Avatar Studios

Division of Nickelodeon Animation Studio overseeing the Avatar franchise.

Avatar Studios is an American production company and a division of Nickelodeon Animation Studio, a subsidiary of CBS Studios. Formed in February 2021, it was created to oversee the acclaimed Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise. Franchise co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko serve as the division's co-chief creative officers.

Quick Facts

Industry: Film, Television
Founder: Nickelodeon
Founded: February 2021
Headquarters: Burbank, California, U.S.
Brands: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Parent: Nickelodeon Animation Studio

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

Avatar Studios was established in February 2021, following a resurgence in popularity for the original Avatar: The Last Airbender series and its sequel, The Legend of Korra, after Nickelodeon licensed both to Netflix. The formation came after the original creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, departed a Netflix live-action remake in June 2020 due to creative differences. Nickelodeon subsequently rekindled its relationship with the creators to explore further opportunities within the franchise.

The studio's first announced project was an animated theatrical film, initially planned to begin production in 2021. That film, titled Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, was released on Paramount+ on July 25, 2026, alongside a limited theatrical release. It serves as a continuation of the story, taking place after the events of the original series. In June 2022, it was reported that two additional theatrical animated films were also in development.

In February 2025, it was announced that a new series, titled Avatar: Seven Havens, was in production at Avatar Studios. The division is helmed by DiMartino and Konietzko, who report to Nickelodeon Animation Studio president Ramsey Ann Naito. Content from the studio is distributed via Nickelodeon's linear and digital services, Paramount+, theatres, and other third-party platforms.

Reader's Guide

Avatar Studios represents a significant institutional commitment to expanding the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe, which originally aired on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008 and achieved high ratings, critical acclaim, and several awards. The studio's formation in February 2021 marked a strategic move by ViacomCBS to capitalize on the franchise's renewed popularity after the original series and its sequel, The Legend of Korra, were licensed to Netflix. The studio's first major release, the animated film Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender (2026), continues the story of the original series, while additional films and a new television series, Avatar: Seven Havens, are in development. By placing the franchise's co-creators in leadership roles as co-chief creative officers, the studio aims to maintain creative continuity. The studio's output is distributed across multiple platforms, including Nickelodeon, Paramount+, and theaters, ensuring broad reach. Its legacy lies in centralizing the development of animated content for a beloved franchise, potentially setting a model for how media companies manage and expand intellectual properties.