Avatar's vivid world comes back to life at D23 ahead of sequels

Inside the World of Avatar, an exhibit at the D23 fan expo in Anaheim, California, displayed models, costumes, props and more from the 2009 film Avatar, as well as from the creation of Pandora -- The World of Avatar, a land at Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida.

The world of Avatar burst into being with the 2009 movie, but four sequels are coming, beginning in 2021. The original movie was nominated for nine Oscars, and won three -- best art direction, best visual effects, and best cinematography.

This bust of a Na'vi child was one of many used to finalize the design of the characters. The Na'vi are the species that live on Pandora, and stand 10 feet tall, with blue skin.

In the film, humans operate "avatars" of themselves to explore the planet of Pandora, whose atmosphere is poisonous to humans. This bust, of the Na'vi avatar of Dr. Norm Spellman (played by Joel David Moore), wasn't created with clay like the other busts in the exhibit. Instead, it was made with 3D model-building computer software, then printed and painted.

Here's the bust for Jake Sully's avatar. Sam Worthington plays Sully, a disabled Marine who becomes part of the Avatar program and grows close to the Na'vi.

This impressive bust is of Akwey, also known as the Horse Clan Leader.

This bust shows Eytukan, patriarch of the Omaticaya clan on Pandora. His daughter, Neytiri, develops a special relationship with Jake Sully.

Another look at Eytukan.

Neytiri, played by Zoe Saldana, teaches Jake Sully the ways of her people -- and they fall in love.

Mo'at, the mother of Neytiri and Sylwanin, is also the spiritual leader of her clan. She was portrayed by CCH Pounder.

Tsu'tey was the finest warrior of the Omaticaya clan.

This bust of Neytiri shows how large she would be relative to humans. She would stand more than 9 feet tall.

Another look at the to-scale bust of Neytiri, placed in front of a display of weapons. 

Bows, arrows and spears played an important role in the Na'vi culture.

A backpack and boots used in Avatar.

Main character Jake Sully suffered a spinal injury while fighting in Venezuela, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. But in avatar form, he didn't need a wheelchair.

Sigourney Weaver's character, Dr. Grace Augustine, is head of the Avatar program and Jake's mentor. Her notebook is on display. It shows the character's notes on Pandoran flora, and was seen in the film.

Because Pandora's air was poisonous to humans, characters wore these breathing masks in the movie. As the plaque notes, actors wore versions without glass faceplates, and those were added digitally.

A mock explosive used in the film.

One display shows an automatic rifle and machine gun that were used in the film.

James Cameron, the mastermind behind Avatar, once told Entertainment Weekly he took inspiration from "every single science fiction book I read as a kid" to create his fictional world.

Compared with the spears and other weapons of the Na'vi, human instruments of war look much more deadly.

Mobile users will soon be able to play Avatar: Pandora Rising, a game based on Cameron's Avatar world.