Summary
Avatar: The Last Airbenderhas continued to build its impressive legacy as the years go by, as the Nickelodeon original has only gained traction and further popularity despite being seventeen years on from the animated show coming to a close. Along with help from spinoffs and itslive-action adaptation on Netflix, the story of Aang, Katara, Soka, Appa, Toph, and Momo has captured the hearts of millions through its delicately told story, infectious interactions, and worthwhile payoff.
Standing at the peak of the adventure animation genre,ATLAhas since been compared to many shows that feature similarities in themes, characters, and tone, withATLAfans having a high chance of indulging and enjoying many alternatives to the legendary series.
Netflix’sArcane, a big-budget video game adaptation of the world’s biggest MOBA,League of Legends, gained worldwide acclaim throughout its two seasons, thanks to its fleshed-out worldbuilding and luxurious standard of animation that had yet to be seen in an animated show. At its core,Arcanesees the long-lost sisters of Vi and Jinx come to blows as the glorious city of Piltover and its crime-infested underbelly Zaun enact warfare that sees many ofLeague of Legends' most famed champions,such as Jayce, Caitlyn, and Ekko, play essential roles.
Besides the show’s slick and stimulating visuals,Arcane’sheartwrenching, interweaving plots that focuses on friendship, love, betrayal, and vengeance set the show apart from a lot of its contemporaries, with itsitting alongsideATLAat the mountaintop of the animation genre.
Released in the same era asATLAwas the influentialTeen Titans, a DC story following a group of teenage superheroes that take on menacing antagonists who intend to rule the planet. Headlined by a fledgling Robin, the Teen Titans, comprised ofCyborg, Raven, Beast Boy, and Starfire, all possess distinct personalities and abilities, making their chemistry and teamwork all the more entertaining.
LikeATLA, the young group of heroes dabble in tackling villains, romance, emotional immaturity, and special powers as the ever-developing squad pushes to become Earth’s saviors.
While often debated and lauded,Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodalways comes out on top in the greatest-ever anime of all-time lists, and for good reason, as the much-heralded shonen delivers a masterful story filled with emotion, interlinked plotlines, andjaw-dropping battles that makeFMABundeniable. At the forefront of the anime are Edward and Alphonse Elrick, two teenage brothers who fight a corrupted system controlled by mysterious evils led by the seven deadly sins to retrieve their bodies after losing them in a failed ritual to save their mother.
Along with a spectacular ensemble that each contributes significantly to the proceedings,FMAB’suse of alchemy that produces epic fire and earth-shattering powers is comparable toATLAand its bending premise, with both shows having a near-identical number of episodes to showcase their fantastic narrative and fight sequences.
Despite being an anime,Hunter x Hunterprovides an epic journey teeming with young protagonists at the heart of the story, touching character growth, and some of anime’s greatest battles, much akin to facets ofATLA. Much ofHxHis carried by Gon Freecss, a young boy with otherworldly abilities who yearns to meet his long-lost father, Ging Freecss, who left Gon to become a pro hunter.
Along Gon’s journey to become a hunter and find Ging, Gon makes friends with Killua Zoldyck, Kurapika, and Leorio. These three teenagers help Gon develop in strength and many other aspects, with Gon and Killua’s friendship, in particular, being the hub ofHxHas their adventure becomes more troubling. The highs and lowsHxHthrows at audiences are unlike many other shows, as its tremendously rich universe full of depth and its expansive power system have made it a must-watch, particularly for those seeking an adventure in an immersive world.
From the mind of one ofATLA’shead writers,Netflix’s ownThe Dragon Princewrapped up at the end of 2024, bringing closure to an animated fantasy series that touches upon themes of power, family, royalty, and war that ravages the land of Xadia. Amid a thousand-year war involving humans, elves, and dragons, two princes, Callum and Ezran, and an elf assassin, Raylan, form an unlikely alliance as they aim to bring peace to all kingdoms despite the presence of evil interfering in their plans.
Among the impressive worldbuilding season by season,The Dragon Princes’found family featuring human princes, elves, and dragons is essential to the heart of the narrative, with Team Zym forming a special bond that sees its ups and downs, comparable to Aang and his companions inATLA.
Among Disney’s rich catalog,Gravity Fallsrose to prominence throughout its runtime, bringing in a variety of audiences due to its high appeal and critical acclaim, withits meshing of humor and mysterypropelling the show to stardom. Following the adventures of twins Dipper and Mabel Pines, the close siblings head to Gravity Falls, a small town haunted by paranormal and strange events, where the pair go gallivanting while staying at their great-uncle’s residence.
Amid the constant turbulence the twins encounter,Gravity Fallsfollows the path set byATLA, with both shows changing the perception of so-called children’s television, offering nuance and compelling storytelling that elevates the genre.
Fresh off his involvement withATLAas one of the show’s directors, Dave Filoni went on to create one of his lasting legacies,Star Wars: The Clone Wars, an animated series that further explores the events of the prequel movies, withAnakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s journeysbeing much in focus.
At its heart,The Clone Warsfollows the Jedi Order and their fight against the droid army using clone troopers. However, despite Anakin and Obi-Wan’s involvement and their relationship being expanded upon, Anakin’s padawan, Ahsoka Tano, emerges as the show’s life force, with her development and Jedi training under Anakin proving pivotal to its success. With full creative license, Filoni built on the success he encountered withATLA, creating a show that single-handedly restored hope for theStar Warsfranchise.
Following on fromATLAcame its sequel show,The Legend of Korra, which follows the life of Aang’s successor, Korra, and her journey in a newfound world engineered by Aang and his allies. Set in a land that sees the starring Republic City, a steampunk-inspired metropolis, take center stage,Korra’s development as the Avatarcomes under threat with the rise of enemies that threaten peace in Aang’s vision of the world.
Along the way, in her quest to learn to harness her Avatar powers, Korra’s strong bonds with Asami, Mako, and Bolin prove vital and a core aspect of the show, akin toATLA’suse of Suko, Katara, and Toph to provide another dimension to Aang on his journey. Despite not reaching the heights of its predecessor,TLOKis a show that still shines in the shadow of a giant, with Korra’s adventure bringing much ofATLA’sessence back to fans.
