YIP YIP and Away... The Adaptation Everyone Anxiously Awaits

Premiering on Thursday, February 22 2024 is the live-action Netflix adaptation of “Avatar The Last Airbender.”

If you’re reading this, it’s likely the cultural impact of this show is not lost on you. In fact, you probably hold this show near and dear to your heart. The original source material- an animated show of the same name, premiered on Nickelodeon from 2005-2008 and was created by Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.

It’s beloved for many reasons: A grounded magic system drawn from Chinese Martial Arts, a diverse and representative array of cultures, a fast moving plot with action-packed and memorable sequences, and a lineup of interesting and dynamic characters who all have meaningful and well-earned character arcs throughout its three seasons.

I was 13 when this show premiered, and around this time I started to become aware that liking cartoons was for kids and no longer cool… so admittedly I’m not a lifelong fan. However, I did watch ATLA as an adult in 2020 when all there was to do was watch TV… and I am so glad I waited. I also think this gives me some objectivity when talking about the upcoming adaptation.

Why are fans nervous and skeptical? Shouldn’t they just be grateful to get an adaptation at all?

… That’s not how consumerism should work.

I refer to the disaster that was “The Last Airbender” (2010), directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It is widely accepted as something we don’t talk about.

Fans are worried that a big streamer like Netflix will not honor the source material, instead making changes and decisions that are intended to draw in a new generation of watchers instead of prioritizing the fans who made the IP valuable to begin with. On top of that, the departure of DiMartino and Konietzko (the original creators of the show) as Executive Producers over creative differences signals that key things about the show are being modified or changed. That is scary if you’ve been a fan of the show for nearly 20 years.

Fans have every right to be nervous about this adaptation. Netflix has dropped the ball before, and translating an animated show into something live-action has many challenges that require intention and the most imaginative creatives who can execute. Can Netflix really deliver on this ambitious task?

Here are the reasons why I am cautiously optimistic.

1) Netflix has put plenty of money into this adaptation. 15 million per episode to be specific. With eight episodes a season you’re looking at 120 million dollar season budget, at least. This is in line with other popular shows including the last season of “Game of Thrones” on HBO (now MAX), “The Mandalorian” on Disney+, “The Sandman” on Netflix, and the recently released “One Piece” adaptation released on Netflix. Sometimes more money means more problems… but in this case I think they are investing enough to make sure the visual quality of this adaptation is presentable and something fans can be excited to watch. With the amount of CGI used, that high budget is essential.

2) From the official trailer, I think the actors are well cast and seemingly capture the correct essence of the character they’re portraying. If the trailer is representative of the show as a whole, I think people will be very happy with the end result. A lot can be forgiven if the characters are represented well. Check out coverage from entertainment weekly where you can see side by side comparisons.

3) The element bending looks awesome and the martial arts that drives the magic is exactly what I hoped for. I’m sure they hired the best of the best when it comes to the stunts/action sequences.

4) I can’t really comment on the plot or writing yet, but I can easily accept some story changes as long as they are set up and paid off properly and make sense for the character involved given the new context. Here’s a behind- the- scenes video that seems to be signaling they respect the source material and that their intention is to give fans the experience they’ve always wanted.

In this industry, one of the things you learn very quickly is that you can’t make everyone happy and everyone has something to say. Should that stop you from trying?

There’s no doubt that Netflix sees this as a highly profitable asset. It’s why they are investing so much money. To me, that doesn’t necessarily prime me to expect creative failure. Even if fans hate it, I do believe it will draw in a new generation of mega-fans and I do believe it will be a commercial success. I’m expecting a response similar to that of the highly successful “One Piece” adaptation released in 2023.

If you’re a fan of the show, what are the most important things you hope are preserved? If you already decided you don’t want to watch, where do you think they went wrong? Which casting are you most excited about?

I’ll leave no mystery as to my favorite casting…