Film crews in Vancouver are once again busy bringing a beloved animated show to life for a live-action Netflix series.
The streaming giant recently announced that season three of Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA) is officially in production. Like its first two seasons, Metro Vancouver and B.C. will host the cast and crew for much of the filming.
ATLA is a live-action reimagining of the popular Nickelodeon animated series. Several Canadians star in lead roles, including Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, and Paul Sun Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh.
The news also coincides with the wrapping of production of ATLA‘s season 2, which was shared in a video starring some of the cast on social media.
>
>
>
>
>
> View this post on Instagram
>
>
>
>
>
>
> A post shared by Netflix Canada (@netflixca)
Daniel Dae Kim, who portrays Fire Lord Azai in the hit show, finished the video clip by saying, “We’re just getting started.”
As part of the Netflix in Your Neighbourhood series, the streaming platform has revealed where Avatar: The Last Airbender has filmed so far.
Four municipalities — Maple Ridge, Burnaby, Langley, and Surrey — are currently listed as filming locations, and possibly more will be added as production for season 3 ramps up.
Several outdoor locations around Metro Vancouver have stood in for the fantasy world of ATLA, including Robert Burnaby Park, Panther Paintball, and WildPlay Maple Ridge.
“This diverse outdoor oasis makes for the perfect backdrop for Avatar: The Last Airbender’s four elemental nations: the Air Nomads, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Water Tribes,” wrote Netflix online.
ATLA has also filmed at the world’s largest LED video wall film production studio in Burnaby.
The LED sound stage located at Canadian Motion Picture Park is a joint partnership between Los Angeles-based visual effects company Pixomondo and Canadian film equipment rental firm William F. White International (WFW).
The Burnaby facility spans 22,000 sq ft, measuring 80 ft by 27.5 ft, and is lined with 2,500 LED wall panels and 760 LED ceiling panels. The video wall was constructed in the shape of an almost fully enclosed circle to provide productions with 310 degrees of LED screens.
In 2020, Netflix reached an agreement with Canada Motion Picture Park to enter into a long-term lease to use about 178,000 sq ft of its production facilities, including seven sound stages, and office and support spaces, effectively turning the location into one of its global production hubs.
Creative B.C. has “Diner Bear,” revealed online to be the production codename for ATLA, filming in the region from June until November.
“Two down, one to go,” said Lee on his Instagram, posing with a hat with a number three ablaze on it.
>
>
>
>
>
> View this post on Instagram
>
>
>
>
>
>
> A post shared by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (@angryappa)
Season 3 is slated to be the last for ATLA, but the producers of the show are excited for fans to follow along on the adventures of season 2.
“We’re looking forward to working with all of our actors again and digging into the deeper, more complicated relationships that develop as their journey continues in season 2,” said executive producers Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani earlier this year.
“We are going to show the real-world versions of iconic scenes from the original, and explore some of the stories that the animation didn’t. Mainly, we’re looking forward to seeing our gang all together again.”
Have you been watching Avatar: The Last Airbender? If so, have you recognized any B.C. spots? Let us know in the comments.
You might also like:
– Pedro Pascal admits there’s ‘no place like Canada’
– Vancouver ‘stay-at-home son’ is the new ‘Jeopardy!’ champion
– Sony VFX giant to open new ‘cutting-edge’ volume stage in Metro Vancouver
With files from Amir Ali and Kenneth Chan
