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Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products, one of the largest property representatives at the Show this year, additionally exhibited a few of their most promising television brands. Among the animation titles featured at their panel were the preschool cartoon Ni Hao, Kai-lan, and of particular interest here, the fantasy-adventure Avatar: the Last Airbender.
Specifically, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products' focus on the Avatar property wasn't on the animated television series, but rather on the live-action theatrical film based on the cartoon, whose anticipated debut in theaters is in roughly two years.
"We're especially optimistic about this movie's prospects given Avatar: the Last Airbender's already rabid, global fan base," Nick & Viacom Consumer Products President, Leigh Anne Brodsky commented regarding the intensity surrounding the movies production plans. The Avatar cartoon has achieved modest ratings success domestically, recently, while accomplishing a bit more in international markets [related A.I. news: "Cable TV Animation Q1 2008 Ratings," "Q3 & Q4 2007 Ratings"]. "The Last Airbender is a living, breathing, organic brand that's poised to explode, [and] our strategy is to work with partners who want to authentically build the brand around the globe."
The feature film, currently under the working title of The Last Airbender, is poised for success, says Nickelodeon, due to its present foundation of key consumer products (which has room for growth) that may further introduce the property's fanbase to a property that the kid's entertainment company anticipates will survive for many years to come. Analysts espy the Avatar brand's largest achievable growth almost exclusively as a boys' action brand, narrowing the animated series' current focus and drawing itself in line for what should be direct and competitive competition with related titles in a market that could become rather competitive in only a matter of months.