The Bionicle That Could Have Been - Part 1

[@megatronVS]

This makes my heart hurt. The idea that somehow one of the bad guys was able to re-write the beginning of the story so that the original story was changed is really neat and I think it really plays into why Bionicle was popular to begin with; it was a mature story told in a way that kids could understand, interact with, and relate to; on top of the fantastic designs, obviously.

[@questforfuturecreativity]

Thank you so much for this comment. You are spot on. The story should never be simplified to make a quick sell. To tell a living story you have to live the story and move into the location. Then you make sure that the location is an amazing and adventurous place with many sparks of hope even in the darkest spots🤩🗿🤖❤️‍🔥🦾

[@megatronVS]

@@questforfuturecreativity Regardless of what ultimately happened; I'm really happy to have had many of these toys (across both generations) growing up and into my adulthood. Looking through your sketches, I can really see the pre-cursors to some of my favorite aesthetic pieces. Seriously cool stuff. I do have to wonder where the brand would have gone if it stuck with the name "BoneHeads of Voodoo Island" 😄

[@DrHippo]

My first animation job was on Bionicles commercials back in 2004 👴 Christian is hands down the best client I worked with, very creative and collaborative. Can't wait to see more of those drawings!

[@questforfuturecreativity]

Hey Dr. Hippo👏 would love to reconnect👍

[@thereservationatdorsia2618]

oh so you're responsible for making some of the most inspiring pieces of visual art that I've seen at such an early age, well nice to meet you ahahah You two getting back in business together would be first most badass thing to happen in 2023

[@Unkle_Genny]

Wow

[@The_AGL_Group]

Your idea for Generation 2 looks so fun; actually committing to having it be a “bad future” time travel plot should have made it into the final product. Glad that there was a plan at one point to actually elaborate on the Mask of Time plot point.

[@shortfuse9443]

Is there more details on this? It’s my first time hearing about it

[@questforfuturecreativity]

First time I have told it😉✏️🚀

[@MetruManStudio]

The idea of the Mask of Time being two different pieces that would connect together is very cool

[@BurnedByTheFurnace3]

The 3D printing guys need to get on this

[@timetoa2000]

This guy is actually so god damn creative it blows my mind. I’m so happy he never quit doing what he loves. Genuinely a role model. Living a wonderful life

[@questforfuturecreativity]

Thank you deeply. This community and the reactions are pure creative fuel. That is what we aim to develope on CPH Rig🤩✏️❤️‍🔥🚀

[@ids5621]

Much better ideas than the terribly executed actual G2, you're a genius

[@Wizards0nly]

Concept Art gives me life. 'Unused' Concept Art probably even moreso. That spark, the intangible idea of 'what could have been' is so enticing! So many paths to explore, but only one can be taken... 👏👏

[@THBlastcage]

Crazy to think that G2 almost went Terminator on us with time travel to create a similar but different timeline...shame that these ideas weren't used. If(when?) G3 happens, hopefully it could utilize at least some of these ideas...if not the time travel, at least the dinosaurs.

[@TheMcK777]

Seeing that Vahi melded back together with the remaining form is like the fulfillment of a dream. Knowing that the future a lot of fans wanted is actually there to be seen, and not just a dream that wouldn't happen due to corporate or to constraints. The fact that someone took the time to think it up, put it onto the page and not only preserve it but *cherish it* - that's worth so much more than I could put to words.

[@exowarlock9031]

I really dont understand how this didnt actually become the final plan for g2. Everything im seeing here is fantastic. I can imagine the comic page of a toa just finishing assembling itself and walking into the island with another panel from behind the back of a skeletony bad guy up on a cliff looking down at the toa disappearing into the jungle. That could be the first hint to the reader that something isnt right and this isnt just a retelling of the original story. Then the toa runs across the trapped matoran and it becomes clear just how bad the situation is this time. The concepts you made also seem to have a dark serious atmosphere that feels like bionicle instead of the bright, cheerful, and comedic feeling i got from the actual g2. As long as the sets were designed well this would have been amazing.

[@questforfuturecreativity]

You are so right and hinting that the new storyline is the same but different is so filled with possibilities. and the community has an advantage and a disadvantage at the same time. Sometimes bagage is a burden🤔⚖️⏱️❤️‍🔥🚀

[@bruh7103]

I never grew up with Bionicle as a child because when I was born the theme was near the end of it's run. However, now continuing into my teenage years I have discovered what Bionicle is, and ever bit of sets, story, world, and ideas that come with it. For the past few years, I've been going back and collecting a large amount of the sets, and I just wish it was around when I was younger. I would just like to say, thank you for helping create such deep and interesting world, one that has become my favorite setting in fiction, with so many layers and aspects I now enjoy today, even if I didn't original grow up with it in my youth.

[@kallazjopatsu6846]

That's what's called real enthusiasm to dig into history.

[@lechapeau4851]

Bionicle has such a rich lore. I miss the early 2000's

[@MarioAtheonio]

The community should start writing our own (better) storyline/canon for the botched 2015/16 waves, based on these concepts!

[@Bionickpunk]

Vitruvian Mata Nui is honestly one of the more iconic imagery you made. So glad it was used for the Mask of Life.

[@OSSOYT]

Thank you, Faber

[@GravityTrash]

I think 2015/16 were pretty great, but I think the Mask of Time being the center of conflict would've been really intriguing! Also the main bad guy riding a dinosaur would've been awesome!

[@lees_l822]

This is just pure joy for us. Imagine Bionicle retold but there is little bit of hint that something has changed. then when the reboot great spirit arrives at Sperus Magna, you see the remnants of the great spirit from G1 ending, and you know that the great being has sent several spirits throughout the universe. or "bad guy" use completed vahi to go back in time and creat universe that hero failed there duty

[@Jean-Paul-Lane-Valley]

I love how this pitch appealed to both older fans and new fans, with it serving an alternative universe/sequel plot but also as a reboot that retells the same old tale from the beginning with new tricks added.

[@darkraptor3628]

Awesome concepts. Too bad the time travel idea wasn't utilized at all in the final storyline. Even back in 2004 (Bionicle 2) I actually wanted to know, what Makuta Teridax would or could ultimately use the mask of time for. Maybe he would have created a world like the one shown in the sketches.

[@P8H5]

far out this is untold history. i can't imagine the thrill you must had when all of your sketches came to life on posters, dvds and books plus the toy models too.

[@questforfuturecreativity]

That is the most surreal experience. Creativity to me is pure happiness and it is an energy that grows the more you use❤️‍🔥✏️🤩🚀

[@thetimberwolf100]

Bionicle was a large portion of my childhood. Knowing this now blows my mind!

[@tobiasw7260]

It feels like you are the Chronicler, allowing us to take a look at your ancient records

[@Chefbigpp]

also that dinosaur poster looks absolutely amazing. Would've bought those sets 100% as a 16 year old, even 18.

[@Modularity]

Love diving into Bionicle's concept art! Exciting to see how G2 could've turned out- the key visual is really cool, I like how the plan was to incorporate the biomechanical dinosaurs, almost bridging the gap from G1 with Bota Magna :D

[@ToaDrakua]

He really wanted those robo dinosaurs it seems.

[@theeternal0114]

This is so sad that there were great ideas for G2, but at the end, we get simplified to the maximum reboot.

[@MatecaCorp]

That concept for the cyborg dinosaur type things would have been incredible

[@Esitaro3670]

In one alternative timeline, we could have seen this Bionicle history and the set could mosk likely been really cool, also that idea of a Bionicle canister on the beach? That would have been pretty cool!

[@pigglemin]

Wow. That art with the dinosaur is phenomenal.

[@xXx_Regulus_xXx]

thank you for sharing this with us, and kudos to LEGO for giving you the green light as well, most companies would be happy to never let this stuff see the light of day!

[@WakoDoodle]

I could see this time travel idea done again for a Gen 3 but with a twist. Each alternative timeline is a representation of the virtues: Unity, Duty and Destiny. Gen 1 being about unity to fight makuta Gen 2 being about the duty of a toa (despite its short run) and Gen 3 being about the Destiny of the future of Bionicle as a whole. Not just for the fanbase but a series that draws from all bionicle lore and media. (Think of a story that draws from gen 1 and 2 being alternative realities that are called upon at the end for the big final battle. Gen 3 being a fandom's dream.)

[@-Aniki-]

You made my childhood, literally, damn legend. Normal LEGO was cool and all, but i thought it was boring as hell, and Bionicle was just way too sick, especially because of the universe, the games were actually good, and the movies (the first two at least) were fucking amazing for me when i was a kid.

[@CorvusCorps]

So glad now as an adult I can enjoy Bionicle again in a different way. I kinda forgot about it until I went to Legoland the other day. Tons of old memories. I hope they bring em back!

[@RauMins]

Really makes me wish that Bionicles had stayed around for longer, there is so much potential in all these sketches for interesting and new bionicles, but they also feel classic and familiar. Thank you so much for sharing, and for producing something that defined a big part of my childhood. I still remember my family eating pizza at the table while I was building Lewa Nuva. Good times ♥

[@Diamond4403]

The word creativity and inspiration is very strong and important for me. My dream is to write a fantasy lore and Bionicle is part of that inspiration.

[@ThatTarkur]

Man we were robbed, this would have been awesome for G2

[@polaris_draws]

As someone who mostly got into Bionicle with G2, and still has a fondness for it despite it's several flaws and the rush that was that last year, it's so cool to see what it could've been. The time travel is a really out there angle but I think it could really work. It's like watching a movie where you've read the book first; things are just familiar enough to make where things are different even more jarring, and in this context that's absolutely a compliment.

[@benscott8042]

That was incredible! I never thought G2 would've looked like that before how we know it as of today! Maybe someday, The Legend of the Bionicle will be told once more, this time perhaps based on you're initial 2015 sketches Christian. And that, is an Encouraging Thought!

[@nickmedadd]

I once made robot with the Hero Factory stuff At Lego World here in Denmark years back, I noticed a kid was wanting it

[@denisfomin6690]

Is there a way for you to contact LEGO and do something so they release Bionicle G3? :) These concepts look SOOOO great. I think if the bionicle would be re - announced today based on the original story / plot for G2, it would 100% bring back the glory days of the bionicle. Even today fans (old and new) would love to see those concepts become an actual product. People who grew with the bionicle would buy all the sets for sure. And new fans would finally understand how we felt as kids growing up. Anyways, thank you so much for the childhood, Christian! Bionicle definitely made my childhood much better and brighter. I have so many memories associated with these toys and all that because of you and your bright ideas.

[@RaptorofRex07]

I loved Bionicle even to this day. It has been very influential to my creativity especially when it comes to writing. Thank you for still keeping it alive even if it’s not on toyselves

[@koolssi]

Ahh... This is too good to be just scrapped. I would've loved to see this come to life. I hope somehow some of this can become something in the future. Always pleasure hearing you talk about Bionicle, Christian.

[@SkullyBud]

So much of this could have worked EXCELLENTLY to be a soft reboot and still connect it with the original story. Expanding on the mask of time was something I always wanted anyways so this is perfect. I feel like with some good changes this could still be made today. Let’s do it! ❤

[@flamekaizer8476]

It really stings seeing how close to the original G2 was meant to be. I feel like if we got this more people would have been interested. The sets we got were beyond phenomenal, but the story just wasn't there. Bionicle really struggled without people like you behind the wheel. Your creativity hasn't been matched since and I'm glad you still have a passion for a series that has touched so many but seemed to keep being neglected.

[@SpiritDomain1144]

please give us more info on story in 2015, the transition to 2016 and plans for 2017 that were cancelled! we live on this stuff!

[@questforfuturecreativity]

Will do asap👍

[@DarthLego46]

On one hand, time travel can get really messy really quickly, but on the other, I would have loved to have revisited some classic moments. Thanks for sharing these.

[@LeoxandarMagnus]

The creativity in these is always astounding. I hope we get another look soon.

[@Joshua-dd8fx]

Bionicle was a massive part of my childhood, I remember getting a few for Christmas back when I was very very young and later fell back in love with them when I was 7-8 years old when I was searching the internet and found the movies on KZbin! I started collecting the toys again and I wish I’d kept them! Thank you for creating so much joy in my life I cannot thank you enough for all the memories ❤

[@ontos8914]

Maybe one day Lego can have another crack at bringing back Bionicle, bring back some of the unused ideas

[@rustyrobots426]

One thing I really loved about bionicle is that despite it being massively popular, it still felt like it was personal to me as a kid, like it was "my thing". and to have all this world building (which I didn't fully understand or appreciate at the time) to look back on now is just mind-blowing. it was a truly unique thing.

[@ils4844]

Huh, guess I chose a good time to look back into bionicle.

[@RedstoNeman0]

12:20: it's funny that dinosaurs were cancelled not one time, but two times in the serie... maybe one day we'll get jurassic-bonk running xD

[@RealEroSennin]

Bring Bionicle back already!! It’s dumbfounding to me that there are so many people out there that have been wanting Bionicle back for so long, who literally have dreams at night about being in a store with the opportunity to buy them, and they still haven’t came back. LEGO YOU LITERALLY HAVE PEOPLE DREAMING ABOUT BUYING THEM. Who else has that? NO ONE. Cut the crap and bring it back NOW

[@PlasticToa]

some of the more "chaotic" pages remind me a bit of the things I used to doodle back when I was younger, hopefully one day I'll be able to recapture that creativity. Inspiring stuff!

[@j_4_k_33]

I have so much to say about this, and I love this so much. The drawing with the box for the Toa, now that I saw that protodermis case for the mask of time, now it kinda makes sense for why their boxes looked like that. The art with the cyborg dino, and the one with the caged Matoran could've worked as kind of using the serial stories and "continue"/"finish" them in g2, like in this an alternate universe those events could've happened earlier, especially since time travel is used. That idea for the time traveling Toa, and the idea of masks being remains of past heroes reminds me of the silver Toa from the heroes games, where this Toa whenever found a new mask, he basically took the identity of that mask's og wearer. Also, there was that concept art with the evolution of the Toa, and the Bohrok.Well, what that was suggested is that Matoran were created from Kanohi, and that whole evolution chart has the exact shape of this "time vortex"(well it goes 2 ways but yeah) that Faber drawn here, so you know, so much to think about..... About the mask of ultimate power, at first, I was like "why would the Avohkii be the mask of ultimate power", but then I, again remembered the games, and well, in the 03 game, Takanuva had the elemenths of all 6 Toa. Making Hero Factory part of Bionicle is also a big thing, but I already had it my headcanon as sort of an alternate universe, and if you guys think about it, the heroes are basically Vahki, that work like Toa, and the og concept for Toa was that they supposed to be what the Vahki endee up being, so yeah. Another thing: remember Tridax, he traveled across different universes to kidnap Takanuva from everywhere, also Vezon had the Olmak fused on his face, and the great beings can reach beings in alternate universes, or at least the cursed one was capable of that, so maybe Velika, or the cursed great being could be a villain who could've made this story happen, Velika of corse would be the logical choice, especially since he was the one who wasn't happy how things turned out.This story could've been a story similar to like Mortal Kombat 11(but waaay better). I'd be interested to know those musics that were inspiration for Bionicle music, I hope we get to know them as well :D .

[@questforfuturecreativity]

Thanks for all these great thoughts. We will do a video with Mikkel and Cryoshell about the music of Bionicle🤩👍❤️‍🔥🚀

[@j_4_k_33]

@@questforfuturecreativity Ok, thank you.

[@liberty-theonewhoalwayschanges]

EVERYONE, LET'S START MAKING MOCS ABOUT EVERYTHING WE SEEN

[@exowarlock9031]

Thats what im saying. We need dinosaurs, cages, the bad guy with a 3d printed vahi compatible mask, that canister flying board. CMON PEOPLE GET ON IT!

[@SupBro-ww9go]

You deserved more influence, bionicle g1 WAS my childhood. I am livid for you Lego disregarded it, but man, your art is amazing as are the stories! P.S. the influence for the original concept that inspired the toa and the great spirit is a moving story and I'm so glad you're doing well

[@EinfachNoah]

ooh very exciting!

[@heroranuva8295]

This is so phenomenally interesting to see I love looking at concepts and sketches, its so cool to see the process! It looks like the direction you were looking at going was actually a good bit darker than what ended up happening with the 2015 Generation 2, and honestly I think that would've been really interesting. Somewhat similar to Voya Nui in how the Matoran were already desperate/ enslaved, but going even further with it being the start of this reboot. And the idea of G2 being they go back in time to the beginning of G1 but everything is off is honestly a really fascinating take, it makes it familiar yet very different, the old fans know how it went at first but not what's going to happen next. Really kinda meta in that format kind of explores the nature of a reboot in the very story itself. Loved this, loved that you got approval to show and I can't wait to see what's next! This alone has given me a ton to work with, as I love making theories and fanfiction ideas, and there is so much of the creative process to analyze here. Really puts what we got with G2 into perspective

[@capybaraenjoyer1866]

Amazing!

[@tetsmon]

the Avohkii-Island shot feels almost like a mandela effect, like something that you could be convinced was part of the original Mask of Light marketing matrial

[@Patrick-dogmove]

Would love to see Bionicle come back. In 2015, I didn't have any money but I was too old to ask for toys. I have disposable income now

[@bruhfeld9600]

Really fascinating idea for G2! Reminds me of Back To The Future Part II with Makuta using the Vahi to go back in time and change the past. Would've been a clever way to reset the lore a bit but maintain the core ideas of the original Bionicle story for a new generation

[@Taohe_Netrus]

I'm glad that you told us about it, I was always curious about what it could have become if not definitelly too sudden cancellation of those series. Especially after seing all those amazing arts that appeared in The Art of BIONICLE artbook which was a proof that there was many unique ideas to be used

[@lukestarkiller1470]

I’m very glad Lego has given you permission to show these, it’s very cool to see the design process and what could have been. I especially like the two part mask of time concept

[@ElectricGeckos]

I am loving this artwork and concepts! The thing I really loved about bionicle was getting the comics in the Lego Magazines and then hoping I could get my hands on the new sets to tell my own stories with my brother.

[@BigLadStudios]

This resonates far more with me personally just seeing that concept art of the same beach, but with more industrial like settings in the background. It provides us the same mystery of the original Bionicle, where you're looking at the island and thinking "What is this?" except now like you said we'd see this new Mata Nui unlike everything we've known and think "What happened here?" and I don't think new fans would have a hard time thinking that either. It just kinda sucks to see all of these ideas were kind of used, but watered down to the point that they really had nothing to say except treading old ground. Even stuff like the Mask of Time was changed to Mask of Ultimate Power, which could mean anything in the grand scheme of things.

[@Makutros]

Literally time-traveling back to the days of Mata Nui would have been so awesome. I got into Bionicle around 2008, just shortly before the island was no more. This could have been the chance to actually see the legend unfold.

[@Lambdaleth]

So awesome. That concept of combining two cannisters to make a glider is such a good idea, and would have been a way to still use plastic packaging without it being wasteful. I would have loved to see how people would have used such cool, enormous pieces in MOCs too. Excited to see more from your archives.

[@TheLegoMasterMan100]

It's unfortunate that more of these ideas weren't used for G2 Bionicle. It was a tragedy that the modern fate of being corporately sanitized befell it. Rather than letting you guys tell a great story again, they had to "dumb it down" for kids. I remember when I found Bionicle in 2008 when I was 9 and tore through all the lore because I had become so engaged with the world. But instead for 2015 they didn't let you guys create another breathing world, just a basic facsimile. I'm really looking forward to Rebel Nature, I'm looking forward to seeing an actual story be told, rather than just seeing the deluge of companies that continue to bank on old Intellectual properties without respecting the hard work and effort that made them great to begin with. I really appreciate you showing and inspiring us Mr. Faber, please know you and the other creatives and people that made Bionicle and everything else want it was, your dedication is ever appreciated.

[@stephanberkhoff2861]

I hope more prototypes come out please

[@phillipeulee4441]

Now that i'm a grown up, i still want bionicle tattoos. Just real ones!

[@patrickpalen931]

Thank you so much for posting this! And thank you for sharing all your experiences with us. I was born in 1996 and Bionicle was a huge part of my childhood, alongside Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Spider-Man. You helped contribute a passion for story-telling that continues to this day for me, as I try to write adventure sci-fi: Bionicle is a huge reason for why I want to spread the joy of fiction and adventure stories of Good vs Evil. Thank you so much!

[@bioniclenuvapedia]

C'est incroyable à quel point on se rend compte que la G2 a repris nombre d'éléments conceptuels de Faber, dans les Araignées squelettes jusqu'au packaging, en passant par le clin d'œil au Masque du temps dans la websérie animée au début... Pour, au final, en faire quelques chose d'aussi naze que ce qu'on a eu, comparativement. Alors que l'idée de scénario de soft reboot de Faber (hard dans les enjeux, néanmoins) était excellente.

[@bioshock3d-]

I've never seen the Bionicle tattoos! So cool

[@evantudno-jones3886]

Love the jazz monsters 🖤

[@wrondralmoule]

woaw... you made my childhood so perfect, thank you so much

[@kasharnrao5110]

This is great! I would love to learn more about how these concepts ended up developing into what was released in 2015, what worked, what didn’t work, what themes did you want to resurrect, what new themes you wanted to introduce, etc

[@laing4045]

I loved this, Im happy you still have so much interest in this series. I hope to see more someday. Bionicle was my top favourite all time series growing up I collected every set I could find. I miss it to this day, seeing this made me happy, I sincerely thank you

[@chuckschwa]

Great stuff here, thanks for sharing! I think the ideas of the Mask of Time and time travel has the potential for a great theatrical Bionicle experience

[@Fealinrin]

Woow! Mate, that's something! It could have been really precious continuation of our beloved story.

[@bossaiednac94]

As a Bionicle fan… I love this story this legend Also keep making movies… the last I’ve watching was the Mata Nui the mask of life the legend reborn… Toas Kopaka Tahu Pohatu Lewa Gali Onua

[@RealMctoran]

I would love in the future if you could perhaps get permission from Lego to share your unused concepts for Hero Factory. I always wanted to know who that mysterious villain in Breakout and Brain Attack was…

[@MenacingThreat]

This actually makes me so sad. Seeing all the thought and talent that went into the planning (and those rendered concepts, especially the one with Tahu reaching for his mask!🤩) and then comparing it to what we got… ah! What could have been…

[@arkanzock4082]

Awesome! U made my childhood ❤ Thank you From Yakutia

[@camyblank]

I'm honestly not the biggest fan of introducing time travel. Other than that, this is great! Sounds a lot better to me than the stuff we actually got. Especially the 2 pieces of nearly finished artwork at 10:42 and 11:42 made me excited... And also a bit bittersweet, knowing that we didn't get and will never get an awesome reboot like this.

[@rustyrobots426]

Thankyou, Chris, for the toy line that was a huge part of my childhood

[@RetroActionUK]

The key visual is fantastic! I love it: real Toa Canister drifting ashore! What an event that would be. These concepts for G2 are incredible.

[@BaffledBuffoon]

Thanks for helping to give my childhood some great memories to hang onto, the world of Bionicle got me through some rough times

[@tacticianmatt3791]

This makes me so sad! It sounds like LEGO did to Bionicle what Disney did to Star Wars when it comes to story for G2... This could have been such an amazing second release of Bionicle!

[@phynally_]

That's such a clever way to tie in both story generations-an altered past...and uncertain future. Thank you for sharing this incredible work!

[@iscream4761]

Ohh what could've been Thank you so much for showing these gems to us ❤️

[@BasementDweller_]

Dang this would have made the reboot so much more interesting if it followed through.

[@angeljdelgado8811]

Love it!!!! Thanks for sharing this amazing possibility of Bionicle with us!!!

[@30blu3]

the skateboard sketch lol so awesome

[@Jlavi25]

This stuff is super interesting. I'd love to hear about the process some more, as well as with the original run too!

[@johnmcclelland3678]

This needs to be G3!!!!!

[@DailyDaze]

Looks absolutely insane, loved it, loved the promotional idea and the poster at the end had great aesthetics. Thanks for sharing it with us!

[@aPonderousChain]

Amazing! Thank you for everything you've done for the Bionicle fans over the years, Christian.

[@Mate397]

Welp, time to get my hands on Brutaka's mask and hop to an alternate reality where this version of G2 exists.

[@jayc6894]

i like how the avohkii was such a prominent callback design, man g2 could have been much better