I was first introduced to this show as a child, and have just recently re-watched the series through to completion to relive that glory from a more critical perspective. From art, to music, to storytelling, I don't believe a better animated series exists.

I'll start by deconstructing the music. While there are western themes, the soundtrack often relies on elements of eastern cultures. Each tribe, each village, and each city has their own unique blend of music ringing through the streets, representative of their people, and in a more meta sense, representative of the underlying emotion of the episode. The music is even carefully picked for each title card, with each title card playing a melody representative of another piece or event later in the episode. Percussion instruments are used to denote urgency, strings offer a more relaxing tone, and woodwinds are often used for parties, allowing the viewer to easily understand the mood of the episode on a subconscious level.

Of course, the ideas portrayed in this whimsical world wouldn't be nearly as easy to comprehend without the amazing animation throughout the show. It's important to note how expressive the characters are, and how uniquely their emotions are depicted, but the core elements of the show require more thorough investigation. Without spoiling anything, the basic premise of the show involves "bending", the concept of using art forms to manipulate one or more of the natural elements. Between problem solving and fight scenes, this idea is put to use in numerous creative ways, with each component carefully detailed. Scars are consistent, a gust of air changes the path of fire and snuffs it out, earth can be molded like clay or shattered like stone, and all of it combines into a visual masterpiece. Even color selection allows for storytelling and visual appeal, with each group of people donning various colors to represent their nation, or other colors to disguise themselves or otherwise invoke an emotion from the viewers.

While the young (and young at heart) will be fascinated by audio-visual components alone, the writing is likely the most absurdly stunning show. Jokes are reference episodes later, small foreshadowing always comes into play, and the plot always flows perfectly. Societies are well-written, and even shown thoroughly enough that something as simple as a board game (Pai Sho, to those who are interested), is written out clearly enough to have been made into a real board game, not published by the writers but by the dedicated fans. The show follows the adventures of a group of children struggling to cope with the war-ravaged remains of society brought on by one nation's attempt to seize control of the world. While they are often successful, the group has to face death, abandonment, betrayal, and deception at every turn. Even more adult themes like sexism, racism, and ethics come into play as soon as the first few episodes. As the main characters grow in number, so do the problems that must be faced, as each nation has complex interactions with the others that can lead to smaller fights in the midst of a much more crucial war. Balance is a key theme in the show, with two pairs of elements that complement each other. Water is quick and cunning, while earth is strong and blunt; fire is fierce and difficult to control, while air is graceful and light. Characters often have a "good" side and a "bad" side, which combine into a well-balanced, wise character by the end of their respective arc. Factions betray natural order by interfering directly with nature, or by interfering with each other's power. In each dispute, the Avatar must act as the medium, the symbol of perfect balance, restoring order to all that has become chaotic. However, the weight of such power is not easy to handle, and it is made even more challenging when bestowed upon a child thrust into the war without the time to even cope with his emotions and developing mind.

In summary, this show is DARK. It puts many other shows to shame in its adult storytelling. Children are forced to wage war against a threat that completely outmatches them, and the results of each of their actions weigh heavily on the world as a whole. Throughout the show, it is kept remarkably positive and whimsical, with most intermediary episodes involving the more fun and adventurous results of the group's travels. Through a combination of art, music, and writing, the show is a cinematic miracle that has inspired me personally in many ways. To anyone even remotely curious about the show, it's worth the time, especially if you can commit to the three seasons in order to see the stunning character development and story arcs. I take what I learned from this show to heart, and I know I'm not alone.