I believe that Azula learned to Bend blue fire simply by improvisation and sheer skill.?? Iroh came up with his lightning moves in the same way, and Zuko came up with fighting with jets of fire shooting out of his fists, in much the same way I imaging someone with two double-edged knives might fight.?? It's all skill and creativity.?? Ooh, and Aang made up the Air Scooter.

@Lachlaan:?? I don't think there's anything I disagree with in your statements.?? Had to read through quite a bit of posts.?? In fact, I think you are saying pretty much what I have been saying.?? My words have just been lost in larger and larger arguments.?? You are also making the same mistake I make in arguing dumbTVnut.?? You are assuming that the writers are using basic storytelling and using real world physics as much as possible to create a sense of connection with the audience.?? You are also using basic logic and observation skills to make your theories.?? The original question was why didn't Azula's blue fire melt the shields of the Kyoshi warriors.?? My response was short and simple: it takes sustained heat to melt metal.?? But all answers will be wrong because this is a cartoon.?? Regardless of any proof, all answers will always be wrong because of that.?? Cartoons do not have any laws of nature or science, though there are practices that remain constant within the continuity of the cartoon.?? Looney Tunes Adventures was almost the kids learning the cartoon physics of the Looney Tunes world.

Yes, Azula's fire could be because she is a girl.?? If it weren't for the fact that we see her bending red fire in Zuko Alone.?? Maybe it's because she hit puberty.?? Maybe she's an alien.?? Hey, maybe she has some airbender in her.?? Until science found out about microscopic organisms, society thought that sicknesses were because of demons, witchcraft, or leading a sinful life.?? The saying goes that you should write from what you know.?? The writers know real world physics, so they are using that.?? Until something occurs within canon to change the observation that a great deal of real world science applies to that world, we can assume that real world science does apply.?? That is part of the Scientific Method, the backbone of scientific discovery.?? But, it won't matter.?? Because the only argument that matters is that it's a cartoon, so even canon doesn't prove anything if it goes against what you want to believe.?? It's all just ink, paint, and celluloid.?? It's not like there's a story involved anywhere in the process.?? I mean, what's the point of having a Continuity Supervisor.?? Obviously, that person is just a waste of money.

Even though that this is a cartoon they do use real world physics, most Anime shows use real world physics with their own creative twists to them, i mean we know that there are physics in the show because of gravity, which Aang laughs at. So if we know there is a connection with Avatar world and our world, then there must be more. If it was like a looney tunes cartoon, where they constantly defy laws of physics, then you wouldn't be watching it because it wouldn't make sense. Also we know that bending is not magic it's an ancient art practiced throughout the ages, so there must be some element of truths in the show, otherwise they could have just said that bending is magic. They do this because even though this show is a cartoon, they try to make it as realistic as possible, as JonathonWolf said, this is so maybe people might believe this can come true and it can be real, which is what intrigues most viewers.

Well that information is incorrect as i have the episode.

Just to make it clearer, here're some more pictures. If you can't tell the difference, you're blind.....oh, and, if you notice during the show, when Azula makes lightning it makes a sort of static-y sound, when she makes blue fire it makes the regular fire sound.....

I'm not sure if Iroh can actually control Blue Lightning like Azula can ... so much as he can redirect it ..... I haven't seen him actually do it without it happening to him first yet.??

that??reminds me of when I spilled blue raspberry??kool-aid on someone...

Lightning zaps people. Fire burns people. Firebenders somehow can bend both. (Even though lightning has nothing to do with fire scientifically) Maybe we should call them fire/static discharge benders.
Lightning is electron overload inside of atoms jumping to atoms in need of electrons. Fire is oxygen atoms reacting with burnible substances in a process called combustion. I'm not quite sure how if you get good at one you are able to do the other.
So like some of the original posts in this topic, it makes no sense.
Blue flame on the other hand makes perfect sense.

I think all the Elemental Benders have little Special Subdivisions where they can do things that average benders of the corresponding tribe can't do ... Some water benders can HEAL and Control Plantlife

Some Fire Benders Can Control Lightening

Some Earthbenders can Bend Sand instead of Rock

i think it's actually lightning she bends instead of super hot fire like y'all said. Iroh actually siad in one of the episodes that she bends lightning.