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{{for|the upcoming live action film based on the series|The Last Airbender}}
{{pp-move-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Infobox Television
|show_name = Avatar: The Last Airbender
|image = ]
|caption = ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' logo
|show_name_2 = Avatar: The Legend of Aang
|genre = ], ]
|creator = ], ]
|writer = ], ], ], ]
|director = ], ], ], ], ]
|voices = ], ], ], ], ], ]<small> (Season 1-2)</small>, ]<small> (Season 3)</small>, ]
|theme_music_composer =
|composer = ]
|country = United States
|language = ]
|num_seasons = 3
|num_episodes = 61
|list_episodes = List of Avatar: The Last Airbender episodes
|executive_producer = ], ], ]
|runtime = 24 minutes (On average)
|channel = ]<br />]
|picture_format = ] ] (])
|first_aired = February 21, 2005
|last_aired = July 19, 2008
|website =
|imdb_id =
|tv_com_id =
}}
'''''Avatar: The Last Airbender''''' (also known as '''''Avatar: The Legend of Aang''''')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nick.co.uk/avatar |title=Nick.co.uk : Avatar: The Legend of Aang |publisher=Nickelodeon |accessdate=2009-01-07}}</ref> is an ] ] ] that aired for ] on ] and the ]. The series was created and produced by ] and ], who served as ]s along with ]. ''Avatar'' is set in an ]-influenced world<ref name="NickMagInterview1">{{cite journal|last=DiMartino |first=Michael Dante |coauthors=Konietzko, Bryan |title=In Their Elements |journal=Nickelodeon Magazine |page=6 |year=2006 |issue=Winter 2006}}</ref> of ] and ]. The show drew on elements from ]n, ]n, and ], making it a mixture of ] and ].


'''''Avatar: The Last Airbender''''' is awsome and if you dont wach it you are a jack ass. :)
The series follows the adventures of the main protagonist ] and his friends, who must save the world by defeating the evil Fire Lord and ending the destructive war with the Fire Nation.<ref name="DemographicandPlot">{{cite web|url=http://www.mnightfans.com/element-of-shyamalan-in-airbender/ |title=Element of Shyamalan in "Airbender" |date=2007-01-09 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref> The ] first aired on February 21, 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/objects/142/14228011.html |title= The Boy in the Iceberg |accessdate=2008-07-21 |work= Avatar: The Last Airbender |publisher=IGN |date=2005-02-21}}</ref> and the series concluded with a widely-lauded ] on July 19, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/detail/tv-show.aspx?tvobjectid=194673&more=ucepisodelist&episodeid=8082181 |title= Sozin's Comet |accessdate=2008-07-21 |work= Avatar: The Last Airbender |publisher= ]}}</ref> The show is now legally available from the following sources: on ], the ], the ], the ], and its home on Nickelodeon.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=bit022607.htm |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20080120150858/http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=bit022607.htm |archivedate=2008-01-20 |title=BitTorrent Launches Download Platform |accessdate=2007-03-19 |publisher=worldscreen |date=2007-02-26}}</ref>

''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' was popular with both audiences and critics,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/tracking/viewer.html?tid=8866&ref_id=28841&ref_type=101&tag=story_list;title;2 |title=Aang the Avatar, our kids' newest hero |accessdate=2006-12-10 |last=Fitzgerald |last=Tony |date=2005-06-10 |work=TV.com Tracking |publisher=Media Life}}</ref> garnering 5.6 million viewers on its best-rated showing and receiving high ratings in the ] lineup, even outside its 6–11-year-old ].<ref name="DemographicandPlot" /><ref>{{cite journal|journal=TVGuide |date=December 18&nbsp;– 24, 2006 |title=In Brief: Avatar's Big Finish |page=12}}</ref> ''Avatar'' has been nominated for and won awards from the ], the ] and the primetime ], among others. The first season's success prompted Nickelodeon to order second<ref name="secondseason">{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-24-2006/0004266998&EDATE= |title=Article on Launch of Avatar Card Game |accessdate=2006-12-03 |author=Carlsbad |date=2006-01-24 |publisher=PR Newswire}}</ref> and third<ref name="as_S3airdate">A third season consisting of twenty-one episodes began airing on September 21, 2007</ref> seasons. The first part of a movie trilogy titled '']'' is expected to be released on July 2, 2010.

Merchandise based on the series includes scaled ]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shop.nickjr.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2426272&cp=2060004 |title=Avatar: Toys & Games |work=The Nickelodeon Shop |publisher=Nickelodeon, Inc. |accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref> a ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.upperdeck.com/avatar/en/interface.aspx |title=Avatar Trading Card Game |accessdate=2008-03-24 |publisher=Nickelodeon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/22469 |title=Avatar: The Last Airbender Trading Card Game |accessdate=2008-03-24 |publisher=BoardGameGeek}}</ref> three video games based on the ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nick.com/games/nick_video_games/avatar/lastAirBender/ |title=Avatar: The Last Airbender Video Game |accessdate=2008-03-22 |work=Nick.com |publisher=Nickelodeon}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avatartheburningearth.com/ |title=Avatar: The Last Airbender&nbsp;— The Burning Earth |accessdate=2008-03-13 |format=Flash |publisher=Nickelodeon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wii.ign.com/objects/905/905219.html |title=IGN.com: Avatar: The Burning Earth |accessdate=2008-03-13 |publisher=IGN}}</ref> and ] seasons, ]s distributed by ], and two ] sets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2006/8/21-44 |title=THQ Announces Games Convention |accessdate=2006-12-03 |author=Jim Cordeira |date=2006-08-21 |publisher=Gaming Age}}</ref>

==Series synopsis==
{{main article|List of Avatar: The Last Airbender episodes}}

===Setting===
One hundred years before the start of the series, a 12-year-old Airbender ] learns that he is the new Avatar. Fearful of the heavy responsibilities of stopping a continuous world war, coupled with the coming separation from his beloved mentor Monk Gyatso, Aang flees from home on his flying bison ]. During a fierce storm, they crash into the ocean, and Aang's Avatar state freezes them with waterbending in a state of ] inside an ].

===Season One (Book One: Water)===
{{main article|Avatar: The Last Airbender (season 1)}}
After being frozen in an iceberg, Aang and Appa are awoken a hundred years later by two siblings of the Southern Water Tribe, ] and ]. Aang learns that the Fire Nation started a war a hundred years ago, just after his disappearance. The Fire Nation launched a genocidal attack on the Air Nomads, starting the war and driving Aang's entire nation to extinction making him "The Last Airbender". He realizes that he must fulfill his destiny of becoming the Avatar and return the balance to the world by defeating the Fire Nation army. Aang sets out to master the other three elements: Water, Earth, and Fire. With Katara and Sokka, Aang decides to head to the North Pole to find a Waterbending master.

Aang travels to a Crescent Island in the Fire Nation after contacting Avatar Roku's dragon animal guide in the spirit world. Following the instruction from Roku's dragon, he travels to the Crescent Island to a Fire-Sage temple wherein he contacts Roku on the winter solstice. Roku tells Aang that he must master all four elements and end the war before the next summer, as ] will pass the world after a hundred years. Fire Lord Ozai will end the war using this comet, an additional power source that will make the fire benders even stronger. The comet was named after Ozai's Grandfather, Sozin, who also used the coming of the comet to start the war, and deal a deadly first strike to the other nations.

For most of their journey to the North Pole, the group is pursued by ], a banished Fire Nation prince and son of ], and by Commander Zhao, an ambitious naval officer who also wants to capture the Avatar to further his own ambitions. Zuko is obsessed with capturing Aang to restore his honor and his place in the Fire Nation throne; he was banished for speaking out of turn in a war meeting and refusing to fight his father in an ''agni kai'' (literally a 'fire duel'). Zuko was accompanied by his uncle,], a wise and kindly general who was supposed to be the successor to the Fire Nation throne before it was usurped by his younger brother Ozai. Zuko and Iroh were the first to discover that the Avatar is still alive, but decides to keep this information secret from Commander Zhao. Their suspicious actions piques the interest of Zhao, who also discovers that the Avatar is still alive. Zhao prevents Zuko and Iroh from pursuing the Avatar while starting a search of his own. The Fire Lord, seeing Zhao's zest in the pursuit, promotes the commander to Admiral status, making him in charge of the operation to capture the Avatar.

When the Avatar reaches the Northern Water Tribe along with Sokka and Katara, he is trained in the art of ] by Master Pakku. When the Fire Nation attacks the North Pole, Aang enters the Avatar state and destroys their fleets of ships after restoring balance to the stolen Moon Goddess. The Season ends with the group having destroyed Zhao's attempts at conquering the North Pole.

===Season Two (Book Two: Earth)===
{{main article|Avatar: The Last Airbender (season 2)}}
After leaving the North Pole and mastering Waterbending, Aang travels to the Earth Kingdom to master Earthbending. Their initial plan was to learn under Bumi, king of the Earth Kingdom city of Omashu, but discover that he and Omashu have been captured by the Fire Nation and Bumi is waiting for the right time to strike. Searching for a new Earthbending teacher, the group meets ], a blind Earthbending prodigy who becomes Aang's second teacher. The heroes discover information about an upcoming ] which would leave the Fire Nation powerless and open to invasion. They struggle to reach the Earth King with this vital information, but are detoured by ]'s kidnapping. ], Zuko's sister, and her two friends ] and ] chase the group as they struggle to reach ], the Earth Kingdom capital. Azula engineers a plan that allows the Fire Nation complete control over Ba Sing Se and the rest of the Earth Kingdom, and destroys any hope of a large-scale invasion of the Fire Nation. Azula is believed to have killed the Avatar using lightning while Aang was in the Avatar state, and there is no hope left. In reality she disaligned his seventh chakra, thus blocking the Avatar state.

Zuko deals with internal conflict as he and Iroh secede from the Fire Nation, settle in the Earth Kingdom, and disguise themselves as refugees. After a brief period of reformation, Zuko helps Azula defeat Aang and is allowed to return back to the Fire nation as a re-instated prince.

===Season Three (Book Three: Fire)===
{{main article|Avatar: The Last Airbender (season 3)|Sozin's Comet: The Final Battle}}
The group recovers from the fall of ], and from Aang's injury, travel to the planned invasion site. On the day of the solar eclipse, Aang's group and a smaller band of warriors launch a smaller invasion, which ultimately fails. Zuko confronts his father and defects from the Fire Nation. After a series of events, he manages to gain the trust of the protagonists and becomes Aang's firebending teacher. Aang and Zuko unlock the firebending secrets of the "Sun Warriors", Zuko helps Katara find the man who killed her mother, and Sokka and Zuko travel to a Fire Nation prison to rescue Sokka's father and ].

On the day of Sozin's Comet, Fire Lord Ozai harnesses the comet's power to start a genocidal campaign to destroy the rest of the world. Aang and his friends face the self-proclaimed "Phoenix King" Ozai, Azula (now crowned as the new Fire Lord by Ozai), and the Fire Nation army. Aang confronts and defeats Ozai while the Order of the White Lotus takes back Ba Sing Se from the Fire Nation. At the same time, Zuko is incapacitated by Azula (while protecting Katara), whom Katara then defeats. Aang battles with Ozai, and, in the Avatar State, almost kills him before restraining himself and instead calls upon the lost art of Energybending to confiscate his bending abilities. Zuko becomes the next Fire Lord, and, alongside Aang, brings harmony to the world.

==Production==
].]]
''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' was co-created and produced by ] and ] at Nickelodeon Animation Studios in ]. According to Bryan Konietzko, the program was conceived in the spring of 2001 when he took an old sketch of a balding, middle-aged man and re-imagined the character as a child.<ref name="NickMagInterview1" /> Konietzko drew the character herding bison in the sky, and showed the sketch to Mike DiMartino. At the time, DiMartino was studying a documentary about explorers trapped in the ].

Konietzko described their early development of the concept: {{cquote|We thought, "There's an air guy along with these water people trapped in a snowy wasteland... and maybe some fire people are pressing down on them..."|Bryan Konietzko<ref name="NickMagInterview1" />}}The co-creators successfully pitched the idea to Nickelodeon ] and ] Eric Coleman just two weeks later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=3428 |title=It's Elementary -- Avatar: The Last Airbender |last=Clark |first=Craig J. |date=2007-10-17 |publisher=Animation World Magazine, Inc. |accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref>

The show was first revealed to the public in a teaser reel at ] 2004,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nick.com/all_nick/tv_supersites/video.jhtml?show_id=ava&clip=16 |title=Avatar: The Last Airbender Sneak Peak |accessdate=2006-12-10 |publisher=Nickelodeon}}</ref> and aired February 21, 2005. In the United States, the first two episodes of the series were shown together in a one-hour premiere event. A second twenty-episode season ran from March 17, 2006 through December 1.<ref name="secondseason"/> A third and final season, beginning September 21, 2007, featured twenty-one episodes rather than the usual twenty.<ref name="as_S3airdate" /> The final four episodes were packaged as a two-hour movie.

===Premise===
in four." The characters of the four lands are 水善 (Water Peaceful), 土強 (Earth Strong), 火烈 (Fire Fierce), and 气和 (Air Harmony). The phrase at the bottom, 天下一匡, reads "correct ]".]]
''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' takes place in a world that is home to humans, fantastic animals, and spirits. Human civilization is divided into four nations: the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Air Nomads, and the Fire Nation. Each nation has its own natural element, on which it bases its society. Within each nation exists an order called "Benders" who have the ability to manipulate the eponymous ] of their nation. The show’s creators based each Bending art on a style of martial arts. The Bending types are Waterbending, Earthbending, Firebending, and Airbending.<ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml">{{cite web|url=http://www.nick.com/shows/avatar/index.jhtml|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071023195043/http://www.nick.com/shows/avatar/index.jhtml|archivedate=2007-10-23 |title=Nickelodeon's Official Avatar: The Last Airbender Flash Site |accessdate=2006-12-02 |publisher=Nick.com}}</ref>

The world yields one person who is capable of bending all four elements, the Avatar, the spirit of the planet manifested in human form. When an Avatar dies, he or she is ] into the next nation in the Avatar Cycle. The Avatar Cycle parallels the seasons: autumn for the Air Nomads, winter for the Water Tribe, spring for the Earth Kingdom and summer for the Fire Nation.<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Southern Air Temple |airdate=2005-02-25 |season=1 |number=3 |credits=Director: Lauren MacMullan; Writer: Michael Dante DiMartino |series=Avatar: The Last Airbender |network=Nickelodeon}}</ref> Legend holds the Avatar must master each bending art in order, starting with his native element. This can sometimes be compromised when the situation requires it, as Aang demonstrates in the show. For the Avatar, learning to bend the element opposite his native element can be extremely difficult. This is because opposing Bending arts are based on opposing fighting styles and disciplines. Firebending and Waterbending are opposites, as are Earthbending and Airbending.<ref name="Bitter Work">{{cite episode|title=Bitter Work |airdate=2006-06-02 |season=2 |number=9 |credits=Director: Ethan Spaulding; Writer: Aaron Ehasz |series=Avatar: The Last Airbender |network=Nickelodeon}}</ref>

The Avatar possesses a unique power called the Avatar State, which endows the Avatar with the knowledge and abilities of all past Avatars and acts as a self-triggering ], although it can be made subject to the will of the user through various methods, such as extensive trial and training (such as Avatar Roku), or if he/she opens his/her bodily ]s.<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Avatar State |airdate=2006-03-17 |season=2 |number=1 |credits=Director: Giancarlo Volpe; Writers: Aaron Ehasz, Elizabeth Welch Ehasz, Tim Hedrick, John O'Bryan |series=Avatar: The Last Airbender |network=Nickelodeon}}</ref> If an Avatar is killed in the Avatar State, the reincarnation cycle will be broken, and the Avatar will cease to exist.<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Library |airdate=2006-06-14 |season=2 |number=10 |credits=Director: Giancarlo Volpe; Writer: John O'Bryan |series=Avatar: The Last Airbender |network=Nickelodeon}}</ref> Through the ages, countless incarnations of Avatar have served to keep the four nations in harmony, and maintain world order.<ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml"/> The Avatar serves as the bridge between the physical world and the ], allowing him or her to solve problems that normal benders cannot.<ref name="The Spirit World">{{cite episode|title=The Spirit World (Winter Solstice, Part 1) |airdate=2005-04-08 |season=1 |number=7 |credits=Director: Lauren MacMullan; Writer: Aaron Ehasz |series=Avatar: The Last Airbender |network=Nickelodeon}}</ref>

==Cultural influences==
''Avatar'' is notable for borrowing extensively from ] and mythology to create its ]. The show's character designs are heavily influenced by ]; the show, however, is not considered an "anime" because of its origination in the United States. Explicitly stated influences include ] and ], ], ], ], ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nicksplat.com/Whatsup/200510/12000135.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071217111256/http://www.nicksplat.com/Whatsup/200510/12000135.html |archivedate=2007-12-17 |title=Interview With The Creators |accessdate=2006-12-02 |date=2005-10-12 |publisher=NickSplat.com}}</ref> and ].<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/28/arts/television/28lass.html?ei=5090&en=2d9845c5b0133bb9&ex=1282881600&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all |title=Kung Fu Fightin' Anime Stars, Bo |accessdate=2006-12-02 |author=Mark Lasswell |date=2005-08-25 |publisher=New York Times}}</ref> The production staff employs a cultural consultant, Edwin Zane, to review scripts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.nytimes.com/person/537590/Edwin-Zane/filmography |title=Edwin Zane - Filmography |accessdate=2009-02-14 |publisher=New York Times}}</ref>

Traditional ] styles are used for nearly all the writing in the show. For each instance of calligraphy, an appropriate style is used, ranging from ] (more archaic) to ].<ref name="calligraphy.html">{{cite web|url=http://www.musogato.com/avatar/calligraphy.html |title=Calligraphy Writing In Avatar |accessdate=2006-12-02 |author=KTChong |publisher=Distant Horizon}}</ref> The show employs calligrapher Siu-Leung Lee as a consultant and translator.<ref name="nytimes"/>

The choreographed martial art bending moves were profoundly affected by Asian cinema.<ref name="NickMagInterview1" /> In an interview, Bryan revealed that, "Mike and I were really interested in other epic 'Legends & Lore' properties, like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, but we knew that we wanted to take a different approach to that type of genre. Our love for Japanese Anime, Hong Kong action & Kung Fu cinema, yoga, and Eastern philosophies led us to the initial inspiration for Avatar."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/818/818284p1.html |title=IGN: Interview: Avatar's Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino |accessdate=2007-09-24 |date=2007-09-06 |publisher=IGN}}</ref>

===Avatar===
The term "]" comes from the ] word ''Avatāra'', (]: {{lang|sa|अवतार}}), which means "descent"; its roots are ''ava'', "down," and ''tri'', "to pass." In the Hindu scriptures, ''avatara'' signifies the descent of Divinity into flesh. One who attains union with Spirit and then returns to earth to help mankind is called an avatar. The ]s that appear at the top of the show's title card mean "the divine medium who has descended upon the mortal world."<ref name="calligraphy.html" />

When ] was young, he unknowingly revealed that he was the Avatar when he chose four toys out of thousands, each of which were the childhood toys of the previous Avatars. In ], there is a similar test for reincarnations of a ] ]. In ''Magic and Mystery in Tibet'', ] writes that "a number of objects such as ], ritualistic implements, books, tea-cups, etc., are placed together, and the child must pick out those which belonged to the late ''tulku'', thus showing that he recognizes the things which were ''theirs'' in their previous life."<ref>David-Neel, Alexandra. ''Magic and Mystery in Tibet''. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1971 (ISBN 0-486-22682-4), p. 124</ref> Each successor is expected to show signs of continuity with the previous Avatar, such as being born within a week of the death.<ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml"/>

===Elements===
<!-- Do not mention any specific classical ideology as the influential source unless you have verifiable proof. No "missing fifth element."-->
''Avatar'' draws on the four ]s common to most ] (rather than the five ]) for its bending arts: ], ], ] and ]. Although each has its own variation, most ancient philosophies incorporate these four elements in some way: examples include the classical ], ], and ] elemental traditions.
<!-- Please do not mention the 4 Classical Chinese Elements. We KNOW, they're different. Several other philosophies are too. None of them, and neither the Chinese elements, are used in the show, so mentioning any of them is of NO importance. Except to provide relevant information and greater understanding of Chinese culture.-->

In the show’s opening, each element is accompanied by 2 Chinese characters: an ancient Chinese ] character on the left, and a modern Chinese character on the right:
* ] ({{lang|zh|水}}) is associated with benevolence and adaptivity ({{zh|c=善|p=shàn}}).
* ] ({{lang|zh|土}}) is associated with strength and stability ({{zh|c=强|p=qiáng|links=no}}).
* ] ({{lang|zh|火}}) is associated with intensity and passion ({{zh|c=烈|p=liè|links=no}}).
* ] ({{lang|zh|气}}) is associated with peace and harmony ({{zh|c=和|p=hé|links=no}}).<ref name="cally">{{cite web|url=http://www.musogato.com/avatar/calligraphy.html |title=Distant Horizon: Avatar Calligraphy |accessdate=2006-12-09}}</ref>

===Fighting styles===
The fighting choreography of the show draws from martial arts; the fighting styles and weaponry are based on ], with each bending art corresponding to a certain real-world style. The creators referred to ] for Airbending, ] for Earthbending, ] for Firebending, and ] for Waterbending.<ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml"/> The only exception to this is ], who employs a ] style.<ref name="con">{{cite web|url=http://flaming-june.org/videos/Audience%20Question%20&%20Answer%20Pt.%202.wmv |title=Audience Questions and Answer Part 2 at the San Diego Comi-con 2006 |publisher=Flaming June |accessdate=2008-05-07 |type=WMV}}</ref> The series employed ] Kisu of the Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association as a martial arts consultant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harmoniousfist.com/ |title=The National Shaolin Information Resource |accessdate=2006-12-02 |publisher=The Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association}}</ref>

Each fighting style was chosen to represent the element it projected:
* ] focuses on alignment, body structure, breath, and visualization. This technique is the foundation of "Waterbending" in the series.<ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml"/>
* ] was chosen for its firmly rooted stances and powerful strikes to represent the solid nature of earth. This martial art is the basis of "Earthbending" in the series.<ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml"/>
** ] has distinguishing movements and unique footwork that are employed by ] to complement her blindness, giving her a unique style of Earthbending.<ref name="con"/>
* ] Kung Fu uses strong arm and leg movements. This technique is the foundation of "Firebending" in the series.<ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml"/>
* ] uses dynamic circular movements and quick directional changes.<ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml"/> This technique uses ] to generate power, and uses nearly constant circular movement to create angles between the combatants. This martial art is the basis of "Airbending" in the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pa-kua.com/fyi27/fyib27.htm|title=Advanced Circle Walking: Training to Fight |last=Miller |first=Dan |year=1994 |work=Pa Kua Chang Journal |publisher=The Ba Gua Zhang (Pa Kua Chang) Website of Sifu Park Bok-Nam |accessdate=2008-05-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shenwu.com/bagua.htm |title=An Introduction to Ba Gua Zhang |last=Cartmell |first=Tim |publisher=Shen Wu Martial Arts |accessdate=2008-05-07}}</ref>

==Characters==
{{main|List of Avatar: The Last Airbender characters}}

*''']''' (]) is the fun-loving, 112-year-old ] of the series, who is biologically 12 years old, but was frozen in an ] with his flying bison, Appa, for 100 years. He is the current incarnation of the Avatar, the spirit of the planet in human form. Aang is a reluctant hero, who would prefer adventure over his job as the Avatar and making friends over fighting the Fire Nation.
*''']''' (]) is a female<ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml" /> Waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe. Katara and her brother, Sokka, discover and free Aang from the iceberg in which he had been trapped. With her brother Sokka, she accompanies Aang on his quest to defeat the Fire Lord, and eventually becomes his Waterbending teacher. In the original unaired ], Katara's name was Kya; this later is stated to be her mother's name.
*''']''' (]) is a warrior of the Southern Water Tribe. With his sister, Katara, he accompanies Aang on his quest to defeat the Fire Lord. The joker of the group, Sokka describes himself as "meat-loving" and "]".<ref name="Bitter Work"/> Unlike his companions, Sokka does not have any bending ability, but the series, though it often makes him the victim of comedy at his expense, frequently grants him opportunities to use his ingenuity and weapons, including his trusty ] and a ] he forged from a ].
*''']''' (]) is a <ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml" /> blind tomboyish Earthbender that appears in the second season of the show. Not long after meeting Aang and his friends, she leaves her wealthy family and comfortable home to join Aang on his quest, with a plan to teach him Earthbending. Though blind, Toph "sees" by feeling the vibrations in the ground through her feet. She is the only Earthbender seen in the show to learn to bend metal and is considered one of the most powerful Earthbenders.
*''']''' (]) is the exiled prince of the Fire Nation and original ] of the series. Due to events in Zuko's past, his father, ] ], deems him a complete failure, and Zuko feels he must capture the Avatar to regain his honor. Over time, Zuko struggles to deal with his anger, self-pity, and familial relationships; meanwhile, he grows sympathetic to the peoples his nation has terrorized. In season three, he defects from the Fire Nation, and joins Aang and the team in order to teach Aang Firebending. At the end of the series, he is crowned ruler of the Fire Nation.
*''']''' (]) is the <ref name="avatar2/index.jhtml" /> princess of the Fire Nation. She is Zuko's younger sister and one of the major ]s of the series. Azula is a Firebending ] and is one of the few living Firebenders capable of casting ]. She has no qualms about bullying and threatening her relatives, reserving any familial loyalty for her father. She is first introduced at the end of the last episode of season one, although she appears in the background in an earlier episode.
*''']''' (] in seasons one and until episode 15 in season 2. ]&nbsp;in season three) is a retired Fire Nation general, known as the Dragon of the West, and Prince Zuko's uncle and mentor. Iroh was the original ] until his brother usurped the throne after ]'s death.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Zuko Alone |series=Avatar: The Last Airbender |network=Nickelodeon |airdate=2006-05-12 |season=2 |number=7}}</ref> On the surface, Iroh is a cheerful, kind, and optimistically eccentric old man, but he still remains a powerful warrior and a devoted surrogate parent to Zuko. Iroh is a Grand Master of the Order of the White Lotus, a secret society of men from all nations and helps retake Ba Sing Se during the series finale. Unlike most Firebenders, Iroh does not use fury as the source of his strength; instead he uses the original Firebending skills learned from the ]s. He is the only shown character to both have the abilities of casting lightning and redirecting lightning attacks.

==Response==
===Ratings===
When the show debuted, it was rated the best animated television series in its ];<ref name="animation">{{cite web|url=http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=1066 |title=Avatar: Season 3 |accessdate=2006-12-16 |date=2006-06-30 |last=Bynum |first=Aaron H. |publisher=Animation Insider}}</ref> new episodes averaged 3.1&nbsp;million viewers each.<ref name="animation"/> A one-hour special showing of "The Secret of the Fire Nation" which aired on September 15, 2006, consisting of "The Serpent's Pass" and "The Drill", gathered an audience of 5.1&nbsp;million viewers. According to the ], the special was the best performing cable television show airing in that week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=1153 |title=Secret of the Fire Nation Ratings |accessdate=2006-12-16 |date=2006-09-20 |last=Bynum |first=Aaron H. |publisher=Animation Insider}}</ref> In 2007, ''Avatar'' was syndicated to more than 105&nbsp;countries worldwide, and was one of Nickelodeon's top rated programs. The series was ranked first on Nickelodeon in ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viacom.com/NEWS/NewsText.aspx?RID=1077954 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080105074603/http://www.viacom.com/NEWS/NewsText.aspx?RID=1077954 |archivedate=2008-01-05 |title=Aang Is Ready to Strike Down the Fire Nation on the Darkest Day of the Year in Avatar's "Day of Black Sun" Premiering Friday, Nov. 30 on Nickelodeon |publisher=Viaco |date=2007-11-14 |accessdate=2008-05-06}}</ref>

The series finale, '']'', received the highest ratings of the series. Its July 19, 2008 premiere averaged 5.6 million viewers, 95% more viewers than Nickelodeon had received in mid-July 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsblaze.com/story/2008072213330300005.pnw/topstory.html |title=Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender Hits All-Time Series High |publisher=News Blaze |date=2008-07-22 |accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> During the week of July 14, it ranked as the most-viewed program for the under-14 demographic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/avatar-the-last-airbender/nineteen-million-tuned-in-for-21563.aspx |title=19 Million Tuned in for Special "Avatar" Week |last=Diaz |first=Glenn L. |publisher=Buddytv.com |accessdate=2008-11-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=1794 |title=Nick's "AVATAR" Animation Series Finale Scores Big Ratings |publisher=Animationinsider.net |last=Luna |first=Kyle |accessdate=2008-11-30}}</ref> ''Sozin's Comet'' also appeared on ]' top ten list of best-selling television episodes during that same week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.itunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D285923116%2526id%253D264270811%2526s%253D143441%2526v0%253DWWW-NAUS-ITUHOME-TOPTV |title=iTunes&nbsp;— Sozin's Comet |work=] |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> ''Sozin's Comet''{{'}}s popularity affected online media as well; "Rise of the Phoenix King", a ] online game based on ''Sozin's Comet'', generated almost 815,000 game plays within three days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/8636 |title=Nick's Avatar Hits Ratings High |last=Ball |first=Ryan |publisher=] |date=2008-07-23 |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref>

===Awards and nominations===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#75b5f6;"
|| '''Awards'''
|| '''Outcome'''
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#f2d5a6;"| '''2005 Pulcinella Awards:'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=3902 |title=Cartoons on the Bay Picks Winners |date=2005-05-03 |first=Ryan |last=Ball |accessdate=2007-12-08 |publisher=Animation Insider}}</ref>
|-
| Best Action/Adventure TV Series
| {{won}}
|-
| Best TV Series
| {{won}}
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#f2d5a6;"| ''']:'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://annieawards.org/33rdwinners.html |title=Annie Awards: Legacy - 33rd Annual Annie Awards |date=2005-02-09 |publisher=International Animated Film Society |accessdate=2008-04-26}}</ref>
|-
| Best Animated Television Production
| {{nom}}
|-
| Storyboarding in an Animated Television Production (The Deserter)
| {{won}}
|-
| Writing for an Animated Television Production (The Fortuneteller)
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#f2d5a6;"| ''']:'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://annieawards.org/34thwinners.html |title=Annie Awards: Legacy - 34th Annual Annie Awards |date=2006-02-09 |publisher=International Animated Film Society |accessdate=2008-04-26}}</ref>
|-
| Character Animation in a Television Production (The Blind Bandit)
| {{won}}
|-
| Directing in an Animated Television Production (The Drill)
| {{won}}
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#f2d5a6;"| ''']:'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://annieawards.org/foryourconsideration.html |title=2008 Annie Awards: For Your Consideration |publisher=] |accessdate=2008-12-02}}</ref>
|-
| Best Animated Television Production for Children
| {{won}}
|-
| Directing in an Animated Television Production (] for ])
| {{won}}
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#f2d5a6;"| '''2007 ]:'''
|-
| Outstanding Children's Programming (Appa's Lost Days)
| {{won}}
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#f2d5a6;"| ''']:'''
|-
| Outstanding Animated Program (City of Walls and Secrets)
| {{nom}}
|-
| Individual Achievement Award (] for Lake Laogai)
| {{won}}
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#f2d5a6;"| '''] 2008:'''
|-
| Favorite Cartoon<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bumpshack.com/2008/03/29/2008-nickelodeon-kids-choice-awards-winners/ |title=2008 Nickelodeon "Kids Choice Awards" Winners |date=2008-03-29 |publisher=BumpShack |accessdate=2008-05-07}}</ref>
| {{won}}
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#f2d5a6;"| '''] 2008:'''
|-
| TV series (] for ])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.annecy.org/home/index.php?Page_ID=1875&code_categfilm=C8&titre=&realisateur= |title=Annecy 2008 - Official Selection |year=2008 |publisher=Annecy 2008 |accessdate=2008-05-07 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.annecy.org%2Fhome%2Findex.php%3FPage_ID%3D1875%26code_categfilm%3DC8%26titre%3D%26realisateur%3D& |date=2009-03-14 |archivedate=2009-03-14}}</ref>
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#f2d5a6;"| '''56th ]:'''
|-
| Best Sound Editing in a Television Animation (])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpse.org/goldenreels/2009awards/2009tvnominees.html |title=56th Golden Reel Awards Television Nominees |year=2009 |publisher=Motion Picture Sound Editors |accessdate=2009-01-31}}</ref>
| {{won}}
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#f2d5a6;"| '''2008 ]s:'''
|-
| "Unusually complex characters and healthy respect for the consequences of warfare"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peabody.uga.edu/news/event.php?id=59 Peabody|title=2008 Peabody|publisher=]|accessdate=2009-06-20}}</ref>
| {{won}}
|}

==Other media==
===Promotion and merchandising===
]" ] at ]'s ].]]
''Avatar'''s success has led to some promotional advertising with third-party companies, such as ] and ]. ''Avatar''-themed ]s at ] and at ] in the ] also appeared. During the show's runtime, Nickelodeon published two special issues of '']'' dedicated entirely to the show. Various members of the ''Avatar'' staff and cast appeared at the 2006 San Diego Comic-Con International convention, while Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko appeared with Martial Arts Consultant Sifu Kisu at the Pacific Media Expo on October 28, 2006. ''Avatar'' also has its own line of t-shirts, ] playsets, toys, a trading card game,<ref></ref> a ], and three video games, as well as an ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viacom.com/news/Pages/newstext.aspx?RID=1179537 |title=Nickelodeon Unveils New Avatar Multiplayer Online Global Game in September |accessdate=2008-08-01 |work=Press Release |publisher=Viacom |date=2008-07-25}}</ref>

The ]-produced action figure toy line generated some controversy with its exclusion of any female characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oafe.net/articulation/0707.php |title=Points of Articulation: An Open Letter to Mattel |publisher=] |date=2007-07-28 |accessdate=2008-09-13}}</ref> Mattel came to release information stating that they have taken account of Katara's increased role within the program, and that she would be included in the figure assortment for a mid 2007 release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.livejournal.com/avatar_fans/1658088.html |title=Live Journal}}</ref> The figure ultimately went unreleased, however, as the entire line was canceled before she could be produced.

Nickelodeon executives have since released optimistic plans for upcoming marketing strategies in regards to ''Avatar''. Nickelodeon President ] openly stated his belief that the franchise "could become their '']''".<ref name="becomeharrypotter">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-09-20-avatar_N.htm |title=Nick pins hopes on Avatar |publisher=] |date=2007-09-20 |accessdate=2008-04-16}}</ref> They expect consumers to spend about $121 million in 2007, rising to $254 million by 2009.<ref name="becomeharrypotter" /> The marketing plans are to be coincided with the release of the first live-action film based on the series in 2010, which will be the first film in a trilogy.<ref name="becomeharrypotter" />

===Feature film===
{{main|The Last Airbender}}
''The Last Airbender'' is an upcoming live action film based on the television series and scheduled for theatrical release on July&nbsp;2, 2010. The film is directed by ].

===Games===
A video game trilogy about ''Avatar'' has been created. '']'', the video game, was released on October 10, 2006. '']'' was released on October 16, 2007. '']'' was released on October 13, 2008. The three games were loosely based on seasons one, two and three, respectively. Players can select characters and complete quests to gain experience and advance the storyline. Despite lackluster critical reviews, the games did extremely well commercially; for example, ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' was ]'s top selling Nickelodeon game in 2006 and even reached ] CEA's "Greatest Hits" status.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jose Liz|title=THQ's Avatar Now Available for $20 |url=http://www.pgnx.net/news.php?page=full&id=14399 |date=2007-07-19 |accessdate=2007-10-18}}</ref>

''Avatar: Legends of the Arena'', a video game for ] launched on September 25, 2008 by ].<ref name="Avatar spirit media">{{cite news|title=Nickelodeon Announces Avatar: The Legend of Aang |url= http://www.avatarspiritmedia.net/index.php#541 |publisher=Avatarspirit.net |accessdate=2008-09-09}}</ref> Each user is able to create their own character, choose a nation, and to interact with others across the globe.<ref name="Avatar spirit media"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Nickelodeon Launching Avatar MMORPG Worldwide In September |url=http://www.worldsinmotion.biz/2008/07/nickelodeon_launching_avatar_m.php |work=] |accessdate=2008-09-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nick.com/avatarlegends/ |title=The Official LotA site on Nick.com |publisher=] |accessdate=2008-09-14}}</ref>

===Music===
All music and sound used in the series was done by Jeremy Zuckerman and Benjamin Wynn, who form The Track Team. They made use of a wide range of different ethnic instruments (like a ] or a ] or a ]) to compose a background music that fits into this fictional world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=252 |title=Interview with The Track Team |accessdate=2009-08-20 |publisher=]}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
{{ChineseText}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{official|http://www.nick.com/shows/avatar/}} (US)
* {{official|1=http://www.nickelodeon.com.au/fullynick/tvshows/shows/index.php?show_id=56}} (AUS)
* {{official|http://www.nick.co.uk/#/avatar/}} (UK)
* {{official|http://www.nicksplat.com/sites/avatar}} (ASIA)
* {{official|http://www.nickelodeon.nl/tv/programma/18/avatar.html}} (NL)
* {{imdb title|0417299}}
<!-- Please discuss any new links on the talk page. -->

{{Avatar}}
{{Nicktoons}}

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Revision as of 23:05, 15 October 2009

Avatar: The Last Airbender is awsome and if you dont wach it you are a jack ass. :)