BIONICLE
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BIONICLE was a series of buildable construction toys sold by LEGO with a storyline to promote them. It is noteworthy for being one of LEGO's most successful themes in the company's history. The name "BIONICLE" is short for Biological Chronicle.
History
BIONICLE was first conceived by LEGO at the end of the 1990's as a plan for what was meant to be a successful, but original, line from LEGO. BIONICLE followed in the paths of previous lines such as Slizer (known as Throwbots in North America) and RoboRiders. The line was introduced as part of the TECHNIC brand, and was released on December 30, 2000 in Europe. BIONICLE quickly became a financial success, becoming the best-selling LEGO product line in 2002. Most waves featured a new line of small sets in in the first half of the year, and new canister sets (occasionally boxed sets as well) semiannually. In 2004, BIONICLE became its own brand, leaving TECHNIC behind. Advancements in construction of the BIONICLE figures occurred mainly in 2004 and 2006, during which set designs became more posable. 2010 marked the last wave of sets and the end of new story media other than the web serials.
Story
The first story in 2001 focused on the Toa Mata, six warriors washed ashore on the island of Mata Nui, who were tasked with defeating the evil Makuta and awakening the Great Spirit Mata Nui by the Matoran villagers. The first sets were introduced, representing key characters. Also prominent in the year was the Mata Nui Online Game, a game that was played as the Matoran Takua, wandering Mata Nui. The year concluded with the defeat of the evil infected Rahi, and the temporary vanquishing of Makuta. All the Toa featured unique elemental powers, and mystical Kanohi.
The next menace in 2002 was the Bohrok swarm, which rampaged across Mata Nui. After defending the island, the Toa Mata found that the swarms were controlled by the Bahrag queens. Underground, the Toa fought the Bahrag twins and imprisoned them in a Toa Seal. The Toa were then transformed into Toa Nuva by a mysterious substance known as Energized Protodermis. In early 2003, the elite Bohrok-Kal stole the Nuva's powers by taking their Nuva Symbols. As the Bohrok-Kal were about to use the symbols to free the Bahrag and re-release the Bohrok hordes, the Nuva used their combined willpower and the legendary Kanohi Mask of Time to destroy the Kal. Later that year, the Avohkii, Mask of Light was discovered by Takua. He and his friend Jaller went off to find the legendary seventh Toa that would wear it. All the while, Makuta released the evil Rahkshi, which fought and defeated the Toa Nuva. At the mystical Kini-Nui, the Rahkshi were defeated, and Takua was revealed to be Takanuva, Toa of Light. Going to Mangaia, Makuta's lair, to fight him, Takanuva emerged victorious in the defeating of Makuta, who was believed dead. He then rediscovered the underground former Matoran home, Metru Nui.
Following this, the Turaga elders revealed the ancient history of Metru Nui, and that they were Toa Metru 1,000 years ago, providing the basis for the 2004 story. Before his capture, the Toa Lhikan had given them the power to become Toa from mere Matoran. Finding the mystical Great Disks, the Metru had defeated the evil plant creature known as the Morbuzakh. However, Turaga Dume, leader of Metru Nui, declared them traitors, and they were hunted by the ruthless Vahki enforcers and the Dark Hunters. Finding and rescuing a now Turaga Lhikan, they discovered that Dume was Makuta in disguise, and he had place the Matoran into stasis spheres. Lhikan was killed, and Teridax trapped, though the Mask of Time was lost. In 2005, after discovering Mata Nui, the Metru returned, but were mutated by Visorak, a spider-like species controlling the city, into Toa Hordika. Meeting the wise Rahaga, the Hordika did several missions against the Visorak before their leader Vakama was coerced in joining Roodaka, the Visorak viceroy. Finding the creature Keetongu, the Hordika dueled and scattered the Visorak, while Roodaka was defeated and Makuta escaped. Keetongu then cured the Hordika, allowing them to travel to Mata Nui and wake the Matoran at the cost of their Toa Power. In the present, the Mata Nui inhabitants returned to Metru Nui.
The 2006 story picked up from where the 2003 story left off. Shortly after the population relocates to Metru Nui, the Toa Nuva are sent to Voya Nui to find the powerful Kanohi Ignika in order to save the dying Great Spirit Mata Nui. There, they find the evil Piraka have enslaved the Matoran there, aside from a six-member fighting force, and are defeated. Matoran in Toa Canisters wash on the shore, and are transformed into Toa Inika. Racing to claim the mask, the Piraka and Inika reach the Ignika's last guardian, Vezon. The Toa Inika defeat him, and Toa Matoro claims the mask, but it escapes and dives underwater. Then in the 2007 story, it goes into the undersea Pit, where the mutated Barraki warlords wrest it from the Matoran of Mahri Nui. The Inika reach the seas, and are transformed to Toa Mahri, meeting the alive Makuta in the guise of Maxilos. After retrieving the Ignika, Mata Nui dies, but Matoro sacrifices himself to save the Great Spirit. On a faraway island, new armor is given to the Nuva, and they are teleported to Karda Nui, to awaken Mata Nui in the 2008 story. Dueling Brotherhood of Makuta warriors in the skies and in the swamp to stop the corruption of the Matoran, they manage to gain access to the mystical Codrex and wake Mata Nui. The Nuva return to Metru Nui to celebrate, only to find that their universe is inside of a giant robot, which Makuta has now taken control of. Taunting the heroes, Makuta merges Mata Nui's mind with the Ignika and launches it to space.
In 2009, Mata Nui arrives on Bara Magna, a war-torn desert planet where the Agori villagers and Glatorian warriors are trying to maintain their inter-tribal dispute resolving method of gladiator fights while the evil Skrall invade. Mata Nui arrives and manages to defeat the Skrall and their leader Tuma, as well as the Agori traitor Metus. After noticing that the dwellings of the Agori form a robot, Mata Nui hatches a plan to reclaim his universe. Finding the power for the robot, he takes control of it, leading into the 2010 story. Teridax arrives, and after a great battle involving Teridax's land forces versus a Glatorian and Toa alliance, Teridax is killed. His body is abandoned in a mass exodus, the moons of Bara Magna merge with the planet to form Spherus Magna, and with the planet revitalized, Mata Nui retreats into the Ignika.
Comics
From the beginning, comics have always played a large role in telling the story of BIONICLE. They were first released alongside the LEGO Magazine in June 2001, with the main comic series continuing until March 2010, when it was cancelled. The series featured two reboots, one to start 2006, and one to start 2009. There were many other promotional comics along with these, some coming with McDonald's purchases or Lunchables boxes. The main series was later compiled into graphic novel format by Papercutz.
Books
In 2003, the book series began, chronicling 2001-2003. Late in the year, Greg Farshtey became author of the books. Books provided the main story starting in 2004, with comics moving to a supporting role. It created a more in-depth story, with more content and information. The amount of books decreased every year, until in 2010, the last book, Journey's End, was serialized in America, with the only published content being exclusive to Poland. Many other promotional guide books were released, providing supplementary information to the main story. Many were in the Polish language starting in 2006.
Movies
There were four movies released during BIONICLE's lifespan. The first, Mask of Light, dealt with the hunt for Takanuva. The second the following year dealt with the rescue of Lhikan and the revelation that Teridax was masquerading as Dume. Movie three was released in late 2005, showing the story of Vakama's temporary betrayal and Roodaka's scheming ambitions. In 2009, a final film was released, showing Mata Nui's journey on Bara Magna. Two more were at one point planned, and the basic screen treatment of the next planned movie was released online after the plans were abandoned.
BIONICLE.com
The main page of BIONICLE.com contained links to the other sections and featured the story serials and a news feed. As well, there were links to online games, product pages, and building instructions. Every half-year, BIONICLE.com would undergo a renovation.
In 2007, BIONICLEstory.com was launched for the Mahri wave of sets. It included information on the current story and allowed players to explore Mahri Nui and play Command Toa Mahri games. Three web serials were updated every two weeks on the page. It was revamped in 2008 to feature information on every year of the BIONICLE story, the plot, the location, and the characters. The characters and story part ceased updating in early 2009, but the story continued to host the web serials. After the final comic, the BIONICLE story continued only on web serials hosted on BIONICLEstory.com, eventually ceasing in 2011.
Sets
Many sets were released throughout BIONICLE's run, often with three size categories: cheaper small sets, mid-size "canister" sets, and larger, more expensive "titan" sets. Other kinds of sets released included large battle vehicles made from TECHNIC pieces, playsets made from LEGO system bricks, and smaller promotional sets released the promotions.
Combination and Alternate Models
Early on, an integral part of BIONICLE sets were the combination models. Many early sets combined or had instructions for an alternate model. Some of these models were featured heavily in story such as the Toa Kaita, while others such as the Infernavika received scattered mentions. Some were non-canon. From 2001 to 2005, building instructions for combination models and alternate models were included in most sets' instruction booklets, and additional building instructions could be found elsewhere such as the LEGO Club website or various LEGO magazines. In 2006 combination models made their last appearance in instruction manuals, although they continued to appear as occasional magazine features or online content.
See also
External links
- BIONICLE.com
- BIONICLEstory.com
- BIONICLEsector01 - HEROsector01's sister Wiki about BIONICLE
