When I sat down to watch the complete 3 season box set of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' with no knowledge of what was to come, I was very skeptical. How could an animated show provided by the same channel as Spongebob Squarepants be remotely appealing to a 20 something year old man? Well as a wise character from the show says; 'You have to open your brain to the possibilities'. And wow, was I ever surprised by what I saw!
The show is set in a world divided into the 'Four Nations': the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation and the Air Nomads. These nations are characterised by some of their population's ability to control or 'bend' one of four different elements: Water, Earth, Fire or Air (obviously). For as long as there have been four nations, there has been what is known as the Avatar; one human that can control all four elements and maintain peace and balance in the world. The Avatar also acts as a spiritual entity that can travel between the Spirit world and the Physical world, maintaining the overall global harmony. When one Avatar dies, another is born elsewhere in another nation and the cycle repeats.
The show is set 100 years after the start of a great war waged by the Fire Nation against the rest of the world. The Avatar mysteriously vanished for those 100 years and no one knows why. The show begins when two young Water Tribe members find the Avatar trapped in a block of ice...
The tone of the series takes several episodes to find its feet, with the first few setting the basic story-lines in motion by introducing us to the protagonists and the antagonists without giving us too much info on the why's or how's. However what carries the first few episodes through smoothly is the vast collection of loveable characters. The three main protagonists are Aang, the 12 year-old Avatar and last of the Air Nomads, along with Sokka and Kitara, the two Water Tribe children who stumble across Aang frozen in ice. The primary antagonist is Prince Zuko, a banished prince of the Fire Nation tasked with finding the Avatar. However he is accompanied by his kind, patient, fun loving uncle Iro. All these characters carry the episodes from the start with a great confidence, highlighted by the hilarious friction between the frustrated, impatient Zuko and his super relaxed uncle.
The show really kicks into high gear with a serious thematic shift about half way through season 1. An episode that delves into the backstories of Aang and Zuko, creating an unknown connection between them is very moving and adds a previously untouched depth to both characters, treating them with an intelligence and maturity far from that of your average 'kids show'. The thematic content placed throughout the series is immensely heavy as well; from parental abuse, kidnapping, abandonment, loneliness, spiritual belief, relationships and legacy to political upheaval, racial prejudice, sexism, education and self expression, this show tackles everything with a diverse range of styles. Through comedy, drama, horror and everything in between, this show very quickly demonstrates the writers' knowledge and understanding of important subjects, all the while interweaving it into a brilliantly coherent show designed perfectly for the whole family to enjoy.
This show really makes an effort to design a complete and realised world, with every nation getting it's own distinct history. Throughout the three seasons we visit every one of the four nations and get a detailed look at their cultures, identities and individual characters. It's also very easy to spot inspirations taken from real world cultures as well; The Air Nomads are clearly inspired by Tibetan monks. The Fire Nation is more influence by ancient Japan and South-East Asia, the Earth Kingdom is taken after ancient China and the Water Tribe seems to emulate both Eskimo and Pacific cultures. The most important aspect of these nations is that every nation is filled with both good and evil characters, while maintaining the belief that the Fire Nation is the primary villain. This provides the protagonists with a vast array of challenges, challenges that never seem cheesy or underwritten. These situations also reveal flaws within the protagonists themselves in such a way that you feel like you understand these characters personally, and appreciate their inner and outer struggles regardless of whether their decisions are right or wrong. The pacing of the episodes and the individual stories within them are beautifully told to set up and conclude each season with a fantastic finale, both removing major problems and setting up new ones, right through to the final moments of season 3.
The overall finale of the season provides every character with an emotional and appropriate sendoff; no stone is left unturned and no plot-holes are left remaining (even if a couple are, they are acknowledged to great comedic effect).
All of this would also not be possible without the phenomenal animation to showcase it. I have never seen such crisp, clear and wonderfully inventive hand-drawn animation as I have in this show. The environments, creatures, characters and clothing are all beautiful but no animation is better showcased than the most unique of all, the elemental bending. The visual style with which bending the four elements is captured demonstrates a fantastically creative approach. How many different ways can water be used? What counts as earth? How can fire be altered? Every individual element is displayed through hundreds of different sequences and as a result, bending truly feels like its own entity. Techniques are addressed, lessons are given, even the history of bending is focused on. It feels like a developing, evolving art form and that only further deepens the realism of this world.
As a negative, a couple of episodes do either seem a tad unnecessary or unconnected to the remainder of the story, giving characters motivations inconsistent with other episodes or merely having them complete tasks that do not in any way further their development. However these are very limited and can easily be overlooked when viewed as part of the complete series.
Overall this show is an absolute joy to watch. For adults and kids alike, this show deals with heavy issues we can all relate to and it does so through a loveable collection of characters, all with individual personalities and conflicting emotions. The script is electric, the story exceptional, the 'Four Nation' world is brimming with detail and the animation is second to none.
This show is in a league of its own and I would 100% recommend.
The show is set in a world divided into the 'Four Nations': the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation and the Air Nomads. These nations are characterised by some of their population's ability to control or 'bend' one of four different elements: Water, Earth, Fire or Air (obviously). For as long as there have been four nations, there has been what is known as the Avatar; one human that can control all four elements and maintain peace and balance in the world. The Avatar also acts as a spiritual entity that can travel between the Spirit world and the Physical world, maintaining the overall global harmony. When one Avatar dies, another is born elsewhere in another nation and the cycle repeats.
The show is set 100 years after the start of a great war waged by the Fire Nation against the rest of the world. The Avatar mysteriously vanished for those 100 years and no one knows why. The show begins when two young Water Tribe members find the Avatar trapped in a block of ice...
The tone of the series takes several episodes to find its feet, with the first few setting the basic story-lines in motion by introducing us to the protagonists and the antagonists without giving us too much info on the why's or how's. However what carries the first few episodes through smoothly is the vast collection of loveable characters. The three main protagonists are Aang, the 12 year-old Avatar and last of the Air Nomads, along with Sokka and Kitara, the two Water Tribe children who stumble across Aang frozen in ice. The primary antagonist is Prince Zuko, a banished prince of the Fire Nation tasked with finding the Avatar. However he is accompanied by his kind, patient, fun loving uncle Iro. All these characters carry the episodes from the start with a great confidence, highlighted by the hilarious friction between the frustrated, impatient Zuko and his super relaxed uncle.
The show really kicks into high gear with a serious thematic shift about half way through season 1. An episode that delves into the backstories of Aang and Zuko, creating an unknown connection between them is very moving and adds a previously untouched depth to both characters, treating them with an intelligence and maturity far from that of your average 'kids show'. The thematic content placed throughout the series is immensely heavy as well; from parental abuse, kidnapping, abandonment, loneliness, spiritual belief, relationships and legacy to political upheaval, racial prejudice, sexism, education and self expression, this show tackles everything with a diverse range of styles. Through comedy, drama, horror and everything in between, this show very quickly demonstrates the writers' knowledge and understanding of important subjects, all the while interweaving it into a brilliantly coherent show designed perfectly for the whole family to enjoy.
This show really makes an effort to design a complete and realised world, with every nation getting it's own distinct history. Throughout the three seasons we visit every one of the four nations and get a detailed look at their cultures, identities and individual characters. It's also very easy to spot inspirations taken from real world cultures as well; The Air Nomads are clearly inspired by Tibetan monks. The Fire Nation is more influence by ancient Japan and South-East Asia, the Earth Kingdom is taken after ancient China and the Water Tribe seems to emulate both Eskimo and Pacific cultures. The most important aspect of these nations is that every nation is filled with both good and evil characters, while maintaining the belief that the Fire Nation is the primary villain. This provides the protagonists with a vast array of challenges, challenges that never seem cheesy or underwritten. These situations also reveal flaws within the protagonists themselves in such a way that you feel like you understand these characters personally, and appreciate their inner and outer struggles regardless of whether their decisions are right or wrong. The pacing of the episodes and the individual stories within them are beautifully told to set up and conclude each season with a fantastic finale, both removing major problems and setting up new ones, right through to the final moments of season 3.
The overall finale of the season provides every character with an emotional and appropriate sendoff; no stone is left unturned and no plot-holes are left remaining (even if a couple are, they are acknowledged to great comedic effect).
All of this would also not be possible without the phenomenal animation to showcase it. I have never seen such crisp, clear and wonderfully inventive hand-drawn animation as I have in this show. The environments, creatures, characters and clothing are all beautiful but no animation is better showcased than the most unique of all, the elemental bending. The visual style with which bending the four elements is captured demonstrates a fantastically creative approach. How many different ways can water be used? What counts as earth? How can fire be altered? Every individual element is displayed through hundreds of different sequences and as a result, bending truly feels like its own entity. Techniques are addressed, lessons are given, even the history of bending is focused on. It feels like a developing, evolving art form and that only further deepens the realism of this world.
As a negative, a couple of episodes do either seem a tad unnecessary or unconnected to the remainder of the story, giving characters motivations inconsistent with other episodes or merely having them complete tasks that do not in any way further their development. However these are very limited and can easily be overlooked when viewed as part of the complete series.
Overall this show is an absolute joy to watch. For adults and kids alike, this show deals with heavy issues we can all relate to and it does so through a loveable collection of characters, all with individual personalities and conflicting emotions. The script is electric, the story exceptional, the 'Four Nation' world is brimming with detail and the animation is second to none.
This show is in a league of its own and I would 100% recommend.