For example, Ba Gua employs erratic circular movements and the use of centripetal force instead of brute strength to generate power this reflects on Aang's bending styles and his tendency to be unpredictable and extremely carefree, as well as his pacifist nature. These individual styles of martial arts also reflect on the personalities of the user and the nations as a whole. Each of these employ a different form of martial arts in their fighting choreography, such as Ba Gua for Airbending, Hung Gar for Earthbending, Northern Shaolin for Firebending, and Tai Chi for Waterbending. In addition, the each character's bending element are based on the four classic elements of ancient philosophy: Water, Earth, Fire and Air. The greatest influences on the series were Asian art and history the characters' various personalities and traits were based on philosophical teachings such as Taoism and Buddhism. Studios such as Studio 4☌, Production I.G, and Studio Ghibli, which produced anime-styled cartoons, were also sources of inspiration.
The anime-styled character art was inspired by Shinichiro Watanabe's Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, and FLCL (Fooly Cooly) of Gainax. The characters of Avatar: The Last Airbender were designed by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, who are also the co-creators of the series.
