The FULL Retrospective YouTube video by Brian Ellis

Brian Ellis' BIONICLE set design retrospective:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfzK...

Here's an extract of the source:

Thanks to @e-milyy.bsky.social's recent interview with Kun Chang, we now have higher quality scans of his production sketches!

Interview: www.maskofdestiny.com/biomediaproj...

Art: www.maskofdestiny.com/biomediaproj...

Kun Chang was a freelance art director for Ghost VFX, having worked on the initial BIONICLE launch CDs and commercials.

Portfolio: www.kunchang.net/art-work

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kun-chang...

Kini-Nui production design sketches by Kun Chang (sources below):

But since these stores didn’t usually carry toys, they’d be reluctant to compete with big outlets like Toys R Us and Wal Mart. So in order to attract these high-traffic stores, LEGO would sell the Bohrok Va to them exclusively for one year.

OAFE: www.oafe.net/yo/bionp2.php

In the late 90s and early 2000s, LEGO had a strategy to expand their market base by selling their products to "high-traffic stores" or "everyday outlets" such as pharmacies, gas stations, and grocery stores.

MoD: www.maskofdestiny.com/news/m-i-a

Brick by Brick: publicism.info/business/bri...

The Bohrok Va were not made available in toy stores for a year (sources below):

Original Bionicle Ideas, Revised and Expanded Edition Early & Unused Story Concepts in Bionicle, v. 2 by The Shadow Emperor, aka Maku Foreword The Bionicle story underwent many shifts in direction over its ten year run. Character traits, plot details,...

It may have been because there was a plan to have a seventh tribe which would worship Makuta, and the only remnant of that concept was Ahkmou in MNOG, who sold infected Kolhii balls in Po Koro.

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

This is a follow up to one of our first threads. Though we still have more to say about this specific strategy: bsky.app/profile/behi...

The overall goal of the strategy was to make BIONICLE relevant and 'cool' to kids.

In 2002, results of surveys by the global research agency, Millward Brown, confirmed that 'coolness is definitely not an issue for BIONICLE.'

Source: files.maskofdestiny.com/marketing/st...

In 2001, this multimedia approach guided the team to make BIONICLE look as if it had a film:

'We created an image in our minds that there was a blockbuster movie out there called BIONICLE – and that we were making products for the movie.'

Source: biomediaproject.com/bmp/data/sit...

There were two types of media outlets: 'Single message' and 'Story carrying'.

The former (TV, Cinema ads, Posters), served as basic entry points to the series, while the latter (Comics, Website, CD-ROM) would delve deeper into the story & world.

Source: files.maskofdestiny.com/marketing/st...

The 'Media Mosaic' strategy would challenge kids to piece BIONICLE's large story together through its various media outlets.

But since the ads could be experienced in any order, they were designed to work as stand alone stories.

Source: files.maskofdestiny.com/marketing/st...

BIONICLE was designed with its own Iceberg Chart as part of a layered marketing strategy (sources below):

Free the Band Videos .

According to a BZP forum topic, there was allegedly a press conference video with the All-American Rejects, where they commented on how scary it was to be captured by the PIRAKA.

No trace of this video exists online unfortunately.

www.bzpower.com/topic/26782-...

According to a case study for Promotion Marketing Association's 2007 Reggie Awards, the Free The Band campaign lifted sales of "more than 30% for the BIONICLE line compared with the previous year".

Case Study: web.archive.org/web/20231023...

By October 9th, 2006, 100% of the island had been searched and the INIKA had successfully freed the band!

News Report: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lry...

FTB Website: biomediaproject.com/bmp/data/sit...

BZP: bzpower.info/story.php?ID...
bzpower.info/story.php?ID...

Generous benefactors stepped in to aid the rescue efforts on Voya Nui through a sweepstakes. Enter in and you could win fabulous prizes like a guitar, skateboard deck, and even a trip for 5 to meet the band on an official tour bus– provided they're freed, of course:

The Free The Band website had several songs hidden behind icons of the INIKA masks. A playlist of all the songs can be found on YouTube. In addition, a demo version of BIONICLE Heroes could also be found.

BZP: bzpower.info/story.php?ID...

Playlist: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

In Voya Nui Adventure you play as the INIKA in order to train them for their rescue mission. Along their journey, they discover many downloadable songs and eventually face off against the PIRAKA to complete their training.

BZP: bzpower.info/story.php?ID...
LP: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AJ8...

Piruk hacks his way into the PIRAKA Stronghold and by using a slingshot he's able to distract Vezok and Zaktan, and finds that the All-American Rejects are being held there.

Further details: toaheroes.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/f...

LP: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNDW...

In Island Investigation, Kongu projects his mind into the Matoran Piruk to avoid suspicion from the PIRAKA. He travels across Voya Nui, finding clues like an MP3 player and an AAR hat to try and pinpoint the location of the All-American Rejects.

Games: biomediaproject.com/bmp/play/web...

You could assist the INIKA on their rescue mission by spreading the word through e-cards or by playing the games "Island Investigation" and "Voya Nui Adventure" on the Free The Band website.

Free The Band website: biomediaproject.com/bmp/data/sit...

Flash emulator: ruffle.rs

In a news report, Zack claimed the PIRAKA kidnapped AAR, forcing them to play private concerts.

Top suspects included: Zaktan, Hakann, and Captain Larry, who sailed the Yacht that carried the band.

News Report: www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7t2...

BZP: bzpower.info/story.php?ID...

Rock Yacht was founded by the moustachioed duo, Dr. Jonathan Dusek and Professor Steve Biozz, because "rock bands love to go on boat rides."

Flashes of the word PIRAKA could be seen on their site.

Rock Yacht website: biomediaproject.com/bmp/data/sit...

Zack, a huge INIKA fan, began the INIKA UNITE blog, where he and his brother, Ivan, elaborated that the band were invited to take a free cruise by a new company called Rock Yachts.

INIKA UNITE blog: biomediaproject.com/bmp/data/sit...

On August 16th, 2006, the Free The Band site launched with a fake news report:

The All-American Rejects were missing!

Last seen boarding a luxury yacht with a "very rock and roll feel to it". A group called the INIKA pledged to find them.

BZP: bzpower.info/story.php?ID...

New BIONICLE® INIKA commercial playing MoD readers Toa Of Cheese, and Ohyuck reported that commercials for the INIKA, and rather well done ones, are playing on Nichelodeon, with Waspinator giving us a link to where you can find where To…

Some speculated the band was The All-American Rejects based on the silhouettes' hair and the new commercials that started playing on Nickelodeon with their song "Move Along".

But what did they need freedom from?

MoD: www.maskofdestiny.com/news/new-bio...
BZP: bzpower.info/story.php?ID...

The site went live in July, but only displayed a cryptic message:

"Maybe you heard the rumors. Or maybe you heard the lies 'THEY' want you to believe. Well we're putting up this site to bring you the truth. Stay tuned for facts, news, and info."

BZP: bzpower.info/story.php?ID...