The World is Imbalanced in "Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender"

In the pantheon of Nickelodeon franchises, Avatar: The Last Airbender stood out from the rest. While many of the network's shows became iconic for their humor, animation techniques, and catchy theme songs, Avatar arrived with a different philosophy. The series embraced a heavy anime influence, attempted serialization for the first time on the network, and featured characters who were complicated and flawed—even the heroes. While it would be a stretch to call it one of Nickelodeon's biggest ratings successes, it has unquestionably become one of their most beloved series. Despite a brief three-season run (followed by a four-season spin-off), it has long been celebrated as one of the smartest children's shows ever to air on TV.

After a failed live-action attempt by Oscar-nominated director M. Night Shyamalan that left moviegoers... let's be generous and say "cold," Paramount decided to make it up to fans by announcing a full-length animated feature that would continue the original story. After several delays, Avatar: Aang the Last Airbender has finally arrived, and those disappointed by the live-action version are, I suspect, going to be much, much happier with the results this time around. Taking place years after the television series finale, the film follows an older Aang, who spends his days searching for artifacts from the long-extinct Air Nomads while helping his friends build a new era of peace between the nations.

Though he may have brought harmony to the world, the survivor's guilt of being the last of his people continues to haunt him, fueling his determination to preserve their history. During one of these expeditions, Aang discovers a map leading to a legendary staff said to possess the power to create new Airbenders, giving him hope that his civilization might one day be reborn. Alongside a mysterious Airbender named Tagah, who has spent many years frozen in ice and provides... complications in the story, Aang and his friends embark on another epic adventure. As longtime fans would expect, the journey is filled with spectacular elemental battles, gorgeous 2D animation, and Oscar-worthy music that reminds audiences why the original series became so beloved.

Even with the characters all grown up (and acting accordingly), they are still the gang fans of the show fell in love with in the first place. The story moves briskly and never drags. The humor may still be random, but it works in its own ‘Avatar’ way despite how distracting this should be in concept. As with the TV show, the emotional arc is what drives the conflict, and it does so in a way that is unexpectedly mature for your typical PG-rated family film. There’s even a new antagonist who is…alright, not exactly memorable, but is at the very least very competent and threatening, who also happens to be at the center of some of the movie's best action sequences.

Speaking of action sequences, the visual direction of said sequences is far beyond anything the television series could have achieved, with sweeping camera movement and vibrant colors that make Shyamalan's film—and, to a lesser extent, Netflix's live-action series—look positively lifeless by comparison. If you needed an example of how powerful animation can be in staging action, Avatar: Aang the Last Airbender is excellent proof. Despite the twenty-year gap since the series finale, the filmmakers pick up the story without missing a beat. It serves as a wonderful love letter to the franchise, and I suspect longtime fans are going to adore it.  That makes Paramount's decision to abandon a theatrical release both more understandable and all the more disappointing. Originally planned for a wide theatrical release, the film was ultimately shifted to Paramount+.

Thankfully, I was able to see it on the big screen during one of its Oscar-qualifying screenings, resulting in an experience I can only describe as exhilarating. Even if the story is understandably constrained by its ninety-minute runtime instead of an entire television season, there is no denying that this is easily the coolest animated film Nickelodeon has released since The Adventures of Tintin and Rango. Sadly, the streaming release makes more sense than I wish it did. Quality aside, Avatar: Aang the Last Airbender assumes viewers are already invested in the world and mythology of Avatar. If this were James Cameron's Avatar, that likely wouldn't be much of a problem.

Some may point to Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle as a recent example of a franchise film requiring prior knowledge. The difference is that audiences only had to bridge a single year-long gap. Asking general audiences to return to a television series that has been dormant for nearly twenty years is a far greater challenge. That being said, I still believe a modest theatrical release to test audience interest would have been a better compromise than abandoning the theater release altogether. While I understand the studio's concerns about the box office, I also believe fans were robbed of the opportunity to experience this film in the way it was clearly meant to be seen.

Whether viewed on the big screen or at home, though, Avatar: Aang the Last Airbender is a worthy continuation of the franchise for longtime fans. If you haven't watched the original series, however, this won't be nearly as welcoming, and you should familiarize yourself with Aang's world before diving in. Before you object too much, don't think of this as, "Man, I have to watch the show before I can watch this movie." Instead, think of it as, "I get to watch one of the greatest animated series ever made before enjoying this fun new adventure." Viewed from that perspective, the experience will be all the more rewarding.