Avatar Studios (production company)

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Avatar Studios
Company typeDivision
Industry
FoundedFebruary 2021; 3 years ago (February 2021)
HeadquartersBurbank, California, U.S.
Key people
BrandsAvatar: The Last Airbender
ParentNickelodeon Animation Studio
Websitewww.avatarstudiosofficial.com

Avatar Studios is an American production company and division of Nickelodeon formed in February 2021 to oversee the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise. Franchise co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko serve as co-chief creative officers.

Background[edit]

Avatar: The Last Airbender, an animated television series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, aired on the cable channel Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008. During its run, it would achieve high ratings as well as garner critical acclaim and several awards.[1][2] It was succeeded by a sequel series, The Legend of Korra, which ran from 2012 to 2014.[1] The property would grow into a multi-media franchise consisting of an ongoing comics series, a prequel novel series, video games, and a live-action film.[a]

History[edit]

In 2018, Netflix announced that a live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender was to start production in 2019.[7][8] The series' original creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, were initially announced to be the executive producers and showrunners.[9][10] In June 2020, the creators departed the series due to creative differences.[11] That same year, Nickelodeon licensed the original The Last Airbender as well as The Legend of Korra to Netflix, which led to a boom in popularity for both series. This success convinced Nickelodeon to rekindle their relationship with Konietzko and DiMartino and explore further opportunities.[12][13]

In February 2021, ViacomCBS announced during its annual Investor Day the formation of Avatar Studios, a new division of Nickelodeon centered on developing animated series and films set in the universe of the franchise, to be distributed via Nickelodeon's linear and digital services, Paramount+, theatres, and other third-party platforms.[1][3] The division is helmed by DiMartino and Konietzko, who are its co-chief creative officers and report to Nickelodeon Animation Studio president Ramsey Ann Naito.[1][3] It was also announced that the studio's first project would be an animated theatrical film that was initially planned to begin production in 2021.[1][3]

Projects[edit]

The division's first production, an animated film titled Aang: The Last Airbender is set to released in theaters on January 20, 2026 by Paramount Pictures.[1][14] It will serve as a continuation of the original series.[15][16] Two additional theatrical animated films are also in the works.[17]

Filmography[edit]

Film Release Date Director(s) Writer(s) Producers Composer(s) Animation services Production status Ref.
Aang: The Last Airbender January 20, 2026 Lauren Montgomery
Co-directed by:
William Mata 		TBA Latifa Ouaou & Maryann Garger TBA Flying Bark Productions In production [18][19][20]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[3][4][5][6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (February 24, 2021). "Nickelodeon Launches Avatar Studios, Will Expand World of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender,' 'The Legend of Korra'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  2. ^ Moody, Annemarie (July 23, 2008). "Avatar: The Last Airbender Hits All-Time Series High". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d White, Peter (February 24, 2021). "'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Franchise To Expand With Launch Of Nickelodeon's Avatar Studios, Animated Theatrical Film In The Works". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  4. ^ Jones, Justin (August 30, 2018). "Last Airbender Universe Expands With Avatar Kyoshi Novels". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  5. ^ Turner, Kayla (November 28, 2023). "All 13 Avatar The Last Airbender Books In Chronological Order". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  6. ^ Lewis, Ewan (September 16, 2023). "Best Avatar: The Last Airbender Games, Ranked". Game Rant. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  7. ^ Romano, Nick (September 18, 2018). "The 'Avatar' lives again! Live-action 'Last Airbender' series coming to Netflix". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  8. ^ Fingas, Jon (September 18, 2018). "'Avatar: The Last Airbender' returns as a live-action Netflix series". Engadget. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  9. ^ Porter, Rick (September 18, 2018). "Live-Action 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Series Coming to Netflix". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  10. ^ Hipes, Patrick (September 18, 2018). "'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Live-Action Series In Works At Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  11. ^ Otterson, Joe (August 12, 2020). "'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Creators Exit Netflix Live-Action Adaptation". Variety. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  12. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (July 12, 2021). "'Fairly OddParents' Live-Action Series, 'Blue's Clues' Movie Highlight Nickelodeon's Global Push (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  13. ^ Sharf, Zack (July 12, 2021). "Netflix's 'Avatar' Boom Convinced Nickelodeon to Reunite with Creators and Expand Franchise". IndieWire. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  14. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (April 18, 2024). "'Aang: The Last Airbender' Delayed to 2026, 'Transformers One' Moves Back a Week". Variety. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  15. ^ Valentine, Rebekah (July 22, 2022). "Avatar Studios' First Movie Will Focus on Aang". IGN. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  16. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Andreeva, Nellie (July 23, 2022). "'Avatar: The Last Airbender': Subject Of First Animated Movie Revealed – Comic-Con". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  17. ^ Galuppo, Mia (June 15, 2022). "Three 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Films Set at Paramount, Nickelodeon". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  18. ^ Graves, Sabina (April 11, 2024). "Aang: The Last Airbender Movie Has Found Its Cast, Including Dave Bautista". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  19. ^ Sharf, Zack (April 11, 2024). "Dave Bautista and Eric Nam to Headline Voice Cast for 'Aang: The Last Airbender' Animated Movie at Paramount, Nickelodeon". Variety. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  20. ^ Slatter, Sean (October 13, 2022). "Flying Bark recruiting artists to work on Paramount/Nickelodeon's 2D 'Avatar' film". IF Magazine. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.

External links[edit]

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