Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender

Thirteen years after the end of the Hundred Year War, Avatar Aang and his friends further establish Republic City as a home for people of all nations. While visiting the desolate Southern Air Temple alone, Aang is ambushed by the Denied, a group of non-bending outlaws. Aang repels their attack, but the Denied steal a map connected to an unknown airbender named Sonam.

Aang travels to Republic City to warn his girlfriend, Council Representative Katara. Aang also consults his past lives and learns that Sonam was a forgotten Avatar whose staff could channel the energy of the Spirit World and grant others airbending. Aang believes the Denied seek the staff and leaves Katara to gather their friends—Sokka, Toph, and Fire Lord Zuko—and meet him at the staff's last known location atop Mount Baihu.

At the top of the mountain, Aang discovers the frozen body of an airbender. The group rescues him and learns he is Tagah, an ancient follower of Sonam. Tagah persuades them to accompany him to a hidden island surrounded by a cyclone where the staff is said to rest. Aang hopes to use the staff to restore the Air Nomads. Although Tagah shares this vision, he expresses resentment toward the other bending nations. While they travel to the island, the Denied launch a surprise attack on their airship. Tagah retaliates and nearly kills the Denied, but is stopped by Aang. Aang and Tagah then airbend a path through the storm as the rest of the group work to keep the airship flying. Noting Tagah's ruthless methods and the danger of their mission, Katara pleads with Aang to abandon the mission, but he prioritizes his desire for the staff over the safety of his friends.

On the island, Aang retrieves the staff by wielding all four elements. Tagah tries to follow, but is stopped and confronted by Katara. Tagah reveals his true intentions by killing the group—including Aang—and stealing the staff to restore what he believes to be Air Nomad supremacy. Landing in a pool of spirit water, Katara survives and revives the others. Before he is saved, Aang sees Sonam's spirit and learns that Tagah betrayed her too. Tagah was traumatized by a brutal war and he stole her staff to seek vengeance against non-airbenders. Sonam imprisoned him atop the mountain and hid the staff for a future Avatar; she urges Aang to recover the staff and bring the world in balance.

The group pursues Tagah through the Spirit World to Republic City. They find the city under attack by the Denied, whom Tagah granted airbending through the staff. While his friends battle the Denied, Aang confronts Tagah and reclaims the staff. Aang succumbs to a corrupted Avatar State after becoming enraged by Tagah's accusations that he failed to protect the Air Nomads. Childhood memories of Monk Gyatso and his teachings influence Aang to spare Tagah. He instead destroys Sonam's staff, which strips the Denied of their airbending and causes Tagah to fade away. Before he disappears, Aang tells Tagah they must forgive themselves for failing to save their people.

In the aftermath, Aang oversees construction of a new Air Temple on an island near Republic City. Speaking with Sonam's spirit, he concludes that the true legacy of the Air Nomads is their values, which can be passed on to future generations. Afterwards, Aang and his friends welcome a new group of Air Acolytes, including a reformed member of the Denied. Together they discover a surviving herd of sky bison, which strengthens Aang's hope for the future of his culture.