Bolin (The Legend of Korra)
Earthbending orphan turned actor and lavabender.
Bolin is a key fictional character from Nickelodeon's animated series *The Legend of Korra* (2012–2014), set in the world of *Avatar: The Last Airbender*. Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, he is voiced by P. J. Byrne. As an earthbender, Bolin can shape and move earth at will, and in the third season he gains the rare ability to create and control lava, known as lavabending.
Bolin grew up as an orphan on the streets of Republic City with his older brother, Mako, coming from a multicultural family. He befriends Avatar Korra and often serves as comic relief, taking on a role similar to Sokka from the earlier series. Though somewhat dimwitted, he has a kind heart and an enthusiastic personality that leads him to become an actor. Like Sokka, he has several romantic relationships with different young female characters.
The character was inspired by an early concept for Toph Beifong, who was originally planned as a male earthbender described as "kind of a big, not sharpest tool in the shed." When Toph became a small girl, the creators kept those ideas for Bolin. He and Mako were designed by Ryu Ki-Hyun, with early concepts including strong noses that were later dropped. As the younger brother, Bolin has a simplistic, naive worldview, contrasting with Mako's more cynical and serious nature as the provider.
Bolin and Mako live in Republic City, a modern metropolis in the United Republic, founded by Aang and Zuko after the Hundred Year War as a place for benders and non-benders from all four nations to coexist. The brothers highlight the ethnic diversity and cultural blending of the United Republic: they are the sons of an Earth Kingdom father and a Fire Nation mother, making Bolin an earthbender and Mako a firebender.
Voice actor P. J. Byrne related to Bolin, saying, "I'm a people person, I'm a peoplely people, and I think that's what my character is." Fellow voice actor David Faustino noted that Byrne, as the comic relief, had more freedom to improvise, with material kept or cut based on reception.
In the first season, Bolin initially has a crush on Korra and teaches her pro-bending tricks. To fund their team's entry into the championship, he works for the criminal underworld but is kidnapped by the Equalists and rescued by Mako and Korra.
Quick Facts
- Series
- The Legend of Korra
- First
- "A Leaf in the Wind" (2012)
- Creator
- Michael Dante DiMartino / Bryan Konietzko
- Voice
- P. J. Byrne (The Legend of Korra)
- Gender
- Male
- Occupation
- Pro-bender (seasons 1-2) · Actor (season 2) · Soldier (Season 4) · Police officer (Turf Wars)
- Significant Other
- Opal (girlfriend, Seasons 3-4) / Eska (ex-girlfriend, ex-fiancée, Season 2)
- Relatives
- Chow (paternal uncle) · LiLing (aunt) · Chow Jr. (first cousin) · Tu (first cousin) · Meng-Meng (first cousin) · Grandfamily: · Bohai (paternal grandfather) · Yin (paternal grandmother)
- Nationality
- United Republic of Nations / Earth Kingdom / Fire Nation
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Bolin and his older brother Mako were designed by Ryu Ki-Hyun. According to Bryan Konietzko, Bolin's character was inspired by the original concept of Toph Beifong, who was going to be a male character described as 'kind of a big, not sharpest tool in the shed.' When Toph's character was decided to be a smaller girl, the creators still had many ideas for the male earthbender, which they implemented into Bolin. The character went through a series of design changes; Joaquim Dos Santos originally wanted both brothers to have strong noses, but the idea was nixed. It was decided that as the younger brother, Bolin would have a somewhat simplistic and naive view of the world, while Mako would be more cynical and serious.
Bolin and Mako live in Republic City, a modern metropolis in the United Republic. According to the creators, the United Republic was founded by Aang and Zuko after the Hundred Year War as a place where benders and non-benders from all four Kingdoms could live in harmony. The two are the sons of an Earth Kingdom father and a Fire Nation mother. Because of their parents' heritages, Bolin is an earthbender and Mako is a firebender. Bolin is voiced by P. J. Byrne, who related to the character, explaining, 'I'm a people person, I'm a peoplely people, and I think that's what my character is.' Fellow voice actor David Faustino said that Byrne especially was given freedom to improvise as the comic relief.
Reader's Guide
Bolin's significance lies in his role as a bridge between the original Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, inheriting the comic relief mantle from Sokka while also showcasing the evolution of earthbending through his rare lavabending ability. His character highlights the ethnic diversity and blending of cultures in the United Republic, as he is the son of an Earth Kingdom father and a Fire Nation mother. Bolin's journey from a street orphan to a pro-bender, actor, and key member of Team Avatar reflects the series' themes of personal growth and resilience. His relationships with various female characters, including Korra, Eska, and Opal, add depth to his personality. The character's legacy is tied to his demonstration that even a dimwitted but good-hearted individual can play a crucial role in world-changing events, and his lavabending ability expanded the lore of earthbending within the Avatar universe.
Did You Know?
- Bolin is able to manipulate lava through a rare sub-ability called lavabending, revealed in the third season.
- Bolin is the son of an Earth Kingdom father and a Fire Nation mother, making him an earthbender while his brother Mako is a firebender.
- Voice actor P. J. Byrne often improvised lines for Bolin, who serves as the comic relief of the series.
More in Characters & Avatars
Elsewhere in The Legend of Korra
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