Does Bionicle have a Future? | BIONICLE Deep Dive
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- Опубліковано 22 січ 2023
- Part 3 of 3 in our look at the past and future of Bionicle. Here we explore the questions: can Bionicle come back? Should it come back? And how could that look? And more importantly, we look at the numerous ways the Bionicle fan community has kept the series alive, and allowed it to have a future by preserving it and adding to it with our own art and passion. Maybe Lego will bring it back someday, I hope so. But our community is more than the company, and the story we love lives on through us, and the new fans we may bring to this legend.
Bionicle Iliad @BionicleIliad : • Bionicle: Iliad Animat...
The Mangai Project @themangaiproject : • THE MANGAI - Teaser Tr...
Masks of Power Game by @TeamKanohi : • BIONICLE: Masks of Pow...
Wall of History: wallofhistory.com/
Biological Chronicle: crosswiredgeeks.com/biologica...
Art from Christian Faber @questforfuturecreativity: / cctoqs6r1im
Tuyet MOC by Bukkey: / clrpyurdc16
Kurisu, twitter anime reviewer and new Bionicle fan, check him out he's got some great thoughts on various series: / chuunihatboi
Everything in this video falls under Fair Use
BIONICLE is owned by the LEGO Group - Розваги
I met a kid last year from my girlfriend's family during a get-together. He is only 11yrs old and he already new about Bionicle. I freaked the heck out when he mentioned it and we were talking for 3hrs straight. He told me about how he never met anyone his age who knew or cared about what Bionicle was. He read through all the books and comics, he watched the trailers and films on repeat, even talked about such minor details that even I didn't know about.
In the end we both definitely agreed that Bionicle can be so much bigger if it was given the same treatment as Transformers during its first few iterations. Iconic the first time, failed the second time and reborn into so many new things. Soon enough Bionicle will come back better than ever whether it's in one form or another.
Bionicle will always live on in with the fans... and that's good enough for me.
"Now it's time for you to make new legends for that is the way of the Bionicle"
I only want G1's universe. And want it to come back.
I’m a new fan who actually got into the series because I had the big reveal spoiled for me, hearing that the entire world was actually a giant robot was so fascinating to me that it made want to get into the series to explore that world
Sounds kinda like transformers (Unicron)
Yes to me Marvel Studios' Eternals felt like a ripoff of the Mata Nui giant humanoid entire world landmass plot imo. Even looked like it in the movie.
One major obstacle, I think, is that Bionicle is a tainted brand now. Because G2 sold so bad, retailers would associate another reboot with bad sales and not allow it on their shelves. They'd basically need to be Lego store exclusives, though they MIGHT be able to trick retailers into stocking it by changing the name.
bonkle
Personally I've never bought into this theory. As Someone who collects a myriad of lines, I don't see how Bionicle G2 could be worse compared to transformers G2. I compare g2 to Power Rangers Lightning collection and those go on clearance all the time. A solid 40% was bought on some sorta sale. But on top of everything else Lego had a total renewal of the trademark in 2020. As a transformer fan who uses trademarks as Tarot cards it makes me jump for joy. even if we get one Bionicle set a decade Lego still has to use the trademark to not be fined. Even if Lego has to add another title like Beast Wars to Bionicle I can only hope it will flourish new ideas and concepts.
Also Chima got renewed too so that means we will see at lest one set from now till 2032
I'd love a Hero Factory reboot (2.0, if you will) at this point, or a spiritual successor to the two brands.
just something more character-driven, rather than *another* line focusing on vehicles or buildings.
the new Marvel figures like the Spider-Men, Venom, Groot and Iron Man sets are the kind of thing I wanna see more of - just without the licenses attached to them - I wanna see something original.
the Bionicle ship has sailed however. like you said, it's a tainted brand now, and even if they did bring it back, it can't come back as it was - and the majority of fans wouldn't actually want something new anyway.
I don't think that matters now since we're 7 years after the last Bionicle run. All major toylines have highs and lows and Bionicle has a solid enough precedent to ensure potential.
Yeah, that's definitely a big obstacle. I'm not sure if its insurmountable though, especially if they lead with a well done tv show or something of that nature. All speculation of course, but I think its possible, though pretty difficult like you say
My number one hope for a BIONICLE return is more media. Be it a TV show retelling the events of the original, or a videogame exploring the far corners of the MU, I'd love to see this world built upon in more artistic ways
Legit, G1 needs a high-budget tv show to make it surpass the old commercials.
If we get a proper G3 this still needs to be a thing at some point.
A reexploration of G1 through new builds like with Ninjago would actually be a breath of fresh air. We’d get new and updated parts for our old sets/mocs, perhaps they could bring in all the old colors so that we could get better replacements for the original ones that broke too often using modern engineering.
The only big issue is price point. OG Bionicle was CHEAP for the main sets so kids can get a lot of them and parents wouldn’t feel like they forked over their wallet for one.
But since it’s gen 1, past a massive rerelease of the story in a modern or wide-reaching format it would probably work best as a more adult-build line? I couldn’t say without market data in front of me.
Oh hey it’s GSR Mata Nui from Brickset! Sup dude!
@@stevendillon4010 Not much, mostly playing Minecraft
The future's so bright, I've gotta wear shades. With the recent moves to improve stability and flexibility of mechs of all sizes in themes like Ninjago and Monkie Kid, I'm optimistic there may be a buildable figure line on the horizon. It might not be for a few years, and it might not be Bionicle, but it's a good year for Bonkle fans.
What if in the reboot we get a prologue.
We see a damaged Mata Nui (in a size of a toa) controlling a command center of a spaceship, but we don't see the ship from the outside just the inside we then see the despair and chaos brought on by Makuta as he is gaining control of the ship and eventually Mata Nui as last resort decides to lung the ship onto a planet, as Makuta makes his way into the command center, he then breaks open the blast doors shouting --- Mata Nui your reign is over! --- Mata Nui yells back --- you'll never rule over the matoran as long as I live --- , as Makuta gets closer --- Then I'll make you into a sleeping legend --- Mata Nui then steers the ship nose dive onto the planet moves his head and locks on and stares with hope we then see 6 canisters (the Toa) in a hibernation state, as Mata Nui looks onto the 6 canisters he whispers --- all of you are my only hope --- ship enters the atmosphere and then cut to black. We see a canister open and see a Toa awaken and taking their first steps.
Just throwing ideas around
Imagining Bionicle outlive the toys like Transformers has done with stuff like the movies is something that has crossed my mind, but after watching this video has really made me realize how interesting that could really be. I’d be all on board with that direction, even though I still love the toys hah.
A new idea that I’ve thought of for a Bionicle story would be focusing on Toa outside the main six elements that all have the representative prefixes in their names (Fa-, Vo-, Bo-, etc) since I always personally wondered what stories could be told if we got introduced to such characters
Similarly, I would like if a reboot merged Stone and Earth, and Water and Ice into one element each, and instead bring in, say, Plantlife and Lightning.
I have an idea like that. It's about a group of Toa Canisters containing Toa of Secondary elements crash land on a archipelago of fueuding Islands representing their elements. A mysterious foe threatens the islands and not the Toa must unite them to stop this new foe.
I think if Lego decides to bring the theme back they should get a team of Bionicle fans to help develop it. Only Bionicle fans know what Bionicle fans want. Lego can then use their input to make a compelling revival
Honestly I don’t get why lego doesn’t just reissue one of the sets every once in awhile when it’s convenient
I mean Hasbro does it with Transformers all the time
@@PK-RadioDue to LEGO’s production process, a “re-issue” of classic sets that use primarily unique long-retired molds with limited repurposing potential seems like a huge ask. The best we can expect are brick-built reimaginings of classic sets, like the Tahu & Takua GWP.
More traditional toys like Transformers are a different beast entirely when it comes to production, making this a bad comparison.
If Bionicle comes back and uses a new build system, I only hope that they keep the mechanical aesthetic, with all the pistons, hinges, and sharp edges.
The mechanical aesthetic was impeccable
That was a slight problem I had with G2 compared to G1, it felt a little to sleek and clean in some design aspects.
I have been currently working on my own toyline directly inspired by Bionicle with buildable figures filled to the brim with play features like all of the Bionicle mocs I've built for years now. You may have recognized a few of my builds ranging from the flying rahaga Gaaki, to Makuta with a working shadow hand, and even the boneheads nui jaga to name a few. All the sets im making would be derived from recycled materials and the story will debute in web comics for audiences of all ages to engage. This toyline of mine is called Ascending Depths. It has been a difficult journey being a one person operation but a satisfactory one. We don't need Lego if we try hard enough. I even did my own Kickstarter which helped a great deal
tell me all about your toyline, or maybe link to anywhere i can see more of it
@@lurkathon my apologies I thought I'd responded to you.
Ascending Depths (AD) is a line of buildable figures that will have a building system unlike anything seen before. Yet also holding true to form when it comes down to the strengths of constraction down to its basic elements. Which would allow complete integration of building systems that came before. As for the story I cannot reveal much but it takes place at the end of the cycle of cycles in the galaxy of Exobia Vizar. On a small ocean world resides a vast shimmering ocean, an island paradise and a floating city in the skies above. :)
Honestly, I don't know if I want a full revival. I feel like we can't reasonably expect something to capture the magic of the original.
That being said, I think releasing something like the mata nui robot set concept would be a fantastic way to appeal to the fanbase. They don't need to go all in on the brand again, but making something like the great spirit robot set is just such a perfect release in this position
Like
1. It's fully brick built
2. It represents the entirety of the franchise in a very specific way
3. It has never been referenced in an actual set before
4. It works fully as it's own set with its own merits, standalone
I've been talking with friends about this recently. My feeling is that if they bring Bionicle back it shouldn't be just retread of G1 with elements switched around like G2 was.
I think the best way to approach the franchise going forward is starting with a soft reboot/continuation of the original story. A new location, new characters but focusing in on that mysterious feeling early G1 had. There has been a lot of successful soft reboots in film and tv in recent years and it could definitely work for bionicle: Deal heavy in the nostalgia, but expand and extend the source material in attempt to move it forward into new areas.
Treat it like a new story saga: For newer fans they have all these new characters to help introduce them to the world, but for the older fans there are connections to the older characters and the Mata Nui arc for those who are interested, but knowledge of bionicle's past isn't necessary to follow on with the new stuff.
Lego currently have a lot of lines that release sets for kids and sets of adults. For adult fans bring back the older Toa Mata/Nuva as new more complex builds. But you can still have the sets aimed at kids aswell.
Fuck it in a dream world what I would like is:
-Animated series/youtube animated shorts, made to feel like the older CG animations but with more polish - retelling the key events of G1 for those that are interested.
-Animated series for the new saga (G3) - Set in future long past the end of G1, same feeling of early G1 with a large mysterious world to explore. Give new fans and adult fans the same feeling of discovering what this new bionicle world looks like.
-G3 Sets (Kid focused line)- I personally would like to see more emphasis on the Matoran themselves since I always think they are some of the most interesting characters in the series. Could have some cool sets like Matoran + Rahi packaged together, adds some more play value without needing to buy another set. Also even if these sets are system based, I would love if they still include the masks as unique molds.
-G3 Sets (Adult focused line) - More detailed figures. Do the past Toa Mata but in a new form that is remiscent of their Toa Mata appearance but a lot more detailed and articulated. These can take the form of figure-centric dioramas, the largest of these could include a Toa and a large Rahi. (Like how awesome it would be to have a new detailed set of Kopaka fighting a Giant Muaka?) then these figures could be built into a nice presentation stand where they can be posed. There are some successful adult lego sets that have done similar things in recent years.
-Lego hires some of the fan game creators to make some officially sanctioned game projects: The game Team Kanohi are working on looks legit and has a lot of eyes on it, if that does well getting them to do another based around G3 could be legitttttt.
-Also as a game developer myself, pay me money and I'll make a very pretty MNOLG-inspired point and click for G3. Lets gooooooo. 😅
TLDR - Soft reboot, continuation of story but treated as the start of a new saga, new characters/locations. Older canon still exists for older fans which is also catered to with adult sets. G3 MNOLG-style point and click OR lego pay me and I'll do it. :P
I think one thing people want from a G3 is just news sets and parts. As time goes on the old Bioncle system sets available on the secondary market shrinks. Some sets find permanent homes with fans who care about them, and some break, either way it is causing a slow but noticeable increase in costs for even used sets.
I think a lot of people just want new easily accessible way to get parts and sets from a series they love.
I always loved BIONICLE since childhood. I kept dreaming of their return to the world because I really miss them.
I would love an anime style Bionicle series. Everything that anime is known for really lends it to being the perfect medium IMO, from fights, magic and robots, it's all been done in anime brlliantly, and I think it would be the perfect art style for the bionicle story. I would love if LEGO funded a tv show to see if Bionicle could garner attention from new fans
I think Bionicle could work as a very heavy 3D series with the intricate mechanical designs. The Agori would need some workshopping but they’re proper augmented organics/cyborgs so it wouldn’t be too hard either.
For it to be it’s best like this it would need a monumental budget and reach a massive audience.
If lego rebooted it with a more adult/teen focus, alongside a show similar in quality and style to Arkane, with bionicle less as a toy and more as posable art, like how lego treats many of it's more complex or mature sets, i think that bionicle would have a very strong chance of becoming quite successful again, the models would have to look GOOD though
@@Amphibian42Matoro's sacrifice but it's done like the ending of Arcane would be amazing
The anime comparison is perfect, IMO. I think Bionicle has a huge potential to appeal to anime fans, and I could see an Avatar-like reboot series getting loads of support.
Nooooo
Damn, this franchise has more of a future than TF2, does it have a comp scene?!?!?!?
Here’s a crackpot idea as a somewhat brand new fan of bionicle, what if there was a new series that set place on the red star after makuta terridax took over?
It could be a series of a brand new group of characters from different backgrounds and groups (with somewhat different builds) all United to try and find an artifact that would guide them to a place called paradise, where the sun would shine.
Then when the first two waves would end, the massive twist that the show took place on the red star, would cause most groups to realize that paradise wasn’t some different planet/dimension/etc, but that it was the giant robot with everyone trying to find it. but a dark entity trapped on the red star long ago that gave the star it’s hue tries to prevent them from doing so (I think her name was Annona according to the DuckBricks video)
It would be a perfect way explain things away, like what the residents of the red star were CCBS or a different line, (which in my mind is a small protectors torso with brick built thighs, CCBS for the rest, three toed feet, ccbs arms, and a head that uses that new shoulder piece as a mask of sorts for the brick built head.)
This would also allow the lego group to have their cake and eat it too. Heck, we might be able to get a toa of lightning as a nod to the fan base (personally in that clear cyan piece, but purple could be a super form of sorts)
What would add further mystery and shock value would be to explore the idea of other mega constructs like Mata Nui. Perhaps there’s ancient interfaces he works with that have their own life forms, cultures, and legends. What of the other robot that Mata nui fought Makuta with? Was it as biodiverse as his original body? Another option could be an older character having to relearn the history of the matoran universe due to amnesia (think Lewa lost in space kinda deal). Thoughts?
My only problem with bionicle g3 being brick made is that I really like the sturdines of construction sets
also it's like buying a model car as your daily driver it has 0 mechanics you can't do fuck with it it is TECHNIC for fucks sake....
Unfortunately, it looks like LEGO has completely abandoned Constraction.
I always thought that it would've been a good thing for Bionicle to have a video game equivalent of The Skywalker Saga, you know, an easily digestible way for people to experience the story of Bionicle through a single video game.
There could be a TV series revival of the whole story.
As long as they are 100% faithful to the original material it should be great.
I don't think they have to be 100% faithful, some things could be written better, but yeah overall they would have to stick to it.
@@ToastGrain they have to. I agree with OP. Add stuff, don’t change or remove.
@@ToastGrain yeah full foresight would give then the opportunity to make the story better, like Building up Nektann more, maybe have him with the Piraka when they beat the Toa Nuva and have him personally whoop Tahu's ass.
Or provide more hints about the Makuta being a species. The Great Robot being planned from the beginning was always so cool to me but the same clearly wasn't done for the 2008 Makuta.
And make mention of the countless important figures that get introduced in the Voya Nui era before then, so it doesn't feel like random power creep.
yeah faithful like netflix :D
I'm not picky about how they would decide to go for the toys, but admit that I don't like the idea of brick-Minifigures. I like the GWP type of build and see an actual future there if expanded. For me, Bionicle being action figures is essential... (though obviously, not every fan feels that way!). [Technic would be ideal, but can't have everything!]
Story wise I agree. Continuing it may not be a great idea. I can see something like Beast Wars, where it's its own thing but happens on the same timeline as G1... But making a new one would be a better idea, especially since different than TF-G1, Bionicle G1 has a bit of a bigger story.
Also, yeah, even if Lego never gets into it, the fandom more than compensates for it. New set parts, new MOCs, new stories, games, cartoons, art... Bionicle has a surprisingly dedicated community, not many fandoms can say that
I have friends I met in college and then known for years before finding out that they also loved Bionicle
Doesn‘t anyone else think that the ending of G1 would be a great start for a clean, new story? Exploring the newly created Spherus Magna, fighting against the originally planned dino bionicles and discovering mysteries about the great beings and so forth?
Just introduce a bunch of new characters, who we have no history with (so it’s not confusing for new fans) and have them get turned into toa/glatorian for some reason.
I would sooo love to see that, and the books could explore the whole story in more detail and finish plot threads that were left hanging, whereas TV Spots/comics/TV series would focus on an easy to comprehend, more focussed story (similar to how it was with the books vs movies in G1)
I would sooo love that and I think that would satisfy both old and new fans alike
Honestly that could be a very interesting idea, especially since like you say, Spherus Magna was such a fresh start. I think that a lot of work would need to be put in to make sure that the new world is filled with enough mystery to sustain the story, but yeah, a fresh start reboot with new characters or even old characters who were extremely minor could work
i say the ignition fan movies have made the story far more accessible, as well.
I think if Lego wants to test the waters with how well a new Bionicle project would do, they need to sell an actual set, on its own, designed with at least the same amount of passion and budget as the GWP was. Another GWP or piece of another multi-theme set won't tell Lego how well Bionicle is able to stand on its own feet a third time around.
I think the best way to try it out would be to design a wave of new sets, made with a combination of system and technic, and to create a short animated film that tells the story that they publish for free on UA-cam and on another major streaming service.
This "pilot wave" might not have anything after it prepared ahead of time beyond plans and prototypes, just out of caution, but even if that means we need to wait another year between it and the following waves, if this pilot does well and they advertise it well... We could have a real winner. If it still has the spirit of Bionicle, I don't care if it's a reincarnation with a new name, characters, and world, or a revival with some of those familiar elements.
When it comes to the toys, it could be interesting to have the main sets be a simple build for the main cast, creating new play features that are actually fun for kids with Technic. However, make some sort of "expert" set, that mixed a bit of everything in between.
In terms of story, I would personally go with Christian Faber's vision: Having a new story with some mystery that links the old versions that create intrigue. Yes, maybe kids won't be that interested in that part, but with my experience in different fandoms, theory crafting is a big thing for adult fans.
One thing I want to see however, are the masks, specially for a colectable item that's easy to buy
The main reason I want Bionicle back...
I NEED NEW COMPATIBLE MOLDS!
And not just 3D printed parts
I would still buy it if it were a system theme though, as long as story and sets are good. But I really hope that they have new compatible constraction parts, even if it’s just minor parts like the large swords in Ninjago and monkie kid (as long as those don’t only come in gold or transparent colors like they do in those two themes)
Great video, thank you for all of the links to more bionicle creators and projects!
Honestly I think a brick based Bionicle toyline would be the best low-sum gamble for LEGO to take. There's not many new pieces they need to make- they just need to print some stuff in the right colours and replicating GWP Tahu and Takua will be a breeze. I wouldn't be able to get on board with minifigs tho, can't quite do MOCs properly with those. A G3 storyline could take place some time after the end of G1, though like I was told, it would be just a fight to keep the lights on.
The best rhing they could do is a sort of reboot of the franchise.
Tell a story set IN the bionicle universe but not in the main storyline.
Maybe another planet somewhere else, tell the story of what happened either a long time before or a long time after the main plotline.
But for the love of god keep the sets simple and charming. No need to fill them with glow in the dark/light up/spinning projectiles. Start small again like the toa/rhakshi/toa nuva era where play is simple (and cost of production is low) have the original elements be represented and start fresh with a simple story to begin with
I never really nessercaly got into Bionicle despite knowing there’s more to it I just enjoyed the aesthetic.
I absolutely think that brick-built is the the way forward for Bionicle.
This is little because I'm only one man but trying to get it alive again in my country is a task I'm happy to do.
The future of Bionicle is probably going to be in fan projects like Masks of Power.
Oh yeah, those projects have been really looking impressive!
One of the only things I do wish they did bring Bionicle back for is the missed and Cancelled story arc of Mata Nui and Glatorian Co go to Bota Magna and see the vast Expanses of Jungles Fields Plains and other floral ecosystems and all the Biomechanic Dinosaurs
For me, the elements of Bionicle toys that made them stand out to me were:
-constraction
-ball-and-socket joints
-technic-based assembly
-unique parts
If Bionicle returned in a form that was missing those features, I'd probably be pretty disappointed -- even if the story continued.
The movies were a very big deal for me, so I think I could live with there not being toys at all if there were more movies and shows. But I don't think this is something Lego is likely to want to try.
You’re right if I show all my friends, maybe we’ll get another Bionic story again, maybe even finally get those dinosaurs showing up.
Another thing, that might benefit Lego when releasing new Bionicle would probably little leaks or teasers to get the fans speculating and announce it in advance, maybe even multiple years.
(have a look at Metroid Prime 4)
If Bionicle comes back, I think it'd be cool if it was both system and technic, like they did with the new City Space line.
Great video! Love the part where you say we should share Bionicle with more people. If it comes back officially I'd preffer they place it in G1, doing a time skip, but a retelling of G1 also sounds great o.o
If we're being realistic, a new toy line with a new story would be most likely, ideally with a full TV series like other story driven themes is most likely. How close they follow past stuff would be up in the air, but I think it would follow that basic outline.
If it were me calling the shots though? I'd say do something WITHOUT the toyline, at least not as the focus. Make a Bionicle series as the core, if you want sets you can do that later, but for me the big thing is I want something that doesn't feel like it's bound to whatever toys Lego is making. I think at least some of G1's story quirks have to come down to the fact that they were obligated to do certain things to accommodate how the sets were, whether it be constantly changing themes or appearances, or having a very large cast compared to many other stories. Not saying that these CAN'T be in the story, I'm just saying the larger point is that I want the creators to have full freedom with the story and not have to worry about tying in toy stuff.
Story wise, I guess I'd do what I'd call a "pseudo G1", where I try to follow a lot of G1 but also be unafraid to reinterpret stuff if it makes things more interesting or cohesive. I'm sure some would consider it blasphemous, but people are going to be upset and nitpicky even if you DO end up doing a 1 to 1 G1 adaption (which honestly I'd love just as much but I feel like even there compromises will have to be made in some parts), so I say just do something heavily inspired and following a lot of the broad strokes (some of the alternate Mata Nui robot ideas I did wonder about myself).
Age wise, I'd say definitely don't exclude kids but don't be afraid to not feel like you're making it JUST for kids, like a lot of popular genre franchises do now. Star Wars, Doctor Who, superhero stuff, they all usually have kids in mind and try to make sure there's room for them, but they don't make stuff *just* for them, and tend to think of all potential ages watching. I mean, even Bionicle was aimed at something like an 8-16 range, already saying they're considering older consumers like teens. If they did sets, the idea of more adult aimed sets alongside the younger aimed action figures and such would be a nice mix.
So yeah, got a lot of thoughts, but I try to be open. It's weird, I'm not really one who clamours for more of existing franchises, and sometimes outright isn't a fan of it, wishing things would just be allowed to end, but even if I'm not exactly clamouring for Bionicle, I think if I wanted SOMETHING back, it would be that (either that or Primeval, a now fairly obscure sci-fi show from the Walking with Dinosaurs creators lol). I think there's genuine potential in the story that more people deserve to see.
I'd like to see them bring it back in the GWP style. They could sell Toa by themselves for $14.99 with Matoran and Turaga being sold in larger sets with Rahi, environments, and structures. The only thing the line would need is a new stylized mask component to match the mixel brick based build style.
Ever since I first made friends online, I was surrounded by Bionicle fans. Now, I had some experience with the toys, Photok will always be my beloved, but other than that all I knew is that the story was completely alienating and unapproachable. It wasn't until one of my friends made me play through the MNOG that everything finally clicked in my head; I was learning about the Toa, Rahi, Makuta, the Matoran, the great spirit Mata Nui, it became my new hyperfixation. Going through the story with all its dips and peaks made me intrigued to keep going, but by 2006 I was completely hooked with no signs of stopping. I binged the books, I watched the commercials, I got in on the memes too. The GSR twist caught me completely off guard and made me rethink everything I knew about the Matoran universe, The Legend Reborn got me attached to the Glatorians and Mata Nui as a character. I adore this franchise now, when at the beginning I believed it to be a completely incomprehensible and inaccessible story. Being 20 years old at the time of writing this, I believe this story is insanely captivating, and the depth of both it and its characters is something I've never seen before. I wouldn't mind if Bionicle came back, in whatever form Lego decides to make it, because no matter what, I will be there.
Also I just want to say I love your videos! They are very fun to listen to and it's always fun to hear your thoughts and deep dives on specific topics, please keep it up!
#boxgangwashere
Good Deep Dive👍
(1/29/23)
I know the fandom can create it's own story to imagine and inspire,
For it meant a lot to me as a child with my imagination.
i think a g 1 continuation that is basicly a standalone would work, making the g1 basicly the prequel era: good to know but not strictly necessary for enjoyment.
spherus magna, starting with a bota magna arc, velika, the element lords, etc. give enough room for a self contained story.
and a starting premise of a world being ecologicaly repaired from previous wars and remaining old evils and intrigued that has to be resolved is a good starting point for a followable story.
and maybe there is room for a "core wars" spinoff down the line.
and once thats done, there is room for some space exploration stuff and future stories.
g2 concepts would fit well with the bota magna area/ element lord saga.
for building a brick build/ technic elements hybrid would work.
masks could be build from six single stud sized pieces to create multiple masks from fewer molds. this would allow for highly customized masks too (2x3 plate (possibly with a standard mask rim. maybe 3 different rim type molds) with the 6 mask part studs. connected by a single stud to a face behind that). so hundrets of masks could be made from just a dozen molds, while having all the parts compatible with general lego.
Personally I think a new bionicle series to see if it works. If it doesn't nobody is upset as it was it's own thing.
If it's a success it's revealed the series was actually in the same world as g1 and g2 but the link is a new mask. Mask of reality. A being that exist to maintain order and keep other timelines as they were.
This also lets us give some retelling of g1 and g2 a bit when we arive there and because makuta wants the new mask to undo he defeats and rewrite the past stories, giving us potential new story in old media. Everyone wins.
Or *tldr* : ben 10 omniverse for bionicle since im sometimes bad at explaining things. A series where everyone wins, but it would be hard.
I only learned about bionicle recently (as i wasnt a huge fan of legos when i was little, plus i wasnt born yet in 2001 when they came out.) I think they are very interesting since i do really like the story plus the large amount of articulation some figures have. I showed it to my little brother too since its exactly the kinda thing he'd be interested in
I’m somewhat
a good example of this as one day around march of 2022 I got curious about Bionicle so I did some research about the franchise and now I’m a huge fan, who wants it to come back even having a few of the old figures
Bionicle is an expensive theme to do. That's the thing.
It is expensive yeah. So it would have to do crazy well to be worth it, which is a very big gamble and uncertainty
What a really love that lego did is the essentially made a muktuverse so the fans can make there own worlds
I personally am not against the idea of brick built constraction, but the recent efforts still look a bit goofy to me. So, to hit system-based Bionicle out of the park, I would wager that a test theme is necessary, kinda like Hero Factory was a bit of a testbed for CCBS before being ported over to Bionicle
Honestly yeah that makes sense, get something as a test
I don't know if anyone has mentioned it so far, but a thing I found was the Bionicle Ignition movies, which were Stop Motion retellings of the Inika and Mahri storylines, they were pretty good
A large story with a long history can be done for sure. One Piece has been going on for more than twice as longer (started in 1997 and is still ongoing, expecting at least a few more years' worth of story) and remains as one of the most popular stories in the world. It has multiple films (while non-canon) and the anime has some criticisms of egregious fillers but it's still going strong.
...Though it does alienate some people from enter, it really is by their own volition that they don't watch it. I wonder how One Piece did it...
I agree with the idea of getting people interested. I personally cannot wait to introduce my nephew (who will be 5 soon) to Bionicle.
That'll be great!
The story doesn't Live on through us or anybody. We still give it the love it deserves.
Check out how mass effect stays relatively intact over all these years. If we are to survive as a flock, we need more people. This dude has hit the nail on the head. I got a bunch of mixlels and they are like mini action figures, a smaller kind of Bionicle like their new tribute figure
I would love to see bionicle come back if it ever does I don’t care how much they cost I will buy as many sets as I can. Also I held on to some sets I’ve had since I was a kid sadly some are missing pieces but they still look cool and recently my nephews have become interested in them and so I gave some of my old sets to my nephews. And man seeing them play with them in almost exactly the same way I did as a kid really makes me wish we had new sets to buy for them because even now these old sets still bring out joy and creativity to kids.
I would like to see a reboot of G1 take the themes and change it around a bit or more. Give us some new designs and give us legacy sets which are based on the og with the new system.
Of course lego themes are for all ages, but i think one thing thats suoer important is that parents sometimes need to think something is cool or fun enough to buy it for their kids. Or even be able to enjoy it themselves to ease their kids into it. My solution? Actually make the sets more intricate and detailed. Not saying they need to be S+ Tier MOC detail, but if i was a parent looking to buy a toy for my kid, i honestly would get them the set that while challenging, looks the most badass.
Other idea? lego should bring the old molds back (i HIGHLY doubt they dont have digital backups), and just allow them the be custom ordered online, like oj their Pick-a-Brick system. They wouldnt HAVE to keep making sets, as long as they just produced the parts, because we the community would just make them instead.
So what I'm getting from this is the fandom should embrace Unity, and do their Duty of brining new fans in order to fulfill their Destiny, bringing back the Bionicle IP.
Bionicle will never be the same just like the good old times.
It isnt necessary to wear the Kanohi Vahi to find out.
Unfornatuly it reach its final destination.
This is my opinion, take it has you want, whether it's a good or a bad idea , but i think a live-action or a animated 3d/2d hybrid movie, similarly made by high-budget studios Dreamworks,Illumination, Paramount or others studios, would be risky but a big way to get back the audience to Bionicle. I think Lego need the main-stream audience and not necessarly the fan base. They should try like Hasbro did with the transformers 2007 movie, because the TF franchise was niche (just adressing its fan-base and not the major casual viewers) before the Live-action movie come-out. If a tv show is in Lego cards, it just need to plan out the marketing to make sure that it's accessibles, to all audience, but with compelling story and mature theme like what we got with Avatar: the last airbender. I'm sure Bionicle will come back, BUT in the cost it really need to work for the Bionicle franchise.
I think one of the issues as well is the expectation of starting from the same point with the island of mata nui, we did it once already with g2. I feel like we got so much lore in G1 and the reveals of even things like metru nui, the larger world that they could take and rework all those ideas too. Sure take some inspo from the 2001-2003 like the more wild natural setting vs the mechanical side but incorporate more elements of this advanced ruined world like an overgrown wild metru nui. Maybe instead of the great spirit robot its the mysteries of the missing great being creators we get hints of at first and then they are the endgame. Almost like telling a new story but incorporate familiar and also underdeveloped ideas from the original, the paths that coulda been
0:32 "Even growing"
I just came back to Bionicle about a week ago. As a child I was a huge fan, but after the Rakshi my interest slowly started to fade away.
I only watched The Mask of Light, which was really cool, and for whatever reason, I never found out about another movie.
We had a few of the other generations, but at that point, mostly my younger brother was still playing Bionicle.
But now I'm trying to catch up with all the lore, which is really cool. I always was wondering what the initial video about Mata nui and Makuta on the first CD was all about.
I never thought, there was a more interesting story behind it than just "A new generation of Toa has to fight a new generation of villains"
Nice video!
Thanks!
I went to a lego store once and someone there kept talking to me about sets and I told him, "I only care about bionicles, you guys got any of those," and when he said no I just left
After cleaning my bedroom the past week, I bought my first LEGO sets in year (the last one being in 2017 with Lloyd's Dragon Mech from the Ninjago movie) cause I turned 25 on Friday, and I wanted LEGO sets to decorate my shelves. At first, as a Bionicle fan, I wanted mainly Titans sets cause those were the only types of sets I had interest in rebuilding or finding online. Not the easiest task. So I checked out what there was currently for Ninjago and bought the current Cole's Evo Dragon and Zane's Ice Dragon Creature and had a big pleasure building these. Such a pleasure that I'm getting addicted and can't wait to buy more Dragons sets. And since yesterday, I want to buy Mechs sets too. The pleasure I found in the building process was to see all those pieces, while having no idea how it's gonna turn into the actual set. But you start following the instruction notice, and brick by brick, it starts looking as something. That's what I loved. It sadly made me realize that, as of today, I would get bored of building Bionicle sets. Cause their building system never been as complex. Sure there's been the Titan sets but when you looked at the pieces, you quickly knew which would be the legs, the arms, etc. Actually what could get me interested in building with the Bionicle/CCBS system, is the level of custom you find in the most impressive mocs.
If Bionicle comes back, either by a new reboot or by exploiting the potential of G1's story telling, should it still be LEGO sets ? I don't think so. Not because the building system would not be the original, I'm not that kind of guy. But simply because, just the word Bionicle has surpassed the concept of toys. LEGO are keeping the rights to exploit a source of gold (not talking about money here) but they aren't doing anything with it. Since years, Bionicle has been more than just a LEGO theme, and hopefully Christian Faber officially working on a new way to bring it back, more on pair with the time we're living in, and presenting it to the LEGO group and many other sources will be the opportunity to tell the Legend of Bionicle as this universe trully deserve it these days.
I think they should combine technic and system, the shaping could be amazing! Also, there are so many unknown locations, stories to uncover. Huge potential
Please no .....
Honestly yeah, that could be cool!
I'm all for a brick based retelling of G1. Let's some more brick based Toa.
Honestly, just reboot the entire line from the start. No, not like that, what I mean is re-release all the sets exactly how they were originally released. Bring Gen 1 and all its permutations along, have the story be similar yet different, set in an alternate universe so that the old fans can return to something familiar while new fans can have a fresh entry spot. A familiar yet different story that was so beloved. And no reason Lego can't recreate the old molds so that we could have the toys as they were, but preferably with sturdier joints.
I think they could bring back the G1 sets. Maybe there’s a way they could use computers to remake the molds by looking at the old pieces, if they can do this then there’s already a market. Release the sets as just buyable online, or you can just order the pieces you need like Bricklink and in whatever colors you want. This would be great for MOCists as they’d no longer have to worry about these old pieces breaking. Lego could also re release media from G1. Maybe even do this with Hero Factory and G2, allowing for much more versatile MOCs, especially for colors. Even getting help from fans they can release official instructions for canon MOCs, even give the option to quickly mass order the pieces you need. This would easily be a money maker for Lego. And also remaster old pieces like Mata arms to allow better articulation. Shapeways has these done very well.
It might not be impossible, and it certainly would be good for us fans to get new versions of the pieces, it just doesn't seem like that would be in Lego's business model, particularly since that might be difficult to generate a profit from, since it would mostly appeal to the niche of previous fans and might not do much to bring in new ones. That's why at least I'm really happy about the progress made in the 3-D printing community, like you've mentioned, because I believe they've gotten close to perfect parity with old Bionicle pieces!
I'm starting to wonder if these new figures, Mechs, and other vehicles with this new Lego system is just stepping their toes in the water and preparation to try and see if a new constraction theme will work but this is a maybe
That could be really cool if they did! I think they still need some work, but so far they're not bad
The thing that got me into bonkle was the tony wedgewood ai videos
I am currently putting together a fan made Bionicle Magazine that encapsulates the lore and the community as a tribute and a guide book for new fans.
Nice!
In my opinion, if Bionicle comes back, it will never be the same as toys, but whatever comes out for the story, it needs to be great to be successful. I do hope that they would use the original world of Bionicles instead of the reboot stuff.
Yeah, getting the story down is key, and the original world had so much to offer!
I heard nothing about G2 until after G2 was discontinued.
Ah damn, that's sad to hear. Yeah, Lego really didn't do a good job of advertising it. Especially when you look back and compare it to the insanely massive ad campaign G1 had. G1 they went more than all in, they went above and beyond, but G2 they really half hearted it
it would be cool if the return of bionicle is a soft reboot of G2 i mean a new story like 1000 years after G2
26:23 Other good/popular examples:
- Hunter×Hunter
- Fullmetal Alchemist
I think Lego should branch out into the gaming market more.
They could make Bionicle into a game series like the Souls games & embrace the darker side Bionicle had.
Basically take EldenRing & use it as a base for a Biosouls game.
If Bionicle were to have an animated tv series i think having it be an anime made by for ex: Studio Trigger would be good option.
The figures can be like the Gundam figures or similar like you stated in the video.
Granted all of this is very unlikely but maybe Bionicle just needs to be branched out more into other/different types of media.
I was a big fan as a kid and lost interest in the midst of the ignition saga. As an adult, as soon as I heard the big twist, it pulled me back in with a new passion for the brand.
30:40 isn't that technically the plot of 2009?
14:29 - yeah, they are great. For the sets they are in. They don't look bio-mechanical at all, nor they can possibly do so, so they will never be Bionicle.
I'm not saying bring back old molds. No, make new ones. In the same artistic style as old ones. Make it Technic based, so axels and pins connect it all and then it can be a system for basis of new Bionicle line. But using standard bricks just means it will look like standard Lego and at that point, why are we bringing back Bionicle? Buy those mechs they are already releasing and read fanfics for story.
you are so smart! loved this vid, especially the anime argument bc i always viewed bionicle so similar. I read the aot manga, but the rumbling animated still was one of the craziest things ive seen, so the shock reveal argument doesnt make sense lol
Thanks!
I hope bionicle is like transformers. Rapidly comes back for each generation and different for each generation!
Ps: the only thing I won't accept is bionicle as minifigures, they should be built and it's too smooth. Nah I'd rather 100 cute brick tahus then 1 minifigure tahu, I didn't even like the older ones.
It really sucks. Construction is gone but at least you can return one day possibly not now but in the future with new parts
I'll be frank - I really don't much care about what they do regarding the sets. I know they're important to many, but personally I was never a LEGO fan or an AFOL. I always was primarily a BIONICLE fan, and while I enjoyed building and playing with the sets, I would barely have cared for them - if at all - if I didn't have such an amazing story to be a fan of. A not that small part of my motivation to buy sets was actually not for personal enjoyment, but to support the brand so the story would carry on for longer.
Pop culture juggernauts like Star Wars and Marvel are evergreen cash cows that LEGO will always be able to milk. There'll always be *something* to make sets from. And those IPs won't go away even if the sets don't sell that well for a year or two. Becoming a franchise like that is in my opinion the best thing that could happen to BIONICLE - to get free of having its existence and continuation be bound by set sales. Because it'd be just such a shame if a world with such rich storytelling potential couldn't live up to it just cause some set designer made a wave's sets look a bit too goofy to appeal to the 10-14 demographic or whatever.
The story must be developed for it's own sake, and ensuring that storytelling experience gets delivered to a wide audience should be #1 priority - not set sales. If a franchise is established enough in popular culture, merch sales will always flow. LEGO has just too much tunnel vision from being a toy manufacturer that they don't know what to do with an IP like BIONICLE, and can't see that it's just too good to *only* be a toyline. It needs to be (and has the potential to) a self-sustaining media entity. For Mata Nui's sake, most movies and TV shows get made entirely without a line of merch to support them - that usually only really comes after, if a piece of media becomes a success. Even a mediocre show can sustain itself for a while on viewership and ads alone. Arguing that a line must be carried by set sales in order for LEGO to go all-in on the story is just ridiculous. Nurture the world and the story properly and set sales will follow.
But even if LEGO realizes that story should come before sets, I doubt they'd ever release something with no protential at all to promote set sales. That's why I think a G1 retelling or adaptation seems very unlikely - though I'd ofc love to see BIONICLE turned into the next Arcane! :D Though, if I were in charge I'd develop a new setting with a new cast in the far future of the G1 universe. Make it a fresh slate, but keep enough ties to entice the old fan crowd, and to get people theorizing about what's going on. I want to see the BIONICLE version of Legend of Korra to G1's The Last Airbender. Heck, maybe there could even be straight-up flashbacks at some points. Sprinkle in some old names here and there, give me Turaga Kapura or whatever. Maybe even pull off some twist that sheds new light on some parts of G1 that retroactively enhance them even further. But the new material should still be able to work on its own, of course. Random thought, maybe follow some Spherus Magna space colonists as they settle the first outpost of the united post-G1 society on an exo-solis planet thousands of years in the future, only to lose contact to their home planet (which at this point basically has become Coruscant) and to find their new home to be inhabited after all (and full of mysteries, of course!). And then, over time, reestablish connections to the past - maybe they have to study the GSR's salvaged databanks to solve some mystery because Mata Nui actually scanned that planet or landed on it long ago! We might see the ruins of a previous iteration of the island of Mata Mui, and of course all kinds of weird crap could have happened there (or might again)! :D But the point is that at first, it works as a completely fresh slate.
Idk, I think I'm rambling now, and my fantasy is running wild. Sorry. I just think that the BIONICLE universe has way to much potential to be pidgeonholed into just being a toyline by LEGO's tunnel vision. And maybe the fact that I came up with a pitch like that in under 5 minutes is credit to that fact. ;-)
I'm sorry for always writing such walls of text btw - I just have so much to saaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! ^^'
17:20 Also my thought. We are adults now. We don't play with toys anymore. At least most of us.
I'd only buy Bionicle toys if I had children.
They should market it to both kids and adults like star wars. The netflix shows can be for kids as well as the cheaper figures....The graphic novels could be darker and more for older audiences as well as the more expensive sets could be more detailed and and marketed more to the older fans.....I know older fans would appreciate titans or other Badass TOA-like figures with lots of detail and masks.....The younger fans could have smaller figs that are more colorful with lots of play features.
ngl i dont even care about the official story anymore.
fans can provide plenty of that
i just want a new good technic/constraction themes to provide us with more parts to work with
i feel like bionicle moc community is more starved for content than story fans, the building system is incredibly unique and important to many fans.
we got enough system to make bionicle out of.
A lot of people say that bionicle, because of its failed g2, is a tainted product. Well, I agree there is still plenty of potential. I mean, just look at another successful franchise, transformers. Smash success g1, but a dead on arrival g2. And it is still going strong to this day
True! Transformers did it, and I think with the quality of its world and story, Bionicle has the potential for the same
I think bionicle should do the same
Lego needs to learn their lesson from g2 if it is to return, namely that they can't rely on old fans to market for them.
Lets be honest it's not 2001 any more, we are not 8 years old and watching a mysterious comercial in the TV, and a matanui onlinegame wont heave his impact these days like back then when the Internet was young and Flash games wehre modern. That was in my opinion something that made Bionicle so unique, the Environment of the early 00s. A Revival in my opinion can only be successful if it will be approched whit out the nostalgic Perspective of Bionicle Fans like us.
It has to be something new, mysterious and unique in this Times like it was for us back then.
11:40 Instead of something new, I would prefer if the original story is told in a single medium. Most likely a TV series.
Probably in the same order as the toys released originally. The series should be higher quality than the movies and maybe get a more adult tone.
It should be a bit like the Netflix Avatar treatment (assuming it will be as good as it seems by now).
A BIONICLE anime with the original design would be 🔥🔥
Right?!
A TV show would have been a great idea in the 2000s, but in the 2020s cable TV is on the decline. Most people nowadays watch UA-cam or Streaming services. Maybe Netflix could greenlit a season or two.
I think a UA-cam channel with a ARG game would definitely spark interest, with free publicity on sites like Reddit and Twitter. Also, perhaps the Bionicle could become gaming accessories like Amiibos or Skylanders, that would generate a fortune for Lego. A Bionicle open-world game would be awesome imo.
I think Lego should target a future Bionicle line to all ages, leaning towards kids, but have it's media be more family orientated than child orientated. A suggested reading age of 10-12 that doesn't talk down to children. Things like Avatar The Last Airbender, Star Wars, Harry Potter (I don't like HP but it is successful) etc have done this fantastically.
Bionicle has potential to be an all ages franchise. But they need to commit to that because otherwise AFOL won't buy it, or only go for the first release, if it's too kiddy. And kids won't go for it if it's too dense.
Also the idea of Bionicle being mostly mini fig sets is heresy to me. It should absolutely been constraction of some kind. And while I'd love the original technic style system to come back I know it wont.
Lego gotta realise the bionicle fan base is grown up already they should market it the way we always wanted to see them on the edgier darker side bionicle G2 was cute and silly for little kids that have no idea what they are if anything daddy is the reason the kid even noticed the toy. Lego should try to sell to adults also not just the kids. Bionicle should definitely come back even if just in comics with lore thats already written out...
Over the years, Hasbro has often released figures in one series, that shares the same name as a figure from another series from a few years prior. Such as a GIJoe figure having the same name that was used on a transformer. This is done so that the company, Hasbro, retains the trademark name of said character, otherwise rival toy manufacturers will snatch it up and be unusable by Hasbro.
I wonder if the Lego Company is doing a similar thing with Bionicle, they know it has potential and it's name has a large brand recognition for whoever held the trademark for the IP. by releasing G2 and the Tahu brick figure, it keeps the Bionicle IP in regular use, albeit only to a small extent, but pushes back the trademark expiration date where a competitor, whether it be Mega Blocks, IDW or Disney from acquiring the gold mine with no fight whatsoever