Tenzin (The Legend of Korra)

Lore & Background

Tenzin is the youngest of three children born to Aang and Katara. He was taught the traditions and customs of the Air Nomads by his father, eventually earning the traditional Air Nomad tattoos. After Korra was revealed as the new Avatar, Tenzin, along with Sokka, Zuko, and Tonraq, thwarted an attempt to kidnap her led by Zaheer. Tenzin and Tonraq then moved Korra to a compound at the Southern Water Tribe for safety.

Tenzin had a longstanding friendship and romantic relationship with Lin Beifong, which ended partly because Tenzin wanted children while Lin did not. He later married Pema, an acolyte of the Air Nation, and they had four children: Jinora, Ikki, Meelo, and Rohan. In contrast to his father Aang and his siblings Bumi and Kya, Tenzin is described as stern, serious, prideful, and traditionalist, though he occasionally shows humor and openness to breaking tradition.

Throughout The Legend of Korra, Tenzin trains Korra in airbending and spiritual matters. Their relationship faces strains, particularly when Korra temporarily replaces him with her uncle Unalaq as spiritual mentor. Tenzin later encounters his father's spirit in the Spirit World, where Aang encourages him to be himself. After the rebirth of the Air Nation, Tenzin works to recruit new airbenders and rebuild Air Nomad culture.

Reader's Guide

Tenzin serves as a crucial link between The Legend of Korra and its predecessor, Avatar: The Last Airbender, as the son of Aang and Katara. His role as Korra's mentor drew comparisons to Iroh's relationship with Zuko and Luke Skywalker's relationship with Yoda. Tenzin's character embodies the weight of legacy, struggling to live up to his father's example while forging his own path. His journey from a stern traditionalist to someone who learns to be himself reflects a central theme of the series. The character received generally positive critical reception, and his near-fatal beating in the third season's finale led some fans to believe he had died, though series creators stated they never considered killing the character. Tenzin's efforts to rebuild the Air Nation and his role in guiding Korra through spiritual and physical challenges cement his importance in the Avatar world.

Did You Know?

• Tenzin is voiced by J. K. Simmons.
• Tenzin's siblings Kya and Bumi were originally intended to be airbenders, but Kya was later reworked as a waterbender and Bumi as a non-bender.
• The reigning Dalai Lama's name at the time of the series' initial production was Tenzin Gyatso, who also inspired the name of Aang's surrogate father, Monk Gyatso.
• Tenzin's design was difficult for animators to keep consistent, particularly his nose.