Four Nations

the series that started it all

Avatar: The Last Airbender is an American animated TV series created and produced by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko (collectively “Bryke”, to fans in the know), which aired on Nickelodeon in all its 3-season, 61-episode glory.

Avatar is set in its own world, comprising of four nations each affiliated with an element: the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, the Water Tribe and the Air Nomads. Within each nation, people who have the ability to manipulate their particular element are called benders. There is also one person in the world capable of bending all four elements. This person is called the Avatar and is there to maintain balance and promote peace in the world.

The story begins with 12-year old Aang, the current Avatar and an Air Nomad, who was found trapped in an iceberg and awakened by two Water Tribe siblings, Katara and Sokka. In the 100 years he lived in suspended animation, the Fire Nation started a war against the rest of the world in order to “spread its success”, but really is causing terror and destruction. The war ultimately led to the genocide of the Air Nomads, by command of the Fire Lord who was afraid that the Avatar would put a stop to his ambition to take over the world, therefore making Aang the last airbender, and also the world’s last hope for peace.

The series follows Aang’s travels around the world on Appa (his flying bison), joined by Katara, Sokka, Toph and eventually Zuko, plus a myriad of other friends, pets and teachers, as he aims to master all four elements and defeat the Fire Lord. And he’s got it all to do before Sozin’s Comet reaches earth and the Fire Nation gets a power up and succeeds in conquering the world.