Shakar

They just confirmed they aren't releasing Makuta or the MoUP. It's over guys. I'll be here around to follow the topics and comment on some MOCs, but there's no point giving my money to this company anymore.

EDIT: Just saw VBBN's post, sorry.

"It was a business decision to take out LEGO BIONICLE." Well at least they didn't sugarcoat it. So even the original "at least 3 years" plan was cut short. I'm this close to boycott Lego, but I rather wait for tomorrow to hear the details.

I can see the announcement leading to one of these 3 scenarios: 1) The line is over, full stop. But does a dying line really need an announcement of its ending? 2) The line has been rebooted to explore more profitable stories and sets. 3) The line is over but, like Lego has done with other themes in the past, we're getting a special mega uber Collector's Edition set to end the line with a bang. Which could be Makuta, and that could be the reason they revealed him so early.

It was just a bright purple banner with a gold MoUP. Nothing special really. Yeah I can't bring myself to like the Destroyer. The Hunter is great, one of the most unique Bionicle villains we've had. UtD has such and awkward head, a boring colour scheme, and there are so many gaps. I do like the big claws, and I appreciate the bulk. But they're not enough to justify my purchase. The fact that the set is overpriced in Europe, though relatively minor on its own, doesn't certainly help things.

Yeah, the point is, whatever the reason they decided to keep the shapeshifting powers from G1 Teridax, it works in their favour since they can pretty much come up with any design for Makuta, set or not. The only reason I would say it's not time yet is because we don't have an official confirmation of this stuff being 2017 material, even though it's pretty much a given it is. If it were for me though, I'd open the thread already, since all the stuff we've been discussing has little to nothing to do with the 2016 sets.

Okay, I admit was expecting that h to be a typo and to see a really tall blue jay here. But that doesn't matter, this is a really good MOC. The way you combined CCBS and B10 so seamlessly (with a dash of classic Bionicle and System) is spectacular. Nothing comes off as awkward or out of place, which is what these MOCs tend to be. And major props for making good use of such a rare colour in the action figure realm like dark blue. So, really great job.

I'm not sure if it's smoke since the the Mask's finer details ("teeth", etc) are clearly visible. Still, that purple does have some glow to it so it might be just energy of some sort. So whether it's smoke or something else, you're probably right that the purple isn't part of the Mask- or, if it somehow used to be part of it, it's not there anymore by the time Makuta gets his body back. But purple is definitely going to be there somewhere, even if it's not in the JtO Makuta. You don't come up with those high quality, official set tier printed parts just to show off a designer's cool MOC. My theory is that Overlord Makuta is the closest thing we have to the final set for now, but they couldn't spoil a 2017 set (possibly even a Summer 2017 set) so early, so they came up with (or rather, brought back) Makuta's shapeshifting abilities to justify the difference between the JtO form and the set form we're going to get. The fact that JtO Makuta is a combo model pretty much solidifies that we're never going to get a set of him. But, still, fair points.

Quoting myself (I know, it feels pretentious, but it's the best way to introduce my point) from the Sets thread since that post dabbled a bit into storyline stuff: Adding to that, just a few observations: -The MoUP has constantly been shown with dark colours, but the Jto trailer shows Umarak holding mysterious golden shards, and now a (possibly real) banner from a leaked catalogue shows a gold MoUP. Could it be that the MoUP is gold in its base form but gets black/purple/etc when it's powered up? Gold to black, would be a nice throwback to the Ignika in G1. -The MoUP doesn't have any runes carved on it, unlike the other two legendary Masks. Not groundbreaking (I wasn't really expecting it to have them), and I don't think there are going to be storyline implications for that. Just wanted to point it out. Personally I like that it forgoes the "sacred, ancient artifact" feel of the other Masks in favour of harsh, smooth, alien shapes.

Lol it's the Italian catalogue again. I remember when East European countries got dibs on the leaks (fun fact: I think the first pic of Umbra in 2006 was from an Italian catalogue too). That MoUP does look real (and would probably confirm that we're getting a gold version along with a dark one), I just find it weird for 2016 sets to be there. Wow good eye there. I did notice the trans orange Technic beams from LoSS, and the use of..unusual parts for a villain figure (Ikir's gold Chima wings, Tahu's gold/orange crystal armour, the gold wheel from Ekimu's shield, etc) but I couldn't connect the dots. That model's colours got changed quite a bit in the JtO version, with a lot of gold and trans orange being replaced by black and purple. At this point, I think it's safe to say that the gunmetal Makuta and the red and black MoUP from the 2015 animations are non-canon (and irrelevant for future sets) at this point, and that purple and gold have stayed as Makuta's main colours even after the MoUP corruption. The MoUP itself is either purple (JtO flashback), black (JtO episode 4), or a mix of the two, plus a possible gold variant, but no red at all there. I know that trans purple is great, but I would personally prefer a full black version, since I'd feel it'd look more sinister and closer to G1 Makuta's Kraahkan. Of course, 3 colour variants wouldn't be bad either. And unrelated, I really really want that black Tahu Mask.

Whatever set form Makuta gets next year, I hope he does feature that trans reddish orange head. If he does, I know I'm going to give him a trans light blue eyestalk, just to homage 2003 Makuta.

2.18. Makuta sitting on the throne, wearing the Mask of Control and holding Ekimu's trans light blue Mask of Creation. Is he going to kill Ekimu I wonder?

He's very big that's for sure. No less than 30 Euro. I think it can still be released though, aside from a few details which look too MOCish. And check at 0:58. That's TOTALLY MNOG Makuta's Matoran form!

https://www.lego.com/en-us/videos/themes/bionicle/lego-bionicle-contest-video-a74b0b3ddf4d4701a6d60fec4279c583##sp=200 Well this is awesome, but confusing too. Lots of new pieces (2017?) but apparently everything else is a MOC? New pieces: -MoUP -printed loincloth -dish with MoUP sigil and Nuva symbols -Onua 2015 chest with MoUP sigil (prototype/placeholder I suppose) -trans orange skull.

https://www.lego.com/en-us/videos/themes/bionicle/lego-bionicle-contest-video-a74b0b3ddf4d4701a6d60fec4279c583##sp=200 Well this is awesome, but confusing too. EDIT: Aw, meant to post it on the Sets thread. Sorry.

I really hope that design sticks. He looks awesome. The funny thing is that I was thinking of using a pair of Shadow Traps halves as chest armour (like a big chest mouth) with something round and transparent on the middle (like a Tridax pod) for my.. Makuta MOC. Crazy I tell you. It might be we've already seen previews of both of Makuta's possible forms. The one with the printed chestplate as Makuta's base form (the equivalent of Umarak the Hunter) and this big one as Makuta's final boss form (the Umarak the Destroyer equivalent). Also, I can't help but notice that the mouth part of the MoUP looks closer to the Miru-like look of the JtO poster Mask, rather than the Witch Doctor-esque toothy mouth the Episode 3 trailer Mask.

Someone on 4chan traced (is that the right term?) over the MoUP so you can see its details better: Then someone did a render of the Mask in gold (the teeth are missing though) and put the two side by side. I really like how the MoUP is looking, the large 6 section ring on the forehead is a nice touch and the horns/crown they reused from the MoCr prototype looks so regal and menacing. The gold render has made me wonder again if we're going to get two versions of the MoUP like with the MoCo, or at least two colour variations.

Keep in mind that Makuta isn't looking straight at the camera, his head is slightly lifted and tilted to the right, since he's looking at Ekimu. So the MoUP actually comes off as slightly distorted.I like how the Mask looks for the most part, but I think the lower section (basically the whole jaw+chin) is too thin compared to the top section. It should've been a bit wider. But it's easily one of the most evil looking Masks I've ever seen. You're right. Even worse, I once built a MOC that combined a XT4 torso and a Superhero chest and it actually worked. Clearly my memory was bluerry when I wrote that.

I think Makuta's transformation is going to be more gradual than what the 2015 version of the flashback led us to believe (early plans that got changed?). Makuta is keeping his original colour scheme intact, sure, but he clearly looks mutated and enlarged compared to his base Mask Maker form. I think Makuta never tapped into the full extent of the MoUP's power, and that Ekimu managed to knock the Mask off while he was mid-transformation. Still, I'm not sure if we're ever going to get this specific form as a set, due to a number of set and story related reasons: I still think we're getting two forms for Makuta like it happened with Umarak, and that the first one is going to use that chest print (because that definitely looks like it was taken directly from a set). I just don't think he's going to look like this. Oh and well, is it ok that we discuss this stuff here? It feels more of a set related conversation, but I suppose it's way too early for a 2017 sets topic. So I dunno what we should do.

Whoa that definitely does look like a Mask. I wouldn't mind if that was the front of the MoUP, it looks quite cool and menacing.

Definitely late, but I finally got Kopaka and Melum the other day. Absolutely love them. The dark blue is such a great addition to Kopaka's palette.

Neat! I wonder if we're going to get Ekimu's Falcon too!

Alternate combo models? Now that's my jam! Looks more modular than the primary model, but it has some cool ideas, like Lava's head as an helmet.

Kind of off topic, but I feel this should be noted, from Velouria's review of set 41180: https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7561/26974674173_a85fc86287_b.jpg A recolour that might turn out to be pretty useful, its smaller version was used for Skull Grinder's horns.

Slizer 2.0 or constraction!Exo Force? What about... both? Minifig piloted mechs that evoke the designs of the original Slizers. Likely never going to happen, but I'd lie if I said I wouldn't like to see them.