This article is about the TV series. For the comic books, see. For the 2010 film, see. Avatar: The Last Airbender Avatar: The Legend of Aang in some regions is an American animated that aired for three seasons on. The series began in February 2005 and concluded with a two-hour episode titled in July 2008. The series is presented in a style that combines with and relies on the imagery of East-and-South Asian, , and New World societies. It follows the protagonist, twelve-year-old and his friends, who must bring peace and unity to the world by ending the Fire Lord's war with three nations. It was nominated for—and won—, , a , and a. The first season's success prompted Nickelodeon to order a second and third season. Merchandising for the series consisted of , a , three video games, distributed by , and two. An art book was published in June 2010. The complete series was released on on June 5, 2018 for the 10th anniversary of season 3's finale. The series inspired a critically panned but financially successful live-action film, , directed by and considered one of the. An animated sequel series, , aired from 2012 to 2014. A new live-action of the series by its original creators produced for was announced in September 2018. A map of the four nations. Avatar: The Last Airbender is set in a world—adjacent to a parallel spirit world—that is home to humans and hybrid animals. Human civilization is divided into four nations, named after the four : the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads. Only the Avatar has the ability to bend all four elements. The Avatar, who may be male or female, is an international arbiter whose duty is to maintain harmony among the four nations, and act as a mediator between humans and spirits. When the Avatar dies, their spirit is into the next of the four nations in what is known as the Avatar cycle: the Fire Nation, Air Nomads, Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom. An Avatar is required to master each bending art, beginning with the element of their home nation, and proceeding to learn the others in the order of the Avatar cycle, starting at the age of sixteen. Avatars also possess the ability to enter a condition known as the Avatar State, in which they gain the knowledge and abilities of all past Avatars. Although it is when they are most powerful, if an Avatar were ever to be killed while in the Avatar State, the reincarnation cycle would end and the avatar would never again be reborn. Synopsis More than a century before the events of the series begin, Fire Lord Sozin, ruler of the Fire Nation, planned a world war to expand his nation's territory and influence. He was prevented from carrying out his plans by Avatar Roku, who was born in the Fire Nation. After Roku's death, the Avatar was reincarnated as an Airbender named. Because the Avatar was now a child, Sozin saw his chance and proceeded with his militant plans. At the age of twelve, Aang learned about his avatar status because of the threat of Sozin's war. Afraid of his new responsibilities and of separation f