'Avatar' Officially Unveils a Very Different Version of Zuko in New Book

Published Nov 10, 2026, 8:00 AM EST A bold hairstyle experiment almost changed the Zuko we know and love Avatar's creators almost turned one beloved character into a K-Pop star Image: Paramount Plus 2026 has been a fantastic year to be a fan of the Avatar franchise — the elemental fantasy saga, not the blue alien sci-fi movies. The animated sequel series Avatar: Seven Havens has been phenomenally successful, with a second season already confirmed, and Paramount Studios even has an Avatar fighting game that actually feels great to play. However, arguably the biggest win for Avatar fans this year was Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender. Set 12 years after Avatar: The Last Airbender ended, the movie reunited the gang for a new adventure. And even though it didn't get a theatrical release as originally promised, it was still a win for Team Avatar. Now, Abrams Books is releasing a new art book with that reveals fresh details about Avatar: Aang: The Last Airbender. Featuring insights from co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, director Lauren Montgomery, and the extended animation team, this art book offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it took to bring the next chapter to life. Thanks to Abrams Books, Polygon has an exclusive preview of the art book. Take a look at these two eye-opening pages below. Zuko, Fire Lord and… a K-Pop Icon? While every member of Team Avatar had a serious glow-up by the time of the movie, we felt one member got the biggest: Fire Lord Zuko, Aang’s former nemesis and later close friend and firebending mentor. As she followed Aang and his friends into their 20s, character designer Christie Tseng wanted to explore how varied the returning main cast could be. “Considering how often his hairstyle changed in the show, [Zuko] certainly earned the biggest hair silhouette update out of the main cast!” Tseng shares in the art book. “We explored many different hairstyles for him, including shoulder-length to long, flowing manes, worn in styles ranging from low buns to high ponytails.” Image: Nickelodeon Throughout the animated series, Zuko’s hairstyle often reflected his role in the story. In season 1, he wore a top knot, in keeping with typical Fire Nation style. In season 2, Zuko and his uncle Iroh cut their hair to symbolize leaving behind their status and going on the run, leaving Zuko looking rather scruffy. Zuko returns to the top knot in season 3 and wears it for the last time in the series finale, after becoming Fire Lord. In Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, Zuko’s still got that traditional top knot. However, animator Ki Hyun Ryu says the team considered many different versions of Zuko’s look, including one that would have fit right in at a concert hall as he sang in front of millions of fans. “Early versions of Zuko leaned a bit too much toward a ‘pretty boy’ look, but I strongly felt he needed to appear the most mature among Team Avatar, as he is the ruler of the Fire Nation,” Ryu explains in the art book. “I focused on adding stronger angles to his face and shifting away from a K-pop-idol vibe toward a more grounded, masculine presence that reflects a true imperial leader.” Image: Nickelodeon It’s true that Zuko is gorgeous, and a more K-pop-inspired look may have been appealing — just look at the popularity of KPop Demon Hunters. But one of the highlights of Avatar: The Last Airbender was seeing how wonderfully mature the characters had become over the years. It’s notable to see that maturity reflected in the team’s desire to tell a serious, meaningful story, right down to the small character details. Fans can now see even more of how Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender came together, with Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender: Art of the Movie now available for purchase.