Where'd These Masks Come From?

[TheSkeletonMan939]

I stumbled upon a couple images of what look like Kanohi prototypes for the very first wave of BIONICLE sets in 2001. Can anyone enlighten me as to what the source was for these images?

 

 

 

 

[Takama Metru]

Nope, no idea; in fact, this is the first time I've ever seen those prototypes. Were those images found out in the open?

[Xboxtravis]

Well I found this Brickshelf page but that doesn't help a lot:

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=508889

[Tarn]

Well I found this Brickshelf page but that doesn't help a lot:

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=508889

Oh my god they're huge.

[Aanchir]

These images were from a LEGO Club article back in 2002. BZPower reported on it here. Here's an archived version of the story, but the links to pages 2 and 3 don't work.

[Cheesy Mac n Cheese]

I remember seeing those on the LEGO site a really long time ago, probably 2002-2003. It was an article about the origins of the BIONICLE franchise. It talked about the Pacific island cultures that inspired the island of Mata Nui, early set prototypes (specifically, this one) and, of course, these mask prototypes. There was this one really freaky one, too:

 

[Taria Pakari]

Honestly I'm surprised that one hasn't been 3D modelled and put up on shapeways yet.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

There was this one really freaky one, too:

 

Hmm... I wonder if that was intended for Gali or Kopaka.

The tubes seem to look like they could be for breathing underwater - and the shape is certainly similar to Gali's final design.

But on the other hand it has one of those electronic eye things that Kopaka had in the end.

[Arzaki]

I'm pretty sure I've seen that first one used as an avatar for a BZP member before. As for the others, look at that Kakama's eyeholes. Imagine that on Pohatu.

[FrozenPancake_]

I'm pretty sure I've seen that first one used as an avatar for a BZP member before. As for the others, look at that Kakama's eyeholes. Imagine that on Pohatu.

 

I'm not sure if those eyeholes would even line up with Pohatu's eyes. But I still like it anyway.

 

The prototype Komau is cool; it's symmetrical! 

 

The mask in the first photo looks like it could have been a prototype for the Rau to me. 

 

The prototype Ruru seems to have more sharply angled eyeholes than the final version. Interesting.

Edited June 23, 2016 by FrozenPancake_

[Wrinkledlion X]

I remember seeing those on the LEGO site a really long time ago, probably 2002-2003. It was an article about the origins of the BIONICLE franchise. It talked about the Pacific island cultures that inspired the island of Mata Nui, early set prototypes (specifically, this one) and, of course, these mask prototypes. There was this one really freaky one, too:

 

 

I always liked this one. Makes me think of a Toa of Ice Cream. 

[Kid Icarus]

 

 

There was this one really freaky one, too:

Hmm... I wonder if that was intended for Gali or Kopaka.

The tubes seem to look like they could be for breathing underwater - and the shape is certainly similar to Gali's final design.

But on the other hand it has one of those electronic eye things that Kopaka had in the end.

I'm gonna throw in my hypothetical two cents and say it's a mask designed for underwater. Looking at the "breathing tubes" on the front combined with the flat, squinty eyes looking like a diver's mask. The thing on top that resembles Kopaka's scope could easily be a light as it gets dark underwater.

[emily]

 

There was this one really freaky one, too:

 

Hmm... I wonder if that was intended for Gali or Kopaka.

The tubes seem to look like they could be for breathing underwater - and the shape is certainly similar to Gali's final design.

But on the other hand it has one of those electronic eye things that Kopaka had in the end.

 

It's a unused concept, as it's labelled in the article Aanchir linked. It isn't outright said, but the implication is that they just made a ton of masks then chose the best and assigned them to models.

[Rooster Nui]

The one shown at the very top looks like a part of Vezon's infused Ignika. Does anyone else think that?

[Hovoki Zehvor]

I remember seeing those on the LEGO site a really long time ago, probably 2002-2003. It was an article about the origins of the BIONICLE franchise. It talked about the Pacific island cultures that inspired the island of Mata Nui, early set prototypes (specifically, this one) and, of course, these mask prototypes. There was this one really freaky one, too:

 

It kind of makes me think of an Mata Nui Onu Matoran. It looks like a mining helmet and has a subterranean feel. 

 

I'd like to see the very first mask posted here in G2! It looks very Okotan to me. 

[Toa of Ice - 1987]

The one shown at the very top looks like a part of Vezon's infused Ignika. Does anyone else think that?

 

It does have part of the mouth on the prototype. But that in my opinion that was probably a prototype that was scrapped and reimagined for turaga whenua's noble ruru mask.

Edited June 24, 2016 by necross hordika

[CyclonatorZ]

I'm going to guess that the particularly freaky prototype mask people are dicussing were designed back when the line was transitioning from the Voodoo Heads concept to the Bionicle we know and love. Perhaps it was even part of the initial batch of Doo Head concepts that was said to have freaked out the test audience, leading to the design overhaul.

Edited June 24, 2016 by ~~Zarkan~~