a series of tests to prove himself to the indigenous people. He uses the powers from the legendary Leonopteryx to aid him in his quest.

Colonel/ Lieutenant

The Lieutenant is part of a military organization who is assigned to monitor the NASA Space Program. He is a strong, well-built soldier with scars across his hairlines. He tries everything possible to thwart the protagonist, the scientists and the Terra Incognita indigenous people.

The Colonel is part of a military organization who is assigned to work alongside the AVATAR Program. He is a strong, well-built soldier with scars across his hairlines. He tries everything possible to thwart the protagonist, the scientists and the Pandora indigenous people.

Concept Characters

Terra Incognita's main characters are the military, the scientists, the princess, the protagonist, the princess' parents, the indigenous people, the corses (ridable horses), the princess' evil uncle, the legendary serpent god that the protagonist uses and the animals which are mixes of two known earth animal species.

Pandora's main characters are the military, the scientists, the princess, the protagonist, the princess' parents, the indigenous people, the dire horses (ridable horses), the princess' suitor, the legendary Leonopteryx that the protagonist uses and the animals which are mixes of two known earth animal species.

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