Earth. Air. Fire. Water. And magic. We all know and love the worlds of Avatar and Harry Potter, both popular for creating in-depth and exciting fantasy dramas that have stuck with us today. However, fans of both may not have realized just how similar the worlds are.
Sure, there are differences between the two, but at the core of it all, the story, and more specifically, Aang and Harry, have more in common than most fans may realize. From their backstories to their powers, here are five ways Harry Potter and Aang are similar and five how they're completely different.
Similar: Friend Group
A hero is only as good as the people they surround themselves with. From a fellowship to a group of losers, protagonists thrive off those they consider to be friends, looking to them for support. Aang and Harry are no different in this respect.
While Aang has Sokka and Katara, Harry has Ron and Hermione, each of whom shares similar traits. Ron and Sokka are the goofballs while Hermione and Katara are the surrogate moms. Each one brings strength and support to Harry and Aang in their struggles.
Different: Magic Vs Elements
Every child, at least once in their lives, wishes for some kind of superpower or ability. For Aang and Harry Potter, these abilities are apart of who they are. Each hero possesses a unique ability or power that defines who they are.
Harry obviously uses magic, something that's been with him since he was a child. Aang utilizes the elements, over a period of time, learning more about each one throughout his journey. So while one had their powers at the start, the other came into them.
Similar: Loss
It's a typical trope that the protagonist of a story must suffer some kind of loss. It gives a hero the drive needed to help propel them towards their goals. Both Aang and Harry are victims of this cliché, losing people they cared about deeply.
Over his journey, Harry loses many loved ones, from his parents to some of his closest friends. When his journey begins, Aang learns that his entire tribe has been wiped out. This leaves both heroes as a testament to this single trope.
Different: Avatar Vs Horcrux
One of the more confusing parts of the worlds of Avatar and Harry Potter are the concepts of what is a Horcrux or Avatar. The two are somewhat complex and radically different from one another.
A Horcrux is simply someone's soul divided into different objects or pieces, or in this case, a person like Harry. To be the Avatar means to be the reincarnation of the defender of Aangs world. Each one is important in their own way to the world around them.
Similar: Normal Life Problems
When making the perfect hero, one has to remember one key ingredient: relatability. Heroes can be faster than a speeding bullet or more powerful than a locomotive, but if they don't have something that fans can relate to, everything else falls away.
What makes Aang and Harry so interesting is who they are at the heart of everything. Aang is an incredibly powerful bender who is also 12 years old and trying to live his life. When Harry's not busy battling Voldemort, he's trying to survive the equivalent of high school.
Different: Age
A somewhat obvious difference between Aang and Harry Potter is their age. This is a strange difference, for sure, but it makes sense in hindsight. Throughout Harry's journey, he ages over the years, growing with each year and challenge he faces.
Aang, however, starts the journey as a 12-year-old and remains 12 throughout the story. While it could be argued that Aang is 112, due to being locked in ice for 100 years, he still acts like a child, hence the age difference.
Similar: Destiny
In almost every fantasy world, the heroes are typically tied to one thing: their destiny. Every hero has a destiny they need to follow or achieve. By achieving their destiny, the hero not only finds themself but can also end their journey.
Aang and Harry's destinies are very similar, if not the same. Both are fated to battle a nefarious villain for the fate of their worlds. Only once they fulfill their destinies, the heroes can move on with their lives.
Different: Defeating The Villain
Defeating the villain is a double-edged sword for a hero. For someone like Harry Potter, it simply means destroying he who shall not be named, Voldemort. When the series reaches its conclusion, Harry does achieve this goal and ultimately slays Voldemort.
For Aang, however, killing Fire Lord Ozai was never that simple. For him, defeating the fire lord meant finding a different path other than death. Ultimately taking the dictator's bending away from him put Aang and Harry on opposite ends of the sword.
Similar: Bright Future
Whether it's three seasons or 10 years, audiences hate to see the stories of their favorite characters come to an end. With both ATLA and the Wizarding World, their journeys eventually end. However, when one door closes ... another opens.
When both worlds end, we are left with a sense of hope for each character. Aang finally ended the war and brought peace, while Harry killed Voldemort and lives a normal life. Both heroes are left with an uncertain yet brighter future that leaves fans wanting more.
Different: Journey
Every hero has a journey, big and small. For Harry and Aang, their journeys are very different. Harry's journey takes place over multiple years, from his first to his last year at Hogwarts. Over the years, he grows and changes and evolves into a stronger character.
Aang's journey, however, is much shorter. While Aang grows just as much as Harry, he covers it in a lesser amount of time, about a year in length. Each journey affects both of them, it simply takes Aang a shorter period of time.