Unfinished BIONICLE Fan Animation -- Kopeke meets Midak

I felt sad I couldn't contribute to this year's Bionicel Day celebration. But I had nothing new to show. Then I remembered I had something older lying around.
This is a remnant of an old animation made between mid 2014 and early 2015. I've shared test clips and character models from it before but nothing complete. This beginning scene is all that was ever finished. It's Kopeke visiting the village Onu-Koro and meeting Midak. An unexpected adventure awaited Kopeke... but that part was never made.
The video would have taken place during the 2003 Bohrok-Kal arc. The art style is based loosely on the Creative Capers Bionicle animated films, as this was made before I switched to a more rigorously toy-inspired style for my later Bionicle animations.
I cleaned up the old animation a little bit, but you can still see it's rather awkward at points, especially the walk cycles. I also forgot what the characters were saying because I never wrote the dialogue down, so I tried my best to write appropriate subtitles for them based on what I could recall. I think I mostly got them right, even if they don't always match the mouth light movements behind their masks.
Much of this scene plays out very slowly and some parts are fairly redundant and unnecessary. I'd have trimmed a lot of it if had ever finished it.
As for why this project didn't go any further, it's because my old computer died in 2014, just after I had made • BIONICLE Fan Film - St... Up until 2019, I cycled through about 3-4 other busted, barely functional hand-me-down PCs from the early 2000s, none of which were good for animation. As they had trouble handing scenes with more than a couple characters, I just gave up in frustration. But trust me, the rest of the animation would have been pretty nice to see as well! At least I liked how it went down in my head.
I hope you like this little bit of it. Happy belated Bionicle Day to all the people who still care for this misfortunate franchise and its dilapidated fanbase.

[@Nu_Gundam78]

How you manage to make their movements goofy yet believably lifelike is always amazing to me.

[@user-pt2ey6cg1l]

???

[@WelshGiraffa]

The Miru having a lighting effect like the Turaga and Matoran mask mouths makes so much sense for a mask that shows so much of the “Face”

[@dracobellator1164]

this is "unfinished"? dude this is fantastic the only thing missing is voice overs. this really feels like a scene from a movie.

[@liammeech3702]

Considering how big the Bonkle community is now, would probably take no time to give these characters voices, hell - just use the AI voices even!

[@christopherrapczynski204]

I prefer voiceless frankly

[@liammeech3702]

@christopherrapczynski204 yeah, silence can be better than fan-dubs, when u said about VA - it was under the assumption they could act their way out of a paper bag.

[@youngman850]

I miss your Bionicle animations. They've always been something special.

[@Plokman040]

Indeed, I know who to commission if I ever want to see my Clockwork Knight Tock animated.

[@liammeech3702]

​@@Plokman040man, we need the ignition trilogy.

[@Plokman040]

@@liammeech3702 We need what it takes to be heroes, to move along and to find the best heroes yet made in ABS plastic!

[@SpaceWafflerYT]

"Wake Up Vrahno Uploaded New Video"

[@DYXAnims69]

E

[@0H00C]

I woke up

[@stavkous4963]

yea

[@crossyfirezx9659]

Yes dear

[@justindelrosario7423]

Now This Video Reminds Me Of Dino Safari

[@buzzkilla5640]

Maaaaan! Every time I watch this man’s animation, it’s like watching those old BIONICLE movies all over again. I love it❤

[@andrewskey3379]

It’s impressive how much life you can instill into characters who could only move 5 parts of their body as figurines without seeming unnatural.

[@Katsuhono]

You are still unmatched after all these years, I love the personnality, the staging, the camera work. I could have easily watched a full shoet or movie with this quality. Glad we got to see this !

[@ZimtikiBar]

Such expressive animation without ruining and stretching the Kanohi like the movies did. And I LOVE the diminished design. I can not wait for the next Bionicle animation.

[@syweb2]

The Kanohi look pretty stretchy in this animation. The guy with the Pakari has a mouth that seems to glide all over his face, and the Miru expands quite a bit when yawning.

[@redips8947]

The story may be finished, but the legend is eternal.

[@BobEe5363]

I dont believe it another Bionicle animation The bionicle community is blessed

[@toavolans5985]

Thanks for sharing, Vrahno! I'm always happy to see a BIONICLE animation from you!

[@87583]

I love your bionicle stuff! Please, make more! It is truly helping keep the community alive!

[@toafellha8130]

Well there's always next year, though any bionicle animation never arrives late, nor early but is always welcomed by the bonkle heads. *I really like the mouth on your Miru.

[@superzilla784]

As much as I love Bionicle, I'm more interested in the story, world and characters than the toys. don't get me wrong, I still have my old Bionicle toys and I keep them on my shelves along side figurines of my favorite video games and animes. but the set up to Bionicle is what really brings me in. A giant robot charting the universe crash lands on an alien planet and those inside of it are ejected onto the planet's surface where they must fight and survive against the local wildlife and the ancient evil Makuta while using elemental superpowers as Move Along plays in the background. this sounds like the writing teams behind Transformers, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Samurai Jack all got together and decided to mush their shows together into one. robot aliens with elemental powers on a distant planet fighting an evil entity. If Bionicle ever comes back someday, I would love to see a full TV show. I know there was already like 2, but they were too short for me. I really feel Bionicle can prosper beyond a toy series.

[@therepublicofwozmania]

Who else is genuinely surprised at least an independent studio hasn’t come to Vrahno with an offer to be one of their animators?

[@davidwhatsthatabout7404]

I LOVE how you animated the Kanohi Miru! I’ve always wondered what it would look like if it was animated like the miramax films. Please do the Akaku next!

[@Mothbean]

The way you animated Midak mixed with with his personality really remids me of Fender from Robots.

[@vintage4wdrive606]

I hope you make more Bionicle projects, especially in the Creative Capers design language. It just feels right to see Bionicles animated that way.

[@nemokrad2650]

God, I love how well you always manage to translate bionicles into your own art style for them. It's such a good match for the original movies!

[@ids5621]

Fantastic work. Love how the angles, lighting and framing is so dynamic and cinematic even by your standards. Maybe unintentional the cut there, but a really funny joke to end on

[@EvaMark757]

The Bionicle fandom has to resurface!

[@Korohpu]

We always love seeing new BIONICLE content from you! 💜

[@purplehaze2358]

I will not rest until Vrahno makes an entire Bionicle movie.

[@toavaxxok]

How long do you think you can go without rest?

[@thevenomspino]

Man we remember the old videos of the different rigs and animation for this. It's unfortunate it was never complete but it good to see it finally in action. Question, you ever thought of reanimating it in your new animation style?

[@Vrahno]

If I ever returned to this animation, I'd continue where I left off in the same style. I already made almost all the assets for it, I just haven't got any spare time now finish the rest. Which is a shame, as I modeled loads more Matoran, Nuhvok-Kal, a Nuhvok Va, Whenua, Onua and Gali, and some Rahi, even Thali-Whali, plus others. But they've remained mostly unused since 2015.

[@thevenomspino]

@@Vrahno We remember the Nuhvok Kal and Va models. They were excellent to see in motion. Especially with the Va drill head

[@matteomascaropennacchi2220]

I love their meeting and I love Bionicle and kaijus animations❤

[@nolanschotanus2769]

Very surprised to see the full video after only seeing the yawning animation years ago

[@diegodankquixote-wry3242]

Your godzilla videos are legendary but your bionicle videos are always the bomb.

[@Iocustkingofdecayingcorpse]

I love how you make their kanohis apart of their face muscle like in the films, and idc what others think i'll always view the kanohi has a skin layer / mask, then just a mask with powers.

[@nowy9698]

I am so happy to see another Bionicle animation from you after all this time! You are so good at this, you could make Bionicle movies that cover everything the official ones didn't and it'd be a lot better than what anyone officially working under LEGO could have done, I'm serious!

[@Blockistium]

YOOOOOOO NEW VRANHO BIONICLE UPLOAD CAN THIS DAY GET ANY BETTER

[@alexallen9640]

It's always nice to see your animations 🙂👍

[@DarthRelkew]

Dude I love Bionicle! I love how you animated The Kanohi Miru!

[@blubberfeet5430]

YOOOO VRAHNO AAAANNNNDDDDD BIONICLE!?!?!! YES

[@edwardmanning4737]

This is amazing. I love your bionicle animations as well as godzilla. I hope one day they rekindle this classic the way you do. Still hope there's more to this movie.

[@romankhamov6229]

Incredible. If only the movies had this art style. You make it much more like the MNOG and toys.

[@robquin1525]

This brought back memories of when I was renting Bionicle 2 and 3 from my local Blockbuster when I was a small child. And collecting the toys of course.😂

[@Leonf123]

Vrahno just make a whole docuseries and some films man we needddd

[@liammeech3702]

Wow. Amazing. Also I find it funny that Midak chews straw like a farmer (Even though he's underground)

[@RHR199X]

Every Vrahno upload is a landmark historical event

[@MicronOnline]

Dont forget to read the description for the most unique description of Bionicle and its fanbase

[@Matoro0902_The_Wise]

Ah, a long forgotten video😃

[@estelagarcia4861]

We all wait for a new bionicle video and fanally are here

[@Trimondius]

Straws are hard to grow underground.-Midak

[@manospondylus4896]

This legit looks like something that would have aired on TV back in the day

[@dimaharbacki6628]

This video truly is a gorgeous piece of art. Thank you for all the hard work and dedication.

[@pbjam9355]

Very interesting animation, kinda takes me back to the early 2000s Darn you father time and aging!

[@XKlTAGAWA]

babe wake up my favorite KZbinr posted another video

[@gavinkailey527]

YAY, MORE BIONICLE FROM YOU, im so excited, I hope you make more Bionicle short films and animations in the future cause they're awesome.

[@korkad_]

Even now I feel obsessed with the original matoran design. love seeing them in motion

[@BornToPeeForcedToDrinkIt]

Your Bionicle animations are like crack to me. I'm still holding out hope that you'll one day make more 2008 animations with those amazing models you made. 2008 is such a pivotal year that lacks a lot of visual representation, and your designs and style take some of the most divisive sets and make them look as iconic as the originals. This animation is simple yet adorable, and this is one of the best interpretations of the Tohunga bodies. You always manage to make the characters set-accurate but tweaked just enough to feel natural and lore-accurate. Perfect middle ground!

[@Orion9411]

Loving the animation! I particularily like the lights on the Miru's mouth, it just works to well!

[@HAILYAHALMIGHTY777]

I missed his bionicle videos.

[@tristanmccann6838]

I can't waiy for the finished product. This looks great.

[@NegaafellagaTV]

Another great animation, Vrahno! It's always a joy to see something new from you.

[@liser]

My God this is so much better then it has any business being

[@810NICLEDay]

Incredible as always! If you have anything you want to show next year, registration will likely open once again in April. :)

[@themakutron]

Any day Vrahno drops a new animation is Bionicle day

[@azvdcrafts6147]

Awesome work. The animation is clean, the facial expressions look so full of life 😮

[@nickster5207]

The king returns from exile with a gift!

[@Bomonga]

Glad to see your back to a bit of bionicle content

[@Plokman040]

Those hand gestures feel so perfect for this. They kinda give off a goofy Michelangelo from 2012 TMNT vibe and I love that. Been a long time I saw any of your work my friend, I still got plans for using the turnaround you let me use for my Turaga. Though it isn't for the original reason it is a huge help on a clockwork character design. I will be sure to tell you when I post anything with it, I am not a person to steal designs as you know but borrowing and rotoscoping to create new things for a new IP is not that. If you take my meaning.

[@TheMugbearer]

Damn this is so good! Proud of you for getting this much done!

[@reddalek555]

As always, finished or unfinished, it’s remarkable work.

[@quote6013]

This is really nice, shame to hear what happened to it but still, what we have looks great!

[@toalesovikk7168]

I’m not trying to be rude or feel entitled to Bionicle content but it’s been a long time since you’ve done anything Bionicle related and that’s why I’m subscribed. You were consistently uploading Phantoka and Mistika so I was under the impression you were going to release a video just like the one with Kopaka and Pohatu hunting Krana, because why would you make all these 3D models if you weren’t going to use them. I don’t think I’m alone on this because the comments had people saying that it seemed like you were going to make a movie. Perhaps some community post will be nice so we are in the know what your plans are. I’m glad to see you are back to making Bionicle content!

[@MrJoeyWheeler]

I'm in the same boat. I'll take what I can get - no pressure there - but I'm certainly not interested whatsoever in the godzilla stuff.

[@vaimantobe3034]

This is perfection. We have been blessed!

[@zjebus6969XD]

My childhood comeback now!

[@GreenBarsArchives]

The quality of your animations are always high!

[@TammyCalamity]

Not much to say except that this is beautiful.

[@heatherdeskins1294]

My guy your animations they are so good keep it up with the Godzilla vids bro

[@fernandaps2]

That yawn is so cute

[@TheBohrokMan]

This is incredible, damn. Love seeing Bionicles in this style!

[@WolfyFG]

goat posted a new video

[@elliotgandersen]

Wow Bionicle what a throwback haha

[@Wyattporter]

This is so wonderful. I love the texture work, and the way the McToran noodle arms move. I wanted to mention that the BIONICLE fanbase is far from “dilapidated” - if anything, we’re stronger than ever.

[@themechbuilder6171]

i can't believe this is finally happening

[@user-po1jx7ev8x]

These animations are amazing

[@ENDRAY0]

dude im happy that this dudes still making vids mostly all youtubers who make videos from 2010 just quit

[@Kirby0189]

I always love your stuff!

[@dmitry8676]

Я просто в шоке, бро. Спасибо за всю ту любовь и силы, что ты вложил в эту анимацию ❤

[@nicholasmorgan7609]

Fantastic work, as always

[@stavkous4963]

wake up new content

[@acemarvel1564]

The caves man this guy is wiggin out

[@irzad3464]

Finally, after few years

[@Definitely_a_Fox]

Oh! This is really good!

[@DragonClaw-eg6nj]

I love this! It is so cute! Also, Vrahno, I successfully attached the wings on my Dragon model for Jane and the Dragon. I'll try to share that model with you once it is done.

[@benscott8042]

Animation's still Great, even if it's still old! It just looks fine to me despite what you've stated Sir.

[@WhatDillionYT]

Yay, another BIONICLE one!

[@kanohihorder1228]

I waited so long for this

[@Diamond4403]

Spectacular animation

[@JuanMartinez-hj6fi]

ESTO ES ARTE Y LO VOY APRECIAR

[@Lunios]

holy hell we’re eating good today

[@legendarycryptid2629]

Still expecting an As Above, So Below video with the high quality you always have.

[@L0REN0R2Z0RR0]

Wow, this looks a lot like the Bionicle movies

[@WilhelmScreamer]

just delightful

[@theredeft5319]

This is unfinished? It looks so good.

[@jaxwarp8373]

I love Midak, I definitely believe he's another Av Matoran hidden in Metru Nui with Takua. He doesn't fit in with the Earth Dwellers, he needs his sunshine ☀️

[@Detailedstream]

Finally is here

[@Vesohag]

Aaah, so good 😌👌