Fry Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Mata Nui translates into Great Face. I never noticed that... Quote Visit my Bionicle 2001 site recreation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballom Nom Nom Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 By whose translation?~B~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fry Posted October 4, 2014 Author Share Posted October 4, 2014 (edited) By whose translation? ~B~Mata Nui in Maori, the language in which Bionicle took words from before the lawsuit, translates into "Face Great". Edited October 4, 2014 by PrismWind Quote Visit my Bionicle 2001 site recreation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambion Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 that may be true, as the name was in fact taken from Maori. but Tolkien's Matoran language version sounds much better, don't you think? mata-nui |n.cmpd.| great master of spirit; great master-spirit [Frommata “master of spirit; master spirit” and nui “great, significant”] 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bioniclepluslotr Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I think that's the point. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toa Smoke Monster Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 *Looks up information himself* Hey, it actually does. I don't know if this was common knowledge or not, but I didn't know about it. It's just another cool hint about the MU robot. Quote Everyone is one choice away from being the bad guy in another person's story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banana Gunz Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Then that must mean... *gasp!*. Toa Mata translates into Face Hero! That's pretty cool though, for realsies. I sort of agree with Arc that Great "spirit" sounds better when translated, but it doesn't matter to me much anyway. It's cool to look back at all the hints of Mata-Nui being a giant robot in the past that we never though to pick up. 5 Quote tumblr: it's a lovely place to be if you've gone madflickr: mah yummy gross pics mmmPew Pew Pew Pew Pew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Windrider- Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I think this is better suited for S&T. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lorax Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Yeah, this was common knowledge. Also, Ihu (as in Mount Ihu in the middle of the island) translates as "nose". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thormen Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Yeah, this was common knowledge. Also, Ihu (as in Mount Ihu in the middle of the island) translates as "nose".It was indeed noticed before, along with Ihu meaning "nose", Mangai meaning "mouth", Naho meaning "eye"... Although the only words for which I can verify this translation at the moment are Nui and Ihu, Mata apparently means "eye" or "raw" in Maori... Anyway, it was noticed before, but apparently none of us took the hint and figured out it was actually the face of Mata Nui until 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Crane Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Huki (Now Hewkii, obviously) translates into "Hammer" Quote Add me on Steam!: Bionicdeadpool Productions TTV: Bionicdeadpool Twitter: Avenging_Odin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thormen Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Huki (Now Hewkii, obviously) translates into "Hammer"Well, yeah, but Hewkii isn't actually a hammer is he? A lot of 2001 names meant something in Maori or Hawaiian etc., but the OP's point was that the island of Mata Nui was actually covering the Great Spirit Robot's face, which was hinted at in the name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UngluedBike Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 Mind=Blown Quote Also, if you're a resident of the UK and like Bionicle, go ahead and join us at this awesome Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BFUK7/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toatapio Nuva Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 Old news. Still cool though. 2 Quote My BZPRPG profiles - Viima, Lai Lai Kirgan, Jarkale, Hile, Tuli + Kavala, Khervos, Thira Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mailli Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 Yeah, this was common knowledge. Also, Ihu (as in Mount Ihu in the middle of the island) translates as "nose".It was indeed noticed before, along with Ihu meaning "nose", Mangai meaning "mouth", Naho meaning "eye"... Although the only words for which I can verify this translation at the moment are Nui and Ihu, Mata apparently means "eye" or "raw" in Maori... Anyway, it was noticed before, but apparently none of us took the hint and figured out it was actually the face of Mata Nui until 2008 Wait, they planned that the MU was going to be a giant robot from the start? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irrie Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 Yeah, this was common knowledge. Also, Ihu (as in Mount Ihu in the middle of the island) translates as "nose".It was indeed noticed before, along with Ihu meaning "nose", Mangai meaning "mouth", Naho meaning "eye"... Although the only words for which I can verify this translation at the moment are Nui and Ihu, Mata apparently means "eye" or "raw" in Maori... Anyway, it was noticed before, but apparently none of us took the hint and figured out it was actually the face of Mata Nui until 2008 Wait, they planned that the MU was going to be a giant robot from the start? Oh yes. Christian Faber (I think it was him) was the guy that dreamed up the idea. Quote bZpOwEr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pomegranate Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 They've been laughing at us since Day One It was all right under our noses! Quote . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thormen Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 Wait, they planned that the MU was going to be a giant robot from the start?Oh yes. Christian Faber (I think it was him) was the guy that dreamed up the idea. There were a lot more hints as well, right from the start. There were promotional images showing the island of Mata Nui and an infected Hau merging into one face, symbolizing the two supposed brothers. In MNOLG the Onu-Koronans actually mined so deeply into the island they reached the hull of the Great Spirit Robot, it was referenced to as an "impenetrable rock layer". The initial videos detailing the legend in Amaja Nui (you know, with the stones in the sand) also showed how the Matoran stones moved on top of Mata Nui's face after he fell down and sank into the sand, symbolizing how the Matoran actually settled on his face on the island of Mata Nui. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banana Gunz Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 They've been laughing at us since Day One It was all right under our noses! Don't you mean right under our ihu's? 5 Quote tumblr: it's a lovely place to be if you've gone madflickr: mah yummy gross pics mmmPew Pew Pew Pew Pew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aanchir Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 Yeah, this was common knowledge. Also, Ihu (as in Mount Ihu in the middle of the island) translates as "nose".It was indeed noticed before, along with Ihu meaning "nose", Mangai meaning "mouth", Naho meaning "eye"... Although the only words for which I can verify this translation at the moment are Nui and Ihu, Mata apparently means "eye" or "raw" in Maori... Anyway, it was noticed before, but apparently none of us took the hint and figured out it was actually the face of Mata Nui until 2008 I listed a lot of possible place name origins here. It's also worth noting that the western coast of Mata Nui resembles the silhouette of a face. 2 Quote Latest MOC: PAIGE (Prototype Artificial Intelligence, Gynoid Expression) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuuli Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 You blew my mask off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fry Posted October 5, 2014 Author Share Posted October 5, 2014 Yeah, this was common knowledge. Also, Ihu (as in Mount Ihu in the middle of the island) translates as "nose".It was indeed noticed before, along with Ihu meaning "nose", Mangai meaning "mouth", Naho meaning "eye"... Although the only words for which I can verify this translation at the moment are Nui and Ihu, Mata apparently means "eye" or "raw" in Maori... Anyway, it was noticed before, but apparently none of us took the hint and figured out it was actually the face of Mata Nui until 2008 I listed a lot of possible place name origins here. It's also worth noting that the western coast of Mata Nui resembles the silhouette of a face. OMG. 'Nuff said. Quote Visit my Bionicle 2001 site recreation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrinkledlion X Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 I was actually the first to connect the place names with facial features, way back in 2008. I posted a topic theorizing that Mata Nui the island and Mata Nui the character were one and the same. Unfortunately I didn't connect the theory to the MU below, or I'd have really been on the right track. (PlanetPerson hit the correct theory like a week after mine.) For those of you who are shocked that all this was planned out from the beginning, here's a post I made that highlights old concept work, which shows just how thoroughly the entire story was based around the giant robot reveal. 1 Quote [bloog] [brickshelf] [This used to be my library but the link is broken] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuuli Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 The Turaga named the southern point of the island "Kauae Bay" which literally translates to "Chin bay" in the Māori language. Also going off the image of the infected hay, it almost symbolizes the mata-nui robot getting infected by Makita's virus. Almost like a toa wearing an infected mask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZippyWharrgarbl Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 Looking at the Maori and Matoran translations, I love the suggestion that perhaps faces or masks are associated with spirits in Matoran culture. I know it was meant to be a giant spoiler for Mata Nui's true form, but using the word for 'face' as the word for 'spirit' has some nice connotations. I mean, masks are pretty vital to the Matoran; they fall into a coma after a while without them. Even Toa are weakened without a mask. If you were a Matoran and wore a thing that would cause you to weaken and die without it, you'd attach a pretty big cultural significance to it. Not to mention, in MoL, it's shown that Jaller's grave has his mask floating upon it, and in MoMN, when Lhikan dies, he gives Vakama his mask. I may be thinking too hard about this, but it's a nice connection. 3 Quote Memoirs of the Dead entry: The Unknown Turaga, a tale from the late Chronicler Kodan's journal. Strakk's Best Friend, the story of a confusing yet somehow canon friendship. Terrible Comics, a collection of comics that are terrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheesy Mac n Cheese Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 (edited) Now this is interesting. Especially with Naho meaning "eye." Considering Mata Nui's eyes are the suns of Metru Nui (I think), and one of the sunholes is right under Naho Bay... EDIT: "Toa" can also apparently mean "shop" or "male." Buying a new face at the Toa Mata (face shop)? And putting Tahu into a translator gives me "husband." And Kini Nui gives me "Great Clips." Edited October 6, 2014 by Cheesy Mac n Cheese 1 Quote My friend went to Po-Wahi and all I got was this lousy rock. Blue sea...a Ruki leaps...the sound of water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrinkledlion X Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 The Turaga named the southern point of the island "Kauae Bay" which literally translates to "Chin bay" in the Māori language. Also going off the image of the infected hay, it almost symbolizes the mata-nui robot getting infected by Makita's virus. Almost like a toa wearing an infected mask. Well the island is also, in effect, a giant mask that Mata Nui is wearing. 1 Quote [bloog] [brickshelf] [This used to be my library but the link is broken] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thormen Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 I was just rereading 2001 comics, and the intro to Comic #2 might be interpreted quite literally now: In the time before time, when the world was new... ... the Great Spirit descended from the skies like a burning star. He walked the world, and marvelled at its beauty, and watched over all living things... The part about him walking the world isn't actually canon anymore (I think Greg said at one point Mata Nui was hovering above Aqua Magna studying aquatic life, but somewhere else that he was on his way back to Bara Magna and fell from the sky), but I think it's quite possible it was envisioned this way in the earliest story bibles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Crane Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 I was just rereading 2001 comics, and the intro to Comic #2 might be interpreted quite literally now: In the time before time, when the world was new...... the Great Spirit descended from the skies like a burning star.He walked the world, and marvelled at its beauty, and watched over all living things...The part about him walking the world isn't actually canon anymore (I think Greg said at one point Mata Nui was hovering above Aqua Magna studying aquatic life, but somewhere else that he was on his way back to Bara Magna and fell from the sky), but I think it's quite possible it was envisioned this way in the earliest story bibles. good point Quote Add me on Steam!: Bionicdeadpool Productions TTV: Bionicdeadpool Twitter: Avenging_Odin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nidhiki of the Shadows Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Man loved how the naming was so obvious yet the twist still got us in 2008. No matter what anyone says, Mata Nui's true form was an amazing and well-hidden plot point. -NotS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Undertaken Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 Darn straight, some brilliantly done foreshadowing back in day one! I can only hope that the new storyline is able to set something up like that that ends up even half as well done, something that when they finally the grand reveal we'll be looking at it maybe several years down the road and still noticing stuff that we missed. Quote -END OF LINE- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSciFiGuy Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 *dead*. Huh. I feel like I knew this before...but still. Wow. Good thing I was a kid back then or else I'd ruin one of the biggest reveals of my childhood. Quote Bionicle: ANP aims to create narrated versions of all the Bionicle books, with voice actors for each character, and music taken from various media to enhance the story. Check here if you're interested in voicing a character, and here for the chapters that've already been released!Formerly: Tahu Nuva 3.0Looking for a Bionicle Beanie. Black one with the symbol on it. Contact me if you are willing to sell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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