Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 1 (2005)

TV. Avatar is an exceptionally well-done animation with some anime-like elements but a layered, character-based story that both intrigues and delights. Every character has a back story that develops in complexity and range, sometimes turning our conceptions on their ears. You can esp. empathize with the wise teacher known as Uncle and in time even sympathize with the dark figure of the Fire Nation's Prince Zuko. The battle scenes are based on Chinese martial arts forms such as Tai Chi and are always part of the tactics of the larger battle or story line, which expands with each episode. I think it's significant that, of the 144 reviews preceding mine on Netflix, about a half-dozen did not like it (1 or 2 stars), a half-dozen liked it (3 stars), nine really liked it (4 stars), but more than ten dozen loved it -- and often the reviewers were adults who said they were captivated after watching Avatar with their children, and told their relatives about the show, who got hooked too. Don't miss this animation treat! 5 stars.