Avatar 3, titled Avatar: Fire and Ash, introduces at least one notable new flying creature called the Nightwraith and features other airborne beings used in the film’s worldbuilding and set pieces[1][2]. The Nightwraith is highlighted in official behind-the-scenes material as a flying construct created for the movie, and trailers and featurettes show it as an important visual and action element in Fire and Ash[2][3].
What the film shows on screen and in promotional material
– The movie’s premise and promotional coverage identify new clans and conflicts that bring fresh creatures and technologies into the story, including flying mounts and airships used by Na’vi groups and newly introduced tribes[1].
– James Cameron’s production featurette and related clips focus on building the Nightwraith and emphasize its wingspan and ability to fly as a practical and visual effect element, indicating the creature is realized both visually and mechanically for the film[2][3].
– Clips released as mid‑credits or trailers show sequences of the Sully family and others boarding Windtrader ships and flying when attacked by members of the Ash Na’vi, showing that aerial combat and flying beasts or craft are central to some set pieces in the movie[1].
Types of flying creatures implied or referenced
– Nightwraith: Presented in promotional material as a large flying creature built for the film’s action and visual spectacle; the behind‑the‑scenes featurette emphasizes its full wingspan and flight[2][3].
– Windrays / Windtraders: Franchise lore and film descriptions reference winged creatures and airship systems (for example Windtrader ships and clan-specific flying animals) used by Na’vi groups to travel and fight from the air[1][4]. The Wikipedia synopsis and associated clips mention the Sully family using Windtrader ships and encountering aerial attacks, implying a menagerie of flying fauna and human-made or Na’vi-crafted flying platforms in Fire and Ash[1].
How these new creatures function in the story and production
– Story role: The new airborne elements serve narrative functions — transporting characters, enabling aerial combat, and heightening the sense of scale in the escalating conflict between clans and the returning human antagonists[1].
– Production role: The Nightwraith was built and showcased in behind‑the‑scenes videos, suggesting a mix of practical effects, puppetry, and digital work went into bringing the creature to life for dynamic on-screen sequences[2][3].
Limitations and what is not yet fully detailed
– Full biological or cultural details for new creatures like the Nightwraith are limited in public materials; trailers and featurettes emphasize spectacle rather than deep natural history or in-universe taxonomy[2][3].
– Some names and classifications (for example specific clan mounts or variations on windborne fauna) appear in fan or franchise wikis and may not be canonical prior to or beyond the film’s official release[4].
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg7VOmVL_f4
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9uf33c
https://james-camerons-avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Windray
