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The Legend of Korra: The Art of the Animated Series #4
The Legend of Korra: The Art of the Animated Series--Book Four: Balance
The final season of the beloved animated series The Legend of Korra —created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko—is revisited in all its glory with this hardcover homage, packaged in a deluxe slipcase with a commemorative lithograph, to The Legend of The Art of the Animated Series Book Four––Balance .
Released to celebrate the anniversary of the original show’s airing, this stunning book contains hundreds of art pieces created during the development of the show’s fourth and final season season, alongside creator commentary from DiMartino and Konietzko. The book is packaged in a deluxe slipcase with a commemorative lithograph, celebrating this timeless series and the legacy it continues!
Released to celebrate the anniversary of the original show’s airing, this stunning book contains hundreds of art pieces created during the development of the show’s fourth and final season season, alongside creator commentary from DiMartino and Konietzko. The book is packaged in a deluxe slipcase with a commemorative lithograph, celebrating this timeless series and the legacy it continues!
184 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2015
About the author
Michael Dante DiMartino
121 books1,549 followersMichael Dante DiMartino is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. His directing credits include the animated series King of the Hill, Family Guy, and Mission Hill. He is a co-creator of the award-winning animated Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel, The Legend of Korra. DiMartino lives in Los Angeles with his wife. The Rebel Geniuses series is his debut prose work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 2, 2015
Okay, I'm really nostalgic to last year!
Mike and Bryan drew the last panels together!!
I miss my babes but luckily I'll see them soon in the comics!!!
Mike and Bryan drew the last panels together!!
I miss my babes but luckily I'll see them soon in the comics!!!
January 30, 2025
The usual disclaimer: I'm the twisted abomination who prefers LoK to AtLA.
And I must say that volume IV of the artbooks is probably the best. I'm not sure if I'd go as far as to say the locations in book 4 were the most interesting, but damn there's a lot to unpack in here.
First of all, 'Korra, Alone' anyone?! The possibly best piece of animated media, apart from (and maybe even when counting) Arcane? Then we have some GREAT storyboards, including some of my favourite fights in the whole franchise: Korra vs Kuvira round 1 and (possibly my absolutely favourite) Suyin vs Kuvira. (A pity though we didn't get the first phase of Korra vs Kuvira round 2).
The amount of thought that went into designing the Earth Empire, it's uniforms, ranks, machines was simply stunning. This is something that needs to be read about to be appreciated. Same about the amount of thought that went into the changes to the designs of various characters, during the time skip. And the section devoted to 'the Last Stand' episode? I mean the mech-fight and Kuvira were nice and all, but Varrick's wedding? Asami and Korra in their dresses? (Especially Asami in that red dress). THAT scene?
And then they and top it by adding the Korrasami turtleduck illustration. Yes, THAT one. There's no better way to top this marvellous series (and this marvellous series of artbooks) than by adding some sweet Korrasami.
Only three gripes, though:
1) no Korra vs Kuvira, round 2 storyboard.
2) nothing about kidnapping/interrogation of Weasel Junior
3) nothing about the clip show, especially the Varrick's part of it. The last one is a crime!
Still, a great artbook. Loved, loved, LOVED it.
EDIT: I forgot the most important part! You know what this artbook has that artbooks for books 2 and 3 didn't have?
It has Korra! I know, amazing! This artbook for Legend of KORRA has actually some pics of KORRA!
Korra, Alone!
Korra returned!
Korra in a dress!
Korrasami! (yes, I did mention that, I'll never stop mentioning Korrasami)
And I must say that volume IV of the artbooks is probably the best. I'm not sure if I'd go as far as to say the locations in book 4 were the most interesting, but damn there's a lot to unpack in here.
First of all, 'Korra, Alone' anyone?! The possibly best piece of animated media, apart from (and maybe even when counting) Arcane? Then we have some GREAT storyboards, including some of my favourite fights in the whole franchise: Korra vs Kuvira round 1 and (possibly my absolutely favourite) Suyin vs Kuvira. (A pity though we didn't get the first phase of Korra vs Kuvira round 2).
The amount of thought that went into designing the Earth Empire, it's uniforms, ranks, machines was simply stunning. This is something that needs to be read about to be appreciated. Same about the amount of thought that went into the changes to the designs of various characters, during the time skip. And the section devoted to 'the Last Stand' episode? I mean the mech-fight and Kuvira were nice and all, but Varrick's wedding? Asami and Korra in their dresses? (Especially Asami in that red dress). THAT scene?
And then they and top it by adding the Korrasami turtleduck illustration. Yes, THAT one. There's no better way to top this marvellous series (and this marvellous series of artbooks) than by adding some sweet Korrasami.
Only three gripes, though:
1) no Korra vs Kuvira, round 2 storyboard.
2) nothing about kidnapping/interrogation of Weasel Junior
3) nothing about the clip show, especially the Varrick's part of it. The last one is a crime!
Still, a great artbook. Loved, loved, LOVED it.
EDIT: I forgot the most important part! You know what this artbook has that artbooks for books 2 and 3 didn't have?
It has Korra! I know, amazing! This artbook for Legend of KORRA has actually some pics of KORRA!
Korra, Alone!
Korra returned!
Korra in a dress!
Korrasami! (yes, I did mention that, I'll never stop mentioning Korrasami)
February 24, 2015
GORGEOUS ART ALL OVER, SO GORG MY EYES ARE BLEEDING. GOD BLESS BRYKE, NANQING NIU, TSENG, FILCHAK-BLACKWOLF, STUDIO REVE, STUDIO MIR, AND EACH AND EVERY ILLUSTRATOR WORKING ON THIS BOOK.
Ahem. Forgive the capslock flood.
Here's the protagonist Korra: a young woman of color, is a member of a socio-economically disadvantaged indigenous people, is canonically bi, is facing her PTSD with strength and dignity, is surrounding herself with other strong women (engineers, mothers, fighters, former criminals, chiefs, the married and the singles), and is not adhering to the popular conventions of beauty.
And all of this is on Nickelodeon.
Your move now, Disney/Pixar/you-name-it. The Avatar series is still a fake anime to me (and I'm saying this with fondness now), but LoK has raised the bar so high that if any animation studios complain about how hard it is to create female characters, they're not getting my money. Ever.
Ahem. Forgive the capslock flood.
Here's the protagonist Korra: a young woman of color, is a member of a socio-economically disadvantaged indigenous people, is canonically bi, is facing her PTSD with strength and dignity, is surrounding herself with other strong women (engineers, mothers, fighters, former criminals, chiefs, the married and the singles), and is not adhering to the popular conventions of beauty.
And all of this is on Nickelodeon.
Your move now, Disney/Pixar/you-name-it. The Avatar series is still a fake anime to me (and I'm saying this with fondness now), but LoK has raised the bar so high that if any animation studios complain about how hard it is to create female characters, they're not getting my money. Ever.
November 19, 2017
I want to thank these talented bunch of people for all the work that they've put into making this show. I cannot say it enough honestly. They've made me even happier when they made Korrasami canon at the end of the show and continued the relationship in the comic. That drawing that BK did of them in the Turtle-duck boat ride still warms my heart.
Never forget that Korra is the first main character in a cartoon that is bisexual and in a relationship which is super important. This gives such a good example to young girls who can relate themselves with Korra. It's a blessing.
So yes Avatar the Last Airbender and the Legend of Korra will always remain some of my favorite tv series and I will continue to rewatch them like 5 times a year. It has become a part of my life.
January 19, 2022
I've finished reading all four of these books, which I wouldn't consider much of an achievement, but I'm finishing up on my fourth review for these books, which is quite the achievement in my eyes. Looking back on all four of these books, I've learned a lot about not only the show and the Avatar universe in general, but also the process of making an animated TV show. Some of this stuff I'm familiar with to a degree, but even though the overall process isn't that different than with a live-action show, there are still enough differences that sets it apart. I've also just enjoyed getting to see tons of pictures of all these characters that I'm familiar with. I will admit that I was a little let down with how little Varrick there was in the second book, but at least we got a little bit more of him in this book. Honestly, if someone was to make a book compiled only of Varrick pictures I would read it.
I want to start by talking about the section of the book that talked about Toph and the Swamp, not because that part stood out to me in particular, but rather because the background art is so impressive. The trees and he plants are so detailed, and I don't even have the faintest idea how many backgrounds had to be drawn for the episodes that take place there. I just have to applaud the people who worked on those paintings because they were just that insane, and I'm a person who is easily impressed by art, but this surpassed many things I've seen, not because hose other things aren't amazing in their own ways, but because the detail on the backgrounds was just that book. In this section of the book I did really like the storyboard for the moment when Korra bent the rest of the metal poison out of her body. I remember how cool the scene was when I watched the show, but there was something about seeing that moment portrayed in such a raw way that really stood out to me.
The designs in this season were incredibly complex compared to most of the designs of the last three seasons, and although we've seen some of these complex mechanic designs at earlier moments in the show, primarily in season 1, this season had a plethora of those designs. Between the giant mecha suit, Kuvira's train, the hummingbird mechs, and all the other equipment that Kuvira's army has, there were so many machines that needed to be designed. Looking at the sketches, so much time was put into them to make them as detailed as possible, and the designers also made sure that engineering-wise everything worked. As someone who knows enough about engineering and mechanics to know how difficult designing real-life things can be, I am stunned. The designers could have easily gotten away with mechanical mistakes and no one would have probably noticed, but they still made sure everything was perfect. Most of these designs had to be created using a computer software, which couldn't have been easy either. I've seen throughout the art books how the story board would include the 3D models in the frame, and that only became more prominent in this book. There were some moments that I felt as if the choice to have 3D models in the show felt a bit jarring, and seeing the mecha suit for the first time was one of those moments, but I still thought it looked cool and it made the threat of the mecha suit feel much larger and serious. I know that many things in this season had some sort of model, and I know it must have been such a long process getting everything right, but it looked so good in the end and all that hard work payed off because this season was amazing.
I did love the ending of the book, because it highlighted the reasons I love LOK. Starting with Varrick and Zhu Li's wedding, which of COURSE I have to mention because it was so cute. I just loved seeing all these characters who I've grown to love dressed up in fun outfits. And then after that we got to see Korra and Asami together as they walk into the spirit world. It's moments like these where I can't help but feel bitter towards Nickelodeon for not allowing their relationship to be in the show. They were so sweet, and it really is a shame that their relationship could only be shown in the comics, but I'm still glad that the creators put the final scene in at the end. Even though it was something small and simple, it was still so powerful and meaningful. I also loved the little extra drawing at the end of Korra and Asami on the turtle duck boat. It was so cute and I want a giant print of it to put in my house immediately.
I had a lot of fun reading these four books, and I feel like I've learned so much from them. The art from this show is absolutely perfect, and I really liked seeing how this show that I know and love was created. Know I have to read the art book for ATLA, but I know the entire show is compressed into one book, rather than having one book per season, so I know it won't be nearly as in depth as the LOK books are, but I'm still looking forward to it nonetheless. If it's anything like these books, I know I'm going to love it, and chances are I might love it even better than these books because it doesn't go on for so long and because in general I like ATLA better than LOK.
I want to start by talking about the section of the book that talked about Toph and the Swamp, not because that part stood out to me in particular, but rather because the background art is so impressive. The trees and he plants are so detailed, and I don't even have the faintest idea how many backgrounds had to be drawn for the episodes that take place there. I just have to applaud the people who worked on those paintings because they were just that insane, and I'm a person who is easily impressed by art, but this surpassed many things I've seen, not because hose other things aren't amazing in their own ways, but because the detail on the backgrounds was just that book. In this section of the book I did really like the storyboard for the moment when Korra bent the rest of the metal poison out of her body. I remember how cool the scene was when I watched the show, but there was something about seeing that moment portrayed in such a raw way that really stood out to me.
The designs in this season were incredibly complex compared to most of the designs of the last three seasons, and although we've seen some of these complex mechanic designs at earlier moments in the show, primarily in season 1, this season had a plethora of those designs. Between the giant mecha suit, Kuvira's train, the hummingbird mechs, and all the other equipment that Kuvira's army has, there were so many machines that needed to be designed. Looking at the sketches, so much time was put into them to make them as detailed as possible, and the designers also made sure that engineering-wise everything worked. As someone who knows enough about engineering and mechanics to know how difficult designing real-life things can be, I am stunned. The designers could have easily gotten away with mechanical mistakes and no one would have probably noticed, but they still made sure everything was perfect. Most of these designs had to be created using a computer software, which couldn't have been easy either. I've seen throughout the art books how the story board would include the 3D models in the frame, and that only became more prominent in this book. There were some moments that I felt as if the choice to have 3D models in the show felt a bit jarring, and seeing the mecha suit for the first time was one of those moments, but I still thought it looked cool and it made the threat of the mecha suit feel much larger and serious. I know that many things in this season had some sort of model, and I know it must have been such a long process getting everything right, but it looked so good in the end and all that hard work payed off because this season was amazing.
I did love the ending of the book, because it highlighted the reasons I love LOK. Starting with Varrick and Zhu Li's wedding, which of COURSE I have to mention because it was so cute. I just loved seeing all these characters who I've grown to love dressed up in fun outfits. And then after that we got to see Korra and Asami together as they walk into the spirit world. It's moments like these where I can't help but feel bitter towards Nickelodeon for not allowing their relationship to be in the show. They were so sweet, and it really is a shame that their relationship could only be shown in the comics, but I'm still glad that the creators put the final scene in at the end. Even though it was something small and simple, it was still so powerful and meaningful. I also loved the little extra drawing at the end of Korra and Asami on the turtle duck boat. It was so cute and I want a giant print of it to put in my house immediately.
I had a lot of fun reading these four books, and I feel like I've learned so much from them. The art from this show is absolutely perfect, and I really liked seeing how this show that I know and love was created. Know I have to read the art book for ATLA, but I know the entire show is compressed into one book, rather than having one book per season, so I know it won't be nearly as in depth as the LOK books are, but I'm still looking forward to it nonetheless. If it's anything like these books, I know I'm going to love it, and chances are I might love it even better than these books because it doesn't go on for so long and because in general I like ATLA better than LOK.
February 22, 2022
It’s always fascinating to see all the work that goes into a beautiful show. I still don’t like the series’s ending much, but there’s a lot to appreciate here. This is a good read if you like Korra.
Read
November 8, 2015This art book literally read like a thriller, bizarrely, because it matched the series so closely. Even the other volumes hadn't done that; I have a new approach to art books now.
After reading this I am even more convinced Legend of Korra is a series that's going to reverberate down the years. It did a lot of things and explored a lot of subjects that most series don't.
After reading this I am even more convinced Legend of Korra is a series that's going to reverberate down the years. It did a lot of things and explored a lot of subjects that most series don't.
September 18, 2015
It gives an insight on how it was to be animating this iconic series. I just read this book trying to move on with my life, "it's hard to say goodbye, but it doesn't hurt so much when the farewell is so satisfying"
June 21, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This last art book in the Korra series covers the final season of the TV series. As in the series, we have a time-jump (of a few years) from season to season, it makes the art design even more interesting as everything has evolved - it feels more like a decade has passed rather than just a year or two. This means that there are a lot of new interesting things to look at.The layout and the art itself is as beautiful as ever - this is definitely a book you could browse and admire even if you knew nothing of the series itself. For those who did watch a long time ago, as before this works as a nice memory of the series. I love how the book is arranged in a chronological order to give you a feel of how the story progressed in the show.
My only nitpick is that this book has perhaps a bit too many pages of character designs - same character from different aspects. It's awesome of the main cast, but a bit overused for the supporting cast at times.
If you're a fan of the series, you can't go wrong with this. The art is beautiful enough to be enjoyable by anyone though, and the way it's laid out and presented is above the norm for 'Art of' books. Highly recommended. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
January 27, 2021
Just like the Avatar The Last Airbender: The Art of the Animated Series, this is what a companion book should be. This installment feature Art from Book Four: Balance. It has TONS of backstory and history from people actually involved in the making of the series. There are preliminary pencil sketches showing how the characters evolved over time and finished art which is gorgeous, especially the city designs and landscapes.
Loved the design evolution of Kuvira. I never noticed she has a mole that enhances her prettiness! Asami looks even more gorgeous this time around. Always liked Zhu Li as a character, the Kuvira uniform made her look more bad ass and less unappreciated assistant. Loved that the pose on Avatar Korra Park is similar to Aang's pose at Air bender Island. There's also a hilarious Meelo in Napoleon type renaissance painting in Page 73! The final panels of the cartoon (with Korra and Asami holding hands) made me smile, just like the creator.
Loved the design evolution of Kuvira. I never noticed she has a mole that enhances her prettiness! Asami looks even more gorgeous this time around. Always liked Zhu Li as a character, the Kuvira uniform made her look more bad ass and less unappreciated assistant. Loved that the pose on Avatar Korra Park is similar to Aang's pose at Air bender Island. There's also a hilarious Meelo in Napoleon type renaissance painting in Page 73! The final panels of the cartoon (with Korra and Asami holding hands) made me smile, just like the creator.
October 14, 2020
The "Legend of Korra" art books are great coffee-table compendiums of Avatar lore and art. Unlike the art book for "Avatar: The Last Airbender," each season here gets its own book, which means you can dig deep into the minutiae of every single setting and every character... yes, we're including ever single non-speaking extra designed for the show.
Is it excessive? Yes. Is it perhaps more than we needed? Also yes. Is it cool, and gorgeous, and a testament to how much the art design for "Korra" (and indeed the entire East-West hybridization of animation production, which essentially erased the distinction between Western animation and Japanese/Korean anime) took advantage of the ten years between "Avatar" and "Korra" production to create a visual feast.
Is it excessive? Yes. Is it perhaps more than we needed? Also yes. Is it cool, and gorgeous, and a testament to how much the art design for "Korra" (and indeed the entire East-West hybridization of animation production, which essentially erased the distinction between Western animation and Japanese/Korean anime) took advantage of the ten years between "Avatar" and "Korra" production to create a visual feast.
June 23, 2024
The fourth and final art book, for my favorite season of a great show (again, far better than AtLA in my opinion, in just about every way). This book had some good spirits, great storyboards, great character and costume illustrations, a lot of great concepting, and more. I was most impressed by the great lengths they went to for the architecture and technical details, even these fantasy robots were so intricately planned out it's amazing. And probably the most beautiful backgrounds in the show. And, most importantly: Kuvira. Great art book, and it was a great decision to read it along with my rewatch.
May 19, 2020
2020.05.19–2020.05.19
Contents
DiMartino MD, Konietzko B, & Dos Santos J (2015) Legend of Korra, The - The Art of the Animated Series Book Four - Balance
Introductions by Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and Joaquim Dos Santos
01. After All These Years
• Kuvira
• Prince Wu
02. Korra Alone
03. The Coronation
• Toph Beifong
04. The Calling
05. Enemy at the Gates
06. Battle of Zaofu
07. Reunion
08. Beyond the Wilds
09. Operation Beifong
10. Kuvira’s Gambit
11. Day of the Colossus
12. The Last Stand
13. Ancillary Art
Contents
DiMartino MD, Konietzko B, & Dos Santos J (2015) Legend of Korra, The - The Art of the Animated Series Book Four - Balance
Introductions by Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and Joaquim Dos Santos
01. After All These Years
• Kuvira
• Prince Wu
02. Korra Alone
03. The Coronation
• Toph Beifong
04. The Calling
05. Enemy at the Gates
06. Battle of Zaofu
07. Reunion
08. Beyond the Wilds
09. Operation Beifong
10. Kuvira’s Gambit
11. Day of the Colossus
12. The Last Stand
13. Ancillary Art
March 9, 2026
Another story that I think went by way too fast. Veryyyyyyyy interesting that there are official sketches of women officers for Kuivira’s army…yet those who worked on the background of scenes actively chose to exclude them. I mean at least the head artist/creator took the blame and stated his oversight of not double/triple checking everyone’s work, but the sting of boys purposely doing that slight is still irksome. Nonetheless, a good wrap up on the final season’s creation.
January 26, 2021
Hard to believe I am not only done all the shows, I am done the books too! 😭
As with the others, this was great and loved seeing the art but there wasn’t much background on storylines or commentary as I was hoping for (esp. re: Korra and Asami, was hoping they would add a little more there).
But gorgeous art nonetheless!!
As with the others, this was great and loved seeing the art but there wasn’t much background on storylines or commentary as I was hoping for (esp. re: Korra and Asami, was hoping they would add a little more there).
But gorgeous art nonetheless!!
June 3, 2020
I really enjoyed seeing the thought and design behind everyone growing 3 years older. Also loved the last few pages about K and A.
I think I just wanted even more text about the designs and thought process and not just what felt like a caption.
Still very cool though.
I think I just wanted even more text about the designs and thought process and not just what felt like a caption.
Still very cool though.
April 26, 2023
It is amazing to see the evolution of artwork for the series. This book contains not only initial sketches but full-on progressions of the artwork. As someone with no artistic ability it's almost magic to me how someone can conjure from their minds these images and turn them into reality.
January 20, 2018
Beautiful beautiful beautiful
August 2, 2018
So much story bord art! Lobed it all and they blueprints from the hummingbird!
November 13, 2018
Having learned about the show and the behind the scenes, different art style and designs, this does make want to watch the show. Show does look good and interesting. Might watch it.
January 17, 2021
Ah... seeing the last pages just makes me cry. I love this show so much! And the art is just so beautiful.
January 4, 2026
korra book 4, my beloved
August 19, 2026
The extra Korrasami art pushed it to 5 stars for me
February 6, 2017
Amazing!!!
August 31, 2018
The attention to detail cannot be overlooked. The quality of the art from concepts to final animation is out of this world. It’s evident especially in the series four finale which is still, to this day, groundbreaking and a standing example of what animation can be and do.
I’m eternally grateful to MDD and BK for creating this beautiful world that continues to bring me joy and inspire me year after year. ✧
5 stars
I’m eternally grateful to MDD and BK for creating this beautiful world that continues to bring me joy and inspire me year after year. ✧
5 stars
April 16, 2015
This was just amazing. I was never disappointed with what the Avatar team has made. In terms of the tv shows, comics and the art of the animated series books. It is so nice to see it through the perspective of the creators.
5/5 stars. I must get this book soon so I can add it to my collection.
5/5 stars. I must get this book soon so I can add it to my collection.
December 28, 2014
Another fantastic beautiful book. Only thing was they missed an episode out in the book and there were a couple of things i thought they should of included.
March 28, 2015
Good ending
September 10, 2016
it is good
September 25, 2016
Canon Korrasami fanart at the end fy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews