10 Secret TV Pilot Episodes You Didn't Know Existed

The unaired pilot for Avatar The Last Airbender was made just to pitch the show to Nickelodeon, and therefore wasn't created with the care, funding or talents of the actual show.

The shorter version that was made, was roughly constructed, but it truly demonstrated how special the show could be with a big studio's backing. Thankfully Nickelodeon could see the potential and ordered the show to series.

One of the differences from the show included Mae Whitman's character being called Kya not Katara; fans will recognise that name as it was later given to the character's mother. Another crucial difference was a side plot that saw then-villain Zuko kill the unagi and keep the head as a trophy. A way of showing his coldness that ultimately didn't work with the redemption story the showrunners had planned for him.

But the biggest change came in a casting decision. The unaired pilot unbelievably featured Hannah Montana's Mitchel Musso as the main character Aang, but he was of course replaced with the voice actor we all know and love: Zach Tyler Eisen.