5 TV Shows to Watch if You Like Avatar: Seven Havens

Just four years separated the finale of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” from the premiere of “The Legend of Korra.” By contrast, “Avatar: Seven Havens” arrives after a 12-year wait — but the long gap is finally over. During that time, American animation expanded dramatically, with many of the past decade’s biggest series drawing direct or indirect inspiration from the two earlier “Avatar” shows.

Now, “Seven Havens” is returning the favor by borrowing ideas from the animated series that followed in its predecessors’ footsteps. If you’ve already raced through the opening episodes — or finished the first season altogether — you may be searching for another show with a similar mix of fantasy, adventure, and bold worldbuilding. Fortunately, there are plenty of worthy options.

From a beloved post-apocalyptic anime classic to modern fantasy adventures you may have missed, these series should appeal to anyone drawn to the imaginative genre blend and distinctive tone of “Avatar: Seven Havens.”

Fans of ND Stevenson’s “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” may recognize its influence almost immediately in “Avatar: Seven Havens.” “She-Ra” clearly builds on the boundary-pushing storytelling and expansive fantasy of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra,” while creating its own identity by giving science fiction equal weight. “Seven Havens” takes a comparable approach, combining cyberpunk, solarpunk, and Infofuturist design with the spiritual fantasy foundation established by the previous “Avatar” series.

If “She-Ra” is a science-fiction epic presented as fantasy, “Seven Havens” is a futuristic fantasy adventure layered with science-fiction elements. Both series share bright color palettes, abstract architecture, and highly stylized character designs. They also balance accessible coming-of-age adventure with increasingly ambitious worldbuilding and dramatic stakes. Like “She-Ra,” “Seven Havens” is unapologetically queer — and that is absolutely worth celebrating.

There is, unfortunately, no official way to watch “She-Ra” in full at the moment. The licensing agreement between Netflix, its distributor, and DreamWorks, the production studio, expired earlier this year. Only the first few seasons received DVD or VOD releases, leaving the series’ conclusion unavailable for now. Hopefully, DreamWorks will restore the complete show eventually, as it did with Netflix’s “Voltron” after that series faced a similar situation.

The setting of “Avatar: Seven Havens” is a stark departure from the worlds of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra.” A kind of spiritual apocalypse has transformed much of the planet into dangerous “harshlands.” The areas shown so far include vast deserts and lethal superstorms, creating an alien and hostile landscape that appears to function as the series’ main antagonist, at least initially. If that atmosphere is what you enjoy most, “Scavengers Reign” is an obvious recommendation.

In truth, “Scavengers Reign” is an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys ambitious science fiction, fantasy, or exceptional animation. The HBO Max series follows a group of survivors stranded on an alien planet after a problem with their starship. Separated across an ecosystem filled with strange plants and creatures, they must explore their surroundings one by one while searching for a path home.

“Scavengers Reign” also shares some of “Seven Havens’” affection for 1970s science-fiction aesthetics. However, viewers should know that the series is aimed firmly at adults. Its surreal imagery can become disturbing and intensely psychedelic, making it a very different choice from the family-friendly “Avatar” shows. It is excellent animation, but not necessarily suitable for watching with younger children.

For an animated fantasy series aimed at a similar age range, try “The Owl House.” Created by “Gravity Falls” alum Dana Terrace for Disney Channel, the show follows 14-year-old Luz Noceda after a magical portal carries her into a world of witches and ancient magic. Luz is somewhat older than Pavi (Saheli Khan) and Nisha (Aishu Devan) in “Seven Havens,” but both series combine kid-friendly humor and adventure with genuinely high-stakes fantasy drama. Adults will find plenty to enjoy as well, making “The Owl House” an especially strong choice for family viewing.

While “Seven Havens” explores post-apocalyptic fiction and solarpunk, “The Owl House” draws on the classic magic-school formula. Beneath its more episodic cartoon structure, however, the series steadily develops a larger story that culminates in a cinematic third and final season. Older viewers should not be put off by the format: “The Owl House” rewards audiences who stick with its bigger narrative.

Any list of shows to watch after an “Avatar” series needs at least one true anime recommendation. With its desert wasteland setting and futuristic atmosphere, “Avatar: Seven Havens” makes the choice easy: the 1990s classic “Trigun.”

Based on the manga, “Trigun” follows Vash the Stampede, a legendary gunman pursued by villains and bounty hunters across the barren planet of No Man’s Land. The original 26-episode anime premiered in 1998. Although the franchise has since received additional adaptations — including the well-regarded computer-animated series released in 2023 — the original remains the best choice for viewers seeking that unmistakable late-’90s anime style. Since era-defining shows such as “Cowboy Bebop” were major influences on “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” the connection feels especially fitting.

Anyone looking for a stylish wasteland science-fiction adventure should find plenty to enjoy in “Trigun.” Its manageable length also makes it a welcoming entry point for viewers who have avoided anime because of the enormous episode counts associated with many popular shonen series. Once both 13-episode seasons are released, “Avatar: Seven Havens” will match “Trigun’s” total length. Packed with action and personality, the anime is an ideal follow-up for older “Seven Havens” fans.

This recommendation may seem obvious — and ideally, you have already watched it. Yet many “Avatar: The Last Airbender” fans still have not seen “The Legend of Korra,” or never made it through the entire series. Its more divisive reputation may have discouraged some viewers, while Paramount+ subscribers could encounter “Avatar: Seven Havens” without having watched either predecessor. So it is worth stating plainly: “The Legend of Korra” is excellent, and you should give it a chance. If you tried it once and it did not click, but still love “Avatar,” it may be time to try again.

“Korra” is different from “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” and that difference is central to its story. The series examines change and challenges the belief that the world can be shaped once and then preserved forever. Its ambitions are larger than those of its predecessor, which also makes it more uneven. Still, its strongest episodes are remarkable, and the animation is consistently breathtaking.

Although “The Legend of Korra” does not follow quite as clean or elegant an arc as “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” it delivers a sprawling ensemble, deeply developed characters, intergenerational relationships, and spectacular action. Some political storylines are underdeveloped, the love triangle can become frustrating before eventually being abandoned, and the show is more than capable of breaking your heart. Those imperfections should not overshadow its achievements. “The Legend of Korra” remains a vital part of the franchise — and with “Avatar: Seven Havens” now here, it is more essential viewing than ever.