๐ŸŽฎ Gaming

Avatar creators talk Seven Havens, 2D animation at Comic Con 2026

By Marcus Webb2 min read
Share
Avatar creators talk Seven Havens, 2D animation at Comic Con 2026

At SDCC 2026, Bryan Konietzko, Michael DiMartino and Lauren Montgomery revealed a trailer for Avatar: Seven Havens and discussed keeping the franchise in 2D animation.

San Diego Comic Con 2026 brought a long-awaited piece of news for fans of the Avatar universe: a new animated series called Avatar: Seven Havens. The creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender โ€” Bryan Konietzko, Michael DiMartino and Lauren Montgomery โ€” appeared on a panel where they showed a brand new trailer for the upcoming show and discussed the future of the franchise's animation style.

Seven Havens is the first major television project from the Avatar team since the conclusion of The Legend of Korra. The trailer, which debuted at the panel, gave attendees a first look at the show's visuals and setting. Details beyond the title and the trailer itself remain scarce, but the panel confirmed that the series will be produced in 2D animation, a deliberate choice that the creators emphasized during the conversation.

Konietzko, DiMartino and Montgomery each stressed the importance of maintaining the hand-drawn look that defined the original series and its sequel. The creative team sees 2D animation as essential to the identity of the Avatar universe. While the industry has increasingly moved toward 3D and hybrid styles, the creators are doubling down on the traditional approach. Montgomery, who served as a director on Korra and as a producer on the new project, noted that the team is committed to preserving the fluid, expressive character animation that fans expect.

Advertisement

The panel also touched on lingering questions about other possible Avatar projects. One attendee asked whether fans will ever see a live-action adaptation of The Promise, the graphic novel that continues the story of Aang and Zuko after the original series. The creators did not provide a definitive answer. Instead, they acknowledged the question and indicated that while live-action remains a possibility for future projects, their current focus is on Seven Havens. The question points to a broader curiosity among fans about gaps in the timeline that have not yet been filled by animated content.

The briefing for the panel โ€” conducted by IGN and sponsored by Alienware, Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, BRISK x Splatoon Raiders, and Ramayana โ€” framed the conversation around what comes next for the franchise. The creators did not announce additional spin-offs or in-between series during the session, but the trailer for Seven Havens suggests that the new show will slot into the existing lore in a meaningful way.

For a franchise that has sustained a passionate fanbase for two decades, the decision to stick with 2D animation is significant. Many legacy animated properties have transitioned to 3D as technology has advanced, sometimes to the disappointment of longtime viewers. By keeping Seven Havens in 2D, Konietzko, DiMartino and Montgomery are signaling a commitment to the artistic foundation that made the original a landmark series.

No release date, streaming platform or episode count was shared for Seven Havens during the panel. The trailer itself was shown exclusively to the room, and no public version has been released yet. The creators encouraged attendees to stay tuned for more information in the coming months.

The announcement reaffirms that the Avatar franchise remains an active priority for its original creators. With Seven Havens, they are expanding the world without abandoning the visual language that defined it. Whether that will include direct adaptations of the graphic novels or other timeline-filling projects remains unclear, but the enthusiasm in the room suggests that the audience is ready for whatever comes next.

Advertisement
M
Marcus Webb

Staff Writer

Marcus covers video games, esports, and gaming hardware. Two decades of industry experience.

Share
Was this helpful?

Comments

Loading commentsโ€ฆ

Leave a comment

0/1000

Related Stories