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Aang and friends reunite for Paramount+’s new animated sequel
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
Paramount+ is releasing "Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender", an animated feature-length sequel to Nickelodeon's popular series, on 24 July, alongside a limited theatrical run intended to qualify it for Oscar consideration. According to The Hollywood Reporter's review, the film prioritises spectacular action sequences over strong plotting or character development, meaning it is likely to satisfy franchise devotees more for its visuals than its storytelling, while newcomers to the franchise may find the dense backstory daunting despite an opening recap.
The story picks up after the original series, with a now grown-up Aang reuniting with Katara, Sokka, Toph and Zuko to track down a magical staff that could save his people, after learning of it from a newly awakened ancient Airbender named Tagah, played by Dave Bautista. The 99-minute, PG-rated film, directed by Lauren Montgomery from a script by Tim Hedrick and Christopher Yost, features a largely new voice cast alongside familiar names including Steven Yeun, Ke Huy Quan and Ken Jeong. The review praises the consistently striking combination of 2D and 3D animation but notes that the relentless pace and thin exposition risk making the film feel wearisome, summing it up as delivering strong action but comparatively little else.
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In short
- "Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender" streams on Paramount+ from 24 July
- Review praises the animation but criticises weak plot and pacing
- Dave Bautista voices new character Tagah alongside the original cast
How this story developed
- 4 months ago The Hollywood Reporter's assessment softened slightly, hedging that the film "may" rather than definitively will win over franchise loyalists, while dropping its earlier caveat about newcomers struggling with dense backstory and instead pinning the wearisome pacing critique specifically on viewers unfamiliar with the wider "Avatar" universe.
- 4 months ago Paramount+ set 24 July for the release of "Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender", pairing the streaming debut with a limited Oscar-qualifying theatrical run, with The Hollywood Reporter's review of the Dave Bautista-featuring sequel judging its action set-pieces stronger than its plotting.
- IGN Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender Review
- The Hollywood Reporter Aang and friends reunite for Paramount+’s new animated sequel
Explained simply
Paramount+ has made an animated sequel to Nickelodeon's "Avatar: The Last Airbender", the acclaimed cartoon that followed a young monk named Aang as he mastered magical elemental powers to defeat a warmongering empire. The new film, "Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender", catches up with Aang and his companions as adults, continuing their story beyond where the original series left off.
The core cast returning includes Aang and his friends Katara, Sokka and Toph, along with Zuko, a former enemy turned ally in the earlier series. The plot centres on a search for a magical staff needed to help Aang's people, guided by a newly introduced character called Tagah, voiced by actor Dave Bautista.
The release matters both to fans of the original show, which built a large and devoted following over the years, and within the film industry, since Paramount+ is giving the film a brief cinema run alongside its streaming debut specifically so it can be considered for major awards such as the Oscars.
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Originally published by The Hollywood Reporter as “‘Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender’ Review: Dazzling Visuals Compete With Lackluster Storytelling in Film Sequel to Hit Animated Series”.