Written by: Jason Koop

Running from 2005-08 on Nickelodeon, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a series that needs little to no introduction to most. And indeed, upon watching it for the first time this year (shout out to box DVD sets!), Karlissa and I can certainly see why. The characters are funny and engaging on multiple levels. The animation is quite simply gorgeous, colourful and expressive. And the overarching story, while relatively simple, has its share of twists and turns that keep the audience engaged from the opening episode to the grand finale.

Following the adventures of Aang (the titular main character) and his friends – and some enemies – the world feels very much lived in. Like there is much more going on than what is shown. Its inhabitants have lives that, while they might not matter much to the show’s story, feel like more than just cardboard cutouts.

And while the overarching world stakes are high – Aang and his friends must stop the Fire nation from taking over the world – it doesn’t inherently lessen the more personal moments, moments of growth that occur during the show’s run.

Unfortunately, the story can feel meandering at times, where the audience is left to wonder why we are being pulled into side stories/quests. But, by and large even the side stories are a positive, as they serve as enhancers to the world as a whole.

The animation, while decidedly western, does borrow a lot from Japanese anime. From character reactions to fight sequences to even its spirituality. And while the last one might cause some to bristle at it, overall I feel like it enhances the show and differentiates it from a lot of western-made action-adventure series. It’s not afraid to get super silly at times, or equally somber and reflective, and it manages to pull both off very well.

Then there’s the action sequences. Oh my. This is where its anime influences really shine. They are epic, martial art-infused sequences, that manage to feel both artistic and impactful. And thankfully, they rarely seem to happen without being tied to something going on with a character during them, so they don’t seem gratuitous.

While neither Karlissa nor myself can say that this show is one of our favourites that we will be going out of our way to re-watch, both of us can safely say that it was a fun, engaging ride from start to finish and we are glad to have experienced it.

Rating: 3 out of 4 elements