What are the differences between an Avatar and a Na’vi?

With the release of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’, Avatar Jake Sully and Omaticaya Neytiri had their history expanded, as after 13 years since the events seen in “Avatar” (2009), the family that built their new challenges and tragedies surrounded the moon Pandora, causing the couple and their children to join an entirely new Na’vi tribe in the franchise: the Metkayina.

With the insertion of this new clan in the universe created by James Cameron, it is possible that some doubts arise between the differences between an Avatar and a Na’vi. For this reason, we will explain below the main characteristics of each of these beings to facilitate their distinction. Check out!

avatar

As shown in the first movie, a avatar is a genetically engineered human-Na’Vi hybrid that is remotely controlled by its human counterpart through neural connections.

These beings were created so that earthlings could travel through Pandora without the use of oxygen masks, since the place is rich in carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia, not allowing earthlings to breathe normally.

Furthermore, the main objective was for the ‘disguise’ to help the earth’s population infiltrate Pandora in order to exploit its resources, and to do so, part of the plan involved gaining the trust of the Na’vi.

It is worth remembering that in an interview with Time magazine, Cameron commented on the meaning of the term “Avatar” used in the film.

It is an incarnation of one of the Hindu gods taking on a flesh form. In this movie, what that means is that human technology in the future is capable of injecting human intelligence into a remotely located body, a biological body. It’s not an avatar in the sense of just existing as ones and zeros in cyberspace. It is actually a physical body. The main character, Jake, played by Sam Worthington, has his human existence and his avatar existence. It will be shown using 3D live-action photography and computer-generated imagery,” he said.

The Na’vi

The Na’Vi are humanoid aliens that inhabit the moon Pandora. So far, two tribes of these species have been presented, the Omaticaya and the Metkayina.

Known as the Earth tribe, the Omaticaya are blue-eyed, yellow-eyed beings who have long tails and are considered primitive by humans. In addition, these forest dwellers are almost 3 meters tall, and their bones are naturally reinforced with carbon fiber – in addition to having a strong bond with nature.

The Metkayina, beings presented in the second film of the franchise, are the water clan, since their biology is adapted so that they can live in the ocean and in coastal areas. They have greenish-toned skin, thicker tails with a tip that resembles an oar, fins on their arms, and green eyes.

Avatar X Na’vi

Despite sharing many similarities, there are differences that allow you to distinguish humans from Na’vi just by looking. That’s because the avatars keep some of the human traits, like eyebrows, for example. Furthermore, the main feature that distinguishes the two is that Na’vi only have four fingers, while avatars have five.

The reason for the divergent points between the two beings has already been explained by Cameron. The director said that in the Avatars, the human DNA is the part that stands out the most, so it is common for their physical aspects to be more similar to those of the natives of the land.