Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[Niloc]

A comic series? A more simple story for newcomers, while still having references! Man, that would be fantastic.

As a child, the monthly Bionicle comics strapped to the LEGO Magazines were what really made Bionicle. While it wasn't complicated at all (and full of "pew-pew" and "zoooom!crash!"), it was grounding the characters in a universe with clear objectives, cliffhangers and a continuous story. It made it so exciting to follow!

If Bionicle was to truly return (never would I have imagined it), I couldn't see it without its comics. They're part of Bionicle.

[Zenerius]

Fingers crossed for the return of mask packs, yes?

FINGERS. FREAKING. CROSSED.

If Mask Packs return, oh boy that would be huge. Back to the olden days when there were 72 or more collectables each year! I don't understand why they stopped it, it was a great marketing strategy as proven with the CMF series.

I just want to walk in a LEGO store with the walls lined with mask packs and charts with all the kanohi :3

[King of Nynrah]

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.

Here is the link for those who need it. One thing to bear in mind though is that this FAQ hasn't been updated since BIONICLE was cancelled - and the stickied thread on the LMBs which also said that they had no plans to bring it back had been removed either today or yesterday.

[TwistLaw]

I subscribed to this forum just to reply to this very thread :D looks like I'm the first of a big new wave of users (I'm a long time lurker, anyway).

One thing nobody else noted here is that the Facebook page of Bionicle (the one who has about 15k fans) has become active again on april 2014, and by the style of the post they make it just looks like any other page owned by a company to promote their products.

Besides they've made two stautes, one back in may and one yesterday, where they were quite mysterious yet hinting at a return of Bionicle in 2015, go check yourself to get what I mean.

[ResurrectionBob]

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.

Everything right here. I gradually fell out of Bionicle as I didn't like the later sets and the story got too fiddly for me to keep up with, but those first three years or so were just outstanding. I loved collecting the masks, I loved how it felt like each year built on what came before (the gold and silver masks to upgrade your Toa, the Nuva armor and weapons being compatible with the older parts), and I loved the designs of the Rahkshi. Everything was simple but full of atmosphere and character. And even the stuff outside the main sets: McDonald's Matoran! The online game! Mask of Light THE MOVIE!

I have some high hopes here, crossing my fingers that this happens and that it's as great as it has the potential to be.

[Bfahome]

I subscribed to this forum just to reply to this very thread :D looks like I'm the first of a big new wave of users (I'm a long time lurker, anyway).

One thing nobody else noted here is that the Facebook page of Bionicle (the one who has about 15k fans) has become active again on april 2014, and by the style of the post they make it just looks like any other page owned by a company to promote their products.

Besides they've made two stautes, one back in may and one yesterday, where they were quite mysterious yet hinting at a return of Bionicle in 2015, go check yourself to get what I mean.

I have my doubts that the "Bionicle" page is an official one. Having seen many of their posts pop up on my news feed, they don't seem to have the same style as other LEGO or product pages. That, combined with the fact that the description looks like something off a wiki page, it has BZPower and BIONICLEsector01 in the link section (neither site being run by LEGO), and the title is not stylized "BIONICLE" as it is usually, makes me think that it's a fan-run page.

Plus, the "hinting" status you're referring to calls them leaks outright. That doesn't seem like something LEGO would want posted on a page of theirs.

[Aanchir]

I subscribed to this forum just to reply to this very thread :D looks like I'm the first of a big new wave of users (I'm a long time lurker, anyway).

One thing nobody else noted here is that the Facebook page of Bionicle (the one who has about 15k fans) has become active again on april 2014, and by the style of the post they make it just looks like any other page owned by a company to promote their products.

Besides they've made two stautes, one back in may and one yesterday, where they were quite mysterious yet hinting at a return of Bionicle in 2015, go check yourself to get what I mean.

While the BIONICLE Facebook page is run very professionally, it is still operated by fans who probably lack any kind of insider knowledge.

[Bob C]

While the BIONICLE Facebook page is run very professionally, it is still operated by fans who probably lack any kind of insider knowledge.

Just recently I saw on the fb page a picture of a "LEGO Store" with Bionicle sets. It was not a LEGO Store.

Edited July 5, 2014 by Bob C

[TwistLaw]

I have my doubts that the "Bionicle" page is an official one. Having seen many of their posts pop up on my news feed, they don't seem to have the same style as other LEGO or product pages. That, combined with the fact that the description looks like something off a wiki page, it has BZPower and BIONICLEsector01 in the link section (neither site being run by LEGO), and the title is not stylized "BIONICLE" as it is usually, makes me think that it's a fan-run page.

Plus, the "hinting" status you're referring to calls them leaks outright. That doesn't seem like something LEGO would want posted on a page of theirs.

Yeah, you're most probably right, mine was a moot point.

But this (the biggest Bio-page on fb running again) is probably the only "true" coincidence about a Bionicle reinassance, and it's somehow depressing to see people still in denial.

[Sir Walter Maugham]

Wow, mere days after I start browsing this site again I stumble upon this huge news. (Assuming this is real)

If this Bionicle revival does happen, I really hope that Lego can change up the aesthetics of Hero Factory's "bone and shell" system enough to keep the same general look that the old Bionicle sets had.

Regardless, I'm on the hype train and quite excited to see where this goes. Choo choo laddies.

[Zenerius]

Since we know that Lego is keeping CCBS around (thank goodness) it's safe to say that we will probably be getting more shells similar to Bionicle. I hope they keep the shell shape simple though in order to make the armor usable for a variety of other themes and mocs.

[Transparency for Effect]

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.

I'm pretty sure they shot down the many proposals of studios for a Bionicle film because they all wanted humans in it, and that's why they went with the DTV films but, I could be wrong on that. There was the brief mention in TLM, also.

I actually always missed out on the collectables for whatever reason (maybe it was a LEGO Store-exclusive thing; I never had one of those nearby for a long time, and the Birmingham one annoyingly shut down...) so I can't really relate, but I can get into it if the concept is redone if this is all true. I assume they were like the Collectible Minifigures of yesteryear?

[Gatanui]

I'm pretty sure they shot down the many proposals of studios for a Bionicle film because they all wanted humans in it, and that's why they went with the DTV films but, I could be wrong on that. There was the brief mention in TLM, also.

I actually always missed out on the collectables for whatever reason (maybe it was a LEGO Store-exclusive thing; I never had one of those nearby for a long time, and the Birmingham one annoyingly shut down...) so I can't really relate, but I can get into it if the concept is redone if this is all true. I assume they were like the Collectible Minifigures of yesteryear?

You could actually get collectible masks everywhere, not just in LEGO Stores. In America, they were sold in boxes whereas in Europe, they were sold in bags similar to the minifigures bags, but it was way easier to distinguish the pieces, so that was pretty cool. :P In 2001 you got three masks (one great and two noble, if I recall right) and a head, in 2002 you got two Kanohi (gold or silver) and three Krana. Later you got Kanohi Nuva instead of Kanohi and yet later Krana Kal instead of Krana.

If the mask packs came back that would be more than I could ever wish for from a BIONICLE reboot. :) Personally I hope for an entirely new story with new characters and a few old ones in between, for example Tahu.

-Gata

Edited July 5, 2014 by Gatanui

[Nightmare]

You could actually get collectible masks everywhere, not just in LEGO Stores. In America, they were sold in boxes whereas in Europe, they were sold in bags similar to the minifigures bags, but it was way easier to distinguish the pieces, so that was pretty cool. :P In 2001 you got three masks (one great and two noble, if I recall right) and a head, in 2002 you got two Kanohi (gold or silver) and three Krana. Later you got Kanohi Nuva instead of Kanohi and yet later Krana Kal instead of Krana.

If the mask packs came back that would be more than I could ever wish for from a BIONICLE reboot. :) Personally I hope for an entirely new story with new characters and a few old ones in between, for example Tahu.

-Gata

But they'd need to tie loose ends as well. No? :D

Anyways, I'm all for a fresh start. Just keep the Great Beings, the Toa Mata and Mata Nui (even if it is inside the mask locked away where no one can grab the Ignika) please :p

[Gatanui]

But they'd need to tie loose ends as well. No? :D

Anyways, I'm all for a fresh start. Just keep the Great Beings, the Toa Mata and Mata Nui (even if it is inside the mask locked away where no one can grab the Ignika) please :p

I don't see much point in tying up the loose ends of the serials, personally. Those are things of the past, I'd want them to focus on the new story.

-Gata

[TheGreatSpirit]

Im not too keen on a fifth incarnation of tahu :/

Im really hoping its all new characters for the sets (old ones should be background characters)

Edited July 5, 2014 by TheGreatSpirit

[Lyichir]

I don't see much point in tying up the loose ends of the serials, personally. Those are things of the past, I'd want them to focus on the new story.

-Gata

The loose ends can still be tied up without having to open with them or even dwell on them too long. If the contents of the serials become relevant at some point, their resolutions can be told through flashbacks or summarized through exposition without slowing down the story too much. Picking up exactly where the story left off, on the other hand, would probably just render the story inaccessible to newcomers—a bad move for a theme that's been absent for five years.

[Aanchir]

I'm pretty sure they shot down the many proposals of studios for a Bionicle film because they all wanted humans in it, and that's why they went with the DTV films but, I could be wrong on that. There was the brief mention in TLM, also.

That is correct, actually. The chances of getting a faithful BIONICLE movie in theaters might be stronger today, though, since the LEGO Group has more money, more storytelling experience, and more bargaining power in general.

I actually always missed out on the collectables for whatever reason (maybe it was a LEGO Store-exclusive thing; I never had one of those nearby for a long time, and the Birmingham one annoyingly shut down...) so I can't really relate, but I can get into it if the concept is redone if this is all true. I assume they were like the Collectible Minifigures of yesteryear?

Sort of. The BIONICLE collectibles were blind-packaged like the CMFs, but instead of figures they had accessories like masks. Also, generally each set would include two or three randomly-packed collectibles, so it'd be rare for any two packs to have the exact same contents. The mask packs from BIONICLE's first year had 72 masks to collect (12 shapes in 6 colors each).

[Gatanui]

The loose ends can still be tied up without having to open with them or even dwell on them too long. If the contents of the serials become relevant at some point, their resolutions can be told through flashbacks or summarized through exposition without slowing down the story too much. Picking up exactly where the story left off, on the other hand, would probably just render the story inaccessible to newcomers—a bad move for a theme that's been absent for five years.

Good point. I would be okay with that (or even just Greg giving an explanation on BZPower or wherever about how it all turned out) as long as it doesn't intefere (too much) with the main story.

-Gata

[Shakar]

One thing I want is for the new sets to not fall back on 3 of the old sets' weakest points:

1)Colours: when I look back at Bionicle's colours, they were dull. Always the same 6 colours (red, blue, green, black, white, shade of brown/gold/orange/yellow) with some secondary colours threw in (and it was shade+shade, anyway..mostly). 2007 and 2009 tried to shake some things up but it wasn't enough (and it was too late).

Meanwhile HF introduced a plethora of different colours, compared to Bionicle's usual group of 6 scheme. We got purple, azure, real all gold figures (just compare Takanuva with Rocka), transparent colours..not to mention whole new colour combinations I never dreamed of during the Bionicle era (some outstanding examples, IMO: Breakout Furno, B. Breez, B. Bulk, B. Stringer, Thornraxx, Flyer Beast, Queen Beast, Crystal Beast).

I get it: this is Bionicle, sets need to look at least somewhat elemental. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try out some original colour combinations: Breakout Furno used some white (which IMO looked great) yet he was still, quite clearly, fire-themed.

2)Proportions: I feel this needs to be said. Figures' proportions, especially in the post-2006 era, were often horrendous: monkey arms, giraffe necks, ridiculously flat torsos. The CCBS fixed this for the most part. Managing a figure's proportions and build (just think how much a figure changes by replacing its shells with smaller/bigger ones) is incredibly easy now. Hopefully designers remember this.

3)Set variety (or lack of thereof): I think this one is something most agree with. During Bionicle's run, we constantly craved for more original designs, because 90% of sets were humanoids: it's why we praised sets like Gadunka, Spinax, and many sets in 2011/2012/2014. While I think they overdid it a bit this summer (in which 5 out 7 sets are four legged!), I definitely want to see more non-humanoid creatures next year. I said creatures, NOT vehicles: the vehicle spam in 2008-2009 (we could've had some awesome Titans like in the 2005 to 2007 era, but noo...) is one one of the biggest reasons I lost interest in the sets. 1-2 vehicles a year is ok, thank you.

Edited July 5, 2014 by Shakar

[TheGreatSpirit]

Oh dear, the vehicles. I remember those, because I could never afford them :/

The Titans were always more appealing to me anyways.

[Agent Fusion]

No-one could afford them. Not that I really wanted to anyway.

[TheGreatSpirit]

The only vehicle I have isn't even from Bionicle; $20 for the Hero drop ship was an amazing deal :P

Back on topic, I took a look at the main image and enhanced the quality a bit; the bottom 2 rows of sets both had the exact same vine/ spider thing, apparantley leaping toward the heroes. One of the top row sets appeared to have a similar thing, except at the top and in the background, while the big spider set just has that mask thing. Any thoughts on this?

[Zenerius]

The only vehicle I have isn't even from Bionicle; $20 for the Hero drop ship was an amazing deal :P

Back on topic, I took a look at the main image and enhanced the quality a bit; the bottom 2 rows of sets both had the exact same vine/ spider thing, apparantley leaping toward the heroes. One of the top row sets appeared to have a similar thing, except at the top and in the background, while the big spider set just has that mask thing. Any thoughts on this?

I saw the same thing on the boxes earlier. My first outlandish theory was Makuta's Shadow Hand, but I doubt thats the case. Looks like a headcrab, to be honest

[Aethersprite]

I don't know about you guys, but I LOVED Bionicle's vehicles. Especially the 2008/2009 ones. Unfortunately I was younger back then and could only afford to buy canister sets, but a good friend of mine has all of them and they're a ton of fun to play with. I would kill to own a vehicle like the Axalara or Jetrax. Unfortunately with the more widespread use of the CCBS, I doubt we'll see a large, heavy Technic-based constraction figure-sized vehicle any time soon.

I don't have much experiences with the mask packs - I had my parents buy me so much Slizers that by the time Bionicle rolled around, they refused to buy more sets for me and I'd only get a few a year. I remember being so jealous of my cousin who would get all the sets and let me play with them. (Kinda explains my addiction to Lego now - it's like I'm living out the childhood I never had! Heh.) I only started buying sets for myself in 2008, and like I said, I could only afford a few canister sets here and there. So if the return is Bionicle is true, Lego's going to get a lot of my money next year!