The terminology and mythology in the world of Pandora can sometimes feel overwhelming, as everything from the language to the creatures are vastly different from anything seen before. The sequel to James Cameron's successful movie Avatar, entitled Avatar: The Way of Water, is packed with rich world building, Na'vi culture, and more about the mysterious goddess Eywa. The Way of Water managed to expand the world that Avatar laid the foundation for and even introduce some new concepts throughout the story.
There is a lot for audiences to keep up with as Jake and company explored a lot more of Pandora in the new film. But the intricate details add to the realism of the film in a beautiful, complex way and breaking them down makes the movie feel even more magical. As Avatar: The Way of Water begins its journey to breaking box office records, here is a breakdown of all the terms, myths, and other aspects of Cameron's world building.
Locations
While many people think of the world of Avatar as simply existing on Pandora, there are a lot more locations within Pandora that are explored (just as there are a lot of different locations on Earth). But to start off simple, The Way of Water does take place exclusively on Pandora, an exoplanet moon located in the Alpha Centauri system. The atmosphere is a combined mix of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, xeon, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfate.
Pandora is far away from Earth, yet humans are still trying to inhabit it in the second film. This combination of gases is unbreathable for humans, so they wear Exo-Packs covering their entire face when they are outside. Meanwhile, the Na'vi need that combination to survive and must have a smaller version of the Exo-Pack when they are inside a room with air that is safe for humans to breathe. They are able to breathe for a while without the added components, which is why their Exo-Packs are smaller.
Also featured are the clans of Omaticaya and Metkayina. The Omaticaya clan was featured predominately in the first film, and they are known as the forest people. While the forest itself where they reside isn't given a name, its location is different and far away from that of the Metkayina clan. These Na'vi creatures are water people and their clan resides among a cluster of islands. Both tribes have sacred locations within the forest or the water that are seen, such as the Memory Tree.
Na'vi Language
The Na'vi language is actually a developed language that is as rich and complex as any language one might find in the real world. Phrases that are common to hear within The Way of Water include:
- kaltxì = Hello
- ngaru lu fpom srak = How are you? (a more literal translation is "Do you have peace?")
- oel ngati kameie = I see you
The last one, oel ngati kameie, is a common Na'vi greeting that can be heard multiple times throughout the film. Toruk Makto was also the name given to Jake Sully which translates to Rider of the Last Shadow. The Last Shadow is the nickname that the Na'vi have given to the big, flying beasts that are seen flying with the Omaticaya clan. Jake was the first human/Avatar able to bond with and fly the beast, earning him this name.
Tsaheylu
Tsaheylu is when the Na'vi bond with a creature in Pandora. All Na'vi have long braids with small tendrils on the end that is frequently used to bond with various creatures and living organisms throughout the film. On Pandora, creatures are not tamed or domesticated but rather the process of Tsaheylu allows them to work together to achieve something such as Jake flying the Last Shadow.
Creatures
Pandora has a rich and vibrant ecosystem of creatures that are featured frequently throughout the film. One creature featured most heavily is the Tulkun, large whale-like beings, who are revealed to be sentient and above average intelligence and emotional capacity. Another creature seen in The Way of Water is known as the Skimwing, creatures that can both swim and fly. The Metkayina clan uses Tsaheylu to bond with these creatures to ride them and get around.
Avatar's Eywa Explained
Eywa was featured much more heavily in The Way of Water despite never actually appearing. Eywa is known as the All-Mother, or rather a goddess, that is the guiding light of all Na'vi people. When Na'vi people perform Tsaheylu sometimes it can connect them to Eywa especially when it is done at the Tree of Souls.
The Na'vi believe that all energy is temporary and that all living beings are simply borrowing it, knowing that one day that energy will have to be returned to Eywa. This is seen and stated at the end of Avatar: The Way of Water during the funeral of Neteyam, the eldest child. Eywa holds all souls in a memory bank, frequently referred to as the Memory Tree, that was seen in the first film as it was the sacred tree that all Na'vi worked to protect against the RDA. At the end of The Way of Water Jake uses Tsaheylu and Eywa connects him to Neteyam. He is then able to see and interact with him in a memory of them fishing together.
Kiri, Jake's adopted daughter, who was mysteriously born from Grace's Avatar, states in the film that she can feel Eywa strongly when they join the Metkayina clan. Kiri is seen in the film bonding with the Tree of Souls which is underwater for the Metkayina clan, and Eywa allowed her to connect to her birth mother, Grace, and even speak to her. While their time was cut short due to Kiri suffering a seizure, it is clear that Eywa and Kiri have a special connection. Avatar: The Way of Water is full of rich world building that provides for an immersive experience that truly sweeps audiences off their feet, and it is likely to show even more depth as the franchise expands.