Nickelodeon is well known for numerous animated series that have garnered massive fan bases. When Avatar: The Last Airbender debuted in 2005 instantly found its fan base and even spun off into a live action feature film and spin off series. Now Nickelodeon is bringing the series home with Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Complete Series to DVD.
In the series, the world is divided into four elemental nations: The Northern and Southern Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads. The Avatar upholds the balance between the nations, but everything changed when the Fire Nation invaded. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, can stop them. But when the world needs him most, he vanishes. A hundred years later Katara and Sokka discover the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang. Together they must help Aang master the elements and save the world. It is no wonder that this series has garnered such a huge following as it offers up everything you could want in a fantasy series. The early episodes keep it kind of light initially as they introduce the players, but as the show evolves the action does so with it. The attention to detail with the action sequences, most notably the martial arts side of it makes it stand out more so than just about any other show like it. It truly feels like an animated martial arts series and offers up a little bit of numerous styles while creating a style all its own. The fantasy elements help to keep it interesting and take the action to the next level with the use of their powers. These aspects feel like a throwback to the Kung Fu flicks of the 70s where they did the impossible, but with the animated setting they can take it even further. While there are some dark elements to the series they keep it light with the child innocence that Aang possess. This is a character trait that makes him feel like he doesn’t have what it takes to be this powerful character, but his actions say otherwise. He shifts in and out of the mentality of a child who just wants to play and discover life to that of a true warrior and it keeps the show moving at a much smoother pace.
The animation itself is beautiful to look at and detailed down to the smallest thing. They have crafted a well thought out and often complex series within an exciting fantasy world that often feels like it is out of a Studio Ghibli film. The unique creatures and tribes keep you reminded that this is not the normal world and keeps the lead characters on their toes. This element helps to transport the audience into this other place and takes any questionable aspects out of your mind because you realize here anything is possible. This collection features all 61 episodes of the three seasons on 16 discs with hours of bonus features including Behind the Scenes, Making Of featurettes, commentaries and more.
Join the war of the elements when Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Complete Series hits DVD on October 6th from Nickelodeon and Paramount Home Entertainment.
