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"Wichita van Rijkom gives "Avatar: The Last Airbender - Complete series" a 9."
Written by Wichita van Rijkom on 7 June 2023.
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Avatar: The Last Airbender - Complete series
In 2005, the American animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender appeared on Nickelodeon. In a short time, the story about the over hundred-year-old boy Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen in the US, Jimmy Lange in the Netherlands) managed to conquer many hearts. The series proved to be popular not only among children, but adults also appreciated it. This was followed by a (not so successful) live-action film, sequel series, computer games, toys and even a roller coaster in an amusement park. Still, the first three seasons of Avatar remain the most successful.
The world of Avatar is a combination of Asian influences mixed with Eskimo influences and fictional animal species from ancient times. The first book focuses on waterbending. When Katara (Mae Whitman), a budding waterbending master, and her brother Sokka (Jack DeSena) find Aang, they are very immature at first. All with their own goal, they set off on the back of flying buffalo Appa together with monkey Momo on the journey of a lifetime.
Where in most animated series the characters remain eternally young, in Avatar there seems to be much more growth (both mentally and physically) visible. The emotional background stories and different layers of the characters certainly help with this. The series may be made for children, but it tells an adult story about war and loss and what this does to a person. I think this is also the reason why it is popular with different age groups.
The second 'book' has the theme of earth. In it, we meet the blind, tomboyish girl named Toph (Jessie Flower), a very good earth master who helps Aang master this technique. The third 'book' forms the climax and tells the story of the final battle against fire master Ozai (Mark Hamill) and his daughter Azula (Grey DeLisle) who are trying to conquer the world with their war.
Although I had already seen some of the series, Avatar still intrigues me ten years later. That's why I was also curious about the DVD box. Unfortunately, the DVDs do not contain many extras. Only the last season contains some bonus material consisting of commentaries on some episodes and short films (in a slightly different art style). Interesting, especially the behind-the-scenes look at the engineering involved in making Avatar. But otherwise not very special. The image quality of the series is not very good during the first season. Fortunately, this gets better afterward and it certainly doesn't get in the way of the viewing pleasure!
It's not often that an animated series touches me like this one, but there were times when I was really watching with tears in my eyes. The depth makes Avatar a winner in its genre. It's a pity that 'only' three seasons were made. Yet at the same time this is perhaps also a good thing because the whole has not been milked too much. From Katara's feminist vision, coupled with a very powerful and admirable personality… To Sokka's humor and the love and friendships that grow during the adventures. Avatar has many different sides that together tell a beautiful and impressive story.
The four elements of water, earth, fire and air are central to The Complete 3 Book Collection of Avatar: The Last Airbender or the DVD box set of the series. Aang is the Avatar, the only person in the world who can control all four elements. Worldwide, different tribes live with their own specialism in a certain type of element. When Aang wakes up after a hundred years of absence, he appears to lack knowledge about the control of the other elements as an Airbender. To learn this, he decides to go on a journey in search of masters to help him, so that he can finally fulfill his task as an Avatar and save the world.The series may be made for children, but it tells an adult story about war and loss and what this does to a person.
The world of Avatar is a combination of Asian influences mixed with Eskimo influences and fictional animal species from ancient times. The first book focuses on waterbending. When Katara (Mae Whitman), a budding waterbending master, and her brother Sokka (Jack DeSena) find Aang, they are very immature at first. All with their own goal, they set off on the back of flying buffalo Appa together with monkey Momo on the journey of a lifetime.
© Nickelodeon
Where in most animated series the characters remain eternally young, in Avatar there seems to be much more growth (both mentally and physically) visible. The emotional background stories and different layers of the characters certainly help with this. The series may be made for children, but it tells an adult story about war and loss and what this does to a person. I think this is also the reason why it is popular with different age groups.
The second 'book' has the theme of earth. In it, we meet the blind, tomboyish girl named Toph (Jessie Flower), a very good earth master who helps Aang master this technique. The third 'book' forms the climax and tells the story of the final battle against fire master Ozai (Mark Hamill) and his daughter Azula (Grey DeLisle) who are trying to conquer the world with their war.
Prince Zuko (Dante Basco) is perhaps the most surprising character in Avatar. He is the exiled son of Fire Master Ozai. Together with his uncle Iroh (Mako in seasons one and two and Greg Baldwin in season three), he travels after the Avatar with the aim of capturing it and delivering it to his father. At first glance, he seems like the main villain of the series, but it soon becomes apparent that there is much more to the story of this wounded warrior.Avatar has many different sides that together tell a beautiful and impressive story.
Although I had already seen some of the series, Avatar still intrigues me ten years later. That's why I was also curious about the DVD box. Unfortunately, the DVDs do not contain many extras. Only the last season contains some bonus material consisting of commentaries on some episodes and short films (in a slightly different art style). Interesting, especially the behind-the-scenes look at the engineering involved in making Avatar. But otherwise not very special. The image quality of the series is not very good during the first season. Fortunately, this gets better afterward and it certainly doesn't get in the way of the viewing pleasure!
It's not often that an animated series touches me like this one, but there were times when I was really watching with tears in my eyes. The depth makes Avatar a winner in its genre. It's a pity that 'only' three seasons were made. Yet at the same time this is perhaps also a good thing because the whole has not been milked too much. From Katara's feminist vision, coupled with a very powerful and admirable personality… To Sokka's humor and the love and friendships that grow during the adventures. Avatar has many different sides that together tell a beautiful and impressive story.
© Nickelodeon
About author, Wichita van Rijkom
Wichita is a huge animal lover and 90’s kid who loves watching TV series and writing. Despite her age, she has been unfit for work for over fifteen years now. Watching TV series is a way to relax and have fun for her. That's what makes writing reviews for MySeries such a perfect hobby for her. In the past, she's also co-written a book about one of her health issues and has been writing reviews for MySeries since the beginning of 2013. English has always come natural to her because of her international contacts and past travels in her childhood. That's why she loves to write English reviews from time to time as well as Dutch reviews for MySeries.
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