How do Bionicle... you know...

[KittehWubbins]

I am sure this has probably been discussed in the past, but I was not able to find anything on it.

 

SO, how do Bionicle... reproduce? Lets not get into a full synopsis or anything, because that may be a little suggestive. Also, CAN they reproduce? Or is it a "stork" kind of thing? Or does anybody know at all?

 

Thanks.

 

 

[Pupwa21]

They can't.

 

I belive only Agori can reproduce.

 

The reason for the Red Star was to provide another way of restoring the population, since the Great Beings Didn't want them to grow too large in numbers. I think.

[JAG18]

Greg has stated numerous times that biological reproduction does not exist in the Matoran Universe on Spherus Magna yes, but in the MU no.

 

Where the MU is concerned, The Red Star was suppose to "recycle" the MU inhabitants--more or less--like this: a Matoran (or anything else) dies and is teleported to the RS to be resurrected and sent back. At least "suppose to" because the RS teleporter broke somewhere along the line in the 100,000 year history of the MU, making it impossible for the MU inhabitants to be sent back.

 

Where the majority of the MU inhabitant come from or rather "are made" is still a bit of an unknown, whether we will ever know the "whole" answer is unlikely.

Edited March 24, 2014 by JAG18

[Azani]

I’ve wondered about the answer to this question several time before, simply as a matter of curiosity. One would think that the Red Star, if it were functioning properly, would be able to keep the number of Matoran in the MU close to the same value, thus making reproduction unnecessary. However, there is a hint in the guide book Bionicle: World, published in 2007, that new Matoran would be able to "come into being" on Metru Nui, now that it's Matoran had returned there, within the MU, from Mata Nui, outside of the MU. I know for certain that all of the content of Bionicle: World is canon.

 

The most reasonable theory which I could come up with was that new Matoran were made at a specialized facility, similar to a factory manufacturing robots, and that they were shipped, dormant to a home where they were then activated and raised by a Matoran who was employed to raise the young ones. We never see or hear any mention of Matoran being raised individually or in small groups in the homes of a considerable number of mature or "adult" Matoran, so I'd think it reasonable to assume that each is raised in nurseries in each settlement or on each island that take all of the newly-manufactured Matoran.

 

We definitely haven't been provided with any information on how Agori reproduce, likely because it could be too similar to human reproduction for Lego. Obviously, they're not talking about that.

Edited March 25, 2014 by Artakha's Nephew

[TERIDAX941]

Um... Artahka, you kinda repeated yourself a few times in that post.

[Quisoves Potoo]

I’ve wondered about the answer to this question several time before, simply as a matter of curiosity. One would think that the Red Star, if it were functioning properly, would be able to keep the number of Matoran in the MU close to the same value, thus making reproduction unnecessary. However, there is a hint in the guide book Bionicle: World, published in 2007, that new Matoran would be able to "come into being" on Metru Nui, now that it's Matoran had returned there, within the MU, from Mata Nui, outside of the MU. I know for certain that all of the content of Bionicle: World is canon.

 

If I recall correctly, a new Matoran comes into being on Metru Nui every time one dies, as a replacement.

 

The most reasonable theory which I could come up with was that new Matoran were made at a specialized facility, similar to a factory manufacturing robots, and that they were shipped, dormant to a home where they were then activated and raised by a Matoran who was employed to raise the young ones. We never see or hear any mention of Matoran being raised individually or in small groups in the homes of a considerable number of mature or "adult" Matoran, so I'd think it reasonable to assume that they're raised in nurseries in each settlement or on each island that take all of the newly-manufactured Matoran.

 

Mind you, Matoran were never intended to be fully sapient, and so the Great Beings likely never intended for them to raise one another. After all, if they were simply intended as worker drones, why would they need that kind of development?

[Canis Lycaon]

They are mass produced in factories. They do not actually reproduce.

 

Agori and Glatorian reproduce the same as humans.

 

Both of these statements have been confirmed by Greg.

[V-N]

They are mass produced in factories. They do not actually reproduce.

 

Agori and Glatorian reproduce the same as humans.

 

Both of these statements have been confirmed by Greg.

 

Do you have the actual quote? According to Biosector01, Mata-Nui had the ability to create new Matoran, as part of his general abilities. I assume the process would be similar to the way the Great Beings would have done it, if it is true.

 

And if he can produce Matoran, it wouldn't be unreasonable for Mata-Nui to have been able to create other species. The Red Star does "recycle" dead beings, but if one said being wasn't "functioning properly," that is, became rebellious, you would think he would be scrapped by the Red Star and replaced. Mata-Nui seems to have ignored malfunctioning beings though, when he started neglecting his universe, because otherwise the MU wouldn't have so many bad guys. Additional inhabitants could probably have been created when necessary to keep up the work.

[Azani]

Um... Artahka, you kinda repeated yourself a few times in that post.

Thanks Iron_Man5. I can't believe that I didn't catch that mistake; it was quite a big one. The post was composed in Word, and in copying and pasting the text I must have accidentally repeated the same lines. I've edited my original post to make it less repetitive and easier to read.

 

Agori and Glatorian reproduce the same as humans.

 

Both of these statements have been confirmed by Greg.

They reproduce the same as humans? Regardless of whether or not that fact is canon by Greg Farshtey, it seems extremely unrealistic. They are aliens, after all, with no known genetic relation to humans.

Edited March 25, 2014 by Artakha's Nephew

[LordofBionicles]

Only Glatorian, Agori and probably Spherus Magna's wildlife (except Rahi of course)

[KittehWubbins]

If I recall correctly, a new Matoran comes into being on Metru Nui every time one dies, as a replacement.

I can understand that a Matoran could be killed or die of disease, would they die of age as well?

[Matoro Zeliph]

 

 

Agori and Glatorian reproduce the same as humans.

 

Both of these statements have been confirmed by Greg.

What?! Seriously?! That is so...odd! 0_o I should of paid attention to Bionicle 2009 lore more.

[bonesiii]

To add to previous posts, to things brought up later:

 

-For MU, all we know is there are machines that make them, which will now be moved to SM, and that they required permission of a region's ruling Turaga (or Mata Nui). What exactly they are is something LEGO has decided never to reveal to keep some mystery about Bionicle. Presumably similar machines make all the sapient beings in the MU (except sapient Rahi like Keetongu; all Rahi are made by Makuta). I've got a theory about these machines to be revealed in Part Two of my retelling.

 

-There is no evidence of any need for nurseries. It appears language and other basic knowledge is downloaded directly into the new brains immediately as part of the working of the machines. Although there might be some additional introductory things done like giving them the chance to choose their own names and possibly researching their own choices for career paths to take; I've used such ideas in my fanfics.

 

-I do not know if "factories" has ever been stated, though it's one valid theory. The machines they're made in have to be somewhere, and a factory is as good a location as any.

 

They reproduce the same as humans? Regardless of whether or not that fact is canon by Greg Farshtey, it seems extremely unrealistic. They are aliens, after all, with no known genetic relation to humans.

As has been mentioned many times in regards to many subjects, Bionicle is fiction with countless ideas "borrowed" from the real world. I don't know if Greg worded it as exactly the same as humans, but basically, yeah. Bionicle didn't set out to design a totally alien world; if it had, there wouldn't be two eyes, four limbs, etc. to most things, there wouldn't be green plants, etc. That kind of thing is common in science fiction (and fantasy for that matter). Keep in mind too that we don't know if genetics is actually involved with anything in Bionicle, though they have to have some kind of equivalent. But we do know they have children in essentially the same way as Earth life.

 

Likelihood is also irrelevant; they are entirely unaware of humans, so they don't see the coincidence. You could think of it as us peering into an alternate dimension, and we chose to look at one that had many similarities to us, rather than choosing one at random. Essentially that's what is happening, fictionally.

 

-Yes, they can all die of old age but we don't know what the maximum is. And Greg has recently suggested that maybe the Red Star can undo aging damage for MU beings. For the Agori branches of sapients at least we know the lifespans are much longer than 100,000 years. It's presume to be about the same for MU beings, but since they're made of protodermis there's no way to know. If Takua has lived all this time without dying (likely if the RS Sendback never did work, which is still uncertain), then we can be sure their average is at least 100,000 years too.

Edited March 25, 2014 by bonesiii

[Chro]

 

If I recall correctly, a new Matoran comes into being on Metru Nui every time one dies, as a replacement.

I can understand that a Matoran could be killed or die of disease, would they die of age as well?

 

Theoretically, yes, though it was never seen in story (Takua was the oldest Matoran, for some reason, but he wasn't in poor condition at all).

[Toa Of Anarchy]

I don't think Matoran fall prey to normal bacteria, only created ones like the Makuta Virus, there bodies also degrade at a very slow rate so I guess it isn't very often that a new Matoran must be made. But when they are, aren't they made on the red star, or is that just the place where they regenerate?

Edited March 25, 2014 by Toa of Anarchy

[Zox Tomana]

The Makuta can also create Matoran, and as Artahka can create Toa if given the right materials, I would assume he could create Matoran as well with help from Mata Nui. That the Makuta can create Matoran has always made me think it involves a similar process to Rahi Creation, using Viruses (or similar information-carrying energy) and Liquid Proto.

[fishers64]

The Makuta can also create Matoran, and as Artahka can create Toa if given the right materials, I would assume he could create Matoran as well with help from Mata Nui. That the Makuta can create Matoran has always made me think it involves a similar process to Rahi Creation, using Viruses (or similar information-carrying energy) and Liquid Proto.

The Makuta can create Matoran? Source please? As far as I know, they can't.

[JAG18]

The whole Makuta can create Matoran (but simply choose not to) has been on BS01 since at least 2008. What their source is I have no idea, but I would assume it's from a Greg quote.

[bonesiii]

I don't think Matoran fall prey to normal bacteria, only created ones like the Makuta Virus, there bodies also degrade at a very slow rate so I guess it isn't very often that a new Matoran must be made. But when they are, aren't they made on the red star, or is that just the place where they regenerate?

Are you asking if new Matoran are made on the Red Star? Answer is clearly no -- the whole problem with the Red Star in the first place is that people can't be teleported from it to the Matoran Universe, which is why new Matoran have to be made instead anyways. So how, then, could the new Matoran be made up there? That would defeat the point. New MU beings are made in the special machines mentioned earlier; it's confirmed the Metru Nui Matoran's machines are in Metru Nui, for example. Presumably there are similar machines in other places throughout the MU.

 

Pardon if I have misunderstood the question.

 

 

 

To the above three posts -- IMO, the facts that Makuta can make Matoran, and that the method for making Matoran isn't going to be revealed, proves that the Makuta virus method is not how it's done (okay, virtually proves it). If they were the same, then surely we would just have been told that Makuta make Rahi "somehow" too, or have been told how Matoran are made. And the Makuta's method doesn't even require a special machine, does it? Although you could argue that a machine makes the virus... Still, these two facts seem to imply the opposite of the idea that the methods could be the same.

Edited March 25, 2014 by bonesiii

[Kopekemaster]

 

The Makuta can also create Matoran, and as Artahka can create Toa if given the right materials, I would assume he could create Matoran as well with help from Mata Nui. That the Makuta can create Matoran has always made me think it involves a similar process to Rahi Creation, using Viruses (or similar information-carrying energy) and Liquid Proto.

The Makuta can create Matoran? Source please? As far as I know, they can't.

I'm not sure whether it's true or not, nor do I know of a source of this knowledge, but it would somewhat make sense, seeing that the Makuta were able to make other creatures.

[Zox Tomana]

Fishers, all I can tell you was that it was a Greg thing. I can't point you where, I can't point you when. My ability to tell you where and when was lost when BS01 lost its data in the crashes, and absolutely destroyed by BZP's dataloss. I can assure you it was there before the crashes and not "slipped in" when the saves where re-uploaded, but you've unfortunately only got my word and BS01's integrity statement to go on =/

[V-N]

You would think that, if the Makuta could make Matoran, they would make themselves some Shadow Matoran, instead of draining the light from current Matoran (though that was more for disrupting the good guys than anything). I don't find it hard to believe that they could (or at least experimentally find out) if they had the material or machines, but we would have seen a lot more evil Matoran running around the MU if the Makuta did have the ability and resources.

 

(It's also hard to deny bonseiii's logical argument.)

[TERIDAX941]

You would think that, if the Makuta could make Matoran, they would make themselves some Shadow Matoran, instead of draining the light from current Matoran (though that was more for disrupting the good guys than anything). I don't find it hard to believe that they could (or at least experimentally find out) if they had the material or machines, but we would have seen a lot more evil Matoran running around the MU if the Makuta did have the ability and resources.

 

(It's also hard to deny bonseiii's logical argument.)

I think it was stated that Shadow Matoran can't be naturally made, that the only way to achieve that status was to drain a normal matoran of their light. Now, if a bunch of Makuta put their heads together, maybe just maybe they might think of a way to make one naturally, but it would be a totally new phenomenon, because up to a certain point there weren't any shadow matoran ever, until the Makuta invented the shadow leeches. But I doubt that the Makuta would take the time, it's so much simpler to capture already existing Matoran and drain them of their light than create brand new matoran.

[V-N]

I don't think it would be that hard, if you knew how to create a Matoran, to include a light barrier in their anatomy. Sure, Shadow Matoran may not be a natural breed of Matoran, but it doesn't sound that you would have to do much tampering with the recipe to make one.

 

But the point is moot; Makuta can't make Matoran, so whether they can make Shadow Matoran is immaterial.

[JAG18]

But the point is moot; Makuta can't make Matoran, so whether they can make Shadow Matoran is immaterial.

As far as I know, the source BS01 uses, in saying that Makuta can make Matoran, is correct.

[Azani]

I can understand that a Matoran could be killed or die of disease, would they die of age as well?

I once read that they can, somewhat surprisingly. A Matoran, as well as a Toa or a Turaga, can die of old age, though they typically live many times the length of a human lifespan. Takua/Takanuva, who is over 100,000 years old, doesn't show any signs of old age such as physical infirmity or senility (Imagine if he did and the Turaga didn't... that would be hilarious) The point at which a Matoran is at risk of dying purely from old age is clearly above the 100,000 year mark.

[Katuko]

 

I can understand that a Matoran could be killed or die of disease, would they die of age as well?

I once read that they can, somewhat surprisingly. A Matoran, as well as a Toa or a Turaga, can die of old age, though they typically live many times the length of a human lifespan. Takua/Takanuva, who is over 100,000 years old, doesn't show any signs of old age such as physical infirmity or senility (Imagine if he did and the Turaga didn't... that would be hilarious) The point at which a Matoran is at risk of dying purely from old age is clearly above the 100,000 year mark.

 

They can die of old age, but it would take a very, very long time. If it is correct as we've theorized that metal parts can just be replaced and that the organic protodermis can regrow itself from scratch (as with the Toa Mata's muscle tissue), then you'd be hard pressed to find any part of a Matoran that seems as old as they actually are. They'd have to wear out their organic generator parts, and if those parts can just be replaced...

[TERIDAX941]

 

 

I can understand that a Matoran could be killed or die of disease, would they die of age as well?

I once read that they can, somewhat surprisingly. A Matoran, as well as a Toa or a Turaga, can die of old age, though they typically live many times the length of a human lifespan. Takua/Takanuva, who is over 100,000 years old, doesn't show any signs of old age such as physical infirmity or senility (Imagine if he did and the Turaga didn't... that would be hilarious) The point at which a Matoran is at risk of dying purely from old age is clearly above the 100,000 year mark.

 

They can die of old age, but it would take a very, very long time. If it is correct as we've theorized that metal parts can just be replaced and that the organic protodermis can regrow itself from scratch (as with the Toa Mata's muscle tissue), then you'd be hard pressed to find any part of a Matoran that seems as old as they actually are. They'd have to wear out their organic generator parts, and if those parts can just be replaced...

 

Or they can be attacked by Voporak, that's the quickest way to die of old age haha

[Jam Pot Studios]

I always thought it was kinda' weird how long Agori live. For MU inhabitants it makes sense - they're robots - but for the Agori and Glatorian it felt like an odd thing to add.

[Katuko]

Yeah, same here. Then again, with the kind of time span BIONICLE usually uses, I guess they didn't want to do a timeskip-story in the new setting where Tahu stays the same but Gresh's family goes through a few generations in the interim ("No, I know I look like him, but I'm actually the third grandson of the guy you knew before you left on your so-called short vacation. It's been two hundred years, man.").

 

That said, there could be potential there, with the Agori at least aging more compared to MU beings. Certavus is the only named character I can recall that died of natural aging.

[ALVIS]

The theory is that the Agori/Glatorian have extended lifespans due to GB implants. After all, if our world had super-imaginative scientist-rulers with that level of technology, "immortality devices" would be a top priority, would they not?

[fishers64]

The theory is that the Agori/Glatorian have extended lifespans due to GB implants. After all, if our world had super-imaginative scientist-rulers with that level of technology, "immortality devices" would be a top priority, would they not?

Well, yeah. If they could build biomechanical beings that last for 100,000 years, why wouldn't they use that tech on themselves and on the Agori?