Appa
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{{Infobox Avatar: The Last Airbender character|
| nationality = [[Air Nomads]]
| name = Appa
| image = [[Image:Appa-headshot.JPG|center|250px]]
| gender = Male
| hair = White (with brown arrow shaped patch of fur)
| eyes = Brown
| age = 104
| position = [[Sidekick]]
| appearance = [[The Boy in the Iceberg]]
| voice = [[Dee Bradley Baker]]
}}
'''Appa ''' is a fictional character on the [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]] [[animated television series]] ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]].'' In the show, Appa is the only known living Sky Bison, a race of animals that can naturally fly. He is voiced by [[Dee Bradley Baker]].
==Creation and conception==
In a flashback on [[Appa's Lost Days]], Appa's herd flies down to an Air Nomad Temple where Aang and other young Airbenders are waiting. Aang brings Appa an apple as a sign of friendship, which Appa accepts, sealing their bond as well as giving Appa his name, after the word apple.<ref name="Appas Lost Days">{{cite episode|title=Appa's Lost Days|url=|airdate=2006-10-12|season=2|number=16|transcripturl=|credits=Director: Giancarlo Volpe; Writer: Elizabeth Welch Ehasz|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref>
According to an interview with the artists involved with creating Avatar, found on the Avatar Season One Box Set, Appa's design was based on the [[Catbus]] from the movie [[My Neighbor Totoro]] as they found it difficult to create a six-legged [[mammal]].<ref name="DVDExtra1">{{Cite video | people = Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino | year = 2006 | title = Book 1: Water, Box Set | medium = DVD |date=2006-09-19}}</ref>
On a DVD extra segment, the show's creators, [[Michael Dante DiMartino]] and [[Bryan Konietzko]], have described Appa's appearance as a cross between a [[bison| buffalo]] and a [[manatee]].<ref name="DVDExtra1" /> Appa, like all flying bison, is covered in thick white fur with brown arrow markings that is remarked to be extremely itchy<ref name="The King Of Omashu">{{cite episode|title=The King of Omashu|url=|airdate=2005-03-18|season=1|number=5|transcripturl=|credits=Director: Anthony Lioi; Writer: John O'Bryan|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref>
and is known to shed at the end of winter.<ref name="The Chase">{{cite episode|title=The Chase|url=|airdate=2006-05-26|season=2|number=8|transcripturl=|credits=Director: Giancarlo Volpe; Writer: Joshua Hamilton|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref>
The arrows on flying bison's back have inspired the tattoos that [[Airbenders]] receive as a sign of their mastery. In recent episodes, he also wears a suit of leather and metal armor crafted for him by Sokka.<ref name="The Invasion"/>
==Plot overview==
===History===
[[Image:Appa avatar the last airbender.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Appa assisting the group in battle against the [[List of Avatar: The Last Airbender creatures#Shirshu|Shirsu]] as seen in "[[Bato of the Water Tribe]]".]]
Aang and Appa's first meeting is seen during a flashback sequence in [[Appa's Lost Days]].<ref name="Appas Lost Days" />
It is tradition with [[Air Nomads]] that each young [[Airbender]] is given a [[List of Avatar: The Last Airbender creatures#flying bison|flying bison]] calf once they come of age to be the Airbender's life-long animal companion.
Almost immediately, the two became friends and would remain close, Appa being the one thing from Aang's home that Aang took with him when he fled the Southern Air Temple.<ref name="The Storm">{{cite episode|title=The Storm|url=|airdate=2005-06-03|season=1|number=12|transcripturl=|credits=Director: Lauren MacMullan; Writer: Aaron Ehasz|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref>
In fact, their bond is so deep they appear to share some form of energy bond, as revealed by [[Guru Pathik]].<ref name="Appas Lost Days" />
Aforementioned, Appa was stuck in suspended animation along with Aang for 100 years until their discovery by [[Katara]] and [[Sokka]].<ref name="The Boy In The Iceberg">{{cite episode|title=The Boy in the Iceberg|url=|airdate=2005-02-21|season=1|number=1|transcripturl=|credits=Director: Dave Filoni; Writers: Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref>
Since then, Appa has been the group's main form of transportation in their quest, as well as occasionally assisting in battle.<ref name="Bato Of The Water Tribe">{{cite episode|title=Bato of the Water Tribe|url=|airdate=2005-10-07|season=1|number=15|transcripturl=|credits=Director: Giancarlo Volpe; Writer: Ian Wilcox|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref>
In "[[The Library]]" Appa was a consistent part of the group throughout the series until his capture by the Sandbenders.<ref name="The Library">{{cite episode|title=The Library|url=|airdate=2006-06-14|season=2|number=10|transcripturl=|credits=Director: Giancarlo Volpe; Writer: John O'Bryan|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref>
However, Appa has been returned to group as of the Season 2 episode [[Lake Laogai]].<ref name="Lake Laogai">{{cite episode|title=Lake Laogai|url=|airdate=2006-11-03|season=2|number=17|transcripturl=|credits=Director: Lauren MacMullan; Writer: Tim Hedrick|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref>
===Lost Days===
Appa became lost for a short while, when the group was traveling in the [[Earth Kingdom]]. He was kidnapped by Sandbenders in the middle of the vast Si Wong desert, while Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Momo were trapped in a vast underground library.<ref name="The Library" /> It is later revealed that he was eventually sold to a [[Fire Nation]] circus where an animal tamer attempted to make him part of the show.<ref name="Appas Lost Days" />
Appa later escaped and journeyed throughout the [[Earth Kingdom]] until he encountered the [[Earth Kingdom#Kyoshi Island Warriors|Kyoshi Island Warriors]], who attempted to heal the various wounds he had sustained in his travels and escort him back to Aang.<ref name="Appas Lost Days" />
Appa was forced to leave after an attack by [[Azula]] and her allies, ushered away by Suki while the warriors tried to delay the three Fire Nation women.<ref name="Appas Lost Days" />
On his journey he encountered Guru Pathik at the [[Air Nomads#Eastern Air Temple|Eastern Air Temple]]. The Guru was able to tell Appa of Aang's location by reading his energy.<ref name="Appas Lost Days" />
Consequently, Appa flew to Ba Sing Se, where he was captured by Long Feng.<ref name="Appas Lost Days" />
Appa was kept in a secret location at Lake Laogai until his rescue by [[Zuko]], who was initially planning on utilizing him to capture the Avatar.<ref name="Lake Laogai" /> Appa eventually returns to the main group in the last scenes of Lake Laogai.<ref name="Lake Laogai" />
===Journey into the Fire Nation===
Appa still accompanies Aang and his group even after they enter the Fire Nation. However, in order to make sure that he does not give away Aang's identity when flying, Aang covers Appa with clouds as a disguise while in flight.<ref name="The Invasion">{{cite episode|title=The Day of Black Sun Part 1: The Invasion|url=|airdate=2007-11-23|season=3|number=10|transcripturl=|credits=Director: Giancarlo Volpe; Writer: Michael Dante DiMartino|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref>
After the invasion fails during the events of "[[Day of Black Sun]]", Appa took Aang and all of his friends out of the Fire Nation to the Western Air Temple so that the group could seek refuge.<ref name="The Western Air Temple">{{cite episode|title=The Western Air Temple|url=|airdate=2007-12-14|season=3|number=12|transcripturl=|credits=Director: Ethan Spaulding; Writers: Elizabeth Welch Ehasz, Tim Hedrick|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref>
There, he was among the first members of the group to accept Zuko as Aang's firebending teacher, as he is still grateful for Zuko freeing him in [[Ba Sing Se]].<ref name="Lake Laogai" /> He also flew Aang and Zuko to the Sun Warrior Temple in order to learn the origin of firebending.<ref name="The Firebending Masters">{{cite episode|title=The Firebending Masters|url=|airdate=2007-01-04|season=3|number=13|transcripturl=|credits=Director: Giancarlo Volpe; Writer: John O'Brien|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref>
==Personality==
Appa has been shown to be afraid of fire because of the sadistic ringmaster at the circus always whipping him with a fire whip.<ref name="Appas Lost Days">{{cite episode|title=Appa's Lost Days|url=|airdate=2006-10-12|season=2|number=16|transcripturl=|credits=Director: Giancarlo Volpe; Writer: Elizabeth Welch Ehasz|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref> He also trusts those who have been nice to him, such as all of the group he travels with. He trusts Zuko after he frees Appa from captivity.<ref name="Lake Laogai">{{cite episode|title=Lake Laogai|url=|airdate=2006-11-03|season=2|number=17|transcripturl=|credits=Director: Lauren MacMullan; Writer: Tim Hedrick|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref> He can become quite tempermental towards anyone who he thinks is a threat to himself or his friends, especially Aang.
==Abilities==
Appa possesses the ability to fly, hence the name Sky Bison. He utilizes his Airbending for this purpose; his tail appears to be the main driving force behind his bending but has shown to also be able to accomplish it with his mouth. Due to his size and mass, it takes a lot of energy for him to stay aloft. As a result, Appa cannot fly for an extended time and periodically requires stopping and resting.<ref name="The Chase" /> He has also shown to be a fairly adept swimmer as well,<ref name="The Boy In The Iceberg">{{cite episode|title=The Boy in the Iceberg|url=http://www.avatarspiritmedia.net/episode_guide.php?ep=101|airdate=2005-02-21|season=1|number=1|transcripturl=http://www.avatarspiritmedia.net/transcripts.php?ep=101|credits=Director: Dave Filoni; Writers: Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko|series=Avatar: The Last Airbender|serieslink=Avatar: The Last Airbender|network=Nickelodeon}}</ref> although he is more frequently seen flying or walking than swimming. Despite the tranquility related to his personality as well as his species, Appa has shown himself to be very capable of fighting when necessary. With his bending, Appa can create powerful gusts of air with just a flick of his tail and can gain advantage over his opponent by hovering. Being a bison, he is also naturally capable of brute strength and endurance. The best demonstration of this was in "[[Bato of the Water Tribe]]" where he endured multiple strikes from a Shirshu tongue before finally succumbing to the paralyzing venom,<ref name="Bato Of The Water Tribe" /> and "[[Appa's Lost Days]]" where he fought a rather large boarcupine, and was impaled by many painful quills.<ref name="Appas Lost Days" /> During larger battles, Appa serves as a mount for Aang. Appa and Aang are usually integral in large conflicts because their enemies rarely had effective counters to Appa's strength and maneuverability in the air. Only in the "[[Day of the Black Sun]]" was Appa's air supremacy truly challenged. During that episode, Sokka outfitted Appa with battle armor, serving to make Appa an even stronger force to be reckoned with.<ref name="The Invasion" />
==References==
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{{Avatar}}
[[Category:Avatar: The Last Airbender characters]]
[[Category:Fictional characters who can fly]]
[[Category:Fictional cryonically preserved characters]]
[[Category:Fictional bison]]
[[Category:Fictional sidekicks]]
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