Avatars also possess the ability to enter a condition known as the Avatar State, in which they gain the knowledge and abilities of all past Avatars. An Avatar is required to master each bending art, beginning with the element of their home nation, and proceeding to learn the others in the order of the Avatar cycle, starting at the age of 16. When the Avatar dies, their spirit is reincarnated into the next Avatar, who will be from the next nation in a set order that is known as the Avatar cycle: Fire Nation, Air Nomads, Water Tribe, and Earth Kingdom. The Avatar, who may be male or female, is an international arbiter whose duty is to maintain harmony among the four nations, and act as a mediator between humans and spirits.
The Avatar is the only person with the ability to bend all four elements. Each nation has a distinct society in which select people, known as 'benders' (waterbenders, earthbenders, firebenders and airbenders), have the ability to telekinetically manipulate and control their nation's element using martial arts. Human civilization is divided into four nations, named after the four classical elements: the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads.
Īvatar: The Last Airbender is set in a world-adjacent to a parallel spirit world-that is home to humans and hybrid animals.
A new live-action remake of the series by its original creators to be produced for Netflix was announced in September 2018. An animated sequel series, The Legend of Korra, aired from 2012 to 2014. Night Shyamalan and considered one of the worst movies ever made. The series inspired a critically panned but financially successful live-action film, The Last Airbender, directed by M. The complete series was released on Blu-ray on Jfor the 10th anniversary of season 3's finale. Merchandising for the series consisted of action figures, a trading card game, three video games, stuffed animals distributed by Paramount Parks, and two Lego sets. The first season's success prompted Nickelodeon to order a second and third season. It was nominated for-and won-Annie Awards, Genesis Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Peabody Award. The series was commercially successful and was acclaimed by audiences and critics, who praised its art direction, humor, cultural references, characters, and themes.