6 lesser-known facts about Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender

The highly-anticipated live-action adaptation of the acclaimed animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender, has been released on Netflix. While fans appear to be divided on some of the creative choices, the series is set to top Netflix’s popularity charts this weekend. So for today’s Now You Know podcast, we take a look at six lesser-known facts about the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

1. The original animated show is widely regarded as one of the best animated productions of all time. Therefore the creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, were initially part of the creative team for the Netflix adaptation. However, due to disagreements with Netflix over the creative decision they dropped out of the project. Their departure was met with outrage and disappointment by fans of the original series who hoped the OG creators would be best suited to do justice to this live-action adaptation.
2. Did you also know that the co-creator of the original series, Michael DiMartino, transitioned from working on Family Guy to devote his efforts to Avatar: The Last Airbender, which he claims to be his passion project?
3. The original series is known for its social commentary, incorporating real-world issues such as war and genocide. In fact, animator Sangjin Kim won a Primetime Emmy for the episode "Lake Laogai," which was inspired by the real-world Chinese labour camps that were rampant in the ‘50s and ‘60s during Mao Zedong’s infamous policy known as ‘The Great Leap Forward’.
4. The live-action Netflix adaptation is not the first time the iconic animated series was adapted into live-action. In 2010, M Night Shyamalan helmed the ill-fated live-action film. The film was universally panned after its release with a Rotten Tomatoes critics score of 5%, making it Shyamalan’s worst-reviewed film to date.
5. In the hopes of bringing a fresh perspective and expanding the lore of the franchise, the 2024 Netflix series, showrunner Albert Kim and the writers have introduced several new characters to the narrative. Kim has also relied on advanced CGI techniques to capture the unique airbending sequences in live-action.
6. Did you know that tennis legend Serena Williams is an avid fan of the original series. In fact, she has appeared in both animated shows, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, playing different roles in each. She is also part of the promotional campaign for the Netflix adaptation, appearing in a teaser for the 2024 series.
   

Well that's all we got for this episode of Now You Know, until the next time its your host Nikhil signing out.

Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho

• Written by Ryan Gomez

Listen to more OTTplay Now You Know podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.