Similarities between Aang and Korras stories and character growths, a summary:
The obvious one:
Aang was a normal child learning how to be the chosen one, Korra was the chosen one learning how to be a normal teenager.
Lack of interaction with kids their age:
After learning they were avatars they suffered from social distancing and loneliness (Aang was rejected by the other kids, Korra was forced to stay isolated from the world by the orders of the white lotus)
Techers and mentors:
Both of their spiritual mentors were air nomads named after the 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso)
Disappearing:
Aang started to feel the pressure of being the avatar and ran away with Appa, disappearing for a 100 years. Korra was close to death and during her recovery she felt the pressure of being the avatar, causing her to disappear for 3 years.
They’re literally yin and yang:
Physical traits: “Yin-type people (Aang) tend to be more slender, softer and smaller while Yang-type people (Korra) tend to be more muscular, stronger and bigger”
Personality traits: “Yin types (Aang) tend to be more passive, shy, timid, caring, sensitive, and quiet, while Yang types (Korra) tend to be more aggressive, active, outgoing, ambitious and goal-oriented.”
Wanting to be the avatar:
Aang started his journey with “ive never wanted to be the avatar”, almost died in avatar state and the first thing he wanted to do was go to the fire nation and ‘fulfill his duty as the avatar’. Korra started her journey with “all I’ve ever wanted was to be the avatar”, almost died in avatar state and after her physical recovery the last thing she wanted to do was fulfill her duties as the avatar.
Spiritual vs Physical:
Aangs training only focused on the spiritual part of being the avatar and Korras training only focused on the physical (bending). They each had trouble with the other one (Aang with earthbending and firebending, Korra with meditating, connecting with past avatars, etc).
Spiritual vs Physical pt. 2:
Not only did they eventually master both and find balance, they became pretty damn incredible at the part they struggled with (Aang discovered how to take away peoples bending and Korra was able to speak to raava and bend spirits).
Becoming similar:
Each of their character growths were about becoming more of the other: Aang needed to go from compassionate, delicate, humble to headstrong, assertive, confident and Korra needed to go from arrogant, impulsive, stubborn to caring, patient, responsible.
Legacies:
They’ve changed the world more in the short time of their shows and comics (only a few years) than most avatars did in entire lifetimes.
But even after all those comparisons and similarities it’s important to remember they are different characters from different shows and you don’t need to compare them all the time or expect the same of them. You can and should just enjoy both!
