"Fire. Air. Water. Earth"
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
In the episode "The Desert," a character mentions a location called the Wan Shi Tong's library, which is described as a vast repository of knowledge. Wan Shi Tong, the spirit owl who guards it, says he has collected information for his library by having foxes bring him knowledge.
This is a clever reference to Japanese folklore. The name Wan Shi Tong can be loosely translated to "He Who Knows Ten Thousand Things." In Japanese culture, foxes (kitsune) are often depicted as intelligent beings and messengers, sometimes associated with spirits and knowledge.
The written script used throughout the series, particularly for maps and official documents, is a stylized form of classical Chinese calligraphy.
The creators employed a cultural consultant and a Chinese calligrapher, Siu-Leung Lee, to ensure authenticity. This deepens the world-building and pays homage to the primary cultural influence on the Earth Kingdom and the series as a whole.
In the episode "The Ember Island Players," the main characters watch a play that satirically recaps their entire journey.
This episode is a giant, meta-textual Easter egg that cleverly serves as a recap episode while also poking fun at the show's own tropes and fan perceptions. It addresses common fan complaints (like the pronunciation of Aang's name), parodies the characters' personalities, and even foreshadows Zuko's eventual turn to good in a humorous way.