Joshua Izzo - Avatar The Way of Water The Visual Dictionary

IN MY CAREER, Ive been fortunate to have worked with some of the best and brightest filmmakers. Ive portrayed characters from the distant past to the far-flung future and in all that time, one of the elements that creates and helps build an immersive performance for me is the world built by the filmmaker. A tangible, and sometimes intangible, universe is created through props and costumes, sets (both digital and practical), and with characters and creatures and all of the bits and pieces that go into making the fantastic and fictional real .

In all of my time performing, I can say that no one that Ive worked with has ever created a more real world than James Cameron, and this book is a testament to the universe hes created.

Through the talents of his massively skilled art department and the craftspeople at Wt Workshop, Jim has populated Pandora with wholly believable cultures that could be featured in the pages of published magazines such as National Geographic . Every detail of this world has been crafted with a sensibility of what Jim refers to as science-fact, not science-fiction. The result is a reality of believability in everything on screen.

Having now been a part of multiple Avatar films, I know first-hand the exacting level of detail that Jim instills in everything thats seen on screen. He illustrates his boundless imagination and creativity at every turn. Im constantly amazed at the new characters, diversity of Navi cultures, uniqueness of the flora and fauna, and overall beauty of Pandora that Jim is able to create.

This book showcases only a glimpse into the world of Avatar . The journey that I started as Dr. Grace Augustine has now become the journey of her daughter, Kiri. By revealing designs and details of just how incredibly rich and deep the world of Pandora can truly be, this book allows you to go on your own journey to Pandora.

This is only the beginning.

SIGOURNEY WEAVER

Dr. Grace Augustine / Kiri

THE FIFTH MOON of the gas giant Polyphemus, Pandora is similar in size, atmosphere, and appearance to Earth with continents and islands surrounded by seas of a familiar blue hue. Plant life is everywhere: forests and meadows cover much of the land, and rafts of floating seaweed dot the oceans. A wide variety of animals inhabit Pandora. Most of them are six-limbed, except for the humanoid Navi. The ecology among all Pandoran creatures is delicately balanced, so Navi use the resources of their environment as efficiently as possible. This suggests a symbiotic relationship among all living things on the moon. The air is unbreathable to humans due to the excess carbon dioxide gas. But despite this, Pandora and its natural elements are of immense importance to the survival of humankind.

THE OMATIKAYA

The Omatikaya are a friendly and deeply spiritual clan of Navi that reside in a rainforest. They were the first Navi to have contact with humans on Pandora. Also known as the Blue Flute Clan, the clan are noted weavers recognized for their beautiful textiles and woven structures. They are also proud warriors and protectors of their home and way of life.

THE METKAYINA

The Metkayina are one of the sublittoral Navi cultures, known as Reef People, that live along coastal reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Their tranquil island home is protected from the wild ocean by a natural seawall. Although Metkayina history is rife with conflict and hardships, the clan has learned to live peacefully and simply in harmony with their ocean biome.

THE RDA

The Resources Development Administration (RDA) is a giant corporation with many subsidiaries that dominates all off-Earth mining and development throughout the Sol and Alpha Centauri systems. The RDA has monopoly rights to products shipped, derived, or developed from locations like Pandora. Subsidiaries include power utilities, manufacturing, defense, and pharmaceutical companies.

JAKE SULLY

Oloeyktan (chieftain) of the Omatikaya clan, Jake is known as Toruk Makto , Rider of the Last Shadow, who drove the RDA from Pandora 15 years ago.

NEYTIRI

Tsakarem (spiritual leader in training) of the Omatikaya clan, Neytiri is also one of the fiercest warriors Pandora has ever known. She was instrumental in beating the RDA.

TONOWARI

Oloeyktan of the Metkayina Clan, Tonowari oversees the well-being of his community on the reef. His clan respects him for his ideals and his ability to lead.

RONAL

Tsahk of the Metkayina Clan, Ronal is responsible for the spiritual needs of her people, but is also a warrior who is willing to put everything on the line to protect them.