Bionicles. A Lego creation that has an incredibly rabid fan base and has spawned numerous made-for-DVD videos and a comic book series.
Why am I writing about Lego Bionicles?
Because my son has been collecting them for years. And because he just dropped over $100 on the newest sets to hit the market and is incredibly upset. So much so that he is returning them to the store, disheartened and disappointed.
I suggested that he compose a letter to Lego to let them know of his disappointment, and that I would post the letter on my blog. I believe in the power of the individual, and I believe that the people at Lego need to listen to what he has to say as he speaks for a large segment of serious Bionicle fans.
So with no further ado, I give you the letter written by Zach...
Dear Lego,One hour before I began to write this letter, I had purchased four Inika and the Piraka Stronghold from a local Target store. I am planning to return them as soon as possible. Why?
I am a "die hard" Bionicle fan, having been with the sets since Bionicle was born. It wasn't just the sets that intrigued me, either. The story was also captivating. Everything about it seemed perfect. That includes no unnecessary glow in the dark things, or things that lit up, or rubber, for that matter. It also was inspiring, having heroes who had no idea who they were or what their purpose was discover the power within themselves and destroy evil itself. I don't know, or care what you were thinking of when you wrote that story, but it gave kids role models. Very good role models.
I think you know where this is going. The first season of Bionicle was wonderful, as I've covered, but from there, it began to slowly slide downhill... Going back to see the Matoran home island and discover why they moved to Mata Nui was... decent. A good deal of it kept all the aspects of the first season. Problems began to arise in the third season, when the comics became slightly more disconnected than usual. When you recently moved the story to Voya Nui, well, things just plummeted.
I can hardly list all the things that went wrong. Now, you seem to be hitting random moments in the story when you make comics. The startling revelations the earlier seasons had had gone. The whole "Toa" concept has completely worn out its welcome. What makes the Inika so different? "Uh, they were transformed by the power of a star." Mmhmm. You forgot the fact that they have lasers. When did you introduce weapons like that? It just doesn't seem right!
Now I refuse to believe that the same brilliance that brought out Kanohi and Kanoka is the one that came up with Zamor Spheres! What's the point? They get fired out of a little launcher? Ok, nothing wrong with that. How collectible are they? Oh, that's right, there are five or six different colors. And they glow in the dark.
I almost began to doubt you wanted our money, until I looked at the prices. Ten dollars for a Toa. Remember when they used to be seven? Yeah, they light up, but have you considered the fact that many Bionicle fans would pay for you to take the Inikas' weapons off?
Then there's $75 for the Fortress. Do you just think it's what Bionicle fans would pay for the childish giant Piraka head and the ten or fifteen Zamor Spheres that come with it? Then you've got the Minifigures. The first thing I thought when I saw the Piraka minifigs was "Sharpie". The first thing I thought when I saw their spines was "Ponytail". Is there not enough space on the little figure to make it look like the real thing? I'll bet you're thinking "no." That would be an incredibly lame excuse. Not that the real thing is worth imitating anyway.
What were you people thinking when you gave the Piraka rubber? Were you thinking about all the people who'd buy it cause it looked cool? Because what you should've been thinking about was all off the Bionicle purists like me who want Bionicle, not a cheap knockoff! As for the Inika minifigs, you could've at least made the weapons look remotely close to the real thing.
I still can't understand why you'd give the bad guy a cape. Once again, is it because you think it looks cool? Are you running out of ideas or what? I sure hope not, cause I'd hate to see Lego go.
I am initiating a Bionicle boycott. I do hope you want our money.
Your number one fan,
Zach Comm
14 years old
Am I proud of my son? You bet I am. Way to go, Zach!
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
September 27, 2006 12:17 AM
Well, not that i am complaining or anything but I actually liked the whole 2006 story so far, along with the sets. I mean come on! Lego is just trying out some new things, you dont see fans posting ideas on a website (which is a pretty good idea)
The designers are just a few people working in a large compony Zach, and it would help out if you gave them some new ideas too.
October 12, 2006 03:56 PM
ye I cinda agrea with both of the last two comments therubber masks do get anoying and its constently tempting to cut the piraka spines off because they bend all out of shape. The inika i dont mind the glowing weapons seem cool to me personaly the body parts are exelent for mocing and the cape on vezon is also the mini figs in the playsets are quite unrealistic to the real thing but youl live and once again the weapons arnt like the real thing but for mocing perpuses there exelent. The story for me has just increased in exelence since the start of bionicle the voya nui story is exelent and couldent posibly get better in my eyes
thank you for your time and thank you for reding this.
Name:Luke Robertson
Age:16
January 4, 2007 02:27 AM
There are several things I simply do not understand about your letter. For one, if you 'hate' the Inika and Piraka Stronghold so much, then why buy it in the first place? And since WHEN does rubber and light-up features a bad set make? If I remember correctly, these arn't the first series to use rubber. And I doubt the swords are the reason for the price upgrade. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the Inika are much BIGGER than the previous Toa? Also, perhaps next time you bother to write LEGO, you could tell them what would make it BETTER, instead of insulting every aspect of the sets and story?
January 15, 2007 04:02 PM
wow. that was harsh. maybe you need to think a little bit. LEGO has a budget like any other companies. LEGO spends the big bucks making the bigger sets for around your age people to collect, and the playsets more for younger kids. I really think you should get over your dislike of some small set that they couldn't devote too much time to. If you dont like it don't buy it!
Bardy out.
March 8, 2007 12:10 AM
Wow Zach - I just wanted to say that I was checking out the new bionicles for my son (age 5)and I ran across your letter/review - and I have to say that I am quite impressed. I don't know all the details about the series and I certainly cannot keep track of the different types, but from what I have seen, I would have to agree with you that it seems to be "selling out" a bit. Lego has some great items and have certainly stood the test of time, so it is probably even more disappointing that they are starting to add unnecessary bells and whistles, so to speak. Also, my son tends to be very detail oriented and even at 5 he would be very upset if they did not resemble those on the show. I think you letter was well written and clearly thought out but I would agree with a few of the folks above, in that the only thing that perhaps you could have done differently is provide some suggestions as well, although it did seem pretty clear that you were simply asking them to stick to realistic models and go back to basics. I am interesting in one thing, however - Did a representative from Lego respond to your letter?
December 24, 2007 11:39 AM
Well if you didnt like the inika so much why buy them i mean i have all 6 and all 6 piraka and i think they are realy cool for your information!
March 26, 2008 02:30 PM
I can sum up this letter in three words:
SO
VERY
TRUE
April 28, 2008 12:09 AM
This is the problem when there are different partners on board. Everyone wants to try something different and they fail to relate back to the origin. Sometimes the basics are the best.
June 27, 2008 09:19 AM
Surprisingly, the pikara were the first bionicle sets in a long time that I was actually pleased with. They look like bad guys, they didn't have dangling pieces (read: good construction) and each one of them was unique beyond color and weapon. You didn't see that since the original toa. And guess what? The barraki were even better!
Beyond those two exceptions, your kid is right on the mark. But I wouldn't know about the story; I gave up on that a while ago.
May 12, 2009 09:57 AM
i'm glad to see that i wasn't the only one who saw the sad downfall of bionicle. your son did the right thing as a true fan by responding to this.
i remember when bionicle FIRST came out-- it was soemthing new: high tech mechanical beings living on a primitive island, worshipping sprits, heroes and with legends, and a simple yet amazing story that could open up to a whole new universe! their site at that time was awesome and mysterious and featured the monthly updated Mata Nui Online game and Bohrok saga chronicles (which to me was a fantastic way to get people into the universe).
i started to suspect their decline when the whole Maori name change occured, and the fact that the album and game had ceased production. i sadly began to lose interest within the first minute of watching "Mask of Light: the movie". it made it out to be TOO much of a kid movie. i guess i wanted bionicle to be one of lego's mature line that would grow with its fans-- but it went the opposite direction. AND INSTEAD OF HAVING NEW CHARACTERS COME OUT OF THE STORY, THEY HAD THE STORY COME OUT OF NEW CHARACTERS. if bionicle had stopped after 2003 it may have still been a good thing. and though metru nui was a fantastic idea, i feel they took it the wrong way by never returning to "toa olda".
what really hurt me the most were the comics. althought the first three didn't offer too much linear story telling, the bohrok saga did. the artist did a fantastic job of giving the toa "an edge". but with the last issue of bohrok kal the artist must have changed, because from then on out it became less art and more dialogue-- like a sunday morning comic rather than a graphic novel.
since then i've dubbed myself a "first generation bionicle fan". i can only hope that bionicle comes full circle or does something to wash away the commercialism it evolved into. but it seems too late for that now...