Tenzin (Tibetan: བསྟན་འཛིན) is a major character in Nickelodeon's animated television series The Legend of Korra, which aired from 2012 to 2014.

The character and the series, a sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender, were created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.

Tenzin was also envisaged to carry on his father's Aang's legacy and to serve as a spiritual mentor to the new Avatar, Korra.

Tenzin was beaten profusely in the season three finale, causing some fans to believe the character had been killed, only for him to later be revealed alive.

Konietzko explained the reason the "full beatdown" was not seen was because it could not be shown and attributed fans thinking the character would die was due to the death of the Earth Queen earlier in the season.

[3] Korra left her home and moved in with Tenzin's residence on Air Temple Island, which is part of Republic City.

While she chose to remain at the South Pole, he left for the Southern Air Temple with his family and siblings, Bumi and Kya.

[19] During Harmonic Convergence (a moment where all the planets in the solar system aligned perfectly), after Tenzin learned that Raava had been destroyed, severing Korra's connection to her past lives, he helped Korra learn how to bend her own spirit and fight Unalaq, who at this point was consumed by Vaatu and became the "Dark Avatar".

Tenzin and others successfully defended Korra's body against countless evil spirits while her spiritual essence was locked in battle against the "Dark Avatar" until she returned.

[21] Tenzin along with Korra, Asami Sato, Mako, Bolin and Bumi would go on a quest to recruit the new airbenders to rebuild the Air Nation.

Initially the effort was met with limited success with only an orphan boy named Kai joining the Air Nation.

The group would soon be joined by Ikki, Meelo, Pema, Kya and other airbenders who made the lengthy trek from Air Temple Island.

Later the training would pay off as his students, led by Bumi, were able to fend off a group of earthbending rustlers who were illegally capturing the Air Bison in the area.

He announced that while Korra, who sustained serious injuries in her brutal fight with Zaheer, recuperated, the Air Nation would assist in restoring peace and balance to the world, essentially taking over the Avatar's role.

[27] Tenzin, who in effect was the political head of the Air Nation, was present at Wu's coronation ceremony when Kuvira appointed herself as the leader of the new Earth Empire.

[28] Tenzin subsequently tasked his children with a mission to locate Korra, whose whereabouts at this point were unknown, and bring her to Republic City.

The meeting was interrupted by Lin, Suyin, Zhu Li, and Bolin, the latter who informed him the existence of Kuvira's powerful cannon.

Tenzin stood by as Korra eventually managed to force Baatar Jr. to contact Kuvira to call off her attack.

[32] In the series denouement, Tenzin hosted and attended Varrick and Zhu Li's wedding ceremony on Air Temple Island.

[33] In part one of Turf Wars, Tenzin and the Air Nation help out at the evacuee camp for people whose homes were destroyed in Kuvira's assault.

"Tenzin is highly skilled in Airbending which utilizes aikido and the Chinese martial arts techniques of baguazhang and xingyiquan.

Airbending involves "smooth coiling and uncoiling actions"; dynamic footwork, throws, and open-handed techniques; and swift, evasive maneuvers designed to evoke the "intangibility and explosive power of wind".

[2] The depiction of Tenzin's struggles to establish his own identity outside of his father Aang also received positive reviews, praised as adding depth to the character.

[41] Reviewer Noel Kirkpatrick conceded that while the depiction of the relationship between the siblings was not the most interesting part of the show, it was “refreshing to see that these three middle-to late-middle-aged adults on a show aimed at kids have problems, too—problems that younger audiences can grasp and relate to, but that still ring true for older audiences who have siblings.”[42] Tenzin's stint as the teacher of the Air Nation at the Northern Air Temple drew comparisons with Hogwarts from the Harry Potter series with Tenzin being compared to both Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape.

For example, his support of the succession of King Wu to the throne of the Earth Kingdom, maintaining that nation's monarchy, drew some criticism.