BIONICLE: Difference between revisions

The name "BIONICLE" is short for '''Bio'''logical Chro'''nicle''' (A common misconception is that it stands for '''Bio'''mechanical Chro'''nicle'''. Another misconception is that the word is derived from '''Bionic''' with a '''-le''' suffix).

 

[[File:Bionicle logo.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Another version of the BIONICLE Logo]]

The [[LEGO]] Company was not doing well during the late 1990s, and decided that a LEGO theme with a storyline would appeal to children. Their first attempt to do so was the [[Star Wars]] line, which became an instant success, but the required royalty payments to Lucasfilm cost LEGO dearly. The company decided that they needed an original story, created by the LEGO group itself and made to appeal mainly to boys aged 8-12.<REF>[http://www.bzpower.com/ref.php?ID=489 The History of LEGO BIONICLE] at BZPower.com</REF>

A notable fact about the year 2002 is that the Maori people, angered at LEGO's lack of respect for some of their words, sued the LEGO Company and won.<REF>[http://biosector01.com/wiki/index.php/Matoran#Tohunga Tohunga#Matoran] at BIONICLE Sector 01 Wiki</REF> As a result, many characters' names were changed (i.e., ''Maku'' was changed to ''Macku'', ''Huki'' to ''Hewkii'', etc.). LEGO used this to bring the idea of Naming Day Ceremony, where brave Matoran recieve longer and better names, though they are still pronounced the same. Takua, who had saved all six of the villages, was not renamed, so he had his own private "ceremony" where he renamed his Ussal Crab from Puku to Pewku.

 

In early 2001 the [[Rahi]], creatures of the BIONICLE saga, were released. Each of them came in boxes and had a [[Kanohi]] mask, which could be removed. They usually came in pairs, although they were available in singular boxes too. The Rahi were able to rip off the mask of the other Rahi by using one of its attacks, [[8549 Tarakava]] by boxing with its long arms or [[8538 Muaka & Kane-Ra]] by launching their heads forward.

 

The then released [[Toa]], called [[Toa Mata/Toa Nuva|Toa Mata]], were larger, with gear-movement and big weapons. The main feature introduced in this year were the [[Kanohi|Masks]], which granted special abilities to the Toa, such as water-breathing or extra strength. The masks were collectible, having various colours and forms. In special mask packs there were golden and silver masks included. The Kanohi masks were only attached with a knob to their actual face, making them easy to take off. This way, the Toa could battle other Toa or Rahi, the aim would be to hit the mask off the opponent. The canister lids of the Toa Mata had axle holes to stick in axles, which in turns hold the Toa faces with their totem of six different masks of one form.

 

In 2002 the ''[[Toa Nuva]]'', transformed forms of the Toa Mata, were introduced. They included silver armour and larger, more smooth masks. They wielded silver modifications of their former weapons, for example [[8533 Gali|Toa Mata Gali's]] hooks transformed into water axes. Their canister lids had new designs and could be stacked. The lids also had axle holes in the lid, similar to the 2001 lids.

 

Also released were the [[Bohrok]], insectoid creatures controlled by the brainlike [[Krana]]. By pressing down a lever at the back of each Bohrok, its head could snap out. The headplate could be opened to reveal a [[Krana]]. By leaving the headplate open and pressing the lever, the Bohrok could launch its Krana at an opponent. The Krana could be fitted on a Toa Mata or Toa Nuva's head. The Bohrok were also capable of rolling into a ball. With a special peg the Bohrok could be hung up inside its oval canister. The image of the set could be peeled off to reveal the set inside. The Bohrok were accompanied by the smaller [[Bohrok Va]], similar in size to the Turaga, and packed in boxes. They carried dormant forms of the Krana.

 

In spring 2003, the [[Bohrok-Kal]] were released. They wore [[Krana-Kal]], which in appearance are more shiny and metallic versions of [[Krana]]. The Bohrok-Kal are the same size and shape of Bohrok, with slightly different weapons and armour in silver, with their heads showing the symbol of their group. Their canisters were mainly the same design as that of the Bohrok, having a peg to hang the Bohrok-Kal up.

[[File:Kraata Container.jpg|thumb|right|150px|The ''Kraata'' container]]

In 2003, the bigger sets [[8593 Makuta]], [[8594 Jaller and Gukko]], [[8595 Takua and Pewku]] and [[8596 Takanuva and Ussanui]] were available. Makuta came in one of his various forms, carrying a shadow staff. He wears black, dark-copper and red armour. Also released was Takua with his crab Pewku and Takua as the Toa of Light, Takanuva, with his vehicle ''Ussanui''. Also released were the Matoran in their new, rebuilt forms.

 

In 2004, the form and shape of the Toa and Matoran changed entirely. The new gears of the [[Toa Metru/Toa Hordika|Toa Metru]] now rotated in a different way, and both the Toa and Matoran were taller. The [[Toa]] had bigger weapons and different masks. In addition, the heads forms changed, a mask could now be fixed on the head via an axle. Adapting the Rahkshi leg bending design and improving it, the Toa Metru's whole leg was built upon ball-and-socket design, with a new double-sided hip-joint holding onto the ball hip and the ball piece of the bottom leg section. Along with that, each design was designed to be almost independent from the other, with small modifications including height adjustment and neck position. Along with neck positions were actual head pieces designed for the purpose of movement on the head, a technique which evolved from the Rahkshi design, and was used on later sets right up to present time. Though they hadn't yet adapted the arm bending technique to today's standards yet, they had progressed further than the Toa and Toa Nuva arms which hadn't flexed at all. The canisters of the Toa were round, having screw lids. By combining two lids a ''Matoran Sphere'' could be created, used in the storyline to transport Matoran.

 

In summer, the [[Vahki]] were released. These security robots could fire Kanoka Disks with their mouths and could transform from a biped walking mode to a four-legged hunt mode. Their secondary weapons were staffs with special powers which were needed to track down criminals. The arms could rotate with a wheel on their backs. The Vahki sets also included ''Kanoka Club codes'' to enter on Bionicle.com, printed on a cardboard piece. Their canisters were triangular, with a transparent lid in their respective colours.

 

In 2005 the [[Toa Metru/Toa Hordika|Toa Hordika]] were released, along with the [[Visorak]]. It varied in several countries on which set line came out first. The Toa Hordika were the first Toa to have uniform weapons, these were called [[8748 Rhotuka Spinners|Rhotuka Spinners]]. They could be launched by pulling a line. The Rhotuka Spinners had a code consisting of Matoran letters and numbers to enter on Bionicle.com as a Kanoka Club code. The canisters of the Toa Hordika were nearly round, having some rivets on the side. The lid could be screwed and on top there was a notch to fill with Rhotuka Spinners.

 

This year the ''Playsets'' were introduced, LEGO models of big buildings and vehicles of the BIONICLE universe. The figures included in these sets didn't have any articulation points and consisted of two parts: the figure and its weapon. The Titans were packed in big boxes, all of them including Rhotuka Spinners.

 

During spring 2006 the [[Piraka]] were introduced. They featured light-up eyes, rubber faces and spines and a new weapon called the ''Zamor Launcher'' which fired plastic balls called [[8719 Zamor-Spheres|Zamor-Spheres]]. The secondary weapon of the[[File:Zlauncher.jpg|thumb|Zamor Sphere Launcher]] Piraka was a double-sided weapon which could be flipped. [[8903 Zaktan]], for an example, featured a secondary weapon with a three-bladed scissor on the one and pincers on the other side. Their canisters were bullet grey with a screwable lid. The lid contained the light-up eyepiece and it had to be taken out before it could be built with. There was also a plastic mold of the respective Piraka head, which in turn could also be removed from the lid, although it wasn't compatible to any [[LEGO]] [[TECHNIC]] piece.

 

Also sold at this time were six Voya Nui Matoran, packaged in small boxes, and Zamor packs filled with bronze, silver and gold Zamor-Spheres. Additionally, this year there were four Playsets, six Titan sets and many promotional sets released.

 

The Toa Inika are transformed into Toa Mahri and the storyline continues underwater. In early 2007 the [[Barraki]] were released. This was the first year that every canister set were completely different. They carried a squid-launcher to launch orange and blue [[8934 Squid Ammo|Sea Squids]] and a secondary weapon like claws or swords. The Barraki had all got pincers in front of their mouths, giving them a water creature-like appearance. Their canisters had got the lid on the bottom, which looked like rock, and a transparent canister part representing air bubbles. The canisters were slanted a bit to the right.

 

The Matoran and Hydruka of Mahri Nui came in small boxes. There were two Matoran and two Hydruka available. The titans were also packaged in a box. The sides of the boxes were decorated with the image of a rusted, metal frame. These titans also featured the first appearance of a mask with a removable axle, until then all axles of the masks were fixed in them. This year also marked the end of the BIONICLE Playsets, with [[8925 Barraki Deepsea Patrol]], [[8926 Toa Undersea Attack]] and [[8927 Toa Terrain Crawler]] being the last playsets released.

 

In spring 2008 the [[Phantoka]] and the Av-Matoran were introduced. The three Toa were armed with a [[Midak Skyblaster]], which could fire Midak Sky spheres, silver coloured [[8719 Zamor-Spheres|Zamor-Spheres]]. The first half of the year concentrated on battle in the skies, so the Toa, Makuta and Matoran had flying devices. The three Phantoka Makuta carried [[Tridax Pod]]s, which were orange transparent spheres which could "explode" by hitting the ground, releasing "''Shadow Leeches''", which could drain the light of a being. These Makuta were the first Makuta to have real Kanohi masks with a certain power instead of having normal faces. The Phantoka canister design is unique, it features a plastic box with a lid and a plastic frame representing rock columns which can be fitted on to the side. These canisters could not be stacked. The Titan sets all came in a box, one of them being [[8697 Toa Ignika]], the first set to have an Ignika included, although it was silver.[[File:Toa_Ignika.png|thumb]]

[[File:Midak Skyblaster.png|thumb|right|200px|The ''Midak Skyblaster'']]

The Matoran were the biggest Matoran to be released, but also the ones with the least pieces, all of them having 14 pieces, except for [[8947 Radiak]]. They did not have uniform weapons and flying devices, the Av- or Light-Matoran had a jetpack and the Shadow Matoran had black wings. Their canisters were a mix of box and canister: The top and bottom part was a plastic piece, representing rocks. The middle part however was made out of cardboard with an image of the set. It was hold together via a plastic band.

 

In spring 2009 the [[Glatorian]] were released, along with six Agori and two Titan sets, [[8990 Fero and Skirmix]] and [[8991 Tuma]]. The Glatorian all wielded [[Thornax Launcher]] with rubber [[Thornax]] fruits as projectiles. They also all had a secondary weapon. The masks from 2001 - 2008 were now helmets, having no notch where the mouth was, but on top of the head. The lids of their canisters wore an unknown pattern, which could be stacked using the bottom of another canister. In summer 2009 the [[Glatorian Legends]] were released with [[8989 Mata Nui]] wearing a yellow Ignika. These sets also had Thornax launchers and a secondary weapon. Their canisters had a different lid pattern but could also be stacked.

[[File:250px-Set Thornax.png|thumb|left|100px|A ''Thornax'']]

The Agori sets had a big resemblance with the 2008 Matoran sets, having nearly the same design, piece count and prize. Their canisters weren't different to the 2008 matoran canisters either, except for the colour.

 

The 2010 saga only featured six set releases due to the end of BIONICLE. The set's piece count varied from 15 to 21 pieces. The sets were mainly designed as the recent 2008 Matoran and the 2009 Agori, having a bit more armour. They included one of the six pieces of the Golden Armour to fit on to [[7116 Tahu]]. This set line didn't have uniform weapons, like the 2004 Kanoka Disk launchers or the 2006 Zamor launchers. Instead they had different weapons, similar to the 2001-2003 saga.

 

The canisters are smaller than previous released canisters. The lid features a Skrall shield symbol, the map of the ''Valley of the Maze''. Their bottom have got a notch to stack the canisters.

 

The BIONICLE Sets as a whole ended in 2010, with the final sets being that of the BIONICLE Stars, stated by Jan Faltum, Global BIONICLE Director in [[Letter written by Jan Faltum stating that Bionicle will end in 2010|his letter]]. According to him, a newer, more flexible buildable figure property created by the same people who were responsible for BIONICLE, will be created to replace BIONICLE, which is [[Hero Factory]]. The BIONICLE Story will still be updated by long-time BIONICLE writer Greg Farshtey on BIONICLEstory.com. In addition, there have been quite a few recent pop-ups of the metal prize objects. A solid-gold Hau, and Sterling Silver Krana Kal, and a white metal Krana Kal have all been auctioned on ebay recently, possibly due to the fact that BIONICLE has ended.

 

[[Hero Factory]] is BIONICLE's replacement. It was released in August [[2010]] and features factory made robot heroes, which at first were made mainly of the same design as the BIONICLE Stars sub-theme characters (the finale toy-line and story for BIONICLE), so they were much simpler to build. The canisters are similar to the BIONICLE 2010 set canisters too, with exception of different lids. The Hero Factory characters have different helmets, new armour, weapons and more. In [[2011]], with the new "2.0" heroes, many new pieces were released so that they would less resemble the BIONICLE Stars.

 

* The first BIONICLE movie was one of the ten most popular direct-to-video movies of [[2003]].<REF>[[w:c:Bionicle:BIONICLE: Mask of Light (movie)|BIONICLE: Mask of Light (movie)]] on The Bionicle Wiki</REF>

* BIONICLE's traditional logo did not appear during the course of [[2006]] or [[2007]].

* With the coming of the [[2009]] Bara Magna Saga, [[My LEGO Network]] added BIONICLE characters to the networker list, creating the largest mini-rank in My LEGO Network.

 

{{See|List of BIONICLE Sets}}

 

''This section mentions only the major online games of BIONICLE.''<br />

 

* '''Agori Defender:''' The goal of the game is to defend the [[Agori]] from the troops of Makuta, following a special path, from reaching the Agori entrance. In this game the player does not play a singe figure, but is able to place multiple defender figures along this path, which attack the enemies automatically. Being the last online game of BIONICLE, it was released in 2010.

 

{{Minifiguregallery

|img1=Bio018.gif

}}

 

<references />

{{reflist}}

* [http://www.bzpower.com/story.php?ID=4419 BIONICLE is declared to end in 2010.]

 

* [[Bionicle storyline]]

* [[Bionicle society]]

 

* [http://www.bionicle.com/ The Official BIONICLE Website]

* [http://www.bioniclestory.com BIONICLEstory.com]