DVD Review: Avatar Book 3 Vol. 3
Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko's Nickelodeon Series
Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 3 Volume 3 is chock full of magic, mystery and g-rated Kung Fu action. Highly recommended.
There's so much garbage perpetrated on kids and their parents disguised as family-friendly entertainment, that it's genuinely refreshing to see something good aimed at the 6 - 11 set that their parents can enjoy as well.
Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko's Avatar: The Last Airbender has been generating some serious buzz since its Nickelodeon debut on February 21, 2005, earning a minimum 1.1 million audience per episode and winning multiple Annie awards and a Primetime Emmy. After a peek at Book 3: Fire, Volume 3, it's safe to say that the positive press is definitely justified. This is a show that demonstrates that you can put together a genuinely exciting and action-packed television series, without losing the G rating.
Put together a fantasy/quest tale featuring a little boy as the prophesied hero destined to destroy evil and restore balance and harmony to a benighted kingdom, add some elemental magic and kung fu action straight from a Yuen Wo Ping flick, and you've got a nifty little show that appeals to all ages.
What's Avatar: The Last Airbender about?
Aang (voiced by Zach Tyler Eisen) is a 12-year-old boy who discovers that he is the prophesied Avatar, a master of four elemental magics who must defeat the villainous Fire Lord and free the land from tyranny.
However, it ain't that simple, folks. First off, Aang, already a master of air bending, must learn the other 3 elemental magics (water, fire and earth), and combat his own childish and naïve nature. And while doing this, he must dodge various hazards and the Fire Lord's minions, who can read prophecy too and want to shut down the Avatar before he ever comes into his powers.
Luckily, Aang has his friends: motherly Waterbender Katara (Mae Whitman), her clownish but intelligent brother Sokka (Jack De Sena), blind Earthbender Toph (Jessie Flower), and the ten-ton flying bison Appa (Dee Bradley Baker), to watch his back.
They all have distinctive brands of Kung Fu at their disposal: Air Benders use Bagua, with its distinctive circular style, while Earth Benders use Hung Gar, with its strong stances and powerful strikes. Fire Benders utilize Northern Shaolin, that has strong arm and leg movements, and Water Benders use Tai Chi Chuan, that focuses on alignment, body structure and breath.
Despite the pseudo-Chinese setting, Kung Fu trappings and anime textures, it's important to note that Avatar: The Last Airbender is not an anime. It was created and developed in the United States, at the Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, California.
Book 3: Fire
The beginning of Book 3 Volume 3 has Aang and his friends trying to take down Fire Lord Ozai (Mark Hamill) in an all-out attack during an eclipse, when the Fire Benders can't use their powers. Unfortunately for our heroes, the Fire Lords are 10 steps ahead of the game, and they've set a trap.
However, one of the major antagonists of the previous seasons, Prince Zuko, has had a change of heart and decides to join Aang and his gang in their war against the Fire Nation. Good thing too, since Zuko is the only person who is willing and able to teach Aang fire bending.
The strength of Avatar: The Last Airbender is it's frighteningly easy to get caught up in the show, even if the viewer is coming in halfway through Season 3 (wave). That means there's little need to look back through previous episodes to figure out who's who and what's what.
Based on Book 3 Volume 3 DVD, Avatar: The Last Airbender is probably one of the best animated kids shows out there right now. Filled with interestingly flawed heroes and villains who refuse to be one-dimensional, this series has enough action and comedy to keep the kids coming back, but plenty of depth to keep their parents interested. On top of which, the animation is state of the art for television. Well done.
Unfortunately, the DVD has precious little in the way of extras. The first two episodes feature somewhat sporadic commentary by series creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, who are more interested in their conversational tangents than actually giving behind-the-scenes details on their show.
In total, Avatar: The Last Airbender Book Three Volume Three is a great DVD with craptacular extras.
