Mai

Origin

Mai is a child from a noble family of the Fire Nation. In her family, she was given whatever she desired just as long as she didn't act out. For the sake of her father's political career, she was required to be silent, calm, and behave as they expected. While attending Royal Fire Academy for Girls, she became friends with Princess Azula and Ty Lee. While playing at the royal palace, Mai eventually developed a crush for Azula's elder brother, Zuko; and Azula didn't hesitate to tease her.

Several years later, Mai was forced to move to the Earth Kingdom as her father was promoted to be the governor of Omashu, after it had been recently conquered during the Fire Nation's invasion.

Creation

Mai (美 (メイ), Mei) is an antagonist in the Avatar series created by Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino. Avatar: The Last Airbender first began airing on February 21, 2005 on Nickelodeon.

Her first comic appearance was in Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Lost Adventures Book 2 CH. 8 "Going Home Again". This series fills in events that happened in between episodes of the series.

Character Evolution

Mai is the kind of rich girl who’s parents are not able to support her with her best abilities. On the third book she is Zukos girlfriend. Mai is the girl who doesn’t show any feelings. On the third book of avatar Azula, Mai, Zuko, and Ty Lee go to a vacation in amber island were they attend to a generals party but later on Zuko sees that another guy flirting with Mai and gets furious and decides to throw the guy in his grandmothers precious vase and soon gets kicked out. At that moment Mai dumped Zuko. Later on they go to the beach and express their feelings to each other, soon enough Zuko explains why he is acting like he is now because of himself and tells Mai that she is the only one she cares for. After all that drama they decided to thrash the party fire nation style.

Major Story Arcs

Book 2: Earth

In present time, Mai lives in the conquered city of Omashu, with her mother, younger brother Tom-Tom, and her father. Azula comes with Ty Lee to bring her on a special mission. Mai quickly aggrees to this wanting to get out of Omashu.

She is also now dating Prince Zuko. She has also seemed a lot happier now that she's with Zuko. She hasn't shown any fighting in Book: 3. Zuko recently left to join The Gaang, and left a note for Mai.

Zuko and Sokka recently infiltrated the Boiling Rock, the prison, described by Zuko as "inescapable". After Zuko was found out to be an infiltrator, he was visited by the prison warden in his cell, Mai's uncle. Later he is taken by the guards to another room, with Mai waiting in it. She shouts angerily at him for just leaving a letter for her explaining that he'd left. A guard then comes running in saying he had been assigned to protect Mai because a riot has started, but she explains that she doesn't need protection. Zuko uses this to escape by Firebending making the guard jump in front of Mai, and he locks the two in the cell, and we then see Mai's teary eyes look at him.

When the prison guards are about to cut the line to stop Zuko and Sokka and the others from escaping, Mai takes them out, showing tremendous skill and agility, as she manages to take out at least a dozen guards with ease. She is then captured by the guards, and they take her to Azula who was watching (from on top of another gonadal after she battled the escapees with Ty Lee). The guards are told to leave, and as the two friends argue, Mai explains that her love for Zuko is greater than her fear of Azula. The two prepare to battle, but before either can throw one move, Ty Lee jabs Azula in each arm, rendering them useless for the time. But just as Ty Lee suggests they should escape, a squadron of guards arrive and restrain them. Azula tells the guards to put them somewhere where she'll never have to see them again. Somewhere where they can rot.

After this she is sent to prison and after Firelord Ozai is defeated she got out and restored her relationship with Prince Zuko who has now become the new Firelord.

The Promise

Powers & Abilities

Mai is extremely skilled in using small projectiles such as knives or arrows, which are concealed in several places by straps on her wrists and ankles. Also Mai has incredible agility and knife throwing abilities.

Other Media

Cartoon

Avatar: The Last Airbender first began airing on February 21, 2005 on Nickelodeon. It was developed at the Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, California, but the actual animation was done by three South Korean animation studios, JM Animation, DR Movie, and Moi Animation. The series was most notable for drawing inspiration from Eastern cultures in the way or art, culture, and mythology.

Mai's first cartoon appearance was in Avatar: The Last Airbender - Episode 23 "Return to Omashu", which aired on April 7, 2006. Her character is voiced by Cricket Leigh, and the Japanese dub is performed by Akina Abe.