Animation research: Avatar Series

Avatar is an animation series that is sent in a Asian-themed fantasy world where people can control the four natural elements by 'bending' them using the movement of their bodies in the physical performance of martial arts and techniques for each element.

For Fire the characters would use a technique called Northen Shaolin Kun fu  for fluent movement but also offensive strikes for fire bending and long range attacks.

Waterbenders Tai Chi Ch'uan in the flowing motion to control the water and use of healing.

Earthbenders use a technique to move all earth-based elements called Hung Ga and make shapes out of them like clay.

And for the Airbenders use Baguazhang to manipulate air, blowing a great gust of wind with their bodies as though they were dancing in air.


I like how it was animated and well thought out, showing viewers how bending is performed and how the characters move to interact and combat using bending techniques derived from the actual martial arts that exist today. The animals they designed were interesting and mixed from two different animals. The series so far has for 3 seasons and a sub-plot that takes place after the show and changes into an early 20th century theme and mostly steam-punk in the later series.

Naga, a polar dog

Flying bisons.