10 Greatest Animated TV Shows Of The 2000s

Avatar: The Last Airbender is an epic tale of a young boy named Aang, and his destiny to bring peace to the world by fulfilling his quest as the avatar. When it comes down to his ultimate victory over the fire lord Ozai, it’s all the more victorious because of the strong narrative throughout the entire series that has built up to the final battle. No second of an episode is wasted on meaningless moments and even the most minor of plot points has significance to the overarching story.

It’s a show which addresses subjects relating to war, gender discrimination, imperialism and genocide (topics which are otherwise rarely covered in youth entertainment).

However, even if you don’t want to engage with it critically, it’s still an enjoyable show on a purely surface level too. The artistic visuals alone are enough to sweep you in; here's a nice dash of comedy woven through it, without the humour ever overshadowing or belittling the complex plotting; and each character is well-written and purposefully utilised to the story, all of which include strong female characters and respectful representation of people with disabilities.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is for both kids and adults – a television show which only improves on every viewing.