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Ok I started (and caught up) watching this series out of mere curiosity. I wasn't interested at first because it looked like another cartoon trying to be anime. I already know most of American cartoon shows were animated in Korea but most of them either follow a western design (like X-Men) or tries to imitate anime (like Teen Titans). I'm ok with the first one but the second one is creepy and crappy. It gives the whole thing an amerimanga feel and God knows I hate that. People talk s**t about the french doing that with Totally Spies and now the Fantastic 4 but I think what they've done is apply what works (more techniques than style) to what they've been doing and I'm more than ok with that. (I do the same)

Avatar is not trying to imitate Anime, it beats most of the anime mainstream to a pulp. Looks very Korean which is good, I rather have it look Korean than Koreanime. It has very fluid animation, I bet they used rotoscoping, amazing voice acting, superb characters, fitting music, interesting storyline (even though it's not original), bottom line, every thing's done with care.

If I were to compare Avatar with any other show I would do it with Naruto. They have more or less the same formula. A team of 3 main characters, 2 boys and a girl. Both the Avatar and Naruto have something to do/accomplish. The big differences are obvious which lie on the themes but regardless what I'm about to say applies to both. When you have such a story it is important that you do not go astray explaining someone else's task to a point that the main character becomes dull or less important. Avatar does an amazing job by keeping Aang as the main character and still explains the other characters very well. They also don't look inferior to him, if it weren't for them he would be dead by now. But Naruto is all over the place. If it isn't Sasuke, it's Kakashi or Orochimaru or Gaara, Rock Lee, anyone but Naruto is more "interesting". That makes a crappy show in my opinion but whatever, there are many narutards watching it so they have the power to control masses. I rather be a Shepherd than part of the herd.

First Episode on Youtube: http://youtube.com/results?search_query=avatar+last+airbender+101&search=Search