Bionicle

Bionicle is a line of toys created by the Lego Group that is marketed towards those in the 7-16 year old range. The line was launched in December 30, 2000 in Europe and June/July 2001 in the United States.

The Bionicle idea originated from Lego Group's earlier themes Slizers/Throwbots and Lego RoboRiders. Both of these lines had similar throwing disks and characters based on classical elements.

"Bionicle" is a portmanteau constructed from the English words "biological" and "chronicle" (not "biomechanical" as in the common belief).

Franchise

The toys are posable, articulated characters and share some pieces with the Lego Technic line. Bionicles sets are from $5 to $90. Most expensive ones are Bionicle play sets such as the Piraka Stronghold. Characters in the toy line are based on a set of classical elements and Polynesian mythology. The line usually focuses on groups of six, with each member of a group being one of six recurring colors. In addition, members of heroic groups – primarily Toa warriors, Turaga elders, and Matoran commoners – are also matched to one of six elements (most villainous groups have different elements or none at all):

• Red (sometimes orange or yellow) characters are usually identified with fire.
• Blue characters are usually identified with water.
• Black (or dark gray and rarely purple) characters are usually identified with earth.
• Brown (or other stone colors, like tan, yellow or orange) characters are usually identified with stone.
• Green (sometimes teal) characters are usually identified with air.
• White (and very rarely blue) characters are usually identified with ice.
• Gold and white characters are usually identified with light (although they are different colors(see Karda-Nui))
• Black and/or purple characters are usually identified with darkness, this recently though has been slightly incorrect with the Makuta Canister sets of 2008 showing that they can be any colour though usually black, purple or a dark shade of green.
• Recently the Toa Ignika (Toa of Life) has appeared and creates a reputation for silver being related to the power of life
• There are other colors for other "secondary" elements, but they are not featured as prominently in the main storyline.

Though the Lego Group had previously created building sets based on Lucasfilm's Star Wars films, the Bionicle line was the first Lego project to get a story developed in-house, being officially credited to Bob Thompson and Martin Andersen of LEGO (although Thompson has since left to form his own company, Good Story Productions), freelance UK writer Alastair Swinnerton and Christian Faber of Danish advertising company Advance. Bionicle was also the first in the company's history intended to last for multiple years - in fact, Lego is currently following a plan involving seven multi-year story arcs, providing a framework for roughly twenty years of storyline. It was also the first Lego product to have its own direct-to-video movies: Bionicle: Mask of Light, Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui, and Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows. Another movie is currently in progress, which will be released in 2009 if completed. It will probably be about the 2009 story line which is said to go in an 'other direction'. There's also be 2 more movies released in 2010 and 2011

The Bionicle storyline is told mainly in the book series and comics, which are written primarily by Greg Farshtey. Greg is also a member of the BZPower fan community and often answers questions from forum members about Bionicle. Through his responses (which are posted in the Official Greg Discussion thread) and other posts, he often gives advance details of upcoming storyline points; as well as clarification about current or past storylines, and the occasional quote from an upcoming book.

In 2007 a secondary website, BionicleStory.com, was established. The site provides a number of side story serials which intersect with the year's main storyline as well as with each other. The precedent established in 2007 and continued in 2008 is thus: One narrative serial, one serial in the form of a character's journal entries, and one serial produced as webcast audio files.

Story

The story of Bionicle is a science fantasy set in a world that is inhabited predominantly by biomechanical (part-organic, part-machine) beings. This world and its multiple races was once protected by a Great Spirit named Mata Nui, but he has since been cast into an unnatural sleep by the evil Makuta, and the universe has begun to decay.

The following groups are the main characters in the Bionicle mythos; a summary of all of Bionicle's major groups can be found at Characters and groups in Bionicle:

• The Toa: Mata Nui's destined heroes and the main protagonists of the franchise. All Toa wear Kanohi Masks of Power and can control elements of nature. There are several exceptions like Toa Metru, who were robbed of their powers when they were transformed into Toa Hordika by Visorak venom.
• The Matoran: The most widespread and influential race in the Bionicle universe, the Matoran are not the strongest people but will often make brave stands against oppressors. The Matoran, along with the ex-Toa elders (called Turaga) who lead them, make up most of the franchise's supporting cast.
• Makuta: The one who attacked Mata Nui and made him fall unconscious, Makuta is one of the most powerful beings in the universe and the primary villain of Bionicle. It has since been revealed that he leads a Brotherhood of similar beings, all of whom share the goal of usurping Mata Nui. These similar beings are also called "Makuta," and each is assigned to a particular island or area. The Makuta species have evolved past the point where they don't need physical bodies to live. They exist as huge energy masses called antidermis which can be used to create Zamor Spheres which enslave any being to their will with a few exceptions. Makuta can also shapeshift. The real name of the Makuta of Metru Nui is "Teridax", although he seems reluctant to call himself by his real name, and is simply known as THE Makuta. The Makuta was also spotted in Mahri Nui, while taking over the body of a robot guard named Maxilos. The armor of Maxilos was shattered releasing Teridax's "body" into the water surrounding Mahri Nui. What has become of Teridax is still yet to be known.
• The Dark Hunters: The Dark Hunters are an organization of bounty hunters and mercenaries. Though secondary villains to Makuta and his Brotherhood, they wield enough power to drastically affect the plans of the Brotherhood and the Toa alike.
• The Order of Mata Nui: A secret society dedicated to serving the Great Spirit. A more recent addition to the story than other major groups; Order members have begun to appear as major supporting characters (though, for various reasons, sometimes as enemies of the Toa instead of allies). The Order of Mata Nui is abbreviated to OoMN by fans.

2001–2003: Bionicle Chronicles

Main article: Bionicle Chronicles

For a thousand years, ever since the Great Spirit Mata Nui had been put to sleep, the tropical island of Mata Nui had been in the dark grip of the evil Makuta. The Matoran living there had defended themselves against Makuta's constant attacks for years, but one day, six heroic Toa arrived and began to challenge Makuta. Their names are Tahu, Toa of Fire, Lewa, Toa of Air, Gali, Toa of Water, Kopaka, Toa of Ice, Onua, Toa of Earth, and Pohatu, Toa of Stone. However, they would have to deal with clashing personalities, ever-growing threats like Rahi, Bohrok and Rahkshi, and a legend of a "Seventh Toa" before the island could be freed. An Av-Matoran named Takua finds himself as the Seventh Toa (The Toa of Light) and frees Mata Nui from the darkness by defeating Teridax. His name right now is Takanuva.

2004–2005: Bionicle Adventures

Main article: Bionicle Adventures

After Teridax's defeat, the lost city of Metru Nui had been found. The Turaga began to tell the Toa Nuva tales of the city's fall, a time when they were the Toa Metru: they spoke of the Morbuzakh plant monster that threatened to take over Metru Nui, of the Great Cataclysm when Mata Nui had been cast into endless slumber, and of the Great Rescue when the ruined city was conquered by the Visorak. The Toa Metru were mutated into Toa Hordika. They fought the Visorak and one of their own falls to the dark. Then, they all fight together and won.

The Toa Inika, Mahri and Nuva Emerge!

Main article: Bionicle Legends

Once the tales of Metru Nui have been told, it is soon discovered that the Great Spirit Mata Nui is not only asleep, but dying. Only the Mask of Life can save him, but a number of dark forces want the mask for themselves: A group of thugs calling themselves "Piraka" (which in the Matoran language traslates to "theives and murderers") have tried to claim the mask for their own gain. Soon, new heroes called the Toa Inika would come to the shores of Voya Nui and fight the Piraka. Their last battle was against Vezon and Fenrakk, then soon to be Vezon and Kardas Dragon whom Jaller had stopped in their tracks with a time-freezing Zamor given to the Inika by Axonn, strong friend of the Toa, and they won, but the Mask of Life soared past the Inika and fell straight into the ocean into the hands of disgraced warlords called Barraki. Then the Toa Inika were transformed into Toa Mahri to face the Barraki. They also won that war. In the end, Mata Nui is revived at the cost of Matoro's life, but the Ignika is lost in the core of the universe, Karda Nui. For its retrieval, the Toa Nuva will be forced to enter the battle against the Brotherhood of Makuta to accomplish their destiny. Karda Nui is where Av-Matoran (Av is a prefix meaning light)originally came from. Karda Nui was also the island home of the Toa Mata (Lewa, Tahu, Kopaka, Pohatu, Onua, and Gali) and is now the domains of four members of the brotherhood of Makuta, Antroz, the leader; Vamprah, the Hunter; Chirox, the lead field scientist; and Mutran, the creator of the shadow leeches. Later they are also joined by the new leader of the Brotherhood of the Makuta, Icarax. Note: It also unknown how long Icarax will maintain this position before the original leader, Makuta Teridax aka the Makuta of Metru Nui, realizes this and takes his position as leader from Icarax. The Makuta were then commanded by Icarax, whose is a fierce warrior and leader. When Makuta turned bad, Av-Matoran were disguised as other types of Matoran and "seeded" onto other islands, such as Mata Nui, Metru Nui, Voya Nui (Mahri Nui isn't specificly one of the islands because it is actually part of Voya Nui, but underwater).

Guides

Metru Nui-City of Legends

The Official Guide to Bionicle

Rahi Beasts

World

Dark Hunters

Encyclopedia Volume 1

Encyclopedia Volume 2

Controversy

In 2001, Lego faced legal action by Māori activists from New Zealand for trademarking Māori words used in naming the Bionicle product range. Lego agreed to stop commercial use of the Māori language. This resulted in changes being made a number of existing Bionicle words, while others were removed. Māori terms involved included:

• "Huki" means "hammerstroke", "quaking", or "convulse"; it was used as the name of a stone character and changed to "Hewkii".
• "Kahu", meaning "cape" or "cloak", and "Kewa" were used for types of birds; they became one and the same as "Gukko birds". (However, a recent advertisement for the Toa Mahri mistakenly listed Kongu as a "Kahu" bird rider.)
• "Maku" means "wet"; it was used as the name of a water character and changed to "Macku"
• "Puku" means "stomach", "belly", etc.; it was used as the name of a pet crab and changed to "Pewku"
• "Tohunga" means "craftsman", "expert", etc.; it was used for the race of villagers and replaced with the term "Matoran"

Non-Māori words included:

• "Jala" was used as the name of a fire character and changed to "Jaller"
• "Koli" was used as the name of a sport and changed to "Kolhii"
• "Hoi", "Kuna", and "Vako" were used as names of different Rahi animal species; Kuna are now called "bog snakes" and Hoi are now "shore turtles", but Vako have not been seen since.

However, a number of Polynesian and Melanesian terms still remain the same, specifically ones introduced early in the storyline during Bionicle Chronicles. Here are some examples, though this is by no means a complete list:

• "Akamai means "clever" in Hawaiian, and is the name of a Toa Kaita
• "Kanohi" is the Māori word for "face" and is the Bionicle word for "mask"
• "Toa" is the Māori word for "champion" and is the title held by Bionicle's main heroes
• "Kopaka" is the Māori word for "cold" or "ice" and is the name of a Toa of Ice
• "Onewa" is the Māori word for "basalt" and is the name of a Turaga and former Toa of Stone
• "Pohatu" is the Māori word for "stone" or "rock" and is the name of a Toa of Stone
• Tahu is the Māori word for "burn" and is the name of a Toa of Fire
• "Turaga" is a Fijian title for village chief and used similarly in Bionicle
• "Whenua" is the Māori word for "earth" and is the name of a Turaga of Earth.

Since this controversy, Lego has been careful to make sure that all new Bionicle names are not common terms in other languages. The closest exception to this is the character named "Umbra". The use of "umbra", at least, was considered acceptable because of Latin's status as a dead language.

It should also be noted that an increasing number of made-up Bionicle names have English-language roots; for instance, the name "Axonn" is based on "ax", which the character is noted for carrying, and Brutaka could be related to the word "brute" or "brutal".

Also, names of four (of six) Barraki warlords are based on animals, which their resemembles (for example, Ehlek resembles an eel, Mantax - manta ray). Other names are that of the Makuta, such as Vamprah ("vampire"), Mutran (created from words "mutate" and "transform"), because Mutran is expert in creating beings), or Matoran such as Sarda ("sardine"), Radiak (radiate), or Titans, Hydraxon (hydrogen), etc.

External links

• BIONICLE.com Official Bionicle Website
• BIONICLEstory.com Official Bionicle.com subsite to feature storyline information
• BIONICLEsector01 Fansite BIONICLE Wiki, with more in-depth storyline information.
• Custom Bionicles Fansite BIONICLE Wiki,for fan-made creations.