Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[Bob C]

I haven't touched this form in years, but my god, if this is real, I will be amazed.

Am I the only one that sees Kopaka on the bottom? His pose is similar to one from him, and I can see an ice shield or the right of the box.

It looks like a cross between kopaka and takanuva (2008)

[Gatanui]

I haven't really thought too much about whether it makes too much sense or not, but here is some food for thought: What if LEGO is bringing back BIONICLE to allow a cinemab adaptation following the Ninjago movie and the two TLM's?

-Gata

[Zenerius]

I haven't really thought too much about whether it makes too much sense or not, but here is some food for thought: What if LEGO is bringing back BIONICLE to allow a cinemab adaptation following the Ninjago movie and the two TLM's?

-Gata

Some people mentioned that the Hero Factory movie Universal was making is going to be transformed into a Bionicle movie. Don't know how they would pull it off, though.

[Dorek]

I think the Hero Factory movie is probably defunct at this point; we never heard anything past the spec script stage. Not that that doesn't preclude a future constraction-theme movie, but it wouldn't be a "transformation" so much as just a new movie attempt.

[Zenerius]

Probably. From what I know Universal was still trying to obtain the rights, and after that we've heard nothing. But if there IS a new Bionicle movie coming, I hope the movie looks more faithful to the sets, kind of like the original animations for 2001.

[Chro]

It's nice to see the topic of the conversation gradually changing from "are these images real" to "what's in these images" - as someone who knows for a fact that this is 100% legitimate, examination of the images rather than scrutiny of their veracity is what I'm enjoying more as of the last few days

[Dorek]

Hey, I'm still in denial over here, but it's not like that really has any effect on the outcome; they'll come out (or they won't) regardless of how hard anybody believes =P.

I just want people not to see every little thing as "evidence", when a lot of it is coincidence or just plain old speculation.

Edited July 4, 2014 by Dorek

[Zenerius]

It's nice to see the topic of the conversation gradually changing from "are these images real" to "what's in these images" - as someone who knows for a fact that this is 100% legitimate, examination of the images rather than scrutiny of their veracity is what I'm enjoying more as of the last few days

Yeah. Looks like we've mostly proven that the images are real and all that's truly left is confirmation from LEGO.

Now, when Bonkles hit stores, what are you guys gonna do first?

I would go to a lego store, get all the sets and collect ALLLLLL the kanohi! :D

[Aethersprite]

I haven't seen this many viewing the Action Figure forum in years- This topic jumped from about 5,000 views to 41,000 in about 2 days. I sort of mentioned this on Flickr, but it goes to show what an impact Bionicle had on people. Regardless of if this is real or fake, this news has pulled in far more traffic than any news about Hero Factory has done, and I see so much more dedication and heartfelt posts in this thread. It's really quite astounding

That's amazing! I see so many new posters in this thread. Bionicle's return would really breathe new life into this forum, instead of just the few of us regulars.

I just want people not to see every little thing as "evidence", when a lot of it is coincidence or just plain old speculation.

This gets me as well, but I guess it's inevitable since so many people want this to be true.

Edited July 4, 2014 by Lockon Stratos

[Zenerius]

That's amazing! I see so many new posters in this thread. Bionicle's return would really breathe new life into this forum, instead of just the few of us regulars.

In a way, Lego is effectively reassembling the Bionicle community! This is one of the good things no matter how the new Bionicle turns out. Everyone might just be united again! Instead of a shattered community, we are know refined.

[Aanchir]

Hey, I'm still in denial over here, but it's not like that really has any effect on the outcome; they'll come out (or they won't) regardless of how hard anybody believes =P.

I just want people not to see every little thing as "evidence", when a lot of it is coincidence or just plain old speculation.

Isn't it possible you're doing the opposite? Assuming potential evidence is just coincidence? If BIONICLE does come out next year, that makes it a lot more likely that things like Greg's slip-up or the deletion of that one topic on the LEGO Message Boards were indeed because the decision was made to bring BIONICLE back, and not just random coincidence. It's best for most of us to be open to both possibilities, though those who have direct inside knowledge like Chro certainly have no need to do so.

Now as for assuming the images depict specific characters, I agree that much is wild speculation. If we had seen blurry, black-and-white pics of Toa Lhikan before we knew more about the character it would be easy to assume (wrongly) that it was Tahu — he's got the Hau, the swords that turn into a surfboard, after all. People also at one point assumed (wrongly) that the Kanohi Nuva were related to the Krana due to their weird, wrinkly, organic look. Sometimes a resemblance can be unintentional and meaningless (the "kranohi") and other times it can be intentional and meaningful but not have the meaning we might expect (Lhikan's Hau).

Edited July 4, 2014 by Aanchir

[Timeline15]

if there IS a new Bionicle movie coming, I hope the movie looks more faithful to the sets, kind of like the original animations for 2001.

Wasn't 'The Legend reborn' pretty much 100% faithful to the sets? All I remember them changing was plugging all the holes with spinning screws, so the characters looked like they could actually live without bleeding to death XD.

What I would like however, if for the animators to stop feeling the need to give the characters mouths. They don't need them, so long as the rest of the face is expressive enough. heck, they're supposed to be wearing masks! Its like how Optimus prime never needed a mouth. Tahu didn't either IMO.

[Jetrax99]

Wasn't 'The Legend reborn' pretty much 100% faithful to the sets? All I remember them changing was plugging all the holes with spinning screws, so the characters looked like they could actually live without bleeding to death XD.

What I would like however, if for the animators to stop feeling the need to give the characters mouths. They don't need them, so long as the rest of the face is expressive enough. heck, they're supposed to be wearing masks! Its like how Optimus prime never needed a mouth. Tahu didn't either IMO.

Hey. The mouths are cool. We need at least one Toa of water in a movie or tv series with an actual mouth, not some voice vent. Just one.

Also, all this talk is making me even more disappointed in Lego for not making replacement joints for old sets using the new ball socket.

I wanna rebuild my sets without having to worry about them snapping when I take them apart.

Edited July 5, 2014 by Jetrax99

[Zenerius]

Wasn't 'The Legend reborn' pretty much 100% faithful to the sets? All I remember them changing was plugging all the holes with spinning screws, so the characters looked like they could actually live without bleeding to death XD.

What I would like however, if for the animators to stop feeling the need to give the characters mouths. They don't need them, so long as the rest of the face is expressive enough. heck, they're supposed to be wearing masks! Its like how Optimus prime never needed a mouth. Tahu didn't either IMO.

I liked the Legend Reborn because of how it looked like it was authentic Lego, instead of the half-organic characters in the previous three movies. The movie also incorporated some aging into the looks of the characters (dusty, scratched, etc.) to make it look realistic. I really loved that style, hopefully they bring it back if Lego ever makes animations, cartoon, or a movie with the theme.

[Dorek]

Isn't it possible you're doing the opposite? Assuming potential evidence is just coincidence? If BIONICLE does come out next year, that makes it a lot more likely that things like Greg's slip-up or the deletion of that one topic on the LEGO Message Boards were indeed because the decision was made to bring BIONICLE back, and not just random coincidence. It's best for most of us to be open to both possibilities, though those who have direct inside knowledge like Chro certainly have no need to do so.

Now as for assuming the images depict specific characters, I agree that much is wild speculation. If we had seen blurry, black-and-white pics of Toa Lhikan before we knew more about the character it would be easy to assume (wrongly) that it was Tahu — he's got the Hau, the swords that turn into a surfboard, after all. People also at one point assumed (wrongly) that the Kanohi Nuva were related to the Krana due to their weird, wrinkly, organic look. Sometimes a resemblance can be unintentional and meaningless (the "kranohi") and other times it can be intentional and meaningful but not have the meaning we might expect (Lhikan's Hau).

It's a judgement call either way; I haven't seen much in the way of "let's wait and see", people seem to be either for it or against it; much more of the former, although in terms of the latter, I'm a lot closer to fence-sitting than I could be =P. I'm just not convinced by a lot of so-called "evidence" (although I do find certain things more intriguing than others, like LEGO removing the thread).

But yeah, as for the potential future story, anything could happen. Nobody would have predicted Tahu getting turned back into a Toa Mata in the first place, but here we are.

[Aanchir]

I'm just not convinced by a lot of so-called "evidence" (although I do find certain things more intriguing than others, like LEGO removing the thread).

I'm not convinced by a lot of so-called "coincidence". But I get what you're saying. I'm in the "wait and see" camp myself, but I find the evidence for the news being real to be mounting and I think I'll get a lot more enjoyment out of entertaining both the possibility of either a big discovery by the fan community or an elaborate hoax by the fan community than leaning one way or the other. Either way the BIONICLE community hasn't come together like this in a long time. The story behind how we were brought together like this, whether by the LEGO group or a group of pranksters, is going to be an interesting one to hear.

[King of Nynrah]

I'm not convinced by a lot of so-called "coincidence". But I get what you're saying. I'm in the "wait and see" camp myself, but I find the evidence for the news being real to be mounting and I think I'll get a lot more enjoyment out of entertaining both the possibility of either a big discovery by the fan community or an elaborate hoax by the fan community than leaning one way or the other. Either way the BIONICLE community hasn't come together like this in a long time. The story behind how we were brought together like this, whether by the LEGO group or a group of pranksters, is going to be an interesting one to hear.

All aspects of this discovery have me excited - new sets, the potential for new storylines, etc etc... but I must admit, seeing the surge in activity in this topic and the accompanying one over at a certain BIONICLE website that begins with a B and a Z, has me a little emotional. Even if for some reason the leaked pictures turned out to be part of an elaborate ruse, it's still been great seeing the disparate BIONICLE community from the good old days reform over this subject. And like I said, even if it was a hoax, maybe LEGO would notice the surge in enthusiasm for BIONICLE and consider bringing it back because of this anyway. Anything's possible.

[Kalhiki]

So. Since this is pretty much happening. How do you want the return to be handled? Personally, I'd love it if they promote the heck out of this like they did with Ninjago upon its launch. But that may be wishful thinking.

So long as it has a great story like the days of yesteryear, I think I'll be happy. And if they can capture the atmosphere it had back in 2001, it'll be all the better.

[Zenerius]

So. Since this is pretty much happening. How do you want the return to be handled? Personally, I'd love it if they promote the heck out of this like they did with Ninjago upon its launch. But that may be wishful thinking.

So long as it has a great story like the days of yesteryear, I think I'll be happy. And if they can capture the atmosphere it had back in 2001, it'll be all the better.

I want the new Bionicle to be as great as the original years. Mask collecting, exclusive promo masks and media, and like you said: promote the heck out of it. Lego stores each filled with giant barrels of kanohi! Online story articles! A comic series? A more simple story for newcomers, while still having references! Man, that would be fantastic.

[King of Nynrah]

Aiming it at a slightly older audience like the rumours indicate would be welcome. They could release an animated or CGI movie on Netflix which ties into the first year of the relaunch!

As far as story goes, personally I hope that it'll be set in the future on Spherus Magna with a new cast. The new heroes might have to go around finding masks to prevent evil and the like. That way, there are enough references to the original story to keep old fans satisfied, but with new characters and a new mission in the future.

[TheGreatSpirit]

Bzpower topic pretty much spazzed out due to spam, only thing not on this thread is that the lego faq for bionicle still says its not coming back (will link later, cant from this device). If anyone has a link to it, keep an eye out on it.

Edited July 5, 2014 by TheGreatSpirit

[Dorek]

What I've always said I'd like to see is an "alternate universe" of sorts, but separate from the previous continuity. Just reboot the series and give us the familiar beats and characters, but maybe play with the story and pair characters who have never been seen together. So have a character called Tahu and a character called Strakk as the protagonists, maybe mask-hunting or whatever, but just in a fresh continuity completely divested from the previous one so that there's something for older fans to appreciate, but no baggage.

Obviously some transmedia would be appreciated; comics, etc.

[Zenerius]

Bzpower topic pretty much spazzed out due to spam, only thing not on this thread is that the lego faq for bionicle still says its not coming back (will link later, cant from this device). If anyone has a link to it, keep an eye out on it.

Keep in mind that this was probably made before Bionicle was considered for a return, or to keep it's return a secret. It states "At the moment, we're not planning to bring back LEGO BIONICLE."

[the last chronicler]

Personally, the big issue with Bionicle sets is they looked cool, mechanical, and functional but in reality they where toys. If you want to make a Bionicle film, build the characters from the ground-up based on their silhouette, but use pistons and joints realistically. Yes it should look more like the toys, but more so in style, not in limiting the look to ball joints and axles.

The first few movies leaned way too much toward the bio part of biomechanical, but you don't need muscles if you have pistons.

I hope their plan will be a movie to push this new line, by 2015 it will be 14 years since the original sets. That's easily enough time to sell on nostalgia and sell new products in the way Star Wars and Transformers have done.

Edited July 5, 2014 by the last chronicler

[---Vertea---]

the art in the bottom right corners of the big box sets... A 'toa' standing i front of a giant Ignika?

I will agree with Dorek on the story front. Familiar faces, but a total reboot.

It looks like we're back in a kind of primal world with stone structures, like in 2001, and that's more than alright with me. There's even what appears to be a Makuta-like evil eye in the background of the topper.

The spider has some nicely designed legs- the shape looks more insect-y than the Visorak, and the small sets loook like they come with small bug monsters. And it looks like every set has a collectable mask. YES.

Fingers crossed for the return of mask packs, yes?