Bionicle

Bionicle is a line of building 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 concept was derived 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" or "Bionic-" 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 $80. 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 characters are usually identified with fire.
• Blue characters are usually identified with water.
• Black characters are usually identified with earth.
• Brown (or other stone colors, like tan, yellow or orange) characters are usually identified with stone.
• Green characters are usually identified with air.
• White characters are usually identified with ice.
• Gold and white characters are usually identified with light (although they can use their power of light to appear in different colors).
• Black and/or red characters can be seen as beings of darkness (as with Makuta). This, however, has been slightly incorrect with the Makuta Canister sets of 2008, but since the Makuta are shapeshifters, they can appear in any color (or colors) that they want.
• Blue-green characters are usually identified with plant life.
• Metallic grey-black characters are usually identified with magnetism.
• Grey characters are usually identified with sonics.
• The appearance of Toa Ignika (Toa of Life) has created a reputation for silver being related to the power of life. Though Toa Ignika is not a real Toa.

Although, when Mata Nui (the Great Spirit created to watch over the Bionicle universe) died, the mask went from a gold color to grey. It returned to its gold color after Mata Nui was revived, but soon turned silver because of the Makuta being in Karda Nui. It'll eventually become black and everything in the universe will die (this was put into the Mask of Life by the Great Beings if the Universe is beyond saving). So the reputation for silver is not always true.

• Since the Vahi (Mask of Time) is orange, it creates a reputation for orange being related to the power of time.

However, the Vahi was originally a gold color, but turned orange after being exposed to seawater. Therefore, the reputation for orange is not always true.

• 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 "another direction'. There will 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 2006 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 Brotherhood of Makuta, specifically Makuta Teridax, 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 (fire, water, earth, stone, air, ice). There are several exceptions like the 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, as they are the civilians. 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 Teridax: The one who attacked Mata Nui and made him fall unconscious, Once known only as "Makuta" or "the Makuta of Metru Nui", he 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 in energy bodies made of antidermis, which can be used to enslave any unprotected being to their will. Makuta can also shapeshift. His real name was recently revealed as "Teridax", although only other Makuta know this name, and is simply known as the Makuta to the Toa. The Makuta was also spotted in Mahri Nui, while possessing 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 fallen before Makuta's onslaught, the 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 Makuta Teridax. His name right now is Takanuva, Toa of light. (Takua thought he was a Ta-Matoran, and his appearance backed up this belief. In reality, the Order of Mata Nui had taken him and other Av-Matoran, erased their memory, and scattered them throughout the Universe.)

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 as one of them fell to the shadows. After a climatic battle, the betrayer returns to his fellow brothers and sister, and defeats the Visorak.

2006-2008: Bionicle Legends

Main article: Bionicle Legends

2006- Ignition Once the tales of Metru Nui were told, it was soon discovered that the Great Spirit Mata Nui was not only asleep, but dying. Only the Mask of Life could save him, but a number of dark forces want the mask for themselves: A group of ex-Dark Hunters calling themselves "Piraka" (which in the Matoran language traslates to "thieves and murderers") tried to claim the Mask of Life for their own gain. However, their plans were interupted when the Toa Nuva arrived, but they were promptly defeated. But then, six Matoran from Metru Nui (the city has since been repopulated by the Matoran from Mata Nui) came to the shores of Voya Nui and were struck by bolts of lightning from the legendary Red Star, transforming them into the Toa Inika, and began to challenge the Piraka. Their last battle was against half-Piraka (their race's actual name is Skakdi) Vezon and the monstrous Fenrakk, whom Vezon was fused to by the Mask of Life for trying to steal the powerful artifact. (Vezon was actually the result of a mishap involving the Spear of Fusion. The original Piraka had raided Teridax's Mangaia lair and had begun playing with the spear, which went off, its energy striking Vezok and splitting him into Vezok and Vezon.) Vezon and Fenrakk first were defeated after falling into a pool of lava that Jaller created beneath them. They then rose from the molten pool as Vezon and the Kardas Dragon, and an even more ferocious battle erupted between them and the Toa Inika. At the last second, Jaller stopped them in their tracks with a time-freezing Zamor Sphere given to the Toa Inika by Axonn, strong friend of the Toa and a member of the Order of Mata Nui, and they won, but the Mask of Life soared past the Inika, plunged straight into the ocean surrounding Voya Nui.

2007- Sea of Darkness

The Mask landed in the hands of the disgraced warlords called Barraki, who had tried to usurp Mata Nui's position as universal guardian some 80,000 years before, but they were defeated by an army of the then-good Brotherhood of Makuta and Toa and were banished to the Pit (the area of the ocean on which Voya Nui floats) by Order of Mata Nui member Botar, who, to Teridax's annoyance, had interrupted the execution of the Barraki. The Mask released a pulse of life energy when the Barraki touched it, a call for help. The Toa Inika made their way to the bottom of the ocean and were struck by the Mask's cry and, as a result, were transformed into the Toa Mahri to face the Barraki. With help from the Mahri Nui Matoran and Maxilos (Makuta Teridax), who stalled the Barraki's armies in order to buy the Toa Mahri time to reach the place where the mask must be used, the Toa Mahri captured the Mask and destroyed the stone cord linking Voya Nui and Mahri Nui, sending the island hurtling beneath the ocean to its homeland at the core of the universe, just above Karda Nui. In the end, Mata Nui was revived at the cost of Matoro's life, and the Kanohi Ignika is lost in the core of the universe. 

2008- Battle for Power- Phantoka During the sea of Darkness storyline, the Toa Nuva had been pursuing missions to prepare the world for the awakening of Mata Nui. After the completion of those quests, the Toa were teleported to Artahka, and were given orders by Hrylex, the first Toa, Toa of Water, and leader of the Order of Mata Nui, to retrieve the Mask and awaken Mata Nui. They would be forced to enter a great battle against the Brotherhood of Makuta in Karda Nui, the home of the Matoran of Light and the original home of the Toa Mata/Toa Nuva. However, it has fallen under the sway of seven Makuta: Antroz, Vamprah, Chirox, and Mutran, who stay in the skies to terrorize the villages and capture the last Matoran, and Bitil, Gorast, and Krika, who venture into the swamps below to find the Mask of Life. As a result of Matoro's merging with the Mask of Life, the skyborne Makuta, minus Mutran, blinded by the briliant explosion, but the Matoran they corrupted with shadow leaches, a creation of Makuta Mutran, now serve as eyes via telepathic link. After the two groups' first confrontation, the Toa Nuva split up, with Tahu, Gali, and Onua to search for the Mask in the swamps below, and Lewa, Kopaka, and Pohatu to defend the Matoran villages. Meanwhile, the Makuta in Karda Nui send a summons to the most powerful warrior of the Brotherhood of Makuta, Makuta Icarax, who, in Makuta Teridax's absence, has dreamed of seizing control of the Brotherhood. Before can Icarax arrive though, the Makuta ambush the Toa Nuva in the villages, with Makuta Antroz declaring the Matoran Photok a "perfect subject for an experiment". The following battle results in Pohatu, Kopaka and their Matoran counterparts being defeated, leaving Lewa and the Matoran Tanma to flee. The Mask of Life, however, senses the above battles a decides to act on its own, rather than using pawns. To fulfill this desire, he uses matter from the surrounding area to create weapons, a glider board, and a body for himself (gender determined via Lego website and marketing) in the form of a Toa. He soars out of the swamp to join the fight, eager to prove his worthiness. Meanwhile, Antroz has hung the unconscious Kopaka, Pohatu, Photok, and Solek from the cavern ceiling with shadow chains. He telepathically taunts Lewa and Tanma. They defeat the illusion and ambush Antroz, delivering a high speed, powerful blow to the jaw of Antroz. Lewa targets Pohatu with his skyblaster, the impact of which awakens the Toa. Lewa then targets Antroz. With Tanma glowing brightly, using his minor control over the element of light to fuel Lewa's weapon, Lewa unleashes the full power of his skyblaster. The barrage pummels Antroz, breaking his concentration on the shadow chains, and they disappear. Pohatu and Lewa then gather up the still-unconscious Kopaka, Photok, and Solek before they strike the ground, and fly away to join the other Toa Nuva.

2008- Battle for Power- Mistika After leaving the villages to explore the swamp, Tahu, Gali, and Onua are attacked by insectoid Makuta. Tahu, through no fault of his own, was already on the ground when he was attacked by Makuta Krika. Tahu had discovered a sphere buried in a stalactite. He tried to fly closer, but the sphere had a force field around it, which he slammed into and landed heavily in the mud. Krika then attacked with an ability that drained Tahu's strength. Using what strengthGali was flying over the swamp when she found a plant clutching one of the six keystones the Toa were looking for. No sooner than had she freed it, she was attacked by Gorast. Gali increased the moisture in the ground beneath Gorast, and the female Makuta started to sink into the mud. Gali offered to help her out if she would help the Toa. She refused, and vanished beneath the surface. Gali had time to muse one thought: why would she not care for her life. Her question was answered when Gorast sprang from the mud behind her, stating that life in this world does not matter, only the Great Plan. Gorast pinned Gali and prepared to slay the Toa. Onua had better luck: he was captured by and army of one Makuta: Bitil, who had used his mask to call himself from the past to aid him in the future. Onua easily defeated them, using his elemental control of earth to make the mud beneath the Makuta(s) erupt like a volcano, shutting off Bitil's mask and eliminating the army created by it. Bitil pursued Onua, but Onua wheeled in midair and fired his ghostblaster. The blast struck Bitil, forming a sphere around the Makuta that caused him to slam into the ground. Onua the looked over and saw Tahu's signal. He rushed to find Gali. He found her on the ground beneath Gorast. He flew up behind Gorast and lifted her high into the air, and then dropped her into the swamp below. Gali and Onua the rush to find Tahu. Meanwhile, Krika has been speaking to Tahu, who has been building his strength. Tahu unleashed his power of fire, super-heating the ground beneath Krika, scorching the foot blades of the Makuta and causing him to leap high into the air. Gali and Onua arrive, with Bitil and Gorast on their heels. Tahu activates his Mask of Shielding, which protects the three Toa against the shadow attacks of the Makuta, but they are trapped between the sphere and Makuta with no help insight. Far to the west though, an inter-dimensional portal appears in the swamp. Through it emerges Takanuva, who was attacked on Metru Nui by Makuta Icarax. Takanuva was exposed to a shadow leech that drained part of his "light", but was rescued by reformed Order of Mata Nui agent Brutaka. Brutaka gave Takanuva the sundial Lewa retrieved from Mata Nui and a message to give the Toa Nuva. But Brutaka's Mask of Interdimensional Gates was damaged, sending the Toa to an alternate universe (listen to Dark Mirror Podcasts on Bioniclestory.com for full story). He was able to find his way back to his universe, and is now here to reawaken Mata Nui.

Guides

Metru Nui-City of Legends

The Official Guide to Bionicle

Rahi Beasts

World

Dark Hunter

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 Ussal crab belonging to Takua. The crab's name was changed to "Pewku"
• "Tohunga" means "craftsman", "expert", etc.; it was used for the race of villagers and replaced with the term "Matoran"

- In game named Mata Nui Online Game 2 The Final Chronicler there were used some Finnish words: - * Marka/Märkä means wet in Finnish - * Kylma/Kylmä means Cold in Finnish - * Lumi means Snow in Finnish - * Pakastaa means Freeze in Finnish - * Jaatikko/Jäätikkö means Ice Field - * Tuuli means Wind in Finnish - * Pekka is popular Finnish Boy's name - * Kivi means Stone in Finnish - * Arktinen means Arctic in Finnish - * Jaa/Jää means Ice in Finnish - * Talvi means Winter in Finnish

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.
• "Suva"- not likely a Māori Word- the bionicle name of their "temples". It is the capital and largest city of Fiji.

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, and Carapar resembles "crab". 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 {or more possibly based on hydro, meaning water}), 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
• [1]shows information about BIONICLE (and Lego) things