Marisha Ray discusses how Avatar: The Last Airbender was an inspiration for Keyleth's journey and The Legend of Vox Machina as a whole. Ray has talked about how she was inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender when crafting Keyleth's journey and Aremente in the original campaign, both in the home game and the live stream. As an Air Ashari druid, Keyleth has impressive control over the wind, but she is on a quest to master the other three elements, similar to Aang's journey.

During an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Ray explained how The Legend of Vox Machina honors Avatar: The Last Airbender. She discussed how the series is one of the inspirations, along with many other animated series, for The Legend of Vox Machina. Ray also shared a fun homage to the world of Avatar with the actress who voices Keyleth's mother in season 2.

Marisha you've talked about how Keyleth’s journey was inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender. What is it like to take that full circle and explore your own animated Avatar adventure?

Marisha Ray: Man, [it] cannot be overstated how amazing and also a bit bizarre that is. Avatar: The Last Airbender was a bit of an imprint, even when we were considering the look and style of the animation, as well as many other cartoons that we love from the ‘80s and ‘90s. But Avatar certainly was in there.

Having that just be a part of this and even having the lovely Janet Varney, who is Korra in The Legend of Korra, be Keyleth's mom is just such a beautiful little nod to the inspiration and an homage that I hope is seen out of respect and nothing but love for all of the inspiration that did come from Avatar.

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How Keyleth's Story In The Legend of Vox Machina Season 2 Honors ATLA

The Legend Of Vox Machina Keyleth

Avatar: The Last Airbender clearly had a major impact on Ray and the entire creative team with how it inspired Keyleth's story, the animation style, and casting. While Keyleth's Aremente was not explored in the first season she did briefly discuss it with Percy and the pressure it puts on her. With season two of The Legend of Vox Machina fleshing out each member of Vox Machina, Keyleth's Armente is likely to play an important role in her development.

Keyleth's origins and Aremente aren't identical to Aang's experience. Both are working to become leaders who have mastered the four elements, but while Aang learns how to wield the three other elements from the benders he meets, Keyleth's experience is meant to test her skills. When Keyleth meets the other Ashari tribes on her Aremente, she will need to prove her mastery of the element they are tied to. Assuming she succeeds, she will become a leader of her people, but if she fails, the results can be fatal.

In the first season of The Legend of Vox Machina, Keyleth struggled with her self-confidence, but she proved to be one of the strongest members of Vox Machina and was instrumental in the defeat of the Briarwoods. As she completes her Aremente she will only grow stronger and more confident as a future leader. Assuming season two expands upon Keyleth's past and quest, the series will likely tie this into Vox Machina's mission following the invasion of the Chroma Conclave. The Legend of Vox Machina has an opportunity to explore this familiar journey in a completely new light honoring the legacy of Avatar: The Last Airbender while clearly defining Keyleth's journey as her own.

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