Tag Archives: Voodoo

A voodoo-head from the time before time

Waking up on a tropical island has become a familiar premise to many LEGO fans familiar with Bionicle. Awesomenessborn brings us an odd tribal figure on a small sandy landscape dominated by a stone head statue. It may not look like the colourful mechanical warriors of Bionicle, but instead it resembles the prototype figures from the theme’s development phase. Originally nicknamed Bone-Heads of Voodoo Island, the figures looked more innocent and less war-like, which the builder captures very well. The proportions of the figure’s body, with its thin waist and protruding stomach are reminiscent of earlier Bionicle sets.

First Contact

The statue on the other hand, is terrifying compared to the figure. Overgrown with plants and vines, it resembles a weathered skull that contrasts the smooth raised baseplate from an old pirate set which is used as the small landscape. To complete the foreboding mystery of this world, there are also some spiders on top of the statue. One can even spot a nasty surprise crawling out its mouth…

Voodoo? You do! Do what? Remind me of the babe...

Sometimes LEGO creations raise more questions than they answer. This sculpture of Baron Samedi by Leonid An has me scratching my head a bit. Wikipedia says the Baron is is noted for disruption, obscenity, debauchery, and having a particular fondness for tobacco and rum. But what does that have to do with that Scala baby? Sure, I could just focus on the great building techniques like the tires-for-tophat, nested-cape ascot, bucket-handle belt buckle, or the gorgeous curves in the coat. Or maybe I could ponder the patience required to balance two horn elements atop 1×1 rounds plate to create the eye sockets on the skull. But my eyes keep going back to that swaddled infant. It’s a creepy part to begin with, and this setting ramps that waaaay up.

Baron Samedi

This isn’t the first time we’ve featured a work by Leonid that features a creepy use of that baby figure, either. I’m not sure if I’m hoping we’ll see another, or if maybe it’s better if this never comes up again.

This voodoo panther is no bonehead. Or is it?

The LEGO Bionicle line may have ended in 2016, but that hasn’t stopped fans from expanding on the theme. Case in point: Alex Mertens brings us a sleek version of the Rahi beast Muaka, inspired by a deep cut of Bionicle lore. I’m a fan of the smooth curves that give this model a sense of feline grace. The splash of color from the orange hose and lime green claws adds visual interest against the blue of the Hero Factory armor and Bionicle shoulder armor plating.

Voodoo Panther

Speaking of that armor, we recently featured another re-imagining of Muaka that kept the yellow highlights from the Muaka & Kane-Ra set from 2001. Alex has gone one step further, taking the blue color from a Bone-Heads of Voodoo Island prototype that likely lead to Muaka! This early prototype can be seen in Christian Faber’s demo footage.