The Barraki were Anti-Toa | BIONICLE Deep Dive

The Barraki were terrifying and evil villains, and thematically opposed the very essence of the Toa. So here we take a look at how the Barraki subverted the tropes associated with the Toa of their respective elements. This video was inspired by comments on an earlier one, where I do a similar breakdown of how the Piraka were each the opposites of the Toa of their elements.
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Clips and images sourced from BioMediaProject.com

[@MatiNuva1724]

I see my favorite villains, I click. I never thought of the Barraki as Anti-Toa, but I find it interesting how only Pridak and Kalmah have "reversed perdonalities" from the 6 Leaders

[@heroranuva8295]

Yeah its really interesting. I remember as a kid sometimes wondering if Pridak was actually meant to be the "fire" one considering their reversed personalities

[@MonsterHunterxRWBY]

@@heroranuva8295 A drawing by Brian Ellis, the guy who designed Pridak, confirms that is in fact blood on him.

[@aedaniammx7559]

I never was able to get into 2007, it’s just been constantly evading my attention somehow, so thanks for bringing these guys more focus and interest for me!

[@heroranuva8295]

2007 was an interesting year! Definitely very different, but honestly full of a lot of gems!

[@TyrannoNoddy]

Even as a kid the Pridak/Kalmah inversions were pretty clear to me, it's cool to see it being pointed out. Though funnily enough, my first thought seeing this video was basically what you said about Takadox - while water toa tend to usually be peacemakers and encourage unity, Takadox just hypnotises people to make them do what he wants.

[@heroranuva8295]

Yeah, its really interesting how each of them played with their elemental themes in different ways! I'm honestly not sure if it was completely intentional, but nonetheless a really cool thematic through line

[@conorandkanohi]

I think its also worth noting that the "air stand-in" is the only one that couldnt breathe air before being mutated

[@heroranuva8295]

Very true! Especially since usually air-elementals hated being in water, but Ehlek was only comfortable when in water

[@TheHeartlessHero]

I had almost all of the later sets, but i was a dumb a$$ kid, and none of them survived... I still have them and could rebuild them, but god knows what happened to the missing parts in my house... The regret is SO strong right now...

[@roryrdmb6667]

Another inversion is that Ehlek, the green Barraki, was already aquatic before his mutation, compared to most Toa of air which hate the water, as it makes their powers ineffective while submerged

[@heroranuva8295]

Ooo yeah that’s a good point! He’s only comfortable in water while they’re completely uncomfortable in water!

[@Bluesharky38]

This is so cool! I love how much thought is put into this and each of the Barraki :)

[@heroranuva8295]

Thanks! :)

[@Mike-mf3ed]

I support this theory because I can’t come up with a better one…

[@JR-tq6dg]

I had all of these, piraka, phantoka, baraki, toa mahi, warriors, inika my childhood 🥲

[@gmkgoji4282]

Real good video, gave me more insight into the Barraki. Who’s your favorite? Mine personally is probably Pridak.

[@heroranuva8295]

Thanks! Honestly, I also think Pridak is great, and also Carapar.

[@SupBro-ww9go]

Can you do one on the order of mata nui and fanaticism of self righteousness

[@heroranuva8295]

I definitely plan on doing one on the morality of the Order of Mata Nui, they’re very interesting. They were very self-righteous and fanatical, but also the narrative treated them as if they weren’t completely wrong. They considered themselves a necessary evil, and the story does seem to agree that at least some of their actions, while horrifying, did benefit the MU, so it’ll be interesting to examine that

[@SupBro-ww9go]

@@heroranuva8295 definitely a needed evil, but a risky occupation (they had hired a sadist with schizophrenia and bpd with vezon who was expendable, and an emotionally and mentally compromised makuta in Miserix who views everyone as collateral so he can get to Teridax)

[@snaald8552]

Very cool, but what about Nocturn?

[@TheIntratec9]

Makuta as Anti Toa: Antroz - Cold blooded, serious leader with destructive offense powers and strategic mind. Also somewhat honorable, but not stubborn and pig headed Vamprah: Sadistic, hyper focused killer that drains foes unlike compassionate Gali Chirox: Skinny, scientific, and has sneaky powers to remove a person's senses instead of physical strength Krika: Pragmatic, somewhat agreeable w Antroz, and repels physics. Kopaka doesn't need to prove his heroism, and Krika is envious of it Gorast: Disgustingly fanatical and unfettered in her mission and never takes breaks, unlike the easy going Lewa Bitil: Betrayer and lone wolf that seeks other opportunities unlike kind and loyal Pohatu Icarax: Shadowy leader that has an straightforward aggressive streak unlike the brave creative and kind Takanuva

[@heroranuva8295]

Ooo this is a very interesting take, it works especially well for Vamprah, Bitil, and Gorast!

[@ДанилВолчонок]

Actually, it can work like they are evil inika/mahri a talking about chareters/colors

[@empatheticrambo4890]

This is why I loved the Piraka and Barraki - they were such dangerous and powerful villians

[@heroranuva8295]

Oh yeah they were really cool!

[@jamesmcrae9360]

Looks like someone was inspired by a little comment I made on the Piraka Were Anti-Toa video. Glad to see those ideas expanded upon in a video. Great analysis and observations as per usual, Herora, and eloquently explained too. Your channel is a hidden gem on BIONICLE youtube and I hope you continue to make more videos and get more subscribers, you deserve every one. Look forward to whatever content you choose to provide for your viewers in the future.

[@heroranuva8295]

Thank you

[@LordVanOskuro]

So what I've never understood is why all the Barraki and Piraka were male. Vezok being called the Beast would have even made more sense given females of their species were considered more violent. As for the Barraki, at least one should have been female. Or maybe all of them but the blue one female, especially since many female sea creatures are bigger than males.

[@heroranuva8295]

Yeah, honestly I'm not sure either. There may have just been some feeling to make all the bad guys dudes, but idk, I would've liked it if at least some were female, I remember being kinda surprised Vezok was a man

[@fritzmocs5024]

Deep dived too deep into the creeps of the deep

[@heroranuva8295]

Creeps from the Deep gon be freakin up your mind

[@baronmachiavhell8677]

Aaah, thanks. I think these villains are underrated and I'm so glad to see a video about them. My sea mutants bois deserve some love!

[@heroranuva8295]

Yeah they're really cool! Honestly wish we had more time with them, to maybe see them developed as characters more

[@Arcanist_The]

Yeah, people usually praise the sets/designs, but when it comes to the characters they don't get that much praise (save for Takadox who is decently liked from what I seen) and many people dislike them or at least find them mediocre and somewhat forgettable. Which is a shame because I do find the Barraki both to be menancing as villains and decently cool and/or interesting as characters (even if I don't care for Mantax and Kalmah as much compared to the other four). That said I understand this as most of the Barraki (save for Ehlek and Mantax(kinda)) fall under the mold Greg wrote his villains, which is probably one of the two main reasons they aren't that memorable to most of the fandom (the other being them essentially being Piraka but without the charm and dark humor that made Piraka such beloved fan-favorites)

[@Pridam]

Fun fact: Each of the Barraki's species can wear and use Kanohi, but the Barraki themselves choose not to do so, as they view such a thing as a crutch and weakness, and thus they greatly look down upon those do need to wear and use Kanohi such as Toa and Matoran

[@NebLleb]

YO YO, BARRAKI [sorry, sorry, can't resist]

[@heroranuva8295]

LMAO! Warlords on the loose, nothing you can do

[@sagittariusneptune9330]

I wonder if Nocturn was to Takanuva A mask motivating their journey Takua into Toa of Light, and Nocturn being asked to hold the mask of life.

[@heroranuva8295]

Hm, that's an interesting thought. Though, honestly beyond that I'm not sure what other parallels there are. Sometimes I wonder if Nocturn was originally meant to be a combiner model, since his set has parts from almost every Barraki, but then they just decided to make him unique

[@sagittariusneptune9330]

@@heroranuva8295 Takanuva brought Jaller back to life(Fused with Teridax), Nocturn had a death touch could that be a connection. Both glowed Takanuva being personification of light, and Nocturn bioluminescence pieces in the toy set.

[@tranqle73]

They’re also misfits exiled from their homes

[@ThomasMurphyCosplay]

Can you do The 2008 Brotherhood of Makuta please 😊

[@BigB14]

Warlords from a bygone age who tried to overthrow Mata Nui before even Teridax got it in his head was a cool concept. Kinda wish they had been successful in restoring their original forms. They could have been a rogue element in the later story.

[@heroranuva8295]

The Barraki were such a cool addition to the lore, they could've just been weird sea monsters, but as usual Bionicle goes above and beyond with the lore and makes them deeply intertwined with the cosmos and its great. They add so much history

[@cavemancult1999]

Honestly I never thought about the Barraki as Anti-Toa although where'd you go to read up about them? They as well as the Giants era (Axonn, Brutaka and Vezon/Fenrakk) were my two fave eras although they were always quite mysterious compared to the Inika for example. Very well made video though

[@heroranuva8295]

Most of the characterization I talk about comes from the books! And yeah, they were really cool!

[@cavemancult1999]

​@@heroranuva8295Which book focuses on the Barraki? Also what are the books called?

[@heroranuva8295]

@@cavemancult1999 They feature heavily in Bionicle Legends #6-8. That’s City of the Lost, Prisoners of the Pit, and Downfall. Almost all of the Bionicle books can be found on BioMediaProject.com

[@jdpragmatic8644]

So would Nocturn be to the Barraki what Takanuva is to the Toa?

[@heroranuva8295]

Huh, interesting way to put it, and in a way kinda yeah.

[@jdpragmatic8644]

@@heroranuva8295 do elaborate, I’m all ears

[@alexrangel1123]

I love the Barraki and their counter parts

[@heroranuva8295]

They're really cool!

[@ggtwinbee8506]

Will you ever do a video about the red star?

[@heroranuva8295]

Well I've already done one video about the Red Star, and how I believe that it may be connected to the Pit. It's probable I might do another video talking about it somewhere down the line

[@ggtwinbee8506]

@@heroranuva8295 I think it's some sort of ship tbh

[@heroranuva8295]

@@ggtwinbee8506 Yeah, one of its many functions is as a booster rocket for the Great Spirit Robot

[@ДанилВолчонок]

A Great video, actually if Piraka evil mirrors of mata/nuva Barraki it's evil version of Hordika in same similar context and overall mutations theme from glorious warrior's into an animals : Matau who suffered after transformation and ehlek who actually Dont care about it. Or Onewa and his power of mind control and notorious Carapar. But most importantly its like said inversion of White and red: Nuju was in "introvert" and after their adventures started talking like a bird and Calmah who work with his squids. Or even Nokama, who do everything what in her power's too keeping team together and Takadox 😅

[@lordgzstg6181]

I think this was a running theme of lego. As weren't the Rakshi also made to be the opposite of the Toa Nuva?

[@heroranuva8295]

Oh yeah, very true! I actually go over that in my most recent video, because the Rahkshi were meant to be the "enemies" of the Six Principles, an additional set of virtues each village developed in addition to the main 3 they all followed. Like for example, Ta-Koro had the Principle of Courage, so the red Rahkshi had the power of Fear!

[@Nothin-n]

Pridaks ketchup is actually war markings

[@reptilitronousprime9213]

I remember getting Takadox as a kid, but I never built him.

[@MrSkeleton14]

Literal crime

[@parkwoojin1875]

Mantax is a top 5 character for me

[@heroranuva8295]

Mantax is great!

[@Bake-kurijra]

Can you do the rakshi ?