Avatar: The Last Airbender

Full 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Movie Trailer Coming in December

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:24:07 GMT

Despite the many protests hurled against the casting for the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender movie, the trailer released a few months ago in June was another thing altogether. The near two-minute preview drew raves from fans, and it was all but one scene and one character! When the casting photos were released, however, the enthusiasm induced by the release of the trailer quickly died. And now discussions mostly involve racism, the inspiration behind the Avatar mythology, and others.

A little over two months after the release of the first mini-trailer, producer Frank Marshall announced via Twitter that Avatar: The Last Airbender fans may have to wait a little longer for the full trailer.

Even 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Animatic Director Decries Movie Casting

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:29:16 GMT

The brouhaha involving the casting in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender movie has no doubt drawn harsh criticisms from both sides of the debate, some quite logical, some just totally - excuse me - stupid.

Joining the camp calling some casting decisions racist is the animatic director of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series Dao Le, who sent a statement to Racebending.com calling the casting moves "a huge disappointment."

'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Movie Casting Debate Rages On

editor@buddytv.com — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:40:29 GMT

Filming and production en route to the July 2010 release of the Avatar: The Last Airbender movie is currently in full swing (complete with a bunch of licensing deals with toy and publishing companies), as if there isn't any ongoing debate in regards to its controversial casting decisions. So far, no Paramount people has even remotely acknowledged the presence of any controversy, much less bothered to address it.

More than anything, this puts to question whether all the noise that this racist vs. not racist debate has that big a following, or is it one of those cases where a few outspoken fans overreact and get more people riled up in the process. Adding their voice to the cause, however, both the animatic editor and the cultural consultant of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender series have both expressed disappointment with the casting decisions, perhaps revealing that there is something more to this outcry than just plain fan overreaction.

'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Movie Toys Coming Soon, Casting Debate Rages On

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 01:00:44 GMT

Toronto-based toy company Spin Master has nabbed an exclusive deal with Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products to be the master global toy licensor for all the forthcoming action figures, vehicles, and play sets en route to the theatrical release of the Avatar: The Last Airbender movie The Last Airbender on July 2010.

"M. Night Shyamalan and Paramount have done an incredible job of adapting the mythology of Avatar, the Nick TV show, into an imaginative and visually stunning live-action big-screen fantasy adventure film," said Adam Beder, Spin Master's licensing chief.

'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Trilogy To Take Six Years to Make

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:23:45 GMT

Clearly, good things take time.

Some time after the release of the first trailer for the Avatar: The Last Airbender movie, producer Frank Marshall revealed to Starlog that the prodigious process that comes with writing and conceptualizing the planned trilogy would most likely entail a lot of time that can take up to six years.

M. Night Shyamalan Waited so Long for 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Movie

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:38:31 GMT

En route to its July 2, 2010 launch, the Avatar: The Last Airbender movie called The Last Airbender is quickly gathering hype, thanks to the trailer released recently. More than a year before The Last Airbender hits movie screens, the hit Nickelodeon series adaptation became a hit far beyond its original 6 to 11-year-old demo, no small thanks to its amazing and complete mythology and engaging storyline.

Sixth Sense director M. Night Shyamalan, who takes the reins in The Last Airbender, tells If Magazine that he waited so long for something like Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it was kids who introduced him to the Nickelodeon animated series.

'Last Air Bender' Movie Trailer Now Available

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:21:35 GMT

The much-anticipated trailer for The Last Airbender, which is based on the highly successful Nickelodeon animated TV series Avatar: The Last Airbender, has just been released online. The movie from M. Night Shyamalan has been the topic of discussions among Avatar fans ever since the Emmy-winning series wrapped up last July. And now, fans can finally take a sneak peek at the live action film, which is scheduled for theatrical release on July 2, 2010.

'Lost,' 'SNL,' YouTube Win Peabody Awards

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:34:08 GMT

Every year, the Peabody Awards honor excellence in television, and this year’s recipients represent a broad range of genres. From news to satire, from the Olympics to a period miniseries, from sci-fi to animation, the Peabodys are honoring a little bit of everything.

The winners this year include the time-traveling exploits of Lost, the majesty of Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, HBO’s wild Entourage, AMC’s quietly beautiful Breaking Bad, the political sketches from Saturday Night Live, and everyone’s favorite video sharing outpost, YouTube.

'Avatar' Third Installment Video Game Now Available

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:00:00 GMT

THQ has announced that Avatar: The Last Airbender - Into the Inferno, the video game that follows the storyline of the third season of Nickelodeon's acclaimed and highly successful TV series, is now available for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and Nintendo Wii home video game system. The much awaited game is also expected to be made available for Nintendo DS on Monday, November 24.

Just like the third season of Avatar, which saw the final showdown between Aang and his friends as they face Fire Lord Ozai, Into the Inferno allows players to embark on an epic adventure and participate in the dramatic culmination to the 100-year-old war.

'Avatar' Multiplayer Online Global Game Out in September

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Some two months after Avatar: The Last Airbender wrapped up its third and final season, the clamor for more Aang and the gang has not died down. The movie that is currently in production is surely creating a buzz, and the complete Avatar Book 3 DVD hit the anime shelves a week ago. Surely, these developments have something to do with the 19 million people who tuned in during its farewell week. These figures put Avatar: The Last Airbender among the top five shows cable during its run.

Now Avatar's legion of fans have to wait until July 2010 to see the movie, but for the mean time, Nickelodeon is launching a massive Avatar Multiplayer Online Global game called Avatar: Legends of the Arena to make the Avatar experience closer to fans. Here, players can create their own Avatar character and do battle with players all over the world in several three-dimensional online arenas. As you go along, you can unlock new bending moves and get equipment as you win. You can go here for more details.

Complete 'Avatar' Book 3 DVD Comes Out Today

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

It has been nearly two months since the finale of the third and final season of Avatar: The Last Airbender has aired. Since then, Avatar fans haven't stopped clamoring for a fourth book from its makers, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. While there is still no confirmation that a fourth book (presumably and logically to be “air”) is in the offing, the people behind the popular series have at least gave Avatar fans something to look forward to: the Avatar movie to be released next year.

Meanwhile, Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Complete Book 3 Collection lands in the shelves of your favorite DVD stores today. The five-disc package will include the 21 episodes of the season, plus several special features such as Inside Sozin's Comet: Exclusive Four-Part Audio Commentary by Creators, The Women of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Book 3 Finale Pencil Test Animation, and Into the Fire Nation at San Diego Comic-Con.

More Details for 'Avatar' Movie

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

After confirmation some months back of an official Avatar: The Last Airbender move being in the works, more details surface regarding the highly anticipated project. Unique to its kind as an animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender also has a huge following among the older markets, and this is seen to be one of its strength when it finally comes out.

That being said, The Last Airbender is set for release on July 2, 2010, with filming beginning in Philadelphia in May 2009. It will also be shot in Greenland. Meanwhile, the working title had the word "Avatar" stricken out so as not to be confused with the James Cameron project of the same title. With Cameron proclaiming that the upcoming Avatar movie will dwarf Titanic, even an M. Night Shyamalan feature better stay away from it.

Complete 'Avatar' Book 3 DVD Comes Out September 16

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:30:04 GMT

For those who can't get quite enough of Aang and his gang after highly raved about Nickelodeon animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender ended its season on a high note (read: 19 million viewers on its final week), you're in luck, as the complete box set of Avatar Book 3 will debut on DVD this September 16.

Other than, of course, the 21 episodes of the phenomenal season, the DVD set will also have several bonus features, such as Inside Sozin's Comet: Exclusive Four-Part Audio Commentary by Creators, The Women of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Book 3 Finale Pencil Test Animation, and Into the Fire Nation at San Diego Comic-Con.

'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Game Goes to PSP

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

While waiting for the release of an online multiplayer Avatar game in less than a month, Aang and his posse have made their way to the portable playstation. Avatar: The Last Airbender for the PSP has been lauded for not being strict in terms of following the storyline in the highly successful Nickelodeon series. Instead, players can find their own quests and follow their destiny, so to speak.

If you're a fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, be sure to read on to see whether this game will be worth your time and money.

'Avatar' Writer to Direct Star Wars TV Adaptation, 7th Star Wars Movie

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Jumping from one hit to hopefully another one, a writer of the top-rating Nickelodeon animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender Dave Filoni was recently signed up to take the reins of The Clone Wars, the television series inspired by the 31-year old Star Wars franchise and pop culture phenomenon. Finoli, 34, worked with Avatar and was interviewed and hired by George Lucas himself to usher the ongoing saga of the Skywalker family to its fourth decade.

Finoli was also at the helm of the seventh film in the franchise, also called Clone Wars, which debuted in theaters recently. He and his team did so well in using computer animation to create the Star Wars cartoon series that he was chosen to do the movie, too.

'Avatar' Creators Share Thoughts on 'Avatar' the Movie

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:00:00 GMT

After a record-breaking final week on Nickelodeon, which attracted some 19 million viewers, fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender now have to endure the long wait until July 2010, when the first of a trilogy of Avatar movies is slated to come out. They have something to expect, however, as it will be directed by M. Night Syamalan, the force behind The Sixth Sense.

“He's very respectful of the material we have created,” says creator Mike DiMartino of Shyamalan. “We are really excited to see the Avatar world come to life in a live-action movie. Personally, I can't wait to see a realistic Appa flying through the sky.”

'Avatar' Online Game to Come Out in September

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

After a final week that had a record 19 million viewers tuning in, Nickelodeon announced the release of a new avatar multiplayer online global game inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The game, called Avatar: Legends of the Arena, lets players create their own Avatar character and even test their skills against players from all over the world in several 3D online arenas.

BuddyTV's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' - Book 3, Volume 4 DVD Giveaway

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:32:11 GMT

Avatar: The Last Airbender recently wrapped up its final season on Nickelodeon with an action-packed finale that left fans completely satisfied. Though the finale just aired ten days ago, the four-part epic is already hitting DVD so fans can relive the mind-blowing conclusion all over again. The disc also contains the two episodes prior to the finale, "The Southern Raiders" and "The Ember Island Players," along with commentary from the creators, cast and crew.

To find out how you can win your own copy of the Avatar Book 3, Volume 4 DVD, read on.

19 Million Tuned in for Special 'Avatar' Week

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:40:00 GMT

The third season surely ended with a bang for Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender. The special week featuring new half-hour episodes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, a one-hour TV movie mid-week, and, of course, the highly anticipated two-hour finale "Sozin's Comet" attracted nearly 20 million viewers, breaking records for the series' highest ratings ever and at the same time earning the top spot for broadcast and basic cable television for the week with kids and tweens.

The conclusion to the third season, where Aang faces an epic battle against the Firelord and comes to terms with his destiny, became the number-one telecast on broadcast and basic cable television for its week, with an average of 5.6 million viewers, some 200 percent higher than last year's like time period. It likewise earned the highest ratings for Avatar ever with kids 6 to 11 years old and twwens, couple with triple-digit increases in almost all demographics.

'Avatar' Officially Over, but Perhaps Not Quite So

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:00:41 GMT

Nickelodeon's popular animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender may have ended, but obviously the fever isn't over yet. Aside from the planned trilogy of live-action films that will be directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the first of which is currently in production, the press' attention has again given the cartoon glowing reviews.

Last Saturday's finale, “Sozin's Comet”—actually the series' last four episodes shown together—was praised for its balance of fun for children and adults, much like how its main character Aang attempts to keep balance in the world. “This is complicated stuff, the reconciliation of religion and violence, and it's beautifully rendered,” The New York Times said. “[It's] simple enough for Nickelodeon fans and subtle enough for their parents, with humor to puncture the pomposity inherent in the heroic genre.”

'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Series Finale Airs Tonight

editor@buddytv.com — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The wait is over! Fans who have been looking forward to the conclusion of Avatar: The Last Airbender can now witness the final fate of the four nations as Nickelodeon presents a riveting two-hour Avatar television movie, which airs tonight at 8pm ET/PT.

Following Aang's futile attack against the vicious Firelord Ozai during the "Day of Black Sun," he will finally face his mortal enemy and seal his destiny in the final showdown between Aang and Firelord Ozai in the episode called "Sozin's Comet."

Avatar: Preview of "The Boiling Rock"

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:23:36 GMT

Avatar: The Last Airbender fans have been waiting months, but the day is almost here. In the US, Nickelodeon began airing one new episode a day starting on Monday, leading up to the long awaited Avatar two-hour series finale, “Sozin's Comet.”

Already we are halfway through the Avatar: The Last Airbender week long event. “The Western Air Temple” was aired Monday night, and yesterday was “The Firebending Masters.” Tonight will be a special hour long Avatar episode combining both parts of “The Boiling Rock” – an episode that will prove to be a critical turning point before the big, series ending battle on Saturday.

Avatar: Our Top 10 Episodes So Far

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:50:00 GMT

Next week, the remaining 10 episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender will air each night, ending with what should be an explosive two-hour series finale on July 19. It has been over three years since Avatar: The Last Airbender began airing on Nickelodeon, and over time the show has grown from a deceptively simple kid's adventure series to one of the best American animated series ever.

In honor of Avatar's impending series finale, we here at BuddyTV sat down and racked our brains to list our top 10 favorite Avatar episodes. The choices were tough, since nearly every episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender is packed with humor, action and heart – but even in a sea of awesomeness, some episodes rose to the top.

Avatar: Air Dates for the Final Ten Episodes

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:36:00 GMT

For someone used to network TV, the almost haphazard scheduling of Avatar: The Last Airbender has been more than a little confusing. Nickelodeon has aired seasons of this show with extensive breaks between episodes, and then waited months and months between seasons. For a show aimed at a younger audience with a short attention span, this doesn't seem like the wisest plan. Especially since Avatar: The Last Airbender isn't a Spongebob Squarepants, which has nothing resembling an overarcing story and can air reruns forever without anyone much caring.

Avatar: The Last Airbender and its coherent, specific story arcs is a tale best seen beginning to end, and finally the end of the series – its last few episodes before its conclusive finale – will air in just a month. Strangely, the current schedule is that the last episodes will be aired straight through during the course of one week, an odd choice after the lengthy and painfully long schedule the show previously endured.

Shyamalan Talks About the 'Avatar' Movie

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:17:31 GMT

M. Night Shyamalan's new R-rated thriller The Happening is hitting theaters this Friday, and as he makes the rounds to promote the film he's getting hit with a lot of questions about the upcoming live action Avatar: The Last Airbender movie. Currently the flick is being called simply The Last Airbender so as to not conflict with director James “Titanic” Cameron's upcoming movie Avatar.

Shyamalan has reportedly been working closely with Avatar: The Last Airbender creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko to craft the movie, which he plans to be the first of a trilogy with each movie following one season of the series. Though Shyamalan has long received criticism for his particular brand of storytelling and for the films that followed his smash hit The Sixth Sense, the news that the original Avatar creators are involved and that Shyamalan seems to have huge respect for the story is encouraging news.

The Long-Awaited Return of 'Avatar'

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:05:33 GMT

As Uncle Iroh might tell us, patience is a virtue. But patience as an Avatar: The Last Airbender fan can only last so long before we just want Nickelodeon to hurry up and air the last few episodes already.

Good news, Avatar fans. If you haven't yet heard, the remaining half of Book 3: Fire is coming to American TV in just six weeks. Though several episodes beyond the mid-season two parter "The Day of Black Sun" have aired outside of the US, and a few of those are already out on DVD, come July 14 Nickelodeon will finally air the last ten episodes of the series.