Avatar Dream Cast
Because I believe the casting director of The Last Air Bender should be thrown off a cliff along with M. Night, I decided to make my own dream cast. I know you can't satisfy everyone, but I did my best and searched the internet for 3 hours looking for people who actually look like the characters, actors or not. Notice I haven't picked any American/European actors...because does it look like there are any American/European characters? They all look Asian to me. Although, you might have to use colored contacts and hair dye....
Let's start off with the most important character, Aang (orange column). Aang is originally an airbender (manipulates air/hence the name of the series), who also happens to be the Avatar (able to master all 4 elements: air, water, earth, fire, and is the link between the real world and spiritual world). He was trapped in an iceberg for 100 years after he ran away when he found out he was the Avatar. Katara and Sokka find and free him, which is how the series begins, and they go searching to find him a waterbending teacher.
I chose Ninomiya Kazunari because he's a lot like Aang: hasn't aged a day in a long time, is an imp, is a genius, and is small. Though, I chose his young self, because Aang is only 12 (not counting the time he was trapped in the iceberg).
Next we'll move on to Katara (blue column). Katara is from the southern water tribe, and she's also a waterbender. She's not very skilled at the beginning of the series, but she improves until she becomes very strong by the end.
I chose Genilia D'Souza, even though I don't know much about her, she just looks like a Katara.
Next is Sokka (teal column, bottom). Sokka isn't a bender, but he's a very skilled warrior and brother to Katara.
This guy is John Prats, and I don't know him at all, but he had a Sokka look about him.
Zuko (far right, bottom) is a firebender, and was prince of the fire nation until he spoke out of turn in his father's war meeting and was forced to duel his father without prior knowledge. When he found it was his father (the fire lord and a bender) he would be dueling and not the general he had spoken up against, he refused to fight and his father burned his face. He was then banished with capturing the Avatar as his only way to come back into favor with his father.
I immediately thought of Oguri Shun for this role, because I believe he would be very able to pull it off.
Azula (top left) is princess of the fire nation, sister to Zuko, who has always been gifted in fire bending. She has a terrible temper, is rather wanton, smart, and imposing. She has learned how to make blue fire and bend lightning, her father being the only other person able to do the latter. She begins her part in the series as another person chasing after the Avatar in the second season.
Kuroki Meisa was actually the one who started this who "dream cast" idea for me. I thought she would play a very good Azula, not only in looks but also on the acting side of things.
Toph (green column) is blind, but she's one strong earth bender. She left her rich family to join Aang, Sokka, and Katara on their journey because she was tired of always being protected and doted on because she's blind. She learned how to bend metal, and is the only earth bender to do so.
I chose Karina, especially after I saw this picture of her, which I think looks Toph-like:
Iroh (far right, center) is Zuko and Azula's uncle, and the fire lord's older brother. He was stripped of his right as fire lord when their father died and his younger brother took the throne. He accompanies Zuko around on his quest to find the Avatar. He's also a powerful firebender and war general, but he really just loves his tea and board games.
I had to choose Ogura Tomoaki, one because I miss him on Shukudai-kun, and two because he seems like he could pull off a tea-drinking, chess playing, fat old firebender, who is just a soft grandpa-type guy.
Suki (center, teal) is the leader of an all-female group of acrobatic warriors called the Kyoshi Warriors, named after Aang's past life, Avatar Kyoshi. She also becomes Sokka's love interest throughout the series.
I chose Inoue Mao, mostly because I wanted to see her in this list. I was originally going to pick her as Toph until I saw the picture I chose of Karina.
Admiral Zhao is from the fire nation, a fire bender, and rival to Zuko. He wants to get the Avatar first and capture Zuko so that he can get his glory.
I originally wasn't going to include Zhao in the cast picks, but then I wondered if maybe I could place Watanbe Ken somewhere. I thought he played a good general in Letters From Iwo Jima, so why couldn't he play an evil admiral?
Creds to original uploaders for their pictures m(__)m