The Last Airbender Movie’s Older Aang, Katara, Zuko, Toph & Sokka Designs Compare To The Original Series

2026 is shaping up to be a huge year for Avatar: The Last Airbender, thanks to several highly anticipated releases. These include new comic series, Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, and perhaps most notably, Paramount+’s upcoming The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, which will feature the original “gaang” in their 20s. So how do these all-grown-up character designs compare to the original series?

Brand-new images showing the Gaang as adults in the upcoming animated movie The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender have been revealed through officially licensed T-shirts sold at Target.

Directed by Lauren Montgomery (Voltron: Legendary Defender, Young Justice), the movie will follow the Gaang as adults as they embark on a quest to find an ancient power that could save the Airbenders from extinction. Designed by Bioworld, the shirts showcase the official character designs for Aang, Katara, Zuko, Toph, and Sokka ahead of the film’s October 9, 2026, streaming release.

How The ATLA Movie’s Older Aang, Katara, Zuko, Toph & Sokka Designs Are Different

Which Gaang Member Got the Best Grown-Up Redesign?

While this isn’t the first time the Gaang has been depicted as adults, thanks to the sequel series The Legend of Korra, this is the first time an AtLA project will focus on them in their twenties rather than relying on flashbacks or photos as used in LoK. That makes the character designs revealed by Target all the more notable.

The big question, though, is how they hold up against the characters’ original designs from Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. Do these grown-up versions feel like a natural evolution of the characters? Do they strike the right balance between keeping the designs recognizable while adding something fresh? Using the T-shirt featuring the entire Gaang, we will review each look from left to right.

First up is Toph Beifong. Of all the characters aside from Aang himself, Toph’s adult redesign most closely resembles her original design. The earthbender keeps the same hairstyle and headband that defined her throughout the series. Her outfit remains largely the same, with some added embellishments and darker colors.

Next to Toph is Katara. At first glance, Katara’s design may seem like a simple, aged-up version of her original look. However, fans will notice a gold sash tied to her belt, a subtle visual cue that links her to Aang and likely references their romantic bond.

Next, we have the Avatar himself, who also looks very similar to his original design. He has lost his remaining baby fat and now appears as a young man, though his outfit remains largely unchanged. There are a few new touches, including darker wrist wraps, boots, and what appear to be airbender prayer beads worn around his neck.

Sokka undergoes one of the more dramatic redesigns, second only to Zuko. His outfit now more closely resembles what adult men of his nation wore in the original series. He also sports slightly longer hair and a new sword, raising questions about the fate of his trusty boomerang and his character-defining meteorite sword.

Zuko has the most drastic redesign, primarily due to his long hair, which reaches mid-back and is partially held up with the Fire Lord hairpiece ornament. His attire also more closely reflects adult clothing from the original series. Overall, these redesigns feel like natural evolutions of the characters, keeping them recognizable while showing how they have grown from children to young adults.

What The Older Avatar: The Last Airbender Character Designs Mean For The Legend Of Aang

From Kataang and Fire Lord Zuko to Sokka’s Water Tribe Ties

The updated Avatar: The Last Airbender character designs could offer hints about The Legend of Aang’s plot and the characters’ evolving relationships. One notable detail is Katara’s yellow sash tied around her belt, which matches Aang’s robes. This appears to be an intentional visual cue highlighting the closeness of their relationship.

Thanks to The Legend of Korra, we know that Aang and Katara eventually marry and have three children. Given this timeline, it is likely that Katara and Aang are already romantically involved in The Legend of Aang, if not formally married. The sash may even symbolize their engagement.

The romantic dynamic between Katara and Aang also affects other relationships, particularly Aang’s bond with Sokka. With Katara and Aang together, Sokka would be his brother-in-law or at least a future one, adding a new layer to the Gaang’s interconnected relationships.

Zuko’s hairpin offers another clue, confirming that he remains Fire Lord. This raises questions about how he can leave behind such immense responsibilities to aid Aang in the quest to find an ancient power that could save the Airbenders from extinction.

One possible explanation is that Zuko is already married to Mai, allowing her to oversee Fire Nation affairs while he joins Aang and the rest of the Gaang. Similarly, Sokka’s new character design (i.e., his traditional Water Tribe weapon) suggests he may be taking on a more active role in Water Tribe affairs, potentially climbing the ranks.

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New Avatar: The Last Airbender Movie Seemingly Reveals First Look At Adult Aang

One of The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender’s animators may have offered a first look at an adult version of the protagonist.

This could mean Sokka is also stepping away from national duties to support Aang’s mission. Whether these theories prove true remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that fans are eager to experience this missing chapter of Avatar: The Last Airbender, bridging the story between the original series and The Legend of Korra.

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender will be released on Paramount+ on October 9, 2026.