This series is set in a magical world that is very recognizable to fans of Asian genres. The protagonist Aang is an avatar, which is a term that comes from Hinduism and originally described an incarnation of a Hindu deity, usually Vishnu. In this case he is the more modern definition of an avatar, which is a spiritually advanced being who guides people. He is an airbender, which means he can control the element air, one of the four classical elements. The others are fire, earth and water. These elements are represented as nations, with the Fire Nation being evil. The four “bending” abilities were based on different martial arts by the creators of the show.

The avatar was originally the master of the four elements and was supposed to protect the world from the Fire Nation, but disappeared prior to the time covered in the series. Right after he disappears, in a state of suspended animation in an iceberg, Fire Lord Sozin starts a genocidal attack on the Air Nation, known as the Air Nomads, because according to the traditional cycle the next avatar will be from the air element and will try to stop him from taking over the world, as the previous avatar had.

In the first episode, Aang and his flying bison guide Appa are found by people from the Water Nation. Aang learns about the genocide the Fire Lord Sozin had commited, which had wiped out the Air Nomads. Thus Aang is the Last Airbender of the title. He begins to train to master the other elements as an avatar must. The ensuing episodes chronicle Aang’s training under various teachers, and the battles and other conflicts with the forces of evil, culminating with a final struggle.

Avatar The Last Airbender is a very imaginative series that I would highly recommend checking out. They are best to watch with the full DVD Seasons.