Ozai facts for kids

Ozai, also known as Fire Lord Ozai or the Phoenix King, is a powerful character from the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. He is the main bad guy, called an antagonist. Ozai is the father of Azula and Zuko. He is also the younger brother of Iroh. Ozai is the biggest challenge for the hero of the series, Avatar Aang. Aang must stop Ozai to bring peace and balance back to the world. Ozai is voiced by Mark Hamill.

Ozai's Story in Avatar: The Last Airbender

Early Days and Rise to Power

Ozai first appears in a vision in the episode "Winter Solstice Part 2: Avatar Roku." In this vision, Avatar Roku explains to Aang that Ozai plans to use a special event called Sozin's Comet. This comet would make his firebending powers incredibly strong.

Later, in the episode "The Storm," we see a flashback. This flashback shows a sad story about Ozai and his son, Zuko. Ozai challenged Zuko to a duel. When Zuko refused to fight his own father, Ozai burned Zuko's face. He then sent Zuko away from the Fire Nation. Zuko was told he could only return if he captured the Avatar. This made Zuko obsessed with finding Aang.

In the episode "Zuko Alone," we learn more about Ozai's past. His father, Azulon, was the Fire Lord before him. Ozai's older brother, Iroh, had lost his son in a war. Ozai then tried to convince his father that he should become Fire Lord instead of Iroh. Ozai argued that because Iroh had no son, the royal family's bloodline would end with him. Fire Lord Azulon was very angry at this request. He ordered Ozai to make a terrible sacrifice involving Zuko. This was meant to make Ozai understand the pain Iroh felt.

Ozai's wife, Ursa, knew Ozai would do anything to become Fire Lord. She came up with a plan to save Zuko's life and help Ozai become the next Fire Lord. This plan led to the death of Fire Lord Azulon. Ursa was also sent away from the Fire Nation.

The War Continues

Ozai makes his first full appearance in the third season's first episode, "The Awakening." This happens after Azula and the Fire Nation conquer the Earth Kingdom city of Ba Sing Se. Ozai welcomes Zuko home because Azula claimed Zuko had defeated the Avatar.

During a war meeting, Zuko points out that even though the Earth Kingdom's main city was taken, they still wouldn't give up. Ozai decided the only way to completely defeat them was to use the power of Sozin's Comet. This would greatly increase the Fire Nation's power.

When the Fire Nation learns that the resistance plans to attack during a solar eclipse, Ozai moves everyone from the capital city underground. During the eclipse, Ozai comes face-to-face with Zuko. Zuko finally stands up to his father. He tells Ozai that he didn't defeat the Avatar and that he's tired of trying to earn Ozai's love. Zuko tells Ozai that what he is doing is wrong. He says the Fire Nation should live in peace with other nations, not spread fear. Ozai just laughs at this. Zuko then says he will free his Uncle Iroh and help the Avatar stop Ozai. Ozai tries to make Zuko attack him, but Zuko refuses. He says it's the Avatar's job to stop Ozai, not his. As Zuko walks away, Ozai tries to distract him by revealing what happened to Zuko's mother. When the eclipse ends, Ozai shoots lightning at Zuko. But Zuko simply redirects the lightning away.

Sozin's Comet: The Final Battle

When Sozin's Comet arrives, Ozai calls himself the Phoenix King. He declares that he is now the ruler of the entire world. He also makes his daughter Azula the new Fire Lord. While attacking the Earth Kingdom, Ozai is confronted by Avatar Aang.

Because of his super-strong powers from the comet, Ozai has an advantage. Aang also refuses to defeat Ozai by taking his life. However, Aang eventually enters the powerful Avatar State. He then uses a special ability called Energybending. This ability allows Aang to take away Ozai's firebending powers completely.

After his defeat, Ozai is put in a Fire Nation prison. Zuko visits him there. Zuko tells Ozai that maybe prison will help him change. Zuko then demands to know where his mother is.

Ozai's Personality

Ozai is a very cruel leader. He gets angry easily and shows no mercy. His harsh personality might be partly because of his difficult relationship with his own father, Azulon. Azulon always seemed to like Ozai's older brother, Iroh, more than him.

Ozai was a heartless father to Zuko. He saw Zuko as a failure. He even burned Zuko's face and sent him away. He also sent away his own wife, Ursa. He later said that he thought sending her away was too light a punishment. Ozai loves power, a trait he shares with his daughter Azula. He prefers Azula over Zuko, seeing her as a firebending genius. However, the high expectations Ozai had for Azula caused her a lot of stress. This stress eventually led to her mental breakdown at the end of the series.

Ozai's Abilities

Ozai is an extremely skilled and powerful firebender. During Sozin's Comet, he was able to fight evenly with Aang, even though Aang was a fully realized Avatar. Ozai is one of the few characters who can create lightning, along with Azula and Iroh. He is shown to be the only one who can shoot lightning from both hands at once. With his firebending, he can even propel himself through the air like a jet. When Sozin's Comet arrives, his firebending becomes even stronger. After his battle with the Avatar, Ozai's powers are taken away by Aang's Energybending.

Appearances in Other Media

Video Game

Ozai appears as a bad guy in the video game Avatar: The Last Airbender - Into the Inferno.

Film

Fire Lord Ozai appears in the live-action movie The Last Airbender. He is played by Cliff Curtis. Unlike the animated series, Ozai is a regular character in the film.List of Avatar: The Last Airbender characters#Ozai