From Variety.com ...
Nickelodeon Launches Avatar Studios, Will Expand World of
'Avatar: The Last Airbender,' 'The Legend of Korra'
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"Avatar: The Last Airbender" fans had their dreams of more content
based on the beloved animated series and its sister spinoff
squashed last year when the series' creators Michael DiMartino and
Bryan Konietzko stepped away from a planned live-action adaptation
project at Netflix last August.
But today, Nickelodeon announced that the world of "Avatar" and
"The Legend of Korra" is finally getting the content expansion
that people who grew up watching the programs have been yearning
for with the establishment of Avatar Studios. The newly formed
content division is designed to create original animated series
and movies based on "Avatar", and the first project under the
studio banner is an original animated theatrical film to begin
production this year. The output will debut on platforms
including Paramount Plus, on Nickelodeon's own linear and digital
platforms and on third-party platforms and in theaters.
Original creators and executive producers DiMartino and Konietzko
have signed on to serve as co-chief creative officers of Avatar
Studios, reporting to Ramsey Naito, president of Nickelodeon
Animation.
"'Avatar: The Last Airbender' and 'Korra' have grown at least
ten-fold in popularity since their original hit runs on
Nickelodeon, and Ramsey Naito and I are incredibly excited to
have Mike and Bryan's genius talent on board to helm a studio
devoted to expanding their characters and world into new content
and formats for fans everywhere," said Brian Robbins, president,
ViacomCBS Kids & Family. "Creator-driven stories and characters
have long been the hallmarks of Nickelodeon, and Avatar Studios is
a way to give Mike and Bryan the resources and runway to open up
their imaginations even more and dive deeper into the action and
mythology of Avatar as we simultaneously expand upon that world
and the world of content available on Paramount+ and Nickelodeon."
"Avatar: The Last Airbender" aired for three seasons on
Nickelodeon from February 2005 to July 2008. During its run, the
series picked up multiple Annie Awards, Genesis Awards, a
Primetime Emmy Award, and a Peabody Award. The highly acclaimed
show follows the adventures of Aang and his friends Katara, Zuko
and Toph, who must save the world by defeating the warring Fire
Nation. The property has also been translated into a successful
comic book series- the "Avatar: The Last Airbender" graphic novel
spent 70 weeks at the top of the New York Times Graphic Novel
Bestseller list.
The sequel series, "Legend of Korra," aired for four seasons from
April 2012 to December 2014, and has been translated into more
than 25 languages. Its first season drew nearly 3.8 million
viewers per episode, the highest for an animated series in 2012.
"The Legend of Korra," set in a more modern version of the world
of "Avatar" 70 years later, follows the journey of a 17-year-old
female Avatar trying to live up to her predecessor and using her
mastery of all four elements to confront political and spiritual
unrest.
The live-action version of the original hit "Avatar: The Last
Airbender" was first ordered at Netflix in September 2018. By
August 2020, creators DiMartino and Konietzko had departed the
project after two years of development work. Per DiMartino,
things with the streaming platform didn't work out after the
partners had signed on to make the series because Netflix was
committed to working with them on their vision for the show.
"I try to be like an Air Nomad and adapt. I do my best to go with
the flow, no matter what obstacle is put in my way. But even an
Air Nomad knows when it's time to cut their losses and move on,"
DiMartino had commented in an open letter announcing the status
of his and Konietzko's involvement with the project.
As of last summer, the show was still moving forward at Netflix
with Nickelodeon, Dan Lin, and Lin's company Rideback still
attached. "We have complete respect and admiration for Michael
and Bryan and the story that they created in the Avatar animated
series," a spokesperson for the streamer had said in a statement.
"Although they have chosen to depart the live-action project, we
are confident in the creative team and their adaptation."
A source with knowledge of the project told Variety that the
Netflix series is completely independent of the Avatar Studios
deal and that the live-action series is still moving forward at
the streaming platform. It is the only-live action "Avatar"
project based on the franchise to date.
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https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/avatar-last-airbender-legend-of-korra-nickelodeon-1234914149/>
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