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Sequence
The sequence opens by showcasing the four elemental bending styles:
waterbending, earthbending, firebending, and airbending. The waterbending
is performed by Pakku,[1] the earthbending by Sud, the firebending by Azula,
and the airbending by an Air Nomad. The sequence cuts to the map of the
Avatar World, followed directly by Katara's explanation regarding the origins
of the Hundred Year War launched by the Fire Nation. Following this, Avatar
Roku is seen bending all four elements before disappearing in a gust of air,
just as Katara states that the Avatar disappeared when the world needed
him most. Next, Katara and Sokka appear, followed by Aang, showing
scenes from the first episode. The title card is shown immediately after. The
Chinese characters that appear at the top of the show's title card mean "the
divine medium who has descended upon the mortal world".
Narration
Katara narrates the opening sequence. In the first episode, she states:
"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old
days, a time of peace when the Avatar kept balance between the Water
Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. But that all changed
when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar mastered all four elements.
Only he could stop the ruthless firebenders. But when the world needed him
most, he vanished. A hundred years have passed and the Fire Nation is
nearing victory in the War. Two years ago, my father and the men of my tribe
journeyed to the Earth Kingdom to help fight against the Fire Nation, leaving
me and my brother to look after our tribe. Some people believe that the
Avatar was never reborn into the Air Nomads, and that the cycle is broken.
But I haven't lost hope. I still believe that somehow, the Avatar will return to
save the world."
"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony.
Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar,
master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed him
most, he vanished. A hundred years passed and my brother and I
discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang. And although his
airbending skills are great, he has a lot to learn before he's ready to save
anyone. But I believe Aang can save the world."
"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony.
Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar,
master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed him
most, he vanished. A hundred years passed and my brother Sokka and I
discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang. Although his
airbending skills were great, he had a lot to learn before he was ready to
save anyone. But from the first day I met him, I believed Aang would save
the world. And you know what? I was right. With the help of his friends, Aang
defeated Fire Lord Ozai and ended the Hundred Year War. Zuko, Ozai's son
and our ally, became the new Fire Lord. Together with Earth King Kuei,
Aang and Zuko promised to return the nations to harmony."
Calligraphy
Main article: Writing in the World of Avatar
Gallery
<a href="/wiki/File:Opening_Pakku_waterbending.png"><img
src="http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/avatar/images/4/43/Opening_Pakku_waterb
ending.png/revision/latest/zoom-crop/width/240/height/240?cb=20130618190719"
alt="<a href="/wiki/Pakku" title="Pakku">Pakku</a> <a
href="/wiki/Waterbending" title="Waterbending">waterbending</a>."></a> <a
href="/wiki/File:Opening_Sud_earthbending.png"><img
src="http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/avatar/images/7/7e/Opening_Sud_earthben
ding.png/revision/latest/zoom-crop/width/240/height/240?cb=20130618191127"
alt="<a href="/wiki/Sud" title="Sud">Sud</a>, <a href="/wiki/Toph_Beifong"
title="Toph Beifong">Toph's</a> original design, <a href="/wiki/Earthbending"
title="Earthbending">earthbending</a>."></a> <a
href="/wiki/File:Opening_Azula_firebending.png"><img
src="http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/avatar/images/d/d5/Opening_Azula_fireben
ding.png/revision/latest/zoom-crop/width/240/height/240?cb=20130618191631"
alt="<a href="/wiki/Azula" title="Azula">Azula</a> <a href="/wiki/Firebending"
title="Firebending">firebending</a>."></a> <a
href="/wiki/File:Opening_unknown_airbending.png"><img
src="http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/avatar/images/d/de/Opening_unknown_airb
ending.png/revision/latest/zoom-crop/width/240/height/240?cb=20130618191914"
alt="An <a href="/wiki/Air_Nomads" title="Air Nomads">Air Nomad</a> <a
href="/wiki/Airbending" title="Airbending">airbending</a>."></a>
Pakku waterbending.
"Earth. Fire. Air. Water. When I was a boy, my father, Avatar Aang, told me
the story of how he and his friends heroically ended the Hundred Year War.
Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko transformed the Fire Nation colonies into
the United Republic of Nations, a society where benders and nonbenders
from all over the world could live and thrive together in peace and harmony.
They named the capital of this great land Republic City. Avatar Aang
accomplished many remarkable things in his life, but sadly, his time in this
world came to an end. And like the cycle of the seasons, the cycle of the
Avatar began anew."
In subsequent episodes, he says:
"Earth. Fire. Air. Water. Only the Avatar can master all four elements and
bring balance to the world."