Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[Lyichir]

That's exactly what I said in my review. The tail snapping is just straight up fun. Plus, it's not like old-school Rahi were that well off on the poseability department anyway.

In addition to being fun, Skull Scorpio's function is the single best function for the intended purpose of grabbing masks. It's easy for its pincers to snap around Pohatu's mask, and then pulling it off is a simple matter of yanking the tail backward.

Skull Scorpio is still not a perfect set, but I haven't seen a single revamp that's been able to improve upon his look without sacrificing the satisfying effectiveness of his function.

[Takanuinuva]

In addition to being fun, Skull Scorpio's function is the single best function for the intended purpose of grabbing masks. It's easy for its pincers to snap around Pohatu's mask, and then pulling it off is a simple matter of yanking the tail backward.

Skull Scorpio is still not a perfect set, but I haven't seen a single revamp that's been able to improve upon his look without sacrificing the satisfying effectiveness of his function.

I have a mod in the works that keeps the function. But I made it a little smaller so it doesn't stick out so far on the back.

[Fulcrumfan91]

Y'know what? Skull Scorpio isn't that bad. Yeah, posability isn't worth crap, but I think he looks pretty cool. I think it's LOSS syndrome. The figure's pretty terrible, but all the problems are excused due to an incredibly addicting function. I just love making that tail snap. I don't know, he's just a really goofy looking... Thing, and that appeals to me somewhat.

Despite that, I still want to make an alternate model out of him. Try to pull off a G2 (undead) Kahu.

Lol I really like Lewa...and he's also not a particularly good action figure...so makes sense.

[GK733]

Lol I really like Lewa...and he's also not a particularly good action figure...so makes sense.

I don't get why he doesn't have any trasnparent parts besides the eyestalk.

[Fulcrumfan91]

I don't get why he doesn't have any trasnparent parts besides the eyestalk.

I know! I thought he'd look really great with translucent green! If the theme of the next wave though are 'ghosts' as I saw, perhaps they will then add translucent colours to all the toa. Regardless, I think Lewa still is a beautiful figure.

[Shakar]

Lewa looks a lot better if you replace his keetorange shells with tr bright green ones. I can see the appeal of keetorange but it didn't feel very right to me.

[Dorek]

I might have to try that when I can get some spares. I actually like the color combination (one of the few good things about Lewa, who is otherwise very disappointing...) but given how all of the other sets work, including the villains, the color just doesn't make any sense.

[Bigger Fish]

Lewa looks a lot better if you replace his keetorange shells with tr bright green ones. I can see the appeal of keetorange but it didn't feel very right to me.

I tried that when I got him, he looked good but bland. The Keetorange helps add some nice pop and contrast to him.

[One Very Agile Cat]

I love Lewa's Keetorange. He's got a pretty sweet colourscheme. The lack of real monochromality in the new Toa is quite appealing to me.

[wghost]

Lewa looks a lot better if you replace his keetorange shells with tr bright green ones.

I tried that when I got him, he looked good but bland. The Keetorange helps add some nice pop and contrast to him.

Tr. neon green is also a great solution for those who are not fond of keetorange, adding some nice contrast which the tr. bright green can't.

[CloverMaryam]

Lewa's weapons are also cool, too bad they're fairly large and kinda bad for posing.

[Mandate]

The animation's flaws are really starting to show here. Tahu's swords look unnaturally 2-dimensional despite their 3D stance, and neither of them look like they fit in his hands.

[Quisoves Pugnat]

The animation's flaws are really starting to show here. Tahu's swords look unnaturally 2-dimensional despite their 3D stance, and neither of them look like they fit in his hands.

To be fair, it seems to be a stylistic choice. Tahu's swords are hardly the only thing that look like cardboard cut-outs.

[Fulcrumfan91]

I love Lewa's colour scheme....wouldn't change the keetorange for anything else ever. I feel he looks better with the axe pieces as wings on his arms, with katanas as his main weapons.

[Kalhiki]

I love Lewa's colour scheme....wouldn't change the keetorange for anything else ever. I feel he looks better with the axe pieces as wings on his arms, with katanas as his main weapons.

Agreed. My biggest issue with Lewa was his weapons. You don't hold axes that close to the head.

So, yeah. I just leave him in his adrenaline mode.

Also, connecting the axe heads to the legs is another option. Doesn't look to bad, to be honest.

[One Very Agile Cat]

Lewa's weapons are also cool, too bad they're fairly large and kinda bad for posing.

I changed my Lewa's axes into bigass swords using two of these in silver to connect the katana to the top of the axe heads, then plugging the axes straight into his hands. (after I swapped them with Gali's for more colour consistency for both) Then I added very simple connectors to the stalks holding his shoulder spikes so they can mount on his back as wings.

The animation's flaws are really starting to show here. Tahu's swords look unnaturally 2-dimensional despite their 3D stance, and neither of them look like they fit in his hands.

Yeah, the animations are so primitive, hiding behind the excuse of "style" despite the style not having anything to do with the actual quality. Shortcuts like that and the stilted movement really bug me when with just a tad more effort (or skill) you could have the same style with vastly superior animation.

To be fair, it seems to be a stylistic choice. Tahu's swords are hardly the only thing that look like cardboard cut-outs.

Nah, it's pretty obviously just shoddy animation. The whole thing is super cheap. Like, money-cheap. Lego didn't pay for better quality animation. I'm sure it's the best the animators did on their time and budget, but they should've had more of both. Edited August 4, 2015 by One Very Agile Cat

[Fulcrumfan91]

I changed my Lewa's axes into bigass swords using two of these in silver to connect the katana to the top of the axe heads, then plugging the axes straight into his hands. (after I swapped them with Gali's for more colour consistency for both) Then I added very simple connectors to the stalks holding his shoulder spikes so they can mount on his back as wings.

That sounds cool. Personally, I think Lewa would look even cooler with a bow...I don't know why...but I feel like that would really suit the character. Love the axes and the katana despite my thinking this though.

[Aanchir]

Nah, it's pretty obviously just shoddy animation. The whole thing is super cheap. Like, money-cheap. Lego didn't pay for better quality animation.

Of course not. That's because these are free webisodes and not a TV series or movie. With a TV or movie budget, it goes without saying that the animation would be a lot smoother and more refined. The classic Flash-based Bionicle webisodes were similarly full of shortcuts that could look very awkward under close analysis.

LEGO isn't hiding behind the excuse of "style" — in fact, they haven't really been in a position to make any excuses for the animation shortcuts, because they haven't done any panels or interviews on the subject since the webisodes really got going. However, to their credit, they did choose a style where those animation shortcuts are a lot less obvious than if they'd gone with a more detailed or realistic style. If you look at the LEGO Friends webisodes, their animation is a lot more awkward because they're striving for a level of detail and realism that the budget simply can't support.

[One Very Agile Cat]

I'm not saying it doesn't make sense, I'm just saying it is what it is. I wish it had better animation, it should have better animation, but I know and understand exactly why it doesn't have better animation. My comment was in response to someone trying to excuse the obvious shortcut of taking a two-dimension image and merely skewing it to look at an angle as part of "the style." Which it isn't.

Edited August 4, 2015 by One Very Agile Cat

[Mandate]

Yeah, the animations are so primitive, hiding behind the excuse of "style" despite the style not having anything to do with the actual quality. Shortcuts like that and the stilted movement really bug me when with just a tad more effort (or skill) you could have the same style with vastly superior animation.

Nah, it's pretty obviously just shoddy animation. The whole thing is super cheap. Like, money-cheap. Lego didn't pay for better quality animation. I'm sure it's the best the animators did on their time and budget, but they should've had more of both.

I'm not saying it doesn't make sense, I'm just saying it is what it is. I wish it had better animation, it should have better animation, but I know and understand exactly why it doesn't have better animation. My comment was in response to someone trying to excuse the obvious shortcut of taking a two-dimension image and merely skewing it to look at an angle as part of "the style." Which it isn't.

There's no need to be so rude. If I've offended you, then I apologize, but there's no reason to be hostile. I didn't accuse LEGO of being cheap with the animations. They've put in a great deal of effort into the locations and art style, and I admire their choices with the animations even if I don't agree with all of them. If you like the approach they've used, then hey, that's perfectly fine, you're under no obligation to share my opinion. And I agree with Quisoves, it does seem like a stylistic choice, I simply don't think it fits very well in the scene presented.

[Onepu the Protector]

Personally, I'm not a fan of transparent pieces. They're hard to photograph and make the transparent eyes stand out less.

Kaukau Mata is still my second favorite Kanohi Mask, though.

[One Very Agile Cat]

There's no need to be so rude. If I've offended you, then I apologize, but there's no reason to be hostile.

I'm not being rude or hostile. I'm agreeing with you. You didn't offend me, quite opposite, I thought I was the only person here who didn't like the animation quality.

I didn't accuse LEGO of being cheap with the animations.

No, I did. Because I think they are. But as I explained, as cheap as they are, I know and understand why they went with cheap animation. I just wish they hadn't.

If you like the approach they've used, then hey, that's perfectly fine, you're under no obligation to share my opinion.

I don't like the approach they used, and I do wish to share your opinion on this matter, though.

I haven't been here very long, but is it normal for folks to take completely candid, face-value comments and totally misinterpret them? Was I so matter-of-fact that my statements were truely misread as sarcasm? :I

Edited August 5, 2015 by One Very Agile Cat

[Kalhiki]

I haven't been here very long, but is it normal for folks to take completely candid, face-value comments and totally misinterpret them? Was I so matter-of-fact that my statements were truely misread as sarcasm? :I

Welcome to the Action Figures Forum. Things can get pretty crazy in here.

[Tazakk]

Dum!Dum! has a page up on their site for their work on BIONICLE now.

http://www.dumdum.dk/work/bionicle/

I really hope that that wonderful variation on the main musical theme gets used in the actual episodes, but it might just be a demo.

[DuckBricks]

Dum!Dum! has a page up on their site for their work on BIONICLE now.

http://www.dumdum.dk/work/bionicle/

I really hope that that wonderful variation on the main musical theme gets used in the actual episodes, but it might just be a demo.

Oh, that Kopaka vid is sweet! I wish the animations looked like that!!