Katara

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.[1] 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.[2]

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Contents
[hide] *1 Creation and conception
 * 2 Plot overview
 * 3 Waterbending
 * 4 Personality
 * 5 Appearances in other media
 * 5.1 Film
 * 6 References
 * 7 External links
 * }

[edit] 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.[3] 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.[4] The character 'Lā' appears in the first season's finale, while the character 'Kǎ' also appears in Sokka's name.[5]

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.[3]

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.

Background Edit
Born into the diminished Southern Water Tribe to Hakoda and Kya, Katara faced the reality of her tribe's dwindling strength from an early age. At the time of her birth, forty-five years of repeated Fire Nation invasions intended to capture and imprison the tribe's waterbenders had left them without waterbenders. The tribe's defenses would have crumbled under the might of the Fire Nation. But due to their relative inaccessibility in the South Pole, and the perception they were a non-threat, they were mostly left alone. But when Katara was a young girl, the Fire Nation again raided the village on the their knowledge that a waterbender remained in the tribe. During the battle, the leader of the raid Yon Rha confronted Katara's mother, who was taking refuge in the family's igloo. Seeking shelter with her mother, Katara ran back to her home and interrupted their exchange. Realizing the intentions of Yon Rha, who had demanded Kya tell him the identity of the waterbender, Kya insisted Katara leave, and gave herself up as the last waterbender, lying to protect her daughter. Katara ran to fetch her father, Hakoda, but by the time they returned, Yon Rha had left and her mother had been killed.[5] The death of their mother had a profound impact on both Katara and Sokka.

With the absence of a mother figure in the family, Katara soon found herself filling the role left behind by Kya. Katara began to take on many of the domestic responsibilities expected of women of the Southern Water Tribe, despite her young age. Several years later, her father Chief Hakoda, left to fight in the War with the rest of the men of the Southern Water Tribe. [2] Katara and Sokka were left in the care of their grandmother, Kanna. Though Kanna loved the two and cared deeply for them, Katara was left feeling traumatized and alone. Living in a tribe consisting entirely of women, children, and elderly, Katara took care of not only her own family, but frequently assisted the other members of the tribe in their own duties.[3] She developed a protective and motherly personality which she would carry with her for the remainder of her life. Even to her own elder brother, Sokka, she was sometimes seen as a maternal figure. Much later, Katara overheard Sokka admitting to being unable to picture his mother, whose image had been replaced by Katara's.[11] Katara displayed deep affection for those she traveled with, as well as being fiercely protective whenever danger threatened their safety. The inner strength she had developed in the absence of parental figures aided her in keeping Aang and their friends together through their most difficult experiences.

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.[8] 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; [9] but upon noticing Katara's necklace, which he gave to Katara's grandmother himself, he agrees to teach her.[9] Katara having achieved her own expertise, Pakku deems her sufficient to teach Aang.[10]

Katara then accompanies Aang to the Earth Kingdom for him to learn earthbending.[11] 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.[12]

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.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-The_Painted_Lady_12-0">[13] 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.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-The_Puppetmaster_13-0">[14] 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.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sozin_Comet_14-0">[15] The story ends with Aang and Katara sharing a kiss.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15">[16]

It has been confirmed that the spin-off mini-series, 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.

Harmony Restoration Movement Edit
As part of the Harmony Restoration Movement, Katara and her friends began moving Fire Nation colonials back to the Fire Nation, starting with the more recent colonial establishments. A year later, when Aang, Katara, and Sokka were assisting in the relocation of a Fire Nation colony led by Mayor Nishi, the team found out that Zuko had withdrawn his support for the movement, so they immediately traveled to Yu Dao, the colony where the Fire Lord was staying. After landing, soldiers ordered Aang to leave.

Once there, Katara and the rest of Team Avatar encountered a protest that included several members of the Freedom Fighters and learned that Zuko was preventing people from entering and exiting Yu Dao, so she and Aang flew over the colony's walls with his glider to meet the Fire Lord. They were, however, confronted by Fire Nation soldiers who prevented them to talk to Zuko, so they had to fight them. After Aang defeated several guards, Katara became enraged when she saw the guards were trying to set her boyfriend on fire and knocked them out. Zuko suddenly grabbed Katara, admonishing her for attacking his "people." Aang, angry at Zuko's action, warned him to let her go, but after he insisted that she had first to agree to stop attacking his people, Aang separated Zuko from Katara with airbending, prompting him to retaliate, causing the airbender to block the attack and enter the Avatar State. But Katara, telling him that he would not be able to control himself in an altered emotional state, managed to calm him down. The Fire Lord agreed to talk and gave the couple a tour of Yu Dao, pointing out how heavily integrated the lives of the citizens were in the colony. At this, Katara proposed a meeting with the Earth King concerning the matter, to which the Avatar and the Fire Lord both agreed.

After leaving Yu Dao, Smellerbee said that Aang had three days to make a compromise before the Freedom Fighters take action. On Appa, Aang thanked Katara for not letting him kill Zuko while in the Avatar State. The group continued to Ba Sing Se as Toph explained Katara what Sokka meant with 'oogies'.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-P1_11-0" sizcache="423" sizset="367">[12]

Later life Edit
Sometime after this, Katara married Aang and gave birth to three children, the youngest of which was an airbender named Tenzin.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-creatorinterview_9-1" sizcache="423" sizset="372"> [10] He went on to marry a woman named Pema, and, giving Katara three grandchildren: Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo with Pema pregnant with a fourth child.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SDCC_12-0" sizcache="423" sizset="377"> [13] Katara is the only member of her generation known to be alive as of 170 ASC,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SifuKisu_0-2" sizcache="423" sizset="378"> [1] and was then Avatar Korra's waterbending teacher.

Personality Edit
When Katara was a young girl, her mother was killed in a Fire Nation raid.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SR_4-2" sizcache="423" sizset="382">[5] This event had a tremendous impact on Katara's life and personality and arguably shaped her into the person she became. She was very emotionally driven, involving herself completely in the heartache and needs of those around her. Placing her whole heart in the affairs of others, as well as bearing her own heartache, she was often easily reduced to tears. According to Sokka, Katara largely prevented their family from falling apart and took on many responsibilities to the point where she filled the void left by their mother (so much that he pictured her in place of his mother).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-R_10-1" sizcache="423" sizset="383">[11] As such, Katara had a very maternal personality and often acted as a motherly figure to the group, something that often irritated the rebellious Toph.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-R_10-2" sizcache="423" sizset="385">[11] Her loss was also part of what drove her in her fight against the Fire Nation, although she did not exhibit as much outward prejudice as her brother. She was also a bit of a stickler for morality, even to the point of causing Sokka and Aang to faint from shock when she stated she wanted to pull a scam, as she had berated Toph for scamming people.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-R_10-3" sizcache="423" sizset="386">[11]

She was shown to have a soft spot for children. When aiding in baby Hope's birth, she stated that she helped her grandmother deliver many babies in their tribe,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SP_14-0" sizcache="423" sizset="388">[15] and in Jang Hui, she gave a portion of her food to a little boy.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-PL_15-0" sizcache="423" sizset="390">[16] She even went as far as to care for and defend Tom-Tom, Mai's little brother, despite the fact that he was from the Fire Nation and that everyone else, with the exception of Aang, was distrustful of him for it.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RO_16-0" sizcache="423" sizset="392">[17]

Katara was caring and compassionate, and was often marked by a fierce determination to aid others. She stated herself that she would never turn away from people who need her help.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-PL_15-1" sizcache="423" sizset="393">[16] Katara was even willing to defend Fire Nation civilians such as when she helped the village of Jang Hui<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-PL_15-2" sizcache="423" sizset="394">[16] and when she fought Hama,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-P_17-0" sizcache="423" sizset="396">[18] who was from the Southern Water Tribe, to protect the Fire Nation village she was living in. This strong desire often frustrated others, particularly Sokka.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-PL_15-3" sizcache="423" sizset="398">[16]

Katara was portrayed as the most mature member of the group, rarely taking part in Sokka and Aang's goofy pranks and Toph's less silly ones, though she did have a sense of humor. Katara was described as being very motherly by Toph and Sokka.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-R_10-4" sizcache="423" sizset="402"> [11] While the team traveled through the Si Wong Desert, Katara was able to hold the group together in its most desperate moments.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-D_18-0" sizcache="423" sizset="404"> [19] On the other hand, Katara could be overly domineering. For all her kindness and compassion, she was sometimes very self-righteous, had a rather nasty temper, and could be extremely fierce when provoked. With lack of sleep, this side of her can quickly become more apparent.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-C_19-0" sizcache="423" sizset="405">[20] She also was very set in her ideals and frequently refused to relent on her views in the face of opposition. Combined with her strong sense of compassion, this gave her a very strong sense of justice and she would run headlong into often dangerous situations to help others, which was best illustrated at the prison rig<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-I_20-0" sizcache="423" sizset="407">[21] and at Jang Hui.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-PL_15-4" sizcache="423" sizset="408">[16] Her short temper had frequently clashed with others; she showed open, but short-lived, jealousy of Aang's talent,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WS_6-1" sizcache="423" sizset="409">[7] and was frequently perturbed by Toph's confrontational and rebellious nature.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-R_10-5" sizcache="423" sizset="410">[11] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-C_19-1" sizcache="423" sizset="411">[20]

Despite being one of the more compassionate members of the group, Katara was one of the least willing to let go of a grudge, especially against those who she felt have betrayed her trust. She held a considerable grudge against those who have threatened Aang, as Zuko had, or done things she considered morally wrong, like Jet.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-J_22-0" sizcache="423" sizset="415">[23] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LL_23-0" sizcache="423" sizset="416">[24] At the Western Air Temple she showed outright hostility toward Zuko and threatened to kill him if he slipped back to his old ways.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAT_21-1" sizcache="423" sizset="418">[22] Upon her re-encounter with Jet, Katara reacted hostilely at the mere sight of him,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LL_23-1" sizcache="423" sizset="419">[24] and she was harsh and unforgiving of Zuko even long after he had joined Team Avatar and gained the trust of everyone else.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SR_4-3" sizcache="423" sizset="421">[5] However, this could be because Zuko's betrayal of her at Ba Sing Se<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CD_24-0" sizcache="423" sizset="422">[25] was far more personal than his betrayal of anyone else. For a while, she also was argumentative with her father because she felt that he had abandoned her and Sokka when he left to fight in the War.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-A_5-1" sizcache="423" sizset="423">[6] However, Katara was sometimes willing to give people second chances; with much reluctance, she allowed Jet to guide Team Avatar to Appa, and she appeared to be saddened by his death,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LL_23-2" sizcache="423" sizset="424">[24] but possibly due to the fact she once had feelings for him.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-J_22-1" sizcache="423" sizset="425">[23] Also, she offered to try and heal Zuko's scar when they were enemies.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CD_24-1" sizcache="423" sizset="426">[25] Eventually, even after his betrayal, Katara decided to forgive him, embracing him as a friend, after he helped her find the man who killed her mother.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SR_4-4" sizcache="423" sizset="427">[5]

Katara was marked by a fierce desire to learn waterbending, viewing it as a part of her and her culture that needed to be expressed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BI_1-5" sizcache="423" sizset="428">[2] She also may have viewed it as a hope for rebuilding her tribe. Her enthusiasm for waterbending caused her to constantly train herself in the art,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WS_6-2" sizcache="423" sizset="429">[7] and when she finally found a master to teach her formally, she became overjoyed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WM_7-1" sizcache="423" sizset="430">[8] Having quickly advanced under the tutelage of Master Pakku; he stated that Katara accomplished this due to her fierce determination, passion and hard work.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SN1_25-0" sizcache="423" sizset="431">[26]

Sokka told Toph that Katara could be a pain and would get "involved and in-your-business."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-R_10-6" sizcache="423" sizset="432">[11] This behavior was probably due to her strong maternal instincts. Even so, Katara was very understanding of other people's privacy. This was best demonstrated when Katara continually scolded Sokka for snooping around Hama's inn and rummaging through her personal belongings.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-P_17-1" sizcache="423" sizset="433">[18]

Motherly and feminine as she might be, Katara wasn't afraid to go beyond her feminine looks and way of being to achieve what she wanted. When she and Toph were denied entrance to a rowdy pub because the both of them were girls, they dressed up as boys. Katara in particular showed her masculine side when wanting to ride a mechanized bull; she was even willing to start an all-out brawl with some of the guys there who mocked her ability to stay on the bull. The whole thing ended with Toph dragging Katara away before things came to a head.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BDO_26-0" sizcache="423" sizset="434">[27] Later, Katara and Toph were seen in a spa reflecting on how being a girl isn't so bad at all.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TBSS_27-0" sizcache="423" sizset="435">[28]

Waterbending Edit
Katara's most notable ability was her waterbending. She rapidly developed her skill at the art, and her fierce resolve to master the element helped her become not only one of the strongest and most powerful waterbending masters, but potentially the youngest and quickest to obtain such status in many years.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SN1_25-1" sizcache="423" sizset="439">[26]

Katara was identified as a waterbender when she was a small child. Over a half-century of unrelenting Fire Nation raids and their determination to capture the last of the waterbenders in the Southern Tribe led Katara to be born into a tribe entirely deprived of waterbenders. Her father, Hakoda, searched across the South Pole for a waterbender to teach her, but none were found, confirming her status as the last waterbender in the entirety of the South Pole.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dead_28-0" sizcache="423" sizset="440">[29]

Over the course of her childhood, Katara taught herself basic waterbending techniques and managed to master some simple waterbending forms.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BI_1-6" sizcache="423" sizset="441">[2] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WS_6-3" sizcache="423" sizset="442">[7] A reasonable feat, considering she would have never had the chance to have observed any waterbending in practice, and probably had only the benefit of second-hand amateur advice from the elders of her tribe and possibly from her grandmother, Kanna, who, though unknown to Katara, grew up in the Northern Water Tribe.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WM_7-2" sizcache="423" sizset="443">[8]

As of the discovery of Aang at the South Pole, Katara was capable of "pushing and pulling" water, streaming small amounts and manipulating it into basic forms and movements,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WS_6-4" sizcache="423" sizset="448"> [7] and was beginning to gain some control over the ability to change its physical state, freezing it into ice,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-J_22-2" sizcache="423" sizset="449"> [23] as well as attempting to create sizable waves of water. What little she knew, she taught to Aang, who quickly mastered all she had to offer. That which had taken her years to achieve, Aang managed to imitate and outperform within mere minutes, much to her envy and frustration.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WS_6-5" sizcache="423" sizset="450"> [7]

Her waterbending remained amateurish at best until she came across a Northern Water Tribe waterbending scroll depicting several different traditional waterbending forms, amongst a collection of wares in a pirate-traders ship. Unable to afford the high price demanded for the scroll by the pirates, yet incapable of passing up such an opportunity to finally have formal instruction in waterbending, she deftly stole the scroll and eventually made away with it. Katara and Aang first learned the water whip technique from the scroll,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WS_6-6" sizcache="423" sizset="452">[7] and afterward continued to improve their overall technique. Up until their arrival at the Northern Water Tribe, both Katara and Aang demonstrated considerable improvement, and Katara's confidence in her own abilities increased dramatically.

Later, Katara demonstrated the ability to bend with much greater precision and ease compared to when she first stole the scroll. She was able to draw unseen water out of different sources and bend greater quantities in general, streaming them into powerful blasts and freezing water with much more control than previously shown.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-J_22-3" sizcache="423" sizset="453">[23] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SC1_29-0" sizcache="423" sizset="454">[30] She later developed several of her own techniques, including cloudbending<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FT_30-0" sizcache="423" sizset="455">[31] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-H_31-0" sizcache="423" sizset="456">[32] and a hand-held variation on the water-whip technique.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WM_7-3" sizcache="423" sizset="457">[8] Katara also demonstrated greater manipulation of ice and snow, as well as discovered her ability to heal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TD_32-0" sizcache="423" sizset="458">[33] In the time between her acquisition of the waterbending scroll and arrival at the North Pole, Katara's sheer determination and discipline saw her proficiency improve greatly, clearly surpassing that of Aang.

Katara's pride, strong-mindedness and sense of justice caused conflict with the traditions of the Northern Water Tribe, which forbade women from learning combat focused waterbending. Katara, furious at having traveled to the opposite end of the Earth, only to be denied instruction by irrational customs, challenged the master waterbending instructor of the Northern Water Tribe, Pakku, to a duel. Though she was undoubtedly no match for the master, she valiantly held her own, determined not to be beaten. She demonstrated not only more advanced techniques than she ever had previously, but also a surprising amount of agility and skill in physical combat, as well as greater proficiency in basic waterbending techniques she had previously learned. For the first time, she was seen bending with her feet, employing non-bending hand and foot strikes in combat, and transforming the physical state of a wave. Pakku eventually removed her ability to bend by trapping her body and limbs between spikes of ice, and so won the fight without harming her. Though he admitted that she was an exceptionally talented waterbender, he rigidly stuck by the laws of his culture and refused to teach Katara.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WM_7-4" sizcache="423" sizset="461">[8]

At the fight's conclusion, Pakku discovered Katara's necklace which had broken off during their duel. Recognizing the carved pendant, he revealed that the necklace passed down to Katara from Kanna, her grandmother, had been given to Kanna by Pakku as a symbol of their engagement sixty years prior. After realizing Katara was the granddaughter of his ex-fiancée, who had left the Northern Water Tribe to escape their arranged marriage, he decided to instruct Katara in combative waterbending.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WM_7-5" sizcache="423" sizset="463">[8]

Under the guidance of Master Pakku, Katara's waterbending abilities advanced quicker than that of any student he had ever trained, which he accredited to her fierce determination, passion and hard-work. She fought and defeated Zuko with the augmented power of the near-full moon. During the fight, she knocked him off his feet, deflected and shielded his attacks, imprisoned him in a dome of solid ice, and later, a wave of solid ice. Though she was defeated by Zuko after the sun rose, she fought him again with the full moon and defeated him easily. undefined Pakku later declared Katara a full-fledged waterbending master.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SN2_8-1" sizcache="423" sizset="465">[9]

Katara continued to hone her waterbending potential, regularly demonstrating her waterbending mastery in battle. In Omashu, Katara blocked a flurry of Mai's knives by waterbending wooden boards into the air as shields in front of herself. She managed to block Mai's hand arrows with ice, then countered by freezing Mai's arm in ice. Ty Lee sneaked behind Katara and blocked her chi, preventing her from waterbending.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RO_16-1" sizcache="423" sizset="475"> [17] While in the swamp, Katara cut apart the vines holding her with the water stored in her pouch. In the battle where she, Aang and Sokka fought against Huu, Katara created large waves in the swamp water, froze a part of the swamp monster, and created a coil of water that she used to blast a hole into the monster. She also created large round blades out of the water and used them to cut up Huu's monster.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TS_33-0" sizcache="423" sizset="477"> [34] Later, she easily defeated two earthbending students by freezing them in solid ice.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BB_34-0" sizcache="423" sizset="478"> [35]

When facing Ty Lee a second time, Katara fought using the water in her pouch to fend off her chi blocking attacks, forcing Ty Lee to cartwheel away from disks of razor-sharp water. She also stopped Azula from killing Aang by catching her hand in a water whip.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-C_19-2" sizcache="423" sizset="480">[20] While crossing the Serpent's Pass, she made a bridge of ice for the group to travel across as well as worked with Aang to support an underwater bubble for the group to travel in. She also surfed around on a surfboard of ice and, together with Aang, created a massive whirlpool to defeat the serpent.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SP_14-1" sizcache="423" sizset="483">[15]

She also rapidly condensed water vapor into ice to defeat her foes.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TDR_35-0" sizcache="423" sizset="484">[36] When assaulting Jet upon re-encountering him, she used ice spikes, similar to Mai's daggers, to pin Jet to the wall in an alley.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LL_23-3" sizcache="423" sizset="485">[24] While fighting off the Royal Earthbender Guards, Katara defeated dozens of them with whips and streams of water.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-EK_36-0" sizcache="423" sizset="487">[37] In the crystal catacombs, Katara and Aang fought against Zuko and Azula. Katara managed to cut one of Azula's hair bangs with a water blade, and created two enormous whips of water, which she used to briefly trap Azula. These whips were able to match Zuko's enormous fire whips later. Finally, when Katara was surrounded by Dai Li agents, she defended herself with the octopus form, and rode on an enormous wave which knocked down these agents and Zuko. Then, she escaped on a rising stream water, carrying Aang to safety.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CD_24-2" sizcache="423" sizset="490">[25]

Katara's waterbending later became even more advanced and destructive. During a fight with a Fire Nation ship, Katara used a huge wave to separate the two ships and created a huge steam barrier between them for cover. Then, when their ship got hit by a harpoon, Katara used her frosty breath of waterbending to freeze the hole in the ship's hull, thus repairing it.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-A_5-2" sizcache="423" sizset="494"> [6] When Aang held a dance for some of his Fire Nation school friends, Katara also created a fountain out of solid ice for beverages as well as the glasses they used to drink from.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-H_31-1" sizcache="423" sizset="495"> [32] At the Jang Hui River, Katara created a cover of steam and sped herself atop the water's surface. Assisted by Aang, she used crashing waves and precise missiles of water to destroy a Fire Nation factory. She also blasted a Fire Nation river craft into the air and against a cliff.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-PL_15-5" sizcache="423" sizset="498"> [16] Katara also transported a huge bubble of water from a nearby creek to put out a fire.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SM_37-0" sizcache="423" sizset="499"> [38] When Combustion Man locked Katara and Toph in jail, Katara used her own sweat as a water knife to break out of a wooden prison cell.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-R_10-7" sizcache="423" sizset="501"> [11]

Katara learned new waterbending moves from the old waterbender Hama of the Southern Water Tribe, learning how to pull water out of thin air and out of plants. She also learned bloodbending, the dark and sinister ability to manipulate the water within the body of all living beings, controlling them like a puppet. Katara was greatly distressed after she was tricked into learning bloodbending, shown when she cried after using it to save Sokka and Aang from Hama.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-P_17-2" sizcache="423" sizset="503">[18] On the Day of Black Sun, Katara fought against the Fire Nation guards at the capital, destroying several guard towers with Sokka and defeating many soldiers.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DBS1_38-0" sizcache="423" sizset="505">[39] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DBS2_39-0" sizcache="423" sizset="506">[40] At the Western Air Temple, she rained ice spikes onto Combustion Man.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WAT_21-2" sizcache="423" sizset="507">[22] Katara created a large wide dome of water by gathering rainwater and created ice spikes from it, nearly taking the life of Yon Rha. During the full moon that night, when her waterbending powers were at their zenith, she nearly took down the whole Fire Nation ship of the Southern Raiders single-handedly.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SR_4-5" sizcache="423" sizset="508">[5] Finally, during Sozin's Comet, she froze herself and Azula into a block of solid ice, thawed the center of it and chained Azula to a grate.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SC4_3-2" sizcache="423" sizset="510">[4]

Healing Edit
Katara's innate waterbending abilities also gave her the incredible ability to heal by manipulating the chi paths in a person's body. She inadvertently discovered this ability after Aang accidentally burned her hands, and then subsequently used this power again to heal Aang's own burn after his face-off with Admiral Zhao.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TD_32-1" sizcache="423" sizset="518">[33] Once she reached the Northern Water Tribe, she further developed this ability by training with Yugoda.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WM_7-6" sizcache="423" sizset="520">[8]

Pakku gave her a small vial of water from the Spirit Oasis, which he told her held special properties.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AS_40-0" sizcache="423" sizset="523">[41] Katara was going to use the spiritual water from the Spirit Oasis in an attempt to heal Zuko's scar, but Aang and Iroh burst in, making Zuko angry at Iroh for allying with the Avatar. Instead, she later used the spirit water to bring Aang back to life after he had been struck in the back by Azula's lightning.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CD_24-3" sizcache="423" sizset="526">[25] Katara unsuccessfully attempted to heal Jet after he was fatally wounded by Long Feng.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LL_23-4" sizcache="423" sizset="528">[24] During the invasion, Katara's father, Hakoda, was injured while taking out a Fire Nation ballista tower. Aiding him, her healing was enough to allow him to walk again.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-DBS1_38-1" sizcache="423" sizset="530">[39] During Azula and Zuko's Agni Kai, Azula generated lightning and aimed it at Katara rather than Zuko; however, Zuko jumped in front of Katara and let the lightning shock him instead, sparing her from near death.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SC3_41-0" sizcache="423" sizset="532">[42] After chaining Azula to a water grate, Katara used her healing to aid Zuko. Her healing had been successful enough that he could rise to his feet just moments after she had began.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SC4_3-3" sizcache="423" sizset="533">[4]

Other abilities Edit
Katara had little combat skills apart from her bending, which often led to her defeat. Like all waterbenders, Katara was rendered helpless when her arms were restrained, or were affected in a way that would prevent her from bending. This was different from other benders that had combat skills to a certain degree, such as Zuko, who had extensive knowledge on the art of sword fighting. Despite being unable to fight in close combat, Katara exhibited remarkable agility and acrobatic skill, such as when she performed a dance with Aang. Furthermore, Katara was very resourceful and had a remarkable ability to adapt to her environment, reflecting on the fundamentals of her element, being that of change. Despite being cut off from the rest of the world, Katara possessed a healthy knowledge of spirituality and was one of the few to possess a deep respect for spiritual and cultural matters. Katara was also versed in midwifery, demonstrated in her crucial role in delivering an unexpected baby. As exaggerated in the play "The Boy in the Iceberg", Katara placed heavy value on hope.

Trivia Edit

 * In the Avatar Series Pilot, Katara's character was named Kya. The name Kya was later given to her previously unnamed mother. Nickelodeon's legal department vetted the name when they discovered there was already a video game character named Kya, so they had to change it. Kanna was first proposed to replace Kya, but was later used for the name of her grandmother instead.
 * Other than in the opening sequence, Katara was the first person to bend in the series.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BI_1-7" sizcache="423" sizset="633">[2]
 * Katara was one of the few female waterbenders shown in the series, the others being Hama, Yugoda, the little Northern Water Tribe girls in the healing class, some female members of the Foggy Swamp Tribe, and all the female Avatars.
 * Katara is the only known person to have trained two Avatars, Aang and Korra.
 * Katara once stated that she hated the papaya fruit.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FT_30-1" sizcache="423" sizset="636">[31]
 * Katara seemed to have been quite knowledgeable on Yoga.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ND_45-0" sizcache="423" sizset="637">[46]
 * According to Aunt Wu, Katara should have her third great-grandchild before quietly passing away in her sleep.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FT_30-2" sizcache="423" sizset="639">[31] There is a chance that Aunt Wu could be correct, since Katara is the only member of the original generation still alive in The Legend of Korra.
 * In "The Avatar State" with "Avatar Extras" bonus commentary, it was confirmed that Katara mastered waterbending in the short time that she was at the North Pole, making her the first female student of Master Pakku and, possibly, the quickest person to ever master waterbending.
 * Katara was seen or mentioned in every episode except "Zuko Alone".
 * Katara narrated the opening sequence, and therefore was the first person to speak in the series.
 * Katara was the first person in the series to reveal the ability to heal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Deserter_46-0" sizcache="423" sizset="641">[47]
 * In some comics, her name is misspelled Takara instead of Katara. Coincidentally, takara is a Japanese word meaning treasure.
 * However, in the Greek translation her name is "Tamara". This is probably because "katara" means curse in Greek.
 * The last character in Katara's name, 拉, means pull. This may be in reference to her waterbending.
 * In Arabic, Katara,قطرة, can be translated as droplet or water droplet.
 * Katara's voice actor, Mae Whitman, had previously worked with Dante Basco, Zuko's voice actor, on American Dragon: Jake Long. On the show, Basco voiced the protagonist, Jake Long, who had a crush on Rose, voiced by Whitman, throughout the series, who turned out to be serving the main antagonist, Huntsman. This is the reverse of the case on Avatar, where Basco voiced the antagonist character. By the middle of Season 2, the final season, Rose becomes one of the hero's allies, just as Zuko did in season 3 of Avatar.
 * Katara's name bears resemblance to catarata, which in both Portuguese and Spanish, is translated as waterfall.
 * Katara is a name of a push dagger in India
 * Katara was the only member of Team Avatar never to meet Fire Lord Ozai on-screen during the series.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SC4_3-4" sizcache="423" sizset="646">[4]
 * Katara was the first person to touch Zuko's scar in the series, other than Zuko himself.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CD_24-4" sizcache="423" sizset="647">[25] Mai was the second to touch his scar, when they kissed after reuniting with one another.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-A_5-3" sizcache="423" sizset="648">[6]
 * Katara was the only character ever shown calming Aang out of the Avatar State, aside from Aang himself.
 * Katara, along with her brother, Sokka, had the longest list of love interests in the show: Jet and Aang both had her eye, and although nothing ever happened, Toph once assumed Katara and Haru "had a secret thing" together. Unlike her brother, she had no love interests from the Water Tribes or the Fire Nation, though it was previously debated whether the character Zuko was a potential love interest.
 * Katara was the only person who has participated in all the water duels featured during the War, battling Pakku, Hama, Aang, and various waterbending students.
 * Katara appeared in both the very first and the very last scenes of the entire series.
 * Katara was originally developed with Sokka. The creators liked the idea that Katara was a bender, while Sokka was not. They also liked the idea of a sibling rivalry after being inspired by their own sisters.
 * Katara was originally envisioned as a twelve-year-old girl, but after a suggestion from one of the crew members, she was "aged up" along with Aang and Sokka.
 * LEGO produced a Katara minifigure, and still to date remains as the only toy based upon this character in the markets.
 * Katara's quick series of jabs against her master, Pakku, during their fight is the first instance of two benders using hand-to-hand combat in the series.