Original Avatar: The Last Airbender Unaired Pilot Had a Completely Different Aang
In the world of television, there are numerous acclaimed shows and the pilot helps filter out the flaws. Similarly, in the original animated show Avatar: The Last Airbender, the unaired pilot had a completely different Aang.
Avatar: The Last Airbender came out in 2005, and soon after the animated show’s first episode, it gained widespread recognition. However, little did you know that the unaired pilot episode had a different voice actor for Aang, and even Zuko wasn’t accompanied by his uncle but a messenger Hawk.
The Original Voice Actor in Avatar: The Last Airbender Pilot Episode Wasn’t Zack Tyler Eisen
Actor Zack Tyler Eisen is best known for voicing fan-favorite character Aang, but he wasn’t the original artist behind the character’s voice. In the unaired pilot episode of the massive hit animated series, Mitchel Musso gave life to the airbender through his voice (via Entertainment Weekly). However, changes were made to improve the show, and Tyler Eisen finally helmed the role, replacing the Hannah Montana star.
Also Read: The Best Healer in Avatar: The Last Airbender isn’t Avatar Kyoshi
The pilot episode was unique in its way as there are significant differences between the original and the unaired episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Another notable difference was Zuko’s mentor. Originally, the firebender’s confidant was a messenger named Hawk and not his uncle Iroh. The episode starts with Zuko on a quest to find Aang, Katara, and Sokka, after they escaped him.
The pilot episode even had a different name for Katara. Her original name was Kya, but the creators felt it wasn’t impactful enough, and eventually named her the iconic Katara which indisputably suits her personality. Despite the pilot episode’s distinctive take on the Avatar’s narrative, it remained unaired. Following the final touch to the animated show, the first episode officially came out in February 2005, earning a dedicated fanbase.
Zack Tyler Eisen Shared His Favorite Episode From Avatar: The Last Airbender
Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender is currently trending among fans and viewers, as they’re waiting for the next two seasons. The live-action resulted from the triumphant original animated series, which remains unparalleled. Actor Zack Tyler Eisen once opened up about his most adored episode in his show during a Braving the Elements podcast in 2021 and said (via YouTube) :
“I think that the most memorable to me, and I’ve said this before, is the King Bumi episode. I feel that’s kind of where I started to feel like I was hitting my stride as an actor like I started to understand the character. It was just a really fun episode”
The actor explained that The King of Omashu is his favorite episode from the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The episodes featured the fun adventure of the Gaang, and how they enjoyed each other’s company while on a mission to transform Aang into the best Avatar. Tyler Eisen also commended Zuko Alone, the only episode that excluded the titular hero.
Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action on Netflix.
