MTV’s website posted pictures of some of the toy line and action figures from the upcoming The Last Airbender film, due out July 2, 2010. While not all-encompassing, the toys do have a spoiler moment that fans have yet to see with any preview trailer.
The action figures include the Blue Spirit mask and outfit for Prince Zuko, one of the major plot points from the first season of the original show, Avatar: The Last Airbender in which seemingly evil Prince Zuko actually rescues Aang, the titular last airbender and savior of the world. This figure looks fantastic with the detail on the Blue Spirit mask and the hair coming from it. The visual arts department for The Last Airbender will surely get an Oscar nod next year if the mask from this toy is any indication.
This is also our first look at Appa and Momo, two animal friends of Aang who’s animal vocalizations will be done by Dee Bradley Baker, the lone holdover from the animated series. Appa’s toy almost looks like a six-legged pug crossed with a bear, but that would be a nice nod to Aang’s origins as a Buddhist-type monk as the pug originated in Buddhist monasteries. Momo looks like a cute and cuddly Mogwai on Aang’s shoulder.
This is also the first look at Aang’s glider, a contraption that folds up into his staff that allows Aang to fly through the air as an airbender. Much like the original series, the glider’s folds and wings are orange in color. Sokka’s figure comes with a boomerang, much to fan’s delight as his humor with the boomerang will provide comic relief in the movie, but also some butt kicking, as we saw in the animated version of Airbender.
Thank goodness that a Katara action figure is present and it looks very good as well. This was one action figure from the original line of toys in the animated series that many fans criticized for lacking. The toys from the animated series were all toys of male characters and not a single female character toy in the bunch. Katara’s hair is finely detailed as is the brown striping on her outfit. Viacom has finally done justice with the toy line. Now we’ll see what the Toph and Azula action figures will look like in the Airbender sequel.
If the animated series toys are any indication, look in the future for some type of building playset perhaps for a temple. Another appropriate toy to have would be a Fire Nation ship complete with fireball launching catapults.
MTV reports that The Last Airbender toys will hit shelves in a first wave on June 1st, another wave closer to the movie’s release in early July, and then a third and final wave for the first movie around the holidays just as the DVD is released.
In wake of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s final season, executives at Paramount told USA Today that their movie franchise could “become our Harry Potter.” Based upon the treatment of the action figure line, they seem to be moving in the right direction. The Washington Post reports that The Last Airbender will be a favorite of Viacom’s toy line at the annual Toy Fair. The fair starts on Sunday.
