Avatar : The Last Airbender

[Roxy90]

*Begrudgingly re-types this whole post...  *

Anyone seen it?

'Tis a new show made and produced by Nicklelodeon, with the plot as follows.

In a lost age, the world is divided into four nations: Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. Within each nation, there is a remarkable order of men and women called the "Benders" who can learn to harness their inborn talent and manipulate their native element. Bending is a powerful form combining martial art and elemental magic.

In each generation, only one Bender is solely capable of controlling all four elements. That Bender is the Avatar. The Avatar is the spirit of the world manifests in human form. When the Avatar dies, it reincarnates into the next nation in the cycle. Starting with the mastery of his or her native element, the Avatar learns to bend all four elements. Throughout the ages, the countless incarnations of the Avatar have served to keep the four nations in harmony.

Then, the Firebenders attacked. Just as the world needed the Avatar the most, he mysteriously vanished. A hundred years later, the Fire Nation is near final victory in its ruthless war of world domination. The Air Nomads were destroyed, the Air Temples ravished, and all Airbender monks eradicated. The Water Tribes were raided and driven to the brink of extinction. The Earth Kingdom remains and fights a hopeless war against the Fire Nation. Many believe the Avatar was never reborn into the Air Nomads and the cycle is broken.

In the desolated South Pole, a lone Water tribe struggles to survive. It is here that the village's last remaining Waterbender Katara and her warrior brother Sokka rescue a strange 12-year-old boy named Aang who has been suspended in hibernation in an iceberg. The tribe soon discovers that Aang is not only an Airbender--the extinct race no one has seen in a century--but also the long lost Avatar. Now Katara and Sokka must safeguard the child Avatar in his journey to master all four elements and save the world from the Fire Nation.

Sounds complex...yes...yes..yes..

 I'm quite attracted to this show. IMO, it has quality writing, a great cast of characters, and the animation is superb. It has a sort've anime/Asian style to it, though not to the point whereas the characters are completely doing outrageous [yet funny] anime expressions.

[ Mwaha. Video clips. ]

http://avatarfans.net/clips/Book1-Opening.zip
http://avatarfans.net/clips/Book1Chapter2-SOTW.zip
http://avatarfans.net/clips/Book1Chapter3-SOTW.zip
http://avatarfans.net/clips/Book1Chapter6-SOTW.zip

[Marurun]

I've seen it but don't like it's storyline...

[BurkeWorld]

As soon as I read "Nicklelodeon" I stopped reading this post.

Burkey

[Roxy90]

*Shrug* Well hey, I dislike Nickelodeon too; but that didn't stop me from taking a look. I originally thought it was gonna be like another anime-wannabe show with degrading characters and such...something thats' become a moreso tradition with Nick [Only the bit of the 'degrading' part...- I don't know if they ever really tried an Asian-influenced toon before...until this, that is.] I watched a few episodes of it, and I must say; I've grown rather fond of it...I, personally, think it's a great show. But, if you want, feel free to hate it.

[BurkeWorld]

*Feels free to hate it.*

Awesome, I get to hate things without justification!

I love this world.

Burkey

[Roxy90]

Good. I'm glad you do.

[BurkeWorld]

Why thank you ^.~

Burkey

[SBaby]

I don't hate the show, but I wouldn't call it 'Anime Inspired'.  But then again, no US show can tuly be called that.  But it's close...  Oh, is it close...

[Blackcat]

Ren and Stimpy, Rocko modem life, Invader Zim and Fairy godparents, you missed all that?. Avatar is ok, lacks what I want in a Tv series(Lots  and lots of fighting) but is not bad.

[ApacheMan2K]

at least, it's not a cheap imitation like Marvin Mystery, Totally Spies, and W.I.T.C.H. Avatar is actually part Korean, and the two creators did a good deal of research to make this show interesting, and to implement all the Kung Fu-based motions that elemental benders use throughout the series.

[Methid Man]

From what I've seen and heard about the show, it does seem to do a good job of portraying Chinese/Korean culture and anything Kung-Fu related. I can tell they put a lot of effort into it. It would be unfair for a show like this to be completely ignored simply because it's on Nickelodeon. I think it deserves a good look, you never know.

The only gripe I have with this show so far is that the animation style almost looks like they're trying a little too hard to make it look like anime. The framerate sometimes unnecessarily gets a little too choppy even though we see it move more fluidly in other parts.

I wonder what the Japanese are thinking about all these anime-inspired cartoons...

-- Sam the Methid Man

[ApacheMan2K]

From what I've seen and heard about the show, it does seem to do a good job of portraying Chinese/Korean culture and anything Kung-Fu related. I can tell they put a lot of effort into it. It would be unfair for a show like this to be completely ignored simply because it's on Nickelodeon. I think it deserves a good look, you never know.

The only gripe I have with this show so far is that the animation style almost looks like they're trying a little too hard to make it look like anime. The framerate sometimes unnecessarily gets a little too choppy even though we see it move more fluidly in other parts.

I wonder what the Japanese are thinking about all these anime-inspired cartoons...

-- Sam the Methid Man

well, i wouldn't say it's an anime imitation. but, i wouldn't call it actual anime, either. you see, Avatar was animated by a top-rated Korean studio, DR. MOVIE. they've been involved in several anime projects, and they've made their own anime-like Korean animation as well.

[vodkagorblasky]

ive seen a couple of episodes, its pretty good actually.

[AsterCrow]

Ok, here's how I feel about all of this.

If you're gonna knock Avatar immediately because it's shown on Nickelodeon, or because you think it's trying to look like anime, or because there isn't any bloodshed and people getting torn apart in every episode, then be closed-minded like that, it's alright, I don't care. But if everyone keeps thinking that way they're gonna miss out on a lot of great stuff.

Keep in mind that when SPC came out anime was starting to get popular in the US (ex: Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z). It wasn't shown on a revered cartoon channel like CN. And there isn't any bloodshed or characters getting torn apart, despite the use of Samurai/Ninja weaponry. Not only that, the animation at times is downright bad compared to some, since there are a lot of still frames where only certain things like their mouthes are moving. (Please don't give me crap about these comments, you all know I LOVE SPC...I'm just trying to make a point.)

If you watch Avatar and don't like it, then at least you were open-minded enough to give it a try. My salute.

I watched the first episode by chance one night and instantly became addicted. I happen to love the animation, I love the history, the style, sweet animated effects and fighting techniques. I love the characters and I love the tension between them.

I see everywhere that people immediately turn it down because of Nick... but to those I say take it as it is. I think Nick doesn't deserve Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I won't be surprised if sometime in the future you catch it on Cartoon Network.

[Andy]

I never heard nor seen the series. But, when I have the chance to see I will figure it out whether I like it or not. In other words, I have no opinion on this.

Andy (The one who hasn't seen the show yet.)

[Valkyrie]

Yeah, one of my friends is a hard-core addict of this and to her, it's the greatest thing ever.
So I don't know for myself either.

[RSJ]

Avatar is a great show and one of the few things I really look forward to seeing every week.
I almost missed it due to it being on Nickelodeon, but thanks to YouTube I'm all caught up. ^^

[AsterCrow]

Good ole youtube, for when my torrenting sucks. I hate missing Avatar now, hehe...

[Flash Kid]

I'm still a kid but I think like an adult so it's safe for me to say, this is probably the best and most sensible show on Nickelodeon. The rest all seem to be meant for ADHD kids with no lives. I guess it's what people like these days.

FK

[sans soul]

I'm reviving this thread because I wanted to say that....

Nickelodeon just announced that starting July 14th, there will be a new episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender every night up to July 19th, which will end in a 2 hour series finale.

That gives everyone just under a month to catch up on all the episodes they haven't seen yet!

This is hands-down one of my all time favorite animated shows, ever. Such good animation, great story, awesome characters..I could go on, but I'll sound like way too much of a fangirl. ^_~

ALSO: Shyamalan has joined efforts with the producers of Avatar, and it looks like they're gonna be making a live action movie (or movies). o_o