The only thing I can say that I disliked about the Glatorian era is: What happened to the Bionicle narrator? You know, the guy with the ominous, soothing, fitting voice? Where'd he go!?
One little detail about the movie's art style that I adore is just how worn out most of the characters' equipment looks. It's faded and covered in scratches and cracks that really sell the whole "Desert Scavengers" aspect. I also like how Mata Nui himself doesn't have these scars, because his body is new. Little details like that are what sell me on a story. We can spend an eternity debating whether or not the change in the art style was good, but you can't say there was a lack of effort behind it.
The thing I liked about 2009 Mata Nui (other than he's got two sets), is that he's the one that links Bara Magna to Bionicle to me. He's the one with mask powers. He's the one that mentions Toa. He was the story element since the beginning days.
2009 was actually one of my favourite years for BIONICLE. Set-wise, the return of brighter colour schemes and elemental designs was welcome. I enjoyed the return to elemental tribes in the story. While TLR was weak, I think the first half year story had an interesting concept behind it compared to a lot of the rest of BIONICLE which mostly relied on “MacGuffin hunt”. We had a society that had become shattered and exhausted after a devastating war, complacent in the face of the impending threat from the north. I felt like we had a sense of animosity between the tribes rather than unity, and the whole political system of the planet allowed for different kinds of stories to be told in this world. For example, the western-ish Raid on Vulcanus, I think was one of the better novels of the franchise. The world of Bara Magna I did actually find interesting due to the sense of mystery and unknown history that I felt the MU had been stripped of by that point. The ancient cities and ruins, the idea that this was the ‘natural’ precursor to the MU and the sense of a bigger picture I think were great. I also enjoyed the wider range of ‘morally grey’ characters from Bara Magna instead of the sharper good/bad divide we had seen previously. Sure, we had virtuous characters like Gresh, but also wildcards like Strakk or Malum. We got a character burdened by the toll of age in Ackar. A dare-to-dream cynic in Kiina. A regret-laiden war veteran in Vastus. We got more from the characters this year in terms of their hopes, fears and insecurities than before in BIONICLE, despite, as you said, the short "screen time". I honestly think the vast majority of BIONICLE characters were horrendously boring and flat, but '09 does stand out in this regard. Not that I think any of these good points were well-portrayed in the movie, unfortunately. But outside of TLR, I really did like ‘09. EDIT: Oh, and Tuma. Movie aside, Tuma was a fascinating character in one of the web serials (don't remember the name). Finally, a BIONICLE villain with depth! Burdened with being the sole ruler of his people, struggling to survive, yet still a master tactician and warrior. Sadly he had none of this depth in the movie. Oh and that MLN campaign was fun.
I dug Glatorian heavy. I really liked the idea of Bionicle type beings living a hard life and often working as gladiators or muscle for hire to make a living. I also liked seeing Mata Nui’s divinity stripped away in order for him to learn to be more or less mortal. All of that made for great set up for adventures. It was a shame it got cancelled before it could be fully fleshed out.
Maybe if they'd given the advertisements a more mysterious vibe like in the early days of Bionicle it would have given the line more strength to continue. I do like the Glatorian commercials though.
I do believe that the Web of Shadows was the point in which the films found the perfect balance between being set accurate and stylized. However, I do wish we had gotten films based on the Inika and Mahri trailers
Gotta agree, for the single year that Bara magna has focusing on the world and its people, It did more to build and create lore that was more fleshed out than the Gen 2 stuff, which all felt rushed. Compared to gen 2, where the lore was almost entirely absent excluding stuff relating to the toys, as well as not much character development, 09 did really well under the pressure and although it was rushed, it did the best it could on its last legs for being left on its own.
Eh. I disagree about the movie's art style, since the Bara Magnans' bodies are mostly organic, so if anything they shouldn't really look much like the sets at all. They SHOULD basically look like aliens wearing Bionicle-style armor. I agree with pretty much everything else, through. 2009 is way up there for me.
Just look to the franchise itself. It's been confirmed numerous times in the lore and by the creative team that beings like Toa and Matoran are about 85% mechanical and 15% organs and muscle tissue (think Grievous from Star Wars or Raiden as of MGS4 and Rising), so it makes perfect sense to see visible bits of flesh in the cracks and folds of their armor, binding their mostly metallic frames together, kind of like an upright walking ant with all the squishy bits inside. So the way they're depicted in the older movies is quite accurate. There was just no way to convey this aspect of the characters in the sets. Glatorian, Agori and so on are the reverse, with bodies that are 85% organic and 15% mechanical, however that 15% is not something they were born with. Those are implants, enhancements effectively making them cyborgs, but they were born as pretty human-like creatures that now have some bits and bobs sticking out of their bodies, moreso the older and more battle-damaged they get. It also tends to vary between individuals. Some have more implants than others. They even have EYES like ours, prompting one of the Bara Mangans in one of the last story serials to marvel at the more electronic, lens-like eyes of the Toa.
Yeah, they really messed that up. Though I've still not managed to find where it was, I can swear Sean Catherine Derek said something along the lines of "Because they're robots we added spinning screws and bolts."
Heck, anyone recall that incredibly graphic scene where Zaktan STABBED Tahu in the guts and his protodites started chewing up Tahu's organic insides? That was probably the most excruciating pain Tahu ever felt.
Maybe it's nostalgia but 09 was when I was finally old enough to have a serious grasp on the depth of the story and it was fucking good. 09 had the best color pallet and unique designs IMO and was the fresh start the series needed
Oh how I would've loved to see the Elemental Lords and Batera as sets (as they were planned). Not only that, but the whole idea of them traveling to Bota Magna and encountering dinosaur-like creatures would've been cool to see as well.
The first half of the year teased cool environments. Small oases in a desert. But then the movie was like NAH IT'S ALL A DESERT Wow I never thought about how creative the vehicles were
The air of mystery surrounding Bara Magna was something I appreciated, as someone who joined the fandom in 2006 when most of the mystery surrounding Mata and Metru Nui was pretty much uncovered and known (minus that giant robot twist in 08, lol). It added what I felt at the time was a unique element (haha) I hadn't yet experienced in BIONICLE, which from my perspective was "this guy is asleep and dying, we need this mask to save him and wake him up, let's go to this island, underwater, and a cavern/swamp place to do so". Granted, there were things like the Codrex in terms of mystery and the story serials, but mystery as something that added to the atmosphere of the theme was new to me since I missed out on 01-03, and I'll always appreciate 09 for that. Plus, cool toys (even if some of their arms are a little long :P).
I guess it was, because it was off from the rest of the Story. We didnt even know all the Names of the Species in the MU and many Charakterstorys arent finished jet, we just want them to continue. And Bara Magna was a little too much Mad Max, and didnt realy conect whit the other World.
"Didn't really connect with the other world"? Aqua Magna (where 2001-2008 took place) was literally shattered apart from Bara Magna. The Great beings lived on Spherus Magna before the shattering, and almost everything in the story prior to 2009 was caused or created by them.
10: I guess, although it doesn't really matter since so few of them had any story relevance 9: Agreed, the atmosphere was pretty good 8: Agreed... it's just a shame that the elements themselves had barely any importance in the story 7: Agreed, the element lords were cool 6: I disagree on several of the points made here. I thought the character design of the original trilogy was much better, since it showed an intention to stay true to the lore and make it as realistic as possible. The fights in the original trilogy were also far more exciting. Add to that the music, and TLR has barely anything over the first three films 5: Absolutely agreed 4: Agreed 3: Some of the answers we were given were cool, but others were... questionable. 2: Well... I think Mata Nui was a huge missed opportunity. He could've been written a lot better. Still, I agree at least partially 1: Agreed, it's quite impressive how much story fit into 2009
I really liked how they varied the build, after all the other teams had become Inika clones. The Inika were some of my favourites, but their parts were overused. The Glatorian not only jazzed up the general builds, but made builds vary in between "team" members, where previous Toa teams had often been near identical palette swaps (worst example: Hordika). Also, the way Lego made asymmetrical teams, without the standard 6 goodies, 6 baddies, or even the 3 goodies, 3 baddies of the Phantoka/Mistika, made for a nice variance in character. Yes, definitely one of Bionicle's best years.
This was my year i got into Bionicle ... I was only 8 at the time so i couldn't get the old sets but i sure as hell didn't stop there I went back and tried to git as much as i could so i also got the older sets later on .
If the series gets another reboot, it must be a continuation of the 09-10 storyline. I would love to see more background on the Core War, perhaps beginning the new storyline with the rediscovery of energized protodermis that threatens to reignite the old conflicts. Annual films, weekly cartoons, monthly comics and quarterly novels should be the mainstay media to communicate the story. We need returning characters -- the various Toa teams, the Glatorian and classic villains (okay, I just want another Roodaka set) should make up the major sets for each wave -- and further exploration of the world of Spherus Magna through their eyes. As long as the reboot sticks to what made the original series spectacular and takes advantage of modern constraction standards combined with the design elements of the older style, LEGO really cannot go wrong. All the groundwork is already there, and LEGO has the experience to tell a fantastic story within this universe.
Sweet video! Clear, concise, and, well organized. One slight recommendation is the addition of graphics to indicate what number in the "top 10" we are on. I think it would make the video a bit clearer.
I’ve always liked ‘09 myself. The sets were cool, I liked the story, even though it wasn’t all perfect. I own a majority of the sets from that year. Certainly worth picking them up!
this video lifted my spirits in regards to the original run's cancellation, sure it's a shame we got shunted into the rushed Stars line but, they did do so much with the world and i now i remember just how awesome and enthralled i was back when 2009 was first coming out.
I don't know why so many people disliked Bionicle 2009, I loved everything about it. It had a great concept but was rushed and cancelled too soon. And the movie wasn't all bad, I really liked it growing up. And the sets were awesome. I wish there was more of Bionicle 2009.
I don't think 2009 should be blamed for 2010's fault! It's like blaming the brother of a bully! Personally, I think 2008 was the best year of BIONICLE, though I very much loved the Toa Inika in 2006! I love how the creations from 9 years ago are still enjoyed and appreciated to this day! Heck, that goes all the way back 17 years (I just realized how that sounds, and now I feel old)!
Plus, this year also reminds me of how much I miss my dear friends from one of the school’s that I graduated because of how Mata Nui missed his old friend in his world and made some new ones in the new world is like me missing my friends from one of my schools that I graduated and then I made some new ones in my new schools. Things were never the same, and I have painful amount of nostalgia that made me cry.😭 Just saying.
The Comic Man alot of hype came from me wen 2008 dropped, for one having heroes and villains introduced at the same and two it being the original toa mata as the heroes.
I also prefer 2006 because the Inika are better designs as the Mahri. Mahri are a good Idea, but the execution was lacklaster. And the entire Idee of a sacret Tresure in a gigantic Vulcano whit incredible powerfull Guardians and Traps... Its just awesome.
Sunaki1000 2007 however had more variety and different while 2006 has the same BIONICLE formula, where the Toa all have the same designs with different colors, masks and weapons. Still though, 2006 does hold a special place in my heart.
Well said. Well, I would consider 2009 to be one of my favorite Bionicle years. It’s cool that we got to see a new world with people of more new species. Plus, I like the character development of Mata Nui. Plus, The Legend Reborn is pretty good, and I super-love the sets, including the use of color schemes, new weapons, and those awesome vehicles. It’s interesting that the people in Spherus Magna are like Bionicle’s equivalent to humans because they are mostly organic. :) Sadly, this year was a little traumatic because of that horrible announcement of Bionicle G1’s cancellation in November 2009. Things were never the same since that day. Plus, the fifth and sixth Bionicle movies are cancelled. 😭 Man, I wish the cancellation and the horrible stuff never happened. Really.
I was one of those people who hated '09. A few years ago, I found out the book Raid on Vulcanus existed (I did not know of it back in '09 when the whole Bara Magna saga was going on). Almost didn't read it. SO. GLAD. I. DID. IF ONLY I had read Raid on Vulcanus in '09 I would have fallen in love with the Bara Magna saga. That book is one of my favorites of the BIONICLE books now. The world is so vivid, so different, great characters and story of survival. TLR really butchered it tbh. Esepcially Kiina. I love her in Raid on Vulcanus. She's just plain annoying in TLR. I wish we could have had more books in the Bara Magna saga that portrayed the world and characters the way they were written in Raid on Vulcanus. That would have been so cool, fresh, and exciting. Maybe even enough to save BIONICLE.
It's like reading watching the anime and then reading the manga because you can see much depth and potential in the source material that movies often fail to portray that same level of said depth on screen.
2009 was my favorite year. i like the desert setting and the tribes. but furthermore, it made things more interesting, more putting stuff in, which talked about morally grey areas. the distrust the Agori had in the Glatorian also made things very interesting. and since Agori, Skrall, Bone Hunters and Glatorian can make babies, that also opens up the potential for family-drama, in fan-stories. like what if Strakk is only so bitter, because he was never accepted in Iconox, due to him, being a half-Skrall? And Metus was a bad influence for him, since he was the only one who accepted him? And Malum only tried to kill him, after he found out about his heritage? seriously, that would explain so much! and it makes love canon. Bite me, Greg! Hewkii and Macku love each other very much and the Dark Hunter Mimic had a GIRLFRIEND! not just a companion! no one can tell me otherwise!
I got into it in 2008... But I went back and got into all of the previous years. I'll always have bias and nostalgia for Tahu and Onewa Mistika though since they were my first and second sets and they really got me into Bionicle. It sucks so many balls that Bionicle was cancelled, Bara Magna could have been so awesome if it was continued.
The thing I liked about Bara Magna was after we had all these crazy tech-gliders and jets and everything, we started losing the sense of these characters connection to the elements. Bara Magna brought that back (thematically at least) which is why it was such a good wave to me
To be honest, I think my biggest gripe with 2009 - aside from the generic Inika builds that were becoming very stale - was that Mata Nui looked sort of.. underwhelming. I sort of wish they'd chosen either silver or gold instead of yellow. _Anything_ but yellow, really.
Maybe the same dark gold/bronze worn by Takanuva? idk Overall I feel like his design is a bit too generic and underwhelming for the character that he is. He should have been the one Glatorian on the store shelf that would immediately stand out from the others. Just sticking long pointy things on his shoulders isn't really enough.
I love 2009, partially because that's when I was eight years, right in that soft spot, and also partially because I love biology and zoology and all that stuff about species and evolution and stuff.
I was sad that it seemed like some of the story team abandoned ship. Or so it seems when people talk about Greg and his influence on the last bit of story we got. Is that really true? It seemed to me that the story did become a little basic near the end.
Meso is the only one that feels like doing a Top 10 as something that he actually wants to make at the moment. He likes to talk a lot and a 'Top 10' kinda fills that desire
Ya basically what Var said, I'm the only one who actually enjoys making Top 10's, and our new mantra is to only make content we personally have fun making! -Meso
It was personally the era I started in, I have a vivid memory of laying on the floor in my old house building Gresh with my father. I have subsequently gone back and bought several dozen older Bionicle sets as to experience all its eras.
In regard to the sets what I really liked was how it finally reached its potential of its inika body type. The colour palettes as well as the overall design of pieces was really great and it for the most part had gotten rid of the gimicks that inika started with.
1:23 I actually had that set. It was very good, with a great sturdy construction and incredible mobility. If you happen to find one on EBay or Amazon, pick it up
I've gotta say, I love this video, but does it really need to be a Top 10? As it stands this video could easily just be 'Why I liked BIONICLE 2009', without being attached to any arbitrary numbers. Anyway, besides that, I love the video and I always thought 2009 was underrated.
You're not wrong; I kinda talked about this in the recent channel update, but I just like the Top 10 themed videos rather than "Meso rants about _____" topic because it's more structured rather than freeform. It's a minor difference, but *shrug*
2009 definitely had some of the best sets in the entire line! From the epic TITANS Tuma and Fero and Skirmix, the distinctly coloured and build of the Glatorian and Glatorian Legends, to the absolutely awesome showstoppers that are the Cendox V1, Kaxium V3, Baranus V7 along with the super awesome Thornatus V9 and of course.... Skopio XV-1! And the story was great and The Legend Reborn had top notch voice acting and was a great way to lead into 2010 and the theme's unfortunate end. And the Skrall and Tuma had the greatest back story and were well written villains!
Can you make a Video about the Top 10 Bionicle Sets what havent any Storyrelevanz? Like the Bahrag Kaita, and Makuta Nui? And ähm, 5:30 what Link was it again?
I agree with what you pointed out about elements-based armour but they could have spared a bit of it. Strakk is the best example: i dont see an icy robot, i see ice with legs attached (that is, the icy shoulders and helmet are a bit over the top, should have toned it down. Same goes to green and black boys)
I missed out on getting these sets when they were relevant but when I look for pieces I want to purchase in lots I appreciate the amount of color that came from the 2009 sets. Sometimes I do get tired of sorting through dark colors and silvers at a certain point.
I've been saying this a lot, but Threshold Studios, the company that animated The Legend Reborn, also worked on the 2012 movie Foodfight. It's interesting to see the contrast in animation quality between the two movies... That being said, Foodfight only really failed because of its creator/writer/producer/director, Lawrence Kasanoff, who intentionally wanted things to be all over the place.
I loved the 2009 year of Bionicle, and I definitely agree with your input on the Glatorian as characters. But ya forgot to mention ma boy Tarix! That dude was sweet as hell!
2009 was the year that I actually became a Bionicle fan (even though I owned some of the older ones like Barraki and Piraka, and Mistika was just more of a start). I still remember my first Glatorian set: Skrall, and my first Agori: Metus and my other Glatorian: Vorox, and... that's it honestly. I kinda lost interest for awhile I think (I didn't even get any of the Glatorian Legends sets, which is a shame cuz I can't find Mata Nui anywhere other than Toa Mata Nui on the local online store that they sell Lego, even most of the classics as possible.) And honestly... I was not aware that Bionicle had a story until I got back into Lego (and I wasn't aware that the movies was just adaptations of the comics). But at least I'm trying to read all of the comics (today even) so I can understand more and all that. I was even a fan of the movie when I was younger. I wish that I could still be a fan if the story didn't rush that much (I mean I love the post-apocalyptic world that they were going for, but adding more things would be fine too.) But now when I hear more about B-09 (specially Nr. 1), I really have to say that I'm really impressed that they managed to get the world, the characters (+personalities and all that), Mata Nui etc. In just 1 year. It's just as impressive as Koji Kondo coming up with the original LoZ theme in like 1 or less than days. (Idk it's been like a few years since I watched DYKG's LoZ video) 2009 will still be my favourite year (despite the flaws). It was the year that got me into Bionicle more effectively, and it is amazing how Lego could do as much as possible as they could in just 1 year. 2009 may not be good, but they did their best as they could.
Something I really love about the Skrall is that it's unusual for them to have names. There are only a few named Skrall, and they're all heroes among their people. The rest are intentionally stripped of personality and individuality, symbolizing their status as a dictatorial swarm; they don't matter to Tuma and the other leaders, and they don't matter to their opponents; they're only numbers to pad an army.
My #1 favorite thing about Bionicle 2009 is that I started buying sets again, As soon as I heard about the Glatorian legends sets, I knew I had to pick them up
A a person that's been with the theme from the beginning BIONICLE 2009 stands as my second fave year. Bringing a whole new setting with a brand new feel, tone and lore to the franchise as well as some of the best lore elements in my opinion. And it's honestly only beaten out by the Mahri line because I'm inherently biased toward ocean adventures and the ocean as a setting (though that did do so much awesome worldbuilding of its own that I absolutely love). And in true I honestly do like the 4th movie as corny as it is.
Great video, Meso! The music was more fitting, and was new (though it got a little old by the end)! I’m happy someone still does top 10’s (finger crossed for top 10 Barraki even thought there aren’t 10).
The Legend Reborn and 2009 in general is really underrated. It had so much potential and it's a shame it didn't get the chance to shine as much as it could have. I know TLR was supposed to be part of a trilogy but I feel like Journey's End could have been the sequel we never got. It also would have been really great to have the Mirimax voice actors return in it if possible, which is something I love the idea of. At the very least, if Micheal Dorn and Lee Tockar did a reading of Mata Nui's and Makuta Teridax's dialogue in the Final Battle, that would have been amazing. I do appreciate the Mata Nui Saga for recapping the Bionicle story from Mata Nui's perspective and tying everything together. It honestly works as a mini follow-up to TLR's cliffhanger with Micheal Dorn narrating it, from that perspective the cliffhanger doesn't feel too awkward.
I love Bionicle 2009, as it was the first Bionicle wave that caught my eye as a child. Before 2009, I always thought that Bionicle was a boring or overrated theme. However, upon seeing the colorful, elemental feel of 2009's characters, I was instantly hooked. I now love the Bionicle theme as a whole (G1 and G2), and it's all thanks to Bionicle 2009.
Honestly the 2009 story line seemed interesting. I foujd most of the dissatisfaction of the year to be mostly nostalgic underpinnings calling back to 2001. I think if bionicle is brought back they should continue the gen 1 story line if not through the toys at least through books, tv shows or movies. They built up the atory so well
The only thing I can say that I disliked about the Glatorian era is: What happened to the Bionicle narrator? You know, the guy with the ominous, soothing, fitting voice? Where'd he go!?
Well, he came back for the Glatorian Legends commercial, but yeah... I guess they wanted a different tone for the first wave.
@@TheTTVChannel Oh yeah, I forgot about their commercial 😅
You mean Turaga Vakama? He stayed in Metro-Nui.
@@piotrmontgomerytv7786he was talking about the narrator for the Bionicle commercials lmao
No honorable mention for Bye Bye Babylon?
OH NO I FORGOT
BYE BYE! BABYLON!
*starts headbanging
@@xuanathan i can't remember the rest of the story
also the Glatorian Arena trilogy
One little detail about the movie's art style that I adore is just how worn out most of the characters' equipment looks. It's faded and covered in scratches and cracks that really sell the whole "Desert Scavengers" aspect. I also like how Mata Nui himself doesn't have these scars, because his body is new.
Little details like that are what sell me on a story. We can spend an eternity debating whether or not the change in the art style was good, but you can't say there was a lack of effort behind it.
The thing I liked about 2009 Mata Nui (other than he's got two sets), is that he's the one that links Bara Magna to Bionicle to me. He's the one with mask powers. He's the one that mentions Toa. He was the story element since the beginning days.
2009 was actually one of my favourite years for BIONICLE. Set-wise, the return of brighter colour schemes and elemental designs was welcome. I enjoyed the return to elemental tribes in the story.
While TLR was weak, I think the first half year story had an interesting concept behind it compared to a lot of the rest of BIONICLE which mostly relied on “MacGuffin hunt”. We had a society that had become shattered and exhausted after a devastating war, complacent in the face of the impending threat from the north. I felt like we had a sense of animosity between the tribes rather than unity, and the whole political system of the planet allowed for different kinds of stories to be told in this world. For example, the western-ish Raid on Vulcanus, I think was one of the better novels of the franchise.
The world of Bara Magna I did actually find interesting due to the sense of mystery and unknown history that I felt the MU had been stripped of by that point. The ancient cities and ruins, the idea that this was the ‘natural’ precursor to the MU and the sense of a bigger picture I think were great.
I also enjoyed the wider range of ‘morally grey’ characters from Bara Magna instead of the sharper good/bad divide we had seen previously. Sure, we had virtuous characters like Gresh, but also wildcards like Strakk or Malum. We got a character burdened by the toll of age in Ackar. A dare-to-dream cynic in Kiina. A regret-laiden war veteran in Vastus. We got more from the characters this year in terms of their hopes, fears and insecurities than before in BIONICLE, despite, as you said, the short "screen time". I honestly think the vast majority of BIONICLE characters were horrendously boring and flat, but '09 does stand out in this regard. Not that I think any of these good points were well-portrayed in the movie, unfortunately. But outside of TLR, I really did like ‘09.
EDIT: Oh, and Tuma. Movie aside, Tuma was a fascinating character in one of the web serials (don't remember the name). Finally, a BIONICLE villain with depth! Burdened with being the sole ruler of his people, struggling to survive, yet still a master tactician and warrior. Sadly he had none of this depth in the movie.
Oh and that MLN campaign was fun.
Arjun Gill The serial where Tuma was given Depth was "Empire of the Skrall". You can read it still on Custom Bionicle Wiki.
I dug Glatorian heavy. I really liked the idea of Bionicle type beings living a hard life and often working as gladiators or muscle for hire to make a living. I also liked seeing Mata Nui’s divinity stripped away in order for him to learn to be more or less mortal. All of that made for great set up for adventures. It was a shame it got cancelled before it could be fully fleshed out.
Maybe if they'd given the advertisements a more mysterious vibe like in the early days of Bionicle it would have given the line more strength to continue. I do like the Glatorian commercials though.
Mata Nui is Bionicle Jesus.
did you know cryoshell is working on an album for the first time in 6 years?
Dr Bright Dr bright is not allowed to lie about cryoshell making a new album.
actually, they are. heres the proof
ua-cam.com/channels/k8FqQCMeUr-WbCWiqfmBBA.html
I do believe that the Web of Shadows was the point in which the films found the perfect balance between being set accurate and stylized. However, I do wish we had gotten films based on the Inika and Mahri trailers
Gotta agree, for the single year that Bara magna has focusing on the world and its people, It did more to build and create lore that was more fleshed out than the Gen 2 stuff, which all felt rushed. Compared to gen 2, where the lore was almost entirely absent excluding stuff relating to the toys, as well as not much character development, 09 did really well under the pressure and although it was rushed, it did the best it could on its last legs for being left on its own.
Eh. I disagree about the movie's art style, since the Bara Magnans' bodies are mostly organic, so if anything they shouldn't really look much like the sets at all. They SHOULD basically look like aliens wearing Bionicle-style armor. I agree with pretty much everything else, through. 2009 is way up there for me.
Mostly organic? Can I get a sauce please?
Just look to the franchise itself. It's been confirmed numerous times in the lore and by the creative team that beings like Toa and Matoran are about 85% mechanical and 15% organs and muscle tissue (think Grievous from Star Wars or Raiden as of MGS4 and Rising), so it makes perfect sense to see visible bits of flesh in the cracks and folds of their armor, binding their mostly metallic frames together, kind of like an upright walking ant with all the squishy bits inside. So the way they're depicted in the older movies is quite accurate. There was just no way to convey this aspect of the characters in the sets. Glatorian, Agori and so on are the reverse, with bodies that are 85% organic and 15% mechanical, however that 15% is not something they were born with. Those are implants, enhancements effectively making them cyborgs, but they were born as pretty human-like creatures that now have some bits and bobs sticking out of their bodies, moreso the older and more battle-damaged they get. It also tends to vary between individuals. Some have more implants than others. They even have EYES like ours, prompting one of the Bara Mangans in one of the last story serials to marvel at the more electronic, lens-like eyes of the Toa.
Yeah, they really messed that up. Though I've still not managed to find where it was, I can swear Sean Catherine Derek said something along the lines of "Because they're robots we added spinning screws and bolts."
Heck, anyone recall that incredibly graphic scene where Zaktan STABBED Tahu in the guts and his protodites started chewing up Tahu's organic insides? That was probably the most excruciating pain Tahu ever felt.
Personally, I like to think of the sets as a general representation of the characters' mechanical components.
Maybe it's nostalgia but 09 was when I was finally old enough to have a serious grasp on the depth of the story and it was fucking good. 09 had the best color pallet and unique designs IMO and was the fresh start the series needed
Brilliant video!! 2009 is really special and I'll always have terrific memories from it as a kid. I LOVE this type of content, keep it up Meso!
me too
Oh how I would've loved to see the Elemental Lords and Batera as sets (as they were planned). Not only that, but the whole idea of them traveling to Bota Magna and encountering dinosaur-like creatures would've been cool to see as well.
Not to mention running into Lewa. ;-)
Nice! Great to see some love for 2009.
The first half of the year teased cool environments. Small oases in a desert. But then the movie was like NAH IT'S ALL A DESERT
Wow I never thought about how creative the vehicles were
The air of mystery surrounding Bara Magna was something I appreciated, as someone who joined the fandom in 2006 when most of the mystery surrounding Mata and Metru Nui was pretty much uncovered and known (minus that giant robot twist in 08, lol). It added what I felt at the time was a unique element (haha) I hadn't yet experienced in BIONICLE, which from my perspective was "this guy is asleep and dying, we need this mask to save him and wake him up, let's go to this island, underwater, and a cavern/swamp place to do so". Granted, there were things like the Codrex in terms of mystery and the story serials, but mystery as something that added to the atmosphere of the theme was new to me since I missed out on 01-03, and I'll always appreciate 09 for that. Plus, cool toys (even if some of their arms are a little long :P).
It think 09 was hated by most people because this was the last year of Bionicle so everyone was upset.
The last year was 2011, technically.
WiliestBeret520 I agree with you
I guess it was, because it was off from the rest of the Story. We didnt even know all the Names of the Species in the MU and many Charakterstorys arent finished jet, we just want them to continue. And Bara Magna was a little too much Mad Max, and didnt realy conect whit the other World.
"Didn't really connect with the other world"? Aqua Magna (where 2001-2008 took place) was literally shattered apart from Bara Magna. The Great beings lived on Spherus Magna before the shattering, and almost everything in the story prior to 2009 was caused or created by them.
@@makutamiserix5612 I don't think it went on that long can you explain?
10: I guess, although it doesn't really matter since so few of them had any story relevance
9: Agreed, the atmosphere was pretty good
8: Agreed... it's just a shame that the elements themselves had barely any importance in the story
7: Agreed, the element lords were cool
6: I disagree on several of the points made here. I thought the character design of the original trilogy was much better, since it showed an intention to stay true to the lore and make it as realistic as possible. The fights in the original trilogy were also far more exciting. Add to that the music, and TLR has barely anything over the first three films
5: Absolutely agreed
4: Agreed
3: Some of the answers we were given were cool, but others were... questionable.
2: Well... I think Mata Nui was a huge missed opportunity. He could've been written a lot better. Still, I agree at least partially
1: Agreed, it's quite impressive how much story fit into 2009
2009 felt like a new era of Bionicle. I was sure that there will be another 6 years of new sets! But then...Bionicle Stars. :(
Honestly I loved 2009. Probably my third favorite year after 01 and 07. It really is a shame we couldn't see more of Spherus Magna.
I used to not really like the Bara Magna saga, but over time, I've grown to love it, what little we got of it.
I liked 2009, but I would have preferred it if they somehow retained the mask aesthetic on all the sets. I was never a fan of the glowing faces.
I really liked how they varied the build, after all the other teams had become Inika clones. The Inika were some of my favourites, but their parts were overused. The Glatorian not only jazzed up the general builds, but made builds vary in between "team" members, where previous Toa teams had often been near identical palette swaps (worst example: Hordika). Also, the way Lego made asymmetrical teams, without the standard 6 goodies, 6 baddies, or even the 3 goodies, 3 baddies of the Phantoka/Mistika, made for a nice variance in character.
Yes, definitely one of Bionicle's best years.
This was my year i got into Bionicle ... I was only 8 at the time so i couldn't get the old sets but i sure as hell didn't stop there I went back and tried to git as much as i could so i also got the older sets later on .
If the series gets another reboot, it must be a continuation of the 09-10 storyline. I would love to see more background on the Core War, perhaps beginning the new storyline with the rediscovery of energized protodermis that threatens to reignite the old conflicts. Annual films, weekly cartoons, monthly comics and quarterly novels should be the mainstay media to communicate the story. We need returning characters -- the various Toa teams, the Glatorian and classic villains (okay, I just want another Roodaka set) should make up the major sets for each wave -- and further exploration of the world of Spherus Magna through their eyes.
As long as the reboot sticks to what made the original series spectacular and takes advantage of modern constraction standards combined with the design elements of the older style, LEGO really cannot go wrong. All the groundwork is already there, and LEGO has the experience to tell a fantastic story within this universe.
Those things that attacked the skrall looks like a mix between the beast and creatures of g2
Sweet video! Clear, concise, and, well organized. One slight recommendation is the addition of graphics to indicate what number in the "top 10" we are on. I think it would make the video a bit clearer.
I’ve always liked ‘09 myself. The sets were cool, I liked the story, even though it wasn’t all perfect. I own a majority of the sets from that year. Certainly worth picking them up!
this video lifted my spirits in regards to the original run's cancellation, sure it's a shame we got shunted into the rushed Stars line but, they did do so much with the world and i now i remember just how awesome and enthralled i was back when 2009 was first coming out.
Still can't believe 2009 was nearly a decade ago. I remember it like it was yesterday.
I don't know why so many people disliked Bionicle 2009, I loved everything about it. It had a great concept but was rushed and cancelled too soon. And the movie wasn't all bad, I really liked it growing up. And the sets were awesome. I wish there was more of Bionicle 2009.
I don't think 2009 should be blamed for 2010's fault! It's like blaming the brother of a bully!
Personally, I think 2008 was the best year of BIONICLE, though I very much loved the Toa Inika in 2006! I love how the creations from 9 years ago are still enjoyed and appreciated to this day! Heck, that goes all the way back 17 years (I just realized how that sounds, and now I feel old)!
Ok. Screw the story for a second. The sets were freaking awesome!
Plus, this year also reminds me of how much I miss my dear friends from one of the school’s that I graduated because of how Mata Nui missed his old friend in his world and made some new ones in the new world is like me missing my friends from one of my schools that I graduated and then I made some new ones in my new schools. Things were never the same, and I have painful amount of nostalgia that made me cry.😭 Just saying.
Wew
But not as cool at 2006 or 2007.
But yes 2009 was an awesome year for BIONICLE.
Peter Cross For me, I preferred 2006 just because of how dark it was (2007 was the same way).
The Comic Man alot of hype came from me wen 2008 dropped, for one having heroes and villains introduced at the same and two it being the original toa mata as the heroes.
I also prefer 2006 because the Inika are better designs as the Mahri. Mahri are a good Idea, but the execution was lacklaster. And the entire Idee of a sacret Tresure in a gigantic Vulcano whit incredible powerfull Guardians and Traps...
Its just awesome.
Sunaki1000 2007 however had more variety and different while 2006 has the same BIONICLE formula, where the Toa all have the same designs with different colors, masks and weapons. Still though, 2006 does hold a special place in my heart.
Well said. Well, I would consider 2009 to be one of my favorite Bionicle years. It’s cool that we got to see a new world with people of more new species. Plus, I like the character development of Mata Nui. Plus, The Legend Reborn is pretty good, and I super-love the sets, including the use of color schemes, new weapons, and those awesome vehicles. It’s interesting that the people in Spherus Magna are like Bionicle’s equivalent to humans because they are mostly organic. :) Sadly, this year was a little traumatic because of that horrible announcement of Bionicle G1’s cancellation in November 2009. Things were never the same since that day. Plus, the fifth and sixth Bionicle movies are cancelled. 😭 Man, I wish the cancellation and the horrible stuff never happened. Really.
I was one of those people who hated '09. A few years ago, I found out the book Raid on Vulcanus existed (I did not know of it back in '09 when the whole Bara Magna saga was going on). Almost didn't read it. SO. GLAD. I. DID.
IF ONLY I had read Raid on Vulcanus in '09 I would have fallen in love with the Bara Magna saga. That book is one of my favorites of the BIONICLE books now. The world is so vivid, so different, great characters and story of survival. TLR really butchered it tbh. Esepcially Kiina. I love her in Raid on Vulcanus. She's just plain annoying in TLR.
I wish we could have had more books in the Bara Magna saga that portrayed the world and characters the way they were written in Raid on Vulcanus. That would have been so cool, fresh, and exciting. Maybe even enough to save BIONICLE.
It's like reading watching the anime and then reading the manga because you can see much depth and potential in the source material that movies often fail to portray that same level of said depth on screen.
2009 was my favorite year. i like the desert setting and the tribes. but furthermore, it made things more interesting, more putting stuff in, which talked about morally grey areas.
the distrust the Agori had in the Glatorian also made things very interesting.
and since Agori, Skrall, Bone Hunters and Glatorian can make babies, that also opens up the potential for family-drama, in fan-stories.
like what if Strakk is only so bitter, because he was never accepted in Iconox, due to him, being a half-Skrall? And Metus was a bad influence for him, since he was the only one who accepted him? And Malum only tried to kill him, after he found out about his heritage? seriously, that would explain so much!
and it makes love canon. Bite me, Greg!
Hewkii and Macku love each other very much and the Dark Hunter Mimic had a GIRLFRIEND! not just a companion!
no one can tell me otherwise!
I feel like 2009 was Bionicle’s peak year, then went downhill with Stars in 2010
Number 11. It brought me in to Bionicle.
You sad soul, getting in right at the ending
no. 12: the mighty tuma
That's sad
I got into it in 2008... But I went back and got into all of the previous years.
I'll always have bias and nostalgia for Tahu and Onewa Mistika though since they were my first and second sets and they really got me into Bionicle.
It sucks so many balls that Bionicle was cancelled, Bara Magna could have been so awesome if it was continued.
I really want a continuation of the glatorian saga❤❤❤❤
It was a really great saga
The thing I liked about Bara Magna was after we had all these crazy tech-gliders and jets and everything, we started losing the sense of these characters connection to the elements. Bara Magna brought that back (thematically at least) which is why it was such a good wave to me
To be honest, I think my biggest gripe with 2009 - aside from the generic Inika builds that were becoming very stale - was that Mata Nui looked sort of.. underwhelming. I sort of wish they'd chosen either silver or gold instead of yellow. _Anything_ but yellow, really.
One thing could be like
Silver for armor bits, dark-ish gold for things like forearms and black for hands and shoulders.
Maybe the same dark gold/bronze worn by Takanuva? idk
Overall I feel like his design is a bit too generic and underwhelming for the character that he is. He should have been the one Glatorian on the store shelf that would immediately stand out from the others. Just sticking long pointy things on his shoulders isn't really enough.
I do agree
I love 2009, partially because that's when I was eight years, right in that soft spot, and also partially because I love biology and zoology and all that stuff about species and evolution and stuff.
2009 should have been stretched over three years, then bionicle 5 and it's lead-up should have been over the course of three more years
I was sad that it seemed like some of the story team abandoned ship. Or so it seems when people talk about Greg and his influence on the last bit of story we got. Is that really true? It seemed to me that the story did become a little basic near the end.
it was actually my favorite year back in the day!
They probably answered this, but why is only Meso doing these top 10s? Is it becoming his own show like moc spotlight and the recaps?
Adam Louie watch this it explains everything ua-cam.com/video/MJe5yLMKCJY/v-deo.html
Meso is the only one that feels like doing a Top 10 as something that he actually wants to make at the moment. He likes to talk a lot and a 'Top 10' kinda fills that desire
Literally everyone in TTV hates top 10's but him.
Ya basically what Var said, I'm the only one who actually enjoys making Top 10's, and our new mantra is to only make content we personally have fun making! -Meso
It was personally the era I started in, I have a vivid memory of laying on the floor in my old house building Gresh with my father. I have subsequently gone back and bought several dozen older Bionicle sets as to experience all its eras.
Technic vehicle sets actually started in 2002, with the Boxor.
In regard to the sets what I really liked was how it finally reached its potential of its inika body type. The colour palettes as well as the overall design of pieces was really great and it for the most part had gotten rid of the gimicks that inika started with.
2009 was perfect in comparison to what we've seen in 2015-2016
1:23 I actually had that set. It was very good, with a great sturdy construction and incredible mobility. If you happen to find one on EBay or Amazon, pick it up
The Glatorians were the one sets I considered getting.
another great top ten. makes me like 2009 even more.
I sadly miss Gelu, Malum in movie. It would be awesome but they are missing.
I dropped off Bionicle just before the Mistake-a wave. '06 and '07 was where it peaked for me, though I do love G2's sets more than a lot of G1's
"Mistake-a" 😆
7:16
wait there were shapeshifting robots!?
WTF those would of been amazing toys!
I've gotta say, I love this video, but does it really need to be a Top 10? As it stands this video could easily just be 'Why I liked BIONICLE 2009', without being attached to any arbitrary numbers. Anyway, besides that, I love the video and I always thought 2009 was underrated.
You're not wrong; I kinda talked about this in the recent channel update, but I just like the Top 10 themed videos rather than "Meso rants about _____" topic because it's more structured rather than freeform. It's a minor difference, but *shrug*
I loved 2009, best sets, best history, best colors, best designs, etc.
It's sad that this arc was wasted, had potential.
I actually started to cry when I was reading the bionicle 5 script
Gresh is the only reason why 2009 was the best Bionicle year ever.
2009 definitely had some of the best sets in the entire line! From the epic TITANS Tuma and Fero and Skirmix, the distinctly coloured and build of the Glatorian and Glatorian Legends, to the absolutely awesome showstoppers that are the Cendox V1, Kaxium V3, Baranus V7 along with the super awesome Thornatus V9 and of course.... Skopio XV-1! And the story was great and The Legend Reborn had top notch voice acting and was a great way to lead into 2010 and the theme's unfortunate end. And the Skrall and Tuma had the greatest back story and were well written villains!
Can you make a Video about the Top 10 Bionicle Sets what havent any Storyrelevanz? Like the Bahrag Kaita, and Makuta Nui?
And ähm, 5:30 what Link was it again?
It's a shame we never got to see more of it
Why is there not the usual top ten background music?
Wow, I'm surprised I didn't even notice! I guess its more related to the aesthetic pf the topic now?
Noah Productions [NP] When it’s applicable, yeah; I honestly just wanted some variety :P
Btw what *is* that usual music?
I noticed right away too. I thought I had paused the video at times because of how quiet it became. It seemed a little awkward LOL.
@@xuanathan Maybe it was composed by Var.
I agree with what you pointed out about elements-based armour but they could have spared a bit of it. Strakk is the best example: i dont see an icy robot, i see ice with legs attached
(that is, the icy shoulders and helmet are a bit over the top, should have toned it down. Same goes to green and black boys)
I missed out on getting these sets when they were relevant but when I look for pieces I want to purchase in lots I appreciate the amount of color that came from the 2009 sets. Sometimes I do get tired of sorting through dark colors and silvers at a certain point.
Legend reborn was my second favorite bionicle movie.
My Favorite sets of 2009 are: Gresh, Tarix, Mata nui and Tuma.
"CONCEED! FOR ALL TO HEAR!"
-Mata Nui, TLR
I've been saying this a lot, but Threshold Studios, the company that animated The Legend Reborn, also worked on the 2012 movie Foodfight. It's interesting to see the contrast in animation quality between the two movies...
That being said, Foodfight only really failed because of its creator/writer/producer/director, Lawrence Kasanoff, who intentionally wanted things to be all over the place.
Food Fight was mostly criticized because how poorly it treated it's animators.
I loved the 2009 year of Bionicle, and I definitely agree with your input on the Glatorian as characters.
But ya forgot to mention ma boy Tarix! That dude was sweet as hell!
Mata Nui and Ackar are the perfect bar buds hahaha.
2009 was the year that I actually became a Bionicle fan (even though I owned some of the older ones like Barraki and Piraka, and Mistika was just more of a start). I still remember my first Glatorian set: Skrall, and my first Agori: Metus and my other Glatorian: Vorox, and... that's it honestly. I kinda lost interest for awhile I think (I didn't even get any of the Glatorian Legends sets, which is a shame cuz I can't find Mata Nui anywhere other than Toa Mata Nui on the local online store that they sell Lego, even most of the classics as possible.)
And honestly... I was not aware that Bionicle had a story until I got back into Lego (and I wasn't aware that the movies was just adaptations of the comics). But at least I'm trying to read all of the comics (today even) so I can understand more and all that.
I was even a fan of the movie when I was younger. I wish that I could still be a fan if the story didn't rush that much (I mean I love the post-apocalyptic world that they were going for, but adding more things would be fine too.)
But now when I hear more about B-09 (specially Nr. 1), I really have to say that I'm really impressed that they managed to get the world, the characters (+personalities and all that), Mata Nui etc. In just 1 year. It's just as impressive as Koji Kondo coming up with the original LoZ theme in like 1 or less than days. (Idk it's been like a few years since I watched DYKG's LoZ video)
2009 will still be my favourite year (despite the flaws). It was the year that got me into Bionicle more effectively, and it is amazing how Lego could do as much as possible as they could in just 1 year. 2009 may not be good, but they did their best as they could.
Something I really love about the Skrall is that it's unusual for them to have names. There are only a few named Skrall, and they're all heroes among their people. The rest are intentionally stripped of personality and individuality, symbolizing their status as a dictatorial swarm; they don't matter to Tuma and the other leaders, and they don't matter to their opponents; they're only numbers to pad an army.
10 ten good things in 2010. ,,Stars''
Ps we steal his phone
I remembered myself purchasing some of those Bionicle sets in the very early 2010s.
My #1 favorite thing about Bionicle 2009 is that I started buying sets again, As soon as I heard about the Glatorian legends sets, I knew I had to pick them up
I personally love and still do love 2009 as the set designs were awesome. Unfortunately I was only able to get a few sets from it
A a person that's been with the theme from the beginning BIONICLE 2009 stands as my second fave year. Bringing a whole new setting with a brand new feel, tone and lore to the franchise as well as some of the best lore elements in my opinion. And it's honestly only beaten out by the Mahri line because I'm inherently biased toward ocean adventures and the ocean as a setting (though that did do so much awesome worldbuilding of its own that I absolutely love). And in true I honestly do like the 4th movie as corny as it is.
Great video, Meso! The music was more fitting, and was new (though it got a little old by the end)! I’m happy someone still does top 10’s (finger crossed for top 10 Barraki even thought there aren’t 10).
How can anybody hate this it is my favorite wave!
Hey thanks for the heart!
Nice video. Since I grew up with Bionicle 2009 it means a lot to me.
This year was honestly one of my favorites ngl
The Legend Reborn and 2009 in general is really underrated. It had so much potential and it's a shame it didn't get the chance to shine as much as it could have. I know TLR was supposed to be part of a trilogy but I feel like Journey's End could have been the sequel we never got. It also would have been really great to have the Mirimax voice actors return in it if possible, which is something I love the idea of. At the very least, if Micheal Dorn and Lee Tockar did a reading of Mata Nui's and Makuta Teridax's dialogue in the Final Battle, that would have been amazing. I do appreciate the Mata Nui Saga for recapping the Bionicle story from Mata Nui's perspective and tying everything together. It honestly works as a mini follow-up to TLR's cliffhanger with Micheal Dorn narrating it, from that perspective the cliffhanger doesn't feel too awkward.
Oh come on one year after my year gets a whole ass video dedicated ta it
2009 those were the days
Hard to believe it's been nearly a decade
I love Bionicle 2009, as it was the first Bionicle wave that caught my eye as a child. Before 2009, I always thought that Bionicle was a boring or overrated theme. However, upon seeing the colorful, elemental feel of 2009's characters, I was instantly hooked. I now love the Bionicle theme as a whole (G1 and G2), and it's all thanks to Bionicle 2009.
Black Desert Online to mmos in general is what Bara Magna is to Bionicle. Also the Skralls were truly chad-tier Thanoses.
Does anyone know the background music?
It's part of UA-cam's Creator Music Library, called Sahara Rain.
Love the designs, hate the pieces.
Also today I hit a jackpot. Found all 2009 sets (minus the vehicles and toa mata nui) for 70 dollars.
1:44 that looks like a land adapted jetrax
Thank you for making this video Meso
I still liked The Legend Reborn film, no matter the humor aspect it has, at least Disney did NOT distribute it.
Hell yeah it was, SKOPIO XV 1 GANG
The fact the hand pieces were literal hands should be #1.
I love the concept and idea with Bara Magna. Sadly i only know of it from the movie. Gr8 video btw you skullboi
I wanted to see Velika's counter attack arc because Velika was revealed to be Bionicle's char aznable.
Honestly the 2009 story line seemed interesting. I foujd most of the dissatisfaction of the year to be mostly nostalgic underpinnings calling back to 2001. I think if bionicle is brought back they should continue the gen 1 story line if not through the toys at least through books, tv shows or movies. They built up the atory so well