When it first premiered on Nickelodeon in 2005, avatar the last airbender was not expected to make an impact the way it did. Deftly blending the well-known anime style with epic story-telling and American voice acting, the show quickly became a hit with critics and viewers alike, and ran for a full three seasons on cable television.

avatar the last airbender takes place in a world of four nations, divided by the elements their inhabitants use through martial arts. It’s protagonist, Aang, is the eponymous Avatar, with the ability to use all four elemental powers: eath, wind, fire, and water. The show follows Aang and his friends Katara and Sokka as they attempt to stop the war-mongering Fire Nation from destroying the other three nations in battle. Throughout its three seasons (called “books” within the show’s canon), Aang and his friends travel to distant lands, encountering a diverse array of characters, creatures and situations as they attempt to undertake their tremendous duty.

By the time the final made-for-TV movie aired in 2008, avatar the last airbender had become a tremendous hit, and not just within its ages 6 to 11 demographic. Merchandise related to the show has been made by Burger King, Fisher Price, LEGO and other well-known brands. Sales of the DVDs and episodes on itunes have been steady, and in 2009 estimates of the show’s merchandise sales were counted at over 200 million dollars.

in 2010, The Last Airbender, a live-action adaptation of the cartoon show, was released in theaters. Although it premiered to mixed reviews, the film grossed over 400 million dollars world-wide, solidifying the franchise’s role as a hugely popular series at home and abroad. While more films may or may not be in development, production has begun on a sequel series entitled The Legend of Korra, set several decades after the original show.