this post was submitted on 21 Jan 2026
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Speaking with Michaela Jill Murphy, the original voice of Toph Beifong from the 2005 TV show, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Cameron was asked which Avatar was the best. To which the director admitted that since his children are bigger fans of the beloved animated series, he believes that The Last Airbender is better.

https://fandomwire.com/james-cameron-reveals-his-kids-prefer-avatar-the-last-airbender-to-avatar/

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[–] Shirasho@lemmings.world 36 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Because Airbender was really good and treated its cast of characters with respect. They are fun for kids and have depth and growth for adults.

[–] faintwhenfree@lemmus.org 7 points 1 day ago

I'm in my 17th run, how do i know exactly 17th? We watch it every year. We started in January 2009 (first time I discovered it). Have re watched it in every January. I swear I love the show even more every year.

[–] gustofwind@lemmy.world 20 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Avatar the last airbender is for everyone of all ages

The other avatar is a cgi demo meant for robots

[–] msage@programming.dev 9 points 1 day ago

... and people who've never seen Pocahontas.

[–] MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

James Cameron's avatar is a cartoon too. Its more like space jam or a reverse roger rabbit

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

Truth, even when seeing the human side those mechbots they were riding in looked like I was watching a video game cutscene. I guess if they made them look more realistic it would look more roger rabbit like.

[–] AngryishHumanoid@lemmynsfw.com 10 points 1 day ago (2 children)

At first I thought they were talking about the Airbender movie compared to the TV show... The blue people movie and the Airbender TV show are wildly different, not really a comparison to be made here aside from both being called Avatar.

[–] ech@lemmy.ca 18 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The story in the cartoon show is far better than the movies, and only about twice the runtime. Even the first season is better at ~1.5 hours shorter.

[–] AngryishHumanoid@lemmynsfw.com -1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I like the TV show better myself but why would we be comparing it to the Avatar movie for any reason other than because they have the same name?

[–] ech@lemmy.ca 10 points 1 day ago

Why not? They're both creative works in visual mediums, even sharing similar genres. That's enough common ground, imo. Things don't have to be identical to be comparable.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

They are talking about liking The Last Airbender better.

Also, he took their name and it kind of looks like it would be a movie about the last airbender by the font and the way of the water thing. He's a bit of a douche.

[–] AngryishHumanoid@lemmynsfw.com -5 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Yes but why are we comparing that against a wildly different movie? Just cause both are called Avatar, right?

[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 day ago

Because the names are similar, and they’re both recently revived properties. It’s topical. Like barbenheimer

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Ask Cameron who stole the name? He's the one comparing, lol.

[–] marcos@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago (2 children)

His movie has a much better claim to the name than the cartoon. At least Kora got something for her to be an avatar of, but people don't like to remember it exists...

[–] zarkanian@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

Korra was a better avatar. I got tired of Aang being a whiny, insecure child. Both series are very good, though.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

His movie has a much better claim to the name than the cartoon.

Those are fighting words, lol. You have to kind of know that ATLA is loosely based on Hinduism and Buddhism.

https://buddhism-guide.com/avatar/

[–] zarkanian@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

Ohh, pssh, you mean where the word "avatar" came from?

[–] Siethron@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Technically he had the name first, it's why the show had to add "the last Airbender" Cameron had applied for a copyright on "Avatar" well before the show.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Are you just making shit up now? Airbender is from 2005 and Cameron's is from 2009.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar%3A_The_Last_Airbender

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(franchise)

Edit: I apologize, Siethron is correct. See link further down.

[–] Siethron@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

No, it's easily Googleable. Cameron had been working on Avatar conceptually since the 90s and already had the copyright for the title before 2004 when Nickelodeon tried to get it.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

I guess you're right, but this is interesting:

“In 2004 we learned that we had to change the name of our show from ‘Avatar’ to ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender‘ because James Cameron already had the rights to a movie called ‘Avatar,'” Volpe wrote on Twitter. “Now the sequel is called ‘The Way of Water.’ If part 3 is called ‘The Firebending Masters,’ we riot.”

https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/avatar-add-last-airbender-title-james-cameron-rights-1235451817/

[–] njm1314@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Yes that's exactly why. It's a meme. A joke. You're thinking too hard about it.

[–] Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago

I can describe what happens in ATLA and remember the characters. I can't say the same about the blue rabbits fucking movie.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 5 points 1 day ago

Can't really compare the two. I like both but for very different, almost opposite reasons.

[–] IWW4@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 day ago
[–] QueenHawlSera@sh.itjust.works -1 points 1 day ago

James Cameron's Avatar is legit one of the worst fucking movies I've ever seen in my life.

And that my friend is saying something