Scarilian

Not sure whether its a placeholder, but would make more sense if it wasnt a placeholder. Thinking about this in terms of it being a planned three-year story; - 2015; introduces the Toa with memory loss toa get golden masks toa revive ekimu and defeat Skull Grinder gain mask of creation - 2016 reveals they remember where they came from, Mata Nui toa team-up with creatures toa defeat Umarak gain mask of control - 2017 explanation for what is up with G2 and G1 similarities Makuta gains mask of ultimate power toa defeat Makuta toa gain mask of time toa returning to Mata Nui

Given it some time for thoughts on sets, so here is my list in order of most to least wanted; - **Ikir: Creature of Fire** Tempted to have a group of these bird-like creatures, they just look cute - **Terak: Creature of Earth** Purple overload - being a colour-swap of Melum, i kinda prefer this set due to the darker colours and the mole-like design works. - **Akida: Creature of Water** A nice little build and one of my favourites of the creature designs of the creature sets, though have no MOC'ing need for the pieces - **Umarak the Hunter** Only this high up because of the Mask Of Control - **Pohatu: Uniter of Stone** Brown lower chest piece sells this set for me as the best Toa - **Kopaka & Melum Unity Set** Two sets in one and a rather interesting seemingly custom body - **Uxar: Creature of Jungle** The weakest creature sets, using primarily LoSS legs - **Ketar: Creature of Stone** The weakest creature sets, using primarily LoSS legs - **Tahu: Uniter of Fire** Feels like it has too much gold, not much going for it other than the excessive gold and trans-orange, feels like the 2015 version just with a new body design - **Lewa: Uniter of Jungle** Mask doesn't feel enough like the 2015 version - **Gali: Uniter of Water** Build just looks bland and uninteresting - **Onua: Uniter of Earth** Just doesnt feel like an evolution of the 2015 set, Legs and arms seem simply while the body just seems bad judging from what we can see of the connections. Shoulder skull villain pieces feel out-of-place. As for maybe getting duplicates, not sure if i will for these sets. They offer some cool pieces, but unless the body is spectacular then I'm not seeing much of a reason. I may pick-up a few of Ikir and Akida - however everything else doesn't really meet my needs for what i want with multiple sets. I think the worst aspect is a new step that occurs throughout the process of leaks to release and even beyond; ?) People try to categorise the reaction to Bionicle into a cycle and then use that cycle to dismiss any criticisms of anything and expect that people will buy the sets regardless, without noticing that if there was ever something that would be the death for Bionicle its the mindset that every new sets is just going to be brought regardless and that any criticism made about the new sets is not valid. There are still sets nowadays that people dislike because of the same issues they mentioned before and there are many people who still have not brought specific sets because they just dont like them. Never got the idea of why people believe that fans are so fickle in their opinions that they'll automatically drop them and buy a set they previously disliked just because its been released. --- Before anyone says, i really like the 2016 sets, i feel each is a vast improvement over what we got for 2015, i'm just not sure why everyone thinks that the initial reactions to sets dont matter. Sure some will change their opinions and get the sets, but a cycle of Bionicle should'nt be used to dismiss critiques that are brought up.

Ok, actual story information we've gotten from the catalogues;

Yeah, as GK377 explained the Ghost name leaks and the Playtester reports are seperate information, though reported on together due to seeming similarities. The Ghost name leaks appear to be fake given they dont seem to match-up with the list of names we presume are going to be for summer (Given we're getting beasts instead of Ghosts) Though the Playtester reports remain unknown at the moment as to whether they are valid or not. I get the feeling at this rate it'll turn out the relationship between Makuta and Ekimu will become more like Wu and Garmadon in Ninjago. Makuta starting off as a villain, revealed to have been turned evil via an event and while possibly having a darker side to him, ends up helping the heroes against the evil controlling him. Would just be a nice, though previously used, twist. Having the MoUP revealed as being a seperate entity that perhaps could be the main villain of the series. === As for story thoughts; 2016 - Wave 1; Ekimu and the Toa now know that Makuta is out their and possibly awake/awakening. Ekimu upgrades the Toa with new masks and armour to combat this (using the weapons we saw in his tomb). However before they can do anything, Kopaka is captured by LoSS, who is revealed as surviving the fall. The rest of the Toa go underground and end up defeating LoSS, discovering that LoSS was being controlled by Makuta. Kopaka is revealed as being kept in a cage by LoSS, however is saved via Tahu. Kopaka however dismisses that he was saved by the Toa explaining he can do this on his own and didnt need help. LoSS is left trapped in a cage with Makuta speaking through LoSS explaining that the Toa cannot win. Onua knocks out LoSS with a punch. The Toa then proceed to question Ekimu about the prophecy. Ekimu re-iterates that while he was the better craftsman, the Mask Of Control enabled Makuta a greater control over the elements. Explaining that the elements themselves have physical representations in the Okoto universe in the forms of the creatures (Larger and more powerful versions of their set forms). To create a new Mask Of Ultimate Power Makuta would need to gather the elemental essence again given off from the creatures. Ekimu realises that everything Makuta has done, releasing the Skull Spiders, controlling LoSS, trying to destroy the Mask Of Creation... has all been one large distraction. Makuta has been searching the island relentlessly using his minions - as his main goal is finding the creatures. Meanwhile we are introduced to Umarak, a bounty hunter from a distance land who seems to remember encountering the Toa before (This aspect would be touched upon slightly during the story and lead the Toa to question more about their origins). The Toa decide to split-up and find each of the elemental creatures, with the idea that they are still united even when separated and that their duty is to unite the creatures to mount a defense against Makuta. Each of the Toa succeed in tracking down their own creatures, yet Umarak has managed to collect the essences of all the creatures other than the creature of Ice. Kopaka encounters Umarak and decides that he can take him instead of retreating. Kopaka and Umarak end up fighting until Kopaka remembers what Ekimu said about Unity and unites with his creature, Melum. The combined force of the two manages to wound Umarak enough into retreating and releases two of the essences. Though Umarak still manages to escape wtih the essence of three of the creatures and is shown smirking. 2016 - Wave 2; Umarak returns to Makuta, who appears in the form of glowing red eyes surrounded by mist above a tomb that contains his body. Its revealed that Makuta already has the Mask Of Control which his minions had retrieved shortly before the Toa arrived, this is what enabled him to control LoSS and the Skull Grinder. Disappointed at Umarak's failure to retrieve all six elemental essences, Makuta tries to take over Umarak, however Umarak manages to break open the tomb and remove the Mask Of Control from Makuta. Umarak puts on the Mask Of Control getting empowered. With his new powers he decides to make his own beasts to help him retrieve the final three elemental essences. Using the three essences he has he creates three beasts and uses them to attack the Toa, however each of the Toa unite with their respective creatures. Ekimu faces off against Umarak, who appears to be losing his sanity as Makuta's spirit still remains attached to the Mask Of Control (set-up for a spirti being connected to the MoUP later on) Defeating the beasts releases their essence which Ekimu absorbs via his hammer of power, growing in size becoming more toa-like. The new Toa-sized Ekimu and Umarak face off. During the fight Umarak's memories start to return and he remembers seeing where the Mask Of Ultimate Power is - the stone region. Yet before he can act on his thoughts and go there, through the combined work of everyone and a final blow from Kopaka and Melum he is defeated. Umarak's lifeless body falls into a deep chasm while wearing the Mask Of Control. Kopaka realising that he cannot do everything alone and accepting that Tahu is his equal as the Toa and Ekimu leave, parting ways with the creatures. However, its is revealed that Makuta has taken over the corpse of Umarak via inhabiting the Mask Of Control. Makuta is free, has a body and has a rough idea of where the Mask Of Ultimate Power is. The 2016 Summer wave ends with him laughing maniacally as the Toa feel a shudder proclaiming that 'its not over'

Too slow... guess you get them all ;) :P http://imgur.com/a/5P5Om (Should be almost every new image in animations 16/17)

What you describe here is a teaser not a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger leaves the story unresolved and unfinished. If it finishes the 2015 storyline and just shows the Toa with new masks, thats just a teaser, it isnt implying a continuation of the story or leaving the story feeling unresolved. As mentioned, according to your definition of a cliffhanger, the 2015 winter wave ended on a cliffhanger that wasnt continued for over four months and you expect the summer wave to end on what you believe is a cliffhanger and have a four month break for the resolution anyway. You said it makes absolutely no sense, but you just stated that as the option you expect to happen regardless of whether episode 17 is the last for this year or not. Which images you all want?

Part at the top without a qoute above it wasnt intended to be directed at anyone, just my general thoughts/observations after giving things some though.Did we actually get told the episode exists? I mean, we've seen teases of a final battle episode (Or episodes) but i dont remember getting a set list of how many animations we'd get in the summer wave? They obviously intend to air the episode at some point as its the conclusion of the 2015 storyline, just a question of when. I guess it depends - we've seen how they handle a break between waves (They end with a teaser for the next wave and credits) but we currently dont have experience with how they'll end a year and transition to the next. Yeah, guess its possible they got it though those means.

Seeing the scenes from the presumed last episode doesnt necessarily guarantee a release anytime soon. Judging via the regular release schedule episode 18 would be release on October 3rd if its happening then, however maybe the schedule of animations has changed enough to warrant a 'to be continued' or a cliffhanger with credits. The story 'moving ahead' is virtually the same as saying the story will 'be continued'. Just FYI. To be fair they ended the first wave with a cliffhanger teasing the next wave - chances are they'd desire to do the same if they plan on continuing the animations in 2016. Even if the 'to be continued' aspect is edited, that is definitely the ending crawl to what is the final episode given it contains music thats unreleased and has been used in the summer animations. Maybe not for this year, could just be a slightly longer break than the usual 'week' Though if those are the credits for episode 17 then they may be deciding to take a break until after the NYCC hype and stuff, then release the episode. The reasoning for this could be that the Toa gain new masks and/or forms as a few people have speculated which Lego might not wish to reveal in the form of animations before official images or that the events of the final animation may crossover into the early 2016 storyline. I doubt they'd somehow make a big enough mistake that they missed out an entire episode in their compilation video of everything in the second wave. Especially given this user appears to have other content that hasnt been released which they are uploading (Unreleased Elves episodes at the moment). Possibly an editing mistake, but seems really unlikely. Could just be a general mistake that they believed it was the last episode in the wave because episode 17 ends with 'to be continued' and then we see that episode 18 is just delayed by a bit as mentioned prior. However the ending credits (even if the 'to be continued' may have been added) - still retain the music for G2's Summer animations which have'nt been released clean anywhere. So it definitely seems they are legitimate ending credits. === Though the user could always be waiting to upload a third video containing the remaining animations which would explain the ending credit situation.

So the question now is... is episode 17 the last episode this year with the 'To Be Continued' and ending crawl? It just seems like a last episode sort of thing to me, which is a bit odd given we've seen glimpses of the final battle with Kulta - though i guess they must be saving it for 2016 to lead into that storyline

I'd guess they may be some form of lighsaber holders?

Saved. Also, transcript i've done. Tried making it as accurate as possible though the dual voice over is difficult so sorry if there are any errors. Episode 16 Episdoe 17 Will do thoughts in a bit.

Definitely possibly, just saying the mask idea would fit in with what we currently know about the story from the books. As for other options that come to mind; - I suppose they could do a reveal of Makuta, though we've presumably already saw him in flashes during the magic vision scene - They could tease or reveal Umarak or the Creatures, though we dont know what role they play yet - They could tease the Toa's new weapons, armour or otherwise Thats going off the idea that we'll even get 2016 animations, given we have'nt had an official word from Lego yet and Lego may be allocating more of its media budget to other lines such as Nexo Knights which may be getting a TV series.

For the record book 2 isnt out until December 29th. If we're lucky we may see preview pages similar to the first chapter book. Our next best bet for infromation revealed via the books will be the activity book and graphic novel in November (24th and 26th respectively) Theory;

I think the twist of G2 is going to be along the idea that the Toa are being summoned from somewhere and each time they are summoned/sent back they have their memories wiped by great beings or something. The twist being the reveal of where that location actually is that they are being summoned from and the impact that has on the story as a whole, whether they are being summoned from the past, future or maybe a different reality. Alternatively something related to Makuta not being evil but just being misguided and the Mask Of Ultimate Power being the housing for a much greater threat would be a nice twist, that the character that most fans of G1 and G2 will view as the villain was actually just a misguided character who gets redemption and is actually not the main villain. Same here, if the polybag release hasnt been revealed by late October then i'll probably pick it up, its already selling fairly reasonably on some sites. Though i'm wondering at this stage if perhaps the polybag will be given out at NYCC rather than seeing much of a larger release in other places

Should probably have explained that we got a variety of official images before NYCC last year, including Bionicle as previously mentioned along with Ninjago, City, Elves and probably a few more lines - so official images seem more likely to be revealed before Octobert 8-11 (NYCC) Even if not a large presence i'd still expect some presence of Bionicle, atleast the sets on display or something.

I'd guess that they would, probably release official images slightly before that though judging from last years reveal.

Why dont we just ask someone who had seen the catalogue to verify if it seemingly has a new watermark? - e.g. Hulk_Smash We'll get pics, it just may take longer than we expected. Chances are we wont get leaks until the end of the month.

Thoughts; True, Umarak the Hunter is only $20 and expecting a really good set of him will likely leave us disappointed; Umarak the Hunter ($20) could probably be intended to just be a 'LoSS' of the wave, a character likely added on so we'll get the villain in the first wave. I could honestly see him turning out to be a black version of 2015 Kopaka with a new mask and a bow - as that is the price range we are looking at. Umarak the Destroyer is probably the definitive version of the character judging by the list we had. I personally cant view any of the others being given the 'big set' price range. This will probably be the version everyone will want to get and they'll throw in a rare mask such as the Mask of Control to convince those who got his 'Hunter' variant. This is probably the one we should be hyping about, though chances are we wont see this set for a while so hyping over it is a little less rewarding. Recently saw these fan created concepts, and i think some of them give off the vibe your are on about.

Changing a pre-established characters gender or race (In this case what element they represent) is a little lazy in my view.. With Lewa''s element it atleast had a slightly better reasoning behind it and he still keeps the aspects of a Toa of Air so it boils down to simply being a title change. A female Takanuva or making Takanuva anything other than a Toa of Light would seem forced - if anything they already have Ekimu seemingly serving as the opposite of Makuta and given the other list of names we got, there is a possibility he may even get a Toa-sized form in 2016 - so the role of Takanuva seems filled. That is not saying we could'nt get a G2 Takanuva, but simply that we already have characters established who could fill the role. He has very minor aspects of those characters. A lot of what made the other characters who they were was more than just a small selection their actions or their abilities. While Ekimu could fill there role he doesnt necessarily mean we'll not see the characters return. I think this implies a bigger problem, a lot of people believe that male characters only appeal to males and females to female. Bionicle does not need an influx of females to appeal to the female demographic. One of the main ideas with Lego as you demonstrated via your image was that a toyline can appeal to boys and girls, that doesnt mean they need to throw in a bunch of girls to appeal - it means that gender constrictions placed by those thinking only females appeal to females and only males appeal to males are nonsense. Throwing in more females would'nt change people's mindsets about whether girls can buy toys that are stereotypically viewed as things for males. Elves for example could be considered female targetted, however it does have a large portion of male fans. Ninjago has quite a sizeable female fanbase despite having few female main characters. Adding more females is not necessary, just make a good story and good toys and then you'll get both male and female fans. Gender roles also have little meaning in the Bionicle universe and the designs of the official female characters (Other than Roodaka) have never been what could be considered stereotyping. There is nothing overly female about Gali's design - especially not to the point she is stereotypically female. Unless you somehow view the slightly altered CCBS shell placement on her legs as being femine, as every other aspect is replicated on other sets... :L

Can understand why it would be like that, but hopefully it actually does have some of the whole Tardis interior design going on in the finished version. Would feel odd to just have the console and nothing surrounding other than the door ><

Well we should get them by NYCC in October - so seems like we'll get images by the end of the month and if not then NYCC.

Thoughts; We have probably got a general idea of what next year has to offer based on this year; We've probably seen the names for the Winter and Summer wave of sets The booster pack found by CM4Sci might be amongst the things we get next year We'll probably get promotions similar to this year in the form of polybags There will probably be a few exclusive masks similar to the clear-hau and trans-gali mask There will probably be more books and graphic novels There will be some form of media to tell the story - either animations or something else There will probably be some form of competition giving away masks or other bionicle goodies Though obviously there is room for new things, but we should'nt expect a blossoming wave of sets given the Star Wars CCBS sets plus the introduction of a new line to replace Chima which would be getting more focus (Nexo Knights). I feel you may be forgetting that Hero Factory likely recieved more sets because it had a TV show at that stage, and according to your comments about the introduction of CCBS, probably a larger budget. Unless Bionicle gets a TV show i doubt we'll get many more sets than we got this year - a TV show to advertise the sets seems to be Lego's next step for lines they have faith in being succesful. After a TV show is achieved the lines tend to expand more and be more risky as long as the show is doing well.

Looking at last year; September 11th - Prices for all winter sets found from a German retailer Werst September 14th - Confidential photos found by Mesonak. September 19th - Bionicle return officially announced September 28th - Final set pictures sent by Just2Good but Onua was missing September 29th - Confidential catalog by a Reddit user admiraltyphoon Looking at this year; August 5th - Bionicle set names and prices for Winter Wave leak on Amazon, Kopaka and Melum set listed shortly after VIA Amazon/Lego server August 31st - Bionicle set names appear for what is speculated to be the Summer Wave VIA Lego server My thoughts; We've had quite a lot of information revealed in recent leaks, we know the prices and names of the winter wave along with a list of names for what is likely the summer sets.They'll probably try cracking down on image leaks, though with catalogues being sent out and websites being prepaired for the release, chances are they'll start getting a little more lax around near September given they'll likely reveal the sets officially at NYCC in October (8th-11th) anyway. I can't see them trying too hard to prevent leaks when what will likely be the official reveal draws closer and closer. We'll probably get some stuff before the end of September, but we should'nt really get too hyped on the idea of getting preliminary pictures in a week or so. If we put close dates to things and expect certain information to be revealed at certain times it may blind us from other information that is released - e.g. if we're looking for pictures we may miss a different type of 2016 leak.

Just a small reminder the October catalogue hints at double VIP points, so might be best holding off getting the sets if you want them (If you benefit from the VIP points anyway) Personally going to be going for Vader and Grievous, just prefer the larger bad guy sets to the smaller sets. Feel the 2016 wave of sets will bring the better smaller sets.