Avatar the Last Airbender is a (so far) 40 episode long animated cartoon produced by Nickelodeon and created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
First Season:
The story follows the adventures of a boy named Aang, and twelve year old happy-go-lucky kid who discovers that he is the reincarnation of the Avatar, a mythical being with the power to master all the elements. Out of fear and confusing Aang runs away from his home with his flying bison Appa and soon finds himself in a storm out at sea. Before him and his friend drown his Avatar Spirit comes forth and freezes him in order to stay alive...
One Hundred years went by and Aang was found by two members of the Southern Water Tribe, Katara and Sokka. They then learned of Aang's past life while Aang learned that a war had started right after he had left and now the Fire Nation was closing in on the last of remaining Nations. Since Aang and Katara were both in need of a waterbending master they decided to journey to the North Pole to contact with their sister tribe. On their way they met many old friends of Aang but they also met an enemy, Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. In order to be loved by his father, the Prince and his Uncle Iroh continued to chase the Avatar and ran into his fair share of trouble too. Zhao, another strong Firebender was also searching for Aang to get the glory it would bring him.
Aang, Katara, Sokka, Appa, and Momo eventually came to the fire temple were Aang learned that his mastering of the Elements could not be taken as lightly as he thought, for at the end of the summer a comet come back across the planet. This was the same comet that started the war many years ago and it would surly bring Fire King Ozai victory in the war.
Finally the friends came to the North Pole just as it went under siege by Zhao and his navy. In the end Aang's Avatar spirit destroyed the ships and Zhao, saving the North Pole. Katara and Aang continued to train there for a short while until Katara could be called a master. They then left in search of another master except this time it was for the element Earth...
You can also watch a special Nick had to sum up the first 17 episodes narrated by Roku: Part 1 Part 2
Second Season:
After Zuko's treasonous actions during the siege, his father sent his sister Azula out to Capture him. Along with Zuko her mission also then leads to finding the Avatar to prevent any interruptions in conquering the other Nations. Zuko and his Iroh then became exiled while Zuko still clung to the hopes of capturing the Avatar. The Avatar, however, was busy trying to find an earthbender and sure enough he found one in the place he least expected it. His earthbening teacher was a twelve year old blind girl named Toph who was amazing at sensing the earths vibrations and using that to fight. She joined her friends but that caused her rich father to send to other strong earthbenders after the gang in order to steal her back.
In the deserts of the Earth Kingdom the group found an ancient library where they discovered the secret to stopping the Fire Nation but sadly it was at the coast of losing Appa to group of Sandbenders. The group then left for Ba Sing Se, the only strong Earth City left, in hopes of giving the important information to the capital and to get back Appa.
They then learn when arriving there that the city has a very corrupted system of government and they try to fight off the leader of the Dai Li, Long Feng, will trying to get the approval of the Earth King. All the while Zuko and his uncle have traveled to Ba Sing se as well and they are trying to live a peaceful life serving tea. Then Azula arrives disguised as a Kyoshi warrior, followed by her two accomplices. They are then able to get on the side of the Dai Li and overthrow The Earth Kingdom, aided by Zuko who seems to betray everyone. The group manages to get away with the King but they leave Ba Sing Se to be conquered by the Fire Nation.