^{Credit: Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender (Paramount+)}

I wouldn’t describe Avatar: The Last Airbender as a hidden gem, as it was among Nickelodeon’s most popular shows from the get-go. Over the past couple of decades, though, it’s become much more. Like the original Star Wars trilogy or Harry Potter, it’s now a rite of passage that every child needs to experience. Not only has the show been passed on to a new generation, but older audiences are rewatching Avatar and, in some cases, discovering it for the first time. Paramount still doesn’t seem to realize what they have, hence why Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender moved from a theatrical release to streaming. Watching Lauren Montgomery’s feature film, though, one thing is undeniable. Avatar Aang was produced for the biggest screen possible.

This franchise has always been synonymous with top-tier animation. With an $80 million budget, Flying Bark Productions and Studio Mir can explore the Four Nations like never before. Shifting from the original show’s 4:3 aspect ratio to a widescreen format also makes a world of difference. All four elements explode off the screen with a fusion of 2D and 3D animation that achieves the perfect balance. On a pure aesthetic level, this is the most visually arresting entry in the Avatar series. Be it an action sequence or an intimate conversation, every frame is on fire.

Of course, Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino’s creation is one defined by body and mind. The filmmakers deliver another character-driven story, which, as the title suggests, centers on Aang (Eric Nam). The other members of Team Avatar, Katara (Jessica Matten), Sokka (Román Zaragoza), Toph (Dionne Quan), and Zuko (Steven Yeun), also naturally play essential roles. While the push for representation surely factored in, the fact that this film takes place thirteen years after the initial series likely made recasting inevitable. Every actor comfortably settles into their roles, flawlessly channeling older versions of the characters we know and love.

Although Aang has formed a family, he still reflects on the one he lost over a century ago. The weight of being the last airbender haunts him more than ever as he collects relics from the past. Aang fears that once he’s gone, Air Nomads will cease to exist along with their culture. It turns out that Aang isn’t the only airbender who got frozen in time, however. He unfreezes Tagah (Dave Bautista), another airbender who informs Aang of an ancient staff. With it, he can grant people bending abilities, bringing the Air Nomads back. Aang leaps at the opportunity, but as you might guess, things aren’t what they seem.

In an ensemble of strong voice work, Bautista is a standout as Tagah, who emerges at the Magneto to Aang’s Charles Xavier. Even with the most successful wrestlers turned actors, it can be hard to separate them from their WWE roots. Although he has the build of an action star, Bautista has repeatedly demonstrated raw dramatic chops, giving one of his most layered performances here. While Tagah is an Air Nomad, he’s like a firecracker on the verge of exploding. Like Aang, Tagah is burdened by the sins of the past. Where Aang seeks to move forward and build bridges, Tagah is hellbent on tearing them down.

While Aang and Tagah’s dynamic is at the movie’s core, all of your favorites are given time to shine. Katara brings the heart, Sokka brings the humor, Toph brings the badassery, and Zuko brings a little of everything. Even everyone’s favorite Cabbage Merchant (Ken Jeong) drops by to deliver his immortal catchphrase. There are also newcomers like Ke Huy Quan as one of Aang’s Avatar predecessors, Taika Waititi as a multi-eyed spirit, and a group of side antagonists called the Denied. They’re all somewhat underutilized, however. At 99 minutes, there isn’t a dull moment in Avatar Aang. Every once in a while, though, I wish it slowed down just a little, allowing the characters to reflect on certain moments. The film isn’t rushed by any means, but with just ten more minutes, I feel like this could’ve been “Sozin’s Comet”-level masterpiece.

That said, the fact that Avatar Aang comes within reach of that all-time high is a testament to the talent involved. Avatar Aang is worthy of a Best Animated Feature nomination, which the film should be eligible for with its limited theatrical release. If only more theaters got a chance to screen it. With the film previously being leaked online, Avatar Aang has had a rough road to its official release. To quote Uncle Iroh, though, “Sometimes life is like this dark tunnel. You can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving, you will come to a better place.”

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Available Now!