Avatar: The Last Airbender: A Parent's Perspective

Friday September 21^st was the premiere of Nickelodeon's hit show Avatar: The Last Air Bender and it was the premiere that my children and I have been waiting for. We found ourselves watching with our eyes wide at the shocking revelations made by Azula, and the realization that Zuko truly did betray his uncle, the man who had protected him for three years. We found ourselves gasping as we saw Fire Lord Ozai for the first time, and taken aback when Aang left the safety of the ship in an attempt to protect his friends from harm. The premiere of Season 3 was incredible, and it was during this episode that I realized just how much this simple children's show has to offer beyond entertainment.

Avatar: The Last Air Bender debuted on February 21, 2005 and is the creation of Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Koneitzko. What began as a simple children's show has now blossomed into a multi-million dollar industry that includes games, action figures, clothing, video games, and much more. The Avatar franchise will soon include a live action trilogy slated to premiere in movie theatres sometime in 2009, and will be directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

The focus of the show is on a young Airbender named Aang, who is the reincarnation of the Avatar, the one person who can control all four of the elements. The four elements being: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water and all set in a fantasy realm that has connections to many Asian and philosophical practices. Yes, there is fighting and yet the fighting is always portrayed as a last resort for the main characters. One can see that the creators have taken the time to demonstrate the effects of war upon a nation and the people of that nation in their portrayal of cities after the Fire Nation conquers them.

The creators of Avatar deserve applause for the way they portray death in a manner that a child can understand, and how they place value upon the friendships Aang formed throughout his journeys. I often find that my son is full of questions and even answers about why they fought and if the fighting served a purpose. I can see the wheels turn in his mind as he sorts out why Azula would betray her brother and what he thinks will happen to her when everyone sees just how evil she is.

In my perspective, Avatar: The Last Air Bender offers a very positive influence in the lives of children. Not only does it offer morals and lessons within each episode but it also offers a glimpse at real world cultural beliefs and values. Yes, it is fantasy and as such it holds many factors that define fantasy but some of those very factors can also mimic real world beliefs and ideals. I have found that my son is now interested in learning about other cultures and philosophies, he is also very interested in the styles that define Anime art and Asian art.

My husband and I have discussed in length the importance of respect for all people, and Avatar: The Last Airbender helps us to emphasize this lesson by showing our children a world where some earn respect through "good deeds" while others demand respect through bullying, like in the case of the Fire Nation. My son has also seen what it is like when you face the choice of right and wrong, and why we have to face challenge despite our fears. He has learned the value of teamwork and the importance of standing up for what we believe in.

I truly feel that Avatar: The Last Bender offers a positive influence despite it being a television show. As a parent, I find that not only do we enjoy watching the show for entertainment purposes, but we also enjoy talking about each episode in depth and going beyond the notion of it being cartoon. I look forward to our "Avatar Nights" as a way for our family to be together and for the positive influence; it has had on our lives.