The cartoons we watched when we were little or the ones we watch now have always been based on friendship, family, or well-being. Avatar: The Last Airbender debates these themes, not in a goofy and funny way, but in a deep one. If you had seen it when you were little, you would have thought it was just a funny cartoon about the adventures of a group of friends, but once you watch it as a teenager or an adult, you will notice all the messages it intends to give to the audience. 

MAIN CHARACTERS

The story begins with two siblings born in the Southern Water Tribe, Katara and Sokka. Katara is the only waterbender in the Southern Tribe, and for that reason, she is marginalized by everyone. 

One day the two siblings went for fish hunting when suddenly they found a big ice ball stuck in a snow mountain. Katara's rage broke the ice, and from there came out a boy, Aang. Aang was weirdly dressed and had an unusual aspect. Aang introduces himself as a monk from the Southern Air Temple. Katara and Sokka did not believe him because the Southern Air Temple was destroyed 100 years ago by the Fire Lord Sozin. Their shock was overcome when Appa, the flying bison and Aang's best friend who was also frozen, appeared. Aang was taken to the Southern Water Tribe to be seen by Gran-Gran, the leader of the tribe and grandmother of the two teens.

After a complete examination of the mysterious boy, everyone came to the conclusion that Aang was actually kept in that glacier throughout the war, more precisely for 100 years.

AVATAR WORLD UNFOLDED

In this world there are four distinct populations: the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom, the Air Nomads, and the Water Tribe. Here people can be born with powers, such as air, fire, water, and earth bending. The Avatar is a supernatural being who is born into a different nation each time. He is capable of mastering all four elements and is meant to maintain the balance of the world. Fire Lord Sozin was best friends with the former Fire Avatar, Roku. After Roku's death it was known that the new Avatar would be born among the air nomads. That summer a comet was to arrive and, for a short period, would grant firebenders unimaginable powers. Sozin used this comet, which was later called Sozin's Comet, to kill all the air nomads in the hope of killing the next Avatar and started a war against all nations to gain the greatest power. 

Ironically, on the same day they were going to be attacked, Aang found out he was the new Avatar. Stressed and angry, Aang left home with his flying bison, Appa, and due to a torrential rain, he was submerged in water, where he used the "Avatar State" to create a shield to keep him and Appa alive. After 100 years of being stuck, Aang now finds himself with the obligation to restore peace to the world.

Since the war began, the Fire Nation had managed to conquer almost the entire world except for the Northern Water Tribe, which was hidden by ice, and the capital of the Earth Kingdom, Ba Sing Se.

STRUCTURAL PROSPECTS

The story is divided into three books: book one, called the book of water; book two, called the book of earth; and book three, called the book of fire.

BOOK ONE

Features Aang's encounter with the Southern Water Tribe. The travel to the Northern Water Tribe to find a teacher to help Katara and Aang with waterbending, and the hunting of the three by Zuko, the prince of the Fire Nation who was exiled by his father and forced to return home only with the Avatar.

BOOK TWO

In this part, the three arrive in the Earth Kingdom, where they gather a new member for the Avatar team. Toph Beifong is a blind girl from a wealthy family who runs away from home with the Avatar team to live her dream of being the best earthbender alive. 

Throughout the second book, they go through numerous adventures and expeditions where they finally manage to reach Earth's Kingdom capital, Ba Sing Se, the only place that did not end up under the Fire Nation's domination. There they have a new battle with Zuko, who is joined by his evil sister Azula, heir to the Fire Nation throne.

BOOK THREE

Book two ends with the Avatar being defeated by Azula, but not forever. Everyone knows that Aang was killed by the Fire Princess, but the truth is that he was saved by Katara through her waterbending powers. Their mission in the third book is to stop Ozai, the Fire Lord and Zuko and Azula's father, from reaching full power during Sozin's Comet, which is about to come again and give firebenders maximum power. After realizing that no one in the Fire Nation appreciates him except his uncle Iroh, who has always been close to him, Zuko has the greatest character development known; he changes drastically and wants to join Team Avatar full of good intentions. 

The story ends with the success of Team Avatar at this point, consisting of Toph, Sokka, Katara, Zuko, and Aang, who destroy Azula mentally, not physically, and take all of Ozai's powers, restoring world peace and returning the territories to their rightful owners.

BEST CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OF ALL TIME

The story has an extremely complex structure not only because of the action, images, cinematography, etc. All the characters who take part in the action are very well outlined with some extremely representative emotions, and with human traits very well presented to the audience. 

Although he is not the main character, most appreciated by the audience, in terms of behaviour, is Zuko. The boy, whose sister was born lucky, was always considered a failure. 

At first, after being exiled by his father for disobedience, he was forced to return home only when he captured the Avatar. This task was tricky and false because it was known at that moment that the avatar was dead. Exiled at 13 years old, Zuko wanted his father's approval and love that only his sister got, even if that meant searching forever. Even though he never had paternal love, his uncle Iroh was always there for him with good advice. 

Iroh is also an excellent example of character development. From a ferocious general who destroyed hundreds of cities and was nicknamed the "Dragon of the West" to an old man who loved quality teas. He changed into a good man after his son passed away in war. Because of his trauma, the love that he once gave his son was now only for Zuko. The trauma of this invincible duo was the main reason that helped them change. 

At this point Iroh was already changed into a better man. He just had to use his wisdom to bring Zuko back on the right path. The failure to accept that his family is broken and worthless slowed Zuko down in achieving his ideals, but once he noticed that blood doesn't make a family, he was capable of significant changes and achieving a new, true family. 

I think that Avatar: The Last Airbender is the best animation I've seen, and I am convinced that it will not be dethroned by anything. It has a special place in my heart. Ever since I was little, I have loved the complexity of the plot. Now, being a teenager and rewatching it again, I have truly realized how deep everything is, from the complexity of each character to the action that is, most certainly, not understandable to a small child. It is difficult to find a match for this story.

I'm challenging you to reflect on Uncle Iroh's quotes.

"When you're in your darkest place, you give yourself hope, and that's inner strength."

"It's time for you to look inward and start asking yourself the big questions. Who are you? And what do you want?"

"It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If you take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale. Understanding others, the other elements, and the other nations will help you become whole."

And my favourite one: 

"Protection and power are overrated. I think you are very wise to choose happiness and love."