While I generally dislike children watching TV shows, there is a time and a place. However, I truly despise children watching insipid soul-crushing TV shows. Sadly, cash-grab-crap is the majority when it comes to children's programming but like anything, if you look hard enough you'll find some gold. Today's gem is the critically acclaimed show: Avatar: The Last Airbender. (Immediate clarification We're talking about the TV show, not the regrettable film of the same name).
The Avatar world is split into four nations, each with a different element and culture: water, earth, fire and air. In the nations there are some who can manipulate or bend elements. The Avatar is the only person who can use all four elements and his job is to keep the balance. However, he was frozen in ice as a child and the story starts with him being found by two young water tribe kids. Now he thaws out and realizes the world is at war and he's the only one who can stop it.
This series is a remarkable standout because it's so very rare to find this quality storytelling in a cartoon geared towards kids ages five and up. It's also a serialized show, so you have to see them in order as the characters face some serious challenges, but overall the tone is light and all the lessons learned are valuable ones.
Full disclosure: I've only finished the first season (of three) but I'll stand by its quality and two episodes into the second it would appear the good times keep coming.
Oh, and again avoid the movie. It's only the show you want in this franchise, which is currently streaming on Netflix.
Watch trailer -
