#brickonicle

[sokoda]

Long time followers might remember I started by sharing System Bionicle Set concepts for TTVs Brickonicle project. But there was one last model I built 5 years ago, that I never shared: The Shrine of Water After all these years, I finally finished the last renders.

I wanted to stay stylistically true to how I did all my builds back then. I got out my old render program, files and painted on the makeshift masks like I did back then. This was quite the nostalgia trip and I hope people who remember the old builds feel so as well.

The figures in this model are Gali, Nokama and Guurahk. With Nokama being a first in this model.

I hope I could give you all some nostalgia with this blast from the past!

[alic0rez]

Tiny matoran team based on the GWP style lol

Matoro, Jaller and Hahli

[sepublic]

I love Kai’s climbing mech. Some Ninjago sets have endeared themselves to me because of the way they were implemented in the show, but the climber mech is one of the select few that I genuinely want just for the build alone.

And you know what? It genuinely resembles Nocturn to me. With Lego’s recent obsession with mechs and statues, plus Bionicle fans trying to cope about a potential G3 by considering Brickonicle, the climber mech feels like a genuine look into what a brick-based Bionicle might actually look like!

Four arms, plus the legs with the splayed toes and that particular piston piece for support… The lower arms wield blades, and one of the upper arms has a longer tendril to grab with! I even heard the designer for this set used Matoro’s claw piece as a placeholder for the climber mech’s golden claws!

I could see an extensive mod that turns this set into a Brickonicle Nocturn; The head would probably be brick-built and/or use the new dragon head mold pieces that Ninjago has introduced. Tbh, it doesn’t even have to be Bionicle G3 specifically; I’d just really like to see a theme where the sets ARE the characters, rather than the characters being within the sets.

The brick-built scale allows for so much more customizability for characters, and if Lego really wanted minifigures, maybe they could function as the smaller ‘Matoran’ analogue, who knows? There’s just so much character to convey with different builds. And Kai’s other mech this wave, which is the ‘base’ form of the climber mech in canon, is paired with a wolf mech whose hands and feet always remind me of the finned Piraka feet piece;

Look at that hand; That’s a Piraka foot. Lego seems really into mech builds lately in Ninjago and Star Wars, not to mention their attempts at superhero action figures. I want to see how Lego would do an original line of fully-sized characters on their own terms.

[supersumc]

You know that if LEGO did the disk launcher gimmick again for a G3 they'd do a build that incorporates the modern-day piece. Would work great for Zamor launchers, now that I think about it...

Custom matoran with disk launchers. We got Maku, Matoro, and Kongu.

[binkybonkles]

No idea how to do the head yet, but consider this a critique of brickonicle

[ragdollsrandomartblog-blog]

Lerahk\Rahkshi

Some quick concepts for the Bionicle reboot, brickonicle.

In this version, the Rahkshi are mutated mutated Matoran, this one looking like a cobra with arms.

[the-secret-walrus-blog]

Boxor vs Nuvhok (TTV Brickonicle contest)

This was made as an entry into the TTV Brickonicle Contest, in which this received an Honorable mention. My other two entries were Tahnok Va Attack and another which I’ll post shortly which won 1st place.

The idea of the contest is to make a feasible Bionicle system lego set.

The Bohrok Swarms are hatching! A Nuvhok is bursting out of it's holding cell and attacking Onua! But not all Matoran are defenseless against the Bohrok. Take Nuparu's Boxor Mech into battle with the Nuvhok and the Nuvhok Va and help Onua fend off the Swarms.

Set Includes:

Boxor mech and Bohrok holding cell

4 Minifigures; Nuparu, Onua, Nuvhok, Nuvhok Va

Mech boxing function

Bohrok launching function

This set can combine with the set Tahnok Va Attack to form a larger structure)

Before anyone mentions it, this is more of a re-interpretation of the Boxor design than intended of being a direct copy.

Punchy McPunchface

[drunk-on-starlight]

The best decision TTV made with their brickonicle concept was genderbending Lewa and Kopaka.

[sokoda]

[SWB 210] 2023

Another year another 52 builds for the Sokoda's weekly builds collection! And I want to thank all of you so much for looking at my builds every week. I hit more than 200 weekly builds this year, was able to recreate some of them physically and built some models I'm really proud of. So I am very happy with Sokoda's weekly builds in 2024! But, as every year I had to evaluate if I will be able to continue the project and creating and posting builds every week in 2024. And sadly, right now it looks like I will not have the free time. I always love working on the weekly build project, but in my real live the beginning of 2024 looks like it will be extremely busy and afterwards, there is still a lot of uncertainty. So I had to make the decision to stop the project for now, as I did not want to rush builds, make the hobby I love something to stress over, or break my streak of always releasing on time.

I will of course still build LEGO MOCs. I love building stuff, and while I might not be able to build as consistently in 2024, I really hope it might give me the opportunity to work more on some of my long-term projects, like Ninjago: A Shift in the Balance, or finally finish up that unreleased Brickonicle MOC, as well as many other ideas I have, both in the form of MOCs, but also video content for Keep the Piece and TTV.

In a similar vein, I have three unreleased MOCs that I was thinking about posting as weekly builds, but they are a bit different from my usual weekly builds, so I decided not to do so. I think I will post those builds at the regular time for the next three weeks. So fear not more builds are on their way soon!

I've also been thinking about posting some of my old weekly builds here on Tumblr. Since I just recently joined here, and I've been enjoying my stay here a lot I had the idea of chronologically posting all my old weekly builds on here. If you have any thoughts on that, please let me know what you think!

Once again a huge thank you to everyone who checked out the topic in 2023 and I wish all of you a fantastic 2024!

Sokoda

[sepublic]

I remember hearing an interesting theory; That Ninjago and Hero Factory, which came out at more or less the same time, were both meant to be successors to Bionicle. Because in addition to the parallels people have already pointed out, the theory suggests that Lego created both themes to explore different aspects of Bionicle, and see which one fared better as a way to decipher which aspect of Bionicle made it so successful?

So Hero Factory carried on the constraction, buildable figure aspect of Bionicle. While Ninjago carried on its story and elemental character aspect. In the end, Ninjago proved to be the more popular one by far, suggesting it was the story that made Bionicle resonate with fans (and Brickonicle proves this imo). Which makes it baffling that when Lego revived Bionicle, they gave it even less lore than not just G1, but also Ninjago and Chima in their early years as well.

My best guess is that Lego decided Ninjago already fulfilled the story driven niche and wasn’t ending anytime soon. So instead of making it compete with Bionicle G2, have G2 replace the dwindling Hero Factory, so it can inherit the focus on the constraction system with less emphasis on the plot; To its detriment, as it turned out…

[sepublic]

I UNIRONICALLY LOVE THIS our first Bonkle set in six years! Thank you Lego, I know some people might be salty that this is ALL we’re getting, but me, it’s Bionicle on the packaging of a 90th anniversary set, alongside Ninjago! And Space, Pirates, Castle?! The recognition as one of the classics, the greats...! Also Eljay suggested that people are gonna make MoCs of other Bionicle characters in this style (not unlike the Stars renditions), and for one cannot WAIT!

I’m so genuinely happy and touched by this it’s legit charming in that silly Lego way. Also technically it’s our first Brickonicle set in fifteen years, for those who have hope for that type of reboot! Definitely an insta-buy, tell me when it’s available to pre-order. ALL HAIL OUR SAVIOR, Hail Denmark! Let this join Good Guy as the new meme, it makes perfect sense. Love this funky little brick Toa.

For those in the dark, Lego just revealed a 90th anniversary set filled with a rainbow of bricks and included are instructions on how to use them to build a wide variety of sets that are references to old classics and one of them is Bionicle! And it looks like this 😂

Honestly the more I look at it, the more I think I’m legitimately happy about it. Like, yeah Tahu looks goofy af but so does everything in this set, that’s the point. Everything has googly eyes, it’s a nonspecific parts bin and they’re showing what you can make from it. I think it’s fun 😄 And they legitimately referenced and honored Bionicle!

So yeah we could interpret this as the monkey’s paw of our pleas curling into a middle finger, but honestly I’m gonna take it in good humor

[chaotictempleknight]

My idea for Bionicle G3 (Chaotic Bionicle)

I am in a somewhat Bionicle-mood, so why not share my idea for Bionicle G3?

Truth be told, I want Bionicle to rest in peace as Lego has proved and shown there incompetence when it comes to Bionicle. BUT, if Lego does eventually decide to dig up Bionicle’s corpse for the second time; here is how I would want to see it done:

http://chaotictempleknight.deviantart.com/journal/Chaotic-Talks-0-7-Bionicle-G3-670382510

For those that were too lazy to click the link, I will sum up what I said in the journal:

Building System: CCBS, hands down

Parts: More variety and technic-esque parts

Characters: Lesser known characters returning so there is something to work with and they can be passed off as new characters

Stroy and plot: A healthy balance of complexity and simplicity

The Setting/World: Use the entire planet instead of an island or a group of islands. Also no more tropical islands with different elemental zones. And no rushing in alternate planets, dimensions, or universes at the last minute. Also it would not hurt to have other races then Bionicle (like humans for example)

Lore: Dark Souls style lore

Marketing: CERTAINLY NOT what G2 got...

Let’s get some things out of the way before I go:

“Chaotic Bionicle?”

Well TTV is calling their idea Brickonicle because it is System Bionicle. I figured since it is my idea for a Bionicle G3, might as well call it “Chaotic Bionicle.” I do not think Metruonicle or Darkonicle would work...and nothing noteworthy showed up when I googled “Chaotic Bionicle.”

“UR IDEA IS STOOPID!”

Mate, calm down. No one said you had to agree with my idea. No one said you had to like my idea. No one said you had to even acknowledge my idea. And if my idea bugs you that much, IGNORE IT. It is just a random idea by some random guy on the internet.

“Why not post this on BZPower?”

I could...but that would be like throwing a steak into a lion den. I noticed fan sites are more likely to have a concentration of the worst members of a fandom. Plus I cannot shake the feeling that my topic would get assualted by Anti gen 3 elitists. Somewhat unreasonable paranoia? Probably. Impossible? NO. And personally I am not gunning for a third generation of Bionicle, but I do not want to get misconstrued as an irrational G3 supporter. Plus BZPower’s forum system does not work with me.

“Hypocrite! You are being just as irrational as an immature child!”

Well someone ignored the part where I said I do not want Bionicle to come back and that this just an idea if Lego were to bring Bionicle back. I will not deny that there is a part of me that wants a Bionicle G3, but I recognize that some things are not possible at certain times with certain circumstances. And I really do not want another G2. Cut me some slack, this is complicated...

“Chaotic, you frequent the TTV Message boards; so why not post there?”

Well I cannot and already did. I cannot because I am pretty sure I would get told no by the admins. And I already did in the sense that there was a G3 topic that was not about brickonicle and shared my journal there.

“Extended thoughts on Brickonicle?”

Honestly, it is harmless. I do not fault TTV for coming up with a way to bring Bionicle back. And I will be happy if Bionicle comes back as system and ends up blowing away the previous generations. Personally I am not big on System, but I started out with Bionicle when it comes to Lego sets. But that would be neat if Bionicle did come back as a system line. Then Bionicle would have covered the three primary lego types (CCBS, system, and technic). My other beef with system Bionicle is that it would be EXPENSIVE. System sets are not cheap. But at the end of the day: Brickonicle is not a bad idea. It is just an idea I am not too into. And besides, people are having fun with it. I am not going to take away or invalidate that fun.

And that is all I got to say for now. If you are going to reblog with the intent to debate, please refrain from doing so. This is not something that can be debated, it is just an idea I am sharing. If I missed a point of contention or something you are curious on, feel free to send me an ask.

[binkybonkles]

I’m sorry, but I cant give a shit about brickonicle/g3 until I see some skakdi and vortixx concept art

[ragdollsrandomartblog-blog]

Some work in progress for a Kopaka Brickonicle character design. More later.

[coldgoldlazarus]

It's also kinda funny how my own projects are all like, different versions of these. There was a G2 continuation I haven't touched in ages, I have a few different outlines for a G1 retelling+continuation, there's my Bohrok-Kal scripts which are in a weird midpoint between a retelling and a rewrite, and there was my Metroidvania idea that leans more into being a new continuity but still with heavy G1 influence, and then I've also just sort of generally entertained trying to make a hard-reboot styled thing that would be more distinct from G1, more along the lines of Brickonicle or Afterman.

So with the Faber stuff and the Lego 90th anniversary vote and whatnot, there's been a fair amount of talk over the past few years about another potential Bionicle reboot and what form that could take. I've seen a few different options bandied about, and thought I'd like, try and organize some thoughts on them.

-Option A: Pick Up Where G1 Left Off

This is a pretty common sentiment for some reason, and while I'll certainly admit that I would like to see some of those unused concepts and loose threads be used, I just don't think this is really feasible from a marketing standpoint or good for the storytelling. There was just too much going on by that point, and it would run into the same problem as late-stage G1 in catering exclusively to old fans and locking out prospective newcomers.

-Option A.5: Rewind Only Slightly

This one I haven't seen brought up much of at all, despite being almost the same as the prior option but honestly much better. Basically, since 09 was already supposed to be a soft reboot of the franchise, (even if the cancellation and 2010's story immediately undercut that attempt) it's a pretty good place to pick back up with only a minimum of retreading. It does mean that reintroducing characters and story elements from 01-08 would still be fairly difficult to do well without overwhelming newcomers, but it still offers a way to expand on the Bara Magna arc and subsequent potential stories. I'd give it a shot, even if it's still not my favorite idea.

-Option B: Nova Orbis/Beast Wars It

Not literally Nova Orbis, (unless Nickon and Lego were to somehow strike a deal) but still using that basic approach; same continuity as G1, but so far displaced in chronology, setting, and cast that it stands alone without all the baggage of before, while still leaving room open for integration of older ideas if the writers so choose. It would be a riskier approach, given that the new cast and setting might be off-putting to old fans and it might feel too disconnected from G1 that it may as well be its own thing, but if done well, it could breathe fresh new life into the franchise as a whole. (Like Beast Wars did for Transformers.) I certainly would be interested in seeing such an approach, even if it's not the one I lean toward most.

-Option C: Pick Up Where G2 Left Off

Basically the same thing as A, but applied to G2 instead; reconning Journey To One's ending and doing the 2017 arc that we never got. On one hand, this is slightly less risky than A since there's just... A whole lot less continuity lockout to worry about, but at the same time it still has the same fundamental flaw of trying to continue something that ended several years ago in media res, along with inheriting the meta-baggage around G2. (Lack of development, lack of interest, lack of sales.) I don't think anyone seriously wants to see this. As someone who actually liked G2 despite it's flaws... Yeah, I just don't think this would be a good idea.

-Option D: Do G1 Again From The Start

Basically, rather than trying to pick up where we left off, or create something in the same continuity but otherwise removed, this would be going back to the start, retelling the same beats and arcs as before, and only then if it's still going by the time it hits 2010's events, keeping going with the stuff we never got to see originally. I think this would make more sense than Option A or A.5, giving newcomers a chance to get in on the ground floor this time, but it's still not a perfect solution. G1 ran for incredibly long as is, and there's no guarantee that this new take would get even that far, let alone past that mark, unless massive amounts of streamlining was done. Secondly, it would invite constant comparison against the original much like any other remake, and would inevitably tick off some subset of older fans for failing to live up to the original run in their eyes. And while it would initially give a window for new fans to hop aboard, unless again massive amounts of streamlining was done, it would inevitably fall prey to the original's flaw of continuity lockout. This last risk at least could be mitigated if the story was told in a more central and accessible form of media like a bingeable series, but regardless, there would be a point where it becomes too big for its own good, like certain anime whose season-counts run into the double digits.

-Option D.5: Do G1 Again, But Not All The Way

Instead of attempting to recreate the entire saga again, this would basically be taking a specific part of G1 (probably the original years, but I could see a case being made for Metru-Nui or even the Ignition Trilogy) and just doing that in isolation, possibly expanding on and fleshing it out in some way, but with no intention to keep going once that story has run its course. A more modest and feasible project that captures some of what made the original great and making it accessible to new audiences without trying to seriously rival or outdo G1. It might disappoint some older fans who favor the continuity-heavy deeplore and expanded worldbuilding of later G1, but personally I feel like this is the best option overall for what Bionicle G3 should be - something that makes it relevant again without overstaying its welcome, and puts the franchise back into a state where a G4 and beyond would be possible.

-Option E: Hard Experimental Reboot

Basically another attempt at what G2 did (but hopefully, yanno, executed better) or Project Afterman or TTV's Brickonicle also leaned toward. Or what Transformers does on the regular. Basically, rather than a continuation, a Next Generation, or a retelling, this would be a new continuity using the broad-strokes premise, but cherrypicking characters and concepts and whatnot along with a bunch of new fresh stuff and telling a new story with that. It would be a hard sell for older fans who might be put off by the mixture of familiarity and differences, but wouldn't invite as much direct comparison as a straight retelling or be as completely strange as a Next Generation approach. More importantly, it would live or die by its ability to attract new fans, which I think was one of G2's bigger failings. Personally, this is what I would like to see the most, but I also think it isn't the most feasible option right now; we'd need a successful D.5 first to bring back goodwill toward the franchise before being able to branch out in reinvention like Transformers does.

Ultimately, all that is just possible story approaches, of course. I think timing would also have to be taken into account, and right now with the state of the world, factors like economy, cultural climate, and the digitization of entertainment present big obstacles. Lego would either have to wait on such things to (hopefully) massively improve, or work very well within those limitations, in order to pull it off regardless of story approach. And frankly, as G2's rushed and poorly-timed release shows, waiting might be the better option.

In the meantime, even if it doesn't have the kind of production or widespread attention as an official release would, I still very much support community fan projects taking up the torch, and I do think that as we've all gotten older and more skilled, the prospects of them succeeding grows better. There is a long track record of projects being too ambitious and falling apart, but there have also been successes, especially in recent years, and several currently-in-work projects that show huge potential.

Hopefully, regardless of whether it's official or fanmade, we'll someday get that TV show.

[the-secret-walrus-blog]

Tahnok Va Attack (TTV brickonicle contest)

This was my first entry into the TTV Brickonicle Contest. My other two entries won an honorable mention and 1st place, which I’ll post here over the next day or so.

The idea of the contest is to make a feasible Bionicle system lego set.

Piece Count: 107 Price: $10

The Bohrok Swarms are awakening! Onepu has found a hatching Tahnok Va, and it doesn't come defenseless. Push the lever to hatch the Tahnok Va, shoot the 6 stud launcher to try and fend off the daring Onu-Matoran and reload using the secret supply of ammunition hidden inside the rocks.

Set Includes:

Onepu and Tahnok Va minifigures

A pickaxe and firestaff

12 stud ammunition

Hatching function

Shooting function

Removable container for extra ammunition

Functions!

Some extra ammo for the gun hidden in the rocks.

The set connects to another section of one of my other entries.