In order of "amount of story conveyed": Books, comics, movies, Flash animations, Flash games.
While it was a toyline, the toys... did not really contain the story.
Approximate Length: Oh, god, how do I count this?
- 29 Scholastic chapter books - 4 Young Readers books - 17 online serials - 8 online short stories - 49 comics, approx. 15 pages each - 4 animated movies, approx. 60 minutes each (72 with credits); come with novelizations, although those do differ in slight details - 22 Flash animations, 2-5? minutes each, have been converted to videos - 2 relevant Flash games, [wobbly hand gesture] several hours? each, come with novelizations/walkthroughs
Specific subsections:
- The '01-'03 arcs (first three years) are enough for some subsets of Hahli &/f Jaller and Pewku & Takua | Takanuva. - The '09 arc was a soft reboot, but as I got into Bionicle well before that I have no damn clue if there's enough context to really appreciate Kiina &/ Mata Nui. Probably enough to draw me a man and his bug with Click & Mata Nui. - If making fanart, the wiki is really quite a thorough source of references.
Where to (Legally) Find It:
Almost everything can be found on https://wallofhistory.com/ or https://biomediaproject.com/bmp/, and there's a fan wiki at https://biosector01.com/wiki/Main_Page. The things that weren't first posted online for free are out of print and have been for at least 12 years, so I'm assuming these are legal sources because Lego hasn't taken them down and Lego has explictly approved a free fan game that will be available on Steam. The Legend Reborn, the fourth movie, can be bought on Youtube.
Brief Description:
In the time before time, the Great Spirit descended from the heavens, carrying we, the ones called the Matoran, to this paradise. We were separate, and without purpose, so the Great Spirit illuminated us with the Three Virtues: Unity, Duty, and Destiny. We embraced these gifts, and in gratitude, we named our island home Mata Nui, after the Great Spirit himself.
But our happiness was not to last. For Mata Nui's brother, the Makuta, was jealous of these honors and betrayed him, casting a spell over Mata Nui, who fell into a deep slumber. The Makuta was free to unleash his shadows... and unleash them, he did...
Magic robots, the hobbit-sized Matoran and their wise elders the Turaga, live on an island terrorized by a shadowy evil, the Makuta. The Toa, prophesized heroes with elemental powers, appear to defeat the evil and awaken the Matoran's god, Mata Nui or the Great Spirit. This seemingly simple task becomes much more complicated, and a world that began as "magic robots on an island in the middle of the ocean" unfolds into a world of massive underground domes, Matoran asked to become Toa, Matoran setting out to become heroes even without being Toa, and the eventual discovery that their world, and their god, are not as they thought they were.
(To quote a comedically abridged summary: "Whaaaaat? We live in a giant robot???")
What You Love About the Canon:
The characters, the broad strokes of the story and most of the details, and the worldbuilding, although often more its potential than its execution. Also, I was introduced to Bionicle when I was 7, and it had a formative and lasting impact on me.
I love how the characters we're supposed to root for are good, and yes it was a kid's toyline so it's not exactly going to have grey-and-grey or grey-and-black morality, but it does address nuanced and dark topics sometimes. Cowardice and courage and heroism and trying your best to be what's needed to save the world even when you don't think you're worthy, and failing and trying again and succeeding. Bionicle doesn't shy away from death, either; it's not gruesomely detailed, but people die, and people sacrifice themselves, and it's tragic and heroic or sometimes just tragic.
Also Bionicle God is voiced by Michael Dorn and I am weak for that voice.
Mostly platonic ships, including three "a guy and his animal companion" ships. Also one-sided Kiina/Mata Nui because good god the ANGST potential (see my letter for details).
Content Notes:
Major character death. Also a really annoying 5:1 male:female ratio in the characters, if "token girl is practically a codified feature of teams" is a hard nope for you.
Bionicle (Generation 1)
Media: Multimedia
In order of "amount of story conveyed": Books, comics, movies, Flash animations, Flash games.
While it was a toyline, the toys... did not really contain the story.
Approximate Length: Oh, god, how do I count this?
- 29 Scholastic chapter books
- 4 Young Readers books
- 17 online serials
- 8 online short stories
- 49 comics, approx. 15 pages each
- 4 animated movies, approx. 60 minutes each (72 with credits); come with novelizations, although those do differ in slight details
- 22 Flash animations, 2-5? minutes each, have been converted to videos
- 2 relevant Flash games, [wobbly hand gesture] several hours? each, come with novelizations/walkthroughs
Specific subsections:
- The '01-'03 arcs (first three years) are enough for some subsets of Hahli &/f Jaller and Pewku & Takua | Takanuva.
- The '09 arc was a soft reboot, but as I got into Bionicle well before that I have no damn clue if there's enough context to really appreciate Kiina &/ Mata Nui. Probably enough to draw me a man and his bug with Click & Mata Nui.
- If making fanart, the wiki is really quite a thorough source of references.
Where to (Legally) Find It:
Almost everything can be found on https://wallofhistory.com/ or https://biomediaproject.com/bmp/, and there's a fan wiki at https://biosector01.com/wiki/Main_Page. The things that weren't first posted online for free are out of print and have been for at least 12 years, so I'm assuming these are legal sources because Lego hasn't taken them down and Lego has explictly approved a free fan game that will be available on Steam. The Legend Reborn, the fourth movie, can be bought on Youtube.
BriefDescription:Magic robots, the hobbit-sized Matoran and their wise elders the Turaga, live on an island terrorized by a shadowy evil, the Makuta. The Toa, prophesized heroes with elemental powers, appear to defeat the evil and awaken the Matoran's god, Mata Nui or the Great Spirit. This seemingly simple task becomes much more complicated, and a world that began as "magic robots on an island in the middle of the ocean" unfolds into a world of massive underground domes, Matoran asked to become Toa, Matoran setting out to become heroes even without being Toa, and the eventual discovery that their world, and their god, are not as they thought they were.
(To quote a comedically abridged summary: "Whaaaaat? We live in a giant robot???")
What You Love About the Canon:
The characters, the broad strokes of the story and most of the details, and the worldbuilding, although often more its potential than its execution. Also, I was introduced to Bionicle when I was 7, and it had a formative and lasting impact on me.
I love how the characters we're supposed to root for are good, and yes it was a kid's toyline so it's not exactly going to have grey-and-grey or grey-and-black morality, but it does address nuanced and dark topics sometimes. Cowardice and courage and heroism and trying your best to be what's needed to save the world even when you don't think you're worthy, and failing and trying again and succeeding. Bionicle doesn't shy away from death, either; it's not gruesomely detailed, but people die, and people sacrifice themselves, and it's tragic and heroic or sometimes just tragic.
Also Bionicle God is voiced by Michael Dorn and I am weak for that voice.
What You Love About Your Ship(s):
I have a letter!
Kinds of Things You're Planning to Ask For:
Mostly platonic ships, including three "a guy and his animal companion" ships. Also one-sided Kiina/Mata Nui because good god the ANGST potential (see my letter for details).
Content Notes:
Major character death. Also a really annoying 5:1 male:female ratio in the characters, if "token girl is practically a codified feature of teams" is a hard nope for you.