![Is Avatar: The Last Airbender an anime? - Photo 1. Is Avatar: The Last Airbender an anime? - Photo 1.](https://gamek.mediacdn.vn/thumb_w/640/133514250583805952/2024/4/8/avatar-the-last-airbender-1712549231981-1712549232285306891728.jpg)
The animated series “Avatar: The Last Airbender” has captivated audiences worldwide with its breathtaking visuals, clearly inspired by Japanese animation. And the question is, is this movie produced by Nickelodeon really an “anime”? The answer is not as simple as you might think, because it all depends on your definition of the term “anime”.
![Is Avatar: The Last Airbender an anime? - Photo 2. Is Avatar: The Last Airbender an anime? - Photo 2.](https://gamek.mediacdn.vn/thumb_w/640/133514250583805952/2024/4/8/visual-avata-1712548856362-1712548857464569977792.jpg)
If by “anime” we mean “an animated film created in Japan” then the answer is no. “Avatar: The Last Airbender” was created by two Americans, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, and produced by an American studio, Nickelodeon Animation Studio. From this perspective, the animated film “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is technically an anime-inspired work, rather than an actual anime.
However, in Japanese, the word “anime” applies to all forms of animation, including works created outside of Japan. According to this definition, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” along with all other animated films and television shows fall into the realm of anime. However, there are purists who disagree with this interpretation, arguing that referring to series like “Avatar” as anime is tantamount to a form of cultural appropriation.
Even the creators of Avatar, DiMartino and Konietzko, seem uncomfortable with labeling their work as anime. In a 2007 interview with IGN, the creators accepted the interviewer's statement that the film “is not an anime”. However, DiMartino admitted that “a lot of Avatar's inspiration came from anime” and expressed hope that their work would appeal to anime fans.
During an appearance earlier this year on a Nickelodeon podcast, DiMartino and Konietzko were more receptive to the idea of classifying “Avatar: The Last Airbender” as an anime. In an episode of the series “Avatar: Brave the Elements,” the creators argued that even Japanese filmmakers would have difficulty classifying their so-called “American cartoons.”
“You could talk to 20 of the top directors in Japan… and I bet you'd get 20 different answers,” DiMartino said. Konietzko added that when they made Avatar, he was less concerned with its anime status than trying to capture the “magic” of the art of Japanese animation.
In short, the question of whether “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is considered an “anime” is a controversial subject that depends largely on each individual's perspective and the definition given to the term. anime”. What is clear, however, is that the film has attracted a large audience, regardless of how it is classified.