MANILA —“Avatar,” James Cameron’s record-breaking 2009 box-office juggernaut, was one of those films that had to be seen on IMAX to fully appreciate the imagined world of Pandora with its floating mountains and nimble blue Na’Vi tribal aliens in all their breathtaking 3D glory.

Now, imagine that world come to brilliant life right before your eyes.

“Toruk — The First Flight,” the new Cirque du Soleil production inspired by Cameron’s global hit, similarly had that effect of transporting audiences to this fictional world, but in a live setting through a mix of technical wizardry, theatrical stagecraft, and engaging performers.

After touring North America for 15 months since late 2015, “Toruk” made its Asian debut at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Friday night with spellbound audiences giving it a well-deserved standing ovation.

“Avatar” is an ideal inspiration for this acclaimed troupe, which has been redefining the traditional circus for modern audiences since 1984.

Cirque’s productions are mostly set in fantastic worlds with its own gibberish language. “Varekai” and “Saltimbanco,” which were staged in Manila 2011 and 2012, respectively, are typical of Cirque’s productions which showcase human strength and agility with grace amid psychedelic imagery.

But in “Toruk,” story-telling takes centerstage. In fact, it even has a narrator and, this time, he speaks English.

Directors Michel Limieux and Victor Pilon created the show as a sort of prequel to “Avatar,” set thousands of years before the events in the film. The story centers on two boys who go on a quest to find five talismans that would allow them to tame the titular toruk and save Pandora from an impending catastrophe.

As they proceed on their journey, the audience get to explore other parts of Pandora.

The main appeal of “Toruk” lies on its lavish imagery. Taking up the entire court area of the MOA Arena, the massive stage, which includes a large flat “rock” where most of the action takes place, magically transforms from barren landscapes to lush forests through 3D mapping that also allows for some nifty effects like an earthquake to rushing waters and lava flows for an immersive audience experience.

Complementing this is the brilliant production design. When the performers emerge like giant flowers that bloom, with some suspended through harnesses, the scene was simply breathtaking.

The sacred Tree of Souls, as seen in the movie, served as the luminous centerpiece for the finale.

However, Cirque’s trademark acrobatics seemed to have taken the backseat in this production. Moreover, these were mostly featured in the first act.

That said, there were some truly memorable stunts, notably one done on a rotating see-saw made to look like bones of a giant creature where five performers do gymnastics moves and contort their bodies while maintaining their balance.

There were also several aerial acrobatic sequences, mostly using fabric, that also highlight the strength of the performers.

But the crucial Act 2 didn’t have a lot of these death-defying stunts. There was a neat number with neon-colored boomerangs and another that showcased kite-flying skills, while the appearance of the toruk involved intricate puppetry work. Although this was the high point of the story, it didn’t elicit the oohs you would expect.

There was an exhilarating sequence with performers in harnesses doing aerial tumbles, but what truly made this awesome was the realistic video projection of a landslide that provided a “moving” backdrop for the stunts.

“Toruk — The First Flight” is less circus and more theater, and those looking mainly for acrobatic feats may feel slightly disappointed. But it’s hypnotic and experiential nonetheless — audiences are even asked to download the official app that would allow them to participate in the show, mostly by creating additional lighting effects from their blinking phones — and delivers in terms of visual spectacles.

It also brings back the awesome memories of watching the movie on IMAX many years ago. This certainly sets the stage for Cameron’s long-awaited “Avatar” sequel.

“Toruk — The First Flight” runs until July 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.