Aang

Who is Aang?

Aang is the Avatar.  He is the last of his kind, the airbenders.  The Avatar is the only person who can use all four bending disciplines: Airbending, Waterbending, Earthbending, and Firebending.

The Last Airbender Child’s Hooded Cloak Costume

Aang’s First Appearance:

We meet Aang early in Avatar: The Last Airbender Episode 1 (The Boy in the Iceberg).  Katara and Sokka are fishing, when a strong current takes them down a river.  They dodge many icebergs.  Eventually, their luck runs out and they get stranded on a piece of floating ice.  Katara begins to get upset by her brother’s complaining, and accidently Waterbends a large wave into a large iceberg.  The iceberb splits and Aang climbs out.  Aang learns that he has been trapped in the iceberg for 100 years.  It is obvious right as we meet him, that he is a playful yet powerful being.  He knows that he’s fighting a war, but he insists on having fun.

Aang’s Personality:

Though he carries a  positive carefree exterior,  there are some things that trouble Aang internally.  He is burdened at times by his responsibility as Avatar.  He carries guilt because he was not able to help his people while frozen in the iceberg.  He wishes he were there to help them.  Aang learns to deal with this as time goes on throughout the Last Airbender series.

Aang possesses great power, but because of his peaceful nature, he tries to avoid using his airbending skills.  Airbenders were taught that all living things are valuable.  They do not eat any meat.  There is only one situation where Aang gets upset and angry; when people mess with his friends.  In this case when Aang is angry, he is a ruthless fighter.

Aangs Abilities:

Airbending: Aang is a master airbender.  It is his natural element.  He uses it more than any other element in battle.  He is usually not aggressive with it, though.  He prefers to use it a defensive and evasion tool.  When not in battle, he often uses it to get around, whether it be on his glider or just a gust of air underneath his feet.  Aang once demonstrated his powerful airbending abilities accidently.  He sneezes, and flies 10 feet in the air.  Sokka exclaims something like “Hey, you just sneezed and flew 10 feet in the air!”.  Aang replies “Really?  I thought it was farther!”.

Waterbending: Aang is a good waterbending skills.  When Aang and Katara meet, Aang is a better waterbender.  Katara passes Aang’s waterbending ability after receiving her training from Master Pakku.  Aang prefers to bend large bodies of water.  He is able to make an ocean rise.

Earthbending: Aang was a naturally talented Airbender, which hurt his Earthbending abilities.  It took him much longer and it was much more difficult for him to master Earthbending than the other bending arts.  He demonstrated that he had the attitude of an Earthbender when he was forced to stand up, rather than be passive during a conflict.  This allowed him Earthbend.

Firebending: Aang learned Firebending from Master Jeong Jeong.  He proved to be in over his head a bit when he harmed Katara in a Firebending accident.  He swore off the art of Firebending, fearful that he could lose control again and harm someone.  Aang’s Firebending training began slowly, because Aang was not able to trust the required aggression for performing the Firebending art.

The Last Airbender Child’s Hooded Cloak Costume