Why Does Bionicle Have a Cult Fanbase?
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- The strong fanbase of Bionicle is something that has always interested me. Join me today as I try to figure out why this LEGO theme has one of the most loyal fanbases around.
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I just uploaded a new Bionicle related video talking about the 90th anniversary LEGO set. Feel free to check it out. ruclips.net/video/0ecpIudz5ok/видео.html
Bionicle never talked down to its audience. That was huge.
I think the point everyone bring up about Bionicle being made in an unusual for lego form can work both ways. I honestly, genuinely do not care about lego bricks, and seldom interested in some technic. But Bionicle? That was the stuff.
One aspect is the story another is the personal aspect to it regular system builds just don’t have the individual personality and customization of characters I think that’s why self mocs are so popular (heck look at my pfp) that’s something that no other toy line can compare to and why bionicle remains so important to its fanbase to me if they had it as a consistent thing they release I would buy it till the end of time because honestly it’s something I Always will enjoy
I think it has a cult fan base is because the theme has been semi dead for like 7 years, all the fans that weren’t super fans melted away, that’s why it’s so concentrated in my opinion
ohhh happy birthday man.
For me it's the lore. The toys will break and get brittle, but the 30+ books and multiple comic series are timeless and I always find myself re-reading them.
Awesome! Do you ever re-watch the movies?
@@OurToyWorld I personally do, but they’re very flawed.
They definitely do...even CCBS
I feel like you brought a very underated part about why Bionicle is so popular, and that's the age of the internet. I think it's a big contributor as to why some of the most popular anime of all time were often from the 90s - 2000s, such as Sailor Moon, DBZ, and Naruto. Because the kids who grew up with those shows could share their experiences online. Unlike any generation before, 90s and early 2000s kids grew up with the initial explosion of the online world. A unique LEGO line with a vast amount of lore that came in multiple forms(books, toys, movies, etc.) with color coordinated characters that kept changing and growing, COMBINED with the help of the world wide web, was sure to make Bionicle a success in retrospect. Heck, you could apply many of these points to Ninjago, which has been running for over a decade now.
THIS! I really have nothing to say besides THANK YOU! I completely agree with this comment, and I appreciate you for digging even deeper into a point I brought up in the video :)
@@OurToyWorld can you please make a video on what you think about lego castle fan base?
@@stevemartinez7470 Maybe, but I doubt it. never really knew a lego castle fanbase existed.
@@OurToyWorld There is, just not as big.
Absolutely. Many Bionicle fans are also Ninjago fans, and this too speaks to the similarities between the appeals of both LEGO toylines regarding what’s made them successful.
bionicle will never die.
Preach it
My biggest reason why I loved the series is how to handles the audience. Its a line targeted for kids but that doesn't mean a disney plot where good guys learn who they are and beat the bad guy. You see the struggles of the toa and even the matoran as they try to protect their homes. You see the characters grow and learn from their mistakes but still struggle making them feel real. There are many great lessons and very serious moments that you normally wouldn't see in a kids series. The great wars and how people are treated differently based on their tribe. There was death and even torturing which they did not treat lightly. There was even a hell like dimension. They trusted that we could handle it. There weren't just idle character, instead each had a purpose and felt necessary to the story. The mystery element to the islands and all the important plot points that went over our heads felt amazing once we realized what was happening. As the series progressed, it didn't feel like they were just making things up as they go and hoping it all works out. G2 suffered this fate and it really is sad to see what became of the series name. The MNOG 1 and 2 games breathed life into the toys. The movies let us see what we imagine on the big screen. I would love to do a paper on this topic because there just so much to be said about the series. Sorry if this is awkward to read, I write how I talk.
Not awkward at all. A complex story that takes time to progress is something that we probably will never see again in a LEGO line. Again, a shame, but I think it will aid in keeping Bionicle's relevance alive
I feel like you're thinking backwards with why people were drawn into the story of Bionicle: I got into Bionicle because of the presentation of the cool robot action figures in a mysterious tribal island setting, but the narrative around this setting kept me hooked. The Mata Nui Online Game is still my favourite game to this day as it was such a lovely introduction to the world of Bionicle and was visually so stunning. The backgrounds are still worth using as desktop wallpapers, even though the water texture is compressed to oblivion.
As a child who grew up with Bionicle, I never had to defend myself for liking the toy line even when many of my friends were more into system sets like City and Pirates. It wasn't out of personal defence or in order to validate my preferences that I got into Bionicle's story; both the sets and the story are very compelling in their own right while complementing one another.
Part of it was probably that Bionicle matured with its fanbase, similarly to Harry Potter did (which also has a crazy fan community)
In 2001, Bionicle was fairly simple and, while darker than a lot of other Lego themes at the time, was still quite lighthearted.
As the years went on, it got more and more mature though. 2004, 2006 and 2010 being the main step ups in maturity. I never really got to experience this, my first interaction with the theme through a Piraka happy meal toy in 2006 (had no idea what it was but I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen), my first set was in 2009 and I only really got into the lore after G1 ended, (I actually became a serious nuisance on the CustomBionicleWiki, as I was still a child then and wasn't able to formulate a coherent anything) but yeah, Bionicle grew up with its fans. Imagine if it stayed on the Island of Mata Nui, Makuta being a mild problem year after year, without any progress being made by anyone. People would loose interest. But instead Bionicle started a prequel in 2004 (Metru Nui), and started an actual coherent plot in 2006 (It was mainly just events surrounding whatever Island that year was set on previously, 2006 started the whole story goes were the Kanohi Ignika is trend, and suddenly the story had a mucguffin to follow = a pretty good one at that). I think they dropped the ball in 2010 with the sets, but the Bara Magna storyline only happened because the villain won. Teridax took over the Matoran Universe, the concept of the heroes failing so spectacularly is pretty novel for a toyline. If you were to look at 2001 Bionicle and compare it to 2006, you would probably get whiplash from how tonally different they are, that's my point. The story matured with the fans, rather than digging its heels in as the fans matured.
Very good video, I really appreciate how a non-Bionicle fan like you took the time to research the topic and come up with actual good points, unlike many other general LEGO fans out there that have always avoided the theme without giving it a chance.
Thank you for respecting us Bionicle fans. I remember the whole 9-year experience of Bionicle and reading about the intricate lore even back during the day, so more of then than not, I DON'T have to do my research on Bionicle Subjects. Also, cudos for saying the obvious truth: "There are no normal Bionicle fans."
You're welcome, and thanks for this detailed comment! I'm really happy this video was able to find the target audience I wanted it to, and I'm glad you caught up on my line about there being no normal Bionicle fans, lol
I remember that bionicle it was unquestionably lego back in the day. It was just part of the technic line and was a gateway to mindstorms. And everyone I knew loved bionicle because it was lego.
Bionicle step up creativity to another level and allow us to combine brick and technic with time
With bionicle we got a true possibility of poseable lego figure
For the child me i can do so much story wirh those toys
And i never think they weren't lego
Bionicle was awesome for his lore because everibody ( child or adult ) can interest in it, there is true plot in this story
HEY! That's my fanfiction!😃 (Legacy of the Toa). It's not my best written fanfic, but it's something I enjoy doing as a longtime fan!
BIONICLE is my dearly favourite childhood growing up. I'm now in my early 30s as an autistic guy and am currently training to be a writer. And it was Bionicle that aspired me to write fantasy.
Good video, but I disagree with you on the account of Bionicle fans delving deeper into the theme due to being qustioned about why they like the theme or due to animosity towards the theme comig from other lego fanatics. Most Bionicle fans were boys between the ages of 4 and 12. I don't think they were on online message boards looking at or participating in arguments about Bionicle being a legitimate lego theme or to justify it's existence. In my opinion people who are still bionicle fans are all superfans because they were superfans when they were kids.
Imagine for a second if pokemon, for example, was completely cancelled 9 years into its lifespan. The people who would still be fans would probably only be superfans specifically because everyone else would have moved on. (In my humble opinion)
2005... hmmm.... that would be... right in the middle of Gen 3?
I wonder if Smogon was around then.
I know Pokemon Crater was...
4:00 "Deep and complicated backstory"
*shows G2 commercials*
Hey, I need some bionicle background footage and I used some of LEGO's commercials from G2. my bad? lol
@@OurToyWorld NP. It's just a bit ironic.
As a diehard fan of Bionicle I can say that my love for the theme has nothing to do with it being "polarizing". It was part of my childhood. I love the sets and I love the story.
I think one of the reasons Bionicle has become such a powerhouse and adored theme is because it ascends beyond what a normal LEGO “theme” is. Honestly, the epic story is so intricate and the characters / sets are so radically different from anything else LEGO had done (at the time), that it doesn’t even feel like a LEGO theme, but a completely different toy, separate from Lego itself. I mean, the movies never mention any connection to Lego / break the fourth wall, so you could show someone a Bionicle movie, and aside from Lego appearing in the title credits, they wouldn’t even realize it was a Lego theme
Great points! I think Bionicle's seperation from LEGO was both a good thing. It was good, as it allowed Bionicle to grow on it's on- many Bionicle fans are not LEGO fans, only Bionicle fans. At the same time though, this seperation probably prevented many more 'traditional' LEGO fans from making the switch to bionicle.
True. As a kid who grew up with Bionicle, it was so different from anything else I had ever seen from Lego that I kept forgetting that Bionicle was a part of Lego until I saw the Lego logo on the Bionicle set canisters or at the end of Bionicle set commercials.
@@OurToyWorld Definitely. The architectural appeal of classic bricks is certainly different to the more sculptural, mechanical, and articulatable Bionicle and Technic parts.
Make a similar video with the Ninjago fanbase, because it's all the more questionable why it has such a large fanbase.
In my case I was into the functions in the sets first and didn't pay attention to the lore until the first movie. Then I dove in DEEP. Kinda needed the story to push through the later sets, but I felt no need to justify those gear functions, masks and tools.
Interesting. Were you a LEGO Fan before you discovered Bionicle, or were you just an average person who randomly fell in love with the cool new product LEGO delivered?
@@OurToyWorld I did have a bunch of sets from Lego Space, Castle and the old Star Wars sets before that (and Slizer/Throwbots but that isn't System), but I got into Lego maybe two years before Bionicle started
The sets are amazing, unique, playable, great looking, they're works of art on their own.
The lore is rich, beautiful and never ending. To this day, as a 19 year old who has been following Bionicle since 2006 I have yet to fully understand the lore and always find out about something new.
Bionicle is a great portion of my life. It has my favorite media, was my first exposure to online communities and forums and mass media in general, it even was of great influence for me to learn English since very young. I could still go on about why I love this franchise, it means a lot fro many late 90s and early 2000s kids just like Ninjago means a lot to people from the late 2000s and last decade
Wow, I can tell it has had a profound impact on your life and that is truly awesome. Thanks for sharing!
3:16 Damn that's actually really deep
Thank you for pointing that part out, my man
When I was 9-10 years old around the time Bionicle came out, I never knew people didn’t like it due to its part designs. I saw the comics and sets and thought, “huh, those look fun!” And they were, and still are to this day. It was that simple. When I got into the story, I saw that it was fast-pased, well written, and had banging artwork. The folks behind the scenes knew that kids weren’t stupid, and part of the fun of Bionicle was seeing themes pay off later. I always found it odd that people would be polarized over this theme.
Other AFOLs just don't get it.
Yeah...if people don’t like something, there’s a real simple answer....Don’t buy the product. I love bricks as well, but I also like new innovations.
6:28 That’s assuming they even make a set for it - my cynical side says they probably won’t, even though it won. I mean, I REALLY hope they do, but it seems like they’ve set it up so that it might not be chosen even if it does get more votes.
10/10 video! Everything stated is true
Thanks! I'm glad you agree.
for me its the lore and countless opportunity's for tales about the world and oc's and there story's and it can fit as long as they don't conflict with canon.
I reckon the point about us Bionicle fans sort of being forced to constantly validate ourselves within the Lego community is honestly probably one of the most critical for why the community is the way it is today. Being surrounded by a community that dislikes you tends to breed that mentality of everything being a fight for survival, we definitely have become more insular over the years, to the point where instead of outsiders saying we aren't true Lego fans because Bionicle isn't Lego we now have people in the community saying you aren't true Bionicle fans depending on which clique you do or don't fit into.
This is such a great video. I wouldn't necessarily go as far as to call the Boinicle community a cult but all the points and explanations you made about why Bionicle fans are so passionate are spot on! You totally provided a clear explanation to an outside on how the Bionicle fanbase operates and why they are so invested (and I say this as a Bionicle fan).
Ironically, Brother from Another Brick recently posted a video that claimed the Ninjago fanbase was also a cult. But I think your video is much better because, while I don't fully agree with the title, I completely agree with your points and reasoning. Unlike you, Brother's video didn't really provide any valid explanation for why the fanbase operates as it does. They just made a bunch of surface level observations, many of which were only partially accurate or blatant exaggerations. So the end result is a video that makes extraordinary claims but lacks extraordinary evidence.
In fact, a bunch of the things you said in this video could even be applied to the Ninjago fanbase and why one might assume they are also "cult-like". That just makes this video that much better, it's presenting universal truths about other extreme fanbases.
my brothers and I bought some or all of every single bionicle series pretty much. It invokes imagination. We had our own epic tales of gradeur that sometimes were similar to the real lore, sometimes not. The characters are so unique, expressive, compelling, full of personality. Both villains and heroes. "a mix of Pokemon and starwars" i believe one of the creators said. But it's something totally unique to its own, and captured our imaginations as a kid.
I don't think I got into the bionicle lore because i was "trying to justify its existence" wtf lol
I simply stumbled upon it after being nostalgic and curious. And it turns out...the lore is amazing. And the big twist at the end...absolutely surreal how well planned it was. And now you have something for your nostalgia to stand on. So my love for it builds from there.
I didn't get into bionicle to justify its validity as a lego theme
I got into bionicle because I was five and the original sets were the coolest thing I had ever seen and the story, mythology and atmosphere (comparable to star wars and lotr) never ceased to bore me
Like everyone else you forgot one inportant point
All points you made were from the position of a lego fan finding interest in one specific theme that stood out
But you didn't point out that the reason bionicle is so different is the fact that is a buildable action figure
Bionicle isnt a theme for lego people but for Action figure collectors in the first place
And besides gundam there isn't really much else in terms of Action figures that you put together with pieces
Of course the lore helps making the figures interesting upon just their look and to keep interest
But the no1 thing that makes bionicle interesting is its existence as an action figure
Wich is something almost everyone fails to mention because you are just lego fans
The fangame is called "Bionicle: Masks of Power"
As many have mentioned, the story was definitive to my childhood and early teen years. The story, products and marketing melded in such a perfect way that kept me engaged to the point where to me, Bionicle was a definitive part of Lego's identity because it went on for so long, sort of like Ninjago these days. Hence why the cancelation was so devastating and provoked alot of immature anger and many people including myself didn't even try to like Hero Factory because of it. Bionicle just hit the right balance of intrigue to suck you right into such a rich and deep universe with lovable characters and intense action with high stakes.
I don't think I fall into the same category as other super aggressive and argumentative "superfans" that defend this theme to a point where they fight with other Lego fans online. However, I own a substantial collection, but choose to enjoy what was rather than fight with people on the internet about the future of Bionicle. It was a product of its time and as much as a new generation could theoretically succeed, it won't be the same because like the toy industry, we have changed and are unlike the new generation of kids in many ways, even just 10 years later.
Wow, great video! Thanks for taking an objective look at the line. I often see community members dive too deep and over analyze every detail about the lore, to the point that it can ruin the “fun” of Bionicle. So this video was very refreshing! For me personally the story and the inventive builds are what keeps me loving the line. Especially any of the official fan made models, which really diversify the collection from lego’s design standards.
Thank you! The fanmade models are really cool. When JANGBRiCKS began his RUclips channel (known as LEGOJANG back in the day), he used to upload Bionicle MOC videos. While I love his "normal" LEGO Moc videos, I'd love for him to return to his roots for at least one Bionicle moc video, epecially now that Bionicle is returning for one set in 2022.
OurToyWorld
Wait, wait, wait... has Lego confirmed it? Bionicle did win the first vote bracket, but did it win the 90th anniversary contest outright?!
@@thelegendreborn8198 I don't know the exact timestamp in the video, but I do pull up the results of the vote - Bionicle beat out the second place winner by 5000 or so votes
While I was away from the community for 5 months, I do not remember hearing at all about LEGO confirming the Bionicle set. Hopefully they still make it, as that would be wrong of them to hold an election and choose the winner that did not receive the most votes
For me, it's always been the lore. Such a rich and expansive universe is hard to come by these days, and it really elevated the theme. The closest thing we have today is Ninjago, and while I'd say that has more story content at this point Ninjago lore is a lot more disconnected and episodic than BIONICLE's was. Aside from that LEGO most stories either get cut off before their prime (NEXO Knights, Hidden Side) or are deliberately short and simple to keep toys in focus (Classic Space, Forestmen.) Especially in the age of the internet, having a strong plotline is important, and that's why TV shows like Avatar, Adventure Time, Bojack Horsemen, Gravity Falls, Steven Universe, ect. tend to get more attention online than other cartoons. BIONICLE is one of the few toy lines to really get that, and hone in on it.
One of the guides to the theme described it as a "Modern Mythology" and I couldn't agree more.
Happy Birthday and yeah the fan community still around making MOCS and fan art a decade after the theme ended. It did came back for a reboot, but sadly underperformed due to the lack of engaging marketing, simplistic story and the atmosphere of today where kids are on their phone than playing with Toys. Nice video though.
Thank you! I wouldn't be surprised if LEGO as a whole is failing to reach the younger market - or, at least all of their attempts to pair LEGO themes with apps seem to never work out. I think most can agree that Bionicle G2 was a fail, but I'm looking forward to the 90th anniversary set releasing next year. LEGO claims it will be a set for adults, and I think it will be a hit, especially for Bionicle fans, as most are now adults. I think if G2 had done this approach instead of just trying to recreate Bionicle for a modern audience it might have worked out. But, we'll never know.
@@OurToyWorld Another reboot is uncorfirmed as of now. Lego seems to rely on licensing themes more as of lately. With Ninjago being the only theme with a story left. Although the line is as popular as Bionicle, I've felt that it has overstayed its welcome after the time twins arc, suffering from character growth stagnation of the main characters, power nerfing of their elemental powers in various storylines and more plot holes. It doesn't help that it help killed other themes like Legends of Chima and Nexo Knights, both ment to be Ninjago's successors. I didn't say or mean that Ninjago is bad, however I think it played a part in killing any potential of unique original Lego themes coming back. Bionicle might even played this role as well.
@@bionic-tale4313 As a huge Ninjago fan, I am okay with the line continuing. However, as a LEGO fan, I definitely see your point. Personally, I'm afraid that if Ninjago ends, non-licensed story themes might disappear forever. I really miss the days of Space Police, Agents, Ultra Agents, Galaxy Squad, Alien Conquest, Pharaoh's Quest, etc. I mean think about it. We haven't even had a Castle theme, in what, 8 years? 6 years since a Pirates line? I think LEGO is hoping to shift all non-licensed sets under the Creator banner, killing off all story lines in the process. It's a sad situation, and it's happening very quickly.
@@OurToyWorld Yeah, I've heard that Ninjago's ending pretty soon next year, which is pretty sad for Ninjago fans. But hey, at least Ninjago is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Although its probably is going to be the last story theme that we're going to see for a long while. Well, at least people can make their own stories and sets pretty soon.
@@bionic-tale4313 I haven't heard anything about the end of Ninjago, although to be fair I have been missing from the community since January. I'll have to look into that for sure. Thanks for telling me!
Bionicle (or at least G1) was a once in a generation thing and a lot of factors played into why it was so popular. First of all, it was something LEGO hasn't done before. Yes they had Slizers and Roboriders, but they didn't have a story behind them. The story and overall design of the figures (even the bad ones) caught our attention and as Nick Planet Ripple said, Bionicle was something that was uniquely LEGO and no other toy company could reproduce it.
Next would be the story. Bionicle came at a time where most waves didn't have any story to it and those that did were usually just isolated to that wave. Adventurers, for example, had Egyptian, Jungle, Dinosaur, and finally the Orient Expedition stories, but they were specific to those waves only and didn't share an overarching story. Not to mention, Bionicle's story was rather deep and complex for a toy line. Look at He-Man, My Little Pony, and Transformers, all three had stories just to market the toys, but the stories became bigger than the toy line itself.
Lastly, Bionicle gave fans as much inspiration for creations and freedom as system did. You'd be amazed by some of the mocs made by fans.
However, I can understand why some people might hate Bionicle, it was something weird that broke the status quo. Jack Stone and Galidor are two such examples of LEGO trying something different and both failed horribly to the point only a select few actually know of their existence. Not to mention, Bionicle's style, though unique, may look as appealing to even weird to some people.
Then, there is the toxicity. Both sides have toxic people in them. I haven't really noticed toxic Bionicle fans until the whole LEGO Ideas debacle where the Seinfeld, typewriter, and Home Alone sets beat the Bionicle 20th Anniversary set and some people began harassing the creators of the other sets. Yet, you also have some system fans who believe that LEGO should just stay with system and nothing else and view Bionicle fans as fake LEGO fans. Every fandom has these kinds of fans. For Rick and Morty, you had fans who bragged that only smart people could enjoy the show. For Star Wars, it was what's the best trilogy, but has gotten worse since Disney took over and introduced the sequel trilogy. Now it's even more divided between pre-Disney and post-Disney fans. Fallout has a very similar problem between pre and post Bethesda games. Some fans won't consider you a true fan unless you've played the classic games and believe that the newer games are too casual. Others ague that the newer games are visually more appealing and easier to understand.
I grew up with both system and Bionicle and believe that both could co-exist. Are there some toxic fans out there, yes, every fandom has toxic fans. Should people just get over Bionicle and let it be forgotten, no. To say that Bionicle isn't really LEGO isn't true. If you want to be technical about it, system isn't really LEGO either. Wooden toys would be true LEGO, since they made that way before the brick. Whether you like it or not, Bionicle is a part of LEGO's history. It doesn't hurt to like something outside of the norm (as long as it's legal of course XD). LEGO isn't just one thing, it's big enough for everyone to like.
Yo this is a really great analysis video Richie! Really great work on this! I can see how much you worked on and researched about this, and it definitely payed off! Very professional editing, superb word choice, and intellectual similes! Really enjoyed this video! And *HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAN* !!!! Hope you're having and awesome day!
Thank you so much Machinex! Hope all is well man! We definitely got to talk soon!!!
@@OurToyWorld Np man! And yeah I'm pretty good! And yeah definitely!
@@OurToyWorld Also yo so are you returning to Instagram?
@@MachinexMinifigs Hopefully soon! Going to be busy this next week but I definitely would like to get back on when I can.
@@OurToyWorld Oh ok awesome! And cool nice! I was just asking since I tagged you in my story saying happy birthday
I love the uniqueness, the story, the sets, the style, everything
My love for bionicle has nothing to do with haters as I’ve never seen someone dislike bionicle for not being brick.
I did 😂 I had a coworker that was a lego reseller as a side hustle. I asked him if he had any bionicles and he was like “oh I don’t like those”.
Oh, we're absolutely a fucking cult. I'd say that after G1 had ended, most of the casual fans kinda fell off, with the turbonerds staying on board. Guess that's why people keep generating content, making artwork, videos, games, religiously archiving media, and doing all in their power to maybe possibly bring it back
"everything in bionicle is a part of this great big story"
me: YES I KNEW IT THAT GOLDEN GOOD GUY WAS CANON
I uhhh I'm that one fan in the middle. I like the lore, but I know mostly surface surface stuff. It completely went past me as a kid because I didn't have a PC until 8th grade (late 2000s) and I was just making up my own stories. There was NO comics, nor books or games officially sold in my country.
I knew there was something out there as I watched a couple of movies, but (as I understand now) it wasn't the place to start getting acquainted with the lore and left me with more questions than answers. (4th movie did the same)
Years later, I stared reading DC Bionicle comics, but life is a bit busy so unfortunately to this day I never truly dove deep enough. I know general story outline, but again -- surface level.
I uhhh....feel a bit outcasted tbh
Facts
As a kid I liked Bionicle mainly because of the toys, I only had a very surface level understanding of the lore. Bionicle being devicive is probably because it is a building system that focuses on creating action figures above all else, whereas normal LEGO focuses on buildings and Technic on machines. You can still build action figures with normal LEGO, like the EXO-Force line, but it was always a bit awkard and clunky. Not only having cool looking action figures, but also being able to create your own on such a deep level is something you don't see often. Usually, if a action figure line claims to let you build your own heroes you probably can only detach whole limbs and put them somewhere else, but Bionicle lets you customize down to the smallest details. The design of the figures was also quite original and focused, avoiding common spacy cyborg tropes when it could.
Later I got into the lore and was surprised and intruiged at how much I missed (there are Toa of GRAVITY!?!). What I find fascinating is how Bionicle takes old tropes like elemental magic, cyborgs, dystopian stories, evil scientists, heroes vs villains etc. and puts these pieces together into something completely new and original, just like the sets themselves! Despite super powers being anywhere in the canon it always felt grounded and restrained with clear rules in place, avoiding things like power creep and sheer nonsensical feats that comic book superheroes often have.
For example there was a time where a Toa hero of Fire was imprisoned in a cave with a hostile Bohrok armadillo swarm. Instead of fighting a hopeless battle, he heated up the air until the pressure made the cave explode, allowing him to escape. I have yet to see such logical creativity in another franchise! From what I remember, not even Avatar the Last Aribender played around much with the physics of their elements! Toa heroes are taught to be more crafty than powerful and win their battles mostly through smart decisions, which is VERY rewarding to watch. Every freaking hero story in existence seems the need to chew through the same process of the hero having to learn to fight smarter, not harder, causing lots of unnecessary damage in the process, while Toa try to keep collateral damage minimal when possible and are way more successful at it. That said the Toa Nuva hero team sucked pretty hard until 2008. Toa also combine the loving heart of the human hero with the inexhaustable relentlesness of the cold machine. There was a Toa team that fought a Dragon threatening their city for multiple months straight. One of the evil, overpowered Makuta pointed out that despite their relative weakness, Toa are a force to be reckoned with and that you underestimate a Toa, any Toa, at your own peril, simply because of their craftiness and borderline insane perserverance. No wonder that in a alternate timeline where most Toa are evil, they dominated the entire universe.
One of my favourite parts of the franchise were the commercials that you should definitly give a watch. If something has a commercial so good that you get excited everytime you see it on TV, you know it's special. Unlike many toy commercials, especially early Bionicle showed a lot of restraint and focus. It nudged kids into getting the toys through mystery and show-don't-tell, rather than to force down their throats how cool their products are. Until 2009 the commercials where always top-notch and evolved from short visions of one set to whole movie tier trailers!
Bionicle's story had some special kind of appeal to me. Most often you like a story because it plays with your emotions. But Bionicle never did that to me, it never made me feel this or that, rather it let me decide for myself how to feel about any given situation. Even though the story has an adequatly serious tone to it, there was always an air of friendly neutrality to it. It's one thing to like something because it appeals to your emotions, it is another if it somehow appeals to your rationality as well. I don't feel the need to defend or worship it because its qualities have both subjectively and objectively convinced me that the franchise is great. I am past the point where I not only love it despite its flaws but also because of them.
(Bionicle Spoilers below!)
Finally Bionicle also heavily impacted my philosophy. One thing no one notices is how seamless Bionicle marries nature and technology. Not only does it combine these usually opposed forces but does so so effortlessly that it's unimaginable to see them apart. I am trying to see the world like a giant mechanism where all parts are meant to be and are meant to work together harmoniously and in unity. Evil/Misery is no longer some vague force of nature, but a destructive glitch in the system that spreads causally like a virus. Just like with Mata Nui, we are all like nanotech, like cells of a greater organism, just like we are emergent properties of our cells. Everything, even hate or wrath has a purpose and is intended and good, provided it is used correctly. I could go on for hours with all the technological analogies you can find using that worldview to put vague concepts into more tangible shapes without dismissing their vastness. Whetever we want to admit it or not, we are all part of the same giant family and if there's some damage in our system we should just go and help fix it, just like our cells repair damage in our bodies. Systematically, make sure your own systems (hardware and software) work correctly so you can trust yourself to function optimally and correctly, then make sure things around you run correctly so in turn the people you help start doing maintenance in their range of effect, causing a snowball effect that acts as a counter virus to the spreading error I compared Evil with. It's important not to force things too much and find out what fits where best, because if you force something into a situation it is not designed for you will face incompatiblitiy issues that will cause exponential damage over time. Lies are bad not necessarily because of some karma stuff, but because no system can be expected to run properly if it is fed the incorrect input. There are no truly evil villains period, only broken units. Maybe they received great damage, maybe something went wrong when they were built or both, but either way you can blame anyone only so much. I do not believe in punishment anymore, I believe in rependance. The world has enough people that are nothing short of demons. But I figure if you look closer they are like a squealing, bent-out-of-shape gearbox that breaks further the more it runs and they are often too defective to even notice it themselves.
That said I yet have to actually act upon it lol. It's impossible that this is the final answer because of how naive I am and I am interested to see how it will evolve in the future. To me God is when logic and emotion intersect to strengthen each other. There is a sense of great of comfort in not only knowing what is good but to also know why it is good from an amoral perspective.
In My opinion as a member of this cult, i think One of the best think Is the Freedom, lego bionicle lore already established a timeline/alternative universe concept, and the allow everyone Who has aver made a MOC/original character or story to be considered Canon, in a certain way, considerino that Is lego, you can easily create character and the best part Is that bionicle provide Amazing Pieces to build
Do you get My point !?
Bionicle Is the perfect lego line that allow to create character on your own, giving them an interasting story and personality, that are reflected in the build itself, and there Is no limit about that.
I appreciate how you didn’t just go “Haha brick good Bonkle bad”
Lore, world building and characters are the primary reason for most bonkle fans. Sure it gets convoluted in some areas but it's not so dumbed down like most toy franchises are, and gives credit to kids instead of being patronizing and enforcing the idea that "kids can't handle complicated stories."
As someone who grew up with Bionicle, I completely agree with everything you said in the video. I appreciate all of the respect and research you did into this topic, and I'm not sure about the fan game title, as I have heard of several, but that may have been one of them. I hope to have a retrospective video within the next month or two about my upbringing with bionicle. I like to think of it like Pokemon, a franchise that adapts very well to those who grew up with it, whether or not from its roots, and enjoys most of the media that it is presented in.
Thanks for the comment Joey! I'm looking forward to your Bionicle video. I think this Bionicle video I made and the response from the fan community has led to me now having an interest in Bionicle. :)
I think Pokemon is a great comparison. With Pokemon you have games, cards, movies and so much more. You don't have to just like one thing, and together all of the products join to create one awesome line.
How can anyone be suprised that a long cancelled line would enter the polls in a landslide result? The fans never left because the sheer gravity that keeps everyone still attracted to Bionicle is that strong. I bet even people at Lego dislike this because it means the have to dedicate their time to making pieces and molds to create actions and features, but their use of standardized building systems says that they are no longer interested in being that creative anymore.
Bionicle fans at this point have adapted to the neglect and I can already see 3D printing sowing seeds for a Bionicle renaissance.
Well considering it ran longer than pirates, had more sets than pirates and beat pirates by almost Same Margin it was beaten by castle you I think you are kind of over selling pirates
I take no sides in the fights among the fans because I beleave as long as they love Lego don’t care what they are or who they are they are Lego fans and I’ll support them
Hoestly I think the reason as to why AFOLs at the time didn't like it is way simpler: when something new is introduced to something established, people worry about the possibility of it becoming different from what they like.
Great video, way better than Brother from Another Brick's video from a few months ago. You didn't dismiss us off hand, and I' grateful.
The mature themes and the awesome story. And the toys were build your own robo warrior whats not to love?
Let me take you back to time before time. 4 year old me was at mbcdolnalds one late night with my family. I was tried and had a long drive back home ahead. Then I get this little bionicle toy that has this mask thing and it is all robotic and stuff. And with it I comes with a double sided paper with all kinds of imaginary on it of more of theses robotic beings in the jungle on cliffs and stuff and my mind has no clue what any of it was but made me want to know more. And from then on the story got even better along with the sets. And I never really was into LEGO before bionicle and not really after ether. Bionicle was just lighting in a bottle. It struck me at the right time.
Wow... that is an amazing story- thanks for sharing. I think the fact that Bionicle was a multimedia line as well as it's collaborations with companies like McDonalds aided in attracting fans like you who like Bionicle FOR Bionicle, not because it is a property of LEGO.
OurToyWorld oh yeah for sure. It was a bit of a pain growing up and trying to keep up with the story because there was just so much of it everywhere. But that is also a good thing because even today iam still learning new things about it I never knew.
meanwhile chimps like me just make dumb memes using our childhoods favourite toy as the format
hey nothing wrong with making memes :)
You have to remember that BIONICLE, as sets, grew out of the idea of robots, from mechanical Lego TECHNIC parts. So they weren't really that alien as a Lego theme, at least in the beginning. Only as time went by, the TECHNIC influence began getting more streamlined. You can still tell the holes in the parts are a TECHNIC influence, and the parts are still proportioned based on Technic compatibility, which in turn is based on the proportions of original Lego blocks. So, though not immediately apparent, the parts are in fact Lego-compatible.
I would have to say that the nuanced BIONICLE story is the reasons for its elitism. It makes sense, but unless you were there to see it, it will be hard to get it for an outsider. I don't particularly care for the sets as such - they were fun to play with, but I am an adult now, so I am not as affected by them. The sets now seem to be more a nostalgia materialism, like collecting antiques. I value the story more, which I see as the true legacy of the theme, and I believe that was its purpose.
I wish there were no shots of bionicle g2 when talking about g1
Multimedia Science-Fantasy/Superhero Epic (with a well planned story outline, able to link pieces together over a long arc) that directly engaged fan creativity. It's like if Marvel's Avengers could a.) Have a much more unique, distinctive atmosphere, and b.) Somehow incentivize your cringe OCs to become a part of the fan culture.
Thanks for the comment, Andrew! That's an interesting way to explain Bionicle, but I get where you're coming from!
I'd argue that Bionicle is this tentpole theme that laid the groundwork for themes like Ninjago, Chima (if anybody else remembers that lol), and even modern themes like Monkie Kid/King (I can't remember which one). Bionicle set the standard that Lego could be utilized to tell these epic-length stories that had depth and heart, just like any other book, video game, TV show, or movie. So even if Bionicle never gets mentioned by Lego ever again, which would be unfortunate, I can confidently say that the fanbase will thrive ever onwards. Through our unity, we will complete our duty, and achieve our destiny. And if one asks what all the fuss is about?
Gathered friends. Listen and listen again to the tale of the Bionicle.
Interesting take! I think we can all agree that the multimedia of Bionicle helped it succeed. If not, why would LEGO create TV shows, comics, books and even movies for its other lines? I don't think we'll see the level of detail or extreme planing like there was for Bionicle (I've heard there was a 10 year plan for bionicle from the start) but still, you're right
🙏 Happy Belated Birthday to OurToyWorld! Stay Safe & Stay Grateful! Unity. Duty. Destiny! 🕯🌷🌿🌍💖🎂🍰🍨
Thank you, feel free to check out my newest Bionicle video, where I talk about the 90th anniversary set lol
For me, I love it for the lore, but I also love the sets very much.
Looks like you used the Mac application preview to magic erase the white background of the TTV logo you pulled up but a couple white lines were left behind, pretty sure I'm right on this one cause I've done the same thing, may want to use the tool again to double-check it. Ha ha
'Cult' is abit of a harsh word
I believe I am a 'superfan' it feels kinda diminishing by using the word 'cult' i know almost everything about the lore I dont believe I would be a 'cult' member
Other than that I believe you have a good argument in this case though. but I believe you wording can be twisted due to the negative stigma around the word 'cultist'
That's what the haters call us, since they accuse Bionicle of being a horrid theme in the first base, especially when compared with Ninjago. I myself really like Bionicle! I wouldn't call it a cult fanbase either, but that's what others do unfortunately.
The fact that the bionicle creator set wasn’t a thing AND the mixel style tahu just hurts I need my plastic toys
Guess we did end up bringing back Bionicle, just not in the way anyone would have wanted lol
to answer your question posed in the title; same reason any fanbase may have a cult following. that shit was BUSSIN and we still enjoy it to this day. idk man. cult followings are strange no matter what they are. and I'm happy to be part of some lul.
I like bionicle but not a super big fan because I first started to like the theme when it was rebooted
Don’t say that about yourself! Especially if you’re younger. If you weren’t there to experience the theme in all its glory during G1 that doesn’t make you a fake fan. If anything, it makes you a real fan. You grew to love the theme even after it was past its prime.
I used to love bionicle and I read the wikis of it a lot. I kinda lost interest in it tho
Deep and complicated backstory: *shows G2 footage*
But seriously awesome video
Hey, G2 is Bionicle, right? Lol. Thanks for the support.
@@OurToyWorld yeah it is just thought it was funny because g2 was kinda simple
Simplified*
For me what makes bionicle so amazing is it’s very detailed world building, the setting was so unique and the big twist at the end of the ignition trilogy is such a master stroke
I feel like the myth that Bionicle is just specialized bricks should die, like its predecessor Slizers/Throwbots and Roboriders, Bionicle started off as a subtheme of Technic and the Technic system was prevelantly used all throughout the line up until 2010.
Bionicle had its fair share of special moulds but according to bricklink even the smallest sets with very few exceptions use about 50-75% technic in their builds.
I think people should see Bionicle more as a the cheaper and nonelectronic counterpart to mindstorms at least when it comes to the appeal of the builds. However that's not the only factor that makes Bionicle sets appealing to the people who likes the theme. A character with a set or a piece that has some story relevans are in higher demands than other sets. I guess my point is Bionicle isn't completely about the build experience its about the story and narrative surrounding these toys too that make them appealing to its fans.
That is not to say that Bionicle has only boring builds, its actually more of the contrary alot of Bionicle figures have very interesting concepts and ideas behind them and the play functions are always satisfying to assemble. With that said I think the biggest disconnect between LEGO fans and Bionicle is just that most LEGO fans don't care for a story, they just want to build.
Which is totally fine btw, I'm not advocating forcing people to like something that doesn't appeal to them but to just change their perception of it. There is a plethora of amazing Bionicle moccist who love to create just like any other LEGO fan, just as there is a plethora of LEGO fans who just want a awesome story to imerse themselves in. Also if you look at the amount if Bionicle fans who are also system fans it's quite clear that somewhere in all of this the appeal of Bionicle has some similarities to the appeal of LEGO. Which I think was intentional when making Bionicle, this similarity in appeal is something that I think TLG may had overlooked when creating Galidor or Vidiyo for example.
I'd have to disagree. LEGO fans do care for a story, but unfortunately, Bionicle isn't a story you can understand after a 5 minute discussion. You have to read the comics, watch the movies and do everything else just to grasp the deep lore. That's what makes it so special, but that's also what turns people off. The sets are weird to "normal" LEGO fans and the story is way too confusing unless you have time to unpack it.
@@OurToyWorld I think my point got burried in my comment, LEGO Bionicle is more technic than system and should be viewed as a technic action theme imo instead of a more successful Galidor
UNITY
DUTY
DESTINY
The creed of Bionicle.
Unity
Duty
And...
Destiny
Easy: story, moc creation and Technic/ lego pieces
I never knew that there was any rift between lego fans about Bionicle. It was a cool toy line that my brothers and my friends loved as kids. They were super unique, and weren’t traditional Lego. They were posable action figures that we made epic stories with, with myth, legends etc. I didn’t know of any online community until Metru Nui. I collected books from schoolastic catalogue sales at school. I made art, wrote stories (fan fiction before I knew what fan fiction was), built and made up characters. Even after I got into the online community, I still didn’t know that there was any dislike for Bionicle as “not real lego” until this video. There was a lot of “these are kids toys, why are you still collecting them and making stories”- but this is something every Lego fan gets from many people who don’t understand these kinds of hobbies.
Thank you using my Takanuva MOC for thumbnail! ;)
Didn't even know that was a MOC, just searched up cool bionicle sets or something and it popped up lol. my bad, if you want me to take it out of the thumbnail let me know
@@OurToyWorld
No problem! Keep your nice works!
@@IBURION You do the same, Bukkey!
I think part of it the work that Greg Farshtey and other people involved, dedicated their time and passion into the Story of Bionicle. Before Bionicle, most original LEGO themes were just that, themes. Castle, Space, Pirates, Adventure, etc. just capitalized on those concepts, leaving the kids use those concepts to create their own stories. While the exceptions, like Gallidor just had a terrible presentation overall.
Sure, there was Star Wars in 1999, but that was a liscened property. The story and characters belonged to Lucas, and so did some of the profits the theme produced.
Bionicle was a risk on every front, brand new molds (which are expensive to produce), an unpredictable audience, a deviation by introducing a full narrative with characters, and a new media as source with the internet. The Red Star certainly aligned in the right position for this one.
I really want Bionicle to succeed as the 90th Anniversary set, because I don't think LEGO will trust it enough to give it a third run. The Anniversary set can at least serve as Bionicle's sendoff. For the fans for the other classic themes, I will be happy if your favorite theme wins the Poll, but I also think there are more numerous and greater opportunities for your favorite themes to return. Just look at the LEGO movies with characters like Benny and Metalbeard (more so Benny). When the LEGO Movie 2 released, there was a small, cheap set with 4 Classic Space Astronauts, one of them in pink!
For Bionicle, I don't see those same opportunities, just tiny cameos and Easter Eggs.
I find your perspective on why the fanbase is as strong as it is to be really unique. Your mentioning of how the Internet contributed to the fandom’s development was spot on, and a take I personally have never neglected to present when considering the fandom’s longevity. Bionicle having been marketted through a huge swath of mediums (commercials, comics, novels, Happy Meal toys, video games, websites, movies, animations, flash games, CD rom discs, cereal box toys, etc) is absolutely something I believe contributed to its success. I mean, imagine being a kid in 2007, discovering the toy line, and then going onto your home computer to discover an entire website full of content regarding the toy you just bought. It was a really solid mixed media marketting tactic, and certainly unique for its time. Good video!
For me it's the imagery, like you said it's not something that we'll probably see often again, and it's also a knowledge we want to keep alive. If Bionicle was still edited like most franchises, with new books, derived products, stuff to make it more accessible, the fanbase of bionicle would be very very different and most likely similar to other fiction franchises like star wars, tolkien's works, lovecraft etc ... but since lego has the copyrights and doesn't want them to be used for anything, we're the only thing that keeps all the things that franchise brought alive so we're doing all we can
I think that's sad that LEGO doesn't want to do anything with the copyrights. Are they purposely trying to erase Bionicle from their history?
@@OurToyWorld I don't think so, but i think since they're a corporation they won't do anything that won't bring them money, and bionicle had began to become less rentable and that's why they stopped it in the first place. And since they're a toy company, they won't produce anything that is not a toy unless it's to advertise toys (like the ninjago series, lego movies and games etc). Add to that that they consider that bionicle belongs to them and won't give the copyright to anyone, bionicle just ended up being a license stuck in the hands of a company that won't do anything with it (or maybe a G3, but bionicle G1's story risks being lost for the reasons quoted above)
Bionicle was popular to me because you can create your own action figure toys. Making your own action figures is an empowering creativity that doesn't require sculpting and plastic molds. Need a hero for your story? Build it. No other system on earth is like this. The creativity continues the vein that Micronauts could only accomplish partially. The action figure toy market is HUGE. Suddenly we can make our own, of our own design, from scratch. That's about it, hombre.
OH MY GODDDDD HE'S BACCCCCCCCCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just for a day
kidding, kidding
@@OurToyWorld Lol
If you dislike bionicle, you need to keep that to yourself. That's embarrasing.
Bionicle was almost a perfect storm. Large characters with distinct designs, weapons, and masks. A full setting of it's own that hasn't really been seen before or since. Artists and writers building the world and characters up even further to satiate the desire for more. What can I say except, I like it when the robotoid swings his swords when you spin the gear.
Personally for me and for the childhood friends I knew who also loved bionicle, it was never really about the lore but more so the aesthetics. I grew up in a country where the internet wasn't easily accessible until the mid - late 2000s, and so most of us never really did grow up playing the video games, reading the online comics and whatnot. Plus, not many kids can read English fluently back then, so lore stuff were even more inaccessible. Bionicle has this "cool" mechanical aesthetic that I've always enjoyed. Before Bionicle came out, my first lego sets were from the technic line which made me appreciate that system way more than the traditional lego bricks.
I'm in a weird category where I love Bionicle but regular Lego brinks don't do much for me. Like, I respect them but they don't push my imagination into high gear like Bionicle does.
what? dive into the lore to just jusfity its existance? thats not the case at all, i havent seen not a single bionicle fan say that, the fans of bionicle love the INTRICATE, DEEP, and absolutly misterious lore of bionicle, its nuts how great it is. the driving force for people to learn about the lore is becuase its so misterious that you want to know more!
for me its 4 reasons
1. the toys were for the most part great as both action figures/Lego sets and companion pieces to the story.
2. the story was massive and complex but also deeply immersive, exiting, and compelling for those who wanted to look deeper past he toys themselves.
3. the characters were endearing, vibrant, and were written so well to make you really feel for them and be invested in their adventures and the world they inhabited.
4. it had an incredible 10 year life span crossing multiple generations of kids and adults alike to grow up and become attached to this incredible piece of fiction.
Even though I was not alive during bionicles time I have gotten into to it because it is one of the best toys with a amazing story that is deep for a toy. The commercials are super cool and lore heavy, it’s really has a good lore that is way to deep for little kids but now I am older I love history and lore. Bionicles is special because it’s unique and can never be remade, something amazing that shows a time when kids knew how to play with toys and make great Mocs and story’s. I love thinking about that time, what if I could have been their when they made bionicles, I love bionicles because it’s an amazing toy line better than anything we have now a days 2021
i have never considered whether bionicle is a legitimate lego theme. It started as technic which has much of the same 'issues'. I've also never met anyone who has animosity towards bionicle for being different
but when i see galidor, i'm like 'yeah, no, that's not lego' and i guess i can see how people would get there with bionicle
I'm a Bionicle fan but I don't know everything about the lore and shit. There isn't just two kinds of Bionicle fans
I adore bionicle it’s the best LEGO theme it’s actually one of the reasons I started to dislike ninjago because ninjago stayed around too but unlike bionicle it went off the rails and became vapid and not even ninja related bionicle has stayed consistent throughout its life span and all I can hope is that CCBS comes back as system mocs just aren’t the same
Bionicle was the original shared universe. It was a childhood MCU essentially.
I still have flashbacks of the metru nui storyline. So I made my own bionicle stories just lego vetnam
Awesome designs, compelling story and extraordinary commercials
I never felt like I had to justify my taste for Bionicle. Me and a few friends like then when se were kids. I also liked regular lego, my friends didnt. Over time they moved on as we grew, and i kept liking It and following the story to the end.
I only learned about any kind of controversy much later, when I was already and adult. To me It was always a matter of personal taste, some kids liked regular lego, some kids liked Bionicle, some kids like me liked both, and some kids liked neigther.
I didnt invested in the lore because i had to explain to someone why i liked It. I did It simply because i thought It was interesting.
Interesting comment, thanks for sharing!
Happy belated birthday and sad birthday to anyone in the bionicle cult 🤣
Personally I think they killed it with the second gen of Bionicle, they tried to change everything that was done in the original and people were not happy.
The last reason is true for me, bionicle did a lot of experementation in it's years and wasn't streamlined until the inika build. There certainly won't be a theme with as much creative effort put into it, since it's no longer profitable for companies to experiment. Bionicle cannon't be repeated and it makes it more special than any popular theme which rely on re-selling the same concepts from popular movie franchises over and over, where's creativity and effort in them?
Bionicle had tonns of flaws due to it's experimental nature, but for some reason, they don't spoil it for me, while all other childhood franchises I can no longer enjoy, even remotely, after rewatching (star wars, lotr or harry potter for example), yet I don't even consider myself a dedicated fan since I didn't study lore in 100% detail, nor read the sidestory-serials.
There is also an amount of ambiguity left which allows for creativity, writing and moc-making to make your interpretations, bionicle is probably the only example of multiverse not being complitely worthless since it enables creativity for people to build their own versions of various characters and basically means all of them are cannon in some unknown dimension.
It's ironic how in mcu or dc multiverse is used either as a stupid gimmick, or for power scale showcase (When conquering/saving a one universe no longer cool enough), while bionicle uses it as a way of interacting with fans and inspiring their creations.
Do you think you'll ever study the lore 100%, or do you think that by studying the lore, the amount of ambiguity might decrease? (As by knowing the full story, Bionicle might not be as open to interpretation as it currently is to you)
@@OurToyWorld Yeah, I think that's the part of the magic. I can leave some of it undiscovered for myself so when I'll take a break and return later there would still be something to learn.
@@mehwhatever9726 Always learning more... I like it!
Not necessarily. I don't really like fans generalising anything post-2006 as "inika" build. I think it's a bit ungrateful. We still got plenty new other armour parts, weapons and masks/heads that made the bodies look different and unique enough. Plus there was the new 2008 Makuta body, the 2009 Agori body. If you wanna talk streamlined, look at the Hero Factory builds and even the Bionicle gen 2 torso parts. The banality of the ball joints for everything totally ruined the intricacy that even the inika build had more of, in my opinion. If anything, it was the inika build that made it possible to have a variety of builds to make each set unique. Before 2006, the bodies were all the same for villains and toa, respectively (not counting the titan sets), except for masks and weapons.