10 Best Fantasy Shows With Worldbuilding Like ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’

Since its debut in 2005, Avatar: The Last Airbender has continued to be revered for its eye-opening assertions about morality, friendship, and redemption. The youth-led adventure series also earned rave reviews from fans and critics alike for its handling of dark subject matter such as genocide, imperialism, and exploitation.

Set in a world divided into four nations, each representing the four elements: water, earth, fire, and air, the series invites audiences on an unforgettable globetrot where 12-year-old Air Nomad Aang, 14-year-old waterbender-in-training Katara (Mae Whitman), her 15-year-old brother Sokka (Jack De Sena), and newcomers like Earthbending heiress Toph (Michaela Jill Murphy) dole out justice and learn more about the communities they come across.

Through analogous references to history and taking strong inspiration from Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American cultures, creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino managed to craft a deeply moving, amusing, and ultimately resonant piece that, for the most part, remains respectful and informed.

Similarly, these fantasy series offer audiences a fascinating world to explore and learn from, in hopes of reflecting the hope, dread, and curiosity that inspires ingenuity on Earth, for better or for worse.

10

‘Game of Thrones’ (2010 – 2018)

Despite the many controversies that plague the conclusion of its televised universe, George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” made for compelling television. Be it from its initial inception with Game of Thrones or its latest addition, House of Tte Dragon, the franchise would prove to be a watershed moment for fantasy.

The Wonders of Westeros and Beyond

Set on an Earth-like planet colloquially known as the World of Ice and Fire, the series follows the various nobles and small folk of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and the various city states of Essos, a neighboring continent. Recently usurping the Targaryens, a once-powerful noble clan, the series opens in the wake of said disposal, otherwise known as “Robert’s Rebellion”. With the line of succession in question, it is only a matter of time until the kingdom descends into chaos.

In eight seasons, the series has adequately adapted famous locations like Winterfell, King’s Landing, and Meereen to name a few. Inspired by the Dark Ages, George R.R. Martin’s sprawling universe has combined the grittiness of medieval period conflict, the intricate intersection of class and misogyny with recognizable fantasy tropes that help accentuate Martin’s underlying mission, to depict the human heart in conflict with itself.

Fullmetal Alchemist stands as one of the most popular brother-led adventures. Set in Amestris, a fictional land-locked nation, the series focuses on Edward and Alphonse Elric, who embark on a journey to discover the Philosopher’s Stone in hopes of restoring themselves to their natural state. Their adventure, however, finds them at the center of a series of grand conspiracies that threaten their bond and their goals. While the original series only aired for a single season, the parent series and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood would leave anime fans with a worthwhile world to revisit.

A Thought-Provoking, Life-Altering Journey of Grief

Edward and Alphonse’s journey is not only defined by the upbeat action the brothers find themselves in, but also reveals a sprawling story about the power of human relationships and how mortality confounds said relationships. Aside from themselves, their motivation in discovering the Philosopher’s Stone rests in the hope of reviving their deceased mother. As fans explore more of Amestris and countries beyond its borders, for example Germany, they are also exposed to the interrogations of imperialism and genocide that several characters raise throughout the series.

8

‘His Dark Materials’ (2019 – 2022)

His Dark Materials, an adaptation of the Phillip Pullman novels, is an inventive fantasy that splits the world in two, in hopes of reflecting a universal reality. The focus of the series is Lyra Belacqua (Dafnee Keen), a young child living at Jordan’s College, Oxford. In a world ruled by the Magisterium, a religious and political governing body, Lyra slowly but surely becomes embroiled in a series of schemes that hit close to home, and soon her discoveries unveil the nefarious powers at play and an unlikely ally in Will Parry (Amir Wilson), a similarly unique child living in Oxford of the opposite plane.

World-Building That Stretches Beyond Just One World

A multi-world reality, the series sees the Earth host multiple planes of existence. Lyra’s world is filled with distinct cultures and communities that bear similarities to real-life examples. Furthermore, the world of the Magisterium also includes daemons, companion animals with human souls and the ability to speak. Alongside the whimsical and saccharine is the bleak and ominous, with kidnappings, murders, and fanaticism plaguing both planes, all being done in the name of a mysteriously sacred substance known as “Dust.” In under three concise seasons, His Dark Materials hosts a rich universe of stories and souls worthy of discovering.

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7

‘The Dragon Prince’ (2018 – Present)

The Dragon Prince

Release Date

August 14, 2018

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Justin Richmond

Directors

Justin Richmond

Writers

Justin Richmond

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The Dragon Prince chronicles the story of two brothers, Prince Callum (Jack DeSena) and Crown Prince Ezran (Sasha Rojen), who discover a dragon egg and embark on a long, treacherous mission to return said egg to its mother. Concurrently, the kingdom of Katolis, led by Callum and Ezran’s father, Harrow (Luc Roderique), descends into chaos after a fatal coup d’état. Joined alongside a Moonshadow elf named Rayla (Paula Burrows), the trio’s quest back to the mother dragon soon evolves into a wider peace-keeping mission that grows more difficult over time as the characters are met with new allies, secret foes, and divergent paths of self-discovery.

An Enthralling Modern Fantasy

With multiple creatives and voice actors being Avatar: The Last Airbender alumni, the series piqued the interest of quite a few. Despite the introduction of six elements, the series stands on its own as an enthralling fantasy for all ages. Throughout its six seasons and two arcs, audiences have the privilege of growing into the characters, picking up on the various customs and kingdoms on the continent of Xadia in the process. With humans, dragons, and elves in proximity, the series uses traditional fantasy tropes and expounds on them, in turn leaving viewers with a captivating and inclusive animated universe to explore.

6

‘The Wheel of Time’ (2021 – Present)

The Wheel of Time

Release Date

November 18, 2021

Network

Prime Video

Showrunner

Rafe Judkins

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  Daniel Henney

  al’Lan Mandragoran

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  Josha Stradowski

  Rand al’Thor

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  Zoe Robins

  Nynaeve al’Meara

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The Wheel of Time, based on the literary universe of the same name, sees authors Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan’s high fantasy universe come to life. Centered around a magical organization of women known as the “Aes Sedai,” the series follows Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike), a member of the Aes Sedai who hopes to find the Dragon Reborn, a prophetic channeler who is believed to be the only person responsible for saving the world from Dark One, or potentially ruin it.

Since its premiere, the series has earned strongly positive reviews, specifically for its ability to adapt and expand stories from the original source material without being reductive or directionless.

A Faithful and Fruitful Adaptation

With its third season premiering not too long ago, the series excels in exploring an intricate universe but also convincing audiences to invest in said universe by way of the various characters, their motivations, and their relation to the prophecy. Following characters like Moiraine, al’Lan Mandragoran (Daniel Henney), Perrin Aybara (Marcus Rutherford), and Nynaeve al’Meara (Zoë Robins), fans dive into a world rich with history, supernatural rites, and messianic figures but told from the perspective of ordinary people, effectively centering them in quite the riveting quest.

5

‘Arcane’ (2021 – 2024)

Arcane

Release Date

2021 – 2023

Showrunner

Christian Linke, Alex Yee

Directors

Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord

One of several series to be based on a video game, Arcane adapts storylines from League of Legends, and after its initial premiere, the series would bloom into a mind-consuming phenomenon in its own right. Summarized as a look at two prominent league champions, the series follows sisters Violet (Hailee Steinfeld) and Powder (Ella Purnell) as they become roped into a tense conflict between the affluent city of Piltover and their native Zaun. With only two seasons to its name, Arcane managed to leave audiences forever enamored with its intricate worldbuilding and characterization.

A Road Paved with Good, Bad, and Ugly Intentions

Class struggles play a major role in the world of Arcane. Even as the series progresses, the issue never disappears, even if it initially feels further away. Notably seen in the juxtaposition between the wealthy Piltover and the impoverished Zaun. However, the series opts for using the class disparities in both communities to rediscover a series of noble truths rather than offering audiences a simplified look at wealth and privilege.

Throughout the occurrences in both cities, audiences are exposed to a story that is more concerned with dissection of the reasoning behind the evil deeds that occur. Rather than making gods and monsters out of the characters, the series inquires the audiences to analyze how everyday emotions can be the basis of great change or abhorrent violence.

4

‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ (2022 – Present)

Inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, The Legend of Vox Machina sees a group of comrades that band together in hopes of defending their home continent, “Tal’Dorei,” on the planet “Exandria,” from the magical and dreadful threats that aim to undermine the relative serenity of the several communities hosted on the continent. Throughout the series, the group embarks on several journeys that closely mirror those encountered by Dungeons and Dragons players in real life, offering loyal fans a balance of carefully condensed storylines that manage to expand beyond expectations.

A Cult Classic Coming to Life

Considered to be a marvel in “character-first storytelling” by publications like Paste and The AV Club, The Legend Of Vox Machina sees a variety of magical and mundane species band together and, through their missions to defend Tal’Dorei, audiences are treated to a worthwhile exploration of the many cultures, cities, and communities of the continent. Despite initial impressions of a character-led story, fans learn more about the respective universe through characters like Vex (Laura Bailey), Percy (Taliesin Jaffe), and Trinket (Matthew Mercer). As the series progresses, The Legend of Vox Machina sacrifices some of its humor for risky and heavier plots, fleshing out the already intriguing world fans were introduced to in the premiere.

3

‘The Witcher’ (2019 – Present)

The Witcher

Release Date

December 20, 2019

Showrunner

Lauren Schmidt Hissrich

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The Witcher, a growing franchise encompassing books, series of video games, and comic books, also famously exists in a televised format. Initially led by Henry Cavill, the series follows Geralt of Rivia, a witcher who dedicates his time and energy to defending the Continent from the various monsters that threaten its stability. With companions like Jaskier (Joey Batey) and Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra), Geralt clings onto any sense of belonging that he can find. With the introduction of Princess Ciri (Freya Allan), Geralt unearths a connection between the two, one that becomes a driving force behind adventures soon to come.

Bleak at a Glance, Insightful at Its Core

An acquired taste, the show’s worldbuilding rests in its manipulation of time. Leaping back and forth, the series illustrates the impact of fear on the various factions on the Continent. While fear is an innate emotion, it also serves as the enabling force behind discrimination and all of its ghastly faces. Through Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri to name a few, the show’s magical elements, political intrigue, and its interrogations of what makes a monster leave viewers with a fascinating fantasy series to dive into and reflect on.

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2

‘Steven Universe’ (2013 – 2019)

Steven Universe follows the titular tween (Zach Callison) in his hometown of Beach City as he comes into his own as a half-human, half-Gem. The Crystal Gems, superpowered personifications of various jewels and stones found on Earth, act as additional parental figures to Steven, guiding him through essential life lessons while gearing him up to take on various threats to Earth and the universe’s stability. With a fervid fanbase endlessly discussing the many ways the series explores themes like family, identity, and morality, there is no doubt in mind that Steven Universe stands as an exemplary fantasy series due to its compelling worldbuilding.

An Animated Epic with Compassion at Its Core

With a blend of mundane predicaments and grave conflicts where the peace and stability of the universe hangs in the balance, Steven, his loved ones in Beach City, and the Crystal Gems opt for conflict resolution in an authentic manner. While conflict may be inevitable in certain circumstances Steven and company find themselves in, there is a dedicated effort to cooling down tensions in hopes of actively understanding their opponents, the roots of their problems, and the solutions necessary for resolution. A modern-day, animated bildungsroman, Steven Universe relies on Steven’s own history, the many worlds within the contained Beach City, and the Gem’s interstellar backstory to interrogate everything from complex family dynamics, authoritarianism, and conflict resolution.

1

‘She-Ra: The Princesses of Power’ (2018 – 2020)

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power stands as one of the most celebrated animated series in recent memory. Set in a future that melds technology and magic, the series follows Adora (Aimee Carrero), a young woman who learns that she has the ability to transform into SHe-Ra, a benevolent and powerful force that has all that it takes to defeat the growing, tyrannical Horde. Aside from its inclusive and imaginative storylines and its major contributions to the ever-growing He-Man Universe, the series also invites audiences to the wondrous world of Etheria and the many realms within it.

An Entertaining Template for Monumental Change

Favorably compared to Avatar: The Last Airbender, the world of Etheria and beyond hosts a bevy of intricate stories, well-woven characters, and vibrant settings, all contributing to the major themes of the series. The power of children’s animation lies in its ability to remain age-appropriate and exciting while also informing children of dark and depressing phenomena that occur throughout their world.

Adora’s adventures and her close connection with Catra (AJ Michalka) also illuminate audiences of all ages about the importance of liberation from various forms of indoctrination and the consequences of said indoctrination, ranging from colonization to genocide. With a clever balance of its darkest moments with imperative glimpses of optimism and an encouragement of collaboration, She-Ra And The Princesses of Power remains as one of the most impressive fantasy series in its use of worldbuilding.