LEGO BIONICLE

In 2001, the LEGO® Group introduced a new and innovative toy: BIONICLE. These constructable action figures were built from LEGO® Technic elements. The toys spawned an entire world of lore told through movies, TV series, comics, books, and video games, inspiring a dedicated fan base and paving the way for other beloved, story-led LEGO® lines.

Join us for a look back at this iconic theme as we explore the history of BIONICLE and revisit some of our favorite sets.

The Origins of LEGO BIONICLE®

In the late 1990s, designers at the LEGO® Group began to experiment with new ways to create with LEGO® elements. In 1999, they released LEGO® Slizer (also known as Throwbots in the U.S. and Canada), which featured a new ball joint element which allowed the figures to move freely, almost like human beings.

This was the beginning of constractable toys: constructable action figures with flexible joints and built-in functions. LEGO® Slizer toys were the precursor to one of the most popular LEGO® lines of all time: LEGO BIONICLE®.

A combination of the words “biological chronicle,” the BIONICLE line featured characters that were a combination of both mechanical and organic elements. The line proved to be a cultural phenomenon, enriched by a long-running story about the Matoran universe that reached far beyond the toys themselves. Between 2001 and the line’s original end in 2010, there were a large number of interconnected media, including books, movies, TV series, comics, video games, and other licensed products.

The World of LEGO BIONICLE®

The world of BIONICLE is vast and complex. Spanning thousands of years and generations, the full lore of the Matoran Universe would take far longer than this article to explain. It is a rich and thrilling story; we encourage you to explore it further! To get you started, here is a brief background of the characters, setting, and eras.

The Toa Mata (2001 – 2003)

The story of LEGO BIONICLE® primarily follows the Matoran, bio-mechanical beings comprised of both robotic and organic elements. The 2001 storyline begins on the moon of Aqua Magna, on the island of Mata Nui. The island is named after the Great Spirit himself, Mata Nui, a protector of the Matoran and all life in the Matoran universe, who was cursed into a deep sleep by the evil Makuta Teridax and members of the Makuta brotherhood.

The heroic protectors of the Matoran universe, the Toa, were created by the Great Beings of old to protect the Matoran and other creatures that inhabit the universe. (Hence the name Toa Mata.) Each Toa has powers that correspond to an element: fire, water, ice, earth, air, and stone. They also use special Kahoni masks to unleash their supplemental powers, such as super-speed or levitation. Each Toa team has their own mission and destiny.

The first Toa introduced in 2001 were known as the Toa Mata, who embark on a quest to awaken the Great Spirit, Mata Nui and return to their home city of Metru Nui. This story is explored further in the 2003 film BIONICLE: Mask of Light – The Movie.

Metru Nui (2004 – 2005)

In 2004, the story shifted to the events that lead to the Great Cataclysm. Taking place a thousand years before the 2001 – 2003 arc, it explores the Toa Metru of Metru Nui and the growing evil of Makuta Teridax.

Toa Inika and The Mask of Life (2006 – 2008)

This picks up where we left off in 2003. The Toa Nuva discover that Mata Nui is dying and can only be saved by the mythical Kanohi Ignika, or Mask of Life. They set off for the island of Voya Nui to retrieve it, but when they do not return, a team of Matoran set off to find them. On their journey, they are transformed into a new team of Toa: The Toa Inika. They are ultimately successful, with the Toa Nuva and Toa Inika working together to fulfill their destinies. The Toa Inika find and use the Kanohi Ignika to heal Mata Nui, and the Toa Nuva use their powers to awaken him.

The Final Battle (2009 – 2010)

Set on the desert planet of Bara Magna, this is the final arc of the original BIONICLE storyline, ending with the ultimate clash between Mata Nui and Makuta Teridax, joined by their respective allies within the Matoran universe.