“Avatar: The Last Airbender,” its characters, and why it is so appealing to all audiences
I. Introduction
“Avatar: The Last Airbender”, is one of the few television shows targeted toward children that has become a cult classic among all ages. I first watched this series when I was 6 years old; this animated show played a huge role in my childhood, throughout my teen years, and even now as I navigate my 20s. “Avatar: The Last Airbender” has a universal appeal rooted within its well-developed, relatable characters and the ability to resonate with both adults and children.
II. Characters
Aang
The main character, Aang, is the Avatar, and he is from the Southern Air Temple. The Avatar is the sole individual alive with the ability to bend all of the elements: earth, water, fire, and air. The weight of the responsibility to protect the world becomes too much for Aang, however, and he ultimately flees his temple, only to be caught in a vicious storm. Aang shields himself and his flying bison, Appa, within a block of ice, leaving them to sit in the bottom of the ocean for one hundred years.
Aang’s character arc parallels maturation. At the beginning of the series, Aang acts like a 12-year-old rather than the boy who is fated to save the world. He serves a comedic role, suggesting to Katara that they “penguin slide” and explore abandoned warships within the first season. While initially this appears to be a lack of awareness toward the situation at hand, later episodes reveal the truth. Within the episode “The Storm,” Aang’s inner turmoil is revealed. He fled his temple as he did not feel capable to be the Avatar. He was scared, felt alienated by his peers, and he ultimately lacked the courage necessary to fight the Fire Nation.
Aang begins to shoulder more responsibility throughout Book One, journeying to the Spirit Realm on multiple occasions to encourage peace between both realms. At the end of the first season, Aang collaborates with the Ocean Spirit to defend the Northern Water Tribe from the Fire Nation. In this moment, Aang starts to feel like the Avatar. I believe that Aang’s development within Book One is perhaps most significant. He is still a child, but the pressure to fulfill his duty wisens him.
Book Two features Aang encountering more dangers, and his mastery of the elements expands significantly. “The Avatar State” is an episode that features an Earth Kingdom general pushing Aang to control his Avatar State. Aang is forced to realize he can only activate it when his loved ones, namely Katara, are in danger. This also shows Aang, as well as the audience, that his inability to access the Avatar State at will poses many issues. If Aang fails to defeat the Fire Nation, the entire world will be overrun by eternal condemnation. Nevertheless, his inherent joy does not dim. Aang “is able to see people not merely as vessels of good and evil, but as individuals with choice, each deserving a chance.” While the pressures of his duty become more and more forceful, Aang remains kind and gentle-spirited. I am most fascinated by Aang’s ability to forgive and love. His people were victims of genocide, and yet he does not seek to eliminate those who damaged him.
Book Three is where Aang fully steps into his potential, and I find this growth of his character to be most interesting. Aang has survived near-death experiences, and he must make difficult decisions to determine the fate of the world. Aang does not feel like a child anymore, and his inherent wisdom allows for him to surpass the boundaries of his twelve-year-old body. Aang decides to spare Fire Lord Ozai by taking his bending away, yet again revealing his newfound maturity. As this article states, “He is the Avatar, but the Avatar is not all he is. Being born into a role of power does not rob him of his right to decide what is best.” He aligns himself with the beliefs of the Air Nomads, while also maintaining his duty to preserve the world from eternal destruction.
Zuko
Zuko’s character arc is one of the main emphases of the show. Zuko is a foil to Aang; both boys have their own journeys they seek to fulfill. This interconnectivity allows for these characters to surpass one-dimensionality.
Zuko is the initial antagonist of the show. His appearance provides a stark contrast to Aang, Katara, and Sokka. While the latter are illustrated with softness found within their rounded features, Zuko is full of harsh lines. His hairstyle is defined by sharp buzz marks, and the scar around his eye is jagged and rough around the edges. Zuko’s personality is equally as harsh. He snaps at his uncle Iroh, the soldiers on his warship, and he exhibits clear frustration with his identity within exile.
Zuko’s parallels to Aang are what helps drive the success of his redemption arc. Both seek to redeem themselves, and their goals ultimately tie their fates together. Within the episode “The Storm,” the writers directly contrast Zuko and Aang, as well as their backstories. Both characters’ choices result in their exile, one by choice and one not. Aang sought to flee his responsibility as the Avatar, ultimately imprisoning himself in ice for a century. Zuko stood up for the people of the Fire Nation, disagreeing with his father’s willingness to kill innocent lives. His exile was punishment. The butterfly effect within this show depends on these respective exiles. Aang and Zuko’s departures from their home sets the entirety of the show in motion. Both characters must endure hardship in order to discover themselves, as well as their moral centers.
Zuko always stood out to me, even when I first watched the show as a small child. His self-hatred and fury are dominating, albeit surface-level. There is so much despair and fear clear within his character that exposes itself through his actions. He knows that his future within the Fire Nation depends on his successful capture of the Avatar, and he also know what will happen should he fail.
Within the episode “The Blue Spirit,” Zuko’s moral compass reveals itself for the first time. Aang is captured by the Fire Nation and imprisoned within a highly secured facility. Zuko, to much surprise, is Aang’s unexpected savior. Disguised behind a blue mask, Zuko sneaks into the prison to save Aang. While Zuko’s motives are selfish on the surface — only he can deliver Aang to become reinstated as Prince of the Fire Nation — he knows internally that rescuing Aang is the right thing to do. He has multiple opportunities in the episode to turn Aang over, to capture Aang once they escaped the facility, but he does no such thing. Zuko’s morality reveals itself to the audience for the first time in the show. Upon rewatching the series, I realized that this is the first moment where Zuko begins to see a life helping the Avatar rather than hunting him.
Later in the series, Zuko makes a mistake and pushes his uncle away. This decision allows for Zuko to discover what matters most to him. As this article states, “It isn’t until Zuko loses everything, including the companionship of his loyal uncle, that he must reevaluate his morality.”
The final season completes Zuko’s character arc. Within the episode “Day of Black Sun,” Zuko confronts his father for the first time since his maiming. Zuko learns that Ozai had planned to kill him as a child, and that Ozai is the reason his mother is banished. The climax of this episode features Zuko redirecting his father’s lightning, a skill he had learned from his uncle Iroh. This act of defiance is the catalyst for Zuko joining team Avatar. No longer is Zuko a morally confused ticking-time bomb. Rather, he finally chooses the path of good. It takes this confrontation with Ozai for Zuko to realize that there is no future serving his father. Zuko’s ability to do what he couldn’t as a child — defend himself — dictates that he does have power, and that he no longer needs his father’s validation.
Zuko’s attempt to befriend Team Avatar goes poorly due to his accidental singing of Toph’s feet. He makes yet another mistake, as per usual with his character, but his humanity reveals itself through his dedication toward trying. He does not give up, even when it seems that he’s ruined his chances. Ultimately, he proves his loyalty to the group by helping Sokka rescue his father, Hakoda, from the Boiling Rock. Yet another familial confrontation occurs at the climax of this two-part episode. Zuko is faced against his sister, alongside Sokka and Tai-Li. Zuko proves he is capable of dueling Azula, but not yet able to best her. Regardless, this confrontation reveals that Zuko is fully with Team Avatar. There is no love left between he and Azula. He is resigned to the fact that she is irredeemable, and that he must fight her to protect the world.
Zuko’s final moment, in my opinion, that dictates his complete transition to good is within the episode “The Firebending Masters”. Zuko’s firebending still fuels itself through anger and hatred. Yet, his anger is not as strong as it once was. His acceptance of his path and what he must do fuels him with purpose rather than rage. This juxtaposition leaves Zuko without the skill to bend fire as he once could. Together, he and Aang search for the original source of fire to learn how to bend the element as it was first intended. This ultimately results in Zuko and Aang proving themselves to the Masters — the last remaining dragons — to learn the secret of firebending. They discover that while fire has been tainted by its use for destruction, its original purpose is to provide life. Zuko’s acceptance of himself reveals to the Masters, and to the audience, that he has been redeemed. He seeks to repair the Fire Nation’s image and prove to the world that fire is meant for more than just destruction and hatred. This episode is one of my absolute favorites. Aang and Zuko no longer exist on opposing sides, but rather work together to better the world around them.
In the finale, Zuko ascends the throne as Firelord. His rise to power showcases the full conclusion of his character arc. He will move on in the future to rule the Fire Nation as a good, benevolent ruler.
Katara
Katara is a girl from the Southern Water tribe with an inherent skill to bend water. She is passionate, kind, and loving. She serves as a maternal figure within the group, embodying traits of hospitality and generosity. Katara is “a complex, balanced character” and she “demonstrates ‘womanly’ virtues without being stereotypically feminine, and male qualities without being one-dimensional.” Her waterbending is the reason that Aang is released from the iceberg, and she is a powerful contender against their future foes.
In Book One, Katara proves to be immature, yet driven. She steals a waterbending scroll from a pirate ship, putting Aang and Sokka in danger. She falls for Jet, a boy seeking to kill innocent people in revenge for the death of his family. Katara challenges Master Pakku in the Northern Water Tribe, fighting back against his misogynistic claims that women can only heal with their bending skills. Katara makes mistakes, and her impulsive behavior serves to her detriment. Regardless, Katara’s passion and heart always make sure she ends up in the right place.
Katara only becomes stronger and more confident within the following seasons. I have always loved how fierce and passionate she is, and how she will stop at nothing to protect the ones she loves. Katara fights fiercely alongside Aang within Book Two’s finale. Aang is nearly killed by a lightning strike from Azula, but Katara’s dedication toward saving him allows for Aang to keep his life.
Within Book Three, Katara enters her full potential. She takes on the role of the Painted Lady, a benevolent spirit providing food and clean water to people within the Fire Nation. Despite holding a deep hatred for the Fire Nation, Katara overlooks the atrocities to help people in need. Within the “Southern Raiders,” Katara learns self-control. She and Zuko hunt down the man that killed her mother. This episode is haunting, as most of it depicts Katara with a lust for blood unbecoming of her character. She uses her bloodbending skills upon an unexpecting ship captain, and scares Zuko with her lack of restraint. Ultimately, after locating the killer, Katara decides to spare the General’s life. She realizes that killing him will not bring her mother back. For me, this episode is what cements Katara as one of the best-written characters in the whole series. She is the embodiment of love and kindness, but even she can fall upon basic desires for revenge. She ultimately chooses the path of good due to Aang’s influence on her from their time spent together. Katara is flawed, but her flaws allow for her to grow and showcase her potential.
Sokka
Sokka is Katara’s older brother and is the only member within the group who cannot bend an element. Sokka begins the series as a misogynistic, arrogant teenager who is upset with his circumstances. As the only man left within his village, he bears the responsibility of defending it. Sokka is deeply insecure, and he does not have the proper guidance to form him into a warrior. Sokka also exudes jealousy, as he wishes he could bend water like his sister.
Within Book One, Sokka receives a reality check from a Kyoshi Warrior named Suki. He is bested in combat by her, and this moment allows for him to realize that women can be as strong as him, if not stronger. He also allows for the Kyoshi Warriors to paint his face with makeup, as it is traditional to their practice. Previously, Sokka would have thought this embarrassing and a detractor from his masculinity. I personally love to see Sokka’s growth within Book One, as it becomes clear that he is more than just a source of comedic relief.
Sokka begins to showcase his talents as a strategist within Book Two. The episode “The Library” illustrates Sokka as a leader of the group, helping to find any information that could aid in their fight against the Fire Nation. He discovers the Fire Lord’s plans that he intends to take over the Earth Kingdom during Sozin’s comet, as the power of firebenders will be increased tenfold during the comet’s passing. Sokkas discovery gives Aang incredibly important information about the time he has left to stop Firelord Ozai and save the world.
Sokka demonstrates significant growth within the final season of the show. He leads a revolt against the Fire Nation during an eclipse, otherwise known as the Day of Black Sun. Despite their revolution failing, Sokka showcases his intelligence and courage. He faces the enemy head on and helps engineer ships to take them all into the Fire Nation successfully. Sokka proves to those around him, but most importantly to himself, that he is worthy.
Toph
Toph is a young girl from an affluent family in the Earth Kingdom. She is blind, and rendered helpless by her family; however, Toph learned earthbending from the badger moles underground, and becomes one of the most powerful earthbenders within the whole series. She is hesitant to join Team Avatar at first, as she feels that she should not leave her sheltered life to face danger. Yet, she does decide to depart the Earth Kingdom, and in doing so ensures that Aang is able to master earthbending.
Toph is incredibly courageous for her age, and she does not fail to stand strong in the face of adversity. The writers allow for Toph’s blindness to serve as more than just a disability. She is strong, if not stronger than most of the characters within the series. She is a force to be reckoned with and is one of the first people to be able to bend metal. Her blindness does not restrict her, and it does not feel like a detriment to her character.
Toph’s character growth is more subtle compared to the others on the team, but it is just as significant. She learns what it means to be surrounded by those that love her, and that love allows for her to take risks and learn to trust.
III. Reception with Children
The animation style is welcoming for an audience of all ages, but particularly among children. The colors are bright and saturated. The shapes are detailed enough to be interesting, but not so much as to be overwhelming. The voices of the characters are high-pitched on average, and there is the inclusion of animals as main characters to appeal to children.
The soundtrack for the show is also engaging for young audiences. Right before major events, certain intense themes will play to direct the focus of the viewer. Episodes are capped around 23 minutes, and longer episodes are split into 2 or 3 parts to ensure that they are not too long for young audiences to handle. Research shows that children struggle to maintain their attention span for longer than 24 minutes. This show appeals to this statistic by making sure that the episode length does not serve as a deterrent for prospective audiences.
The bending techniques are also engaging for young audiences. Children are notorious for having vibrant imaginations, and the magic system within this show appeals to the youth. The respective bending styles are colorful, and for the most part, they all feel equal to one another in strength and potential. Kids are able to imagine themselves in the universe, and wonder what element they would bend. This further allows for kids to engage with the show and identify with the characters.
IV. Reception with Adults
“Avatar: the Last Airbender” is also accessible for adults as it has depth. Most importantly, the storytelling and world-building is complex and well-thought out. Every aspect of the show is executed meticulously, and there are no plot holes that reject immersion. Everything within the universe has a purpose, every character has intention, and even comedic roles serve as more than just the punchline of a joke. The characters within the show provide humor, relatability, and an opportunity for the audience to connect with the series.
One of the most intricate aspects of this show is the magic system. Bending feels like a part of the universe, even though at its core, it is a wildly magical concept. The writers integrate bending within the world, such as through creating an Avatar, allowing for it to feel like a fundamental part of the universe itself.
Additionally, there is depth within this show that encourages viewers to sympathize with characters, even when they have proven themselves to be unreliable and dangerous. Azula is presented as unstable and cruel, and Book Two reveals her to be heartless and manipulative. Book Three, however, provides backstory that helps the audience sympathize with her. Azula is just a girl, 14 years old, who is suffering from the abandonment of her mother and the cruel negligence of her father. Her choices are her own, but it is clear that she suffers from a form of mental illness. This video takes a deep dive into her mind, and suggests that she has schizophrenia. This analysis provides a detailed depiction of why Azula is the way she is, and how she could have been different if given proper love from her parents.
Zuko is another character that reveals the depth of this show. Adults watching are appealed to the fact that Zuko is flawed and makes mistakes, but ultimately still grows. It is unrealistic to see a character make mistakes without consequences, and yet Zuko embodies this. His growth as a human being helps audiences to empathize with him. He starts as a bratty, mean teenage boy, and transcends expectations to become the new Fire Lord by the end of the series. This transition, and fundamentally the attention the writers put into his character arc, proves that this show has depth far beyond that of any other animated television show.
V. Conclusion
“Avatar: The Last Airbender” is an animated series that showcases characters with a level of depth that allows for them to transcend the boundaries of television. This show is acclaimed by both young and mature audiences, and its magic lies within its ability to appeal to a wide variety of viewers. I grew up alongside its characters and environments, and I feel that they live within me today.