TV Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender Season One (2005)

Avatar: The Last Airbender Season One (2005) created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko

In a world of elemental magic (though it's the classical elements (earth, air, fire, and water), not the periodic table ones), different nations focus on an individual element. For example, the Earth Kingdom has Earth-benders who can use special movements to control earth, shaping it or making it move or fly. The Fire Nation has spent one hundred years trying to take over the world. Part of their success was a surprise attack, part was the disappearance of the Avatar, an element-bender who can bend all four elements. As the story opens, two young teenagers, Sokka and Katara, from the Southern Water Tribe discover Aang, a young air-bender who has been frozen in an iceberg for a hundred years. He is the new incarnation of the Avatar but went into hiding for reasons explained in the first season. He is a very good air-bender but he needs to learn to bend the other elements before he fights Fire Lord Ozai. The young trio set off to the Northern Water Tribe in hopes of finding a water-bender to train Aang and Katara, who shows some talent for water-bending. She hasn't been trained since all the benders went off to war. 

The kids head north on Appa, a flying bison who was frozen with Aang. They travel across the world having various adventures along the way. They also come into conflict with the Fire Nation in two ways. Prince Zuko (a slightly older teenager) has been banished from the Fire Kingdom and wants to capture the Avatar to restore his honor. The official Fire Nation hunt is led by Commander Zhao, who has a large fleet and plenty of resources at his disposal to find the Avatar. Zuko and Zhao are both talented fire-benders, though Zuko still has a lot to learn. Zuko travels with his disgraced uncle Iroh, who provides some training and wisdom (and lots of comic relief).

This show is an amazing blend of world-building, character development, and storytelling. The various nations have their own color palates, styles of dress, and architecture that matches well with their specific element. Lots of animals are crosses or combinations of familiar animals, like turtle-ducks. The cast of characters all have their strengths and weaknesses and depth and history. The story slowly builds as the trio explores the world and finds out more about the Fire Nation's plans and the various reactions to the Fire Nation's aggressions, from appeasement to resistance. The story is engaging and interesting even for adults. It is a kids' show, so some humor is juvenile. But the quality of performances and writing more than makes it worth watching.

The animation style mimics Japanese anime. It's kid-friendly, so there's no overly buxom females who are scantily clad. In fact, the show presents very strong female characters and deals with sexism and bigotry in serious ways that kids can understand. The style suits the slightly unfamiliar world and the magical abilities of many of the characters.

Highly recommended. This is the best animated series I have seen (I am watching for the third time).