the last chronicler
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I just want to say that the Bionicle story is a double-edged sword. While its complexity made it hard for new customers to join in, I wouldn't be surprised if more customers stayed around because of it-- even into the dark ages. Maybe Hero Factory is declining more quickly then Bionicle, and LEGO realizes they need to find a way to maintain customers over a long time (and across various ages) that is a balance of maintaining story but keeping it straight forward enough for anyone to join in. My hope is part of them achieving this is through focusing on the Toa Mata for the lines run (or for at least more than three years).
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My TLDR from the 2015 topic: I'll be fine with (and it makes sense economically) to keep the sets demographically accurate with a majority of male sets, but don't limit kids imagination with single-gender biomes. Lego should be inclusive of all genders and people, without the real-world social baggage that those genders and groups entail (also Bionicle beings are mostly mechanical, so I don't think romance is necessary). This is a toy, it helps us/kids escape reality without losing identity.
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Sorry, I'm just used to dumbing things down for people who don't understand Bionicle. I know they are partly organic, but technically those organic parts are made out of artificial protodermis, so really they aren't true lifeforms. Personally, I love the piston-mechanical look of the toys, and hate it when muscles are added instead, the innards can be the organic part. Anyways I just think kids toys don't need to have relationships because they have gender, they have gender because gender is part of identity. Personally, I don't expect HF to have any more sets, and I don't care. It was repetitive, the sets blend together because they all have the same black pieces, I need story to give my sets more substance.
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While TheGreatSpirit was being rude, sexist if you will (although I feel that may be a little extreme when talking about a toy where you can completely ignore the issue anyway) his use of 'crap' was equally motivated by the fact that we keep feeling this topic with something that he feels has nothing to do with the 2015 sets and speculation. It was female 'crap' in context to the fact that the discussion is going off-topic, not just because it was female. You're twisting his words to make him sound ruder than he was, then proceeded to attack my argument blindly. I was agreeing with you that gender equality is important, I was just disagreeing with your method of making said argument. all I was trying to do was present the real world fact that Bionicle sells to males, whether it be a societal thing or a genetic thing it's clear that boys like aggressive and powerful looking toys ( personally, I prefer them for the mystical storytelling and clear morals). Lego doesn't want kids to just buy one set, they want them to buy all of them and make as much money as possible, and boys relate to male characters and role models, So I don't expect Lego to add too many more female characters. Anyways I'd love to see female Toa of fire, ice, earth, etc! But I'm also a guy, and if I pick/make a favorite character it's going to be a male, and at the end of the day women should be able to have that choice too with Bionicle. Just don't argue to me and other male fans that we're shallow because we like male sets, because the need to have female sets is exactly the same thing. If people truly had no discomfort or loyalty with gender, then it wouldn't matter to boys if the sets were female, and you wouldn't care that so many sets are male. Edit: wow, this is why this topic is awful, it makes people react like a bursting volcano. All I was try to do is be realistic, reasonable, and give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I really do believe Bionicle should remove the gender rules.
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Although you are using his wording and ignoring context just to push the gender 'button', this is an important issue. It seems like some male fans just don't want to lose the >5/6 ratio of male set choices available, an argument that would still be present even if genders were switched in this situation. Unfortunately, Lego's demographic is male and that is the audience they appeal too, but story-wise there should be enough freedom to tell a story with 50% female and 50% male, 100% female, 100% male characters, or whatever without limiting what those characters do or who they are.
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I believe that Lego makes it's choices based on demographics. Gali and Ga-Koro being female was a last minute decision to be inclusive. I do think that changing any of the original 5 male Toa to female would be just as bad as changing Gali to male, it goes against the iconography of Bionicle. The question, do people find Ga-Koro having all females and the other tribes solely males as important to the Bionicle lore? Does it change the plot of things? Personally, I think that if the audience is presented a story, then that story will have rules and characters, and if you don't like those then you can make your own. That being said, what's great about Bionicle is that it gives kids a chance to explore a magical world, and part of that appeal is putting yourself into that story. By limiting the choices a kid can make based on gender, you limit your toys relatability. So while only having one female character i.e. Gali is okay to a degree, as it makes the Bionicle story attractive to the smaller but equally important female demographic, you should not limit kids choice on what aspect of the Bionicle element mythos they want to explore and inhabit. So I think they should make all tribes have male and females, or for example if someone wants both genders to have their own exclusive club, make Ta-Koro all male, Ga-Koro all female, and all other tribes mixed. I actually think romance is really stupid in Bionicle. They're robots, it doesn't make sense to play up those gender roles, you can get comedic story material, cute material, and love material without romance. Bionicle is about that youthful creativity, exploration and making the world better, something that can include all kids without the weight of traditional gender paradigms. TLDR: Keeps the sets demographically accurate, but don't limit kids imagination. Lego should be inclusive of all genders and people, without the real-world social baggage that those genders and groups entail. This is a toy, it helps us/kids escape reality without losing identity.
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I thought we received the two leaked images, and the numbers and names came together from the Russian site? Okay, even if we accept that the names themselves are fake, I did the math and the chances of guessing names which line up perfectly with the 12 sets in the leaked image (a leaked image that was censored and therefore very few people have access to) would be 479001600:1. The only way they could have conceived of those names is through a conspiracy with TTV or their leaker. That website has been around for a long time and in a foreign language, which makes it ridiculously unlikely that they would decide to conspire with a small-time Youtube channel just for laughs. As well, who would put all that effort into making an extremely good fake leak just to blur it beyond comprehension? EDIT/TL;DR: based on the math I'm 47900160000% sure Bionicle is returning.
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Dorek, did you read my post that shows that the Russian source matches up with the set numbers (and visuals) on the second leaked image? That they both use the odd 770xx code? The image was blurry enough that on it's own it would be hard to identify the sets, but with the Russian info it became easy to match up the set element colour schemes in the listed order. You couldn't guess that. Seems like it would be an extreme coincidence.
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I'm hoping the large sets are more expensive due to having more parts and detail, and less so because they are taller. On the other hand maybe lego thinks the Toa will sell better as large sets as they are 'classic'. What Lego took too long to figure out was to have the same Hero's every year. It saves them money on names and they can use the same masks. Maybe Lego intends to do this Bionicle, meaning will get titans of the other 3 Toa later. If this is a sequel that could be another excuse to use the adaptive armor: have all the characters change based on the years theme but keep the same name (and possible the same masks) for the six Toa.
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As I said, the sets in the second image were in order, so I'm positive the small sets are the Defenders. I find it highly unlikely that they are Element Lords considering in-story they are transformed Glatorian and large. Kopaka and Tahu and even Lewa hint at the Mata designs, so I'm thinking this is a reboot unless LEGO somehow changed the golden armor story in 2010 so that they were all changed back by the Ignika. Kopaka face looks to me like the 01 Akaku. As well, I do think there may be small spiders in each Toa set, you can see them in the corners of the box. BUT as I stated the left most set in the middle of the 1st image (beside Lewa) is NOT Gali despite the leaker stating it was blue. So I think we may have more Villain sets in the 7079x range.
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I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth with that quote, I just thought it would make a good point to anyone who is still suspicious. I'm so happy you noticed that! It's both lucky (and it makes sense too) that LEGO would pose the sets in a way that shows all appendages and tools as clearly as possible, so I felt pretty confident in my guesses. Unless it turns out that each Toa has 3 extra limbs .
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Using the CLEARER copy of the SECOND image which I obtained, I was able to cross-reference the names and set numbers provided by the Russian site to the blurry pictures/numbers on the image. A 707xx code scheme can be made out in the 2ND IMAGE, so unless this obscure Russian site is somehow in cahoots with TTV, and they predicted an odd change in the coding pattern, a personally find that BIONICLE'S return is CONFIRMED 100%. In addition the 2ND IMAGE sets--based on their numbers' and their colors'--were in numerical order. I have identified all of the sets in the second image and based on their blurry 'outlines' identified all (except one) of the sets in the first image. In general I can say this: - The Defenders are the smallest sets and are humanoid (Although hard to tell for the stone and water one)-- most likely Matoran. - The Stone sets have a dark color scheme-- most likely no orange or yellow. - The sets have some sort of launching 'claw' weapon - The three largest sets are TAHU, KOPAKA, and ONUA Here are the identified sets: http://i.imgur.com/7ENtkx1.png Specific Notes: - Lewa's mask looks different -- Too unclear to tell how - Kopaka's masks lower half looks longer or squarer - Based on the mouth on the Tahu's mask it may be that all masks have been altered to add mouths. - Tahu is carrying a curved sword backwards-- OR it may be the shadow on the edge of a bright red flame sword which blended into the background. - Lewa's axe is long like a staff and may be double-bladed. - Lewa has another colour- brown or gold maybe - Kopaka is carrying a double sword and some sort of staff (With a white ball-joint at the end?) - Kopaka may have gold on him- what about the other sets? - Ice Defender's shield/saw-blade is icy light blue - Fire Defender may have some/be orange - We know the unknown (?) set is blue from the leak -- but it does not look like the GALI set in the second image. - An early image maybe? - Or maybe there are more villain sets (There was no space left on the page photographed by the second image, maybe there is another page?) -This would explain why the smaller villain set SKULL SPIDER is listed last on the Russian site -- the villain sets where number after the Heros SETS IN SECOND IMAGE DETAILS: DEFENDERS - All have a white background (Art incomplete?) except for fire defender - Earth Defenders mask may be PURPLE TOA LEWA - Color scheme, as said, is hard to identify, almost looks like brown, but it could be green bleeding into black ink POHATO - His waist looks as wide as his shoulders, or he is crouching - He is carrying weapons of some sort in both hands- likely long and sword-like - Color in the darker warmer range of brown, nougat or other - Slightly hunched GALI - Blue - Either carrying one large staff weapon in both hands or one large weapon and a thin shield TAHU - chest is orange or red KOPAKA - Two weapons and gold armor (looks brown in the image) as stated by the leaker ONUA - Classic diamond-shaped mask - Hunch-backed - Carrying gun-weapon on his shoulder, or it could be something attacking from above.
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The biggest issue with a sequel is to deal with the ridiculous variety of species, for example currently having two "hero" and "villager" groups. Although I imagine LEGO could set it far enough in the future the story team could off handedly explain that they merged together. Spherus Magna does visually match the concept art on the boxes. One could have classic characters come back as Turaga, and the characters could still be looking for the mask of life or something without much explanation, like Obi Wan in a New Hope. Technically, you could make a story just as simple as 2001, as it itself ended up having a complex background. Personally, I'm against a reboot because the mystery of Bionicle has been resolved, I think to retell the same plot is boring and rewriting it is too contradictory: the definition of Bionicle is the Biological Chronicle of a giant machine. Unless they are using it to justify a new theatrical movie based on 2001 I'm skeptical of a rewrite. The issue with a prequel is it requires new character names, for the Great Beings or Elemental Lords or whoever, and it it still leads to the same ending involving a Giant robot, which would need to be explained in its complexity. For me I'm leaning to an option not yet suggested, that since Bionicle has a grand lore and environment, LEGO can "fill in the blanks" with stories untold in the original Saga: do spin-offs that don't affect the grand plot and stand on there own. They could pull already existing names and groups of Toa, saving money, while retaining the mythology without the weightiness off a deep plot. For example, have the first year about Lhikan's team and the dragon.
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I had always felt that the best way to pitch Bionicle's return would be to treat it as an older audience series alongside Hero Factory, make it Technic's "sci-fi" category with various stereotypical futuristic designs. I prefer the focus on figures though, and based on these images I love the idea of bringing back the Rahi. Can't be cross-compatible, the pins in the Metru and brain attack heads are at different heights. I definitely prefer the 01 look for masks, gives the sets an 'old science fiction' look, like some robot drawn in the 70's, even reminiscent of McQaurrie's Star Wars concept art. I can imagine they might go for Nuva masks as they resemble the more solid smooth look of Hero Factory, though.
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Personally, the big issue with Bionicle sets is they looked cool, mechanical, and functional but in reality they where toys. If you want to make a Bionicle film, build the characters from the ground-up based on their silhouette, but use pistons and joints realistically. Yes it should look more like the toys, but more so in style, not in limiting the look to ball joints and axles. The first few movies leaned way too much toward the bio part of biomechanical, but you don't need muscles if you have pistons. I hope their plan will be a movie to push this new line, by 2015 it will be 14 years since the original sets. That's easily enough time to sell on nostalgia and sell new products in the way Star Wars and Transformers have done.
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Just wanted to say that I had known pretty early on that Bionicle was ending back in 2010. In 09 Greg stated he didn't want to make the Av-matoran masks the noble forms of the Mata-Nui era Great Kanohi due to their potential use in future sets. When he changed his mind, that told me there wasn't going to be any future sets, which was confirmed with the Stars release. Anyways, this evidence is equal, and far more compelling proof for Bionicle's return then what I scooped together in 2009.
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The fact that the style is reminiscent of HF makes me believe this is an official Bionicle series. I think a fan fake would have a more familiar mechanical look, or it would seem more obvious. As well, the changes to the logo suggest the work of someone with a professional background in graphic design. The text seems to get thicker towards the bottom.
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I think i preferred when they where adding texture to the sets by using different block types to represent different materials and using 4x4 center-stud tiles and/or round tiles to separate the different 'blocks'. While it wasn't accurate to the game, it helped add texture without printed blocks and made a clear separation between each of them. You can see this in the early designs: I quite like the one out-of-focus in the back as a primitive "first night" design. My guess is they decided to reduce tile usage to reduce the piece count and price. I get why they would use blocks with only one tile on top to represent minecraft blocks even though they won't be square, as it allows for easy stair blocks, and I'm fine with normal blocks for underground stuff as rocks are meant to look flush, I just think the surface sets could have been more detailed and more modular looking. The 'first night' set is ugly, doesn't use square blocks, has no depth, and uses a badly designed Iron door as appose to a wood door. I'm hoping some of these are still rough. The ground is too flat as well. I actually quite like the Enderdragon and the end set is reasonable accurate, and the mine captures the way Minecraft underground looks without feeling like they just took a a flat vertical slice out of the games generated terrain. The mine is very dynamic and it's #1 on my list, and I think kids will love it because it can be played with as a mine generated by the game, or as one created by the player, or both. Hopefully the creative box will actually have some "blocks" in it, because I was really hoping to retrieve more of those 4x4 centered-stud tiles.
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I just wanted to say, as someone who grew up post-original trilogy, that I am greatly excited for ep. VII despite not being a fan of the universe in my youth. As a kid I missed out on that, for me Bionicle was my Star Wars. Anyways, what I'm getting at is I don't think one should take Disney's elimination of the EU personally. I think some are interpreting Disney actions as a corporate attack on Star Wars, when really it's about the new trilogy. What made Star Wars so great was that it swept viewers into a whole new grandiose universe, something the EU will prevent. Keeping it creates expectations for hardcore fans of the books and games for the story to match their personal imaginations, and prevents a new exciting film trilogy from unfolding because the plot is already known to it's audience. For me I don't find the appeal of Star Wars comes from the dense back stories on cultures, political groups, species, and the light-saber tactics, but from characters and story. The name of Luke's planet could be Tatouine or Segourney Weaver for all I care, what's important is that it's his boring home, and the outside world is big and exciting. Star Wars is a mythological Hero's journey, and I think the EU could have over-complicated the sequels in a similar manner to how George Lucas's heavy politics and CGI created boring prequels. If you enjoy the EU and want it "canon" then it's your own brain: don't let Disney, George or whoever, govern what you enjoy. I just don't want people so upset at Disney that it prevents them from enjoying and appreciating the new movies. If someone said to me Bionicle was returning but all the expanded content was non-canon, then I'd be excited just to have it back. Unless, of course, it sucked
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In LEGO JANGO FETT UNCHAINED Jango Fett returns for revenge as a recapitated Bounty Hunter. Based on, without affiliation, Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. Thanks for watching, please subscribe and such.
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A delayed project that took several months. I hope everyone enjoys it!
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Sorry about that, I obviously over-read a small statement. I'm pretty confident about the writer though, what makes "Toy Story" so good is its universality much like Star Wars. The biggest issue with the prequels was story balance and the quality of the dialog, something I'm hoping confidently the writer can overcome. George Lucas' concept was great, and I feel more secure with him doing the rough outline. Hopefully the feel of the films will retain without the "Jar-Jar" in the room.
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And therefore I have the right to tell you to stop all I want, under your rule. I'm not arresting you, I'm not telling you it's illegal to express your mind, I'm just saying your perspective is skewed by your negativity. I certainly agree an Oscar doesn't mean everything, but generally speaking Oscar-nominated films are good films, no matter how biased the nominations can be. The guy wrote the final Toy Story film, which most people, including those "unfounded" Oscar jurors, found to be of the highest quality. If you think otherwise that's fine, but hear this: I can change my opinion any time I want, you could even change it. I don't put emotional attachment onto my perspective because it can be wrong, and history tells us that of people. I try to act on what I know, which is that Disney can create quality films, and generally treats its licenses with care. The Muppet's The Avengers, Pixar films have shown them to have top-quality abilities, those that exceed the short filmography of George Lucas. Most auteurs learn from their mistakes and their triumphs, George Lucas created Star Wars as an ideas man, but now it is time for him to learn from his mistakes and pass it on to the triumphant Walt Disney Corporation. Under a group of well-minded people Star Wars has a lot of potential. If you have reason to believe otherwise, change my opinion, but at the end of the day the only way we will know whether there was any worth in making Episode 7 is by watching it.
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The guy has Oscar-Winning under his name. George Lucas has personally written only two watchable Star Wars films. Stop being so cynical.
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This iPhone business is rather ridiculous and illogical. Basically the contest rules where made to prevent people from making a good animation? Look, I'm all for equality and evening out the playing field capital-wise, but what your doing here is not equality. It's turning an even spread into haves and have-nots. It doesn't make sense, besides, most individuals in the contest would at least have skill in stop-motion animation, so why expect them to do any less? I more reasonable request would be no in-animation special effects, or limit the product to something more universal like windows movie maker or the apple thing. It about story anyways. If I where to choose to enter this contest, I would have to deal with stabilizing my massive iPad to take hundreds of images. It could end up getting scratched up, or falling off my table, shattering the glass. I'm not going to pay huge money to get some sort of iPad camera stand, if such an item exists. Plus the video quality issues between all the apple products and bad sound effects (Are they even relevant to every-day life?) , in addition to the inability to record voiced dialog, what you're asking for everyone to create the exact same animation. I don't want to make some sort of slapstick comedy. PS: I hope this didn't sound too mean, but maybe you'll see my point, even if it's just a little contest... PSS: I know LEGO is providing the prizes, and I'm not against people choosing to use the app, but considering LEGO makes money off of sets being sold, I see no loss in not using a free app.