Fifteen years have passed since the debut of Avatar: The Last Airbender on Nickelodeon, but you wouldn't know it from the way the animated series lives on in the pop-culture lexicon. It has made such an indelible mark on the industry that it is often held up as a standard by which other animated series are judged. It should come as no surprise, then, that Zuko voice actor Dante Basco often finds himself thinking about the fan-favorite character.

Speaking with CBR, Basco reflected on his involvement with Avatar: The Last Airbender and how his interactions with fans have changed over the years. He recalled his favorite experiences as both an actor and the character, as well as the moments that defined Zuko and made him so beloved. He also revealed he had spoken to creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko about the upcoming live-action Netflix adaptation, and what advice he would offer the new Zuko.

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CBR: Avatar: The Last Airbender transcended the zeitgeist and became a cult classic after its release. When did it hit you that the show was getting so big?

Dante Basco: Yeah! It's fascinating, actually, because we started doing the show before social media really took off. So we were not as engaged with the audience as we are now, when shows come out. So I was actually doing a movie called Take the Lead with Antonio Banderas and I was shooting in Toronto at the time, and I was leaving the set once a week to do the show.

I ran into one of the other actors on the show, an adult actor named Brandon Andrews, [who said], "Where are you going?" I'm like, "I do a cartoon for Nickelodeon." And he's like, "What? A cartoon? What show? What is it called?" And I'm thinking he wouldn't know, because he's in his 20s! I'm like, "It's a show called Avatar: The Last Airbender." He's like, "What? What show?" I'm like, "Avatar: The Last Airbender." He goes, "That's my show!" I was like, "What? You watch the show?" He's like, "Yeah! Who are you?" I'm like, "I'm the prince of the Fire Nation, Zuko." His mouth dropped. He's like, "You're Prince Zuko?!" and he starts freaking out. I'm like, this is a grown man freaking out about a cartoon. That was my first hint that there was something different going on.

Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender

Let's talk a little more about social media. How have your interactions with fans changed over the years?

It's been wild! I come from a traditional media generation, you know? I'm like the last generation of that. And so the whole world has changed, ultimately. Coming into social media, Twitter, Facebook -- I mean, the first social media I ever had was Tumblr. In the golden era of Tumblr, I had 250,000 followers, and we'd talk about Zuko and this other thing called Homestuck. That was a crazy ride, to have that first wave of social media hit you.

In reality, we're still at the beginning of all of this, but I think we were kind of lucky to a degree at the first creation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, because there was no social media. The whole thing just got made, before the fans could react. It's a different time than it was before. Now, you're so aware of how people are reacting to what you're doing, like instantaneously, whereas we come from a different era where it just started coming out and were very surprised how people reacted.

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You have, honestly, one of the most unique voices in voice work. Have you ever been recognized off that alone?

Yeah, there's a whole generation that only knows me as a voice actor. You never know, because you don't even hear your own voice ever, right? You just talk. You just barely hear your thoughts in your voice. But I'm always surprised when it happens.

Most of the time it happens at, like, Starbucks, because the cashier isn't even looking at you, just taking your orders. And then you're just like, "Can I get a grande white chocolate mocha?" They'll literally stop in their tracks and they're like, "Are you Prince Zuko?" I'm like, "Uh, yeah." Which is pretty funny! Or the Disney fans are like, "Are you American Dragon Jake Long?" I'm like, "Yeah, I am." I guess my voice is more recognizable than I know!

Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender

Zuko is such a wonderfully dynamic, complex character. At what point in his journey did you realize he had potential to become a hero?

Probably right when he got his scar. That was the moment where I started realizing who he was -- really who he was. Until then, he was kind of just a bad guy.

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When did creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko let you in on Zuko's change of heart?

No one really did! I'm like the audience; I learned as we went along. I thought I was going to play the bad guy in the series. I was enjoying American Dragon Jake Long at the same time. I thought I'd be a good guy in Disney and a bad guy in Nickelodeon. Then, after the episode with his father where you see how he got the scar... it was just enlightening. Like, you start reading the script going, "Who is this guy?" You see, me and Mae Whitman and Jack De Sena would read the scripts, come to the readings and go, "Did you see what happened? Did you see what happens this week?" The whole thing was like a ride for us too.

One of my favorite aspects of the show was Zuko's complicated relationship with his Uncle Iroh. Did you draw from your own experiences for that?

Of course! I mean, families -- everything with me and, I think, a lot of Asian families and just Zuko's family with his Uncle Iroh and his sister Azula and his father Ozai. It runs deep! And so I'm sure I've drawn from that. I come from a big family of brothers and sisters and family dramas and honor and dishonor. I've gone through dark periods with my family. So I've definitely lived through it all, you know? Sometimes you just get lucky, and you and the character coincide at the right time.

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We got a glimpse of Zuko's future in Legend of Korra, but there's a lot of time in his life that hasn't been accounted for. Over the years, have you ever kind of imagined where he might be, if he were at a similar life stage as you?

Yeah, I've thought about it! I mean, he's one of the greatest characters I've gotten to play over my career, so there's a little bit of me in Zuko and a little bit of Zuko in me. I don't know! Who knows? In the future, maybe Brian and Mike will create the adventures of the young Fire Lord Zuko.

Speaking of Legend of Korra, tell me a little about how you got involved with the series and how you changed your approach to play Zuko's grandson.

Mike and Brian know the fan base and they know I'm a particular fan favorite. I've always kept up with lots of fans, so I think Emiko [Iijima] thought my [being Zuko's] grandson was a treat for the fans. We come back! The boys coming back -- I think it was an interesting choice on their part. It was really fun for me, and it was really fun when I said the first line and it came out and blew up Twitter for a hot second. It was cool.

Zuko and Mai eating with chopsticks shoulder to shoulder

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In previous interviews, you've talked a little bit about shipping Zuko and Katara. Care to add to that?

Zutara forever! I love Fire and Water, and I spent so much time with Mae Whitman, who played the character, both in this show and in American Dragon Jake Long. Like a lot of fans, in the cave scene episode, I thought she was gonna heal his scar. Sometimes the shipping is more fun if it's not canon, you know? I think it's all fun, but... I like Mae too. That was the main reason for it, like, "I'm into Mae also," but I just think Fire and Water, Katara and Zuko are a great thing to ship.

As I'm sure you're aware, Netflix is developing a live-action Avatar series. Have you spoken to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko about it at all?

Yeah, we've had some conversations. I mean, I love those guys. I trust those guys. It's the stuff they came up with. They're involved. It's going to be fascinating, and, you know, I'm all for the Avatar family. So I hope sooner or later I'll be involved in some way, shape or form.

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What advice would you offer the new Zuko?

That's a good question. As far as Zuko's story, in the end of the day, it's a story of redemption. So, it's okay to be not liked. There are things you're going to do that's going to be unlikable and understand why he's doing everything he's doing. He's always trying to do the right thing all the time, even though it may be the wrong thing. At that time in his life, he feels like it's the right thing.

Considering all 15 years you've been living with this character, what is your favorite part of your whole experience?

You know, just the whole thing. Getting the part and performing it and playing a character and finding stories -- it's amazing. He truly is one of the greatest characters I got to play in my career over the last 30+ years. And then being a part of such a beautiful IP franchise, and to be there from the ground up is a dream come true and the onslaught of social media and Comic Cons around the world and being able to engage with audiences in a way that not many before our generation have gotten to engage with audiences has been really, really fascinating. I count myself fortunate for sure. It's hard to say what's your favorite part of this all. It's all a part the journey. I sound like Uncle Iroh, but it's true.

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I'd like to hear about another favorite: what's your favorite Zuko moment from the series?

There's so many different ones. The episode about Uncle Iroh is pretty amazing, very emotional. They made it around time the original actor Mako passed away. Mako has played my uncle, my father in my career like four times. I grew up with Mako's name, as one of the elders in the industry from the start. He really was Uncle Iroh to me. It was very special, all those things.

Also, some of my favorite moments: "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" is one of my favorite arcs in Avatar. All those vignettes are amazing, with Zuko just dating a girl, just trying to be a regular kid. It's really beautiful, because I grew up as a child actor myself, and there's times where you feel cool and special and other times you just want to be a kid and go out on a date. I thought that was really beautiful to see Zuko in that life. So there's things like that that touched me.

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