Avatar: The Last Airbender

8.8
200524m

Production

Logo for Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Logo for DR Movie
Logo for Nickelodeon Productions

In a war-torn world of elemental magic, a young boy reawakens to undertake a dangerous mystic quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar, and bring peace to the world.

Available For Free On

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Trailers & Videos

Thumbnail for video: Avatar The Last Airbender 15th Anniversary Trailer [4K]

Avatar The Last Airbender 15th Anniversary Trailer [4K]

Thumbnail for video: "Avatar: The Last Airbender" Theme Song (HQ) | Episode Opening Credits | Nick Animation

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" Theme Song (HQ) | Episode Opening Credits | Nick Animation

Seasons

20 Episodes • Premiered 2005

Katara and Sokka (a brother and sister from the Southern Water Tribe) discover the Avatar (a 12-year-old Airbender boy named Aang) frozen in an iceberg. Together the three begin their journey to the North Pole to find a master waterbender so Aang can begin his Avatar training!

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 1: The Boy in the Iceberg

1. The Boy in the Iceberg

7.7

Two teenage siblings (Sokka and Katara) living in the South Pole discover a very strange boy (Aang), along with his pet flying bison Appa, in an iceberg. But can they trust him when he accidentally draws the war to their village's doorstep?

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 2: The Avatar Returns

2. The Avatar Returns

7.9

Katara and Sokka discover that Aang is the long-lost Avatar and must rescue him when a firebending prince named Zuko kidnaps him.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 3: The Southern Air Temple

3. The Southern Air Temple

8.1

Aang is excited about going home for the first time in one hundred years, but he is shocked to find out that the temple is deserted. Aang tells Sokka and Katara about his childhood as they explore the temple, but they soon discover something that Aang never expected. Meanwhile, Zuko must make repairs to his ship and the only way he can do it is to dock his ship at his rival's naval base.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 4: The Warriors of Kyoshi

4. The Warriors of Kyoshi

7.7

The gang arrives at Kyoshi Island and are captured by some Kyoshi warriors. When Aang reveals that he is the avatar, news quickly spreads out, eventually reaching Zuko, who then goes to Kyoshi Island to capture him.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 5: The King of Omashu

5. The King of Omashu

7.9

Aang's abilities as an airbender are challenged by a strange king.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 6: Imprisoned

6. Imprisoned

7.8

In a nearby Earth Village, the gang meets a teenage earthbender named Haru. This village lives in fear of the Fire Nation, for soldiers there capture any earthbenders they can find. After Haru is captured for earthbending, Katara is compelled to rescue him.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 7: The Spirit World: Winter Solstice (1)

7. The Spirit World: Winter Solstice (1)

7.9

Aang and friends visit a village being terrorized by an angry spirit. Iroh is captured by Earth Kingdom soldiers.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 8: Avatar Roku: Winter Solstice (2)

8. Avatar Roku: Winter Solstice (2)

8.5

To contact the spirit of the previous Avatar, Aang must reach a temple in the Fire Nation before the sun sets on the following day. There he will learn what he must do to restore balance to the world. Zuko must defy his banishment to follow Aang.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 9: The Waterbending Scroll

9. The Waterbending Scroll

7.7

After Katara attempts to teach Aang waterbending, but realizes that he is learning it much faster than she is, she is desperate to improve her abilities. When Katara inadvertently stumbles across a waterbending scroll that can help improve her abilities at a pirate’s store, she decides to steal it, realizing that she couldn’t hope to afford it.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 10: Jet

10. Jet

7.6

While traveling towards the North Pole, the group almost gets captured by the Fire Nation. However, when a charismatic young man and his band of rebels attack the Fire Nation camp and rescue them, they learn that they are trying to resist the Fire Nation’s motives to expand their territory. Katara and Aang really enjoy their time with the band of rebels, but Sokka soon discovers that they aren’t as noble as meets the eye.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 11: The Great Divide

11. The Great Divide

7.2

While on their way to the North Pole, Aang and his friends arrive at a giant canyon where two groups of refugees are bickering over who should get to go across. Aang decides to walk across with the two groups to ensure they don’t fight one another. However, he soon learns that the two tribes have been feuding for one hundred years and they both believe their actions are justified. But when the predators inside the canyon start to come out, Aang is stuck trying to defend both tribes from each other and the vicious wildlife.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 12: The Storm

12. The Storm

8.6

Sokka accepts a job for a fisherman who is looking for someone to help him out with his fishing. After the fisherman finds out Aang is the Avatar, Aang runs away in response to the fisherman's hostile reaction. When Katara finds Aang, he begins to reveal his life before he was frozen in the iceberg. Meanwhile, after Zuko gets into a fight with his crew, Iroh tells them about Zuko's complicated past, attempting to make both sides understand each other.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 13: The Blue Spirit

13. The Blue Spirit

8.6

While Aang, Katara and Sokka are traveling, Sokka gets a fever. Katara and Aang try to help Sokka, when Katara also catches the fever. It's up to Aang to go up on his own to save his two friends. But before he can get the medicine he is captured by the newly promoted Admiral Zhao and put in Zhao's fortress.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 14: The Fortuneteller

14. The Fortuneteller

7.8

When the group tries to help a man who is being attacked by a platypus-bear, they discover that the local town has a fortuneteller named Aunt Wu in it, who has been forecasting the town's fate for years. But when Sokka and Aang discover one of the fortuneteller's most vital predictions is dead wrong, they have to develop a plan to convince the stubborn townspeople that their beloved Aunt Wu was wrong.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 15: Bato of the Water Tribe

15. Bato of the Water Tribe

7.5

Aang feels neglected as Katara and Sokka reunite with Bato, an old friend of their father’s from the South Pole. They begin to reminisce on their times in the past while they wait for a message to arrive from their father. Aang believes Katara and Sokka will abandon him and go out to find their father should the message arrive. However, when the messenger gives Aang the message to give to Bato, Aang betrays his friends in a way Katara or Sokka could never imagine. However, when Zuko recruits a bounty hunter named June to track Aang down, his friendship is put to the test as he must deal with the fact that he betrayed his friends while defending himself from yet another fight.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 16: The Deserter

16. The Deserter

8.3

Aang and his friends go to a Fire Nation town so that Aang can witness some firebending, but their plan soon goes awry when it’s discovered that he is the Avatar. Fortunately, he's rescued by an individual who serves a firebending master named Jeong Jeong who has abandoned the Fire Nation, so Aang decides to use this time to attempt to learn firebending. The firebending master, however, seems reluctant to teach Aang.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 17: The Northern Air Temple

17. The Northern Air Temple

7.7

When Aang and his friends hear rumors about surviving airbenders, they decide to stop by the Northern Air Temple on their way to the North Pole to see for themselves. What they find is a bunch of people who are not airbenders, but have mastered the art of gliding; though this upsets Aang because they have been defacing the temple. However, there was one part of the temple where nobody has been able to enter, and what Aang and his friends discover inside spells oncoming conflict.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 18: The Waterbending Master

18. The Waterbending Master

8.2

When Aang tries to find the north pole, he is found by the north pole instead. As they are taken there, Aang and Katara are eager to find a waterbending master, only to discover that girls are not allowed to learn waterbending.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 19: The Siege of the North (1)

19. The Siege of the North (1)

8.5

Zhao begins to launch his attack against the Northern Water Tribe. As the walls of the prestiged city begin to fall, the Avatar taps into the spirit world and seeks the help of one of the oldest spirits, in hopes of saving one of the most prominent areas of the world.

Still image for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 episode 20: The Siege of the North (2)

20. The Siege of the North (2)

9.0

Aang returns from the spirit world to a big surprise. Meanwhile, Zhao and his forces continue to press deeper into the Northern Water Tribe. Iroh makes a powerful stand and Zuko struggles to keep his plan intact.

Cast

Photo of Zach Tyler Eisen

Zach Tyler Eisen

Aang (voice)

Photo of Mae Whitman

Mae Whitman

Katara (voice)

Photo of Jack De Sena

Jack De Sena

Sokka (voice)

Photo of Dante Basco

Dante Basco

Zuko (voice)

Photo of Jessie Flower

Jessie Flower

Toph Beifong (voice)

Photo of Dee Bradley Baker

Dee Bradley Baker

Appa / Momo (voice)

More Like This

Reviews

T

The_1st_Avatar

10/10

Amazingly good and great and cool and....(ect)

R

rmorell1

10/10

Still holds up almost 20 years later. The animation is still so rich and impactful, and perfectly matched to the sound effects. Even the story and jokes hold up like a fine wine. It would make sense to reboot/remake this if it had aged poorly and needed a refresh, but why attempt to mimic perfection? The only acceptable remake I still hope for would be a 1:1 remake with even higher quality animation, but I don't think the industry has any intention of staying true to the original work with all these remakes. If only they might have the original thought of telling a different story inside the avatar universe, instead of trying to re-tell perfection with Aang's story.

W

wuffmoviecritic

10/10

Just watched the new Netflix adaption and it's ok, but just made me want to rewatch this!

P

Percy

10/10

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

**Character Overview:**

The characters are well fleshed out and developed, we get to see everyone change through the show. Aang is an amazing character, we see him struggling with being the avatar. While he is the most powerful bender, he is still a kid and that causes a lot of problems. There are plenty of moments where Aang just wants to make memories of normal childhood. We also get to see some other moments where he truly shines as the avatar. Not to mention his monk up-bringing, which conflicts even more with the role of the Avatar. Which over time builds his character and his desires, and some amazing struggle points for his character to overcome.

His relationship with Katara also grounds his character a lot. This is a more human side of him, he has the struggles as we all do. Trying to find the right words and moments, and it is another way we get to see Aang grow and mature as a character.

Katara becomes a fantastic waterbender throughout the show, it was incredible to see her grow from just a beginner to a master. This is probably my favorite portrayal of characters skill journey. I think another aspect I liked about her character is her confidence, as the show goes she gets more confident. I would even say too confident at times, and she does a find a balance later on. Like most teens she has difficulty controlling her emotions, and overall I loved seeing her journey growing into a better person.

Sokka embracing that he isn't weak as non-bender. I think through the whole show we see him underestimate himself, but in the final season we truly see him gain more confidence in himself. That he can be as strong and as helpful as a bender. His relationship with Suki specifically is my favorite one in this show. They helped each other grow and learn, and both were pushed to change something critical about their character. Sokka finally realizing that girls can be just as strong as guys, and Suki decided it was time to help people in the war. They can't be separated forever, they need to help everyone not just their island.

Toph learning to not be ashamed to ask for help and in general learning to be a team player. I think Toph is just an interesting view on the Avatar world, she can't see but that has never held her back. She is, well as she says, the greatest earthbender. While I don't have a lot to say, she is very valuable to the show and to the story.

Zuko does not need an introduction. His character has been discussed and dissected more times than I can count. However, seeing him change and grow as a person is always incredible, it never fails to make me cry. He isn't "pure" evil from the beginning, he is just following the wrong lead. There are so many big and small moments that change Zuko a lot. We see him be confused a lot in the show, and I really love that as it just paints him as a normal person. His relationship with his uncle Iroh is just so endearing as well.

Iroh is a special character for me. Going from somebody who I wanted in my life to someone I want to be in life. He is calm, smart, and knows when the right time it is to speak up and do something. We all wish to be wise, but only few will be wise enough so that others can learn from you.

**World Building:**

The world of the Avatar is a beauty to be explored. It highlights the differences between each kingdoms, how their cultures differ and the strength and weaknesses they gain from it. The animals are combinations of real world animals, so they feel familiar and different at the same time. Even the geography of each region is distinct, just looking at a picture you will be able to tell where you currently are. There so many details sprinkled through the show that its a joy to learn about the world and its people. The way the world is painted through the show is also a big reason it feels so alive. We always hear about some places or cities, we might visit or not. In that way the show keeps you curious about it's world and it's people.

**Animation/OST:**

I am by no means a pro at either but I do believe both of these were well-executed in the show. The animation has a lot of details, when you take a look at benders of different skill levels, their body movement is different which is a really cool detail. The animation is consistent and does a really nice job at portraying the fights, you will feel those hits and punches. Overall for a show that came out in the 2000s, the animation is top-notch. The soundtrack was really good too, it carried the emotion of the show well. There are many memorable tunes, such as the fire nation track. Stuff like that, makes the soundtrack so much harder hitting.

**Overall:**

I recommend this show to everyone, it has everything you could ask for. The first half of season 1 might be a bit slow, but it picks up so quickly. It will be hard not to watch it one sitting, or a weekend.

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