Avatar: The Last Airbender

Originally Posted by Unit7

But they weren't born knowing these techniques. In fact each nation at the begining didn't have a damned clue about Airbending, Firebending and such.

Each learned it from an animal. The Air Nomads learned Airbending from the Flying Bison, the Earth Benders learned it from those Giant Moles, and Fire Nation from the Dragons. I think the Water Benders learned from the Moon Spirit and the whole Yin and Yang thing. *shrugs*

But point is, there was nothing genetic or anything. They simply observed the animals at work and learned from them.

It just doesn't seem like its something your born with, well except for Avatar but he is born with all the experience of his past lives.

That's not true. The original creators of the bending techniques learned them from animals, but after a few generations you had to be born with it

Otherwise Sokka and the rest of the Southern tribe would have just learned bending

Edit Actually the more I think about it, the more I'm pretty sure the original benders were born with it, too. All the animals did was teach them how to harness the power, they didn't gift them with it

In the begining there was just energybending. The animals taught the different nations how to use energybending on a specific element(that's what they did). You have to be born with the energy or you can't harness(Sokka is an example of not being born with it).

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

In the begining there was just energybending. The animals taught the different nations how to use energybending on a specific element(that's what they did). You have to be born with the energy or you can't harness(Sokka is an example of not being born with it).

Any actual proof to this?

Or is it just speculation?

Fan fic i'm going to guess.

According to the Avatar Wiki, Energybending was the first form of bending. Also, what bending techniques you are able to use are entirely based on your nationality

So no, Firebenders can't learn how to Waterbend and non-benders can't just pick it up

Yeah, you are either born with it, or not.
But, say a Waterbender and an Earth bender have a child. It could either be a Waterbender, Earthbender, or non bender. I don't get why it it couldn't be both.
I guess it would defeat the purpose of having an Avatar.

Yes. Yes it would.

See, plot armor resides over all

I believe Nick.com confirmed it. Energybending existed before the Avatar and before the other four bending arts. Aang actually uses it in the finale.

Is it ever actually confirmed that only the Avatar can learn how to bend elements other than his native element? I don't recall anything being set in stone in that regard.

But yeah, the series is pretty bombad. I started watching it about midway through book 2 and was absolutely hooked, albeit lost. Buying the entire first season on DVD was possibly one of my most prized purchases.

As for my favorite character, I'm going with Toph and Iroh, just like 80% of the show's fans.

That's what makes the Avatar special. He can learn the other bending disciplines. He can do this because he's the Planet's Spirit in human form or something like that. A fourth season is needed. I'm sure they could come up with something that happens maybe ten years later or something!

Originally Posted by Mind

Is it ever actually confirmed that only the Avatar can learn how to bend elements other than his native element? I don't recall anything being set in stone in that regard.

That's the entire premise of the show

If just anybody could learn the five discplines than anybody could become the Avatar!

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

I believe Nick.com confirmed it. Energybending existed before the Avatar and before the other four bending arts. Aang actually uses it in the finale.

Are you referring to the weird lightshow that took away ozai's firebending?

Yeah, that's what he's talking about. I totally forgot about that. I guess it has been a while since I saw the show or the finale.

Demon: yes the weird lightshow
Koulatio: When was the finale aired?

Maybe the next season won't be about Aang and co...Maybe it's about a new avatar from the water tribe.

That would be interesting but then we couldn't see Aang anymore. Anyway i think they either go back in time to the first Avatar or skip to the next firebender. Fire is one of my favorite elements that Aang used.

I like fire too.

That would actually be interesting because after fire come air and there aren't any more airbenders left! Unless Aang's grandson teaches him airbending or something.

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

Demon: yes the weird lightshow
Koulatio: When was the finale aired?

I think it was aired in May. I'm not too sure though. It was during the school year, I know that for sure.