Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Katara
Avatar: The Last Airbender character
First appearance	“The Boy in the Iceberg”
Voiced by	Mae Whitman
Information
Gender	Female
Nationality	Southern Water Tribe
Bending Element	Water
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Blue
Position	Deuteragonist

Katara is a fictional character in Nickelodeon's animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The character, created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, is voiced by Mae Whitman. In the live-action film The Last Airbender, she is portrayed by Nicola Peltz.

Katara is, at the time of the story, one of only two Waterbenders of the Southern Water Tribe, a race of people able to manipulate water, and earns the title of Master Waterbender from Master Pakku of the Northern Water Tribe at the age of fourteen. She and her older brother, Sokka, discover an Airbender named Aang, the long-lost Avatar, frozen in an iceberg and accompany him on his quest to defeat the imperialistic Fire Nation and bring peace to the war-torn nations.

Creation and conception

According to the un-aired pilot episode, Katara’s name was originally 'Kya', the name later used to indicate her deceased mother. In “Tales of Ba Sing Se”, Katara’s name was written as 卡 塔 拉. Kǎ (卡) means to check, block, or card; Tǎ (塔) means pagoda; and Lā (拉) means to pull.The character 'Lā' appears in the first season's finale, while the character 'Kǎ' also appears in Sokka's name.

In the commentary of the unaired pilot episode, co creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino state that Katara's "hair loopies" were intended to hang downward, but were thought too hard to animate and looped backward instead.

Katara also is the owner of her grandmother's betrothal necklace, a navy blue choker bearing a blue pendant that is marked with the Water Tribe's symbol.

Plot overview

When Katara was eight years old, her mother, Kya, sacrificed her life during a Fire Nation raid in order to protect Katara; whereafter her daughter assumed an adult's role in later life.

Though her interests lie in developing her Waterbending skills, she resigns herself to cooking and cleaning duties while her brother, Sokka, trains to become a warrior. Later, Katara’s father Hakoda and the other tribesmen journey to the Earth Kingdom to oppose the Fire Nation; leaving Katara, Sokka, and their grandmother Kanna ("Gran Gran") to look after the tribe.

The events of Avatar: The Last Airbender begin six years thereafter, when Katara and Sokka find Aang in suspended animation and identify him as the Avatar. Bent on mastering Waterbending, Katara joins Aang to reach the Northern Water Tribe to find a Waterbending master, with Sokka alongside them. Upon arrival, Master Pakku refuses her apprenticeship, because the customs of the Northern Water Tribe dictate that females cannot learn Waterbending as a martial art; but upon noticing Katara's necklace, which he gave to Katara's grandmother himself, he agrees to teach her. Katara having achieved her own expertise, Pakku deems her sufficient to teach Aang.

Katara then accompanies Aang to the Earth Kingdom for him to learn earthbending. At an Earth Kingdom stronghold, General Fong places Katara’s life in danger to induce Aang's Avatar State; but achieves only destruction. After the earthbender Toph Bae Fong joins the group to teach Aang, Katara and Toph initially quarrel; but thereafter become friends. In the Earth Kingdom's capital, Katara encounters antagonist Prince Zuko and his sister Azula; and during the following battle, Aang is injured by Azula's lightning, whereupon Katara takes him to safety and eventually heals him.

In a village burdened by the Fire Nation's pollution, Katara disguises herself as the river spirit 'Painted Lady' in order to help the village. While staying with the semi-reclusive Hama, the protagonists learn she is a Waterbender of the Southern Tribe imprisoned by the Fire Nation. Later, she offers to teach Katara a Waterbending technique called “Bloodbending”, which enables physical control of animals and humans. When Katara refuses to learn this technique, Hama uses it on Aang and Sokka, forcing Katara to use the technique herself on Hama. When Prince Zuko offers to join the protagonists, he does not gain Katara's trust until he has assisted her finding the man who killed her mother; but later becomes an object of her affection.

During the finale, Katara goes with Zuko to stop Azula from becoming Fire Lord; and having captured Azula, heals Zuko. When the war ends, she is seen in Ba Sing Se with the other protagonists, and is implied to later marry Aang. The story ends with Aang and Katara sharing a kiss.

It has been confirmed that the spin-off mini-series, The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra, will feature Aang and Katara's son, Tenzin, as the protagonist's mentor. In addition, it has been stated that Katara and Aang had two other children. Conversations with the creators have led to the belief that these two are a Waterbender and Nonbender.

Waterbending

Katara uses her Waterbending as a primary source of fighting

Katara's Waterbending abilities develop considerably throughout the series. At the outset, she has little control over her Waterbending, and often loses control in moments of frustration. Thanks to diligent practice, a Waterbending scroll, and Master Pakku's tutelage, her skill improves until Pakku names her a Master.

At her full power, Katara can use water to cut through objects; summon lashing waves and whips of varying sizes; cover herself with a sheath of water which she controls; surf on a length of ice; run and stand on the surface of water; melt and control existing ice; form ice into various shapes; freeze water and objects surrounded by water with little effort; create walls of mist and steam; transform steam into ice; evaporate large amounts of water; or derive a weapon from any moisture including her own perspiration. Although she dislikes Bloodbending, she is capable of using it to vanquish an enemy, and once uses it on an enemy soldier upon mistaking him for her mother's murderer, who was actually Yon Rha.

Katara is one of the few Waterbenders born with the sub-talent of healing, as apparent when she is burned by Aang's first attempt at Firebending; an ability improved under the tutelage of the Northern Water Tribe's healer Yagoda. She uses it thereafter to relieve sickness; overcome brainwashing; and heal seemingly mortal wounds such as burns and bleeding injuries. Nevertheless, she cannot cure all sicknesses; completely mend brain damage; or heal internal injuries and birth defects.

Katara demonstrates the ability to bend water-based liquids, as well as pure water, in episode "The Southern Raiders", wherein Katara bends ink onto a map. She is also seen bending soup (which allows her to cook meals), and bends perfume while battling the blind monster Shirshu.

Personality

Katara is described as "smart, capable; almost a generic anime heroine", and as "kind, brave, and passionate." In many situations, Katara appears as den mother to the other protagonists: a role attributed to her tribe's losses to raids and the departure of many members to war, which allegedly required her (as well as her brother Sokka) to assume responsibilities beyond her age. Katara tends to be kind and generous, but is often stubborn, or confined by her morals; becomes angry if doubted, insulted, or betrayed; and carries resentment for years on end.

Appearances in other media

Katara's character has appeared in three THQ video games including the eponymous video game and another titled The Burning Earth. and Avatar: The Last Airbender – Into the Inferno. Like Aang, Katara also appears on some Avatar T-shirts sold by Nick, as well as in Tokyopop's films comic (sometimes referred to as cine-manga).

Film

Nicola Peltz stars as Katara in the feature film The Last Airbender.

External links

• Katara at Nick.com