OneAvatar: The Last Airbendervoice actor is convinced Nickelodeon wouldn’t have greenlit the animated series if it were pitched for the first time today. The originalAvatar: The Last Airbenderis widely regarded as one of the best animated seriesof all time, despite being targeted towards children. It deals with complex subject matter, including colonization, cultural oppression, prejudice, emotional abuse, spirituality, and more.
One of the reasonsAvataris still so beloved, even though it ended after three seasons in 2008, is that it handles these important topics in an accessible and fun way without ever glossing over the trauma caused by living in a war-torn world. Aang’s duty as the Avatar, Zuko’s redemption arc, and Sokka, Katara, and Toph’s emotional family histories are treated with the gravity and respect they deserve.
Avatar’s brand is as popular as ever –three animated movies and a newAvatarshoware in development, and Netflix is gearing up to release the second season of its live-action remake. Even so,voice actor Greg Baldwin, who took over the role of Uncle Iroh inATLAseason 3, believes the show wouldn’t have been made if it were pitched by creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko today.
At Fan Expo Denver’sAvatar: The Last Airbenderpanel, whichScreenRantattended, Baldwin very plainly said:“If you walked into Nickelodeon now and told them, ‘I have a great idea for a show. It opens with genocide.’ They’d [say no].”
Is Greg Baldwin Right About Avatar Not Being Picked Up Today?
Things Have Changed Since Avatar’s 2005 Debut
GivenAvatar: The Last Airbender’s enduring popularity, it’s hard to imagine a world in which this gorgeous animated series was never made. And yet, Baldwin has a point.The Last Airbenderisn’t your typical children’s cartoon. It explores and analyzes difficult political topics, ones that reflect the real world’s historical and ongoing global conflicts.
Baldwin’s belief isn’t so outlandish. Would a major channel like Nickelodeon take a chance on a revolutionary show likeAvatarnow?
Aang is the titular “last airbender” because the Fire Nation massacred his people. Baldwin’s comment about the show essentially starting with genocide isn’t an exaggeration.Netflix’s live-actionAvataradaptationeven went so far as to show the battle that decimated the Air Nomads, and the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes are under constant threat from Fire Lord Ozai.
In today’s social climate, where school book bans are on the rise and discussed as a political talking point in the mainstream media, Baldwin’s belief isn’t so outlandish. Would a major channel like Nickelodeon take a chance ona revolutionary show likeAvatarnow, especially without a built-in fanbase? I’m not so sure.
Our Take On Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Legacy
It’s Encouraging That ATLA’s Story Isn’t Over Yet
Avatar: The Last Airbenderundoubtedly changed people’s view of children’s entertainment. With its stunning animation, intricate world-building, and emotional character arcs,ATLAproved that stories aimed at kids could be smart, complex, and educational while remaining funny, goofy, adventurous, and theatrical. It seemsAvataraired on TV when the world needed it most.
Thankfully,Avatar: The Last Airbenderresonated with audiences to such an extent that it spawned a sequel series (The Legend of Korra), tie-in comic books and novels, two live-action remakes, and multiple upcoming animatedATLAprojects.Avatar: The Last Airbender’s themes and lessons are as important now as they were in the early 2000s, perhaps even more so; both children and adults can learn from this show.
