I've been hearing about this show from Sheridan for years now. Praising how good it was. Then again... he watches anime so we don't have to. (See what I did there?)
But that's what this is. It's Nickelodeon's homegrown anime. Other than having some nostalgia for all the old Nicktoons of the 90's (Ren & Stimpy, Doug, Rocko's Modern Life, etc.), there's nothing really appealing about returning to that juvenile cartoon world now as I near my 30's. (I'm letting that sink in for a moment. Oh, God. 30! Keep the existential dread at bay, Trevor. Keep it out. Smile. Smile. Don't let the world see you cry. Aaaand, we're good.) As a full grown, it just doesn't seem right to watch a cartoon that not explicit designed for adults.
Thanks to Zoë, I was forced into watching the show, and... it's actually good. Like pretty fucking good!
Seriously. After I got through the first of three seasons, I was hooked into this story of the world's savior (the Avatar) who emerges from a century long (frozen in ice) slumber to find that an evil nation bent on world domination has wreaked havoc on the whole planet. Sending both nature and humanity into complete disarray.
You know what, rather than spelling out the show, just watch the opening sequence.
So, there ya go. It's a world of "magic," of sorts. A world where some people have the ability to bend one of four elements. And the Avatar has the power to learn and control all four elements with the purpose of keeping the world's powers in complete balance.
And that's the story, the child reincarnated form of the Avatar is rescued by two other kids, and those three end up embarking on a journey to save the world from the evil fire nation leader -- excellently voiced by Mark Hamill.
It's a good story and great world building.
While I wholeheartedly recommend this show, keep in mind it starts a little soft. And by that I mean it's very kiddish. After all, it is a kid's show. So, don't run away if after two episodes you yet to see the vast magnitude of this story. It takes it time, but it gets there.
As the episodes carry one, you development a true attachment to the characters who increasingly become more complex and dynamic. The story itself grows darker and more intense as the fate of all the world's people lay in jeopardy. (And when I say dark... Well, just think what a water-bender -- a person capable of manipulating water anyway they please -- could do you. A human body. Who's blood mainly consists of water. Get the picture?) And the series finishes off in quite an epic finale as our heroes face a vast army bent enslaving all of humanity or scorch them from the face of the world.
Like I said, it's worth the watch at only three seasons long.
If you remember, this was also adapted into a live-action feature film from M. Night Shyamalan that's rocking a 6% on Rotten Tomatoes. Sadly it seems they couldn't capture the same energy the cartoon carries. (I say this having never seen the film, and likely never will.)
Considering this seems to be a relatively light year in terms of TV to watch, if you're looking for something new (or old, depending on how you look at it) to get into. This is definitely worth your time.
But that's what this is. It's Nickelodeon's homegrown anime. Other than having some nostalgia for all the old Nicktoons of the 90's (Ren & Stimpy, Doug, Rocko's Modern Life, etc.), there's nothing really appealing about returning to that juvenile cartoon world now as I near my 30's. (I'm letting that sink in for a moment. Oh, God. 30! Keep the existential dread at bay, Trevor. Keep it out. Smile. Smile. Don't let the world see you cry. Aaaand, we're good.) As a full grown, it just doesn't seem right to watch a cartoon that not explicit designed for adults.
Thanks to Zoë, I was forced into watching the show, and... it's actually good. Like pretty fucking good!
Seriously. After I got through the first of three seasons, I was hooked into this story of the world's savior (the Avatar) who emerges from a century long (frozen in ice) slumber to find that an evil nation bent on world domination has wreaked havoc on the whole planet. Sending both nature and humanity into complete disarray.
You know what, rather than spelling out the show, just watch the opening sequence.
So, there ya go. It's a world of "magic," of sorts. A world where some people have the ability to bend one of four elements. And the Avatar has the power to learn and control all four elements with the purpose of keeping the world's powers in complete balance.
And that's the story, the child reincarnated form of the Avatar is rescued by two other kids, and those three end up embarking on a journey to save the world from the evil fire nation leader -- excellently voiced by Mark Hamill.
It's a good story and great world building.
While I wholeheartedly recommend this show, keep in mind it starts a little soft. And by that I mean it's very kiddish. After all, it is a kid's show. So, don't run away if after two episodes you yet to see the vast magnitude of this story. It takes it time, but it gets there.
As the episodes carry one, you development a true attachment to the characters who increasingly become more complex and dynamic. The story itself grows darker and more intense as the fate of all the world's people lay in jeopardy. (And when I say dark... Well, just think what a water-bender -- a person capable of manipulating water anyway they please -- could do you. A human body. Who's blood mainly consists of water. Get the picture?) And the series finishes off in quite an epic finale as our heroes face a vast army bent enslaving all of humanity or scorch them from the face of the world.
Like I said, it's worth the watch at only three seasons long.
If you remember, this was also adapted into a live-action feature film from M. Night Shyamalan that's rocking a 6% on Rotten Tomatoes. Sadly it seems they couldn't capture the same energy the cartoon carries. (I say this having never seen the film, and likely never will.)
Considering this seems to be a relatively light year in terms of TV to watch, if you're looking for something new (or old, depending on how you look at it) to get into. This is definitely worth your time.
This one's been on the deep watchlist (like James Cameron deep) for a few years now. Where can I find it? Netflix? Hulu?
ReplyDeleteZoë had it all already on her computer, but I do believe we later saw that it was on Amazon Prime.
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