Rating: * * * * *Be sure to check out the Honorary AMV for this series, located on the right-hand sidebar in 'Equinox Videos'!
Episode # - 57 (the last 4 episodes were coupled for a two-hour movie)
Movie # - 2 (including the 2010 Live Action movie)
Game # - 3
It's been one hundred years since the Fire Nation first made a deadly first strike on the Earth Kingdom, Water Tribes, and Air Nomads in an effort for complete domination, and the world has suffered greatly. Around the same time, the Avatar, a powerful spiritual being who controls all four elements and brings peace, vanished without a trace.
Now, in the current day, the Avatar has returned...in the form of a goofy twelve-year-old kid.
Aang was found by Katara and Sokka, siblings of the Southern Water Tribe, in an enormous iceberg. Having been frozen for one hundred years, he has no idea of the war or the condition of the world...or whereabouts of his people, the Air Nomads. Together, the trio, accompanied by Appa and Momo (the flying bison and lemur), must help Aang learn the elements and defeat the Fire Lord, restoring tranquility to everyone. Unfortunately, they must also avoid the banished Prince Zuko, who is bent on capturing the Avatar for the Fire Nation...and he'll do anything to do it.
Critically: For a children's cartoon, it's somewhat surprising how much detail was put into the creation of this show. Nowadays, you mostly get some neat lines or glossy shadings, and that's all fine and well if the storyline holds up, but this series really goes the extra mile for authenticity! Pictures are high quality, and the blends of colors can only be described as amazing! I'm also pleased with how cultural it is. The 'bending' uses actual styles of Kung Fu (each is explained in the Special Features of the DVD's), and props such as katanas, fans, staffs, etc. also help to make the action scenes more thrilling. As for characters, what impressed me the most was how smooth the personality developments were. Just in the first season, we see the main protagonist take on a more mature level (though thankfully keeping his lovable, easy-going side), as well as a more humorous nature toward the supporting characters (also, while continuing the initial moods that defined them). We see them learning, both physically and mentally, and can easily sympathize with their mistakes because the story gives us enough understanding of their reasoning.
Personally: I didn't catch this show from the beginning; at first, it was just a program that was on TV after school...something to waste time on before having to start on homework. It only took a couple of episodes before I was sucked in completely. To me, this series blows my mind! It uses the importance of responsibility and accepting yourself for who you are to the fullest, which is very inspirational. I found it refreshing that the characters were people of a younger age than normal, which leaves plenty of room for growth while still keeping to the teenage level. I also like how the series doesn't hold back on feeling: the character gets emotional, you're right along with him/her! The influence between the character and the viewer is very powerful! Needless to say, I now own the Box Set for each season.
Now, in the current day, the Avatar has returned...in the form of a goofy twelve-year-old kid.
Aang was found by Katara and Sokka, siblings of the Southern Water Tribe, in an enormous iceberg. Having been frozen for one hundred years, he has no idea of the war or the condition of the world...or whereabouts of his people, the Air Nomads. Together, the trio, accompanied by Appa and Momo (the flying bison and lemur), must help Aang learn the elements and defeat the Fire Lord, restoring tranquility to everyone. Unfortunately, they must also avoid the banished Prince Zuko, who is bent on capturing the Avatar for the Fire Nation...and he'll do anything to do it.
Critically: For a children's cartoon, it's somewhat surprising how much detail was put into the creation of this show. Nowadays, you mostly get some neat lines or glossy shadings, and that's all fine and well if the storyline holds up, but this series really goes the extra mile for authenticity! Pictures are high quality, and the blends of colors can only be described as amazing! I'm also pleased with how cultural it is. The 'bending' uses actual styles of Kung Fu (each is explained in the Special Features of the DVD's), and props such as katanas, fans, staffs, etc. also help to make the action scenes more thrilling. As for characters, what impressed me the most was how smooth the personality developments were. Just in the first season, we see the main protagonist take on a more mature level (though thankfully keeping his lovable, easy-going side), as well as a more humorous nature toward the supporting characters (also, while continuing the initial moods that defined them). We see them learning, both physically and mentally, and can easily sympathize with their mistakes because the story gives us enough understanding of their reasoning.
Personally: I didn't catch this show from the beginning; at first, it was just a program that was on TV after school...something to waste time on before having to start on homework. It only took a couple of episodes before I was sucked in completely. To me, this series blows my mind! It uses the importance of responsibility and accepting yourself for who you are to the fullest, which is very inspirational. I found it refreshing that the characters were people of a younger age than normal, which leaves plenty of room for growth while still keeping to the teenage level. I also like how the series doesn't hold back on feeling: the character gets emotional, you're right along with him/her! The influence between the character and the viewer is very powerful! Needless to say, I now own the Box Set for each season.
