Excellent storytelling, top rate animation, in-depth character development, great adventure, humor and emotion are the hallmarks of the Airbender series. Air …what?

Avatar: The Last Airbender is primarily a kids’ cartoon from the Nick channel, but don’t let that stop you. In the last few days I’ve watched all the episodes from the first season in the shortest time possible, and for a good reason. Airbender’s compelling plot is supported by the strongest story (and credible acting) I’ve had the pleasure of following in quite a while. Not even the biggest Hollywood productions can match up to any of the 20 episodes of Season 1. But dude, I hear some of ya saying, it’s a cartoon! It’s for kids! Don’t worry about it. Snag the first handful and tell me if it’s not straight up awesome.

Ok. I was scratching my head the first time a friend mentioned it, what with “flying bison” and all. I mean cmon, bison don’t fly …do they? But what’s incredible about Airbender is all the crazy stuff that makes it different, what makes it magical, what makes it what it is. The thing that strikes a chord in the heart of any kid (and the kid in you too) is the wow factor that takes your breath away. Yes, I’m being intentionally vague. I want you to try the series on your own. Links and sites aplenty might give you an idea of the wonder that is Airbender; but believe me this once when I tell you to get right on this. If you don’t feel all slick rick with getting it for yourself, why don’t you get it for say, your nieces and nephews or younger cousins? Or if you have your own children! Treat them to an Airbender marathon. That’ll work. (:

Rave mode off. The best that I like about Airbender is its fully-developed milieu. There are fantastic beasts and supernatural creatures that don’t seem out of place, and the fact that some of them have extra limbs OR look totally weird won’t bother you. They look fine. They look like they belong right where they are. Another is: The characters’ relationships, dialogue and interaction are very well defined and realistic that scenes flow with ease. There’s an element of humor that keeps things from getting stiff, and I like that a lot. My favorite character is probably Sokka, because he’s goofy and the protective older brother, like I am. He also doesn’t have any powers (the Bending in Airbender) so he relies on smarts, tools and skillz. Kinda like my fave hero Batman. He’s a really strong character because he has to be. He can’t fly or blast enemies with powerbeams. He’s quick on his feet if he wants to survive, and even quicker with his wit. But he’s also clumsy and hungry all the time and that makes him easy to relate to. Cos …I like to eat and nap, and when I was way younger I had a similar hairdo. I dunno. He’s cool.

Airbender’s narrative is effectively carried forward by a powerful emotional current. There is an ongoing war in the world and our main characters are entrusted with the twin duties of keeping hope alive and overcoming a great evil. In order to bring peace back to the land, they must remain steadfast in their quest …but I can’t tell you any more, because if I do then you’ll be spoiled and yadda yadda. But unlike most stories that involve the destruction and chaos of war, the series is neither preachy nor heavy-handed. For a kids’ cartoon, there’s a pretty serious message in there, but there’s no thumping you over the head with it.

So. That’s all I got for now. I’m on a cloud, having just finished Season 1 not five minutes ago and I’m still snickering over the episode with the insane King in the rollercoaster city whatsit, er, The King of Omashu. Actually, there’s lots of snickering to be had. This is a really good (and cool, and crazy) show to get into. It has serious moments and funny ones, all sorts of mad kungfu going on, in different places all over – with a cast of hundreds of nobles and peasants, tribes, hippies (ok, they’re called nomads), pirates and ninjas, monks and tinkerer, inventor, scientist types, and encounters in the spirit world! It’s an ace adventure of the first calibre!

You know how you can read a book, fall in love with it, and take the magic from its pages and absorb that into you? How you can go about your daily goings-on and think, yeah …”this is a lot like in page 27 when our heroes where about to enter the cave of monster this and get the mystic key to unlock the secret of ancient riddle what how and why.” Yep. Airbender is just that. So get started. :)