The Absolute INSANITY of Bionicle Lore: The Rise of Shadows | Bionicle Explained #4

[@VadersFortress2]

Bionicle needs YOU! This series aims to be the most in-depth exploration of Bionicle lore possible, but many characters lack official artwork, media, or clear designs. LEGO intentionally left these gaps to inspire fans to create their own interpretations using their imagination. If you have a sizable Bionicle collection and would like to build some of these obscure characters to be featured in the series, shoot me an email! I’ll let you know which characters need creating. Your contributions will help elevate the quality of the series and ensure we rely on the creativity of real fans!

[@gatorguy1449]

This man is solely responsible for me going on an eBay shopping spree and buying all the old 2001-2003 models. I have run full speed into a financial nightmare all from a lore series.

[@lordofchaosd327]

A perfectly normal and expected reaction, I'm barely able to refrain myself. The biggest thing stopping me is the fact that I have a lot of them already :P Unity, Duty, Destiny

[@therealzenox0z]

It's on my 2 do list. I keep trying to get my old legos and bionicles from my folks and my they are sabotaging me and preventing me "what if you have grandchildren!" Mother, you know damned well I like protuberances and not the crevices, give me my flipping bionicles! I plan to secretly take them the next time I drive up

[@grillmeisterkush6396]

Worth it

[@dannyvalido7408]

I wish to do this myself. Only thing stopping me is my living situation

[@aydeeaychdee]

Tell me about it, I've been collecting them for a while. And only some time ago finished obtaining the entirety of 2007. Titans, polybags, even the system playsets, and the elusive Karzahni. My wallet isn't happy with my financial decisions..

[@davidpap5369]

It's so funny how Bionicle started as what could be compared to a Saturday morning cartoon, turned into sci-fi LOTR with elements of GOT and Lovecraftian lore added.

[@ProfSir1]

Okay learning that Rakshi and Toa fought side-by-side anciently is mind-blowing. Great video!

[@WelshGiraffa]

And here I thought the Barraki were just six powerful tyrants but the fact they were created by Mata Nui himself is insane!

[@kylepessell1350]

It's interesting that the lore of a franchise owned by Lego supported the theme of how neither creation nor creator is ever perfect. Bionicle had a fairly nuanced view towards creativity because sure there were a lot of instances where creation was good there were just as many if not more cases where creation was bad and these outcomes were independent from the intentions of their creators.

[@WelshGiraffa]

Still the fact the biggest lore drop that broke the minds of the fandom was that Bionicle was basically Osmosis Jones but with biomechanical elemental warriors

[@Joe_Potts]

"Now you may be wiser, but if you think your troubles are over, you'll soon find out they've only just begun."

[@polarbear4696]

Bro is getting me through the Christmas season with these fond memories. The baraki... Cruel warlords of the deep...

[@Dragnarok1]

You could say... They're 'Creeps from the Deep'😂

[@motyouryoutube]

Becoming an adult has really made me question how LEGO greenlit a kids' toy with so many assassinations in its lore, but childhood me was all for it

[@vezokpiraka]

You know how it's bad to have too many characters in lore or two many macguffins? Yeah, Bionicle said fuck that, our lore is so deep we don't even know how many characters there are and the macguffins are so plentiful they just keep cropping up sometimes several in the same story. Truly shows that going big means you can do something special.

[@teagor9505]

I feel like it works partly because fairly early on it established there's always been more, there will always be more. This counts for locations, toa and powers, but also enemies. The perspectives of several characters are seen regularly (individual toa, matoran etc through different media) so it's not weird when we see new character views. Each media pushes the world someway, through different perspective types etc

[@kylepessell1350]

Bionicle was able to cultivate the idea of a vast interconnected world very well. There are endless variety of creatures with an endless variety of origins from good to evil, ancient to young, mysterious to established. Pretty much any being you could think of had numerous ways of being fit into the world in one way or another. For example: the Brotherhood of Makuta literally existed for tens of thousands of years with their sole job being creating new creatures. There are lots of energy sources and powers which can alter and transform already existing creatures in dramatic ways. There is no realistic limit to how many potential beings you could introduce to the franchise and how they could connect with each other across insane periods of time.

[@tristangriner3001]

I remember watching bionicle music videos and thinking “how could life be any better?”

[@ArcDragoon]

The irony is that Teridax was originally destined to become the one to replace Mata Nui. And it may have been this hidden agenda that he was not consciously aware of that sparked his plans to replace Mata Nui; alongside jealousy

[@reedeexgaming5663]

Piraka era is hands down the prime of bionicle. This was the best time and the best design

[@shanenicole9552]

I never watched,played, or used Bionicles. I am barely following along with the lore but I still love it. Keep it up, man!

[@DISTurbedwaffle918]

The absolute scale of the lore is absolutely mind-boggling and Bionicles are up there as probably the ideal toy design (seriously, an action figure that you can build and customize at will; I will never forgive Lego for ceasing production)

[@justalott]

The love of power as well as arrogance seems to be a common downfall of the ones put in important roles.

[@NaruBrilu]

Ya, i think it also comes with the fact that they seem to be immortal in the sense that there isn't a life cycle for Bionicles. Obviously they can die, but everyone lives for thousands of years. Nobody is dying of old age. Ig eventually you either become bored or lose your sanity over so much time that you become evil

[@Noochy_Boi]

This list of videos has got me back into this franchise. I even bought Bionicle heroes for the Xbox 360 just so I could relive the nostalgia.

[@Ulfie_]

Babe, wake up. Vader's dropped another Bionicle lore explained video 😏

[@HaltTheHarmsOfLife]

Always loved the Zyglak, design and lore wise. Amazing combiner model.

[@mjkazi2273]

i just noticed the mask of life has the imprint of the giant, how did i never notice this before that is awesome design detail

[@Green_Sentinel_3]

Another great video telling the story of Bionicle. Keep up the phenomenal work bro! Loving it.

[@iamthehobo]

These videos are such a delight and you keep pumping them out! Take care of yourself!

[@Arcticfox030]

You should definitely do other series like this their are so many with lore as deep as this and just as good that have almost been forgotten by time and deserve to have their storys told.

[@VadersFortress2]

For sure. Any ideas let me know!

[@AtlasGmng]

​@@VadersFortress2God of War has REALLY rich lore that could benefit from breakdowns like this. Both old and new games alike

[@VictorKiithsa]

FINALLY! My favorite year of the entire saga.

[@ianwesenberg8399]

You are awesome, dude! So happy to be digging back into the nostalgia of Bionicle!

[@david-nb5ug]

part 5 lets go, this saga is great!

[@robbymanable]

You went all out in explaining the majority of history of the Matoran Universe in this video

[@Ian-ry2ow]

I had a feeling that this was just posted, checked and it was there! Face Me is an underrated song for this part of the story

[@blankblank6214]

Low key bionicles most creative year

[@WilliamBalati]

6:00 Good to know I spent my childhood playing with tyrants and warlords 😅 wouldn't change a thing

[@raymondclaypole6926]

The Golden age of Bionicle part 2

[@ProfessionalsProfessional]

Love this series and I never heard of this tale. Bravo

[@h0b0y0da4]

Lets go Barraki! LETS GOO BARRAKI!!

[@kristianbritton5435]

Will you be covering the short novels where Takanuva travels to alternate history universes including the one where the makuta never turned evil and light makuta teridax travels back with him to help defeat his evil counterpart in Takanuvas home universe?

[@VadersFortress2]

For sure. The multiverses might be my favourite part

[@kristianbritton5435]

​​@@VadersFortress2 dictator toa Tuyet and the death of Lhikhan was the one that hooked me in

[@berengustav7714]

The Barraki are basically Numenorians like Ar-Pharazon.

[@lopendebank3613]

I did not know I actually wanted this but here I am hyped for the new episode!

[@justinarzola4584]

Me and my cousin loved Bionicle and would share each other's toys and watched the first movie on blockbuster VHS( Your old if you remember renting movies on Blockbuster) but then Lego cancelled it and i forgot about it, i had Kongu( the green one) and Hewkii, thanks for awakening some of my childhood memories.

[@Aedoucan]

you are not good for me, i have been coming back hourly since part 3 just to refresh your page and see if next episode is ready.

[@chrisamaro7453]

After this lore you should do hero factory

[@drakemccoy7491]

Welcome once again my friends to this tale of the bionicle

[@marxcautelle6818]

Bionicle is the GOAT

[@peppaeyez5485]

Been waiting for the next upload I really appreciate these vids

[@gunnsleemotamer4099]

I remember having the Makuta figure, I need to get my hands on it again

[@palmahugo1980]

love it man these lore video are hype and cant wait for more!!!!!!!

[@riker127]

An other GOATED video

[@filippohl9097]

I own Pridak, and the Eel with lime joints (they are broken).

[@VadersFortress2]

Of course 😂

[@Restartorquit]

I NEED MORE I NEED IT

[@doomedspartan3608]

YESSSS THE LATEST CHAPTEE

[@emil6792]

Thank you please make more

[@SirBeekers]

So, Proto-dermis is like a living metal kinda deal? and anti-dermis is a corrupted version, then?

[@combativeThinker]

@@SirBeekers Mmm, no. Protodermis is a super molecule of sorts, highly programmable, and capable of manipulating surrounding molecules. It can exist in various high and low-energy states that impact the degree to which it can manipulate its surroundings. Antidermis is a wholly unique substance not tied to Destiny in the same way as Protodermis, but still affected by it to some degree as evidenced by Teridax and the Great Beings' predestination for his life.

[@totalCoolerUsername]

3.30 Why is it fraggin´green one everytime? xD

[@BuffPomsky]

Bruhhhh we need a bionicle remake, or at least a proper movie for this. Hated how bionicle 4 didnt have anything on the inika, piraka, or barraki

[@combativeThinker]

Usage of machine-learning to create art is fine by me, so long as the finished product is tasteful in design and appearance. You achieved this in spades.

[@nihili4196]

Can't wait for Nuxtaku to inevetably react to that series

[@NaruBrilu]

What's with the occasional audio spike bits

[@NovaVor4380]

Where did you get the artwork of the Barraki pre-transformantion? It looks incredible

[@combativeThinker]

@@NovaVor4380 It was created with machine learning technology, as no official art (or even fan-made art that I could find) exists of them.

[@tj1614011]

The time lone jumps all over?

[@ayyjack]

my eye isn't super sharp for AI art, but i would assume it's all the stuff i don't recognize. for those complaining: is there actual depictions of these characters available that he could use or are these guys just from novels?

[@boblemmonz]

Yeah all these people don't realise that there's no canon images of any of the ai images. Using other people's art on youtube can have legal consequences

[@wearsjorge55]

I'm not super into AI, but if the depictions can't be refined to look more in universe then I'd rather not have them. It feels like I'm looking at another IP

[@combativeThinker]

@@ayyjack There aren't even any fanart depictions of these guys before they were thrown into the pit (or at least none that don't look like they're from an entirely different IP due to the artist's style). So this is the best we got.

[@ayyjack]

@ yeah that's what i thought, if there isn't already art of the characters then AI is completely acceptable imo (if anyone is upset at the quality of the AI art, maybe offer your services and expertise)

[@DNICKA]

When we’re these early Toa released?? I don’t understand, I remember non of this and I had what I though were the first sets.

[@Makutros]

Most of this chapter is background lore and origin stories. The Toa-Dark Hunter wars was part of the Pirakas' and Nidhiki's origin story. The death of the Toa Cordac is Lesovikk's origin story. Barraki-Brotherhood conflict was used to set up both factions as the main antagonists of the present day story arc. The civil war on Metru Nui was used to hint towards the way the mask of life worked. The rogue Toa Tuyet gets relevant to several b-plots. As most of this takes place long before the main plot, there are multiple characters that never got an official toy. Those include Makuta Kojol, all Toa Cordac except Lesovikk, and Toa Tuyet. Toa Helryx, Makuta Miserix and the Kanohi Dragon are canonized fan models. The Zyglak and Toa Jovan are combiner models.

[@drakologarnus7248]

honestly i love your videos dude but the A.I overflow is abit much. if used in small amounts its fine. id rather have PNGs being dragged around

[@jo3y960]

Yeah I really agree with this

[@JelliinaCup]

I wish they would use the actual figures and comic art. If one is going to use copyright material, might as well use the source material rather than some amalgamation that isn't anywhere near what the bionicle look like. Especially when said character's irl stills are immediately used right after 💀

[@boblemmonz]

To be fair, Greg Fashtey specifically didn't allow canon art for a lot of these more minor characters so people would make more bionicles. So this guy would either have to use ai generated art or risk breaking some kind of copyright rule by using some artists work

[@combativeThinker]

@@boblemmonz Precisely. Also, I don't get why people are so up in arms about art created with machine learning anyway. It's a great tool to provide people with visual references at a low price point.

[@laughingman7467]

He could've used some bionicle movie posters, comic pages or book cover arts instead, but I think he's too afraid of copyright slapping his channel.

[@masterprime817]

Love the videos but not gonna lie the AI images just take me out of it a bit, definitely preferred seeing the original concept art and promotional images instead.

[@crim-jim6814]

Use of ai visuals in this vid is kinda trashy

[@robotcactus_mk1882]

Yea. At least add a tag

[@NikolajLepka]

tasteless use of ai art

[@ablebagel]

man the janky AI images really cheapen this. stick with the OG nostalgic stuff

[@internetartpaints3465]

I aged out right after the toa of light reveal and the story shifting to metru nui. I gotta say with all this new information, what the actual fuck?

[@NaruBrilu]

I knew roughly everything up to Metro Nui and slightly past that. The newer island with the pirate guys is kind of where i stopped. I knew that it had went underwater for some reason after that and i remember reading a bit of a comic when they were fighting under there. But ya, that was kind of about it. I didnt know about the lore of all the creations n shit. Lol just starts to go off the rails there

[@internetartpaints3465]

@ this is so convoluted the Horus Heresy seems tame by comparison.

[@macadamian_ytbe]

do i feel correctly that hero academy is next?❤

[@Rambam1776]

The letter R exists.

[@SanguineDoe]

And you used A.I. Disappointing.

[@crim-jim6814]

My thought too, Bionicle and ai art should never have to be in the same sentence

[@BigBoiPalpatine]

What is he meant to do when there's no images at all? Genuine question

[@TheCeekon]

@@BigBoiPalpatine Use fan constructions and the like? Maybe some stand ins? theres a lot of alternatives IMO

[@combativeThinker]

@@TheCeekon There really aren't.

[@combativeThinker]

@@SanguineDoe How is your relationship with your father?

[@jordanbrandon81]

As much as I love your work with telling the lore, I can't like this for 1 big reason. The use of AI generated content. Using AI images that don't even seem to look like what you're discussing. It really takes away from it and your creative spark. It looks janky and wrong and honestly lowers how talented you seem. I think you have great talent but please don't squander it using such images.

[@combativeThinker]

@@jordanbrandon81 It's fine. If you don't want him to use such images, get off your ass and draw some fan art, or make some MOCs of these characters that don't have any canon depictions.

[@crim-jim6814]

@@combativeThinkerBro why are you ragebaiting every comment

[@combativeThinker]

@crim-jim6814 Cause it's fun.

[@crim-jim6814]

@@combativeThinker Fair point lol

[@combativeThinker]

@crim-jim6814 Cheers m8 👍