Avatar: The Last Airbender Creators Collaborate with Netflix
Avatar: The Last Airbender Creators Collaborate with Netflix – Albert Kim reveals that the influence of Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko is not completely absent from the show.
By Megan Sauer
Albert Kim, producer responsible for series such as Nikita (2010-2013), Sleepy Hollow (2014-2017), and Pantheon (2022), was in charge of the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 1 (Avatar: The Last Airbender) when the original showrunners, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, left the project due to creative differences.
Konietzko and DiMartino, in addition to having been the first showrunners of the live-action series, are the creators of the original series and the entire Avatar universe, which is why their departure caused great discomfort among fans who were excited about this new one. version of the epic story.
However, in a recent interview Kim revealed that the influence of the two creators is not completely absent from the show, as she spoke with them to help him in his titanic task.
Avatar and its immortal legacy
Avatar: The Last Airbender takes place in a world divided into four nations, each of which has the ability to control an element: water, earth, fire and air.
The main character, Aang, is the Avatar, a person who has the ability to control the four elements and is the only one who can maintain balance between nations.
The story begins when Aang wakes up from a hundred-year long sleep. During his absence, the Fire Nation has started a war to conquer the other nations and he is the last hope to stop it.
Accompanied by his friends, Katara and Sokka, Aang embarks on a journey to learn to master the four elements and defeat the Fire Lord, Ozai.
The series combines elements of adventure, comedy, drama and action, and focuses on themes such as friendship, power, sacrifice and responsibility. Throughout its three seasons, the characters evolve and face personal challenges as they work together to restore peace to the world.
Avatar: The Last Airbender received praise from critics and audiences alike for its complex narrative, well-developed characters, and unique animation style.
The series also spawned an expansive franchise that includes comics, graphic novels, video games, and a sequel titled The Legend of Korra, which takes place in the same universe but follows a new Avatar named Korra.
With its rich mythology and memorable characters, Avatar: The Last Airbender has become an important part of pop culture and has left a lasting legacy in the world of animation.
For this reason and more, expectations for the live-action series are high, especially after the release of a trailer that captures the essence of the original show very well.
The participation of Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko in the Netflix series
In 2020 Konietzko and DiMartino, who had worked for two years with Netflix, publicly announced their retirement due to creative differences, although saying that the series had the potential to be good.
Now, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly , Albert Kim revealed that he spoke with them before his departure about all kinds of topics, including how what he made so special about the animated series could be translated into live-action format:
“[The conversation] ran the gamut from really nerdy little things that no one except die-hard fans would ever wonder about (questions about Katara’s mother or Aang’s ancestry) to broader things about how to translate what made the series original would be so special in a live-action version.”
So, at least in spirit, this live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender will be faithful to the work of Konietzko and DiMartino, but Kim clarifies that it will not be a literal translation, but that it has some differences.
