If you’ve spent any time wandering the ink-stained halls of Joey Drew Studios, you’ve probably developed a soft spot for the tall, lanky wolf in the overalls. Honestly, it’s hard not to. While Bendy is the face of the franchise and Alice Angel provides the high-stakes drama, Boris the Wolf is the one who actually makes the world of Bendy and the Ink Machine feel human. Or, as human as a reanimated cartoon drawing can feel.
Most people see him as just a sidekick. A mute companion who follows Henry around in Chapter 3. But there is a lot more going on with Boris than just a love for Bacon Soup and a talent for playing the clarinet. From his tragic origins as a human studio worker named Buddy Lewek to the terrifying transformation into Brute Boris, the "Friendly Wolf" has one of the darkest arcs in the entire series.
Who Exactly Is Boris the Wolf?
Basically, Boris was designed as the Goofy to Bendy’s Mickey Mouse. In the original 1920s and 30s cartoons within the game's lore, he’s a simple-minded, gluttonous, and somewhat lazy character. He’s the guy who steals Bendy's sandwiches in shorts like Sheep Songs or outsmarts him in Haunted Hijinx by dressing up as a ghost.
But the Boris we meet in the ink realm—the one we affectionately call "Buddy Boris"—is a totally different animal.
This version of Boris isn't just a drawing. He’s a "perfect" clone created by the Ink Machine. Unlike the Ink Demon, who came out as a soulless, smiling nightmare, or the twisted versions of Alice Angel, Boris actually looks like he’s supposed to. He’s tall, he has the pie-cut eyes, and he wears those iconic overalls with the patches on the knees. But he doesn't speak. He can only growl or grunt, a trait Joey Drew told him to accept because "trying to make sense of it would only frustrate him."
The Buddy Lewek Connection
If you haven't read the novel Bendy: Dreams Come to Life by Adrienne Kress, you’re missing the biggest piece of the puzzle. The Boris we help in the game is actually Daniel "Buddy" Lewek, a young gofer who worked at the studio.
After a horrific encounter where Buddy was pulled into the ink, he was reborn as Boris. It’s a classic horror tragedy. Buddy kept his human mind for a while, even trying to write down his memories so he wouldn't forget who he was. He eventually lost that battle. The cartoon persona of "Boris the Wolf" slowly overrode his human consciousness until he became the simple, helpful companion Henry meets.
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Why Alice Angel Is Obsessed With Him
You probably remember the gut-wrenching moment at the end of Chapter 3. Just as you think you’re escaping, the elevator plummets, and "Physical Alice" (the twisted Susannah Campbell version) drags Boris away into the darkness.
Her motivation is simple and gross: she wants his "insides."
Alice is obsessed with beauty and perfection. Because Boris is a "perfect" clone, she believes harvesting his ink organs will fix her own deformed face. She’s already done this to countless other Boris clones—the morgue-like rooms in Chapter 4 are filled with their empty, rib-cracked shells. It’s a grim reminder that our Boris isn't unique in his physical form, only in his soul.
The Tragedy of Brute Boris
When Henry finally finds Boris in the ballroom of the haunted attraction, it’s too late. Alice has already "fixed" him.
The transformation into Brute Boris is one of the most effective horror moments in the game. He’s no longer the lanky friend who handed you a pipe; he’s a hulking, mindless monster with a massive chest cavity held together by bolts. His eyes are gone, replaced by empty sockets.
Killing him in that boss fight feels terrible. It’s supposed to. You aren't just fighting a monster; you're putting your only friend out of his misery.
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Boris vs. Tom: What's the Difference?
A common point of confusion for new players is the character who shows up at the end of Chapter 4 alongside Allison Angel. He looks like Boris, he acts like a wolf, but he has a mechanical arm and a much meaner attitude.
That’s Tom.
Tom is another Boris clone, but he’s possessed by the soul of Thomas Connor, the lead engineer at the studio. Here’s how they differ:
- Personality: Buddy Boris is timid and friendly. Tom is cynical, aggressive, and doesn't trust Henry at all.
- Appearance: Tom has a robotic left arm (built from a Bendy animatronic) and "angry" slanted eyes.
- Combat: While Buddy Boris hides in Little Miracle Stations, Tom carries a massive axe and isn't afraid to use it.
Essentially, Boris is the heart of the story, but Tom is the muscle.
Surviving the Dark: The Gameplay Side
If you want more of the wolf, you have to play Boris and the Dark Survival. It’s a top-down scavenger hunt that actually gives us a glimpse into how Boris survived the studio before he met Henry.
The game is surprisingly stressful. You’re constantly hunted by the Ink Demon, and you have to manage your stamina by eating Bacon Soup. It highlights just how vulnerable Boris is. He doesn't have weapons. He doesn't have magic ink powers. He just has his senses and his ability to hide.
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It also introduces "Borkis," a weird, glowing-eyed version of the wolf that appears on certain levels. The lore behind Borkis is still a bit thin, but most fans think he's just another "faulty" clone wandering the abyss.
The Legacy of the "Friendly Wolf"
Boris works as a character because he represents the innocence that Joey Drew destroyed. Every time you see a Boris clone strapped to an operating table, you’re seeing the literal "death" of a cartoon dream.
He isn't a hero in the traditional sense. He doesn't save the day. But his presence provides the emotional stakes that make you want to keep going. Without him, Bendy and the Ink Machine would just be a game about running away from ink monsters. With him, it’s a game about trying to save a friend.
What To Do Next
If you're looking to get the full Boris experience, here is how you should tackle the media:
- Read the Novel: Pick up Bendy: Dreams Come to Life. Knowing that Boris is actually a scared teenager named Buddy makes his fate in the game hit ten times harder.
- Play Dark Survival: It’s cheap and gives you a lot of environmental storytelling that the main game misses.
- Watch the Shorts: Check out the official Joey Drew Studios YouTube channel. Seeing the "jerk" version of Boris in the 1930s cartoons makes the "helpful" game version feel even more like a unique soul.
Keep your Bacon Soup close. The studio is a big place, and you're going to need it.
Next Step for Researchers: If you want to dig deeper into the technical side of the game, look into the development of Chapter 3. The Meatly (the game's creator) originally intended for Boris to have more complex AI, but they eventually scaled it back to keep him as a "loyal follower" character. This change actually helped the narrative, as it made him feel more like a vulnerable companion you needed to protect.