Tag Archives: Bionicle

Bionicle was a line of sets that grew out of the LEGO Technic line that LEGO produced between 2001 and 2010, succeeded by Hero Factory. Bionicle had an incredibly complex storyline that accompanied the sets, and most of the elements didn’t integrate well with traditional SYSTEM bricks. As a result, long-time adult fans like the contributors here on The Brothers Brick never quite appreciated what Bionicle had to offer, so most of the LEGO models we feature here on The Brothers Brick are built from traditional SYSTEM bricks. Nevertheless, we do appreciate a great Bionicle creation from time to time.

Your next undersea stop: the twilight zone

The mesopelagic (or twilight) zone is the lowest layer of the ocean that sunlight can reach, after which strange creatures with bioluminescent qualities start to appear. nu_montag riffed on this interpretation of “twilight” for a Rogue Olympics LEGO building challenge, creating a terrifying anglerfish with glow-in-the-dark teeth made from 101 parts. This monstrous fellow must have missed the memo that fish are friends, not food, as it lures a pair of lost reef fish in for a meal. Inspired by Bioncle Rahi, nu_montag added a biting function when you squeeze the tail, which you can see here.

In the Twilight Zone

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A slithering throwback to a simpler time

This LEGO creation by Djokson is called Mamba Marauder Snake; three words I’d love to get on my resumé but alas my job experience is mostly Excel spreadsheet related. I’m seeing a lot of tasty parts from the DreamZzz Action Race Car set. I’m particularly loving the watchband and green canopy. The builder’s inspiration though comes from this little racer from back when Donnie Darko was seeing creepy bunnies. Darko, creepy, and bunnies are three more words I’d love to see on my resumé but my work mostly involves boring meetings.

Mamba Marauder Snake

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This LEGO bald eagle is a soaring success!

It wasn’t too long ago that we showed you all a work-in-progress shot of a delightful LEGO bald eagle head, made by the talent that is Sakiya Watanabe. Well, now it’s time to see the work in all it’s proper glory! And as impressive as the design of that head is, I’m slack jawed taking in the entire scene. I love the use of clear elements to simulate a splash of water as the fish (with scales made from pirate ship sails) attempts to plunge back in. But the eagle definitely seems keen on catching dinner, with its plumage made of reddish brown palm leaves and it’s aforementioned head stuck in a glare of determination. This is definitely a creation I hope to see in person soon!

Bald Eagle

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How to feather a LEGO eagle [Building Technique]

We’ve marveled in the past at the strong LEGO work of Sakiya Watanabe. But this close up of a WIP they’re working on allows us some better insight into the parts that can create a biological texture like feathers. A cacophany of bars, clips, and claws, it all comes together to form quite the eagle head.

Lego Eagle WIP

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Bionicle’s Mata Nui finally appears in LEGO form in stunning fan model

For Bionicle Fans, the Great Spirit Mata Nui is more than a robot and not quite a god and is pretty much the most important figure in the complex cosmology of LEGO’s beloved franchise being a creator, protector, and the land itself. But as important as he was, Mata Nui never appeared in his true form in any official sets (only as a Glatorian Legend). Bionicle fan GiiKei remedies this omission with a brick-built version that features incredible articulation and custom lighting. Even if you know nothing about Bionicle lore, it’s easy to appreciate this square-jawed gentle giant.

Mata Nui has risen

To give a fuller picture of Mata Nui’s epic majesty and functionality, GiiKei shares a video:

Bionicle fans, would you want to see LEGO release an official version of Great Spirit Mata Nui?

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Hark, an Angel! sirens ring

Sachiel, the third Angel, has arrived in LEGO courtesy of Sakiya Watanabe (N.A.B.E _mocs), and I don’t think it brings good tidings. Sakiya employs some devilish parts usage in this recreation of the Evangelion enemy. Strings of rubber tires give the limbs an organic effect. Black wing elements tightly tucked into the torso are nearly invisible until you zoom in to appreciate the subtle texture. A white cloth cape for the face is especially unsettling. Sakiya has only recently begun sharing Bioncle and constraction builds but is already finding fans. The builder’s hockey mask tiki tower was one of the most popular builds with readers this year!

Sachiel in Evangelion

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This LEGO Keetongu is seriously crushing it

The LEGO Bionicle theme has been the inspiration for many great custom creations over the years, like this beefy build by Eero Okkonen which, while spectacular by itself, was built with another purpose in mind… to use as many of the new elements from the LEGO 43247 Young Simba the Lion King set in bright yellow/orange as possible. With so much brightness it may be hard to know where to look first, but my eye was drawn to the large macaroni curves used for the eyebrow of this Cyclops mech.

Keetongu

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The great Bionicle creature feature

Admittedly, I’ve never seen a Yigg before now, and can’t confirm that they exist outside of the LEGO hobby. But I do know an excellent Bionicle creation when I see one, and I trust Jarek Książczyk (jerac) when it comes to questions of cryptozoology. With an array of bright colors and a trisected mandible, the Yigg looks to be a mighty beast of the land… or sea… or maybe skies?

Yigg

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Bionicle Mask Makers reforged in darkness

While not all LEGO fans have embraced Bionicle, there’s no denying that for a generation of builders, Bionicle was a gateway to both a world of construction and deep lore. For a recent collaboration between top Bionicle builders in the community, participants re-imagined characters from Bionicle Generation 2 utilizing the latest constraction techniques. We were especially struck by the pair of Ekimu and Makuta, The Mask Makers, as designed by Toni A.

Ekimu and Makuta, The Mask Makers

Toni cites Dark Souls and H.R. Giger as influences, which might seem an aesthetic jump for Bionicle, but perfectly fits the lore of these bio-machine gods. Ekimu, wearing the Mask of Creation, is the culmination of 3 years of iteration from Toni and the effort shows with some of the most impressive dark fantasy sculpting I’ve ever seen in a character. Makuta, wearing the Mask of Control (inverted), came together quicker and perfectly compliments his brother with a devilish Victorian aesthetic.

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Have a nice trip, see you next fall

I feel bad for Timmy, and I feel even worse for his LEGO Bionicle collection. Builder Magmafrost13 has taught this Constraction collector a lesson in gravity with this round 1 entry into the Bio-Cup competition. With all the excellent parts usage in this creation, it’s hard to pick a favorite. But the use of a pair of Kanohi masks to form Timmy’s surprised face and hair is truly inspired!

Little Timmy Learns a Harsh Lesson About Gravity

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In space, no one can hear your heart break

With the new alien movie coming to theaters this summer, the offspring of sci-fi’s scariest endoparasite is back. An endoparasite is defined as a creature that lives or is born inside another animal, like the appropriately named chest-burster built in LEGO by VelociJACKtor wrapped around some poor soul’s heart. Small gears make the perfect set of teeth, while a curved white shoulder piece from the buildable Obi-Wan figure forms the iconic rounded forehead. I can almost hear the squelching….

In Utero

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All that gold, and it’s still not the blingest thing on this Bionicle

Who’s the coolest Water Toa from LEGO’s Bionicle line? Gali, the OG? Nokama, perhaps, who appeared twice as a Toa as well as a humble Matoran? In truth, Mitch Phillips (AKA Gamma Raay)’s unnamed Toa of Water might have them both beat. There’s some serious bling on show here: an enormous gold door makes for a nice shield. The cape is pretty majestic, too. But the biggest party piece is actually the mask. Don’t recognise it? That’s because it’s exceedingly rare – handed out during the 2015 LEGO Inside Tour, only 200 of these transparent-blue ones were ever made! As a result it’s something of a collectors’ item, but it’s refreshing to see it used in a MOC. At the end of the day, it is still just a LEGO piece!

Toa of Water

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