Inika Prototype Source

[Dorkpool]

So there are pictures of prototype set designs for some of the Inika, most notably Jaller, Nuparu, Hahli, and Hewkii (and I think there's sort of one for Kongu). These pictures are fascinating looks into what could have been, and are accepted as true prototype images, but there's one question I have, and was wondering if anyone knew the answer to:

Where did they come from? What's the source of these pictures? They appear to be from some magazine, but which one?

Does anyone know?

 

Oh, here are the pictures, if you're curious or need a refresher:

Nuparu

Hewkii

Hahli

Jaller

Kongu

Oddly enough, there's no prototype picture for Matoro.

[Bonkle]

Oh, cool! I've seen the Nuparu one before, but I didn't know there were any for the other members. Strange that Matoro is missing. I have no clue where these came from. (I know, I'm not very helpful. )

Edited August 3, 2015 by Bonkle

[Tahu3.0]

Prototypes look                 prototypeish.

                       (so obvious)

Edited August 3, 2015 by Tahu3.0

[Evergrey: Toa of Music]

I don't know where they came from either... However, I really would like the masks that Nuparu, Jaller, and Hahli have. I like those designs quite a bit. The one Kongu has is a little...off...

[Dorkpool]

I don't know where they came from either... However, I really would like the masks that Nuparu, Jaller, and Hahli have. I like those designs quite a bit. The one Kongu has is a little...off...

In multiple forums I've visited, I notice people seem to gush about Nuparu's claws, then say they're basically the 2008 claws.

[doodleloot]

These are from the german Bionicle comics from 2006.

 

 

Oddly enough, there's no prototype picture for Matoro.

 

There's actually another picture of the prototype Toa Inika that not a lot of people seem to know of. It features Matoro on some sort of weird hoverboard.

(Thanks to Toa-Nuva from chronistmagazin.de for scanning the picture for me)

Edited August 3, 2015 by doodleloot

[Tahu3.0]

They look so weird.

[Evergrey: Toa of Music]

I actually like them. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Inika sets, but these prototypes look amazing! I kind of wish we got these instead of the Hordika...

[Dorkpool]

These are from the german Bionicle comics from 2006.

 

 

Oddly enough, there's no prototype picture for Matoro.

 

There's actually another picture of the prototype Toa Inika that not a lot of people seem to know of. It features Matoro on some sort of weird hoverboard.

I have never seen Matoro before. Actually, that's the first time I've seen the image in full.

Awesome.

[Petewa]

I'm headcanoning prototypes of the inks masks as the normal, unorganized versions.

[evil_jaga_genius]

Huh... now that's cool, Kongu was supposed to have wings.  So he actually COULD fly.  I'm kinda wishing they kept those designs instead of having four Toa who were basically clones of each other...   Welp, back to the Lego box...

[Wazdakka]

Wow! These are really cool and different. Kind of want to try building some approximations of them now...

[Evergrey: Toa of Music]

The masks that Nuparu and Kongu have in the prototypes are arguably better than the ones that we got in the sets.

[Sumiki]

I actually really like Jaller's mask.

[Bfahome]

Oh my god I have seen these images so many times over the years but I am just now realizing that the prototype Jaller uses part of the Kolhii hammer piece on his mask he is literally a Kolhii-head.

[Paleo]

That Hewkii is so much better than what we got. And all it took was the mask. Kongu's mask is also pretty weird (from what I can tell it looks like a Great Ruru with mandibles), but it's kinda growing on me (also probably better than what we got).

 

But those colors hurt my eyes. A LOT.

[sydorack]

Wow if these were what the inika actually ended up being, I would have liked them sooooo much more. These are all so awesome.

[Dibble Flubwibbler of DOOM]

just think,in an alternate universe,people are gushing about how weird the hahli we got in this universe looks weird without the fins,as in the final products and the prototypes flipped places.(i know i articulated that statement badly. hopefully you still get my point.)

[Evergrey: Toa of Music]

just think,in an alternate universe,people are gushing about how weird the hahli we got in this universe looks weird without the fins,as in the final products and the prototypes flipped places.(i know i articulated that statement badly. hopefully you still get my point.)

Or the alternate universe in which these were the scrapped prototypes for Bionicle's canceled year

[Naota Takizawa]

The kanohi on all the toa Inika except Hewkii seem to be spliced from existing masks and parts. Can anyone identify any of them?

[rednas3636]

The kanohi on all the toa Inika except Hewkii seem to be spliced from existing masks and parts. Can anyone identify any of them?

 

well hahli's head looks like nokama's

[Tea-rex]

Kongu looks like a giant green wasp. Hey, wait a minute!

Also on the Kongu front, it seems his mask went through two different designs before settling on the weird ogre one we got. Thinking about it, how do we know that the prototype Kongu we see on the wiki is Kongu? We have no source for it, for all we know it could be Hahli or Matoro.

But oh my, these sets look so cool. They really seemed to be trying to theme them around a thing like they tried with the Barraki in 2007; Hahli the scuba diver, Matoro the Skier, Kongu the wasp, Jaller the Pyro, Hewkii the Axonn, Nuparu the uh... uh...  gunzerker? I dunno.

I wish we got those masks though. Much better than the rubber ones we got, even if they are just prototypes.

 

And the translation of the other teaser:

THE TOA INIKA

The latest heroes of Voya Nui have made it their task to liberate the enslaved inhabitants of the island (kingdom - not sure if Googles got it on this one) and find the legendary mask of life. But, it is important to prevent the Piraka achieving this goal before them!

[masterchirox580]

Am I the only one who thinks that Nuparu and Hewkii's prototype weapons look better then the final versions?

[Evergrey: Toa of Music]

Am I the only one who thinks that Nuparu and Hewkii's prototype weapons look better then the final versions?

Their weapons are pretty sick, mainly Nuparu's. I think Hewkii's does look better than the final version, but not by much. Nuparu's however is amazing!

[doodleloot]

Another thing I find really odd about these prototypes is how all the new body parts (the torso, the new legs, shoulder and chest armor, ect.) seem to be finalized and ready for production, while parts like weapons and masks are mostly early prototypes. Maybe they didn't design the Inika build specifically for the Inika, but designed them as sort of a system in an attempt to standardize the builds of Bionicle figures to come? Sort of like the CCBS except worse.

[Aanchir]

Those prototype Toa Inika are awesome! I'd never seen that image with all six. It's cool that each Toa has not only a Zamor Launcher and a primary weapon, but also an extra accessory like a jetpack, wings, flippers, or a snowboard. It's a darn shame that the final sets only kept the extra accessories for Nuparu and Hewkii. Also, strangely, Jaller is the only one of the prototypes in that series without a light-up weapon, which leads me to wonder if it might have been his JETPACK that lit up...?

 

I do agree that the color schemes of some of the prototypes leave a lot to be desired, though, and moving away from such systematic color distribution into color schemes tailored to suit the individual characters is one of the big positive steps I think the Toa Inika sets made.

In answer to the original question, I'm not sure where all of the images are from, but the prototype Kongu that uses a modified Mask of Shadows was from a poster displayed at New York Toy Fair. It ended up confusing a lot of people since a much more finalized version of Toa Kongu was exhibited at the same event, so until people got confirmation from Greg it was understandably believed to be a previously unseen character.

[McNugget]

The kanohi on all the toa Inika except Hewkii seem to be spliced from existing masks and parts. Can anyone identify any of them?

Well Matoro Seems to have a little Vahi in there.

 

Kongu has Ruru(But in this Pic he has Kraahkan+Nokama Metru's Weapon.)

 

Hahli has Nokama Hordika

 

I think Nuparu is Kiril

 

And I can't Identify Jaller Because THOSE COLORS BURN MY EYES OHMYGOD.

Edited August 3, 2015 by Dragon11603

[MrSciFiGuy]

Ahhhh its been awhile since I saw these. Thanks for the refresh! Yea, most prototype models are existing pieces spliced together to form a rough idea. But man, some of these look like scuba gear for the Mahri. Almost as strange as the Visorak prototypes

[Blueblur21]

These look cool but the final versions are simply much better. 

[Rahkshi Lalonde]

man i woulda given my left leg for the more vibrant colors seen here,

 

if i recall, Kongu's prototype colorscheme of dark green and earth green was never actually ever used in a set? o:

[Naota Takizawa]

There's something jutting out at the bottom, anyone know where that came from?

[doodleloot]

There's something jutting out at the bottom, anyone know where that came from?

 

Probably just one of the Piraka weapons. The page that showed these prototypes always showed pictures of the characters in the comic with a brief character description.

Edited August 4, 2015 by doodleloot

[kathy]

I don't know where they came from either... However, I really would like the masks that Nuparu, Jaller, and Hahli have. I like those designs quite a bit. The one Kongu has is a little...off...

I think that mask looks like the Kraahkan's alternate side.

[Lyichir]

 

I don't know where they came from either... However, I really would like the masks that Nuparu, Jaller, and Hahli have. I like those designs quite a bit. The one Kongu has is a little...off...

I think that mask looks like the Kraahkan's alternate side.

 

That's because for the most part, that's exactly what it is. Most Bionicle parts start as other parts cut and glued together, in the very earliest prototype stages.

 

Though I think the person you replied to might have been referring to the one in the group shot, which is significantly different.

[Heir of the Chronicler]

Oh, wow. After all this time, I have never seen that group shot with Matoro before.

 

Jaller's looks pretty simple to make, actually. Kohlii staff, Rahkshi foot, Vorzakh staff, no?

 

- Heir

[renaldohoek]

I can think of 20 different things they could've done better with the Inika, but their giant rubber heads always took the cake. That prototype group picture just makes me all the more sad that they deviated from such a central concept in the final designs. These original guys honestly had a lot more going for them. 

 

Of course, there were a couple of bad decisions made in 2006.

Edited August 5, 2015 by renaldohoek