CaliMar's Guide to Avatar: The Last Airbender

Avatar: The Last Airbender is in a vaguely Asian world where people called benders can manipulate the elements. There are four kingdoms, each based upon an element and the benders of kingdom: Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads.

Aang is a young airbender that comes to find out he is the Avatar, a being that can master all elements, wield godlike powers, and keep the peace between the four nations. Aang runs away and is trapped in a storm, and is ultimately encased in ice for 100 years.

During those 100 years, the firebenders of the Fire Nation have attacked the other nations, wiping out the Air Nomads and close to bringing the Earth Kingdom to its knees.

Aang is rescued by two Water Tribesmen from his icy tomb. Not long after, he becomes a symbol for hope for all peoples of the world as he journeys to learn how to master all four elements.

Aang's journey will take him to fantastic places, high adventure, and exotic animals. He will make friends and enemies as he masters his powers and strives for his destiny, to become the Avatar.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is a cartoon series that came out in 2005. A product of Nickelodeon, Avatar was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. The series ended with the third season, Book 3, in 2007.

There are currently three books consisting of forty episodes of Avatar, and one animated movie. There are also other merchandise based on the series, including a card game, video game, action figures, and so on.

A live action movie, "The Last Airbender," will be released in summer 2010.

Avatar has won many awards. These include:

Annie Awards for Storyboarding in an Animated Television Series ("The Deserter"), 2005; Character Animation in a Television Production ("The Blind Bandit"), 2006; Storyboarding in an Animated Television Production ("The Deserter"), 2006; Directing in an Animated Television Production ("The Drill"), 2007; Character Animation in a Television Production ("The Blind Bandit"), 2007; Best Animated Television Production Produced for Children ("Sozin's Comet: Part 3 - Into the Inferno"), 2009.

Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation to Sang-Jin Kim ("Lake Logai"), 2007.

Genisis Award for Outstanding Children's Programming ("Appa's Lost Days"), 2007.

Kid's Choice Awards, USA Blimp Award, Favorite Cartoon, 2008.

Peabody Awards 2008.

Pulcinella Awards for Best Action/Adventure Series, 2005; Best Series of the Year, 2005

Sources: IMDb and Wikipedia.