Korra

Korra is a fictional character and the titular protagonist in Nickelodeon's animated television series The Legend of Korra. The character was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko and is voiced by Janet Varney.

Creation and conception
Korra's character was inspired by various female MMA fighters, as Bryan Konietzko is a fan of mixed martial arts. In addition, she was indirectly inspired by one of Bryan Konietzko's sisters. Korra was also designed to be an opposite of Aang, the main character of the previous show in the series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. Instead of the young, spiritual Aang, Korra is a more physical character who has trouble grasping the spiritual side of being the Avatar.

Korra's name was decided long after her character was thought of. The two creators couldn't agree to a name for her, until eventually they learned the name of an ecolodge owner's dog, Cora. The name was kept, and only changed in spelling.

History
It is revealed in the pilot that Korra is able to bend both fire and earth in addition to her native element, water, at the age of four. This proving her status as the current Avatar to the Order of the White Lotus. At the age of 17, Korra has officially mastered Firebending, Waterbending, and Earthbending, and is ready to learn Airbending from the only Airbending Master, Tenzin, much to Waterbending Master Katara's approval and the Order of the White Lotus's disapproval. The Order of the White Lotus and the elders believe that Korra "lacks restraint" and should first master the spiritual side of being the Avatar. However, Korra learns that Tenzin will not be able to stay in the Southern Water Tribe because of a conflict within Republic CIty.

Nonetheless, Korra sneaks off to Republic City, and is eventually taken in by Tenzin after a confrontation with a bending gang and Republic City's metalbending police force. She meets the Earthbender Bolin, and his Firebender brother Mako, who are a part of a Pro-Bending Team, the Fire Ferrets after sneaking out to see a pro-bending match. At first Korra was not allowed to enter the pro bending match. However, Tenzin later saw that it helped her training with air bending he allowed her. However, not long into their careers, Bolin is captured by the Equalists, led by the mysterious Amon. To save Bolin, Korra and Mako sneak into an Equalist rally, and witness Amon permanetly remove the bending of three members of a bending gang. After Bolin is saved, the three continue to practice and play Pro-Bending until the champion games. During the champion games, Equalists raid the bending arena, strip the opposing team of their bending, and destroy the playing field. Now no longer a member of the Fire Ferrets, as all Pro-Bending has ended, Korra focuses on the battle against Amon and the Equalists. However,she wants to avoid increasing tensions with peaceful non-benders, who are already being treated as criminals by Republic City.

Amon eventually declares full scale war against Republic City, captures the city council and easily defeats the Republic City police. Outmatched, Korra is forced to wait, along with Mako, Bolin, and Asami, until the united forces can send military aid. The aid does arrive, led by General Iroh II (Dante Basco). The five team up, and battle against Amon on different fronts. Iroh, Bolin, and Asami try to find and sabotage the Equalists' airfield and other bases of operation while Korra and Mako work together to infiltrate Republic City, which is under Amon's rule, and learn that Amon is actually a Bloodbender named Noatak. Korra is, thus, unable to defeat him in a straight fight, and has her bending removed by him. However, this loss of her three bending elements unlocks her Airbending ability, which allows her to catch Amon off guard and defeat him, by revealing his true nature as a Bloodbender to the public.

The conflict against Amon now over, Korra is terribly upset over the costs of the war and the loss of her bending. At the Southern Water Tribe, she runs away when she learns that Katara is unable to restore her bending. However, her bending is restored to her by the spirit of Aang, along with the previous Avatars before him. She is also given the power of Energybending. Using this, she is able to undo Amon's removal of people's bending.

Personality and characteristics
Unlike her predecessor Aang, Korra is described by her creators as "very tough, very headstrong, [and] not scared to get into a fight." Although she is talented, her stubborn and hot-headed personality prevents her from easily learning Airbending or connecting with the Spirit World. The Avatar traditionally has the greatest difficulty mastering the element most opposite of the Avatar's personality. For instance, Roku and Aang took longer to learn Waterbending and Earthbending respectively. Korra's forceful, sharp-tongued personality is contrary to the teachings of Airbending which encourage calm mindedness, free-spirituality, and evasiveness.

Her best friend is a polar bear dog named Naga, whose strength helps Korra out of many dangerous situations. Although wild polar bear dogs were originally feared and hunted by Water Tribes, Korra is the first person to ever tame one. Korra is also friends with brothers Mako (love interest) and Bolin, Asami Sato, as well as the rest of Tenzin's family.