Character Breakdown - Bolin

The two shows in the Avatar series; Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra, revolve almost every aspect of their plots and characters around the manipulation of the four 'Classical Elements'. Fire, Air, Water and Earth. Each one representing a nation and philosophical mindset in the Avatar world.

Fire, the element of power, used by the Fire Nation to overwhelm the rest of the world, committing acts of genocide and kickstarting a hundred-year war. Highly volatile and destructive, the element of fire takes an aggressive and passionate nature combined with great restraint to properly control.

Air, the element of freedom, an art almost completely lost when its wielders, the Air Nomads, were wiped out. Used almost entirely defensively it lacks any true offensive power and yet is shown to be a powerful, dynamic and unpredictable force in the right hands.

Water, the element of change, practised by some in the Northern and Southern Water Tribes, its use reflects that of water itself, being highly adaptable to any situation. Maintaining a steady flow between offensive power and defensive strength its users always have a trick up their sleeves, whether that be creating massive ice walls, forming powerful jets of water or even drawing the water itself from the surrounding environment.

Earth, the element of substance, the manipulation of which demands a special understanding of the world, the ability to take a neutral stance and look at things from entirely objective point of view, only truly achievable by those in the Earth Kingdom. Its fighting style often involves holding back and waiting for the right moment to strike before unleashing a few simple devastating attacks, able to be defensive for a long time until the user is fully ready to unleash their offensive potential.

The methodologies and ideas represented by these elements make themselves most obvious characters of the two shows. Zuko, Prince of the Fire nation, disowned and exiled, is aggressive and fuelled by his hatred of his father, his sister and himself. He focuses himself a singular goal letting it consume him as he burns a path across the Earth. When that goal is finally unobtainable his fuel runs out and he loses the ability to command the element of fire.

Korra, born of water tribe, but as the avatar she has ability to manipulate all elements and in combat constantly switches between whatever power suits the situation best. Fierce and determined, stubborn and caring, Korra is constantly changing as she receives new information about the world she lives in and the people she meets.

And then we have Bolin, an earthbender. His mother from the Fire Nation and his father of Earthen descent, both taken from them a young age with only a firebender for a brother left, Bolin represents a mix of two nations; the objective, neutral viewpoint of Earth and the passionate explosive nature of Fire.

Bolin is naive, trusting and laid-back and yet incredibly enthusiastic and outward when he needs to be, whether that be while working as a professional athlete or an actor or even during a fight. Incredibly theatrical and charismatic as a personality he knows his place as professional athlete and actor, riling up the crowd and fighting with a flourish unseen in most Earthbenders.

Bolin excels at hand-to-hand combat despite being in a world where people can shoot fire out of their hands and turn the ground to ice, he is shown to be light on his feet and bouncy in a fight like a boxer completely unlike most other earthbenders are taught to stand their ground and tough it out.

Moving massive boulders doesn't take anything other than raw strength but Bolin is shown to use his powers in a more fire like fighting style, having incredibly good aim and constantly moving while on the battlefield as well as demonstrating the reflexes needed to dodge far better fighters attacks.

He really comes into his own as a fighter however when he learns the very rare art of lavabending, taking the raw element of earth manipulating it into this fluid dangerous mess. Despite its deadly nature Bolin uses the lava in a way truly fitting of his own style, quickly manipulating between both its states in a constant flow. One moment he will go from using it to protect others with fields of dangerous terrain to suddenly flinging waves of molten rock to push back his enemies.

Bolin is a character representative of the ‘New Age' in the Avatar world, a mix between the nations who bucks the trends that have been set in place for thousands of years, carrying on the legacy laid down by the original shows protagonists.

Getting down rough character ideas, as well as face sketches

Body shape, working out the basic shapes that make up Bolin's body

My final idea sketch