Avatar: The Last Airbender
“...Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them…” (Avatar). The introduction alone gives you a strong indication of the plot for the entire series. The moment Katara, a main character from Avatar: The Last Airbender, narrates the introduction you get a sense of the story heavy saga unfolding before your eyes. Everything from the storyline to the graphics and design of the three season series captivates and intrigues all of your senses. Every episode leaves you wanting more.
The story begins and is shaped by the characters and their interaction throughout the saga. Their world is divided into four nations: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. Each of these tribes have members with special powers known as benders. These individuals can manipulate the forces of nature that reflects their tribe’s element. As the story goes you will learn that there is one that can manipulate all four elements - the Avatar, Aang. He alone is destined to bring peace and unity to all the nations of the world. The other characters bring their own stories that assist in the self-fulfillment of the making of the Avatar. As each individual’s story is told it will intensify your connection to their world. You follow the characters across the world and watch them grow into their full fruition as the final episodes unfold.
This show not only has the capability to draw the audience into its story; it has the capacity to allow each individual to relate and connect to the storyline on a much more personal level. There are messages conveyed throughout the series that manifests the relationship between integrity and corruption. All of these scenarios demonstrate how the principles of our morality can be applied to many situations that we as an audience may encounter in our daily lives. The main character Aang is almost always mirrored by the story line or vice versa. Throughout the show he is faced with several trials and moral crises that force him to make decisions which affect not only himself, but also his entire world. In the mind of today you can perceive this as a reflection of growing up and hardships one may face. The viewer sees that all of Aang’s training and mediation develops his strengths so that he can face his challenges and make a stand against his adversaries. By doing this the creators give a window into the heart and the inner strengths grown from life’s journeys. It exhibits how self-actualization can influence decisions when faced with impossible odds.
Aside from the captivating storyline of the saga, one of the other unique things I enjoy about this television series is its style of animation. Somehow it finds the perfect blend of Japanese anime and American cartoon animation. According to one source, pragmatic fantasy and maneuvering abruptly are what makes Japanese animation unique (Characteristics). While another source states every scene in a good American cartoon is strenuously generated to bring about a more lifelike animated picture (Sanders). The balance between Japanese anime and American cartoons allows the series to have an unparalleled point of view. A noted source states that while most animation from around the world tell simple and childish stories, Japanese animes tend to appeal to a larger audience with attention deeper design (Characteristics). The show has all of the essential parts needed for a excellent story, such as a powerful climax and a fulfilling resolution. The writers provide an ending that subtly, yet successfully reiterates the underlying meanings and represents the key points throughout the story of the television series. Marco beautifully expresses just how well the story is written, “the amount of craft that went into it, from the use of a Kung Fu consultant to make sure that each of the elements got the moves right, and the emphatic limiting of the series to three seasons in order to ensure that there was a story arc and an ending” (Chacon). I think that the Avatar: The Last Airbender demonstrates all of these qualities throughout the entire saga. There are also numerous reviews and commendations for the art, humor, and attention to all the cultural aspects of the films characters and themes. For attention to such detail it has won several nominations and awards as a series such as Primetime Emmy Awards, Annie Awards, Kid’s Choice Awards from 2006 to 2008 (International Movie Database).
Avatar: The Last Airbender makes a great show for all ages and those with wide variety of tastes. If you’ve ever been weary of such shows or frustrated with modern cartoons you may find yourself surprisingly pleased with the dynamic story and the phenomenal characters of the show. If I could recommend a television show to a person it would be this. It appeals to a larger audience; it has great animation and deeper meanings than what you see on the surface. Again, Marco Chacon says it best, “Avatar does just about everything it can do right.” (Chacon).

Works Cited

Avatar: the Last Airbender. Nickelodeon. 21 Feb 2005. Television.

Chacon, Marco. "Avatar The Last Airbender: The Complete Book 1 (Collector's Edition)
DVD Review." FlickDirect. N.p., 09 Jul 2010. Web. 21 Oct 2013.

“The Characteristics of Japanese Anime.” Anime-Commit. Anime-Commit. N.D. Web.
02 Nov 2013.

International Movie Database. IMDb. Web. 02 Nov 2013

Sanders, Adrien-Luc. “What’s The Difference Between Japanese and American
Animation?” About.com Animation. About.com. N.D. Web. 02 Nov 2013