Looking for great cartoons just like Avatar The Last Airbender while waiting for Avatar Studios to give us more content?
Probably one of the greatest cartoons of its time. Avatar: The Last Airbender has sure set the standards for a lot of kid shows since it started airing. Not only did this show appeal to kids, it was smart and sophisticated enough for adults to enjoy. In fact, with the show now available on Netflix a lot of new fans of the series have started emerging. What’s more, with the creation of Avatar Studios we’ll have more content coming our way.
So, what’s next? You just finished Avatar the Last Airender and now wondering what’s your next big adventure? Despite the announcement of a new Avatar series and a movie, we still have a long way to go before we can watch that. While waiting for the next Avatar show, here’s a list of some shows that might take you on your next best ride.
10. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Trailer
In the planet Etheria, we follow the stories of two orphans, Adora and Catra who are raised to eventually become soldiers for the evil army led by Hordak called the Horde. Adora, while lost in the woods, finds a magical sword that transforms her into the legendary Princess of Power, She-Ra. With her new found power and knowledge, Adora joins the Rebellion in order to fight the Horde and builds the Princess Alliance (a group of magical girls). However, her new found role is pitting her against her former best friend, Catra who eventually becomes Adora’s mortal enemy.
Much of Avatar: The Last Airbender is centered among the Gaang. If you’re looking for the power of friendship that the Gaang brought along during their adventures then the Princess Alliance can just be the next best wholesome group as the Gaang. Also, there’s the whole concept of passing of powers from one generation to another. Aang is a reincarnation of all the avatars that lived before him, meanwhile, Adora is the first She-Ra in the past thousand years by finding the sword and is able to communicate with the previous owner.
8. Steven Universe
Steven Universe Trailer
Beach City is protected by a group of humanoid alien warriors called the Crystal Gems. The members are composed of Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl, and under their care is a young half human-gem boy named Steven. Steven got his power from his mother, the former leader of the Crystal Gems, Rose Quartz. While still unable to fully understand and use his power, Steven spends his days among his human companions and struggles to prove himself as a member of the Crystal Gems.
While not as linear as Avatar: The Last Airbender, Steven Universe does show a lot of character development, not only through Steven’s journey on proving himself as a member of the Crystal Gem but growth is also shown through the other cast members. Same can be said with A:TLA; we see the members learn more about their bending and about teamwork as the show progresses.
7. W.I.T.C.H.
W.I.T.C.H. Trailer
W.I.T.C.H. is a French-American animated television series based on an Italian comic book of the same name. In the show we follow five girls: Will Vandom, Irma Lair, Taranee Cook, Cornelia Hale and Hay Lin who gain magical powers corresponding to the 4 natural elements and the 5th element: Quintessence. By gaining these powers they are now the new Guardian of the Veil. As Guardians they are sworn to protect the universe by Kandrakar. For the television series one of the first major tasks the Guardians will have to face is saving a mythical world called Meridian from the evil Prince Phobos.
One thing we loved about Avatar is “Bending” which is the ability to manipulate a specific element. The four elements we see are the classical elements of water, earth, fire and air. We see the existence of these four elements once again in W.I.T.C.H. . While not exactly “bending”, their magic is still a manipulation of these 4 elements (plus one extra mythical element). In the series we see the girls also struggle to understand their own powers and abilities, and learn their duties as the Guardians of the Veil, just as much as Aang is learning about his duties to the World as its Avatar.
6. Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts Trailer
In the future the world is overrun by mutated-animals known as mutes. Now, humans are forced to live in underground cities called burrows. Kipo Oak is unfortunately separated from her father and the rest of her community when a mega monkey attacks her area. Now traveling to find her family she befriends other humans and mutants who decide to help her find her way home. Her journey to find her family opens a whole new world for Kipo as she discovers more about herself and the world that forced her to live under the oppression of the other mutes.
The main goal in Avatar: The Last Airbender was to stop the fire nation from completely taking over the world. The goal was never to completely obliterate the fire nation but to restore balance between the four nations. Kipo who was just supposed to find her father ended up making other humans and mutes her friends despite being of different species and beliefs, this eventually leads to the creation of the Human Mute Ultimate Friendship Alliance” where humans and mutes alike work together to sustain friendship among each other.
5. Avatar: The Legend of Korra
Avatar: The Legend of Korra Trailer
The direct sequel of Avatar: The Last Airbender. With the four nations finally at peace, a war between the nations seems highly unlikely. There is now a new Avatar looking over the balance of the world: Avatar Korra, the successor of Avatar Aang. Korra is kept sheltered in the south pole and has several mentors helping her master the 3 elements. When it was finally time for her to learn Air bending, her mentor was suddenly called away to Republic City to help resolve political problems. Wanting to master all four elements as soon as possible, Korra sneaks herself away to Republic City. Now she is to face her duty as the New Avatar as the modern world faces several political and spiritual problems.
If you have just ended A:TLA, then this is probably the next series you should watch right away. While still being comedic on its own, The Legend of Korra has older characters and therefore the overall tone of the show seems to be built for a more mature target audience as compared to its predecessor. Nonetheless, if you still miss the Gaang, then fans will be pleased to know that Katara, Toph and Zuko are still around and will make appearances from time to time.
4. Voltron: Legendary Defender
Voltron: Legendary Defender Trailer
For several years the Galra Empire has plagued the universe by destroying several civilizations and enslaving races. The last hope of the universe is a mecha called the Defender of the Universe: Voltron, which is composed of five lion robots who are piloted by Paladins. 5 teenagers: Keith, Lance, Pidge, Hunk and Shiro are transported right in the middle of this intergalactic war. They become the 5 paladins to the needed 5 robots to form Voltron. Now they are tasked to protect the universe from the Galra Empire’s grasp.
A mecha show is probably something far out from something like Avatar, which gets its roots from ancient civilization, customs and several other historic references and teachings. But Voltron is a lot like Avatar in themes...only in space, with giant robots. Both shows are created by the same team that brought us both Avatar series so they are bound to be similarities. I found the show’s sense of humor going about in the same direction. plus, a lot of characters share uncanny personalities. Also, saving the galaxy is a lot similar to bringing balance back to the world, just on a bigger scale.
3. Full Metal Alchemist
Full Metal Alchemist Trailer
One day, two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric attempt to revive their dead mother with the use of Alchemy. The experiment backfires causing Ed to lose his left leg while Al loses his entire body. Ed attempts to bind Al’s soul in a suit of armor by paying his right arm. The incident caused the two to never play with human life or souls again as there is no “equivalent exchange” for a soul. However, the brothers do try to find a solution to retrieve Al’s proper body so he can live as an ordinary human. In order to bypass the law of equivalent exchange to get Al’s body, the brothers must find or create a philosopher’s stone. This leads them to become State Alchemist so that they can continue their research on the stone.
You can choose to watch the original Full Metal Alchemist 2003 animation or FMA: Brotherhood, both are masterpieces. FMA, similar to Avatar: The Last Airbender has built an incredible fictional world and a great compelling story to match. The cast also has a wide range of character archetypes and of course the fight scenes are top tier despite being short. If you also love how A:TLA offsets their seriousness with comedy, FMA has a lot of those funny moments, even mid battle.
2. Moana
Moana Movie Trailer
At a young age the ocean chooses Moana, the Motunui Chief Tui’s daughter, to return the heart of Te Fiti. Before Moana could reach for the heart, Tui carried Moana back to shore and kept her away from the ocean to prepare her to become the next chief. Years later, a blight strikes the island causing vegetations to slowly wither away and the fish to avoid the waters surrounding the island. Moana suggested venturing further out into the ocean to figure out what is causing it. Frustrated Moana tries to sail further from their fishing grounds but is unable to conquer the waves. The incident discourages her but her grandmother advises her by showing a secret cave where she finds a stronger boat that can handle the waves.
So, Moana and Aang ended up with the worst possible job on the earth by being the “chosen one”. We often see these two, though determined to see through their role, occasionally falter with their own doubts and frustrations. For Moana, we see this at the beginning and also before her “I am Moana'' number. For Aang we see this a bunch of times per book but most notably before the start of the invasion during the eclipse and the start of the final season where he feels he failed his mission to the world.
1. Dragon Prince
Dragon Prince Trailer
In Xadia, magic comes from the sun, the moon, the stars, the earth and the ocean. However, human mages began tampering with magic and created the 7th magic type called Dark Magic, the problem is they need to capture magical creatures in order to make great amounts of this magic. This causes tension between Xadia and the Human Kingdom. With the Moonshadow elves hungry for revenge they sent the 15-year-old Rayla to assassinate the two human princes: Callum and Ezran. After figuring out the egg is not destroyed, she abandons her mission to side with the boys in an attempt to end the war and restore peace to two kingdoms.
Remember the time Sokka told Yue he was a prince? Well maybe in another world he was. The first thing fans will probably notice is that Callum sounds a lot like Sokka, even their humor is a bit similar. Don’t worry aside from humor and sharing the same voice actors, Dragon Prince pretty much has the same problem and goal as Avatar does. There is this big problem when it comes to divisions of the world; We see humans not getting along with the magical creatures, meanwhile in Avatar, we see the whole 4 nations divided due to their different standpoints and cultures. The goal? Make amends with everyone and restore balance.
