Discover Where ‘Avatar’ Was Filmed (And Places It Was Inspired From)

‘Avatar’ is a popular movie. It was released on December 18, 2009 in the United States. Although released in 2009, development of this film began as early as 1994. It had an incredible cast and won many awards, specifically for the film’s gorgeous visual effects and cinematography. So where was this movie filmed? What inspired the sets of this scenic film? Follow along to discover where ‘Avatar’ was filmed and the places that inspired this film.

What is ‘Avatar’ About?

Before we dive into the filming locations of ‘Avatar,’ let’s discuss the plot and cast. Actors who starred in this movie include Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana, Michelle Rodriguez, and Stephen Lang.

‘Avatar’ is set in 2154. Within the film, Earth’s natural resources have been depleted—the Resources Development Administration mines unobtanium on Pandora. Pandora is a moon inhabited by tall blue aliens in tune with nature. To harvest the mineral, humans use avatars to explore the moon since the atmosphere is inhospitable to humans.

The main character, Jake Sully, uses the avatar in place of his sibling, who’s passed away. When attacked in the avatar suit, he’s saved by female Na’vi Neytiri. They fall in love. During this, he’s taken to Neytiri’s home and is initiated in the Hometree, which is a sacred space for the Navi and also a rich deposit of unobtanium.

The rest of the movie follows Jake as he tries to stop the mining operations and save the Hometree. The tree, though, is destroyed, and many of the Navi die. Jake reveals he’s a spy but continues to help, fighting against the Resources Development Administration. They win with the help of Pandoran Wildlife.

Discover Where ‘Avatar’ Was Filmed

‘Avatar’ was mainly filmed in New Zealand and California, although many other locations inspired the film. Motion-capture photography took 31 days at the Hughes Aircraft stage in Playa Vista. Other parts were filmed in Stone Street Studios, Wellington. Much of the film was shot using a virtual camera system and by mixing CGI with live scenes.

Places that Inspired ‘Avatar’

Although nearly the entire movie was filmed in studios using a mix of real shots and CGI, many locations inspired the stunning scenery within ‘Avatar.’ Listed below are some of the locations that inspired the film.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

If you think the large pillars of sandstones from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park are familiar, it’s likely because you’ve seen them in the film ‘Avatar.’ Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is a must-visit place if you’re ever in China. It’s the first national park in the country and has a surface area of about 11,900 acres. Within the park are so many things to see, like the pillar-like formations. You can see these formations while using the Bailong Elevator, the world’s largest outdoor elevator, and the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge. This glass bridge is an impressive 1,180 feet tall and 1,410 feet long.

Wildlife

A long list of animals call this forest home. While here, visitors may see Asiatic toads, Chinese blackbirds, black bears, common tiger butterflies, and stump-tailed macaques. If you’re lucky, you may even see rare animals like Chinese giant salamanders. They can weigh over 100 pounds!

Luminous Lagoon, Jamaica

The Luminous Lagoon in Jamaica may have also inspired the film’s shots and sets. This lagoon is one of few places to see glowing dinoflagellates. You can find this natural lagoon in Falmouth. In the second Avatar film, beautiful glowing water is shown.

Wildlife

Jamaica is a Caribbean island country with a population of around 2.7 million. Within this gorgeous and lively country are many animals, including manatees, barn owls, crabs, American crocodiles, and Jamaican iguanas.

Kauai, Hawaii

Another location that inspired the film ‘Avatar’ is Kauai, an island in Hawaii. This beautiful island is known for its gorgeous and peaceful rainforests. The surface area of Kauai is 562.3 square miles. Within this island are tall waterfalls, picturesque valleys, and winding rivers. A popular waterfall on the island is Manawaiopuna Falls. You can see these waterfalls in the film ‘Jurassic Park.’

Wildlife

Kauai is one of the best places to visit if you’re looking to see marine wildlife. While on the island, you may encounter spinner dolphins, humpback whales, common bottlenose dolphins, and short-finned pilot whales. The island is also home to many colorful bird species like Hawaiian petrels, great frigatebirds, wood sandpipers, and black noddies.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Giusparta/Shutterstock.com