Avatar Studios is an American production company and division of Nickelodeon formed in February 2021 to oversee the '' Avatar: The Last Airbender'' franchise. Franchise co-creators

Michael Dante DiMartino Michael Dante DiMartino (born July 18, 1974) is an American animator, producer, writer, and director. He is best known, together with Bryan Konietzko, as the co-creator of the animated TV series ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' and ''The Legend of ...

and Bryan Konietzko serve as co-chief creative officers.

Background

'' Avatar: The Last Airbender'', an animated television series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, aired on the cable channel Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008. During its run, it would achieve high ratings as well as garner critical acclaim and several awards. It was succeeded by a sequel series, '' The Legend of Korra'', which ran from 2012 to 2014. The property would grow into a multi-media franchise consisting of an ongoing comics series, a prequel novel series, video games, and a live-action film.

History

In 2018, Netflix announced that a live-action remake of ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' was to start production in 2019. The series' original creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, were initially announced to be the executive producers and

showrunner A showrunner (or colloquially a helmer) is the top-level executive producer of a television series production who has creative and management authority through combining the responsibilities of employer and, in comedy or dramas, typically also th ...

s. In June 2020, the creators departed the series due to creative differences. That same year, Nickelodeon licensed the original ''The Last Airbender'' as well as ''The Legend of Korra'' to Netflix, which led to a boom in popularity for both series. This success convinced Nickelodeon to rekindle their relationship with Konietzko and DiMartino and explore further opportunities. In February 2021, ViacomCBS announced during its annual Investor Day the formation of Avatar Studios, a new division of Nickelodeon centered on developing animated series and films set in the universe of the franchise, to be distributed via Nickelodeon's linear and digital services, Paramount+, theatres, and other third-party platforms. The division is helmed by DiMartino and Konietzko, who are its co-chief creative officers and report to Nickelodeon Animation Studio president

Ramsey Ann Naito Ramsey Ann Naito (born 1974) is an American producer of animated films who currently serves as the president of Nickelodeon Animation and Paramount Animation (both subsidiaries of Paramount Global). She is best known for her 2017 production ''T ...

. It was also announced that the studio's first project would be an animated theatrical film that was initially planned to begin production in 2021.

Projects

The division's first production, an animated film titled '' Aang: The Last Airbender'' is set to released in theaters on January 20, 2026 by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

. It will serve as a continuation of the original series. Two additional theatrical animated films are also in the works.

Filmography

References

External links

* {{Paramount Global Avatar: The Last Airbender The Legend of Korra Film production companies of the United States American animation studios American companies established in 2021 Nickelodeon Animation Studio Companies based in Burbank, California Nickelodeon Animation studios owned by Paramount Global