#ninjago pilot season

[l1-b1]

13 years of Ninjago! Can you believe that??

AND ITS STILL GOING???

[crappyyuki]

More Lego Ninjago!

This man has me on a choke hold.

Like. I started this just after the other post and finished in 2 hours. 2 HOURS. Its a miracle. My average is around 5 hours XDDD

Spoilers!

Anyway. Its his time to shine. As a father mentor to his daughter a feral child. And be the badass ninja that he is.

But also he dumb because he is so dumb.

I love him so much. He is so my fav.

I love the sketch too. I couldn't capture its essence during the rendering stage so imma just—

Mwah. I love it so much. Idk how I pulled it off. It came outta nowhere omg.

I love Kai. Hope to see more content of him.

And his trauma on Nether Space omg gimme the details. SPILL THE TEA GOSH DAMMIT! Did he get depresso cuz he's told he's trapped there for eternity but no expresso cuz he has to keep the bravado for his amigo Bonzle?

(Idk where that came from.)

Pls share ideas my god. I might draw them. Or write. Or cry. Idk. Whatever comes first.

Give the fire big bro some love pls. He deserves it. He's been sidelined for so long oh my god you have no idea. Its so disheartening cuz he was the protagonist on the beginning and has been for a long time in my eyes. He deserves some screen time and main character energy.

Like he had such a main character energy when he came back. That entrance was FIRE and that line was COLD. He is so cool. Gosh.

(Let him collapse pls. Nether Space should not be good for a not shattered soul like him. Like, did his soul shatter when he was sucked into the portal? If so, what are the effects? I have so many questions.)

(Also also I'm so curious to what happens when you forcefully shatter someone's goodness with the gong of shattering. If that's a thing, PLS DO IT TO KAI PLS. HE DESERVES A VILLAIN ARC!

LET HIM FIGHT HIS FAMILY.

MAKE THEM SUFFER.)

I love Kai man. You have no idea.

[nonbinarykai]

“Garmadon gets to much hate! He was such a good dad”

My sibling in spinjitzu, Garmadon tried to murder Lloyd’s friends and uncle because he was upset over something both the ninja and Lloyd have no control over.

[hiddensneker]

Your really telling me zane didn’t take his shirt off ONCE pre robot reveal?

[crossroads-of-the-raven]

Kai, Nya and their Parents - The Difference between knowing and not knowing what you're missing - and the sacrifices made by a caring brother

The day Nya was brought home - the day Kai met Nya face to face for the first time; Kai is two (Hands of Time, episode 3, A Time of Traitors)

Three years later

Ray and Maya are kidnapped, thus forcing Kai to take on the responsibility of becoming a five year old Dad aka the death of Kai's babyhood and childhood so as to preserve Nya's babyhood and childhood (Hands of Time, episode 8, Pause and Effect)

Thirteen years later

Kai and Nya are reunited with their parents (Hands of Time, Episode 8, Pause and Effect)

Three years later (vid from Seabound, episode 2, The Call of the Deep)

Though Kai had pointed out that Nya and Maya did not get along (due to Nya's independence from having grown up without her parents); at Master Wu's insistence, Kai calls in his mother to help Nya with her power problem.

Nya, however, dislikes Maya's mothering (what she considers babying).

When Wu suggests that Nya should discuss her issues with Kai, Nya insists with scorn that Kai likely enjoys being waited on and loves to be treated like a baby.

(Note how Nya goes from the probability statement of "probably, likes, being waited on" to the presumption in her absolute statement of "I bet he loves being treated like a baby" -- Nya, please tell me if this is your thoughts on your brother who raised you and gave up everything for you then when has he ever previously behaved in such a way that would suggest your statements to be true.)

The difference here is that Kai remembers what it was like to have someone taking care of him only to have it ripped away - to go from being the baby boy to suddenly having to be the adult for his sister.

Nya, though, doesn't really remember what it was like to be cared for by her parents; but, she remembers what it was like to be cared for (by her brother).

Kai is, in a way, reveling in the joy of being able to play games with his father, eat food cooked by his mother, and learn once more from his parents.

All things he hoped for but never once thought he'd ever have again.

While growing up, Nya was likely allowed to play games, eat homemade food that she didn't have to cook, and learn from Kai the lessons that he remembers their parents teaching them.

Kai on the other hand, had to get straight to work, schedule time in a busy day to cook so that Nya could eat, and be the one to teach trusted lessons from his parents (while likely having to weed out good advice from bad, given to him by whichever random adult decided to give it to him).

Kai's sacrifices for Nya can even be seen in the clothes they wear in the pilot.

When we first see Nya it looks like she's dressed in silk clothes which we know didn't come from Maya's closet since she generally dresses in blue.

Kai on the other hand is introduced in his blacksmithing clothes and goes to train with Wu, in his blacksmithing clothes, which may indicate a limited closet - he may even be wearing his Father's clothes as a way to save money.

But, you might say, he has different clothes in the episode, The Royal Blacksmiths.

Yes, he does have different clothes, but these clothes, like his and the Ninja's matching pajamas (color coded but with the same golden dragon on the chest pocket) are likely the result of Kai now being able to lean on Wu, financially.

Note that Kai's clothes are the only ones that indicate his elemental power - the others likely already had these clothes on hand before they met Wu (except maybe Zane - IDK).

Another way Kai's sacrifices and generosity torwards his sister can be shown is by comparing the first pilot episode to the Season 2 episode 6, Wrong Place, Wrong Time.

In this episode it is shown that, were it not for Nya getting kidnapped by Garmadon, Kai would never had cared about becoming a ninja.

It was only the knowledge that becoming a ninja was the only way to save Nya that motivated Kai to become a ninja.

Yet in a timeline where Nya was never kidnapped, all Kai cared about was getting the blacksmith shop back on its feet after the Skulkin attack.

So how did Wu convince Kai to come to the Monastery, the answer, he didn't - Nya did.

Wu unintentionally convinced Nya to become a ninja and since Kai wasn't just going to let her go off on her own (this is his fourteen year old little sister who he raised after all) Kai went with her so they could become Ninja.

Kai gave up what he wanted in favor of what Nya wanted.

~~~~~

Kai's sacrifices, his giving nature, and everything he does for Nya is almost practically an automatic habit, because he and Nya lost their parents at a young age thus forcing Kai to give up being a child to be Nya's caretaker.

And yet throughout the series whenever the siblings bring up their parents, it becomes clear that Kai made sure that Nya never forgot them and that they were remembered well, that they were missed and not forgotten.

I really like Nya; and while Seabound is a great season it also points out that Nya may just be truly unaware of how much Kai sacrificed for her to the point where she doesn't understand exactly why Kai likes having their parents around; among other details that she and others misunderstand about Kai.

Believe me, I like the idea that Nya knows and helps her brother out where she can, and she definitely loves him, but it seems like Seabound has shown her to be unaware of Kai's trials and tribulations in raising her and keeping them both from landing in the grave of the fireflies.

[coffeeisfortheresponsible]

i think jays short hair was actually peak sue me

woahhh me developing an art style??? crazy

[tournament-of-ninjago]

guys i’ve started drawing again and i have come to the realisation that the ninjas’ hair is an absolute PAIN to draw /lh

[toastingpencils37]

It's actually crazy to think that even while excluding Jay (sorry Jay) we still haven't seen the remaining of the original ninja all together yet.

Because in Season 1 Part 1, Lloyd finally gets reunited with Nya, Kai, and Zane by the end, but not yet Cole.

And then when Cole is found, it's only Nya (with Sora), and Cole doesn't come with them.

And then with the Mech shorts, though it is pretty possible that Cole did interact with Zane, Zane doesn't pop up in the shorts at all. Plus none of the shorts have all of the other four together. (Kai and Cole for short 1; Nya, Kai, & Cole for short 2; then finally Lloyd, Kai, & Cole for short 3).

Then Cole finally actually gets reunited with Zane on screen in Season 2 Part 1, though the rest of the ninja aren't there.

THEN, at the end of Season 2 Part 1, we have all the ninja together (excluding Jay again), right? WRONG. Kai's gone. All of them are there, but now another ninja is missing and gone.

[rosewalkersjayaforever]

[writer-room]

Rewatching the earlier, and even pilots episodes, of Ninjago are so WILD man. First of all, you notice all the things that are just plain forgotten about or pushed aside in later seasons. Kai originally being the main character, sure, we all know that one, but Cole was heavily implied to be, or become, the leader of the Ninja, that was Cole’s thing. Zane was automatically described with having a sixth seer sense, when nowadays it shows up very, very infrequently. Lloyd used to basically be the Avatar, does anyone remember that? This kid was just the Avatar.

And then you remember the silly things. Like how the skeleton army was once a threat. Like...the skeletons. We battled a giant snake, smaller snakes, robot armies, sentient video games, Garmadon a billion different times, the Overlord, Oni...and the skeletons used to be a worthy adversary. The skeletons.

Did you all remember that Cole’s earth dragon used to...breathe earth? I’ve been forced to remember. Rocky used to breathe earth as a form of attack. It was shown through brown swirly wisps in that beautiful, incredibly shitty 2011 effect. The Underworld used to be implied to be the place where all dead people went, or at least the bad ones. We never heard of a Departed Realm. Do we remember the time Cole had a scene that was a direct parody of Michael Jackson? I sure do. Genuinely the highlight simply because I don’t know how to describe the emotion I felt upon seeing it.

[tornoleander]

Started making the terrifying Ninjago but only when men are whimpering

This video has no right to be this funny.

Thought it would be at least a little uncomfortable, but I can’t stop laughing. Hands down the funniest thing I’ve ever made.

Place your bets

Lol you were wrong It’s Kai

[un-pearable]

it’s obligatory i remind everyone about kai being compared to neo from the matrix in his s1 pitch bible blurb day

[blu3cl0v3rs]

Badly explained Ninjago Seasons

First up, Pilots and Season 1

Pilots: The Devil kidnaps Spiky's younger sister, Meow, and the guy gets taken in by Gandalf, the devil's brother, who teaches him how to make mini tornadoes. Gandalf then introduces Coal, a jaywalker, and an ice cube maker. For convenience, we'll call the jaywalker Bluejay, and the ice cube maker Freezy.

Spiky, Coal, Bluejay, and Freezy steal some gold super-powered weapons made by god. Meow gets freed by Spiky, and Gandalf goes to hell to fight the devil with one of the golden weapons. Spiky, Coal, Bluejay, and Freezy teleport using dragons, and the devil kills a skele by tricking it to hold all of the gold weapons, which kills anyone that holds all four. The skele turns into a multi-dimensional portal, and the devil goes through. Spiky, Coal, Bluejay, and Freezy become "the Ninja".

Season 1: The devil's emo son, who we will call Trauma Child, tries to take over a village, but "the Ninja" stops him, so he trips down a hole and controls the king of the bloo sneks. Spiky accidentally steals from Gandalf and finds a prophecy about the Green Ninja. Trauma Child gets kicked out by the bloo sneks and then the reb sneks, and the reb and bloo sneks team up, so Trauma Child releases porple snek. Porple snek ate all the other porple sneks, and sacrificed Trauma Child to his uncle, Gandalf. Big Fighter Mech enters the ring.

Porple Snek then decides he's gonna revive big snek who wants to om nom the entire world, and forces all of the bloo, reb, gren, and bleck sneks to gather some special knives that can free big snek. Trauma Child gets kidnapped by the sneks. Gandalf leaves to find the devil.

Freezy is actually a robot, Bluejay starts dating Meow and temporarily becomes a snake, and Coal has daddy issues and comes out as gay to his father. All three have magical girl moments. Spiky is jealous. Meow is Big Fighter Mech.

Gandalf and the devil are back to save Trauma Child, and Spiky is delusional and tries to fight the devil, thinking it'll give him his magical girl transformation. Gandalf, the devil, Big Fighter Mech, and "The Ninja" jump the sneks and Spiky saves Trauma Child from getting roasted in a volcano, which triggers his magical girl transformation. Trauma Child is the Green Ninja. Porple snek frees big snek, and he and Gandalf get eaten by big snek. "The Ninja" ties big snek into a city-wide knot, and the devil smacks it on the head with the gold weapons, then runs away. Gandalf lives, and "The Ninja" celebrate.

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[mx-julien]

we should meet the village that raised Kai and Nya. how else did they learn to take care of themselves? we know they were left alone right around the ages of 8-10, and when we see them in the pilot they're self-sufficient and run a successful business

culture-wise, we're clued in that Ray and Maya are vaguely East Asian, so the reference I'll be using is the traditionally Japanese method of teaching kids independence. here's an overgeneralization:

that kids are taught to clean up after themselves from an early age and by the time their directional skills are OK they are sent on their first errand to (usually) a nearby store or shrine

you may be familiar with the idea from the series Old Enough! filmed in 1991 that showed Japanese kids on their first errands (currently it's on netflix)

brainstorming thread for this post on bluesky

even if we assume they were taught independence from an early age, they can't've known how to proficiently smith weapons or tools. they also have basic education in addition to Nya's knowledge of electrical engineering and welding. they must've had to apprentice under other blacksmiths in addition to going to school.

this would also explain why Kai is so fiercely, often illogically independent in the pilot and first season. he's spent the past decade of his life being helped by others, and he doesn't want to rely on anyone else if he can avoid it. in this new life as a ninja, he thinks, I can be completely independent. I won't have to rely on anyone! and thus begins his character development

let's explore "it takes a village"

farmers always give them their less attractive produce but refuse to take payment, telling the Smith kids that they're doing them a favor by taking the ugly ones. the local schoolhouse never approaches them about tuition.

neighbors by while their kid's taking a nap. they bring lunch or dinner, teach the two how to clean the house, and show them how to make the food they brought. caretakers at the village shrine ask them to help sweep away the leaves on the anniversary of their parent's disappearance. a few friends come by with flowers- it's a coincidence, they say: these wildflowers are just taking over my garden bed- it's no big deal.

electricians and welders in the area always seem to need an extra hand when Nya gets out of school. Kai cleans the blacksmith shop a few towns over and gets paid in an apprenticeship and a permanent stock of firewood and coal during the winter. the ice house happens to have unsellable, broken ice blocks when Nya pops by in the summer.

the two of them know. the village is part of a careful dance, respecting Kai and Nya's independence while acknowledging their need for support. everyone plays a part. yes, toes get stepped on and feelings get hurt, but time rolls on regardless. another person comes in from the sidelines when someone else takes a break.

it is not easy for the Smith kids, not by a long shot, but the people surrounding them make it bearable

as time marches on, their village sees the children they raised save the world dozens of times. occasionally, the Smith kids come back to take care of the shop and check in with everyone after avoiding the latest apocalypse.

without thinking, neighbors hand them a basket of misshapen apples, half a sack of broken rice, and trimmings from the butcher's. by the time each of them make it home, they've noticed their pockets jingling. the dance continues and now they've switched places

[gracethefoundfamilyfan]

just realized i don't think i ever posted this on here, so here, have a fic!

[crossroads-of-the-raven]

When your Sibling doesn't like your Love Interest - Ninjago: Jiang Smiths Siblings

Kai about Jay liking Nya

You know how Kai looked ready to kill Jay when he first met him, just for showing an interest in Nya.

How Kai would mess with Jay in Season 1.

But he accepted the relationship in Season 6/7 (just so long as he doesn't have to see a Jaya kiss).

And even helped Jay practice his proposal in Season 10.

Yeah ...

Kai is not the only Jiang Smith Sibling who doesn't like the idea of someone dating their sibling.

First the slightly backhanded complement:

"Skylor's right, look at her, she could have inherited her father Chen's evil empire and ruled the world but instead dedicated her life to spending her day bent over a hot stove to provide low cost quality noodles to the people of Ninjago city."

There was definitely a nicer way to say that, Nya, especially when Skylor's response to that statement was the following:

Skylor had brought out two bowls of noodles, the type that always cheered her up, so as to cheer up the siblings but in hearing Nya, she then says,

"Gee, when you put it like that. *Sigh* Let me get some of those"

And then takes Nya's untouched bowl to cheer herself up

But also:

(And before you say, but maybe Nya just doesn't know because she and Kai didn't have their parents. First, a dedicated parent can get their kids properly using chopsticks by age five; but even if you say that they just don't know the rules on etiquette - your telling me that there wasn't at least one busybody old lady that would reprimand a small child for bad manners - not to mention Wu when the siblings start living with the Ninja)

Yeah, Nya's much more subtle but I don't think she's quite ready for the idea of her brother dating.

That or she just doesn't approve of Skylor being Kai significant other.

~

P.S.

To me Nya, sometimes, kinda comes off as that girl who was raised by her single father. She's moving out of the house, ready to have her own life away from her dad only to find out that he's started dating - and she is not happy about it.

She also, sometimes, kinda comes off like she knows that Kai, for her, was more than a brother, that he was her father - but she doesn't want to acknowledge it / is not ready to acknowledge it, because that would mean talking about the bad parts of their life, while growing up.