Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender might want to experience the same joy in another series, and there are 10 that could be up to the challenge. The Last Airbender is often considered one of the best animated shows of all time, and for good reason. It’s endlessly funny, engaging, emotional, and endearing, and there’s something for everyone. Many have tried to recapture the magic of The Last Airbender over the years, and Netflix even created a live-action adaptation of the original show to do just that. There are, however, other shows that can fill the same spot The Last Airbender managed to.
Living up to a show as universally praised as The Last Airbender is a gargantuan task, but there are at least 10 shows that manage it. These shows have many of the trappings The Last Airbender is known for, from its well-developed characters, intricate world, fascinating power system, and more. It also seems that following in The Last Airbender‘s footsteps is a recipe for success, as many of the shows that seem similar to it also happen to be among the best in their genres.
10 The Legend of Korra
Ran From: 2012 to 2014
For fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the best way to recapture that magic is through The Legend of Korra. As a sequel to The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra is already a continuation of the animated show, albeit with a different cast of characters. It follows the next step in the Avatar lineage: Korra, a girl from the Water Tribe. The Legend of Korra also has so many of the things that made the original show beloved in the first place, from bending to a colorful group of characters that make up Team Avatar and more.
The Legend of Korra is great for viewers who love the world of The Last Airbender and are ready to hear more mature and complex stories about that world.
While it is set in the same world as The Last Airbender, there are also plenty of differences and changes that make Korra unique. The Last Airbender has its fair share of mature moments and themes, but Korra is geared towards an even older audience. As such, it deals with issues like political violence, the Spirit World, and dilemmas that don’t have a satisfying answer for all parties. In short, The Legend of Korra is great for viewers who love the world of The Last Airbender and are ready to hear more mature and complex stories about that world.
9 Naruto
Ran From: 2002 to 2017
There are quite a few similarities between The Last Airbender and another famous animated show from the same era: Naruto. Like Aang, the titular Naruto Uzumaki is a young boy who tries to master the power he received from the mythical Nine-Tails and learn to master a form of martial arts known as jutsus that bear some similarities to bending. Naruto also has a host of friends, enemies, and allies, most of whom are very well-developed and complex characters. Naruto also has a compelling series-long overarching story, beautiful animation, and some incredibly intense fights.
Naruto
Naruto is a franchise spawned from the manga series penned by Masashi Kishimoto that began in 1999. Generating several tv series, games, movies, and more, Naruto follows the exploits of a young outcast ninja harboring the spirit of a demon fox who seeks to become the Hokage, the leader of his ninja village, to break the stigma against him. Upon the conclusion of the initial series, Naruto expanded into Boruto, following many series protagonists’ children and returning faces.
- First Episode Air Date
- October 3, 2002
- Cast
- Junko Takeuchi , Maile Flanagan , Noriaki Sugiyama , Chie Nakamura , Kazuhiko Inoue , Nana Mizuki , Hideo Ishikawa , Yûko Sanpei
- Character(s)
- Naruto Uzumaki , Sasuke Uchiha , Sakura Haruno , Kakashi Hatake , Itachi Uchiha , Hinata Hyuga , Gaara , Jiraiya , Tsunade , Orochimaru
- Video Game(s)
- Naruto: Clash Of Ninja Revolution 3 , Naruto: Ultimate Ninja (2003) , Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations , Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 , Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 , Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 , Naruto: Rise Of A Ninja , Naruto: The Broken Bond , Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker , Naruto Shippuden Dragon Blade Chronicles , Naruto: Path Of The Ninja , Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections
Summary
Naruto is a Japanese manga and anime franchise created by Masashi Kishimoto. It follows Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja striving for recognition and aiming to become the Hokage, the leader of his village. The franchise has a global fanbase due to its rich storytelling, character development, and themes of perseverance and friendship. It has expanded into anime series, films, novels, video games, and more. The sequel series Boruto continues the story, focusing on Naruto’s son, Boruto Uzumaki.
Where Naruto and The Last Airbender diverge, however, is in their length. While The Last Airbender has three books, Naruto and its sequel series, Naruto Shippuden, have well over 700 episodes. Admittedly, hundreds of those episodes are considered “filler” and not important to the overall story, but there’s still several more hours of Naruto than there was of Avatar. For anyone who simply wants more of the things that made The Last Airbender so unique, Naruto is a great choice.
8 One Piece
Ran From: 1999 to Present
For fans who want more of Avatar but don’t think Naruto is long enough, One Piece is the perfect replacement. With over 1,000 episodes, One Piece can fill up literally weeks worth of time, and its similarities to The Last Airbender make it very fun to watch. Luffy, the main character of One Piece, is similar to Aang in quite a few ways: they both have extraordinary powers, they both lead a team of unusual characters, and they both began their journeys as immature children only to learn wisdom, patience, and more.
One Piece
Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a multimedia franchise that began as a manga series and follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as led by Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy, an enthusiastic pirate with a thirst for adventure, is afflicted by a mysterious curse that gives him various powers he uses to protect himself and his friends. The manga eventually gave way to the anime series, with the two being some of history’s longest-running anime and manga series. Along with over fifty video games made over the years, the series entered the live-action world with Netflix’s 2023 adaptation.
- Created by
- Eiichiro Oda
- First Film
- One Piece: The Movie
- Cast
- Kazuya Nakai , Akemi Okamura , Kappei Yamaguchi , Hiroaki Hirata , Ikue Ôtani , Yuriko Yamaguchi
- Character(s)
- Monkey D. Luffy , Roronora Zoro , Nami (One Piece) , Nico Robin , Usopp (One Piece) , Vinsmoke Sanji , Tony Tony Chopper , Franky (One Piece) , Jimbei (One Piece)
One Piece and The Last Airbender also have some significant differences, though. Luffy’s pirate crew consists of more unusual and older members than Team Avatar, and the show’s fights are often more violent and intense. Additionally, for potential viewers who may be daunted by One Piece‘s episode count, there are other options. Netflix has a few other viewing methods: there’s a live-action adaptation, and a new, more streamlined anime, The One Piece, is also in development. There’s never been a better time to jump into the world of One Piece.
7 Stranger Things
Ran From: 2016 to Present
One of the most compelling parts of The Last Airbender is seeing how a group of children grow into powerful and responsible warriors fighting for a good cause, and Stranger Things perfectly matches that. The cast of Stranger Things includes several mismatched kids and teenagers who have to fight against their town’s evil scientists and the portal they opened to another dimension. Like in The Last Airbender, it seems like only a handful of adults understand the threat in Stranger Things, and the kids’ mission to do what no one else will or can also serves as a coming of age story.
Stranger Things also takes a slightly different approach to its overarching story than The Last Airbender did, and to great effect. Stranger Things can get very dark, violent, and heartbreaking, and it has since become one of the best shows on Netflix. It also focuses on some real-world topics, like Dungeons and Dragons, the Cold War, and other facets of life in America in the 1980s. Stranger Things may not look like The Last Airbender, but it serves up an equally enthralling story.
6 Gravity Falls
Ran From: 2012 to 2016
Viewers who appreciated the dynamic between the characters of The Last Airbender and the show’s humor more than its action sequences will also enjoy Gravity Falls. Dipper and Mabel Pines serve as the core duo of Gravity Falls, along with their eclectic “Grunkle” Stan and the oddball employees of the Mystery Shack. Most of Gravity Falls focuses on Dipper and Mabel investigating the supernatural occurrences of their town, usually in a lighthearted and humorous fashion. The characters also interact in a way that’s very reminiscent of how Team Avatar’s strong personalities tend to clash with one another.
Though action isn’t a focus of Gravity Falls, that isn’t to say that the series doesn’t offer some intense scenes. Like Avatar, Gravity Falls features a similarly complicated and important overarching narrative that sees Dipper and Mabel fight supernatural forces for the fate of the world. Because of that overarching narrative, Gravity Falls is dripping with subtleties, hints, and other hidden details that will entertain adults and children alike, just as The Last Airbender was.
5 Teen Titans
Ran From: 2003 to 2006
For Avatar fans who value its action only a bit more than its humor, Teen Titans is a great replacement. Teen Titans follows a group of young superheroes from the DC universe who live and work together as a team. As a superhero show, Teen Titans is packed with action and adventure as the eponymous Titans fight everything from professional mercenaries to literal demons. The show also features a similar style of animation to The Last Airbender, complete with its exaggerated facial expressions, so Teen Titans‘ fights will certainly evoke the same feelings as Avatar‘s bending.
Teen Titans also features arguably the second best character dynamics of any animated kids show, behind only The Last Airbender. Each season of Teen Titans focuses on a different member of the group and their greatest adversary, and there are plenty of great moments in those seasons where the heroes get to develop both mentally and emotionally. The Titans also have some engaging group dynamics that feel very similar to Team Avatar, and it may just be the most direct replacement for The Last Airbender.
4 Adventure Time
Ran From: 2010 to 2018
Though it’s certainly more unusual, Adventure Time still offers a lot of the same things that make The Last Airbender so compelling. Adventure Time follows Finn, a human boy who is both stubborn and courageous, and Jake, a magical dog who can stretch his body into any shape or size, as they adventure through Ooo. Like Aang in The Last Avatar, Finn and Jake meet several colorful allies on their journeys and spend quite a bit of time helping out anyone who needs assistance. Adventure Time also has its own version of Fire Lord Ozai: the Lich, a cosmic being intent on destroying everything.
The main thing that sets Adventure Time apart from The Last Airbender is its brand of humor. Where The Last Airbender is often sarcastic and witty, Adventure Time is far more absurdist, straight-faced, and whacky. Though it does have a different approach to comedy, Adventure Time also has more than enough room for heavy topics like overcoming fear, acceptance, existentialism, and even reincarnation. For all of its gags and oddball adventures, Adventure Time has a heart that’s just as big as The Last Airbender‘s.
3 Power Rangers
Ran From: 1993 to 2023
For a much lighter but equally engaging viewing experience, Power Rangers is a great adventure show like The Last Airbender. The series follows the eponymous Power Rangers, a group of teenagers who are able to transform into a superhero team to fight threats like massive lizards to shape-shifting aliens. The main attraction of Power Rangers is one power in particular: the Rangers can join together to form a giant mech-suit called the Megazord. Power Rangers has the same focus on teamwork and individual personalities coming together that The Last Airbender does, and the same emphasis on action.
Power Rangers
Power Rangers is a long-running multimedia franchise that debuted in 1993 with the TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Created by Haim Saban and adapted from the Japanese Super Sentai series, Power Rangers became a cultural phenomenon by combining action-packed footage from Super Sentai with new scenes featuring American actors. The franchise follows teams of young heroes who transform into Power Rangers to battle various villains, using martial arts, special powers, and giant mechas called Zords. Over the decades, the franchise has expanded into multiple TV series, films, comics, video games, and merchandise, becoming one of the most successful children’s franchises in the world.
- Created by
- Haim Saban , Shuki Levy , Shotaro Ishinomori
- First Film
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
- Latest Film
- Power Rangers
- First TV Show
- Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers
- First Episode Air Date
- August 28, 1993
- TV Show(s)
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers , Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers , Power Rangers Zeo , Power Rangers Turbo , Power Rangers In Space , Power Rangers Lost Galaxy , Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue , Power Rangers Time Force , Power Rangers Wild Force , Power Rangers Ninja Storm (2003) , Power Rangers Dino Thunder , Power Rangers S.P.D. (2005) , Power Rangers Mystic Force , Power Rangers Operation Overdrive , Power Rangers Jungle Fury , Power Rangers RPM , Power Rangers Samurai , Power Rangers Megaforce , Power Rangers Dino Charge , Power Rangers Ninja Steel , Power Rangers Beast Morphers , Power Rangers Dino Fury , Power Rangers Cosmic Fury
- Character(s)
- Jason Lee Scott , Tommy Oliver , Kimberly Hart , Zack Taylor , Trini Kwan , Billy Cranston , Rita Repulsa , Lord Zedd , Alpha 5 , Zordon
- Video Game(s)
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Mega Battle , Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid , Saban’s Power Rangers Megaforce , Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind
Summary
Power Rangers is a long-running multimedia franchise that debuted in 1993 with the TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Created by Haim Saban and adapted from the Japanese Super Sentai series, Power Rangers became a cultural phenomenon by combining action-packed footage from Super Sentai with new scenes featuring American actors. The franchise follows teams of young heroes who transform into Power Rangers to battle various villains, using martial arts, special powers, and giant mechas called Zords. Over the decades, the franchise has expanded into multiple TV series, films, comics, video games, and merchandise, becoming one of the most successful children’s franchises in the world.
Where Power Rangers really shines, however, is in its variety. There are 22 Power Rangers series that all feature different casts, stories, and powers that see the characters range from harnessing the energy of dinosaurs to serving as an intergalactic police force. There’s a Power Rangers show for everyone, regardless of interest, taste, or even era, since the franchise ran for 30 years.
Ran From: 2003 to 2010
On its surface, Fullmetal Alchemist doesn’t seem very similar to The Last Airbender, but the shows are actually nearly the same. Almost everything in The Last Airbender has a counterpart in Fullmetal Alchemist: bending is just as intricate and powerful as alchemy, Aang is just as endearing and complex as Edward and Alphonse, and their worlds are painted in just as many shades of gray. Both Avatar and Fullmetal Alchemist also dive into very mature themes like the price of war, the decision to use power for good or evil, and the fairness of sacrifice.
Fullmetal Alchemist and The Last Airbender also share one extremely important characteristic: their quality. Like Avatar, Fullmetal Alchemist is often considered to be one of the best examples of its medium, and it’s regularly placed near the top of lists of the best anime series ever. Fullmetal Alchemist is every bit as heartbreaking, action-packed, intriguing, and endearing as The Last Airbender is, and it’s well worth a watch.
1 The Dragon Prince
Ran From: 2018 to 2024
Though many of the shows that are similar to The Last Airbender are from the golden age of animated shows, more recent years have still been capable of producing great series, and The Dragon Prince is proof of that. The Dragon Prince was actually made by the creators of The Last Airbender, and it shows in a few ways. The primary protagonist, Callum, has to master six primal sources, as opposed to the four elements, to stop a war between the elves, humans, and dragons, instead of the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom, and his group of friends helps him on that journey.
Though they’re extremely similar, The Dragon Prince also sets itself apart in a few engaging ways. It fits much more cleanly into the genre of fantasy than Avatar does, given its focus on magic, elves, and dragons. The series also has a much more overt romance subplot between Callum and Rayla than Aang and Katara had for most of the show. For those reasons, The Dragon Prince just might be one of the best new shows to watch after Avatar: The Last Airbender.
