Airbenders are the most peaceful of the four nations, focusing on spirituality and peace worldwide and inside oneself. While the first series is all about the last Airbender (as the title infers), the sequel series, The Legend of Korra, ends up showing the resurgence of Airbenders through both Aang’s son, Tenzin, and the benders whose abilities awaken after Harmonic Convergence.
Like all elemental users across anime, there have been many who can harness the power of the air. Like Aang, many of these characters are lighthearted and tend to take life less seriously than their counterparts. In addition to incredible power, some Airbenders have special abilities such as flying and spirit projection, which can be seen across this list of these anime Airbenders.
10 Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)
Naruto might be known as many things, like the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, the Hero of the Hidden Leaf, and possibly the most famous anime character of the last 15 years. But Naruto also has a natural affinity towards wind release, which leads to two of his most famous ninjutsu. The first is the Rasengan, which requires a ninja to add rotation, power, and containment to their wind release, becoming a spinning ball of chakra. The second is an enhanced form called a Rasenshuriken, creating a larger shuriken-shape that Naruto can throw like a spinning grenade that creates a wind vortex when it explodes. Later in the series, Naruto absorbs the other tailed beasts and gains many other chakra natures similar to the Avatar, who can learn all bending forms.
9 Wendy Marvell (Fairy Tail)
Just like benders, the Dragon Slayers in Fairy Tail possess mastery over the elements. Wendy uses Sky Dragon Slayer Magic, which she learned from Grandeeney, the Sky Dragon. Her attacks include her Sky Dragon Roar, where she blows a hurricane out of her mouth, and her Wing Attack, which sends whirlwinds of air from her arms. Like Aang’s granddaughter Jinora, Wendy is eager to grow up and take on more responsibility, but she often is seen as shy and polite compared to her more rambunctious guildmates.
8 Jin (Yu Yu Hakusho)
Jin is a sprite looking character with a horn, red hair, an Irish accent, and mastery over air and wind. Like Aang, Jin is powerful and possesses a light-hearted and upbeat personality, just looking for some fun. The wind user is introduced in the Dark Tournament Saga on Team Masho, a.k.a. the Spirit World's Shinobi. Jin’s most notable techniques are his Tornado Fists, which creates a twister around his arms and ability to fly. While Yusuke ultimately defeats Jin, the sprite certainly would have been an excellent Air Nomad, from his great power to his bubbly personality.
7 Inasa Yoarashi (My Hero Academia)
While most consider U.A. High School to have the top hero program in Japan, some like Inasa Yoarashi chose a different path. Yoarashi was actually the top-recommended student for U.A. over Todoroki. Still, after a disappointing first impression of both Todoroki and his father, Endeavor, Yoarashi decided to attend Shiketsu High School.
His quirk is called whirlwind and gives him the ability to manipulate the air around him. Yoarashi is a main focal point during the Provisional Hero License Exam Arc but sadly fails the exam due to his feud with Todoroki. He may have some maturing to do before becoming a pro-hero, but his energetic personality and code against heroes harboring hatred would make him a perfect Air Nomad.
6 Kazemon (Digimon Frontier)
Zoe Orimoto is the only female Digi-destined in the franchise's fourth season, Digimon Frontier. She possesses the Human Spirit of Wind and can spirit evolve into Kazemon, a fairy Digimon who can manipulate the air around her. Her main attacks are a whirlwind kick called Tempest Twist and tornado projectiles she can release from her fingertips called Hurricane Wave. While Aang can fly with his glider, Kazemon’s wings help her stay afloat while defeating her enemies.
5 Temari (Naruto)
Another manipulator of wind in the Ninja World of Naruto is Temari of the Sand. With her giant folding fan, she can amplify her wind release and create several gusts of wind and use it as a glider, similar to Aang’s bow-staff. While she may seem a little arrogant when she is first introduced, her relationship with the Leaf Village and Shikamaru help bring peace between the two villages after the Sand Village infiltrated the Leaf during the Chūnin Exams arc.
4 Goku (Dragon Ball)
Many anime protagonists execute the same playfulness and power as Aang, but none as recognizable as Goku. He is equipped with a red power pole similar to Aang’s Airbender staff. While Goku eventually learns to fly in Dragon Ball, he is granted his famous Flying Nimbus after saving Master Roshi’s turtle. The cloud will only work for someone pure of heart, and like Aang, Goku cares for all living creators and harbors little hatred in his heart, especially at the start of the series. Goku doesn’t have any air manipulation powers, but his purity and focus away from the material world would have made him an excellent Air Nomad.
3 Jiren (Dragon Ball Super)
In The Legend of Korra, Zaheer can master flight through Guru Laghima, who said the only way to do so was to let go of all earthly tethers. After Zaheer’s lover, P’Li, dies, he finally loses his last tether and becomes the first bender in four thousand years to fly. Jiren is the main antagonist in Dragon Ball Super’s Universe Survival Saga and has a similar arc to Zaheer.
They both have lost all earthly tethers, though, for Jiren, it wasn't his choice. He lost his parents at a young age and later his friends and teacher when they were murdered by a trailer. Despite all of this, he is the strongest fighter on Universe 11 and can head with Goku himself. There is a point in the tournament where Jiren can ignore the battle and sit in mediation while floating in the air, similar to Zaheer at the end of season three.
2 Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)
One Airbender ability introduced by Jinora, Aang’s grandaughter, is that of spiritual projection. Jinora can leave her physical body and have her spirit phase through objects and travel to distant locations in seconds. Similarly, after becoming a Substitute Shinigami, Ichigo can separate his spirit from his body. Unlike his body, his spirit form sports Shinigami attire and is equipped with his Zanpakto, Zangetsu.
1 Bouffalant (Pokémon)
Every Avatar has an animal guide like Roku and his dragon, Fang, or Korra and Naga. Aang is partnered with Appa, a sky bison, who also acts as the main form of transportation for team Avatar. The only other Bison-like character in all of anime is Bouffalant from Pokémon generation 5. Bouffalant’s pointy horns and furry bodies are similar to that of the flying bison. The Pokémon isn’t able to fly as it’s a normal-type, but just like Appa, it’s a loyal companion seen in Pokémon Black & White with Alder, the Champion of the Unova region.