Avatar (2009) is where it all began for James Cameron’s legendary sci-fi action franchise, giving the world its first glimpse of the captivating Na’vi set on the lush habitable moon of Pandora. The story takes place in the year 2154 while Earth is suffering from resource exhaustion and ecological collapse. Despite being action-packed, the film explores universal themes including cross-cultural connections, imagined implications of future tech and our relationship with the natural environment.  

Wētā Workshop was tasked with concept design for multiple characters, costume and props for this blockbuster project. Our work included intricately handcrafted organic costume pieces for the Na’vi tribe, as well as specialty set props, high-tech suits, armour and weaponry for RDA forces. Many of our costume pieces were digitally modelled and scanned for the film’s visual effects, which were ground-breaking at the time.