Bionicle is doing very well for Lego and to amp up the Bionicle experience, they are releasing a direct-to-video Movie, video game and the ability to play an action figure game with the actual toys. I guess you could say 2009 is the year of Bionicle for Lego. Judging by what I saw in their showroom I'm inclined to agree.
The PR speak...
"Cast out of his own universe, his stature gone, Mata Nui fights to unite a devastated land and find the secret to reclaiming his own lost empire."
"In this ever-expanding universe of heroes and villains, Mata Nui, once a great and powerful ruler, awakens to find himself in a remote, decaying wasteland of scrap parts and burnished metals... a desert junkyard. Local villages scavenge for what remains, building shelters, survival gear and ultimately arenas where they can settle their disputes. Pitting the best gladiator in each village against one another tribes can quickly end quarrels based on the outcome of the fight. Mata Nui, in search of how to get home, quickly finds himself in the middle of one of those battles."
"However, the outcome is as much of a surprise to him as it is to the villagers when he leaves the arena triumphant. As a result of his brave actions, Mata Nui strikes a friendship and is asked to help fight the villagers' real enemies, the Skrall and the Bone Hunters. Mata Nui accepts, thereby delaying his own quest to find a way home. United, he and his band of gladiators and scavengers battle among the strange creatures and even stranger landscapes as our hero Mata Nui longs to return home to help save his enslaved people."
So first up for Lego is Bioncle. The line has run for several years now and every year adds a new chapter to the story of Mata Nui and his quest to return home to his people. I gotta say there are some real sharp designs in this line and I already broke down and picked a couple of these up during my trip to Wal-Mart last night.
They continue the trend of vehicles this year, albeit in smaller scales than last years vehicles. Prices on these guys range from 24.99 - 59.99.
Broken up into groups, the Agori, Glatorian, Glatorian Legends, range from $6.99 - $12.99 and are individual heroes and villains from the Bionicle saga. Again just some outstanding character designs combined with the awesome DIY nature of Lego make this a line I think I'm about to pay a bit more attention to.
Yeah, Lego may be getting a bit more of my money this year with many of their lines and I think Bionicle may deserve another look by some of our readers. They're affordable and wicked looking. Be sure to check the HD video up top for even more stuff from the line.