Posted 28 minutes agoSubscribe to Screen Time NewsletterCaret Down"Avatar: The Last Airbender" Turns 20: Zach Tyler Eisen On Growing Up With Aang, And The Power Of The Avatar's JourneyFrom penguin-sledding to lion turtles, Zach relects on voicing a generation-defining hero at just 10 years old.by Andrew FirrioloBuzzFeed StaffFacebookPinterestLink It's been 20 years since Avatar: The Last Airbender first aired on Nickelodeon, and it's cemented itself as one of the greatest shows of all time. Avatar transcended the label of a 'kids show' - with its deep explorations of conflict, spirituality, and balance, it was a show that all ages could relate to.
At the center of it all was Aang, the goofy, kind-hearted kid tasked with saving the world. At only 10 years old, voice actor Zach Tyler Eisen brought impressive emotional depth to a character who continues to inspire generations. Nickelodeon Animation Studios To celebrate Avatar's 20th anniversary, we're spotlighting the voices and creators behind the beloved series. I sat down with Zach to look back at his journey as Aang, his thoughts about Aang's character arc, and what it means to reconnect with fans two decades later.
Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity. BuzzFeed: Before Avatar, you had voice-over roles in shows like Little Bill and The Backyardigans. How did you get into voice acting?Zach: I started acting at age four. I mostly started out with live-action, going out for commercials, small roles on TV shows, and some films. I was about 10 when I got cast for Avatar, so I'd already been acting for a few years.I lived on the East Coast and went to public school, so voice acting was easier to maintain a normal lifestyle and schedule as a kid. You didn't have to spend hours on set rehearsing or in hair and makeup, things like that. Also, being on the East Coast and not in Los Angeles, there were more voice-based opportunities out here at the time. So I made my way into the voice acting world and never really looked back! Jason Merritt / Via FilmMagic Zach Tyler Eisen at "The Ant Bully" Los Angeles Premiere. BuzzFeed: What was your first impression when you auditioned for Avatar?Zach: I was a Nickelodeon kid from the start, so my first impression was, "This is a Nickelodeon show - that's really, really cool!" Having this opportunity to play the lead on a Nickelodeon show was incredible! To be honest, I had no idea where any of this was going. It was very different from anything else that we had seen on Nickelodeon to that point.
Avatar was exciting, different, and new. I was so lucky to be a part of it, and then, all these years later, what it has become. I certainly didn't know where the story was going! Creators Mike [Dante DiMartino] and Bryan [Konietzko] did, because they're geniuses. But for me, it was really fun to experience that in real-time. Nickelodeon Animation Studios "...
Is that egg custard in that tart?" BuzzFeed: Aang has such a playful and energetic personality. How much of your own personality came through in his character?Zach: A lot! Though it's a two-way street - I also learned a lot from Aang. As a kid actor, you're not so experienced in the world. I brought a lot of my personality into the character, but in terms of life lessons and ethos, pathos, all of that, I learned so much of that from Aang.I was definitely goofy! Aang also helped reinforce that side to me. He's this character who has to save the world. He has the weight of the world on his shoulders, but he shows it's still okay to be a kid and be yourself. That helped reinforce that for me. Nickelodeon Animation Studios BuzzFeed: Did you have any sense you'd be voicing one of the most iconic characters in animation?Zach: No, definitely not. As a 10-year-old, I was obviously so stoked to get a role like that. But we had no idea where it was going. In hindsight, it makes sense because the writing was so brilliant! They didn't treat the audience as kids, even though it's meant for kids. It appeals to a broad audience, and that's because of the writing.
It was also very forward-thinking. There are many social justice issues that are tackled in the show that you didn't see so much in animation. Looking back, it makes sense that the show became what it is today. But at the time, I had absolutely no idea. Angela Papuga / Via FilmMagic BuzzFeed: One of the big points of discussion is Kataang [the ship for Katara/Aang] vs. Zutara [Katara/Zuko]. What is your stance on how that storyline finished?Zach: I'm a big Kataang guy. I feel like the whole series had a "will they, won't they" kind of vibe. I mean, I played Aang, and I was thinking, "Aang's gotta get the girl, right?" So I was very happy about that. I do believe the actual word "Kataang" is written in the script. I'm 99% certain - I need to go back and find the finale script!BuzzFeed: What was your personal favorite part about playing Aang?Zach: My favorite part of playing Aang is that balance of him having the respons