61 Episodes

GENRE: American Comedy-Martial Arts Anime

SUMMARY: It has been a 100 years since the Fire Kingdom declared war on the lands of Water, Earth, and Air throwing the balance of the world off. It was the job of the Avatar, master of all four elements, to keep the world in harmony, but in the people's time of greatest need, he mysteriously vanished. Now water tribe members Sokka and Katara believe they may have found the new Avatar and must do everything within their power to aid him in returning stability to their lands.

REVIEW: I think this may be the best American cartoon series I've ever watched. This was the second time I watched it and it was still super enjoyable. The art is pretty decent (better than most cheap American shows), but not amazing. The real stars of the show are the writing and characters. The themes feel relevant and compelling while the characters are engaging. The story pacing is awesome (opposite of Naruto) and each episode feels like it either moves the plot forward or tells the audience something more about the characters and back-story. 

One of my favorite parts that is so carefully done in the series is both personal and overall progression. It happens so smoothly that it is hardly noticed which is what makes it so amazing. For example, Katara is a water bender (water mage) who at the start of show can barely do anything with her skills but progresses to increasingly more advanced levels during fights. It isn't like she learns the "kamaya maya" move and now dominates everyone. you just notice her use a few moves you hadn't seen her use before and a few episodes down the line she uses a few more as if the writers are saying "by the way she's training while you aren't watching her". The technology of nations advances as well without becoming a central theme (though it is pointed out every now and then). It makes it seem like all this stuff is going on beyond the audiences viewing moments. It helps an already extremely well crafted world seem even deeper. 

The show also has one of my all-time favorite cartoon characters in it: Sokka. Granted I laugh really easy, but his sense of super-cheesy jokes had me legitimately laughing out-loud all through the series. Apparently the guy who voiced him, Jack DeSena, did such an awesome job improvising that they expanded his role and let him have more free reign with his jokes. Great great show with an epic feel, in-depth philosophy and world, and amazing characters. It is for sure a kid's show though so don't expect 18+ anime. Enjoy.

ART: 7/10
STORYTELLING & PLOT:9/10
CHARACTERS: 10/10 (Sokka makes it for me)
OVERALL: 9/10

BONUS ROUND! Just finished season 1 of "Legend of Korra". Two thumbs up! It is way more bleak and serious. While the first Avatar was a spiritual journey through a late-19th century empire, the Legend of Korra takes place two generations later in Republic city, a booming capital city with the glory and pitfalls of a 1920s to 1940s industrial-era world capital. It is so awesome the way they are trying to address themes of power, technology, and spirituality with this Shanghai/New York mega-metropolis . The first season is about the tension created between powerful benders and regular humans gaining their own power by the ever increasing technological world. Pretty cool. Can't wait for the other 3 seasons. The character they attempt to replace Sokka with isn't near as good, but I'm not sure Sokka would as easily find a place in this new darker world.

220 Episodes

GENRE: Japanese Comedy-Martial Arts Anime

SUMMARY: The brash and bull-headed orphan shinobi of the Leaf Village Naruto charges into his ninja training and missions despite his long history of failure. With the power of friendship and the spirit demon sealed within him, Naruto seeks to overcome any obstacle in his way and become the greatest ninja who ever lived.

REVIEW: Finally finished this damn series. It wasn't anything special, but not bad either. It was more of a typical Saturday morning anime. The art was anywhere from fantastic at times when they must have hired special artists for important scenes to mediocre-standard. I liked some of the music and the characters could be cool at times. The biggest flaw in the show was the pacing. It was freaking HORRIBLE. Fight scenes would last episode after episode drawn out by long monologues and flashbacks to add emotional context to those fighting. It got to the point that it would ruin episodes. Sometimes I would skip an episode or skim it because the whole thing was flashbacks and speeches. Some show such as Tokyo Majin are all action and lack story and emotional context, but Naruto completely overdid it in the opposite direction. The fights do get more interesting as the series goes on and you get strategic characters such as Shikamaru (one of my favorite characters along with Rock Lee) who have to come up with creative ways to defeat enemies with seemingly invincible powers. Conversely, Naruto's strategy of continuously rushing in would get to the point of me yelling things at the TV phrases such as "oh come on Naruto!" or "you f***ing idiot! Get a plan!". Overall an alright show, but easily forgettable. I had to break it up with various other shows to tolerate the full 220 episodes. Beware that the plot doesn't resolve itself in this series. There is a whole other series that continues the adventures of the gang when they are a little older. Netflix also only has the Japanese dub which makes it difficult to watch in the background since you need to watch the subtitles though I'd often ignore them and watch when the action picked up.

ART: 6/10
STORYTELLING & PLOT:4/10
CHARACTERS: 7/10
OVERALL: 5.5/10