What have flying manatees got to do with Aang? And does the show really count as anime? We've got the answers to these questions and many more in this fast-paced list of awesome Avatar the Last Airbender facts! Read on and see how much you already know! If you want even more avatar stuff - then take a peek at these amazing Avatar animal sidekick facts!

And if you're looking for more TV and film facts then we've got you covered there too - with everything from Boss Baby and Despicable Me to Naruto!

Phew! Loads of facts! Ok, let's get back to Avatar, then!

1. It nailed those Asian influences

Avatar: The Last Airbender was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. Whilst not Asian themselves, they got a lot of their inspiration from Asian art and culture, and used them to create an all-new fantasy world. The action styles were based on different real-life martial arts forms, like Tai Chi for Waterbending and Northern Shaolin for Firebending. The creators worked with experts to make sure they represent these influences in a respectful way!

2. Four Elements

The story is set in a world split into four nations: the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. Each nation has an element, and some of its people, called benders, can use that element to do cool stuff. The main character is Aang, a young boy and the Avatar, who can bend all four elements and is tasked with keeping balance in the world. He has his work cut out for him!

3. The animation mixes East and West

Though the show is often compared to Japanese anime, it was produced by American studios and animated in South Korea. So it's not Japanese at all! It does draw on Japanese art styles though, and the mixing of more "Western" storytelling with "Eastern" art makes Avatar different to everything else! As we'll find out, this is one of the show's biggest strengths!

4. The Bending is real!

The movements for bending were based on real martial arts styles. For example, Earthbending uses Hung Gar, an ancient Chinese martial art which uses strong, wide stances and powerful strikes. Airbending is inspired by Baguazhang, a style related to Tai-Chi, which is well-known for its smooth, circular movements. This helps make the bending feel more realistic and exciting!

5. Monk Gyatso is named after the Dalai Lama

The character Monk Gyatso is Aang’s mentor and guardian at the Southern Air Temple. His name "Gyatso" is a Tibetan name and not-so coincidentally one of the names of the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso - the most senior spiritual figure in Tibetan Buddhism. Clearly it's a good name for spiritual mentors!

6. Toph Beifong is pretty hardcore

Avatar is a great show for creating modern, inspirational characters. One example is Toph Beifong, a really strong female character who is the most powerful Earthbender of her time despite being born blind. Toph is tough, funny, and incredibly skilled, even inventing the technique of Metalbending. She’s a great example of the show breaking stereotypes - more on that later!

8. It's got a serious side!

Avatar isn’t just about epic battles and fun adventures; it also explores serious issues like war and environmentalism. Aang struggles with the responsibilities of being the Avatar and wanting remain a peaceful Air Nomad. These more grown-up themes are handled in ways that are accessible to kids but still make it fun for adults, too.

9. Sounds of the Airbender

Composer Jeremy Zuckerman made an amazing soundtrack for the show, that - as you might have guessed - mixes traditional Asian instruments like zithers with a modern sound. The music is a really important part of the show and were even recorded by a full band for the final few episodes!

10. It's won lots of awards

Avatar: The Last Airbender has received lots of praise and won a heap of awards, including an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation. The sucess of the show proves that anime can work even when it's written by a Western team, and when it's done in a very different way.

11. Korra from the Water Tribe

The sequel series, The Legend of Korra, follows a new Avatar, Korra, 70 years after Aang’s time. Korra is a strong-willed Water Tribe girl making her way in a more modern world. The show covers environmental problems, politics, religion and other more grown-up stuff - while staying true to the original shows general feel. It's also a great show!

12. Korra was a game changer

In The Legend of Korra, Korra’s relationship with Asami Sato develops over the series and ends with the two making it a romantic one. This was a big step for LGBTQ+ representation in children’s animation, and won a lot of praise for how it was done - in a normal, positive way and not as a gimmick. Good work!

13. Flying manatees?

Aang’s sky bison, Appa, and his pet lemur, Momo, were designed by one of the shows creators, Bryan Konietzko. Appa was based on a manatee, while Momo combined elements of a bat and a cat. The lovable characters add a lot of humour to the show, and are big fan favourites!

14. The show is a big deal!

Even after the show ended in 2008, its only gotten more and more popular! Fans have created fan art, fanfiction, cosplay, and argued about the plot for hours in online discussions. Netflix has now made two seasons of the live action remake, which brought the show to a much bigger audience. And there are big things in store for Avatar fans in future, too!

15. It's not done yet!

The live action series has been a big success, and Season 2 is coming out in early 2025! The latest story features Toph Beifong as a main character, and focusses on her amazing Eath and metalbending skills. The Avatar frachise is still going strong, with more series, mangas and shows planned for the future! We're excited to see the new airbending adventures!