Almost two decades after it started airing, Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender lives on in the hearts and minds of fans due to its excellent storytelling and lovable cast of characters and for how it deftly tackles hard-hitting topics such as genocide and imperialism — especially for a show intended towards a younger audience. Not to mention, 2024 has been a landmark year for the Avatar universe so far, as season one of Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the show made its debut on the platform in February and as Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert kicked off the North American leg of its world tour in August, with many more Avatar-related projects in the works, such as a sequel series, set to arrive sometime in the near future.
At MCM Comic Con London X EGX, I took part in a press group interview with Jennie Kwan (Suki in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Chun-Li in Street Fighter 6 and more) and James Sie (Cabbage Merchant in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Jackie Chan in Jackie Chan Adventures plus many other roles) about what sticks out most to them about Avatar, the possibility of them returning to this universe in upcoming projects and more:
What would you like children to take away from Avatar: The Last Airbender?
James Sie: The thing that is so special about Avatar is that, as the seasons progress, you learn more about the philosophical underpinnings of the show. The whole idea of balance…trying to find what is important to you, but also trying to be in accordance with nature and everyone else…that always struck me very deeply.
Jennie Kwan: I think it’s interesting [that] Avatar really introduces a lot of big and universal stories that we experience in real life. And it introduces them to its audience and a lot of younger people in a way that they are able to digest it. Honestly, when I watched some of the episodes, I didn’t know exactly what was going on until I really delved into the story and paid more attention — as an adult! And so, for children to learn about things like genocide or heavy-duty topics…it helps them relate a lot better.
James Sie: And the show does this so well because, in the beginning, it’s a lot more light-hearted, there’s a lot more comedy, and so, the kids can relate to that. And then, as they continue, more of these lessons are revealed to them.
Why are these conventions important to you and to young fans?
Jennie Kwan: For me, they’re so important because I get to see, very quickly, how what we do has affected someone. It happens every time I come to a convention, even today…someone was going through a very serious life event and [for them] to say how the show or a character has affected their life is really touching, and it really means a lot to me…to me, if I make some sort of impact on someone’s life, then I know I’ve done my job.
And so, seeing that a lot is a very special thing for me because I just don’t think acting is just like: “Oh, just pretend”! My acting coach used to have this really great phrase: “Actors reveal what others want to conceal”. So, as humans, we all have these feelings, but artists are able to make that come alive and help people feel and, sometimes, in real life, we don’t want to feel everything that’s happening. And so, just to see that immediate reaction is a really cool thing. I also think it’s a synergistic thing…we wouldn’t be here if people didn’t care. That’s just the truth to it! We’re all here for an experience, and so when actors come because they feel that they have to come to conventions…nobody has to be here! It’s actually an honour to just be doing what we’re doing cause not everybody gets to!
James Sie: Especially as voice actors, you know, we have very little contact with the audience of what we’ve done. It’s not like a play or even a movie where they know your face. So, it’s very exciting to see these people that are so affected by your performance…I did Jackie Chan Adventures, and I was very surprised that here, in London…it’s almost divided in half between Cabbage Merchant and Jackie Chan because everybody comes up and says: “Oh my god, you were part of my childhood! I watched you every Saturday”! And just that, you know, makes you feel really special and really good.
Is there anything from your time on Avatar: The Last Airbender that still sticks out to you after so long? Any lines? Any character traits?
Jennie Kwan: First of all, I feel really lucky to be a part of the show…the lessons I’ve learned from Suki…people ask me that all the time: “Do you think that you are similar to her”? I’m like: “I hope so”! She’s a very upstanding character! I hope I can, you know, be somewhat similar! But, also, the relationships that I’ve formed over the years…that doesn’t happen all the time in cast settings so that’s been really delightful.
James Sie: I had a very different experience than you! [laughs] When I first started, the Cabbage Merchant was a one-off character…he was only supposed to appear one time. So, you know, I voiced three different characters during that episode, so, I thought it was just a one-off, I didn’t think I’d be coming back or anything. And then, they called me [for] the next season! By that time, I had watched the show, and I was like: “I really wanna do it again”!
And so, they said: “Nickelodeon would like to have you come back for Avatar.” And, I said: “Oh my god — do I get to be royalty or a bender this time”?! And they were like: “No — remember that cabbage guy? You’re going to do him again”! It was so unexpected and it really shows you that…it really isn’t [anything about] me, it’s just the character that strikes everyone’s fancy. And you can’t really plan for that, you know? So, now, I’m very grateful. But I never got to record with the cast!
Jennie Kwan: We didn’t always record together. I was only supposed to be there for one episode, as well, [but] thanks to the creators and the fans, I kept coming back. But, I recorded a lot by myself and then, we would record in ‘pods’. So, I recorded most of my scene work with Jack De Sena, who plays Sokka, and sometimes with Cricket Leigh, who voices Mai. And then, most of us recorded the last few episodes together. So that was really fun.
James Sie: It’s hard to not feel imposter syndrome because these guys did such amazing and deeply textured work. And I just screamed, “My cabbages”! [laughs] But, it’s obviously been very fulfilling.
Though, I must say, that is the most iconic line!
Jennie Kwan: Absolutely! Absolutely!
James Sie: And it hasn’t been till these conventions…I started doing them like a year and a half ago and it’s only now that I get to meet everybody [outstretching arms towards Jennie] and now…now I feel like a family member.
Has anyone ever brought you a cabbage to sign?
James Sie: Oh yeah! One person wanted me to sign a real cabbage…and I was like: “What? It’s not gonna last very long”! But luckily, I had some plastic ones with me.
What are some of your favourite Avatar: The Last Airbender episodes, and what do you like about them?
James Sie: I really love any time Azula is on! [laughs] I don’t know…maybe it’s my bad upbringing! [laughs again] But, I find her really delicious and so unabashedly evil! And so, the finale, when she has her Agni Kai with her brother — it’s just the best! To watch her slowly crumbling…it’s perfect!
Jennie Kwan: One of my favourite episodes is “Appa’s Lost Days.” I say this because I remember watching it during the pandemic, by myself, and I found myself crying throughout the whole thing, you know? Dee Bradley Baker, who brought all the animal characters to life, is just brilliant!
Jennie Kwan: And it’s also great because you get to see Suki in a different relationship [dynamic]: she’s not just with Sokka, she has her own agency…
Jennie Kwan: That’s right! She helps Appa, and then she fights Azula! And we don’t know what happens there! [laughs]
With the live-action Avatar having released its first season this year…
Jennie Kwan: Which James is in!
..any words of advice for the future generation of Avatar actors or hopes related to future projects?
James Sie: I would like to see more cabbages! [laughs] But, yes, I don’t know if I’ll be coming back, but…let’s cross our fingers.
Jennie Kwan: I’ll add to that by saying that It was so exciting to know that James was part of it. People always ask me [about the live-action Avatar], and I say: “Listen, I might be just a couple of years older to play Suki…and Maria [Zhang] is gorgeous, and she is, I think, one of the most delicious things about the show”! But you never know about cameos…fingers crossed!
James Sie: That’s true! You’d be very good in Ba Sing Se!
Jennie Kwan: Thank you! I would welcome that.
Speaking of future Avatar projects, any news that you can share about or any involvement you can confirm or deny with regards to the Avatar Studios titles currently in the works?
James Sie: Unfortunately, we’re not really privy to that stuff, especially when they are in the forming stages. So, it would be nice…hopefully we’ll get some news.
Jennie Kwan: I believe we’re going to have more information as things come along…sometimes the fans know more than we do!
James Sie: We’re as excited about the future as the fans are.
Avatar: The Last Airbender – Live in Concert tickets are available now.
