Earthbending in Avatar: The Last Airbender is more than just the ability to control the earth and rock, it has produced many special techniques including Metalbending, Sandbending, and even Lavabending. The Earth Kingdom is one of the stronger nations, having not only survived the 100 years of Fire Nation Tyranny but thrived.
Though Avatar was the first series to create nations around the elements, many Anime have characters who can manipulate earth and earth-like substances. From wizards in Fairy Tail using earth magic to shinobi in Naruto using earth-style jutsu, there are several earthbenders that would make excellent members of the Earth Kingdom.
10 Cementos (My Hero Academia)
Cementos is both a pro hero and teacher U-A Academy. His quirk is called ‘Cement’ giving him the ability to manipulate cement-based material. His body resembles a giant block of cement with a ponytail. Cemetos’ skill and expertise would have made him an excellent teacher in the Earth Kingdom. His creativity to create stadiums and training arenas would be an asset for any school, especially with the extra durability of his cement.
9 Diane (The Seven Deadly Sins)
As a member of the Giant Clan, Diane is easily the biggest member of the Seven Deadly Sins. She possesses the power of ‘Creation’ which is enhanced with the use of her war hammer, Gideon. ‘Creation’ is exclusive to members of the Giant Clan and allows them to manipulate the earth, like Earbending in Avatar. Similar to Toph’s Earth armor, Diane is able to cover herself in a metal armor that she calls ‘Heavy Metal’ which increases her defense and strength. Both her size and earthbending abilities would have made Diane a potential god in the Avatar universe.
8 Alex Louis Armstrong (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Major Alex Louis Armstrong is a State Alchemist and officer in the Amestrian State Military. His combat alchemy has been passed down for generations which consists of two metal gauntlets marked with a transmutation circle.
The Major’s attack usually consists of him creating projectiles like stone spikes and other objects from the earth. His muscular physique and fighting prowess would make him an excellent contender in the Earth Rumble, easily defeating the likes of The Boulder and possibly even Toph herself.
7 Ōnoki (Naruto)
Similar to the four nations in Avatar, the shinobi in Naruto live in five great nations, one of which is the Land of Earth. Their leader is bestowed with the title of Tsuchikage. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, used his many years of experience and his powerful earth-style jutsu to help lead the Allied Shinobi Forces. His abilities a special attack called Dust Release that will disintegrate anything it comes in contact with on a molecular level. Ōnoki was a powerful leader and shinobi and could have been one of the greatest earthbenders in the nation, possibly joining Iroh as a member of the Order of the White Lotus.
6 Jura Neekis (Fairy Tail)
Jura is introduced as one of the Ten Wizard Saints and possess Earth Magic. His powers are extremely similar to that of an earthbender, with earth projectiles and his signature move, Iron Rock Wall, shielding him and his comrades from oncoming attacks. While there were no bald earthbenders in Avatar, it would have been interested to see Aang learn from Jura and possibly prank him by painting blue arrows on his head, arms, and feet.
5 Gaara (Naruto)
Sandbending is one of the first special Earthbending techniques introduced in Avatar. The technique is used by the Si Wong people in the Si Wong Desert. It works by bending the small pieces of earth within the sand. There is no better sand user in all of Anime than Gaara from Naruto.
Gaara was introduced as the jinchūriki of the One-Tailed, Shukaku, and later became the fifth Kazekage of the Village Hidden in the Sand. One of his most notable moves is Sand Binding Coffin, which he used against Rock Lee in the Chunin Exams. While the Sandbenders are a nomadic people, Gaara is so skilled that he most certainly would have become a legend throughout the Earth Kingdom.
4 Gajeel Redfox (Fairy Tail)
In the world of Fairy Tail, there are few wizards as strong as the Dragon Slayers, the most ferocious being, Gajeel. Gajeel was raised by the Iron Dragon, Metalicana, and after first being a foe to the guild, later joined Fairy Tail, becoming one of its strongest members. Gajeel’s magic allows him to transform parts of his body into iron poles, swords, and more. His Iron Dragon Scales even let him turn his whole body into Iron similar to Aang's rock armor. Toph invented mental bending in Avatar but later created a police force full of metal benders. Gajeel would have been a natural fit with the Republic City Police Department, possibly training under Lin Beifong as the next Chief of Police.
3 Senku Ishigami (Dr. Stone)
Dr. Stone has made of a lot of waves in the Anime community being ranked in Crunchyroll’s list of the “Top 25 best anime of the 2010’s”. The main protagonist, Senku, awakes from a 3,700-year petrified state where all of humanity was turned to stone. While Senku doesn’t have the ability to control the earth in the traditional sense, his mastery over science if just as impressive as any earthbender. He uses his knowledge of the periodic table to de-petrify his friends and creates both glass and electricity in this Stone World. Like the Earth Kingdom refugees who inhabit the Northern Air Temple, Senku, would have used his vast knowledge to create a sanctuary in the Earth Kingdom where non-benders can live, fight, and thrive right beside their earthbending neighbors.
2 Groudon (Pokémon)
Lavabending was introduced in The Legend of Korra as a special technique available to earthbenders. The two most notable users of this technique are Ghazan and Bolin but the originator of this skill was Avatar Szeto. Szeto used this technique to erupt four volcanoes simultaneously while in the Avatar State. Similarly, Avatar Kyoshi used the technique to split her peninsula from the Earth Kingdom, later being named Kyoshi Island. Introduced in Pokémon’s third generation, Groudon is a legendary Pokémon alongside Kyogre and Rayquaza who make up the weather trio. This ancient Pokémon is the guardian of the lithosphere and posses control of magma, giving him the ability to create and destroy landmass. Groudon’s ancient and elemental ability would have made him a myth throughout the Earth Kingdom, similar to that of the Lion Turtles.
1 Digmon (Digimon)
The badgermoles are considered the first earthbenders, Toph herself even learned from them. In Digimon Adventures 02, the three new DigiDestined meet their Digimon after releasing them from a Digi-Armour Egg. The youngest, Cody, is paired with Armadillomon who soon armor digivolves into Digmon. Digmon is an insect Digimon that possesses large drills all over his body allowing him to easily penetrate any earth or rock.
His moves include Gold Rush, which allows him to shoot his drills at his enemies, and Rock Cracking, where he can generate fissures in the ground. While badgermoles and Digmon may not be the same, their mastery over earth allows each to be an exceptional earthbender in their respective franchises.