- Avatar: The Last Airbender The Complete Book 1 - copyright 2010 Paramount Home Video
Given that M. Night Shyamalan's live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender is coming to theatres this July, it's not surprising that Nickelodeon and Paramount Home Video would reissue Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino's original animated series on DVD.
What's also not surprising is that Avatar: The Last Airbender holds up very well two years after it left the airwaves. It combines light-hearted comedy with thrilling kung fu action that will appeal to both children and adults. But the question is: should those who already own The Last Airbender on DVD pick up this set?
Nickelodeon, Paramount Produce Avatar: The Last Airbender The Complete Book 1 Collector's Edition
For those who are coming late to the party, Avatar: The Last Airbender takes place on a world with four nations, all based on the 4 elements: Fire, Air, Water and Earth. Spurred by the mysterious disappearance of the Avatar – the master of all 4 elemental magics who keeps peace among the tribes – the Fire Nation is attempting to conquer the other nations. However, two Water Tribe teenagers Sokka (Jack DeSena) and Katara (Mae Whitman) find the new Avatar, a young Airbender named Aang (Zack Tyler Eisen).
Now the three must find a way to bring Aang to his full power – and teach him the other 3 bending techniques – while avoiding the Fire Nation's armies, especially Prince Zuko (Dante Basco) who must capture the Avatar to regain his lost honour.
The first thing one realizes is that this show took a while to really find its groove. It's not that the first season is bad, but you can feel it jump to the next level when the Fire Nation attacks the Northern Water Tribe's capital city. That's a compliment to how much the show improved over its 3-year run.
This is an engaging series based around well-developed characters: the heroes have their flaws and the villains have very good reasons for doing what they do. Aang is a flighty but good-hearted hero and the viewer empathizes with Zuko attempting to be something he so obviously is not.
While the animation isn't feature film status, it's still very clean and well-done. Like the script, the animation improved in subsequent seasons, but there's nothing wrong with what's on display here.
A final thought: watching this DVD brings home how skillfully Konietzko and DiMartino combined light-hearted comedy with gripping action. Unfortunately, the trailers for Shyamalan's The Last Airbender (they had to lose the 'Avatar' to avoid confusion with a certain James Cameron blockbuster) have emphasized the action without adding any of the comedy. Hopefully this will be rectified when the live-action film hits theatres.
Avatar: The Last Airbender The Complete Book 1 Collector's Edition DVD Extras
Hold on to your hats, folks, because Paramount really added the extras. In addition to the various behind-the-scenes featurettes (a highlight is martial arts consultant Sifu Kisu demonstrating the various kung fu styles used in the series), there's also an exclusive documentary about Konietzko and DiMartino's journey through making the show. The creators also do an audio commentary for the show's 'pilot' (actually a demo reel for the network); unfortunately you can't deactivate the commentary and just watch this episodes by itself.
Animation fans will also enjoy a preview copy of Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Art of the Animated Series which offers some of the concept art that went into the show.
Avatar: The Last Airbender The Complete Book 1 Collector's Edition Starts a Wonderful Series
Should you run out and buy Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 1 Collector's Edition if you don't own the series already? Hell yes. Anyone with kids should have this series if they don't already.
(A word of warning: parents of very small children have reported their offspring have attempted to indiscriminately karate-chop various animate and inanimate objects after viewing this series.)
The question becomes more complicated if you already own the series on DVD: are the extras worth the double-dip? Ultimately, that depends on how obsessed with the show you are. If you want to know every detail of how the show was created, then by all means but the more casual fan will be fine with the DVD's they already own.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 1 Collector's Edition gets a 4/5.
Dominic von Riedemann - Dominic is the Animated Film Feature Writer, and winner of 11 Suite 101 Editors' Choice Awards.
