Set in a world where mankind is divided into four nations associated with the elements water, fire, earth and air, the four nations live in peace until the fire nation wages war in hopes of expanding their nation. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements has the capability to stop them, but when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years later, and the world believes that the Avatar is dead until two teenagers from the water tribe, Katara and her older brother Sokka awaken the new avatar who had been asleep in an iceberg for the past century. Together, the three of them, as well as other friends whom they make along the way, set out on a quest to have Aang master all four elements in preparation to defeat the fire nation and their plans for world domination.

            This may come as a shocking choice for a discussion about utopia and dystopia, as despite the fact that the world we are shown is at war, it’s not necessarily dystopic. Yet, it is still relevant, as the utopian desire present in this sixty-one-episode long animated TV show is that of the Fire Nation; whose dream of world domination is what the rest of the world dreads and that which the avatar must prevent from ever becoming a reality.

            The Fire Nation wishes to expand their empire for the benefit of themselves and their people, knowing that it would be at the expense of the rest of the world. Not only do they dream of expansion and conquest, but annihilation as well. While already forming strategic attacks against the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes in the north and south poles, their greatest asset is a comet which passes the earth every century. The fire nation utilizes this comet to enhance their fire bending to wipe out entire cities and civilizations. Having already done so with Aang’s people, the Air Nomad’s, a hundred years ago, not long after Aang had ran away from home, near the end of the series, the Fire Nation then targets the Earth Kingdom. It is at this point where Aang, the Avatar and master of all four elements must finally face the Fire Lord from “purifying” the world with fire, and restore balance to the four nations.