Bionicle

The six original Toa. From left to right: Lewa, Onua, Tahu, Pohatu, Kopaka, and Gali.

Bionicle (often written BIONICLE) is a line of toys made by the Lego Group that is marketed towards those in the 7-16 year-old range. The line was launched in January 2001 in Europe and June/July 2001 in the United States.

The Bionicle idea originated from the earlier toy lines Slizers (also known as Throwbots) and 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, although in the past it was sometimes believed that the word was formed from bionic or biomechanical.

Franchise

The toys are poseable, articulated characters and share some pieces with the Lego Technic line. Characters in the toy line are based on a set of classical elements and Polynesian mythology. Most characters – primarily hero Toa, elder Turaga, and villager Matoran – are matched to one of six elements, commonly identified by a certain color or prefix:
* Red characters are identified with fire and use the prefix "Ta-"
* Blue characters are identified with water and use the prefix "Ga-"
* Green characters are identified with air and use the prefix "Le-"
* Brown characters are identified with stone and use the prefix "Po-"
* Black characters are identified with earth and use the prefix "Onu-"
* White characters are identified with ice and use the prefix "Ko-"Although every major group of six so far follows the color scheme, most individual "bad guy" sets have different elemental affiliations or none at all. Also, the current sets, the Toa Inika, have the "stone" character as yellow and grey instead of brown. The prefixes are mostly used to identify kinds of Matoran and where they live (like fire villagers being referred to as Ta-Matoran or the ice region being called Ko-Wahi), though the Toa Nuva and several kinds of enemies include the prefixes in their names (like Gahlok, Lerahk, or Roporak).Black-colored enemies tend not to use the "Onu-" prefix in their names, but rather variations on it: Nuhvok, Vorahk, and Oohnorak

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, and was the first in the company's history intended to last for over two or three years - in fact, one of the original plans involved seven major multi-year story arcs (Lego has since decided not to limit themselves to seven; should the Bionicle franchise last that long). It was also the first Lego product to have its own direct-to-video movie: Bionicle: Mask of Light; since then there have been two prequels: Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui and Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows.

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.

Story

Bionicle Chronicles

#1 Tale of the Toa: The story begins with the six Toa arriving on the tropical island of Mata Nui. For a thousand years, the island has been in the dark grip of Makuta, who has been controlling the Rahi wildlife in order to intimidate the native Matoran. With the help of the village elders, the Turaga, the Toa must now face their destiny in defeating Makuta and awakening Mata Nui.#2 Beware the Bohrok: Makuta has been stopped, but a new threat has arisen: swarms of creatures called Bohrok are rampaging across the island's surface. Directed by the Bahrag, Cahdok and Gahdok, the swarms have the mission of reducing the island to bare rock. The Toa will have to discover the secret of the swarms if they are to save their people from destruction.#3 Makuta's Revenge: In the aftermath of the battle with the Bahrag, the Toa have been transformed into Toa Nuva, more powerful than ever. But the threat of the Bohrok is not over: six elite Bohrok called Bohrok-Kal are seeking to free the Bahrag from their prison and unleash the swarms once again. With the Kal stripping the Toa Nuva of their elemental powers, the Toa may not be able to stop the swarms a second time.#5 Mask of Light: The island of Mata Nui is enjoying a time of unparalleled peace when a powerful Kanohi Mask is discovered. Makuta immediately unleashes his most destructive weapons, the Rahkshi, in an attempt to retrieve the mask before it can be used against him. If the mask's destined wearer, the Toa of Light, is not found soon, then Makuta's reign may never end.

Bionicle Adventures

The Turaga begin to tell the tales of a thousand years ago, when the Matoran lived in the great city of Metru Nui, when Makuta cast Mata Nui into eternal slumber, and when the Turaga were mere Matoran, chosen to save their people - as Toa.#1 Mystery Of Metru Nui: Metru Nui has been under attack by a plant creature called the Morbuzakh. A number of Matoran have disappeared, and so has the city's protector, Toa Lhikan. It's up to six brand-new Toa Metru to save the city, if the Vahki order enforcement squads don't stop them first.#4 Legends of Metru Nui: The Morbuzakh is no more, and the Toa Metru go to present themselves to the city's leader, Turaga Dume. But Dume declares them imposters and calls for their arrest. Now the Toa are on the run, and they discover something that will change Metru Nui forever.#9 Web of Shadows: The Matoran have been captured and the Toa Metru have been forced to flee Metru Nui. They return to find the city conquered by hordes of Visorak spiders, who are able to capture them and turn them into monstrous half-beast Toa Hordika. Now the Toa have to rescue the Matoran and find a cure for their mutation before it becomes permanent.

Bionicle Legends

Once the tales of Metru Nui have been told; the Matoran, Turaga, and Toa Nuva all return to Metru Nui and repopulate the city under Turaga Dume. But the Toa Nuva are soon sent on a new quest to keep the Great Spirit Mata Nui from dying.

Meanwhile, rogue Dark Hunters called Piraka have come to the island of Voya Nui, enslaving the Matoran who live there. Their goal is to get the powerful Mask of Life that is hidden somewhere on the island. The Toa Nuva arrive also seeking the mask, but are soon defeated by the Piraka and their ally, Brutaka. But all hope is not lost, as Brutaka's former friend Axonn still stands against him and the Piraka, and six Matoran who have followed the Toa Nuva are now taking up the fight as Toa Inika. However, the Mask of Life has several guardians, and if the Piraka get their hands on it, an ancient evil could be awakened...

Māori Controversy

In 2001, Lego faced legal action by Māori activists from New Zealand for illegally patenting Māori words used in naming the Bionicle product range.[1][2] Lego agreed to stop commercially using the Māori language, [3] which included a number of existing Bionicle words being changed or removed:
* "Huki" means "hammerstroke", "quaking" or "convulse"; it was used as the name of a stone character and changed to "Hewkii",
* "Jala" was used as the name of a fire character and changed to "Jaller",
* "Kahu", meaning "cape" or "cloak", and "Kewa" were used for types of birds; they became one and the same as "Gukko birds",
* "Koli" was used as the name of a sport and changed to "Kolhii",
* "Maku" means "wet"; it was used as the name of a water character and changed to "Macku",
* "Puku" means "stomach", "abdomen", "abscess", "belly", "clandestine" or "entrails"; it was used as the name of a pet crab and changed to "Pewku",
* "Tohunga" means "priest", "religious authority", "artist", "authority", "craftsman", "expert", "learned" etc.; it was used for the race of villagers and replaced with the term "Matoran".

However, a number of Māori 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:
* "Toa" is the Māori word for "champion", "boisterous" or "bold" and is the title held by Bionicle's main heroes,
* "Kanohi" is the Māori word for "face", "agent" or "countenance" and is the Bionicle word for "mask",
* "Kopaka" is the Māori word for "cold", "ice", "lack" or "shortage" and is the name of a Toa of Ice,
* "Onewa" is the Māori word for "basalt" and is the name of a Turaga 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", "beam" or "cremate" and is the name of a Toa of Fire,
* "Whenua" is the Māori word for "earth", "afterbirth" or "country" 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 completely made-up and do not mean something in another language.

Notes

External links

* Bionicle.com Official Bionicle Website
* Piraka.com Official Piraka Website (Note: not considered canonical, storyline-wise)
* Bionicle Sector 01 Reference Site

Bionicle: Encyclopedia BETA

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