‘Avatar: The Last Airbender,’ Fans Need to Watch ‘The Dragon Prince’

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  • What Is ‘The Dragon Prince’ About?
  • The Same Creative Forces Behind ‘Avatar’ and ‘The Dragon Prince’

As a die-hard fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender who grew up with its magical world and captivating storyline, I can confidently say that The Dragon Prince is a delightful continuation of that enchanting universe. With the same creative forces behind it, Aaron Ehasz, Giancarlo Volpe, and Jack De Sena, it’s no surprise that this new animated TV fantasy shares many similarities with its predecessor.

Having watched Avatar religiously since its debut in 2005, I can attest to the emotional rollercoaster it took me on, and The Dragon Prince has managed to capture a piece of that magic. From its stunning visuals and humorous moments to its gripping worldbuilding and dramatic heroism, this show feels like a spiritual successor to Avatar.

However, what truly sets The Dragon Prince apart is the unique twist it gives to the magical elements concept – sun, moon, and star magic – which adds an exciting new dimension to the series. As someone who appreciates a good play on words, I must admit that the reference to Sokka’s trusty boomerang had me chuckling.

So if you’re looking for a new animated TV fantasy to immerse yourself in, with captivating visuals, engaging performances, and a world that feels like it could have sprung from the same mind as Avatar, look no further than The Dragon Prince on Netflix. Just remember, don’t expect a boomerang-wielding character – Boomerang is already taken!

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast who’s still grieving over the finale of the legendary animated fantasy series “Avatar: The Last Airbender” back in 2008, let me tell you this – if you’re yearning for a captivating replacement, Netflix’s enduring series “The Dragon Prince” is just the ticket. With its seventh season premiering on December 19, 2024, you’ll find striking similarities between these two beloved animated TV shows that transcend plotlines to include familiar faces like Jack De Sena gracing both productions.

In addition, The Dragon Prince openly acknowledges similarities with Avatar: The Last Airbender through a clever wink that pays tribute to the endearing characters like Ang. Though The Dragon Prince may not surpass the legendary rank of the 7th best TV show on IMDb’s Top 250, fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender will still find the same exhilarating thrill from The Dragon Prince and its enchanting magical elements.

What Is ‘The Dragon Prince’ About?

Aaron Ehasz and Justin Richmond developed “The Dragon Prince” for Netflix, debuting its first season in September 2018. This well-received animated fantasy series on Netflix takes place in the continent Xadia and centers around Prince Callum, voiced by Jack De Sena, who is the first human to wield primal magic. Accompanied by his half-brother Ezran (Sasha Rojen) with telepathic abilities and an elf assassin from the Moonshadow Elves named Rayla (Paula Burrows), Callum embarks on a journey to safeguard the Dragon Prince, Azymondias, and return him safely to his mother, Queen Zubeia (Nicole Oliver).

The love between Callum and Rayla grows stronger as they embark on a grand adventure together, but this romance is complicated by Callum’s need to mend fences with Ezran, whose father, King Harlow, possesses powerful dark magic that he uses to maintain control over his kingdom. As the trio journeys across the land, their goal is to ensure The Dragon Prince’s safe return and bring lasting peace and tranquility to a region where humans, elves, and dragons have been at odds for thousands of years.

In the story, “The Last Dragon,” there are additional major characters such as Lord Viren, King Harlow’s advisor who utilizes dark magic in a bid to secure human survival while inadvertently causing dragon and elf extinction. Lord Viren leans on his faithful children, Soren (Jesse Inocalla) and Claudia (Racquel Belmonte), to carry out his nefarious scheme. The magical powers they wield are reminiscent of the elemental magic seen in “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” which is drawn from primal sources.

How ‘The Dragon Prince’ Compares to ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’

Fundamentally, both animated fantasy series revolve around harnessing magic from nature. In particular, Avatar: The Last Airbender, employs four primary elements – air, fire, water, and earth – that enhance specific abilities. The main character, Aang, is the last surviving Airbender among his generation and the youngest to have mastered controlling the air element.

In “The Dragon Prince,” instead of the traditional four elements, there are Primordial Sources at play, encompassing the sky, sun, stars, moon, seas, and earth. These sources are harnessed to perform dark magic. As Aang learns to command the elements on his heroic adventure, Prince Callum and his allies manipulate these primordial resources to acquire magical abilities.

In a similar fashion, Prince Callum has the ability to manipulate fire using magic derived from the sun. Characters can manipulate water by tapping into the moon and ocean’s energy. The art of Airbending is reminiscent of summoning forces from the sky and stars, while Earthbending shares many similarities in both series. As characters in these stories grow older, gain experience, and enhance their magical abilities through connection with nature, it becomes clear that The Dragon Prince bears a strong resemblance to The Last Airbender. However, the link between these two goes beyond just the mystical elemental powers.

In the first episode of “The Dragon Prince“, a character named Claudia picks up a book called “Love Amongst the Dragons“. Interestingly, this is the same title mentioned by Zuko in the 17th episode of “Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s Season 3, titled “The Ember Island Players”. It’s worth noting that “Jack De Sena, who played Aang’s companion Sokka in The Last Airbender, voices Prince Callum in The Dragon Prince“.

In the course of “The Last Dragon”, a playful jab at Sokka is made, reminiscent of Avatar. As they traverse the Midnight Desert, Callum pauses and remarks, “This looks like an old hunting ground, Boomerang.” This statement is a nod to Sokka’s signature boomerang, which he used extensively in 60 episodes of “Avatar”. Additionally, De Sena provides the voice for Bait, a fiery-tempered Glow Toad who manipulates fire through sun magic and joins Callum and Ezran on their quest.

The Same Creative Forces Behind ‘Avatar’ and ‘The Dragon Prince’

To fully appreciate the captivating world of magical storytelling, Avatar enthusiasts should definitely check out “The Dragon Prince”. Known for its exceptional visuals, acting, humor, and intricate world-building, this series offers more than just a passing resemblance to “Avatar”. Additionally, it playfully satirizes other renowned films and TV shows such as “The Lord of the Rings” and “Game of Thrones”, adding an extra layer of amusement. Despite the jokes, the tension, the high-stakes drama, and the valiant heroism are consistently comparable to that found in “Avatar”.

One significant link between these two television series might be the creative influence of producer and head writer Aaron Ehasz. From 2005 to 2008, he co-produced and penned every episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender, a total of 61 episodes. Additionally, Ehasz is the creator of The Dragon Prince, having written all 55 episodes so far. Given the immense popularity of Avatar, it’s not surprising that Ehasz would strive to recreate his success by crafting another animated TV fantasy in a similar vein. Luckily, The Dragon Prince shares nearly as much captivating and compelling storytelling as Avatar does.

Beyond Erhasz being in charge of both shows, Giancarlo Volpe has taken the director’s chair for several episodes in both “Avatar” and “The Dragon Prince”. So far, he has directed 19 episodes of “Avatar” and three episodes of “The Dragon Prince”, which helps to create a shared creative vision and continue similar dramatic themes between the two series.

Consequently, even though the two series don’t originate from the same narrative universe, “The Dragon Prince” can be seen as a spiritual sequel to “Avatar”. Both shows share the common thread of using natural elements for magic and have the same actor, head writer, and director collaborating to create an enchanting story. You can stream “Avatar: The Last Airbender” on Netflix and Paramount+. Meanwhile, “The Dragon Prince” is available on Netflix.

The Dragon Prince is available to stream on Netflix

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2024-12-31 05:02