Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[SirPuddings]

Hmm, I just had a thought. What if the Protectors are indeed matoran/villagers but they are a special class of them that wear these identical masks as badges of sorts? So basically a more elite version of the Ta-Koro Guard, only it's all elements and not limited to Ta-Matoran.

[bacem]

a slightly off-topic, but is there anyone here who also secretly hoping they will release fikou bug someday?

[Aethersprite]

Not sure what you mean by extra large? The biggest HF set was Drop Ship, valued at 50USD, and from there it's a collection of $35 sets: Witch Doctor, Speeda Demon, Jet Rocka, and Queen Beast (et al), respectively by year. For all the fluctuations in the set count, the price range of the sets has always been pretty consistent.

The big constraction sets have always been known to be less effective item movers ("impulse" sets make up the bulk of that), so LEGO must be confident that introducing only larger sets will work for them for whatever reason. Aanch's point about redirecting focus by specifically not including smaller sets is certainly a plausible one.

Apologies for not being specific - I was referring to the large titan-sized sets like shadow Takanuva, Toa Mata Nui and Witch Doctor. We've not seen figures of their size during BA and IFB. If the rumour that the summer wave of Bionicle 2015 will only include 5 sets, it's certainly plausible that we might see the return of such large figures amongst them.

[Still Raindrop]

a slightly off-topic, but is there anyone here who also secretly hoping they will release fikou bug someday?

Not me. The Fikou was a spider, and it looks like we won't be getting any shortage of spiders.

Edited October 6, 2014 by Mariko

[Kalhiki]

Hmm, I just had a thought. What if the Protectors are indeed matoran/villagers but they are a special class of them that wear these identical masks as badges of sorts? So basically a more elite version of the Ta-Koro Guard, only it's all elements and not limited to Ta-Matoran.

This is what I was thinking. Gives us Matoran, but also shows that not all Matoran wear the same mask. I always pictured the Protectors' masks as their uniform, and I hope that's what they're going for.

[Dorek]

Apologies for not being specific - I was referring to the large titan-sized sets like shadow Takanuva, Toa Mata Nui and Witch Doctor. We've not seen figures of their size during BA and IFB. If the rumour that the summer wave of Bionicle 2015 will only include 5 sets, it's certainly plausible that we might see the return of such large figures amongst them.

Ah, I getcha. Basically a dedicated, single titan, not a grouping of figures or a vehicle of some description. It's true we haven't seen that in a while; I personally thought Hero Factory was getting a bit stale with that, so hopefully BIONICLE can create enough interesting designs.

Not me. The Fikou was a spider, and it looks like we won't be getting any shortage of spiders.

I never quite got why the Fikou was so popular. I mean, it's cute and all, but of the Rahi introduced in 2001...

we all know the Mukau is best.

[Cheatster9000x]

Hmm, I just had a thought. What if the Protectors are indeed matoran/villagers but they are a special class of them that wear these identical masks as badges of sorts? So basically a more elite version of the Ta-Koro Guard, only it's all elements and not limited to Ta-Matoran.

Does this mean that the Fire Protector might actually be Jaller?

That would be neat. If the mini-movies are real, and "Jaller" has a voice, they need to bring back the original MOL voice. It had a very "Captain of the Guard" feel to it. *COUGHCOUGHALSOVOICEDSHININGARMORCOUGHCOUGHHEWASACAPTAINTOOCOUGH*

I've had a nasty cough recently, sorry.

[Lord-Vorahk]

I actually didn't think Jaller's MoL voice suited him that well.

[Still Raindrop]

I hope that, if they do have Jaller as a character, they'd at least change the spelling of his name.

[Agent Fusion]

What? You mean you didn't like "TAHKOOARR"?

Seriously,though. I completely agree with the uniform masks idea (in fact, I think I may have been the first to bring that up, but oh well).

[Lord-Vorahk]

What? You mean you didn't like "TAHKOOARR"?

I kinda expected the responsible and dedicated captain of the guard to not sound like a teenage surfer.

[Cheatster9000x]

I kinda expected the responsible and dedicated captain of the guard to not sound like a teenage surfer.

But that's all he really is, right?

Yeah, he's dedicated, but he's not as old as Tahu, and he's not nearly as "responsible" as Vakama, so to say...

[Shakar]

I personally hate the idea of Matoran=teenagers, but that's just me.

[Agent Fusion]

I don't think of Matoran, Toa and Turaga as different age groups, but different social classes. Matoran are regular civilians, Toa are essentially superheroes, and Turaga are superheroes that became politicians.

[Aanchir]

I kinda expected the responsible and dedicated captain of the guard to not sound like a teenage surfer.

So you expected wrong. Happens to each and every one of us at some point in our lives.

I personally don't understand why people get so preoccupied with voices. To me, Jaller's characterization matters more than his voice, and his characterization in BIONICLE: Mask of Light was consistent with both of his official bios.

He definitely had a different vocabulary in the movie than he'd been given in the Mata Nui Online Game... but then, that was a shift in characterization that had already started the previous year, with the Bohrok Online Animations. Before Episode 5 from that year, Jaller almost entirely avoided contractions, whereas his tone from then onward became much more conversational. It's just a part of him becoming less of a side character and more of a main character for the audience to relate to.

[Clone 01354 Productions]

I never got that: Matoran can be any age, right? It's not like they turn into bigger Matoran when they get older, right?

Anyway, I think that the Protectors are just six guardians; not a race, not a army, just a team. Like the Toa. Maybe these will be the Toa-in-training, under teaching by the Tahu and the others.

[Agent Fusion]

I suppose that would work as well, apprentices of the Toa. I'm still sticking with my idea of them going from tribe to tribe, saving them from invading Skull Spiders while the Toa are on their Quest for the Masks.

[Cheatster9000x]

I never got that: Matoran can be any age, right? It's not like they turn into bigger Matoran when they get older, right?

.

Well no. They don't turn into "bigger Matoran" when they age.

It's just that Takua and Jaller are assumed to be teenagers.

I always thought of it as teens that find immense power, and are struggling to learn how to use it. But when the time ultimately came, they used said power for the greater good.

[Clone 01354 Productions]

^Thanks; that makes more sense.

[InfurnallDragon]

What we really need right now is a photoshopped moon with mata nui robot Terridax's face on it with the caption "Three More Days..."

Edited October 6, 2014 by InfurnallDragon

[Lord-Vorahk]

It's just that Takua and Jaller are assumed to be teenagers.

Takua is the first Matoran. As in, he's older than Herlyx.

[Kalhiki]

I personally don't understand why people get so preoccupied with voices. To me, Jaller's characterization matters more than his voice, and his characterization in BIONICLE: Mask of Light was consistent with both of his official bios.

To me, voices are important. I find it hard to enjoy and care about a character if I can't stand their voice. I just want them to stop talking. :P

Not the case all the time, but it happens a lot (main reason why I couldn't get past the first few episodes of Legends of Chima. Voice acting was terrible). That being said, I didn't mind Jaller's voice in MoL. I thought it fit well.

[Aanchir]

Takua is the first Matoran. As in, he's older than Herlyx.

Yeah, but that detail that literally never mattered to the story. If it had, it'd have been mentioned in the actual story instead of just a "sure, why not?" answer from Greg.

Also, considering his memories were erased not once but twice, there's no reason to think that he'd actually be any more mature or experienced than the other Matoran of Mata Nui. And maturity and experience matter a LOT more when choosing how to portray the voice of a non-human character than their actual age.

To me, voices are important. I find it hard to enjoy and care about a character if I can't stand their voice. I just want them to stop talking. :P

Not the case all the time, but it happens a lot (main reason why I couldn't get past the first few episodes of Legends of Chima. Voice acting was terrible). That being said, I didn't mind Jaller's voice in MoL. I thought it fit well.

I hear this a lot in reference to everything from extremely high-pitched voices to extremely low voices to thick accents of any kind. It confuses me a bit. I'd think going through real life would be difficult if a person's voice alone could be so irritating to you that you couldn't stand hearing them talk.

That's not to say there isn't such a thing as bad voice acting, but from my experience the cause of it is usually the ACTING being bad, not the VOICE being bad.

[Lord-Vorahk]

The thing you have to worry about is vocal dissonance. If a character doesn't sound as you imagine, then something feels off. Jaller's voice doesn't carry any real authority, he sounds like a kid. He sounds like Sonic the Hedgehog, who isn't exactly the sort of guy you'd imagine as a leader. On the whole, though, I thought a lot of the MOL voices were off. Kopaka's was good, and the Turaga were decent for their characterization. Tahu was... okay, I guess, but a little gruff. Pohatu was awesome. Onua didn't fit, at all. Gali was alright in some scenes, sounded a little too old in others. Teridax suited his design, but not really with the general characterization from 01, and later 07 and onwards. Lewa was... odd.

[Agent Fusion]

I agree, Onua's voice made him sound less wise than he actually was. I think they made the Matoran sound as young as they did so that it would be easier for younger children to identify with them.