Now, after a wait longer than a great number of fans had hoped to endure, all three seasons of the Nickelodeon classic are available to stream on Netflix after rejoining the platform in May.
The 15-year-old show is still revered by a mass of fans and garners ratings consistently above 90% by review aggregators. Even while being rated Y-7, the show attracts audiences of all ages and balances youth-oriented humor with undercurrents of serious subject matter. From feel-good to wacky to dramatic and thrilling, Avatar has something for every mood and every age.
For starters, Avatar’s world-building is like no other in the genre. The story takes place in a pre-industrial world, occupied by four major powers: the Fire Nation, the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom and the Air Nomads. Each nation is influenced by real cultures, with many of the artifacts and philosophies preserved within the series.
For example, the Air Nomads are based on Tibetan Buddhists. The Air Temples share nearly identical architecture to the Tibetans and believe in a similar philosophy that emphasizes spiritual enlightenment. The Water Tribe, on the other hand, is influenced by Inuit culture. The Water Tribe dwellings are commonly igloos, and their land is mainly frozen tundras similar to the Arctic regions inhabited by Inuit tribes.
Furthermore, each bending style is based on real-life martial art forms and beautifully choreographed with the character’s extraordinary abilities to control the elements. Firebending is based on Shaolin Kung-Fu, an aggressive fighting style that symbolizes fire’s powerful and sometimes violent nature. Conversely, waterbending is based on Tai-Chi, a martial art that emphasizes calm and fluid movements, similar to the behavior of water.
Beyond this, Avatar incorporates many eastern spiritual beliefs into a mainstream medium in a way that westerners find easy to swallow, yet leaves its core values and ideals intact and prevalent throughout the show.
Some of the issues dealt with by the show’s characters are rooted in true existential problems that may not have yet been considered by the younger members of its audience.
For example, Aang, the Avatar, struggles with the decision to kill or spare the life of the Fire Lord, ruler of the Fire Nation. Hailing from a monastic background, Aang struggles with his Avatar duty to bring balance to the world without giving up his cultural and moral belief of nonviolence. However, something as potentially upsetting to children as the idea of death is skillfully presented to provide a thought-provoking topic without sparking distress in younger viewers.
Avatar also masterfully constructs its characters and their motives, with character arcs that don’t feel forced or cliche. Zuko, the prince of the Fire Nation, initially seeks to capture the Avatar to regain the honor he lost after his father scarred and banished him for speaking out of turn. By the end, however, Zuko understands that his true destiny is to help the Avatar defeat his father and to return the Fire Nation to peace and unity with the world.
Iroh, Zuko’s uncle and a prominent father-figure to him, travels the world with Zuko, offering unparalleled wisdom and support to his nephew during his confusing transitions in life. Iroh is a favorite character amongst, with both his advice and love of tea influencing them greatly. He has a wealth of inspirational quotes, a favorite being:
“Hope is something you give yourself,” Iroh said. “That is the meaning of inner strength.”
Original source: New Mexico Daily Lobo.
Below is an archived interview from 2005 by Nickelodeon Asia in which Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko talk about Avatar: The Last Airbender:
Everything you ever wanted to know about Avatar: The Last Airbender answered by the creators, Mike & Bryan!
October 12th, 2005
1. How did you come up with the Avatar?
We came up for the concept for "Avatar" 3 years ago. Nickelodeon wanted to make a "legends & lore" type of show with a kid hero. That’s a genre we are very interested in, but we wanted to create a mythology that was based on Eastern culture, rather than Western culture. Although "Avatar" isn’t based on a specific Asian myth, we were inspired by Asian mythology, as well as Kung Fu, Yoga, and Eastern Philosophy. We were also inspired by Anime in general. We wanted to create a story that inspired people’s imaginations and that had elements of comedy, drama, and action.
2. You guys are not Asian so how did you come up with such an Asian cartoon?
We read a lot about Buddhism, Daoism, and Chinese history. We also have several consultants who work for the show - a cultural consultant that reviews all the scripts; a Kung Fu consultant who helps choreograph all the bending moves so that they are accurate to the style on which they are based; and a Chinese calligrapher who does all the signs and posters in the show. We don’t use any written English words in the show.
3. Which character do you identify most with? Why?
Mike identifies most with Aang’s peaceful qualities – and his bald head!
Bryan identifies with Zuko, because he too can be incredibly stubborn and obsessively focused. And also with Sokka, because he too can be incredibly stubborn and annoyingly sarcastic!
4. We are watching the first season of Avatar now. Are you working on the Season 2 already? Can you tell us what to expect without spoiling it for us?
The rest of Book 1 (Water) will air this autumn in the US, which culminates with Aang, Katara, and Sokka finally arriving at the Northern Water Tribe. We are currently in production on 20 episodes of Book 2, which is the Earth book. New antagonists will be revealed as the kids journey deeper into the Earth Kingdom. And Aang will find an Earthbending teacher in his quest to master the four elements.
5. What is the meaning of Avatar?
We chose the word "Avatar" because it is an ancient Hindu word meaning "a temporary manifestation of a continuing entity." In our world, Aang is the current incarnation of this very powerful being: the one person who can control all four elements and keep balance in the world.
6. Why does Prince Zuko have a scar on this face? Why is he always angry?
Prince Zuko is the oldest son of Fire Lord Ozai, ruler of the Fire Nation, and the great-grandson of Fire Lord Sozin, who started the war. He is the rightful heir to the Fire Lord’s throne, but when Prince Zuko was 14, he spoke out against his father and the Fire Nation’s conquests. To teach his insubordinate son a lesson, Fire Lord Ozai forces his son to fight him in an Agni-Kai – a traditional Firebender duel. The Fire Lord makes an example of his son in front of his royal army and leaves him with a prominent burn scar across his face. The message is clear. Regardless of bloodline, anyone who opposes the Fire Lord’s power will meet a terrible fate. Not content with physical punishment, Fire Lord Ozai strips the Prince of his birthright to the throne and banishes him from his homeland. His father tells Zuko the only way he will allow him to return is with the Avatar, dead or alive.
7. What does that Blue Arrow on Aang’s head mean?
The arrow on Aang’s head is a constant reminder that he may be the last survivor of his tribe, the Air Nomads.
Bryan and Mike’s parting words to kids in Asia?
We hope the viewers in Asia enjoy watching "Avatar." We are excited that people around the world get to watch the show. And we are especially excited to hear it dubbed in various languages! It’s exciting, adventure-filled, funny, and dramatic. If they watch, they won’t be disappointed! Thank you!
(Because a number of questions are repeated, prizes will be given to kids who haven’t won before so as to be fair!)
--Ends--
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