Bionicles were WAY cooler than you remember

[@JettKuso]

Get the 1/250 Jett Kuso limited edition pin here!!! ➡➡➡ crowdmade.com/collections/jettkuso ⬅⬅⬅ Also check out my new $1 support tier on Patreon! ❤❤❤ Patreon: www.patreon.com/jettkuso

[@DrDogtorPhD]

Gotta do a retrospective for the rest of the og run

[@lIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII]

120k subs neat

[@jamesattack7420]

Aight so like the bohrok weren''t even evil, theyre just another body system responsible for cleaning off the sediment. Also RIP matoro, he died for our sins.

[@SenketsuFi]

the "dirt one" was my favorite. how dare you. jk.. sorta xD

[@syaredzaashrafi1101]

at 15:57 anyone know what set that darker green bionicle on the far right is from ?

[@MrDaserig]

Can you imagine Bionicle and their masks in todays market? All the mystery boxes on the shelfs. Maybe its time for another remake.

[@contagiousstorm]

Every couple of months I have a dream where I'm shopping and visit the Lego section to discover Bionicle had returned in full swing

[@jaxwarp8373]

I would kill for Matoran Blind Bags. Let's say, 2 different body types, tall and short, and 12 different masks. And each part (chest, limbs, mask) can come in 3 colors for each element. They'd just use a table to plan out every possible combo of body type, mask design, and color pallet, and boom, a massive swathe of characters ready to hit store shelves

[@jaxwarp8373]

Ok I just did the math and that would be 648 Matoran, which is way too many lol. But! Still a good proof of concept. Lego should hire me and give me infinite money to bring back Bionicle there is no way it could go wrong trust me

[@skeletingking]

@@contagiousstorm It's genuinely insane that almost every Bionicle fan has this dream. It's a well known collective phenom in the community, just called "The Dream" or "That Dream".

[@TheKayasto]

Bionicle g3 is just LoL surprise dolls but in canisters instead of balls.

[@Nailfut]

Bionicle was so affordable and approachable, compared to most Lego sets. With a bunch of bucks you didn't just get "another Lego set", you were buying a whole experience, a new concept: the canister was part of the toy, of its lore etc., then the mini disk, online site and game. Everything came knocking on our lives with such simple, mysterious yet unique and fast tv spots. I'm used to saying this: Bionicle perfected the cross-media marketing we now see all over the world, it threw many questions and we had to discover the answers. Nevertheless, what really matterd was the message:"there's nothing like this in the world, come and join us in our quest to re-awaken Mata Nui". Having all the possibilities a Lego product provides just made them the ultimate toy to have back in the day. Yeah, the figures were cool, the plot intriguing, the mystery too, but, at the end of the day, we customers had the absolute freedom to interact with this toy line by making our own stories AND CHARACTERS in a tangible way. Sure, I love my Kopaka, Vakama and all of that, the many themes, stories etc. But they were all tools and Bionicle as a theme was a sandbox for me to come up with whatever adventure I had in my mind, both related to the main plot or 100% new, with its own set of rules. Those that didn't understand Bionicle because it didn't look like Lego really missed the mark: it felt like Lego, because each toy opened our minds to endless possibilities.

[@thomasgrabowski2202]

was very spiritual. I liked that.

[@greenfalcon13]

This 100000%. Couldn't have said it any better. I was turned off at first as a kid because of it not looking like traditional Lego. But a single gift of Lewa from a family remeber got me hooked for years. The lore of this franchise is impeccable.

[@NoXone95]

Yeee my fam was by no means rich growing up so I never had Lego, but I had a shit ton of bionicles.

[@sonicdoesfrontflips]

I just wish they managed to nail the video gaming market. The only "official" Bionicle games were either too simple (Mata Nui Online) or just not very good (all the other ones). And for such a deep and action-filled story as Bionicle, they really needed a decent video game, especially in the 2000's.

[@Klaevin]

​@@NoXone95 I feel like we had the same experience. getting a lot of bionicles isn't very expensive or difficult, even for poor families : just ask for a bionicle for every birthday and christmas and spend all your allowance on them. if you get birthday money from the relatives, that's the opportunity to buy titans

[@omegon2540]

the scene of mata nui rising from his slumbr years later is still my favorite lego moment ever, if you didin't see it , watch you wont regret it

[@MrSailing101]

Or you will regret if you see what happened immediately after.

[@sewisinc.4545]

It's been almost 15 years and it still gives me the chills (in a good way).

[@danielwayne677]

wait what happened after that

[@omegon2540]

@@danielwayne677 Macuta theridax Well he sort of took over the robot

[@danielwayne677]

so thats where bionicle legened reborn come in

[@nhacker2242]

Biological Chronicles... The Revelation that the Matoran are responsible for keeping The Great Spirit Robot Functioning. Also I just love how all the Toa Teams have distinct character in the Designs and recognisable themes, Mahri- Aquatic, Ignika- Mutated and Warped, Nuva- Changed and Evolved, Phantoka- Airborne, Sleek, Fast, Mistika- Mobile, and Gliding,

[@jarekkish5515]

The Bionicle IP should be sold to someone who can really expand on the lore, without the constraints of being kid friendly or needing to sell toy products.

[@Bionickpunk]

Metru- Urban, Mata-Diminished, Hordika-Mutated, Animalistic, and Warped.

[@jessehcreative]

@@jarekkish5515I wish the books were adapted into a tv series with 1-2 episodes per book. It’s been my dream for years.

[@watsedhaene]

The complex story of bionicle still perplexes me 20 years later, the impact of all the plot twists and all of the sub-stories coming together as a whole is genius. I love how many layers this story has and how much information there is to gather. And the fact that everything makes perfect sense if you look at the entirity of the lore... Genius.

[@matongu]

It helps that the lore from the beginning was mostly one guy that controlled the story.

[@MrSwccguy]

Way to much lore

[@cathleenmoyle1476]

@@matongu What do you mean?

[@matongu]

@@cathleenmoyle1476 It had one main writer that controlled the story direction

[@cathleenmoyle1476]

@@matongu oh okay

[@returnedtomonkey8886]

Bionicle was literally toy perfection.

[@cykrypt0]

shitty theme and one of the worst sets LEGO ever made.

[@saunshilu]

they quite literally saved lego, for a year they were legos only source of revanue

[@TheSybermedic]

You are so right the McToran were the gateway to Bionicle. An innocent Happy Meal started a yearning for all things Bionicle for my son [and his Dad]. I would read the books to my son at bedtime. He still has his Bionicle collection and remembers it fondly.

[@davekitzmiller7586]

You raised that boy right

[@Joe_Potts]

My dad tried to read the bionicle novels to a young me, but we had to stop because i was 7 and a matoran was named one-pu and i lost it. I did read them years later tho and properly enjoy them lol

[@Bakutalk]

I watched The Mask of Light when I was young and I remember my friend bought me a Toa Gali (the blue one I don’t know how to spell her name) for my birthday cause I didn’t stop talking about the movie.

[@JacobAwsum]

Actually you got it correct. Gali.

[@calebgoodman3028]

I have an entire book collection of this series because I love it so much. Matoro’s death still to this day makes me cry at the mere thought of it. They definitely should’ve continued the story as planned because we were leading up to something really big with Velika being revealed to be a Great Being, Ahkmou becoming a Toa of Shadow and we were finally going to explore Bota Magna.

[@Foreseer117]

Matoro's death is a scene I recently reread and it crushed me. I'm 26 now and the fact that Matoro's death still gets me teared up just goes to show how well it was written.

[@a-s-greig]

Turaga Nuju said that the Universe was a riddle. Today, I am the answer.

[@cathleenmoyle1476]

It's okay to cry. We all mourn and miss Matoro, fans of new and old.

[@SupersuMC]

@@a-s-greig ToT

[@Stairmaster_]

Okay, I always knew the island of Mata Nui looked like a face even as a kid, yet despite years of my obsession with Bionicle never dying and continually revisiting the world even into adulthood I never noticed that you can make out the robot's silhouette underneath the water. Holy shit.

[@Dargonhuman]

Yo freaking same! I used that exact image to make a custom "points of interest" map poster that I've been looking at daily for years and only today did I notice the silhouette.

[@CameronM1138]

It kinda blows my mind that this franchise that started out as just an attempt to save a struggling toy company is one of the best examples of pulling off a mindblowing twist that could've easily come off as a cheesy ass-pull if it hadn't been genuinely planned and subtly foreshadowed from the very beginning.

[@TheBlackShinigami]

I read the books and had no idea til later when they rebooted it and made Mata nui a toa himself! I was a confused but even THAT makes more sense now honestly

[@cykrypt0]

weird, as a kid i thought bionicle was fucking stupid lol

[@pawarl.o.s.881]

I got into them myself in 2007, my first one was the Barraki Mantax, my first Toa was Mahri Kongu, I wanted him because of the dual cordak blasters. My brother had already been into Bionicle for a few years at that point. We finally got our hands on the gold Mask of Life a few years ago after a literal decade of wanting it.

[@JettKuso]

Mahri is literally my favorite line after the Toa Mata.

[@oatmealraisincookiesaregar2548]

@@JettKuso that commercial went HARD

[@SuddenlyOranges]

You know the video’s gonna be good when you hear the chronicler’s company’s theme only 1:20 into the video

[@JettKuso]

YOU!!! My brother and I are huge fans dude, I was just watching the your Reviving Bionicle Anniversary special earlier. Your stuff is spectacular so that means a lot, thanks for commenting!

[@5koot13]

Yo it's the funny guy that has Tahu and onua do dumb stuff

[@jsalani4036]

Well I dint expect oranges to watch this, yet even comment

[@jjohnson2445]

​@@JettKuso bionicle had playsets

[@BlackHei711]

My biggest memory of Bionicle had to do with the Toa Metru. Each tube came with a little lottery scratcher with a chance to win some merchandise. And I think the grand prize winner would get a literal gold Tahu mask. I didn't win a mask but I did in fact win an Autographed Comic book signed by Greg Farshtey. One of those childhood treasures that I still have.

[@UrbanSpidey]

bionicle was such a massive part of my childhood, and somehow my tiny baby brain could still manage to keep up with the lore... EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THE TOA MATA CAME AFTER THE TOA METRU I HAVE NO CLUE HOW I DIDN'T GET THAT UNTIL MUCH LATER.

[@TheZamaron]

For a long time I was confused when Metru Nui came out, I read the novels and watched the movie, and was confused why they said "The island above". I assumed they meant north of Metru Nui, though found it really hard to understand why there was a wall with a hole in it near Metru Nui at the end of movie 2. I just rationalized later that Mata Nui must have just been extremely far North then Metru Nui, so far you couldn't see the wall between the islands. It got even more confusing when I recognized Rahi from Mata Nui mentioned in Metru Nui, then when the trailer of Mata Nui standing up it hit me like a fucking truck, it all made sense now. Now when I reread the books or watch the movies I picture much better what's going on. That is powerful storytelling, to wait so long to reveal that secret, I gained a better appreciation for the smaller details, like that the Bohrok weren't evil, but a part of Mata Nui's essential systems, that he's land on a planet and create an artificial island to cover his face, then the Bohrok were meant to clear it before he would rise again. I also understood WHY certain events or things happened, liek the Kini Nui not really being a temple, but part of Mata Nui's system, basically a hatch to enter or exit his body that would extend when needed.

[@123SuperSomeone]

Lol same, I was so confused when I saw the ending of Legends of Metru Nui, and they all turned into Turaga.

[@ODDnanref]

@@TheZamaron The revelation that Metro Nui was the brain. That the Toa failed to oust Makuta and that he took over the entire city. It makes so much later when Mata Nui finally wakes up, only to be revealed that it was Makuta all along.

[@Matau228]

Cool to see someone else who had Gali as their first bionicle. Really loving the inside jokes and lore bits from the future waves you referenced. RIP Matoro, can't wait for part 7 or so where you reveal why we all still mourn.

[@ToaKoran]

I technically got both Gali and Lewa at the same time for Christmas in 2001, but I built Gali first so she was my first Toa, as well (With our boy Matoro being my first, and only Mctoran as a kid). I still have vivid memories of building her in the living room of that old house right beside our Christmas tree. BIONICLE was so freaking good, and seeing that utter failure of a reboot makes me so upset to know we will truly never get something like it again with just how disconnected companies are from what will entice kids and customers.

[@leximatic]

Bring. Bionicle. Back.

[@therealwinston3634]

Gali was my second one (I even got her twice) did you also thought, that Gali was a man?

[@ToaKoran]

@@therealwinston3634 I thought they were all guys, my brain just saw them all as "cool robot dudes" back then.

[@avremirine8986]

My first Bionicle toy was Lewa.

[@Quaxophone]

12:45 still can’t get over the Osmosis Jones reference. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a gem

[@E4439Qv5]

Bill "Mata Nui" Murray

[@dragonmaster613]

I had fun turning them into tiny animals based on their weapons, like sword snakes, hook bat, claw spider, and a two legged axe scorpion, then fusion them into a single warrior.

[@Tahu250]

I never forget the first time my parents came home with my first Bionicle, Tahu. i still got it to this day. I also remember the days when we were allowed to bring our Bionicles to School but everyone was scared of scratching them so we never played with them.

[@tonk5711]

Dont forget about MASSIVE amount of contest made by LEGO where your creation could have been included into actual lore. I didnt see any other LEGO series doing that ever

[@Pikminer-5087]

Bionicle gave us the Bohrok and Rahkshi, of course they were!

[@oblivionslefthand]

I watched a lore video on Bionicle around a year ago. It was, like, EIGHT HOURS.

[@LoZLttp13]

Link??

[@coyraig8332]

Normally stuff with a focus on lore are infamous for the lore being convoluted, but the way you described it makes it seem SO SIMPLE. I missed out because I only got the Mata Nui figure and never knew the lore

[@purpleblah2]

This video really captures the allure of why we were drawn so much into Bionicle as kids and not that Bionicles saved the Lego company from bankruptcy by deviating from construction into edgy technic figures.

[@austinmorrison6953]

I am so glad the love for Bionicle persists even to this day

[@TheZamaron]

Bionicle is just so special to me, I didn't get many sets as a kid and am only starting to try to collect many of the blue characters. But for all the ones I now have, whenever I look at them I don't just see Lego, I don't just see a toy, or parts to build with, I see a character, I can instantly recall the stories I leaned about them, recall the lore I've started delving into more as an adult, and fondly remember back to the wonder I felt as a kid. Today it's more nostalgia then wonder as I know most of the lore now, but I still love it, I still go back and rewatch the movies, read the comics online, read the books, most toys I'll even throw away the packaging but not Bionicle as it often has beautiful artwork displaying the toy. I so very much desire a videogame to let me explore a canonical recreation of that world, to adventure and explore. Bionicle was my early intro to fiction with deep lore, it's why I'm fascinated by IPs like Star Trek, Star Wars, Transformers, anything really with a deep lore I can delve into and piece together, or a mystery like Five Nights At Freddy's, all of the love for these IPs I have started with Bionicle, it is the very root. I cherish it forever.

[@theconjuredcourt6057]

Another aspect of Bionicle that I think made truly made it so unique, and last so long, was the diversity of it all. Fans could approach the series in so many ways. Some people could be fans of the toys, and others could be fans of the comics, the games, and movies. Bionicle was more than just a toy line, the sets were just one aspect of the brand. That is why it is still popular even though there hasn't been a single set in almost a decade. Most toy lines aren't much separated from the gimmicks and the collectability, and once the toys leave shelves, that's really it. However, Bionicle moved beyond all of that. It's the same reason that Transformers has done so well: there are so many entry points for so many different kinds of people. Allowing the series to live beyond just the main set branch of the IP.

[@hufhehufhe341]

9:18 I did not expect you to reference that song in a Bionicles video

[@ClarkReyes-h4v]

Title?

[@wilhelmtheconquerer6214]

Bionicle 2001 was perfect from a advertising perspective. The McDonald's matoran figures were near impossible to avoid, the online games and commercials told the story, the figures' play functions were designed for them to interact (so that you would buy more) and the, collectables, uniqueness and mystique kept the consumers coming back for more. This is why the reboot failed

[@Boltscrap]

And this doesn't even get to the true secret sauce, following up a good year with an even better product next year. Bohrok are just legends, they turn into balls, have extendable necks, can launch their brains by pressing their eyes, their brains work like masks, so you can take over a good guy's mind, and they can be stored suspended, upside down in their ball form, inside their canisters, and the back label can be removed so you see them just hanging there, waiting to be awaken. Also the instructions have nice CGI renders, that really amp up the mystery and the story.

[@aidanhayward3329]

To this day Bionicle has been a key part of my life. Since 2007 when I got Dekar, my first ever LEGO set. From then up until it’s cancelation in 2010 my brother and I along with our cousins would always have battles with them. Especially during the glatorian era I loved those sets. I was young so I didn’t know that the theme was canceled, the sets just stoped appearing at Walmart. Hero factory rolled around however I wasn’t too interested in it. Then Bionicle came back in 2015 when I was in 7th grade. This peaked my interest of the theme once again. I watch some videos of the 2015 masters sets then eventually found a video reviewing the bohrok. That video changed my life. It sucked me into the world of Bionicle. I wanted to know everything and see all the old sets. I started to build Bionicle Mocs out of the old parts I had mixed in my lego collection. I spent days searching for parts on the floor where I dumped out bins completely covering the room. I became immersed into the biotube community and eventually started my own channel in 2017 where I showed my Mocs. I joined groups of people with the same interests and evolved my skills as a builder. Year after year I continued at it. Even to this day I always have I Moc in progress. Nowadays the Bionicle mocing community is thriving. There is so many insanely talented people. It’s my main motivation and the thing I enjoy doing the most. There are even contests like the biocup and Moc league. Also collaborations between many people who coordinate together to make individual builds on a shared theme. This is my Bionicle story and I shared it for a reason. To let others know, old fans of Bionicle know that Bionicle is still alive as ever and that a toy from 21 years ago can still reel you back in.

[@fredjones2170]

Man, this takes me back. This series was one of my favorites as a kid, and I was a die-hard fan as soon as I got Onepu in a rare Happy Meal and played the Mata Nui Online Game! Excellent video!

[@mohammedal-azzah4479]

What a coincidence, I was cleaning my old stuff and found my original green bionicle still in a mint shape, show it to the kids in my family, so I decided to look in KZbin about them and here I am found your video which uploaded in same day 😮.

[@chrisv3338]

15:58 That soft piano kicks in, a core memory is unlocked, and my eyes began to well up. Holy shit I used to be a kid and Bionicles were the greatest mystery to be solved.

[@yeahboy6807]

I was just a little tyke when Bionicle started, so I barely got any for the first half of its run. That changed in 2006, when I got invested in the story and started to appreciate the character designs more. For the rest of the run, I got as many as I could, and I still have a lot of them now.

[@Dargonhuman]

I just graduated from high school when Bionicle debuted so I don't have quite the same "childhood nostalgia" that most of the people in the comments share, but it wouldn't be hyperbole to say that the course of my life shifted significantly when I got my first set (Pohatu) as a graduation gift. I also had a subscription to Lego Magazine at the time so it waa around the same time that the first Bionicle comic book came free with the magazine... That big splash page of Kopaka was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen - I used some iron on paper to make my own tshirt of it - and I was hooked. I still have all of my sets in storage

[@Good100]

What's even more impressive about the giant robot thing is that it was so efficiently foreshadowed that it was first realized by a member of the BZPower forums named Planetperson using information that was already revealed, but he still didn't publish his theory until only a year or so before the reveal happened. It was basically the perfect amount of information for the perfect aha moment.

[@skybirdmakes]

I've designed over 160 custom Rahi for this line One of the coolest things about the Nui Rama (lime fly rahi) you chose to build and feature is that the set uses flexable axles as wings which store and release the tension of the function, so where the regular black axles you showcased were impressive and powerful enough to knock off masks on their own, the silver flex axles went a step further, even feeling like a mild sting to the hand 😅 there's a story in there

[@TheBlackShinigami]

I read a lot of the books. The lore and character building is insane! The bionicle lore runs sooooo deep

[@3vanguardofthephoenix335]

I might be the only one, but I built my bionacles or lego sets once. After playing with it for a few weeks I'd disassemble every component and it would go in the lego/bionacle bin. I had so much more fun making whatever with the parts. Making new heros with different armor, looking for the piece that I wanted for a certain function. Making wings for heros, and so on. It was just a blast, I wish I still had them to be honest

[@righteousknighteous]

I remember getting my first Bionicle with my gran at a local department store somewhere. Phantoka Solek. My next Bionicles were Gavla and Vamprah. And thus sparked a flame in my heart for the franchise. I hope more of these come out, because the CCBS system is worth talking about.

[@TheKayasto]

I'm glad you got to experience Bionicle during g1. I'm sorry it was so late :c I count my blessings having been there from the beginning.

[@TheColonelKaijuVT]

I kid you not, on my bookshelf mixed in with all my remaining Transformers toys, is a custom Bionicle Rahi I made when I was maybe 15 at the oldest, and I'm 28 now. Bionicle was a massive part of my childhood, and I'm so glad I still have a piece of it to look back on!

[@StopMoshin]

the lore and freedom of creativity was by far my favorite part of Bionicle, I loved Transformers but something about the mythos of Bionicle drew me in, it was like a role playing system like D&D where you could make a character, toa, matoran, or even other species in the setting and their was a simple system that gave room to make up your own story and feel like a part of the world.

[@t.estable3856]

Man, I remember once building a Gali without any instructions faster then some other folks could build a like, 8 piece Hotwheels Carwash thing. It was a bet, and ridiculously satisfying to win.

[@232Skull]

oh god, i'm feeling it ugh, i love bionicle. favorite thing as a kid. seeing someone talk about it in a new and refreshing way really got me feeling the vibes

[@TheMightyKite]

Pohatu was my first Bionicle and will always be my Favorite, and nothing will change that, Plus his Nuva form got him badass armor and Freaking Climbing Claws!!!!, and then He get's Helicopter hands?!?!, Coolest Toa out of them all!. Plus in the Movie Pohatu was just the Chill, Wholesome brother, heck during the Mask of light Game even Gali sounds glad to see Him!. *Pohatu is just, the absolute Best*

[@Thundernugget]

I remember having Pohatu Nuva. I think I added an extra gear to him so that I could make him run. But then he couldn't stand and had to basically do the splits if I wanted to pose him. I think my workaround was to reattach his leg at a different angle so that he would awkwardly sit.

[@purplehaze2358]

"The quality of LEGO plastic is so high..." If only they kept that for the entirety of Bonkle instead of swapping to joints that shatter after like, 2 or 3 uses for the sake of barely higher friction towards the end.

[@OnePunchFro]

I forgot so much about this... I heard that song you had at the end and it opened a whole box of memories. Loved the vid!!

[@michaelbosscha4483]

You'll never be as cool as Kopaka just casually halting a complete avalanche before returning to do whatever the hell they were doing. Enjoying the vista? Whatever. That video alone still has me hyped.

[@austinmorrison6953]

The lore is incredible. An entire world with deep stories, interesting characters, the villain to end all villains in Makuta Teridax and just so many twists and turns. An entire universe with its own terminology, science, history, all coming together for a truly fascinating universe.

[@Kelis98]

Bionicle is amazing and very unique, such cool sets and an interesting story I wish they’d bring it back as there isn’t anything like it before or since

[@Ramacho]

that game that you keep on showing was so good i remember playing it on the lego website when i was a kid, i loved how much mystery was in it.

[@E4439Qv5]

MNOG is its own tier of epic. MYST, but for kids.

[@quantumsurge7250]

You could do a video on the 2006 Bionicle Heroes Game, the one with the Piraka. I also personally played it as a child and would love to see a video covering it.

[@IamsooRobot]

The Nostalgia hit me like a brick wall!! I remember being a kiddo that went on the entire train ride you described. I’m getting some sets for my kids now :) Thank you sir - EXCELLENT content. Subbed!

[@meta-mødernity]

Glad I saw this, this was so nostalgic, I bought the Takanuva then got so obsessed that I bought Toa Mata and Makuta..

[@FlyingGospel]

Dude what the heck? This video is such high quality??? As a bionicle OG and supremacist, bravo good sir, how fun this was to watch.

[@JoshKeogh]

By far the best part was combining them to create your own custom ones

[@L0rdR3van]

This is the first video of yours that I watched and I really enjoyed it! You have a entertaining but non hectic style of moderating, got a couple laughs out of me and the visual fidelity and amount of material showed was really impressive! And the nails are lit!

[@ShadowXloner]

Very nice video, always great to see people look back on Bionicle fondly. Wanted to let you know that I appreciate the effort to put bionicle music in your video too and putting the old miramax music in @16:00. Nothing brings me back to childhood like those 8 notes.

[@DGX_Omega_Primo]

Man, I LOVE Bionicle, even without being able to afford one/being too young and having a worried mother about hurting myself with it or just losing pieces at the time (tho I bought the successors, Hero Factory). And Bionicle 2 is my favorite animation movie of all time. I don't know, something about this world, the dub (I'm brazilian), the sense of adventure, the characters... everything there makes me love it.

[@ashleyhamman]

I don't remember where I got my first bionicle, though I can see it in my head. I only tended to get one or two sets a year, so I missed out on so many that I should probably consider getting on Bricklink at some point... Toa Metru were my starting point, and its interesting to think back to how even in the time of the flying ones, the sets stayed pretty good. There were also some that I have no idea how they have such high resale values today, particularly a couple of the aquatic generation ones. It's insane how multi-media the theme was though, and remained fairly good throughout. Toys, comic books, games, movies... I don't know of any company that could pull it off better than Lego did, but Bionicle managed to also set itself apart from the brick-focused stuff that on the surface should have felt similar, such as Exo Force.

[@VortexKiller2]

My first Bionicle was Kopaka Nuva back in the day, still love the ice powered characters, even made my own revamp moc of Strakk who I renamed to Glacius. Looks like a Viking Ice Traveler or something lol.

[@VortexKiller2]

Thanks for the heart Jett!

[@HonorableRosemary]

16:05 Hearing that dang theme made me smile so much...

[@secretasianman108]

Bandai's current line of Entry Grade Gundam kits aren't much more complex, and seem to currently retail stateside for about $8-9 a pop. Moreover, they've been slowly standardizing all their lines of the same scale, so even the more complex Grades have some interplay and compatibility with simpler ones. As you fall down the rabbit hole, options for customization open up exponentially. And that's JUST the Gundam franchise, Bandai's newer line of 30-Minute-Mission is ALSO compatible with Gundams of the same scale. If Bionicle wants to make a comeback, it'd better be soon, before these things take over that market in the west.

[@E4439Qv5]

If Gundam manages to seize the niche, more power to 'em. LEGO had a fantastic run for its day, but _our brother must be awakened._

[@Bionickpunk]

30MM are more like Bionicle when it comes to customizing then Gunpla, since Gundam kits dont have unified system or customization in mind. Gundam kits are more focused on recreating specific mechs from specific Gundam shows or media. If any of the parts are compatible, thats because its more cause the line of mecha designed share a common designer, are from the same media, or are intentionally made to be kitbashed (like the Build series).

[@carljonsson2647]

I adored Bionicles as a kid and would spend all my allowence on them. I always went to the store hoping they had new designs. I remember thinking to myself that I was spending so much money collecting them, and I really hoped I would never grow out it. Even if I haven't touched a Bionicle in like 15 years now, I feel like I never actually did grow out of loving them... Bionicles are part of me still in a way... ( In a weird Osmosis Jones kinda way I hope?? Maybe I have tiny Toa in my bloodstream. ) I'm 28 now and I would really want to build all the ones I missed out on... The excitement of putting a new design together was unlike anything else for me at the time. Thinking back on it makes me emotional, man... I wish I could go back to those simple times.

[@MakeVarahHappen]

I was just a little bit too young for the peak of Bionicle in terms of toy buying but I did buy Hero Factory and I'd love to hear more about that.

[@ChaosLierLen]

I'm SUPER excited for your Bohrok video! The Bohrok and Rahkshi were always crazy fun to play with as a kid!

[@cristianpissai7563]

Oh, I am so glad that KZbin recommended this channel! This video is really well-made from editing and filming to writing! Well done, you have a new subscriber! I also love videos that end in a sentimental note, because even if they were just toys, they meant something. Hell, the power of Bioncle's message of Unity in kids even showed itself when some bigots appeared in the Bionicle subreddit. It was really heartwarming how the community banded together to champion those ideals we absorbed from these cool ass toys.

[@JettKuso]

I don't agree with predestination as a hard-line concept, but Unity and Duty? HELL yeah!

[@cristianpissai7563]

@@JettKuso To be fair, that one is quite open to interpretation since we found out that: alternate futures existed; and that Mata Nui is not an omniscient god, so he couldn't actually make anyone a destiny. I interpret Destiny more as finding your own purpose in life and living true to it.

[@Autisticguywithacamera]

You know what I really miss? Lego using Bionicle pieces in System sets. Look at early-2000s sets and they had tons of Bionicle parts in them, it was so versatile.

[@TheHaloHedgehog]

As someone who still loves them to thus day I can give you my answers: abso-fucking-lutely

[@witchii]

Oh man Bionicle was such a big part of my childhood and I still like all the lore behind them and collecting them as just figures to put on a shelf!

[@bringerebrethil6176]

My fave Bionical was one of the sphere ones the pure white. It’s been so many years I don’t even remember what they were called or that ones name. I think I was 8-10 when I had it.

[@JettKuso]

We'll be looking at those next time!

[@bringerebrethil6176]

@@JettKuso do you remember the movie about Matanui? I remember the movie.

[@joelpaik]

bohrok kal?

[@portalpuppy31]

Korahk the Ice Bohrok?

[@bronsonarabie1078]

Though I never was at all one to read the colossal lore of the different Bionicle storylines, I was absolutely having the time of my life playing with these bad boys with my older cousin. I personally as a teenager was into the later full-sized figures, specifically from the Toa Mahri era and onwards, with Toa Matoro specifically being my absolute favorite. Recently I splurged and got a NIB Matoro and it was such a blast getting to build and appreciate him again 🤍💙

[@blastingsound]

man .. i remember getting that EXACT red and yellow mcdonalds bionicle toy and loving the crap out of it, even though i had no interest in Bionicle at the time, it was just so fun lol years later when the Barakki came out i got the whole set, the best thing was that Bionicle was ALWAYS evolving... so even if it didnt seem like the coolest thing to me as a kid... it was soo cool to me as a tween with their sick rock marketing

[@shaldurprime7154]

12:01 this delivery is just amazing

[@NickonPlanetRipple]

This video is incredible.

[@VadersFirst]

This hit hard with the imagination part. I rarely had the characters built how they came in the box. I loved building my own that fit whatever play style I had. I had some that I used with my Knights Kingdom sets, so they could wield cooler shields and swords and use the same armor. I also realized a lot of toys that weren't meant to work with Bionicles that still did. I gave my favorite Bionicle at the time retractable claws because I had a Transformer (Leobreaker) that had these claws. The claws had a little stud that happened to fit extremely well in the holes on the Bionicle limbs. Tighter than regular pieces, but still worked and it was better because they never fell off during play. The possibilities were endless with all the pieces I had. And I actually never got into the actual lore behind the Bionicles. I made my own that took over 10 years of play sessions to complete

[@ametrinefirebird7125]

As a bionicle outsider, this is the video I've been hoping existed. To just go over the different toys and help me make sense of all the context for things. Thank you so much~ Subscribed!

[@broskimoski9775]

Wow it’s been years since I last watched a Jett kuso video, you’re so successful!! Congrats man I loved watching your old videos you deserve it all

[@moniquepretorius4926]

I almost forgot they were lego😂

[@krad_regnar]

Would love to see more Bionicle content from your channel! I was looking up the old soundtracks to share with my kids when I came across this video.

[@AcerAz115]

Man this makes me miss those days... i remember begging my parents to subscribe to the lego magazine so i could get the bionicle comic. And collecting those bionicles were such a blast. I regret giving them away so much when i was a stupid teenager....

[@ZeroStako]

Man, when you mentioned creativity with these, I just got an instant hit of nostalgia. Once upon a time, I made a freaking gauntlet out of bionicle parts, and when I moved my thumb, there were parts that would extend like claws. I love Bionicle and I wish Lego would give them the comeback they deserve!

[@dathan.p]

Love this video! Growing up as a child my older brother always got these toys and I was never allowed to touch them. They were the holy grail growing up and I still love them today.

[@brock5932]

Got the red and blue one at a pre launch sale at Orlando Lego Land. Went on to have my parents buy me ever single set, and forgot how legit these things were! Great video, hit me right in the nostalgia feels!

[@slightlyembittered]

Bionicle is a great toy line to talk about since it has stellar marketing, but also because it's a great example of LEGO learned what worked and what didn't; and that experience helped improve every LEGO Theme thereafter.

[@E4439Qv5]

Bionicle walked so Ninjago could SPEEN.

[@TobiasLA]

Bionicle made my childhood gameplay so incredibly rich, I still feel the joy from back than today when I think of it. Favorits were Rakshi

[@abloodynova7625]

A while back I broke out my old toybox and reassembled some of my old Lego sets. Lots of missing parts, but most standard Lego sets survived - though the Bionicles are less fortunate with plenty of broken parts - Mahri Hahli having basically all her lime joints cracked. I can get replacement parts for basically every missing normal Lego pieces, but Bionicle joints are kinda rare... Really hoping that 3D printing can revive them at some point.

[@AresVisualsMeva]

I remember being very involved with the lore of Bionicle up until the very end, what was more surprising than the sheer massiveness of effort put into creating a story for the toys was how one twelve year old can house a lot of it in his own head. Good times though.

[@DragonClaw-eg6nj]

I absolutely loved that! Bionicle was my favorite toy line as a kid! I also was a big Bakugan fan, it was my first anime and the toys were satisfying. I like Gen 1 of Bionicle and Bakugan the most, the reboots lacked a LOT of what made them both special initially. I loved the video where you fought against Masquerade! That looked so real! I hope you do more year overviews like this for Bionicle in the future!

[@JurassicWorldBiology]

Another great watch, bionicles still live rent free in my mind. Also my son recently got obsessed with the bionicle series on netfilx and the old films!

[@lehvak182]

This was amazing 👏🏻👏🏻 absolutely captures that feeling we all had in 2001! Looking forward to the next Bionicle video!

[@Bluke420]

Omg I forgot about the awesome ball guys!! They were my favorite when they came out. Thank you for the nostalgia trip.

[@FlyTour69]

I remember getting Kopaka (8571) for Christmas when I was a kid. I remember the cylinder container. I loved that gift!

[@JettKuso]

I mean this in the nicest way but this feels like an AI wrote this comment

[@returnedtomonkey8886]

It was mind blowing realising that mata nui island was cover the giant robot's face like a mask. And it was the promo art SINCE DAY1. IT WAS THERE ALL ALONG !

[@AnotherSWnerd]

Bionicle were awesome. I can't begin to tell you the amount of wars I had with all my figures and little story plots I'd come up with. It was endless fun and it stuck with me for over a decade as a child. When I grew up and saw not everyone was a bionicle fan I questioned it,that lead to me finding out the reason it struggled in the end as a brand and it's a shame. Bionicle deserved so much more. They even tried to make another series with the same types of Legos called hero factory (which you should cover the story on that too btw),eventually it lead to a couple TV shows that seemingly failed and after that I haven't heard much of the series except a few channels like this 1 digging up the nostalgia of bionicles. In my later years I found myself tryna think up ways the series could revive,get a reboot, a new comic launch or even a movie series,maybe live action. I just hope the series can manage somehow to get back on its feet eventually. I and all its fans shall be waiting for that day.

[@Jargonfox]

I had a huge things for masks with any sorta powers as a kid, Bionicle, Crash Bandicoot's masks, the weird masks in Rayman 2, and even Jim Carrey's The Mask, yeeeah masks were everywhere in my childhood. But I did espeeecially love them with Bionicles, went bananas when I found the mask booster packs at stores.

[@Hysterically_Accurate]

I got my first Bionicle in 2004, when the Vahki were a thing. The mystery element was extreme at that time. "Whats this robot? Why does he have chainsaws for hands? What's this city he's in? What's that giant building in the background? There's more of them?! THEY BECOME SPIDER ROBOTS BY TWISTING THEIR HEADS AROUND?!" 7 year old me was living his best life.

[@E4439Qv5]

In order: The robot is a white cop, the non-lethal chainsaw-hands are to create confusion (disorienting trouble-makers, specifically), the city is the literal Mind of God, that giant building is a sports arena (among other things), there are _way_ too many of them, and yes, they can be quadrupedal. Oh, and they can "predict the future" by always being one step ahead of you. The AI revolution is scary, especially when a Makuta wearing a politician's skin creates the *literal thought police.* 2004 is a trip-and-a-half, man...

[@portalpuppy31]

Bionicle, but it was 1984.

[@Shorjok]

This is just about the best, most comprehensive summary of Bionicle I've ever seen. Showing this to anyone who asks wtf I'm talking about when I bring up the B word. As someone who grew up with them it's easy to be spoiled and not realise just how great they were compared to other toys, this vid provides a great outsider-friendly perspective, but also helped me see things in a new light. I didn't even know about the McToran myself.

[@dylandrake2442]

I used to build massive bots with working mechanical hands. Bionicle was a huge part of my self exploration into simple mechanics

[@newadventurer06]

"RIP Matoro 2001-2007" Ahh I see what you did there... *has Bionicle Ignition Arc flashbacks* 👀💦