Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[Aanchir]

Just in case anyone's wondering, I don't think there's any age limit on the magazine. I subscribed a couple months ago, and didn't lie about my age on the form at all (I'm 23). There WAS a warning that the magazine is designed with younger kids in mind, but I could still complete the form and still received my first issue a month or so ago.

Anyway, this new info is great! Love the designer interview as well! Look forward to getting my copy!

[toatali]

Do we know anything about the ancient city the LOSS is guarding in this scan: http://41.media.tumblr.com/24842b59d3f30965f32f31e86dabffd8/tumblr_nh9t1nIPT61sy13izo6_1280.jpg?

Forgive me if we do, but I can't see anything resembling a city on the map of Okoto.

[Kalhiki]

Hooray, Mask of Time's existence is finally confirmed. We can finally put THAT particular piece of debate to rest.

But we don't know if it's the Mask of Time from G1! :O

Kidding, of course. I whole-heartedly believe it's a new mask. But cool the see it confirmed in actual promo material.

http://catalogs.lego.com/Club/us/2015/redbrickJanuary2015/ Bionicle is on page 10.

Concept art is the coolest thing here. Just look at that Skull Spider!

Do we know anything about the ancient city the LOSS is guarding in this scan: http://41.media.tumblr.com/24842b59d3f30965f32f31e86dabffd8/tumblr_nh9t1nIPT61sy13izo6_1280.jpg?

Forgive me if we do, but I can't see anything resembling a city on the map of Okoto.

Nothing yet. Everything surrounding LOSS story-wise is pretty up in the air. We don't know why he's guarding the city or his motives for sending out his Skull Spiders.

I think that (speculation here) the ancient city is where the Summer wave Skull guys are at. LOSS is probably trying to get the masks to awaken them somehow (which honestly sounds really cool).

Anywho, onto the magazine: lots of cool stuff. Loving that island map. The more detailed, cartoony version here is quite nice. And apparently the Jungle Region has levitating islands? Sweet. Also did anyone notice the compass made from Constraction parts? I thought that was cool.

But what I'm most fascinated about is the concept art on page 2. That Kakama is literally the same as the 01 version. And the Fire and Water region art is also very cool.

Edited December 28, 2014 by Kalhiki

[Scarilian]

But we don't know if it's the Mask of Time from G1! :O

Kidding, of course. I whole-heartedly believe it's a new mask. But cool the see it confirmed in actual promo material.

There was talk about the second half of the Vahi back at NYCC2014 and the comparison that the new generation was similar to the Star Trek reboot.

There has been some debate over what that means but the basic theory is;

That the Toa were summoned from a different time (Probably the future) and that Gen 2 is set in the distant past or an alternative timeline. Most likely the second option as we are getting villains seemingly based on the different Era's of Bionicle from 2005 onwards

Edited December 28, 2014 by Scarilian

[Dorek]

Just in case anyone's wondering, I don't think there's any age limit on the magazine. I subscribed a couple months ago, and didn't lie about my age on the form at all (I'm 23). There WAS a warning that the magazine is designed with younger kids in mind, but I could still complete the form and still received my first issue a month or so ago.

Anyway, this new info is great! Love the designer interview as well! Look forward to getting my copy!

The CEE team has mentioned that they're going to make the subscription exclusive to kids under 13; a few regions have the restriction in place by now, but it's supposed to be global by 2015. As I mentioned, there's bound to be a ton of logistical errors because their magazine service can get complicated, but I wouldn't count on more issues. Maybe this one, since it's the start of the new system.

There was talk about the second half of the Vahi back at NYCC2014 and the comparison that the new generation was similar to the Star Trek reboot.

There has been some debate over what that means but the basic theory is;

That the Toa were summoned from a different time (Probably the future) and that Gen 2 is set in the distant past or an alternative timeline. Most likely the second option as we are getting villains seemingly based on the different Era's of Bionicle from 2005 onwards

Talk which has been all but debunked as confusion and misinterpretation, no? Obviously there's some kind of reference to time, but it still doesn't have anything to do with G1; it's not an "alternate timeline" for G1, unless you meant they're introducing that concept into G2, in which case maybe =P. But we've seen one wave of villains so far that bear a passing resemblance to previous ones, so I wouldn't say they're "based on".

Edited December 28, 2014 by Dorek

[Clone 01354 Productions]

That city behind LOSS looks like Kini Nui.....Just saying....

Also, AGAIN: there is no way that the mask is the MOUP. Right now in the story, they're going after the MOCR, and I find it doubtful that they will rush through that story, skip MOCO, and rush to the ultimate evil, story-driving force in year 1 of 3 (or more).

BTW, I must say that the winter wave sets are even better in person. Protectors are great (though their chests are a bit fat), and each of the Toa feel quite unique. I really hope that the summer wave is just as good.....based off of that mask, it will be.

[dviddy]

There was talk about the second half of the Vahi back at NYCC2014 and the comparison that the new generation was similar to the Star Trek reboot.

There has been some debate over what that means but the basic theory is;

That the Toa were summoned from a different time (Probably the future) and that Gen 2 is set in the distant past or an alternative timeline. Most likely the second option as we are getting villains seemingly based on the different Era's of Bionicle from 2005 onwards

The talk from NYCC was -not- the "second half of the vahi". It was "we will have a whole mask" which is an entirely different concept.

[Nekchir]

The talk from NYCC was -not- the "second half of the vahi". It was "we will have a whole mask" which is an entirely different concept.

So G1's mask was 'half a mask'.

[Toa of Gallifrey]

I decided to get into the spirit of the Vahi-ness by re-reading Time Trap. After staring at the cover for a bit, the lower part of the Great Huna resembled a simplified Vahi to me. I wonder how it'll look in G2.

[TheDesuComplex]

I summarized my opinion on the whole debate about the role of time, the vahi, continuation/reboot on /r/bioniclelego the other day when someone asked where Takanuva is:

Keep in mind that the new story is completely independent of the old. Anything that is similar is designed as a homage, and the new story will certainly not follow the old. Don't be expecting many of the same characters.

I can also apply that idea to concepts and objects. I am going to assume no connection through some convoluted time shenanigans unless proven true. All I know is that there is a Temple of Time, the Protectors used it to summon the Masters, and the summoning process involved a Mask of Time according to this pamphlet. I am not going to come up with some wild theory about how Voporak got transported back in time with the broken Vahi and founded Okotan culture on the concept of time or something like that.

It's a reboot, and for now I would like it to stay that way with no connection to the old other then homage.

[Bigger Fish]

I'd love an art book of BIONICLE concept art, it's amazing.

[Dorek]

I'd love an art book of BIONICLE concept art, it's amazing.

How about An online Gallery? :U

Edited December 28, 2014 by Dorek

[Aanchir]

How about An online Gallery? :U

That's always fun, but one of the especially cool things you can have in an art book is commentary from the people who created the concept art.

[dviddy]

So G1's mask was 'half a mask'.

Of course it was, you've seen it, right? Specifically referencing the physical look of the mask, as it covered only half the face. It was not a reference to the vahi being incomplete or missing part of itself.

[Dorek]

That's always fun, but one of the especially cool things you can have in an art book is commentary from the people who created the concept art.

I guess I'm just used to cheesy artbooks that come with video games, which contain a foreward and not much else =P. A proper artbook would be super, although I quite liked Faber's random uploads, which as you mentioned often contained some background on what he was thinking at the time.

[XBomber1980]

I like the look of the launch trailer.

You know if this era of Bionicle came out as a movie and the cast from the last four movies were unavailable I've got a rough idea who should play the Toa.

Tahu – Robby Benson

Lewa – Rob Schneider

Kopaka – Willem Dafoe

Gali – Idina Menzel

Pohatu – Wayne Forester

Onua – Brian Blessed

Interesting casting choice.

You do seem to have a lot of Disney stars in it. For Gali I would have gone for Linda Larkin, or even better Jodi Benson! LOL

BTW, Who's Wayne Forester?

[DalekSram]

Interesting casting choice.

You do seem to have a lot of Disney stars in it. For Gali I would have gone for Linda Larkin, or even better Jodi Benson! LOL

BTW, Who's Wayne Forester?

Thanks. By studying the character profiles on the website it gave me some idea what the voices would sound like. I completely forgot about Jodi! Good idea!

Wayne Forester has done a lot of voice work. He’s known for doing the voice of Captain Scarlet in the 2005 CGI series. I choose him because people have different opinions on Pohato’s accent. Sometimes it’s American and sometimes it’s British. Wayne has a voice that sounds American and British, that way I thought people would be happy.

[Zenerius]

4 Protectors at my nearby Target: Ice, Fire, Water, and Earth, as well as Tahu and Kopaka. Still nothing at TRU or Walmart, though.

EDIT: All the protectors were available after I checked later today.

Edited December 29, 2014 by Zenerius

[Chro]

Thanks. By studying the character profiles on the website it gave me some idea what the voices would sound like. I completely forgot about Jodi! Good idea!

Wayne Forester has done a lot of voice work. He’s known for doing the voice of Captain Scarlet in the 2005 CGI series. I choose him because people have different opinions on Pohato’s accent. Sometimes it’s American and sometimes it’s British. Wayne has a voice that sounds American and British, that way I thought people would be happy.

I'm pretty sure it's common knowledge that Pohatu's voice is supposed to be Australian

[Scarilian]

Talk which has been all but debunked as confusion and misinterpretation, no? Obviously there's some kind of reference to time, but it still doesn't have anything to do with G1; it's not an "alternate timeline" for G1, unless you meant they're introducing that concept into G2, in which case maybe =P. But we've seen one wave of villains so far that bear a passing resemblance to previous ones, so I wouldn't say they're "based on".

No, if anything evidence keeps piling up that its connected;

• The intentional disappearance of the 'Temple Of Time' from the NYCC2014 pics that were uploaded
  
• The constant appearances of the Vahi as clues
  
• The confirmation that the Mask Of Time was used to summon the Toa
  
• The constant refrences by the announcer to combining the past and future 'evoke the power of past and future'
  
• The Skull Spiders being displayed on art in an almost identical way to the Visorak
  
• The Toa having convenient memory loss that prevents them from remembering where they came from
  
• The mention of the G1 Vahi being 'half a mask'
  
• The mention of this being a similar style reboot to the Star Trek films
  

If anything these are all signs pointing that this G2 is connected to G1, that these are the exact same Toa that travelled from the old universe to the new. That this is either the past or future that the toa have been summoned to (Likely the past)

The talk from NYCC was -not- the "second half of the vahi". It was "we will have a whole mask" which is an entirely different concept.

As MonkeyChud points out if the original mask we got in G1 was 'half of a mask' and we are getting the 'whole mask' in G2. That still implies that we get the second half of the Vahi. Granted it'll be combined with the first half, but we'll still get the second half.

Of course it was, you've seen it, right? Specifically referencing the physical look of the mask, as it covered only half the face. It was not a reference to the vahi being incomplete or missing part of itself.

I doubt as you say that it was simply saying 'that mask looks like half a mask' because that would be redundant and stating the obvious that any Bionicle fan would know. It would just be completely pointless to tell someone, specifically when trying to give them hints to the future of Bionicle during NYCC2014.

Edited December 28, 2014 by Scarilian

[Kalhiki]

But we don't know if it's the Mask of Time from G1! :O

Kidding, of course. I whole-heartedly believe it's a new mask. But cool the see it confirmed in actual promo material.

I shouldn't have said anything...

Anywho, artbook? Yes please. The gallery on BS01 will do, but an actual, physical artbook would be sweet. The Bionicle concept arts are some of the coolest things I've seen.

@Scarilian: This is a new continuity. It's been debunked that it's the same Mask of Time. The design of the Vahi is a 'half a mask', but that doesn't mean at all that it has a second half. And we aren't getting the whole mask in G2, we're getting a full mask. And the references in the animations are just Easter eggs for the older fans, nothing more.

The Toa are also different characters. Their personalities have changed, and, most notably, their mask powers have changed. If these were the same characters, Tahu would still have his Mask of Shielding, Pohatu his Mask of Speed, etc. This time around, their masks control their elements.

Now. Can we all agree this is a new continuity?

Edited December 28, 2014 by Kalhiki

[DalekSram]

I'm pretty sure it's common knowledge that Pohatu's voice is supposed to be Australian

Is it? It would make sense.

But when I hear Pohatu's voice in this trailer it sounded like the narrator was trying to give him a tough British type voice.

[TheDesuComplex]

I apologize if my last post seemed a bit too ranty or rambly. I was just giving my opinion on this whole discussion that has resurfaced a bajillion times.

Thanks for posting that concept art Dorek! I noticed that this piece looks a lot like part of the Tahu animation.

[DuckBricks]

Excited to see a Gen2 Vahi... Perhaps that is the unknown Bionicle GWP in March? That would be amazing.

[Nekchir]

I shouldn't have said anything...

Anywho, artbook? Yes please. The gallery on BS01 will do, but an actual, physical artbook would be sweet. The Bionicle concept arts are some of the coolest things I've seen.

@Scarilian: This is a new continuity. It's been debunked that it's the same Mask of Time. The design of the Vahi is a 'half a mask', but that doesn't mean at all that it has a second half. And we aren't getting the whole mask in G2, we're getting a full mask. And the references in the animations are just Easter eggs for the older fans, nothing more.

The Toa are also different characters. Their personalities have changed, and, most notably, their mask powers have changed. If these were the same characters, Tahu would still have his Mask of Shielding, Pohatu his Mask of Speed, etc. This time around, their masks control their elements.

Now. Can we all agree this is a new continuity?

I don't think you can't just sit there and say "It's just for the fans" and nothing else without and concrete evidence. And well, yeah. Of course it's going to be a full mask in G2, which implies that the Vahi we got in G1 wasn't finished. Edited December 28, 2014 by MonkeyChud