10 Animated Shows to Watch After Avatar: The Last Airbender

Avatar: The Last Airbender is hard to follow, but luckily there is a sequel if this is your first time watching the series The Legend of Korra will be waiting for you immediately afterwards. However, if you’ve already played through both, you may still be longing for a character-centric, plot-heavy fantasy-action animated series to fill the void in your heart. What’s next?

Many people would call anime the natural next step, but if you’re not quite ready to dive into the anime pool and are craving serialized animation for all ages, don’t be afraid to push the medium’s boundaries and deeper ones topics, then here are 10 shows you should watch.

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Samurai Jack

Where to see: Max

Samurai Jack pushed the boundaries of what action could look like for all ages. (There’s a reason he fought mostly robots in the first four seasons – no blood!) Genndy Tartakovsky’s sci-fi action series is about a samurai who, after being transported to the distant future, defeats an evil demon must to return home. The fight sequences are outstanding and the animation is amazing. The show returned in 2017 to complete a final (darker and adult-oriented) season.

Teen Titans

Where to see: Max

Teen Titans did as much as ATLA in bringing anime sensibilities to young American audiences, particularly when it came to its distinct visual style. Based (loosely) on the DC superhero troupe of the same name, Teen Titans follows a group of five teenage superheroes as they battle super-powered villains to protect their home. It starts off light, with episodic shenanigans and lots of jokes, but eventually builds into incredibly epic battles and powerful character moments.

Young Justice

Where to see: Max

One of the most compelling elements of Young Justice is how it deals with the implications of a world full of superheroes. Each season builds on the foundations of its universe. What begins as a simple team of young heroes taking on covert missions evolves into a sprawling interrogation of the place of masked vigilantes in the world. It Is a lot, but gladly ATLA And Korrait doesn’t shy away from the more difficult topics.

Voltron: Legendary Defender

Where to see: Netflix

From the animation studio behind it The Legend of Korra, Voltron: Legendary Defender was the first indication that serialized animation had found traction on streaming services. It may be a reboot of a toy line, but it’s a worthy sci-fi epic, one that “takes the time to care about the characters and the travesties surrounding them,” as our season two review said was called.

The Dragon Prince

Where to see: Netflix

With ATLA headed by the writer Aaron Ehasz, The Dragon Prince is the most natural successor to Avatar. It is a more traditional European medieval fantasy world than that of avatar, But there are a lot of details in the world building that help make it unique, especially when it comes to the magic system. There are some silly moments, but it still manages to touch on heavy themes like war and prejudice as the young human heroes venture into a magical world.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Where to see: Netflix

ND Stevenson’s version of She-Ra transforms the heroine from a simple He-Man spinoff into something more complex. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power breaks down the chosen narrative and offers all characters (particularly Catra and Adora) compelling and fleshed out relationships. It expertly balances heavier moments with lighter moments of character interaction. It’s the fantastic queer Magical Girl Show of our dreams.

Kipo and the Age of Miracle Monsters

Where to see: Netflix

If your particular favorite part of ATLA were the crazy hybrid animals, then you will be happy Kipo and the Age of Miracle Monsters. It is set in a world where humanity is forced underground after a group of animal hybrids gain consciousness. It’s a colorful, bold visual post-apocalyptic world with some very crazy scenes and characters. And like Aang, Kipo is determined to find peaceful solutions in a world that constantly pushes her to do otherwise.

Maya and the three

Where to see: Netflix

Cultural uniqueness meets mind-blowing action Maya and the three. Creators and husband and wife team Jorge Gutiérrez and Sandra Equihua weave an epic tale in this limited miniseries that follows a warrior princess in a Mesoamerican-inspired fantasy world who recruits three warriors to help her defeat the gods. There are some really cool fight sequences, excellent world building, and a story that feels like a punch in the gut in the best possible way.

The Owl House

Where to see: Disney Plus

Disney Channel rarely makes series animation, but when they do it well, they do it So. The Owl House The film begins somewhat episodically, as a brave teenager named Luz is kidnapped into a world full of witches and demons. But it builds up a larger plot that is very character-driven and in which many rivals become allies. There’s a reason a character is called “Gen Z Zuko”! There’s also a really cool magic system and an overall delightful world to explore. Disney may have failed The Owl House with an abbreviated third season order, but it still shines.

Arcane

Where to see: Netflix

I was about at the fence Arcane since technically It’s not a show for all ages. Even if the violence is a bit darker, it never becomes explicitly adult. It’s a kind of ensemble show in which a whole web of characters – from street kids to scientists to political ambassadors – get caught up in the escalating tensions between classes. Yes, it is one League of Legends show, but you don’t need to know anything about it league being drawn into the steampunk action and the tragedy of two sisters torn apart.

Honorable Mention: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Where to see: Crunchyroll, Hulu

OK, I know I said there’s no anime on this list, but this one ATLATo-FMAB Pipeline is a very real phenomenon and I would be remiss if I didn’t include the masterpiece that it is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. If you’re a big one Avatar Fan who hasn’t made the jump into the anime yet Fullmetal Alchemist is the perfect jump.

It is about a young, gifted alchemist named Edward Elric who is searching for the Philosopher’s Stone to return his younger brother Alphonse to his body, whom he lost years ago while trying to resurrect their mother. But along the way, Edward and Alphonse discover dark corruption in their country that they must stop. It has everything great ATLA – cool powers, great fight sequences, compelling characters, fascinating world-building – but also challenges the idea that sometimes, after doing some terrible things, you have to make amends.