Plot

Avatar: The Last Airbender, begins with Katara, a water bender finding and freeing Aang from his icy prison from which he put himself into. Aang is the last air bender because his whole tribe had been killed off by the fire nation, but he froze himself because he did not want to responsibility of protecting the world because he was too young. Now the fire nation has built in power because there was no Avatar to stop them, but now Aang has set out to master all four elements, water, air, earth, and fire bending so he can defeat the fire nation and make the world at peace.

Cultural Influences

Each bending style in the show has been reflected off various forms of martial arts. The martial arts style adapted are listed below.

The Avatar is in Hindu mythology. Every some centuries a god reincarnates himself to keep peace on the world. The word "Avatar" means "decent," which relates to the reincarnation after every so years.

The Legend

The legend of the Avatar is that every some years a new Avatar is born. The avatar is the only person who is able to master all four Elements so he can keep the world at peace by defeating anyone who causes trouble. The avatar now is born, Aang, and they determine this by giving baby Aang millions of toys and if he chooses the four toys of the past avatar then he recognized them and is the new avatar. He passed this test and also was born with marking on his body symbolizing the Avatar.

The Spirit World

This is where all the spirits and odd creatures live. Aang comes here to asks Avatar Roku, the previous Avatar, question about learning to become a true avatar. The avatar spirits live in this world, and only an avatar can bridge a gap between the two worlds. Also in order to get in the Avatar State Aang needs to connect o the spirit avatar world, and then he is able to achieve the state.

The Avatar State

In this state Aang becomes super powerful and is almost unstoppable. He gain incredible strength, but there is a disadvantage. When an avatar is in the Avatar state his body becomes greatly vulnerable because his sprit is in the spirit world. This is why this should only be used when in great desperation.

There are four types of bending in the Avatar world. These are Earth, Water, Fire, and Air bending. Air and water are related with their smooth and rhythmic movements as Earth is related to Fire with their sturdy strong movements of their body. They also have opposite and those are water to fire as earth to air. Now the fire nations is the strongest, with the Earth Kingdom second, and the Water tribe third. The air benders have all been wiped out because of Aang’s absence, and he still feels guilt for that.

Air Bending

This is Aang’s original bending skills. Just like the name, the user can manipulate air. Air bending relates to water bending with its defensive philosophies. There are many techniques one can do with Air like fly and dodge. Air benders are the fastest and most maneuverable benders of them all. Since they control air they can fly with their main weapon, a pole that turn into a giant winged kite.

Water Bending

This is the form of bending that is most related to Air bending. They both share their freeness and fluidity with their forms of bending. Using chi, they control how the water moves. This relates to the moon and it being their source of power. Since the moon controls the tides with its gravity the water benders manipulate the gravity around the water to make it move as if floating. Since water is available in three forms of matter they have all around abilities like liquid for whipping, and solid ice for barriers or for hard punches.

Fire Bending

Fire bending is the opposing force of water bending and has most in common with earth bending. Fire bending is a very strong and vicious bending art. In fire bending the bender looks to eliminate the opponent as soon as possible with a series of attacks. The bender makes up for its lack of defense for it’s overwhelming offense. In fire bending there is lighting fire bending. Lighting is the pure form of fire, so Princess Izula can perform it. In order to perform it one mustn’t be changed by emotion, but be expressionless and with no aggression. The fire benders get their power from the sun.

Earth Bending

This form of bending involves strength to overwhelm an opponent. Their main weapon is the earth which they physically hit to break pieces of earth off. They can also envelope earth onto themselves to use as protective coating. There are many uses with earth bending and this is why the Avatar benefits from having Toph around. Also there is Sand earth bending. Many earth benders can bend when on sand, but there are sand earth benders who can. Lastly there is earth bending with metals. Because they originally came from earth benders can bend and manipulate them, but when they are smelted none can bend metal except Toph. Since she is blind she can sense the smallest amounts of earth in the metal and then easily rip apart metal.