BIONICLE Retrospective: Bara Magna (2009-2010) 

ITS GENERATION 2 TIME - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rv4x2wOPJYw.html

Actually there was a reason for the Skrall to want to take over, it's just not mentioned in the movie. What initially destroyed Spherus Magna was the finding of energized protodermis in the deep layers of the planet, which led to war to control and harvest it, the Great Beings tried to stop thw war by constructing the Battera: shapeshifting robots that would attack and kill anyone holding a weapon. The Great beings only started experimenting with giant robots after the Battera failed and the planet's destruction was unavoidable. After Spherus Magna fell apart a certain amount of Batteras remained on the planet, particularly in the mountainous regions where the Skrall lived. Because the Skrall had a warrior culture they would never let go of their weapons and essentially be murdered indiscriminately by the Battera, because of that the Skrall had to leave the mountains which led them to the territories controlled by the other tribes which, in a way, ofrced them to conquer and subjugate. After seeing the length of this explanation I can see why it wasn't mentioned in the video.

BIONICLE's setting is the first complex fictional world that I've ever had the privilege of entering and, to this day, from the Xenoblade series to the books of Brandon Sanderson, it is still depth, breadth and interconnectedness of lore that draw me most to works. For that, BIONICLE, I thank you. Your legend lives on.

*Lego produces fragile action figure* *toys sell poorly because of it most likely* Lego: “well the fans must be uninterested time to cancel it”

That was beautiful 😢😭 I’ll miss you bionicle 🥺🤚

The crazy thing is the novels do EXACTLY what The Legend Reborn fails at. Tuma is a smart, intelligent leader, the Rock Tribe only invade because they are being driven from their homeland, and the Agori have genuine conflict (Raid on Vulcanus, where the Glatorian have to work together to beat back the Bone Hunters).

I’m not going to lie, the Bara Magna era was my introduction to Bionicle. I will miss Bionicle

"It also inspired a generation of artists, character designers and storytellers" that's why I'm studying game design and programming to make a videogame with heavy Bionicle inspiration, trying to evoke the beautiful sense of mystery ongoing especially in the first three years it's gonna be a challenge for me.

I was always unsure of how 2009 was handled, but considering what they had to work with (including the budget), the Mata Nui Saga was a very effective way to end the story.

*Mata Nui gets up to address the Agori about the real villainous threat* "So basically, we live in a society"

I actually really liked Bara Magna. 2009, specifically the summer half, got me into the franchise. Mata Nui was the first set I got firsthand, and is still my favorite set. I'll admit, the Legend Reborn has many flaws, but I still find it enjoyable in certain places and bland in others and it was the movie that I wanted to see the most as a kid for 2009 but never got it until 2011-12. Seeing the ending still makes me wish 2010 had a movie to cap off the story of Bionicle and I have LEGO to thank for creating this theme and getting me and many other people to create our own stories and characters with the system and some managed to weave theirs almost seamlessly into the main canon of the story

i hope that lego sees how much we love bionicle and brings the series back but if that wont happen then atleast we can make our own stories of bionicle

As someone who grew up loving Bionicle and the lore this video means a lot to me

Appreciate the Gundam IBO Sandy Desert OST.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I remember it being very satisfying to see this series come to an end (even if they did bring it back a few years later).

This video made me realize how well Halo, my favorite game franchise of all time, music fits with Bionicle. Thank you for that.

As someone who was born in 2009 you just made me sad because i was born in one of the last years of bionicle and also remember gen 1 bionicle will live forever in our hearts ❤❤❤

I still a bit disapointed that we didn't get a movie about the last battle between Mata Nui and Makuta

Glad to finally see someone present Bionicle to people who aren't familiar with it. Thanks a lot for making this video!

I'm still a bit sad that Greg didn't continue with the story updates, but the man wasn't even paid and did this out of his own enthusiasm. Even though he took the story in a weird direction sometimes, he still has my respect. So, should we expect to see your stance on G2?

THIS VIDEO IS AWESOME! I feel your love for everything Bionicle, and it is infectious!

Thank you for your great, so useful, knowledgable movie. I’ve also missed the bionicle.

Thank you for this. So so much. ❤️ a great reflection on what made my childhood

Now here was my serious collecting days. I have everyone except the titans and the '09 Skrall. However, this collecting habit only started in the summer, probably motivated by the Mata Nui set.

That Halo soundtrack in the background tho. It definitely fits

Nice use of the Gundam IBO OST in the beginning

Great video. May the Unity, Duty and Destiny be with you.

Mad respect for using the Halo OST

I was just happy to have new recolored parts

If bionicle ever returned I honestly hope it's not a reboot or an exact sequel; but a new narrative in the same world. It would allow more creativity while not limiting them to what was already made. I say this because many want it back. To not live in it's past shadow or to ruin it's history; but to tell it's own in a world yet to be expanded. Who knows what other planets are out there?

Love the Halo 3 soundtrack. Quite fitting background music.

Glatorian was one of the best in my opinion, got super hyped when i got Mata Nui, too bad i threw away all my lego when i was 13

I like how this guy tries to stay mostly positive

Bionicle will be missed

They are living elemental robotic souls

I still don't know why the teaser for Glatorian had Matoro in it. What a tease.

This video is great.

I love Bioncle toys

BIONICLE: 2001 - Forever.

Dead it may be to all outside its grasp but in our hearts it is more than alive more than plastic parts more than what some can ever imagine

I’m old

Love your analysis. I think that the effects of Bionicle, Avatar, and other lines from the 2000s are going to have a profound effect on the future through the minds of the millennials that grew up with them. It's amazing how almost all the most popular animes/shows, toy lines, etc. in the 2000s involved heavy topics, elements, spirituality, mysticism; this has shaped perhaps one of the most thoughtful and spiritual generations seen since the 1960s. I wouldn't be surprised if Bionicle ends up getting rebooted a third time, and in its former glory, ten or twenty years in the future. 2009 and 2010 probably shouldn't have happened, since 2008 was allegedly the Final Battle and I was ready for the grand finale at that point. It pains me to say that though, because 2009 gave us the best builds of all time in my opinion and certainly some badass vehicles. 2006-2008 were the most in-depth and dark years of Bionicle, in true Bionicle fashion. Good vs. evil, shadow vs. light, etc. But 2009 felt oddly NOT Bionicle if you read the novels. The novels might as well have been set on Earth in ancient Mesopotamia; tribesmen armed only with weapons, fighting in the arena, going to war over resources, and the plot of the story being strung around the trade water and goods was very, very human. The Legend Reborn was almost like a parody version of previous Bionicle movies, with the shitty plotline, the good vs. evil tropes, the constant buzzword of "toa" being thrown around out of context, and the bizarre use of a 'cute' bug to appeal to really little kids. It dragged on and on and then was rushed, when Mata Nui and Ackar somehow manage to convince a 100,000-year-old society built on war and gladiator fighting to instantly give up their system and unite in just one speech. How do they beat the army? Mata Nui yells "UNITY!" and everyone throws their weapons together, as the super-friends, and blast the entire army into the dirt. There were a ton of holes in the plot of The Legend Reborn and not much was clear about that ending; I really didn't see a robot and didn't even know there was a second robot until I read the story serials. Then 2010, which should have been the best year by far, needing to top 2008 if that was even possible, was rushed and only lasted a few months, mostly through story serials and the Mata Nui Saga. But, you're right, it's good it happened and we didn't end up like Samurai Jack fans and have to wait a generation (or not) to get a conclusion. Now I have a theory about 2010 and how it actually was not a bad approach or plot, but could have obviously been executed better. I get it though, Lego rushed it just like Nick rushed Korra season 4. But 2010 should have first off have been in two waves, not one, like any other year. The Stars were not actually a bad idea; adding new characters at this point wouldn't be necessary when you have 9 years to work with. But instead of being chibi versions of our heroes and villains, they should have actually been upgraded masterpieces. The pieces from Hero Factory and Bionicle G2 could have been pioneered then, which would have made Hero Factory much more successful coming out of the gate as well once it inherited the builds. Gears could have been paired with articulation like in G2. The joints could have been fixed (basically the Hero Factory blocky hands would have replaced the skinny ones). You could even keep the same characters in the first wave, but in the second wave balance out the elemental/color representation on both sides, hero and villain. A while ago I listed my pick for the second wave, 'Star Legends,' as Bone Hunter, Vorox, and Barraki (Kalmah) as the villains while Hahli, Matau, and Vezon could have been the heroes (in the story serials, Vezon by no means became 'good,' but was being employed BY the good guys, so Vezon would have been a wild card in the story and likely would have joined whichever side was winning in the moment). Then, we would have some of the best battle vehicles yet! They all would have been designed by the Great Beings, but one is based on Bara Magna and the other three in the Matoran Universe. They would be based around some of the legendary Kanohi (time and creation) and also light. Bara Magna's would have been a giant land-cannon on treads, while the other three would have been flight vehicles like 2008 ones. Finally, both the Great Spirit Robot (Makuta) and the prototype robot (Mata Nui) should have been released as the largest, most expensive titan sets ever released! The Golden Armor could have even been kept (just give it a better name than 'golden armor'), just contextualized and serialized better. With that, I would have been, as in 2008, satisfied and ready to put Bionicle to rest. But the abrupt and shitty ending to the story that helped define my childhood really messed me up. It's one of many things in my life that went horribly wrong for me in 2009-2010.

Bionicle The Legend Reborn was supposed to be the start of a second Bionicle film trilogy that got cancelled when the franchise got axed. I think that's the reason for the movie's lack of urgency and tension other than it being ''made for kids''.

10:28 I tought you were going to say "Each set sold separately" xd

It does sadden me how lego dont acknowledge just how much bionicle helped them out. Its like they just kicked it to the curb and forgot about it

True fact the socket joints in the hands, arms, & ankle joints were far to brittle and not so durable where as the socket joints in the previous sets were very durable. I had a Zaktan upper arm piece break after a matter of months. And the Hero Factory limb pieces use from the Ordeal of Fire series to the Brain attack series were very durable only one broke I think after a couple of years. Bionicle will never be forgotten in my heart it’s inspired me to make my own storylines with the creations my brother and I made and with the actual sets that were released.

this is when i was given my first bionicle

Who my bad btw this was..This was beautifull i cryed

The first Bionicle had heart,pacing & was re watchable. 9:00 Except Matoro RIP

Honestly I liked the movie because they actually had a bit of sword fighting. I always hated in the first three movies how they never really fought. Idk I’m just a sucker for a bit of hood action

If I remember correctly there was supposed to be another wave where Mata Nui and some of the other Glatorian head to the jungle moon of Bara Magna and encounter giant prehistoric like animals (I don’t think they called them rahi) but I think that would have been interesting to see.

Oh, boy! I didn't notice this one was out too!! Awesome!!

Its been awhile since you upload a video about Bionicle. Nice video though😊.

The Miramax movie designs are closer to canon than the actual sets are. Though should've looked more like the sets still. They canonically have the heartlights and muscle parts, for instance.

Would be epic if there had been an endgame like ending with all the Toa teams uniting with the Matoran, Agori, Glatorians and Rahi to fight off Makuta's army of evil one last time. End it on some Lord of the Rings scale clash once and for all 😁

6:17 so how did everyone avoid dying when the robot that made up all the islands stood up?

Hand pieces that were based on the movies and bionicle heroes video game

I loved these retrospective videos! I definitely understand if you want to stop here, but I would be interested in seeing your thoughts on G2...

I had all these

The mahri release was when I first got into it, I bought at least one set from each subsequent season after that

And don't forget limb joints.

Come my friends. New and old. It is time to begin.

On the Lego page lego ideas is a vote of bionicle. If we smash 10000 subs. Bionicle will get a third generation. 8800 subs

snif you will be remember bionicle

I think that Miramax meant to keep the Bionicles in their movies from looking like Legos because they aren’t toys in those movies (like how Buzz isn't a toy in Lightyear)

like most people you are absolutely wrong about TLR. Possibly the best of the bionicle movies.

Fun fact the great beings are Glatorian

The Glatorians are organic beings. I think about this alot

Oh, Mata nui a real one, fr fr.

Thats funny the only parts ive had brake are the skulls! Arms legs and some of the ankle parts.

SIA LAITER BINOCLE😭😭😭😔😢

No one: Me during this video: "BYE BYE!!!! BABYLON!!!!! 🎵🎶🎵🎶"

Fun fact: The Skakdi's name is Nektann

This was an arc....that's all I have to say about it

they are biomechanical beings

I'd say it is Avatar combined with Transformers and Power Rangers, and yet its very own thing still.

Ok this was my favorite part of the bionicles. Pretty sure I have the full set, although now dismantled

yeah the main problem with 2006-2010 was the fragile parts, like when i first got Kina one of her limb pieces broke literally hours after completing her, very anoying

8:55 ,Cought Cought *Marendar unit* Cought Cought

The Legend Reborn was not direct to video.

Is that gundam iron blooded orphans ost & halo ost

Is that Gundam music I hear?

anyone else notice the halo theme at the end ?

So basically, they threw Mata Nui into a society... sounds like Joker to me

8:58 Halo theme :D

WHY else remembers teridax's betrayal

To this day I feel sad about NO action taking place on Bota Magna.... The original Bionicle finished soooo quickly and rapidly and the last wave of Bionicle G1 was soooooo dissapointing :(

I never understood why Tahu returned to his original mata form?

Are you also going to review Bionicle's 2015 reboot??

4:32 is that a proto surge on the left!?!?

Are you gonna go into the Gen 2 reboot in 2015??

I miss bionicles, also first

dude why do you have like the exact same taste in music as me

Was ist denn überhaupt mit Lego Bionicle jetzt endlich passiert die Figuren gibt's ja nicht mehr

Maybe LEGO should make a completely new universe,new characters ect it might stay around for a bit longer? I don’t know it could happen

And then they tried and failed to revive it in 2016

Do the reboot next

No one likes cracked pieces

7 makutas disliked the video

wouldn't avatar be like bionicle because bionicle came first