As the eldest brother, Neteyam gets them out of dangerous situations. When the RDA attacked, he and his family went into hiding under the protection of the Metkayina clan, and began learning their ways. Since Neteyam often threw his weight on his brother's side, he and Lo'ak would regularly get into trouble. Tensions rose between the brothers when Lo'ak viewed Neteyam as the "perfect son" who could do no wrong.
Neteyam died fighting in the Second Pandoran War during the skirmish at the Three Brothers, on a rescue mission with his brother to rescue Spider from the RDA. After successfully retrieving him, the three of them underwent heavy fire. Neteyam provided cover for Lo'ak and Spider, and after making sure they made it into the water safely, he followed last. However, he suffered a bullet wound and died in front of his parents, Lo'ak, Spider, and Tsireya. After the bloodbath, the clan held a water funeral and buried him with the Metkayina's ancestors.
Neteyam was born in 2155 as the firstborn son of Jake and Neytiri. His birth and life was celebrated by the entire Omatikaya clan. Jake and Neytiri welcomed their first child into the world with great emotion and love. Around the same time, his parents adopted Kiri, the daughter born from the avatar of Grace Augustine. Together, both babies performed their first connection with the family. Neytiri sang the songcord with verses dedicated to Neteyam and Kiri.
Young Neteyam learns to hunt.
When Neteyam was a few years old, his father Jake began teaching him how to hunt with a bow by catching a fish. When Neteyam succeeded, Jake was very proud of his son. Neteyam was the first of the brothers to undergo his Iknimaya ritual and bond with a mountain banshee, succeeding on the first try. He supported his younger brother, Lo'ak, as he went through his own test, who failed on the first try.
As new spaceships approached Pandora, Jake and other Na'vi began training in zero gravity. Jake allowed Neteyam to attend his last session, but he refused to fight. Later, Neteyam was received by the representative Yeyatley in the council of elders, where they tried to decide whether to attack the RDA ships. When his brothers sneaked off into the woods and disappeared during the council, Neteyam helped his parents look for them and he was the one who found them.
Neteyam found sneaking onto the spaceship.
When Jake and Neytiri talk about their upcoming plan to fight the RDA in space, they ordered Neteyam and the rest of the kids to take shelter at High Camp. Neteyam does not wish to remain at High Camp, instead wishing to fight, though Jake declines the offer. However, he sneaks on-board the space shuttle anyway, causing his parents to become displeased when they found out, Jake wanted to return his son safely to the base, but ultimately allowed him to stay and placed him in care of Akwey, the leader of the Olangi Clan.
When his parents fail to take over the bridge, Jake orders Norm Spellman to take Neteyam and flee to Wu Mingxia's shuttle. When it is time for everyone to head to the extraction point, Neteyam refuses to leave his parents behind, so Akwey and Norm follow the Na'vi boy. When Jake and Neytiri finally escape out the ship, Mingxia's shuttle arrives for the group and they re-enter Pandora's atmosphere.
Neteyam surviving the sinking.
Even though Jake is reluctant to bring Neteyam along, Neteyam follows his parents on his banshee to rescue his siblings at Hell's Gate who were imprisoned and betrayed by Nash McCosker. Although Jake considers yelling at Neteyam, he finds himself unable to scold him as Neteyam is doing exactly what he would have done, and agrees to take Neteyam along. The family becomes involved in another chase and flees into the forest. After a series of events involving a crash landing into the ocean, the group is rescued by Norm in a Samson.
When humans returned to Pandora, Neteyam assisted his parents in cutting off the supply chains to Bridgehead. Although originally assigned to be a spotter, he reluctantly followed Lo'ak who attempted to help gather weapons on the ground during a confrontation with the Sky People. In this situation, Neteyam was injured when a Kestrel Gunship arrived and shot missiles at them. Neteyam was later reprimanded by his father for not following instructions and acting as the older brother, after which his grandmother Mo'at and Kiri tend to his injuries.
Neteyam embraced by his father after fighting the Recoms.
While Neteyam and his parents were on a banshee flight together, Jake received a call from Lo'ak, his sisters and Spider that they had encountered blue soldiers in the woods, near the old Link Shack that was left abandoned after the assault on the Tree of Souls. Neteyam helped track them down, though Jake didn't want him personally involved in fighting the Recombinants. Neteyam disobeyed and killed a Recom (Zhang) who was about to shoot his mother, thereby saving her life. In turn, Jake saved him from being shot by the Recom squad. The Sully family successfully escaped, but Spider was abducted in the process.
Living with the Metkayina Clan[]
Neteyam meeting Aonung.
Knowing that Quaritch was hunting them, the Sully family migrated from their current home to coastal regions searching for protection at Awa'atlu, the main village of the Metkayina clan. Neteyam and his siblings soon befriended Tsireya, Aonung and Rotxo, young locals from the clan, who introduced them to the underwater world.
While adapting to their new environment, Neteyam defended Kiri and Lo'ak from Aonung after the Metkayina boys called them "freaks". Neteyam was able to diffuse the situation, but Lo'ak instigated a fight with Aonung and his friends, leading to Neteyam joining the fight to back his brother up. As a result, they are both scolded by their father again for disobeying his order to stay out of trouble. However, once Lo'ak left, Jake asked Neteyam how the other kids looked, to which Neteyam replied they looked a lot worse, to Jake's satisfaction.
Later, Neteyam heard from Aonung that he tricked Lo'ak into hunting beyond the reef of the village and left him there. Neteyam dragged Aonung to tell his father and was with his parents when Lo'ak was led back to the village by a tulkun. The next day, Neteyam, his siblings and their friends listen to Lo'ak explain how the tulkun called Payakan saved his life. He appears to not seem to take his brother's words that Payakan is not a murderer seriously, an even ridiculed the story, which makes Lo'ak leave.
Neteyam watches Lo'ak enter Payakan's mouth.
Later, Neteyam, Kiri and Tuktirey were taken to the most sacred place of the clan, the Cove of the Ancestors, where the Spirit Tree is found underwater and they connect with it. However, Kiri has a seizure after having a vision of her birth mother Grace Augustine. Neteyam helped her up back to the surface and took her home for help. When the tulkun returned from their migration, Neteyam joined the Metkayina and his siblings in welcoming the giant creatures on an ilu. Shortly after, Neteyam, along with Aonung, Tsireya, and Rotxo, witnessed Lo'ak bonding with Payakan.
Neteyam tries to stop his brother from warning Payakan.
When Metkayina found out that Ro'a was killed by the tulkun hunters, Neteyam with his father tried to calm them down to listen to him, having the tracking device that was embedded in the female tulkun's corpse. When Lo'ak wanted to find Payakan to warn him about the tulkun hunters, Neteyam tried to stop him. However, they ended up in a verbal quarrel, with Lo'ak pointing out Neteyam for being Jake's perfect son, then brushing off his concern and swimming away on an ilu. Neteyam and the others followed. He helped save Payakan from the whalers who just tagged him with a tracking device, intending to hunt him down and kill him. Neteyam removed the tracker and swam off with it on an ilu to lead the whalers away. He was shot at with sonar beacons, but he ultimately escaped unharmed.
Neteyam killed by the bullet wound.
Neteyam boarded the SeaDragon to help rescue Lo'ak, Tsireya, Spider, and Tuktirey after they were kidnapped. He shot at a group of human soldiers as well as the recombinants Lyle Wainfleet and Prager in order to cover for his siblings, but was shot through the chest by Wainfleet from return fire. Neteyam was pulled to safety by Lo'ak and the rest of his siblings. Jake attempted to stop his bleeding, but realized it was too late when he saw that the bullet had an exit wound. Neteyam told his family that he wanted to go home, but he soon bled out and perished.
Post-Death[]
Neteyam's water burial in the Cove of the Ancestors.
A funeral for Neteyam was held by the Metkayina clan at the Cove of the Ancestors. His mother Neytiri sang her songcord as a lament for her deceased son. His body was laid to rest at the bottom of the cove where it would be gradually devoured in a golden field of sea anemones.
A backup of Neteyam's consciousness was visited within Eywa by his parents at the Metkayina Spirit Tree. This should not be considered to be Neteyam's true self, explaining why he does not know he has died or mentions anything about the skirmish at the Three Brothers, as he connected to the Spirit Tree before the RDA attacked. Despite this, his body can still be considered as being reunited and recycled with Eywa, and the Na'vi still have a belief their spiritual essence (animus) also returns to Eywa.
Jake saw a forest where the young Neteyam was hunting a fish by himself, which he proudly showed to his father. Due to being a backed up memory,[2] Neteyam is unaware of his death and wondered why his father was weeping. Jake replied that he was simply happy to see him. They are watched from afar by Neytiri.
Personality[]
Neteyam telling Jake he will look after his siblings.
Kind, responsible and possessing strong virtue, Neteyam was the "perfect son” of the Sully family whose example the other children were to supposed to follow, as he held himself to a high standard.[3] Due to resembling the Na'vi physically (lacking eyebrows and having one less finger on each hand), Neteyam did not have to face the same insecurities that Lo'ak and Kiri had to which got to both of their self-esteems. However, he is never seen condescending the two because of their avatar/human DNA.
Inheriting a blend of Jake's and Neytiri's noble and honorable nature, Neteyam carried himself with a strong, confident demeanor and was well-liked by his clan. Even other Clan Leaders, like Akwey and Ikeyni, spoke warmly about Neteyam and praised how much he resembled his parents especially his mother Neytiri and how well he was growing.[4] Neteyam desired to be a great leader and a warrior like his father, but his age, Jake's protective nature, and his siblings' antics undermined his attempts to prove himself.[5]
Neteyam trying to make Lo'ak focus.
Neteyam took his role as the eldest son seriously, and was often tasked by his parents to keep an eye on his siblings. Jake and Neytiri viewed him as reliable and would take him on many of their missions. He strove to set a good example for them. When he was older, he was very protective of his siblings and focused more on keeping them safe than having fun with them. In moments of peace, Neteyam let himself joke, tease, and banter with his siblings, such as showing amusement at Lo'ak's poorly hidden attraction towards Tsireya.
Neteyam's memory seen within the Spirit Tree.
Neteyam never complained about the drastic changes that was hurled his way, and seemed to take everything into stride. It was only when he was dying that he showed his true feelings and voiced his wishes about returning home and living a peaceful life. When his memory is visited within the Spirit Tree, he is seen as a child sharing a proud accomplishment with his father in nature. A reasonable explanation for this is that Eywa sensed Neteyam's will to return home and experience a simpler time before the war, hence Jake and Neytiri perceive him as a carefree child within his memory.
However, he also changes to his current age briefly. He is no longer wearing any of his warrior items such as his armguards or even his cummerbund; instead he is only wearing his usual choker that he wore in the forest (instead of the warrior neckpiece he wore at the ocean), making it possible their connection to home is what he wished to share with his father, as well as define his memory.
Neteyam was a natural athlete; he is talented and excelled at all things, being nearly unmatched in hunting prowess among the other young members of the Omatikaya clan. His ikran flying was almost as adequate as his mother's. He was an expert at archery and was the youngest of the Omatikaya clan to make a clean kill on a sturmbeest hunt.[1]
Jake Sully is Neteyam's father and former clan leader.
Neteyam had a close and trusting relationship with his father, especially because Neteyam did his best to understand his father and follow orders. Jake taught him patiently and lovingly, but at the same time was demanding and strict. Neteyam tried to live up to his father and his achievements, but Jake feared for his safety and tried to protect him from threats. He had a dilemma when his son wanted to fight alongside him in a real war. Jake mourned his son's death deeply and mistook Lo'ak for him after he rescued him from drowning.
Neytiri comforts her son after being scolded by Jake.
Neytiri is the mother of Neteyam and former Tsakarem of the clan.
Though it is not shown in great detail, he is seen having a strong relationship with his mother. Neteyam shot a Recombinant aiming at his mother in the back of the head while she was trying to save his younger siblings from Quaritch. After they returned to their home, Neytiri noticed that her son was bleeding and he reassured her that he was fine, causing her to be annoyed at Jake for disciplining him instead of attending to his wounds first. They both regard each other with deep respect and honor, unified in their sense or responsibility for their family and people. After his death, Neytiri was incredibly distraught and was seen to wear his neckpiece at his funeral.
While their relationship isn’t shown in great detail, he is seen to be very protective of his sister and does not hesitate to stand up for her, when Aonung and his friends picked on her.
Neteyam supported his younger brother and sympathized with his failed Iknimaya attempts, as well as the fact that Lo'ak had five fingers and eyebrows, making him look more like a human. Neteyam also often saved him when Lo'ak encountered SecOps soldiers in the woods or got lost on the way back to the village.
Despite the sibling rivalry that can be seen, the brothers were close and have a strong bond. Although not expressed, they depend on each other to watch their backs and support them. He often throws his weight on Lo'ak's side, getting into fights or pulling him out of one. Due to Lo'ak's reckless behavior, Neteyam often takes the blame for the mess his younger brother's causes. Lo'ak harbored a bit of jealousy towards his older brother because he always seemed to win Jake's approval. When Neteyam is buried, Lo'ak can be seen reaching out towards his deceased brother.
Neteyam was protective of his younger sister, Tuk, who had a lot of respect for Neteyam who sometimes felt like a dad, and didn't see her as much of an annoyance as Lo'ak did.[6] He was carrying Tuk in the deeper water when Aonung was showing them the ilu. After the Skirmish at the Three Brothers, Tuk was weeping over her dead brother, clutching his left arm with both hands.
While their relationship isn’t shown in great detail, Spider and Neteyam are merely former childhood playmates and friends. During early childhood, they seem to be closer and then drew apart as the years progressed and Neteyam became busier with increased responsibility. After being wounded in the mag-lev assault, Spider was heard teasing Neteyam when he was being patched up by his grandmother Mo’at. Later on, even though Spider was still caught on the ship, Neteyam felt the risk was too great to bother saving him. It was only when Lo'ak insisted that Neteyam agreed to the rescue. Neteyam risked his life and perished in order to save Lo'ak and Spider from Quaritch. As Jake himself said: "A son for a son". Spider wept for Neteyam as he died as well.
Neteyam orders Aonung to stop bullying his siblings.
Aonung is Neteyam's second friend.
When Aonung met Neteyam, he ignored Neteyam's greeting and stared him down. Neteyam was seen raising his eyebrows and wagging his tail restlessly while viewing Aonung for the first time.[7] Aonung and his friend Rotxo laugh at the size of Neteyam's and Lo'ak's tail, comparing it to a baby's.
When Aonung and his friends tease Kiri and Lo’ak, Neteyam steps in and shoves Aonung to the side, earning a glare from Aonung. Neteyam asks Aonung and his friends to leave his siblings alone and to respect them. Aonung and his friends listen and back down, but just when the Sully kids turn their back, he continues to poke fun at them which causes a fight to break out.
During unseen time, Neteyam learned that Aonung had endangered Lo'ak's life in the ocean, and forcefully brought Aonung to reveal what happened to the clan. Despite the gravity of the situation.
Later on, Aonung seems to respect Neteyam's responsibilities as an older sibling and assists him when chasing after Lo'ak. Aonung is seen mourning at Neteyam's funeral.
His radio code name mentioned in The High Ground is "Pathfinder".
There is an art error in The High Ground where he is depicted having one more finger than he should, making his hand resemble a human's more than a Na'vi's. Lo'ak and Kiri are supposed to be the siblings who have human-like hands while Neteyam and Tuktirey are supposed to have Na'vi-like hands.
Neytiri can be seen clutching Neteyam's lifeless hand against her chest using both of her arms.
Neteyam's baby version that Jake presents to the Omatikaya at the beginning of The Way of Water is portrayed by Oliver Moore, the then 3-month-old son of Joel David Moore, the actor who portrayed Norm Spellman. Moore mentioned in an interview that Zoe Saldaña (mother of three sons) took care of Oliver on set and that he started crying while shooting the scene because it was his son. The scene was completed after two or three takes in a single day.[8]
During the RDA train attack some viewers have said that Neteyam's bow dissapears in one take. Neteyam's bow is on the ground. One end of the bow and the bowstring can be seen in front of Neteyam's right foot in some frames. The Na'vi that Neteyam collided with can also be seen walking to the right of the frame.
Jake wears and uses Neteyam's knife when the rest of his family escape from the SeaDragon's sinking.
Neytiri wearing Neteyam's neckpiece.
Neytiri can be seen wearing his neckpiece at his funeral.
In the original script, Neteyam is shown to be much more angry at Lo'ak's failings, calling him a "douche". There was an extra scene of Neteyam following Lo'ak around. Neteyam says, "You think I like babysitting you? I’m just trying to keep your dumb ass out of trouble!" Tsireya then appears and tells Neteyam she will watch out for Lo'ak.
Other[]
Neteyam on The Battle of Pandora.
On the Avatar: The Battle for Pandora pinball machine, Neteyam is the only Sully family member not facing the viewer. He is also the furthest from the family, possibly as a subtle representation him being deceased.
Concept art of Neteyam's songcord mentions one of the beads symbolizes Spider's unofficial adoption, but Joshua Izzo said concept art should not be viewed as canon.
There is a popular belief among viewers that Neteyam was conceived during the first film, when Jake and Neytiri mated at the Tree of Voices, although it is unclear if this is true. If it is true, then Neteyam's date of conception would be August 18, 2154.
His bow is made from wood of the Hometree that fell in the first film.[1]
Neteyam crafted his own neckpiece which is stylized after the classic neckpieces that the legendary warriors of his clan would wear, including Tsu'tey.[1] Making one's own clothing or being given clothing by loved ones is very important to the Na'vi, meaning their clothing and accessories are very symbolic.[9]
He is the only one of Sully children (excluding Spider) to call Neytiri “Mother” while his brother and two sisters called her "Mom" or "Mama".
Neteyam is the only Sully child never seen being captured in any of his appearances.
There appears to be an error in Avatar: The Way of Water: The Visual Dictionary. While it correctly lists his height at 8' 2", it incorrectly lists this height as 262 cm instead of 249 cm which would be Neytiri's height. However, he is noticeably shorter than his mother in the family photo.
Neteyam and Aonung became an extremely popular fan pairing soon after The Way of Water was released, causing the two characters to be adopted by LGBT+ Avatar fans.[10][11][12] This is to the degree that they have thousands of fanarts, "Aonunete" has over 160 million TikTok views and the pairing has just as much fanfiction as Jake and Neytiri on the site Archive of Our Own.
The character of Neteyem is called, referred by, and alluded to by other terms, such as: Our little one(s) (by Jake), Child(ren) (by Neytiri and Jake), Freak(s) (by Aonung), and Perfect son (by Lo'ak).
„No way, Dad would skin us.“- Insisting to Lo'ak not to join the battlefield.
„Mother, it’s–it’s fine.“- Neteyam to his mother Neytiri regarding his father Jake scolding him instead of tending to his wounds.
„But Dad, I'm a warrior like you, I'm supposed to fight! ...Yes, sir...“
„You heard what she said. Leave them alone. Back off. Now. Smart choice, and from now on, I need you to respect my sister.“- Neteyam when defending Kiri from Aonung.
„Worse... a lot worse.“- When Jake asks how the other kids look.
„Listen to my father, he speaks the truth!“
„No, you've got to keep your skxawng ass here!“- To Lo'ak.
„Bro, why you always have to make things so hard?“- To Lo'ak.
„Oh, he's your brother? No, I'm your brother!“- To Lo'ak regarding Payakan.
„Who's the mighty warrior? Come on, say it.“- While saving Lo'ak.
„I want to go home... Dad... I...“- Final words while alive.
„What is it Dad?, Why are you crying?“- As a spirit to Jake.
„Well, I'm happy to see you, too.“- As a spirit to Jake.
