I don’t know if its discussed about much when we talk about good examples of world building, but I really think Avatar does such a great job at making things understandable for both younger and older audiences while also exploring a deeply historied and complicated world. What I really love is how benders often utilize their abilities in their professions or in real-world utilities.
What an awesome series and world!
What do you mean “especially for a Nickelodeon show”? Are you saying iCarly wasn’t a masterpiece of world building??
Shows like this happen so rarely. It makes me believe that low effort shows aren’t the be all end all of television and that world builders and great character writers CAN succeed.
So, according to the creators, that world was built on spec in a month and some of the best aspects in the last week. Which blows me away. I would have sworn those guys walked in with that idea in their pocket. Nope, nickelodeon wanted a Harry Potter-esque long form story with some kind of magic element and that’s what they came up with.
Just FYI, the head writer Aaron Ehasz (Futurama, ATLA) & frequent episode director Giancarlo Volpe are pairing up again for a new series called The Dragon Prince.
For those interested, there are a lot of videos out there breaking down in detail what makes Avatar’s world building so good. I’ll link two of my favorites by separate Youtubers. The first one is about magic and worldbuilding and the second is about handling power levels. They really help a lot in my own writing.
I made a magic system that required martial arts to preform. At the time I thought it was a totally original idea to use base elements to do so.
When I told a friend about it, they said.
"So it’s like avatar the last air bender? "
I chucked and said "no, the difference is… What I did different…You see… I mean… "
I had a long pause and finally said “Fuck, it is avatar the last air bender!”
The only problem I have with the world building is the lack of a language barrier but with it being a “kids” show I can understand why there was no different languages for the four nations.
Trust me when I say that this show is thrown around a LOT when it comes to this subreddit and the subject of Worldbuilding in general. The original series moreso than the sequel, and with good reason.
It sincerely feels like a new, but explored world.
It’s (to me) on par with the original Dragon Ball in terms of the worldbuilding aspect (Manga or Anime).
If you have the opportunity, watch that too, OP. It’ll give you a good idea of how to introduce a world to people with your story.
You learn about the world the same pace that Goku does, it’s almost perfect.
A great piece of worldbuilding comes in the first episode of Korra. Without a single line of dialogue that feels like exposition, we learn that organized crime is a problem, the big city isn’t what it is made out to be, non-benders feel discontent with a system that promotes benders(and there is a political movement supporting that fact). All of it amplified by the fact that Korra was raised in a sheltered way.
Are you suggesting that iCarly wasn’t great world building? That shoe inspired the e-celebrity scene we have today!
One little fact that I love about that show is that every episode takes place in a new location, with the exception of the Ba Sing Se arc. With the caveat that when we do occasionally go back to a place, it’s so radically changed that it might as well be a different place (e.g free Omashu vs. Occupied Omashu). That show wastes no time in its worldbuilding and it’s one reason the world feels so big.
i recently rewatched it too!! it’s absolutely brilliant i completely agree. especially with the way they integrated different cultures into different nations. remarkable.
I think everyone considers avatar a master class in world building and character arks
Some of the best character development in any show I’ve ever seen.
Avatar is my favourite cartoon ever, and one of my favourite shows ever. What seemed like just a kids program evolved into an incredible story and I cared a lot about the characters, the development is amazing. I might re-watch it now actually.
Honestly, forget “for a cartoon” or “for a kids’ Nick show.” The Avatar series is one of the best pieces of media I’ve ever consumed in general. Even now, the amount of thought and heart put into it astounds me. I feel like it genuinely influenced the person I became and my moral philosophy.
I am rewatching it now too. I am finishing up season one. I have been writing down questions that pop up but the questions aren’t questions that poke holes in the setting so much as intrigues me.
Dude, I did the same thing. Spent the last straight week watching all of Avatar and Korra. Just randomly had the urge.
The most intense episode was the blood bending. Blew my mind.