The Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise takes place in a fantasy world inspired primarily by East Asian cultures. This world is made up of four nations based on the four classical elements: the Air Nomads, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Water Tribes. A fifth nation, the United Republic of Nations, is introduced in The Legend of Korra.
Series creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko drew from historical Asian cultures to develop a tone and style for the franchise's world. China is the predominant influence of the fantasy world, though various East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian and North American cultures were also incorporated.[1] Many characters in the world of Avatar have the ability to "bend", or to psychokinetically manipulate the element associated with their nationality. One individual, the Avatar, is able to bend all four elements.[2] Avatar: The Last Airbender takes place 100 years after the Fire Nation carried out a genocide against the Air Nomads.[1]