Bionicle: The Biological, Bionic Chronicle That May Have Saved Lego
In the early 2000’s, Bionicle breathed new life into Lego with a series of comics, books, games, animations, and of course, buildable bricks.
Bionicle was a line of Lego toys unlike any previous line made by the famous click and build blocks. Over the course of fifteen year (on and off) run, Bionicle told stories through comics, games, animation, and of course, buildable Lego sets.
The Story of Bionicle
In the 90s, Lego was having a bit of a slump. This was combated initially by working with the creators of popular movies in order to make sets and scenes that would appeal to fans. And their first attempt with Star Wars was a massive success. In fact, it still is. You may have a Star Wars Lego set within sight right now; I sure do. But working with a media giant like Lucasfilm came with giant royalties that undercut Lego‘s profits, so they decided to branch out and come up with their own story-driven worlds to base Lego sets around.
Of course, they also continued to make popular movie-scenes. Y’know, both. Both is good.
Co-Creator Christian Faber came up with the idea for Bionicle while considering how to use the 2001 – 2003 Lego Technic line for something a little more humanoid. Like standard Lego sets, Technic used small plastic pieces to build larger toys. But instead of being mainly blocks, Technic pieces tended have more rods, spokes, wheels, and other bits that looked more mechanical. Which worked perfectly, because Technic sets built vehicles. And Faber wanted to see what it would look like to use the Technic styling to create humanoid cyborg heroes.
Lego Bionic was launched in late 2000 to European and Australian audiences. Next was a mid-2001 North American launch, and it was originally planned to have a twenty-year run.
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Success… and Discontinuation
Upon launch, Bionicle was a massive success. New sets were released every six months, including some special collectible sets featuring Kanohi masks that some characters wore. Some sets even contained secret codes that would give the collector “Kanoka Points” when entered into the Bionicle website for exclusive materials. For years Bionicle sales were good and the Lego websites saw an increase in visits. Things were good.
By 2009 though, interest and sales had waned and Lego decided to release their final wave of Bionicle sets in 2010. The comic by Greg Farshtey was continued until 2011, and then the website was shut down in 2013.
Reboot
In 2012 Lego and Matt Betteker began work on a new Bionicle line, which launched in early 2015. But fans weren’t as impressed with Generation 2 as they had been with the first. The storyline and lore was more streamlined and simplified, and there was less storytelling across multiple media. The initial plan had been an at least two-year run, But Bionicle Gen 2 was discontinued in late 2016.
The Bionicle Story
Bionicle took place in a sci-fi universe inhabited by biomechanical beings. The story followed a group of heroes with elemental powers, or “Toa,” as they protected the biomechanical people of their world and reawakened their god-like guardian, the Great Spirit Mata Nui. Throughout the story, the six Toa would protect the Matoran villagers from Makuta’s minions, and later transformed into t he even more powerful “Toa Nuva.”
The stories of the Toa spanned through animation, comic books, novels, console and online games, short stories, direct-to-video movies, and of course playable Lego block sets. In addition, comic artist Farshtey also published in-character blog posts, and would expand on the franchise’s lore in Podcasts.
Does Lego Still Make Bionicle Sets?
Due to low sales and interest, the Bionicle line was discontinued and is not presently in production. However, parts of the fandom are still active to this day. It’s not outside of the realm of possibility that Lego may try again for another reboot, or even make a few throw-back kits, stories, or comics one day. But they would likely need a very compelling reason to do so.
What Was the Bionicle Controversy?
In 2002 a number of Māori tribes in New Zealand brought up that many names, locations, and objects in the Bionicle universe used Māori words and that this as done with a lack of respect on Lego’s part. A formal letter of complaint was written, and in response Lego agreed to change some of these words, giving an in-universe reason for some of the changes with a ‘Naming Ceremony.” Some were completely changed and updated (the “Tohunha” villiagers to the “Matoran”), sometimes the spelling was changed but not the pronunciation (“Huki” to “Hewkii”). Other words, Lego and Māori people both agreed to leave in Bionicle (“Toa” meaning “Warrior).
What Does “Bionicle” Mean?
It’s a portmanteau of ‘biological,’ ‘bionics’ and ‘chronicle.’ The name is a bit on the nose, but it is the story of biological-bionic heroes.
Lego had also considered the names “BioKnights” and “Afterman” for the toy line.
What Replaced Bionicle?
Lego Hero Factory was introduced in July 2010, right around the same time Bionicle was being discontinued. While Bionicle was story-driven, dark, and marketed towards nine to sixteen-year-olds, Hero Factory was lighter and more comedic.
But since the toys that make us nostalgic are a big plastic ouroboros, Hero Factory was canceled in 2015 to make way for the reboot of Bionicle.
Happy adventuring!
