Avatar: A Study in Worldbuilding — the Fire Nation [ The Last Airbender ]

Learn more about our channel-sponsored charities:

My SECOND CHANNEL can be found via a link on my main page or at 'TwotheFuture'. Come join us!

IF YOU WANT TO SEND THINGS TO ME (address):

Tim Hickson
PO Box 69062
Lincoln, 7608
Canterbury, New Zealand

Script by meeeeeeeee
Video edited by Alexander Cuenin (99% of the time)

The artist who design my cover photo:

Also Kevin McLeod's "Music for Manatees"

Stay nerdy,
~ Tim

[firetarrasque]

4:10
Wrong, the Air Nomads have the most centralized government.
After all, it's only one guy.

[swiftflight]

That moment when the fire nation is Hawaii, Iceland, and Japan put in a blender and shredded into a nice cohesive narrative.

[machina]

"We know that the Fire Nation's geography is designed to mimic that of-"
"Japan"
"-Iceland"
"WHAT!?"

[Hexaludius]

Don’t you love how the FIRE nation was the biggest naval power when one of their competitors was the WATER tribes who can control water...

[dangreen]

And in legend of korra, we see that after the discovery of metal bending, the earth kindom had it's own industrial revolution.

[KeepCalmContemplateYourChoices]

Who says you can't have genocide, next level world-building, and amazing character arcs in just a kid show?!?

[sharksuperiority]

I’d like to point out that Ba sin se is like half the size of the entire fire nation. The frick man, that’s to big

[audrei]

i love that the elements are all based upon... their elements.

The fire nation is a series of volcanic islands. The Earth Kingdon is situated on a supercontinent (pure bedrock, earth). The water tribes are built upon/out of ice and snow, frozen water. Not only that, but they love on icesheets spreading over the oceans. Air nomads float throughout the lands, spreading hints of different cultures throughout the planet just like oxygen

[Law-of-EnTropy]

_"With the food, and with the clothes and the. . . _*_imperialism_*_ ."_

[thenobletaco]

Sozin: "Our nation is enjoying an unprecedented time of peace and wealth.... so let's end that."

[gatfatf]

On lightning bending being used exclusively by royal family members in TLA: I think during the shows runtime you could argue that the established ultimate firebender breeding program lent the notion that lightning bending was genetic creedence, but now that LoK is available we see mako (a peasant of mixed race) and a number of nameless lightning benders apply their skills to the less than auspicous task of refilling Republic City's batteries. What I think is that the royal family hoarded the information surrounding lightning bending, and that is was only after FireLib Zuko letting that formerly classified information stew in the pubic for a genration is why we see non royals capable of the feat strutting about. Like how only rich assholes know how to play squash despite it being glorified hell in a cell wall ball.

[LostWhits]

Earth benders not developing metal bending makes me think of the Asian countries that mastered amazing ceramic skills and never developed GLASS like the western world.

[stealthyjacket]

Everyone:Fire nation bad
Literature teachers:

[rayn]

A correction, if I may: while the Fire Nation’s industrialization, strong navy, and expanding imperial conquest were inspired by Japanese history, the aesthetic is actually a blend of Chinese and Southeast Asian cultures. The Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, China is listed in the official art book as inspiration for a lot of the Fire Nation’s architecture. Much of the clothing and jewelry we see in the Fire Nation is heavily based on Thai, Lao, Chinese, and Cambodian clothing; the volcanic terrain and black sand are heavily based on Iceland, and the clothes were see Roku’s wife wear to their wedding is heavily based on Korean wedding clothes. Kyoshi Island is the only place where we see a lot of a Japanese-inspired aesthetic.

[arissakhan]

I love the irony of the Fire Nation being a Naval power. Also, I learned more about how civilizations naturally move and adapt economically, politically, and militaristically from this video than from any school lesson, so thanks for that. I love your videos and how well you explain everything btw! amazing analysis

[dionadair]

Women can be fascist murders too!
Azula: That's my girls!

[alexneckoyami]

"usually pirates... occasionally the french" gave me a good genuine snicker

[NavidIsANoob]

The gender equality bit is insanely interesting. The writers truly thought of everything.

[machielvanmierlo]

Regarding the gender equality, I feel like there's another factor at play here: Being a seafaring nation.


Compare it to the Dutch in their golden, seafaring ages. Women often served as the head of the household while the men were away. Taking care of business in the absence of their men who were often gone for months if not years on end.

[nickeel]

Most people praise Avatar for its character interaction, character development, story telling, feels factor and magic system. This made me appreciate how much effort went into making the fire nation a realistic threat that lasted 100 years with ZA WAROLD!

Tldr: This gave me a new appreciation for world building and deepened my love for the show.