In the Avatar movies, the Ash People and Reef People are two very different Na’vi clans shaped by their harsh home worlds on Pandora. The Ash People, also called the Mangkwan or Manuan clan, come from a dark, burned-out land reduced to ash and cinders after a big disaster. Their skin looks ghostly gray or charcoal black, fitting their grim life among charred trees, rocky ground, and caves with little food like fruits or game. They survive by being tough and fierce, led by the warrior Varang, played by Oona Chaplin, who makes them aggressive allies in battles, as shown in Avatar: Fire and Ash.
The Reef People, known as the Metkayina, live by the sea on bright reefs full of water and sea life. They have sleek bodies built for swimming, with wider arms, stronger tails, and skin in ocean blues and greens that help them blend in while riding waves on sea creatures. Unlike the Ash People’s dry, deadly world, the Reef People’s home is alive with fish and coral, so their culture focuses on harmony with the water.
These clans show how Pandora’s environments change the Na’vi in big ways, from skin color to skills. The Ash People handle fire and rock with their hardy builds, while Reef People glide through water with wide fins and breath-holding powers. In the films, starting from the forest Omatikaya in the first movie and moving to reefs in the second, the third brings in the ash-covered survivors who fight harder because their land offers no easy life. Their differences spark conflicts, like when Jake and his family meet the Mangkwan in volcanic areas, pushing the story with new rivalries and sky battles.
Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSl4s3VmxqA
https://time.com/7341098/avatar-fire-and-ash-review/
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/AvatarFireAndAsh
