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In General
Na'vi
- Aliens Speaking English: Justified, since the younger Omatikaya learned English at Grace's school; also, the Avatar drivers have studied, or are studying, Na'vi.
- All Genes Are Codominant: The Avatars look mostly like the Na'vi, but have five-fingered hands and smaller eyes like humans. Grace has a human-style nose and possibly smaller ears (hard to get a clear sighting), presumably as she was one of the first successful Avatars created. Also, male Na'vi have hard ridges at the base of their sternum in the middle of their chests, while Jake retains his human-shaped chest in his Avatar form. They may have just started with Na'vi genes and done the minimum amount of tinkering needed to make them into something that a human would feel comfortable in. That would mean five fingers and eyes similar enough to normal human ones that a human could process the input from them.
- Bishie Sparkle: The Na'vi have bioluminescent 'sparkles' on their body (see the picture of Neytiri for the example).
- Brain Uploading: Personalities of Na'vi, and humans, can be uploaded into the Pandoran collective consciousness from within the sacred groves. Downloading into a new body is also possible, but we don't know how common. Large numbers of other Na'vi chant during the upload ceremony, although this seems no more necessary than, say, chanting while backing up your iPod. Unless all of the chanting Na'vi that are noticeably linked into the local network are acting as parallel-processing units and local storage. While the global network is big, it's also spread out over the entire moon; having the wetware locally available to act as buffer storage and additional processing during an upload would be pretty handy—especially if you're doing a transfer.
- Cat Folk: Downplayed; they're no furrier than humans, but their noses, ears and tails are all very catlike and they (especially Neytiri) have a tendency to hiss when agitated.
- Conlang: Cameron hired an USC linguist to invent the Na'vi language, then let the actors endure boot camps and line-by-line rehearsals over and over again to learn to speak it flawlessly.
- Death Course: The Na'vi education system as experienced by Jake includes a lot of running and jumping in absurdly high places without safety nets or harnesses.
- Death Glare: Jake gets a nice long one from almost everyone in the Omaticaya during his first night at Hometree.
- Doomed Hometown: Hometree is destroyed by Quaritch.
- Fantasy Counterpart Culture:
- The Omaticaya Na'vi and Native Americans, with their shared spirituality with the natural world.
- The Metkayina Na'vi and Indegenous Oceanic peoples, especially the Māori, both being ocean-associating tribes.
- Four-Fingered Hands: All Na'vi have four fingers on their hands. They can recognize artificial Avatar Na'vi by looking at the five fingers they possess.
- Friend to All Living Things: The Na'vi to the flora and fauna of Pandora. They are even able to neural link with them. Doesn't stop some of the flora and fauna from trying to kill them—nor does it stop them from killing said flora/fauna. They just apologize to it afterwards.
- Goal-Oriented Evolution: The Na'vi are "more evolutionarily advanced" than humans (according to tie-in media), implying that evolutionary processes have 'levels' rather than just...results. Could also be taken to describe the level of integration with their surroundings (even if this wasn't intended, it still seems to hold). However it happened, they did evolve the ability to link into wildlife like Neo plugs into the Matrix, so one could argue an extreme amount of adaptation to their environment could qualify.
- Good Eyes, Evil Eyes: The Na'vi, being the epitome of good, naturally have enormous eyes.
- Hair Substitute Feature: The Na'vi have tendrils growing out of their head, but in a twist they have hair growing on top of all this over the neural cables.
- Half-Human Hybrid: The Avatars are specially built to be a hybrid of Na'vi and an individual human's DNA.
- Humanoid Aliens: In a meticulously designed alien ecosystem full of truly bizarre creatures (for example, giant six-legged blue horses who drink plant nectar), the Na'vi are strongly humanoid, despite their otherwise Bizarre Alien Biology.
- Humans Are Cthulhu:
- The simple mining operation on Pandora has brought in a whole range of sanity- and reality-shattering stuff to the moon's inhabitants—swathes of land transformed overnight into burning, barren wastes, hovering monstrosities capable of deafening the ears and engulfing whole settlements in fire and choking fog, a city (itself an otherworldly concept) of unnatural spires and Alien Geometries, line-of-sight weaponry that can spit instant death and, last but not least, Half-Na'vi Hybrids serving as vessels for these supernatural beings' spirits.
- Which lends itself to Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu? (or more accurately, Summon Bigger Fish) for the film's climax.
- For an added kick, the guy responsible for the Avatar Program is a Mad Scientist by the name of Dr. Lovecraft, who initially called his brainchild the "Dark Dreamer" project.
- Humans Through Alien Eyes: We humans are the aliens to the Na'vi, and we don't seem to come in peace. Rest assured, they do fight back.
- Innocent Fanservice Girl: Almost every Na'vi is very scantily clad and completely comfortable this way. A notable exception is Mo'at.
- I Am X, Son of Y: Na'vi naming conventions follow a more complex version of this as they have a personal name followed by a family name prefixed with the word "te" basically meaning "of the (blank) family", and then ending with this trope in the form of the name of the parent matching their gender, and a suffix also dependent upon their gender. So Neytiri's full name "Neytiri te Tskaha Mo'at'ite" means she's "Neytiri of the Tskaha family, daughter of Mo'at" (it's unknown if her name changed at all once she married Jake). Interestingly, despite lacking a written language, names of human origin when they are written out are done phonetically in a Na'vi accent so her son "Lo'ak te Suli Tsyeyk'itan" is actually "Lo'ak of the Sully Family, son of Jake". This also allows adoptive children to honor both their birth family and their adoptive family like Kiri, whose full name "Kiri te Suli Kìreysì'ite" means she's "Kiri of the Sully family, daughter of Grace".
- Klingon Promotion: Referenced. This appears to have once been a tradition among certain tribes to ensure a clean, unchallenged line of succession, and may still be one if the chieftainship is contested, but a friendly abdication is a much more civilised affair these days. The new chief 'kills' the old chief by tapping his chest with the guard of his knife, confirming that he's permanently retired from the position.
- Low-Tech Spears: The indigenous Na'vi are coded as various native tribes and fittingly their arsenal is made up of simple spears as well as bows and arrows, which (combined with their size, strength, and connection to the planet) allows them to force the more technologically advanced colonizers off their planet.
- Magic Skirt: The Na'vi tend to wear nothing but a skimpy loincloth. There are improbably few wardrobe malfunctions.
- No Brows: Na'vi lack eyebrows. Artificial avatar Na'vi have eyebrows thanks to their human genes.
- Noble Savage: Played straight, but justifiable as it is not Jake's status as a human (or Half-Human Hybrid) that makes him "special" but rather, his different cultural background allows him to view things from a different perspective.
- Non-Mammal Mammaries: The original Na'vi concept art envisioned a reptilian-like species; at this point, James Cameron said "Right from the beginning I said, 'She's got to have tits,' even though that makes no sense because her race, the Na'vi, aren't placental mammals." However, averted in that the final design of the Na'vi are mammalian, unlike the early concept art
◊. - Noodle People: All the Na'vi have very lean bodies. They aren't exactly scrawny though as they have well-built legs and upper bodies.
- Nubile Savage: Only Jake ever gets dirty, and only because he's inexperienced. Every Na'vi has perfect teeth and skin.
- Only Six Faces: Definitely averted. There are CG cartoons that can't seem to avert having most background characters or stars with extremely similar features, but most of the Na'vi all look as different as humans would. Except they're all blue. This is probably because the Na'vi, while CGI, are based on actual actors, particularly in that the Avatars look particularly like their human counterparts. The Way of Water goes further in this regard, introducing the Metkayina Na'vi, who aside from having unique faces, also have more muscular tails, fin-like structures on their arms, a more turquoise skin color, and curly hair, distinguishing them from the Omaticaya Na'vi.
- Our Elves Are Different: They are pointy-eared, blue-skinned cat-like people who live among nature, have a deity to worship, tame wild beasts and are armed, especially with arrows capable of impaling victims. Basically, they're less space elves and more wood elves who happen to be in space.
- Planet of Hats: Downplayed. All Na'vi tribes share a number of common beliefs and customs (Eywa of course being the most prominent), but it's also shown that each individual tribe has slightly different customs and practices, preventing the Na'vi from being completely monolithic across the planet.
- Pointy Ears: All of them have thin, pointy ears that are also expressive based on their mood.
- Prefers Going Barefoot: The Na'vi are perpetually barefoot. Due to the moon's lower gravity and denser atmosphere, it's extremely easy to lose footing and slip — especially on dirt or soil. Because of this, the Na'vi are able to curl their large toes directly into the ground for traction. They also somewhat count under Earthy Barefoot Character due to their extremely close connection to nature. During his training with Neytiri, it appears as if Jake was forced to go barefoot. It took him some time for his feet to get calloused before he could keep up with her and Tsu'tey.
- Proud Warrior Race Guy: All Na'vi show some level of skill in either fighting, hunting, or flying. Including pretty much every female Na'vi except Mo'at (who may have been one in her younger years).
- Serkis Folk: Every Na'vi and Avatar to appear onscreen.
- Super-Strength: The Na'vi are strong enough to one-handedly lift and toss humans as if they were made of paper.
- Super-Toughness: The Na'vi have bones of carbon-fiber.
- Thong of Shielding: The loincloths basically don't cover their rears at all. Of course, since we see Jake's butt completely unobstructed when it's hanging out of his hospital gown, Na'vi butts probably just don't count.
- Translation Convention:
- Averted in the first film. When Na'vi are talking among themselves, even ones who speak acceptable English, they speak in Na'vi (and we don't always get subtitles, only for critically important lines, although all the Na'vi lines are understandable to a speaker of the language). When Jake is speaking to the elders and to other clans, and it's really, really important, he asks Tsu'tey to translate for him.
- In The Way of Water, the film starts out just like the first film with Jake's voice-over narration being in English, but all other Na'vi dialogue being in their language (with English subtitles when appropriate). But after a line in Jake's narration saying that he has now lived among the Na'vi long enough that their language sounds just as natural to him as English, the film abruptly switches to Na'vi speaking English except for scenes when human characters who aren't fluent in the Na'vi language are present. Once this trope takes effect, Jake's bilingual kids throwing Na'vi words into their English dialog suggests that they are really doing the opposite.
- Unusual User Interface: The Na'vi's tool of communicating with the creatures and the Tree works like a tentacle-y USB.
- Vapor Wear: Most of the Na'vi's clothing does little to conceal them from exposure. Little apparel is worn by the Na'vi. Cloth, most likely woven from native flora of the moon, is the basic garment worn by all Na'vi. It is possible that very little clothing is worn by the Na'vi because it is simply what is needed for the Na'vi to work and live taking minimally from the environment. Clothes appear to also show the ranking of one in the hierarchy of a clan.
- You No Take Candle: The Na'vi (especially Neytiri) speak accented and broken English when addressing Jake at the start of the movie.
Omatikaya Clan
In General
- Fantasy Counterpart Culture: They have a lot of traits reminiscent of Native American cultures. There are even some aspects of African cultures mixed in for them as well.
Tsu'tey
Tsu'tey
Played By: Laz AlonsoOther Languages
Appearances: Avatar
The finest warrior of the Omaticaya. He is heir to the chieftainship of the tribe. At the beginning of the film's story, he is betrothed to Neytiri.
- The Ace: As mentioned above, the finest warrior of the Omaticaya.
- Arranged Marriage: Or betrothal, anyway, to Neytiri. It was originally to her older sister Sylwanin, but she was killed by RDA soldiers and Neytiri was made her successor in the arrangement.
- Blood Knight: Is the most eager of the Omaticaya to fight the humans.
- A Day in the Limelight: The comic miniseries Tsu'tey's Path retells the plot of the first movie from his perspective.
- Defeat Equals Friendship: He calls Jake "brother" as his suffering is put to an end by Jake in the extended cut.
- Ear Notch: Has a small indent on his right ear.
- Fantastic Racism: He is initially dismissive of the human Avatars and humans in general as they killed his true love.
- Hidden Depths: He can speak English, showing that while he is (justifiably) very hostile towards humans, he was once a student at Grace's school.
- Jerkass Has a Point: He's very hostile towards Jake from the moment they first meet. But he's had years of experience with RDA brutality, particularly the loss of his beloved Sylwanin, so it's understandable that he'd be wary of humans, especially one who admits to being a marine. And Jake does turn out to be a spy for Quaritch as part of the latter's plan to relocate the Omaticaya from Hometree, a revelation that makes the rest of the tribe just as hostile towards him as Tsu'tey.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Initially hostile and dismissive towards Jake, he slowly warms to the guy after he becomes Toruk Makto, accepts him as a member of the people and willingly fights at his command.
- I Cannot Self-Terminate: In a deleted scene, he survives his fall from Quaritch's gunship and has Jake perform the ritual Mercy Kill on him that Neytiri performed on the viperwolves earlier in the movie.
- The Lost Lenore: His true love was Neytiri's older sister Sylwanin before she was killed by the RDA. He occasionally communicates with her spirit and reunites with her in the afterlife.
- The Native Rival: He's well-respected among his people, is heir to the chieftainship and a marriage has been arranged to the chief's daughter. When Jake comes along, Tsu'tey instantly pegs him as someone he needs to take down.
- No Kill like Overkill: Gets riddled with bullets and falls out the back of the bomb carrier during a failed assault on the bomb.
- The Rival: He strongly dislikes Jake, and is his main enemy among the Na'vi. Tsu'tey is the Na'vi that takes the longest to come around to liking Jake. Considering the entire reason Jake is there, you can't really blame him. And Jake mated with his girl.
Mo'at
Mo'at
Played By: C.C.H. PounderOther Languages
Appearances: Avatar | Avatar: The Way of Water
The spiritual leader, or Tsahik, of the Omaticaya. She is the mother of Neytiri and mate to Eytukan, the clan's leader.
- Cool Old Lady: Though not a warrior, she is a powerful and wise shaman and co-leads the Omaticaya.
- Death Wail: Lets out one when Hometree is destroyed, killing a lot of her people, including her mate, in the process.
- Demoted to Extra: She disappears from The Way of Water after the first act.
- Doting Grandparent: In the small amount of screentime she has in The Way of Water, she is shown to be a loving grandmother to Jake and Neytiri's children.
- Ethereal White Dress: During the attempted healing ritual to save a dying Grace, she wears what appears to be a white, translucent robe made from who knows what.
- Iron Lady: She is tough and stern, speaks with ringing authority, her very presence commands attention and she is greatly respected by the whole clan; even Eytukan cedes to her when it comes to spiritual matters. Jake himself refers to her as "the dragon lady", though she's actually not an example of that trope.
- Lady in Red: Usually wears a long shirt/dress made of red beads.
- Not So Stoic: She is usually very calm and even aloof…but when the RDA begin firebombing her home, she staggers over to Jake and Grace and tearfully begs the former to prove he's one of them by helping them.
- Outliving One's Offspring: In the extended edition it's revealed her eldest daughter was killed by soldiers at Grace's school.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Rather than going straight to killing Jake, she demands to be allowed to inspect and question him first. She listens to what he has to say and upon deciding he isn't a threat, orders her daughter to teach him their ways in the hopes of making him understand. She also agrees to let Grace back into the village due to her longstanding friendship to the clan and during Hometree's destruction, she frees Jake and Grace from their bonds, saving them and giving Jake a chance to redeem himself by helping them escape.
- Ruling Couple: With Eytukan. She's the clan Tsahik, in charge of spiritual matters.
Eytukan
Eytukan
Played By: Wes Studi
Appearances: Avatar
The clan chief of the Omaticaya. He is the mate of Mo'at and father of Neytiri.
- Cool Old Guy: He's the leader of all the Omaticaya, implied to be pretty badass to have gotten the position, and bravely stands up to the RDA in defense of his clan, even though he has next to no chance of winning.
- Died in Your Arms Tonight: Dies in Neytiri's arms.
- Does Not Speak Common: He is the only significant Na'vi to not speak any English.
- Fantastic Racism: He has a low opinion of humans, banning them from entering his clan's territory, making a derogatory comment about Jake's "alien smell" and even considering killing him simply for getting lost on their turf. However, he has his reasons to be wary of humans.
- Honor Before Reason: He chooses to stand and fight the far more powerful RDA rather than evacuate Hometree, refusing to be driven from his home. However, when he realizes the futility of this, he instead orders a retreat to save his people.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: During the destruction of Hometree, he is impaled through the chest by a large splinter of wood, which ultimately kills him.
- The Leader: Of the Omaticaya clan. He's of the Levelheaded variety, putting the safety and well-being of his people above all else and commanding great respect, to the point where Jake gets threatened at spearpoint simply for approaching Eytukan without permission.
- The Men First: When he realizes they have no chance against the RDA gunships, he swiftly orders a retreat and stays behind to help his people evacuate, whilst urging his daughter to leave without him. Sadly, this proves to be a fatal decision for Eytukan.
- Perpetual Frowner: He is mostly seen with a stern frown on his face.
- Ruling Couple: With Mo'at. He's in charge of the clan's everyday activities and leads them in battle, too.
- Take Up My Sword: After being mortally wounded when Hometree is destroyed, he tells his daughter to take his bow and lead the clan to safety.
Sylwanin
Sylwanin
Neytiri's older sister, she was killed by RDA troops before the events of the first film.
- Posthumous Character: She has been dead for quite a few years before the events of the first movie.
- The Lost Lenore: She's this for Tsu'tey. They both truly loved each other but her death at the hands of the RDA caused Tsu'tey to become bitter and hostile. When Tsu'tey dies, they both reunite with each other in the afterlife.
Tarsem
Tarsem
Played By: Keston John
Appearances: Avatar: The Way of Water
- Early-Bird Cameo: He actually appears earlier in the movie when Jake's group destroys and raids a large RDA train. He is the Na'vi who handed a gun to Lo'ak.
- Convenient Replacement Character: Replaces Jake as clan chief of the Omaticaya when he decides the best course of action is for him and his family to leave.
- Passing the Torch: When Jake decides to step down as leader of the Omatikaya clan, he allows Tarsem to lead the clan for him so he and his family can relocate themselves.
- You Are in Command Now: Jake Sully puts him in charge when he decides to leave the Omatikaya people.
- Young and in Charge: He might look a little young to be leader, but Jake mentions how Tarsem is wise for his age and would be a suitable replacement.
Saeyla
Saeyla
Appearances: Avatar
- Ascended Extra: Went from being an unnamed character in the first movie to receiving a noticeable role in the tie-in comic Tsu'tey's Path.
- Teacher/Student Romance: Subverted. She is one of Tsu'tey's students, yet developed feelings for him over time. Unfortunately for her, Tsu'tey rejected her due to finding his duties more important.
Maru
Maru
Appearances: Avatar
- Ascended Extra: She was an extremely minor extra in the first movie who is given more attention in the tie-in comic Avatar: Tsu'tey's Path.
Na'vi child
Na'vi child
Appearances: Avatar
- Children Are Innocent: Unlike the older Omatikaya individuals, this girl is not hostile towards Jake and even greets him with a friendly smile as he sits down.
- No Name Given: She does not have an official name, not even in extended material.
- Spear Carrier: Shows up in one scene and never shows up again.
Na'vi child's father
Na'vi child's father
Appearances: Avatar
- Disapproving Look: Gives one to Jake after he pushes his daughter away from him.
- No Name Given: He does not have an official name, not even in extended material.
- Spear Carrier: Shows up in one scene and never shows up again.
Metkayina Clan
In General
- Animal Eyes: While their eyes are blue — a color that is more humanlike than the yellow eyes of the Omatikaya — they have translucent nictitating membranes (a.k.a. "third eyelids") that in real life are only found in non-primate animals. This is presumably to better protect their eyes while swimming.
- Conlang: On top of using the same spoken Na'vi language as the other tribes, they also have their own unique sign language that they primarily use underwater.
- Fantastic Racism: The wise chief Tonowari respects Na'vis that are not from his clan/subspecies (and hybrids like Kiri as well), but it's far from being the case of everyone in the clan as demonstrated when the Sullys come at them to seek asylum.
- Fantasy Counterpart Culture: To various Pacific island cultures, most prominently the Maori with their distinct tattoos and pre-battle haka complete with the men doing the "whetero" tongue-pointing. Also a counterpart to the Moken people, native to the island chain close to Burma and Thailand. Like the Moken (or as they are derisively called "sea gypsies"), their culture revolves heavily underwater, and their bodies have thus adapted to to the environment far more efficiently than would be found in normal physiology: Eyesight that allows perfect clarity in water, more profound webbing between fingers and toes for better swimming ability, and larger lungs and smaller spleen size to allow for greater lung capacity.
- Fish People: When compared to forest Na'vis like the Omaticaya, in addition to their skin being a lighter shade of blue, their tail is more akin to a fishtail, and they have fin-like appendices on their arms to swim better.
- Super Not-Drowning Skills: They are all incredibly skilled freedivers, and are able to hold their breaths underwater for ludicrously long amounts of time (though to be fair, certain human record holders can keep up). Combined with their speed and grace swimming and diving, they definitely give off the impression that they are mer-people who can downright breathe water itself.
Tonowari
Tonowari
Played By: Cliff CurtisOther Languages
Appearances: Avatar: The Way of Water
The clan chief of the Metkayina. He is the mate of Ronal and father of Tsireya and Aonung.
- Big Entrance: Makes a rather impressive introduction when he shows up to Jake's family while riding a Skimwing.
- A Father to His Men: Has the respect and loyalty of all the Metkayina and will do what it takes to protect his people, which he considers Jake and his family to be a part of as well.
- Large and in Charge: Tonowari is the tallest and most muscular member of his tribe and happens to be their imposing chief.
- Nice Guy: The sheer hospitality and kindness he shows to the Sullies go beyond being a Reasonable Authority Figure, with him rarely raising his voice and always eager to help/enlighten them, even when they make huge mistakes.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: He's normally very calm and stoic unless he's fighting. When he learns that Lo'ak bonded with Payakan (who was Wrongly Accused of the death of dozens of Na'vi), he snaps for the first time.
- Papa Wolf: Doesn't think twice about going into battle when he hears his son and daughter are in danger along with Jake and Neytiri's children.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Jake describes Tonowari as a great leader, and he's much nicer to Jake and his family than his wife and son, who shunned them. Throughout the movie, he did his best to honor his deal with Jake to protect him and his family.
- Staff of Authority: He is the leader of his tribe and often carries a huge spear with him.
Ronal
Ronal
Played By: Kate WinsletOther Languages
Appearances: Avatar: The Way of Water
The spiritual leader, or Tsahik, of the Metkayina clan. She is the mate of Tonowari and mother of Tsireya and Aonung.
- Fantastic Racism:
- She doesn't quite approve of the 'Forest Clan' Na'vis like Jake and his family, thinking that they have no place in the marine-based Metkayina tribe. Not only that, she also dislikes how Jake and his children are technically half-human due to Jake's former life as one.
- She is also shown to be very unapproving of Norm and Max coming over to help Kiri, demanding they leave immediately before taking care of Kiri herself.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Her treatment of The Sully family is partially due to bigotry. But it's also out of an understandable concern for her own clan since 'The Sky People' are actively hunting down Jake and his family, so the chance of her people being caught in the crossfire for harboring such high valued targets was high. Her worries are proven correct when Quaritch and The RDA eventually do arrive to their land and start burning the homes of neighboring tribes.
- The Medic: Heals Kiri after she falls unconscious from a seizure after connecting with Eywa.
- Pregnant Badass: Ronal is visibly pregnant with her and Tonowari's third child. This does nothing to hinder her effectiveness in combat or willingness to fight alongside the rest of her clan.
- This Is Unforgivable!: After finding out her spirit sister tulkun was killed senselessly by the sky people, she is the first to call out for blood in revenge.
Tsireya
Tsireya
Played By: Bailey BassOther Languages
Appearances: Avatar: The Way of Water
The daughter of Tonowari and Ronal who helps Jake's kids learn the way of water in their clan.
- Actually Pretty Funny: Even though she does not like her brother teasing Lo'ak, she does laugh a little bit at Lo'ak's failed attempt to ride one of their Ilu's.
- All-Loving Heroine: She is the first to accept the Sullys without hesitation. She listens to Lo'ak and helps teach him and his siblings about the Metkayina customs, is willing to help save Payakan from the RDA despite her tribe considering him an outsider, disapproves of her brother's bullying, and helps the Sullys against Quaritch.
- The Chief's Daughter: She is the daughter of Tonowari, leader of the Metkayina.
- Foil: To Neytiri in the first movie. While Neytiri was willing to kill Jake when she first saw him and only went along with being Jake's teacher because Mo'at told her to, Tsireya is immediately shown to be kind and accepting to the Sully family despite their differences.
- Generation Xerox: Is the Neytiri to Lo'ak's Jake in this film being the one to show Lo'ak the way of the water as Neytiri taught Jake about the Na'vi. Unlike Neytiri, Tsireya is nice to her foreign friend for the entire movie.
- Nice Girl: Compared to how hostile the rest of the Metkayina clan are to Jake's family, Tsireya does not look down on them and teaches Jake's children the ways of her tribe. She is especially kind to Lo'ak.
- Sexy Surfacing Shot: Tsireya surfacing out of the water certainly catches Lo'ak's attention when his family arrives at Metkayina territory. It's complete with a little flip of her curly wet hair over her shoulder.
- Ship Tease: With Lo'ak. The first time Lo'ak lays eyes on her, he sees her walking out of the water. They also have a few intimate moments together that potentially hints at a greater relationship between the two, particularly when Tsireya tells Lo'ak she sees him for who he is and does not consider him an outcast. It's also worth noting that, when her Tulkun Spirit Sister returns to the village, the very first thing we see Tsireya telling her is that she "met a boy," with a broad grin on her face.
Aonung
Aonung
Played By: Filip GeljoOther Languages
Appearances: Avatar: The Way of Water
The son of Tonowari and Ronal who is rather snobbish. He looks down on Jake's kids, but softens up afterwards.
- The Bully: To Lo'ak. He looks down on him not just for being a forest Na'vi, but for being a half-human hybrid.
- Disproportionate Retribution: At one point, Aonung tricks Lo'ak into following him to an Akula hunting ground and leaves him stranded there, hoping to get him eaten in retribution for Lo'ak beating him up earlier (because Aonung was insulting Lo'ak and his family). Even if Lo'ak did land the first punch and beat him up quite badly, leaving Lo'ak for a Cruel and Unusual Death by a Sea Monster in revenge is a step quite too far.
- Gang of Bullies: Aonung and his friends take part in bullying Lo'ak and calling Kiri weird.
- Fantastic Racism: He makes a lot of rude jokes towards forest Na'vi, mostly by making fun of their tails and lack of skill in the water.
- Heel Realization: Seems to have one after Lo'ak puts the blame on himself for nearly getting killed by an Akula rather than reveal that Aonung had intentionally stranded Lo'ak in its hunting ground. It leads to him being much nicer to Lo'ak and the latter's siblings afterwards.
- Karma Houdini: Never really receives any real punishment from bullying Lo'ak and Kiri and deliberately leaving Lo'ak stranded out in the open sea to be killed by an Akula. That being said, he does seem to realize the error of his ways later on, and Lo'ak did batter him quite badly beforehand.
- Reformed Bully: Becomes one when Lo'ak proves to be a better man and takes all the blame on himself for following Aonung out to the open sea and almost getting killed by an Akula. In later scenes, he becomes much nicer to Lo'ak and the rest of Sully's children.
- Smug Smiler: Regularly shows a relaxed but cocky grin on his face.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute: As Lo'ak is almost an exact mirror of his father Jake, Aonung serves a very similar role to Tsu'tey in Lo'ak's personal arc. Much like Tsu'tey's rivalry and eventually friendship with Jake, Aonung started out disliking Lo'ak for being an outsider and treats him horribly. He's close with a lovely young Na'vi that his rival is smitten with (though in this case, Tsireya is his sister, not his betrothed). And ultimately, Aonung comes to respect Lo'ak and becomes akin to brothers-in-arms with him.
Rotxo
Rotxo
Played By: Duane Wichman Evans
Appearances: Avatar: The Way of Water
- Innocently Insensitive: He is a little insensitive when he and Aonung first see forest Na'vi and comments on their tiny tails, but is later shown to be a decent person throughout the movie and is not nearly as mean as Aonung.
- Nice Guy: He does not get a lot of characterization, but he seems pretty nice.
- Out of Focus: Unlike the other named Metkayina characters, Rotxo is not given a lot of attention and contributes the least to the story.
- Satellite Character: He is usually with Tsireya and Aonung in scenes where they interact with the Sully children, but he has few defining traits.
Ta'unui Clan
In General
- Hufflepuff House: The way the RDA villains talk about the Ta'unui as they discuss the inhabitants of the islands indicates that they are a culturally distinct tribe along the same lines as the Omatikaya and the Metkayina. But what little we see of them is barely distinguishable from the similarly maritime Metkayina; Tonowari has even given them direct orders to stay quiet about the whereabouts of the Sullys, putting their supposed distinctiveness into question.
