Avatar: The Last Airbender is almost twenty years old, and its impact continues to be felt. Let me count the ways. Dark Horse Comics has a line of graphic novels that expands the world of the original series. There’s a trio of new animated films in the works at Paramount. Netflix just released its live-action adaptation of the series (though mileage varies on critical reception). Today at Emerald City Comic Con, cast members reunited to discuss The Last Airbender‘s impact.
The panel consisted of Zack Tyler Eisen (Aang), Dante Basco (Zuko), Jack De Sena (Sokka), and Mae Whitman (Katara). When asked about how they view The Last Airbender‘s massive success as well as its increased popularity, Whitman said it was “pretty rad.” “Flash forward twenty years and we’re talking to a room of people about it!” De Sena added. Basco said that being on the “ground floor” of a franchise was crazy, and Eisen said that time helped him to realize why the show became such a phenomenon.
It’s clear that time affected how the cast views The Last Airbender. Basco, who co-hosts the Braving the Elements recap podcast with The Legend of Korra‘s Janet Varney, said he was getting his “Ph.D.” in the series. “We all grew up making it,” Whitman said. Eisen agreed as he was literally the same age as Aang when the series started recording. Even wilder was how The Last Airbender skyrocketed in popularity. De Sena and Whitman did a live reading of an episode at San Diego Comic Con, which gathered a packed house. Basco recalls being at Sundance and talking with Jason Issacs, who voiced General Zhao in the original series. Issacs apparently had a literal “wtf” reaction when someone recognized him from the show – Basco found it hilarious.
Talk then turned to the recording schedule, which had the cast gathering once a week to record episodes. Whitman had nothing but praise for co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko, saying that they kept “the best parts of the people they cast for the characters”. Eisen and De Sena had praise for legendary voice director Andrea Romano. Next, the discussion of favorite episodes came up – they tended to be “the furthest away” from what the characters usually act like, De Sena noted. Case in point: Whitman said her favorite episode was when Katara learned about the power of blood bending.
Finally, the cast was asked which characters they’d voice other than their respective roles. Eisen was quick to pick Sokka, while Basco picked freedom fighter Jet; De Sena would voice the Boulder and Whitman went for Azula. There was also plenty of love for their other roles – particularly Basco’s American Dragon: Jake Long and Whitman’s work on The Owl House. Judging from the deafening cheers, it’s safe to say that Avatar: The Last Airbender continues to hold its place in the hearts of a generation.
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