Prototype Sets

[Sybre]

With the exception of the Kikanalo and Avak's face, I can't say I ever really preferred a prototype to a final model. I mean, this could've been Pohatu:

For this one, I'd say I prefer the final, fatter model.

[Gatanui]

With the exception of the Kikanalo and Avak's face, I can't say I ever really preferred a prototype to a final model. I mean, this could've been Pohatu:

For this one, I'd say I prefer the final, fatter model.

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I´ve ever seen. :PI find all those Rahaga and Keetongu prototypes highly interesting. They look strangely metallic and not even like LEGO sets if it weren´t for a few pieces.-Gata

[Lyichir]

With the exception of the Kikanalo and Avak's face, I can't say I ever really preferred a prototype to a final model. I mean, this could've been Pohatu:*snip*

For this one, I'd say I prefer the final, fatter model.

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I´ve ever seen. :PI find all those Rahaga and Keetongu prototypes highly interesting. They look strangely metallic and not even like LEGO sets if it weren´t for a few pieces.-Gata

From what I can tell, an early stage of prototyping for BIONICLE sets involved welding parts together to get a feel for the general form they would shoot for. That, or it's possible that prototypes of this sort were actually prototypes for their movie designs, rather than set prototypes like the others. I think I've seen a Kikanalo prototype in the same "style" as this, so the latter isn't outside the realm of possibility. Edited April 4, 2012 by Ortographobia

[Sybre]

With the exception of the Kikanalo and Avak's face, I can't say I ever really preferred a prototype to a final model. I mean, this could've been Pohatu:

For this one, I'd say I prefer the final, fatter model.

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I´ve ever seen. -Gata

I can kinda see why they scrapped it. It doesn't look anything like a Toa. More like a Rahi, though. I surely wouldn't be seen exiting a store with that.

[Aanchir]

With the exception of the Kikanalo and Avak's face, I can't say I ever really preferred a prototype to a final model. I mean, this could've been Pohatu:*snip*

For this one, I'd say I prefer the final, fatter model.

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I´ve ever seen. :PI find all those Rahaga and Keetongu prototypes highly interesting. They look strangely metallic and not even like LEGO sets if it weren´t for a few pieces.-Gata

From what I can tell, an early stage of prototyping for BIONICLE sets involved welding parts together to get a feel for the general form they would shoot for. That, or it's possible that prototypes of this sort were actually prototypes for their movie designs, rather than set prototypes like the others. I think I've seen a Kikanalo prototype in the same "style" as this, so the latter isn't outside the realm of possibility.

I think, regarding the similarities between movie depictions and prototypes, that's more likely a case of the larger characters in the movies being based on prototype versions of the characters since producing the movie takes longer than producing the sets, and the larger set designs would not be finalized when the character models are being rendered.

[Lyichir]

With the exception of the Kikanalo and Avak's face, I can't say I ever really preferred a prototype to a final model. I mean, this could've been Pohatu:

For this one, I'd say I prefer the final, fatter model.

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I´ve ever seen. -Gata

I can kinda see why they scrapped it. It doesn't look anything like a Toa. More like a Rahi, though. I surely wouldn't be seen exiting a store with that.

Keep in mind that this is a VERY early prototype. No one knew what a Toa looked like at that point because there were no Toa. In fact, I think this is from even before the name "BIONICLE" had been settled on; at this stage they were still "Bone Heads of Voodoo Island". That would explain the lack of a mask; at this point the plan was to give them heads which could be knocked off instead.But I too am glad the actual Pohatu didn't end up like that.

[Dralcax]

With the exception of the Kikanalo and Avak's face, I can't say I ever really preferred a prototype to a final model. I mean, this could've been Pohatu:

For this one, I'd say I prefer the final, fatter model.

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I´ve ever seen. -Gata

I can kinda see why they scrapped it. It doesn't look anything like a Toa. More like a Rahi, though. I surely wouldn't be seen exiting a store with that.

Keep in mind that this is a VERY early prototype. No one knew what a Toa looked like at that point because there were no Toa. In fact, I think this is from even before the name "BIONICLE" had been settled on; at this stage they were still "Bone Heads of Voodoo Island". That would explain the lack of a mask; at this point the plan was to give them heads which could be knocked off instead.But I too am glad the actual Pohatu didn't end up like that.

I'm pretty sure that's just a random MOC.

[Toa Zaz]

That prototype Witch Doctor was WAY better than the final product...

[Gatanui]

With the exception of the Kikanalo and Avak's face, I can't say I ever really preferred a prototype to a final model. I mean, this could've been Pohatu:

For this one, I'd say I prefer the final, fatter model.

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I´ve ever seen. -Gata

I can kinda see why they scrapped it. It doesn't look anything like a Toa. More like a Rahi, though. I surely wouldn't be seen exiting a store with that.

Keep in mind that this is a VERY early prototype. No one knew what a Toa looked like at that point because there were no Toa. In fact, I think this is from even before the name "BIONICLE" had been settled on; at this stage they were still "Bone Heads of Voodoo Island". That would explain the lack of a mask; at this point the plan was to give them heads which could be knocked off instead.But I too am glad the actual Pohatu didn't end up like that.

I'm pretty sure that's just a random MOC.

It can´t be a MOC because this part was never released in brown.-Gata Edited April 6, 2012 by Gatanui

[Dralcax]

With the exception of the Kikanalo and Avak's face, I can't say I ever really preferred a prototype to a final model. I mean, this could've been Pohatu:

For this one, I'd say I prefer the final, fatter model.

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I´ve ever seen. -Gata

I can kinda see why they scrapped it. It doesn't look anything like a Toa. More like a Rahi, though. I surely wouldn't be seen exiting a store with that.

Keep in mind that this is a VERY early prototype. No one knew what a Toa looked like at that point because there were no Toa. In fact, I think this is from even before the name "BIONICLE" had been settled on; at this stage they were still "Bone Heads of Voodoo Island". That would explain the lack of a mask; at this point the plan was to give them heads which could be knocked off instead.But I too am glad the actual Pohatu didn't end up like that.

I'm pretty sure that's just a random MOC.

It can´t be a MOC because this part was never released in brown.-Gata

Paint? Misprint? Fake?

[Ballom Nom Nom]

Dralcax, why is it so hard to admit it may be real? Some other prototypes have been that ugly. ~B~

[Power Of Gresh]

Prototypes many times are not as well developed as final releases. There are some cooler aspects, but they were probably too expensive to produce.

[Lyichir]

With the exception of the Kikanalo and Avak's face, I can't say I ever really preferred a prototype to a final model. I mean, this could've been Pohatu:

For this one, I'd say I prefer the final, fatter model.

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I´ve ever seen. -Gata

I can kinda see why they scrapped it. It doesn't look anything like a Toa. More like a Rahi, though. I surely wouldn't be seen exiting a store with that.

Keep in mind that this is a VERY early prototype. No one knew what a Toa looked like at that point because there were no Toa. In fact, I think this is from even before the name "BIONICLE" had been settled on; at this stage they were still "Bone Heads of Voodoo Island". That would explain the lack of a mask; at this point the plan was to give them heads which could be knocked off instead.But I too am glad the actual Pohatu didn't end up like that.

I'm pretty sure that's just a random MOC.

It's not a MOC. I don't remember the source, but this was indeed an early prototype for what would become BIONICLE. I don't think it's certain that this has any connection to Pohatu besides being a brown set, though, especially considering that since so little of the model is finalized it's not a sure thing that the color is finalized either.

[Ektris]

...I don't remember the Krika, Hahli, or Nuparu prototypes you mentioned at all. Can we get some pictures of those?But anyways, I generally think the final products were better than what prototypes we have seen. I do like the final 2003 Matoran torso design more (it looks more natural), the prototype Kikanalo looks like it would have been far too rigid, the prototype Kongu Inika was atrocious...My only exception would be the Tower of Toa prototype, solely because of how incredible that Keetongu would have been to own.~|ET|~

Here'sa Brickshelf gallery (not my own) that compiles a lot of prototype images. The Krika prototype can be seen here and here (more info on Krika's development, including concept sketches and a better photo of this prototype, can be seen here on the website of the designer David Bird).The Hahli prototype people keep raving about can be seen here (those flippers do look nice, although I prefer the harpoon, mask, and color scheme from the final version). The corresponding Nuparu prototype is here (again, the mask is OK but I prefer the masks and weapons of the final set) and the corresponding Jaller prototype is here. The Toa Inika from this stage of prototypes were all evidently going to have Toa Metru heads and "auxiliary tools" in addition to their main weapons (of these, only Nuparu's claws were kept, in a simpler form of course). It's a nice idea, though factors like the mask designs and color scheme are obviously still in a very early design phase and would have changed significantly for the final products.

Oh wow, I can't believe I forgot about those Toa prototypes. Yeah, I'd say only Hahli's fins were things I would've liked to see. I definitely remember them now.And how could I forget about the Sand Tarakava? That's one I'd like for completely personal reasons. :PThe green Gukko wouldn't have been too bad either.Everything else... Yeah, I'm happy with what we got.~|ET|~

[Gatanui]

With the exception of the Kikanalo and Avak's face, I can't say I ever really preferred a prototype to a final model. I mean, this could've been Pohatu:

For this one, I'd say I prefer the final, fatter model.

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I´ve ever seen. -Gata

I can kinda see why they scrapped it. It doesn't look anything like a Toa. More like a Rahi, though. I surely wouldn't be seen exiting a store with that.

Keep in mind that this is a VERY early prototype. No one knew what a Toa looked like at that point because there were no Toa. In fact, I think this is from even before the name "BIONICLE" had been settled on; at this stage they were still "Bone Heads of Voodoo Island". That would explain the lack of a mask; at this point the plan was to give them heads which could be knocked off instead.But I too am glad the actual Pohatu didn't end up like that.

I'm pretty sure that's just a random MOC.

It's not a MOC. I don't remember the source, but this was indeed an early prototype for what would become BIONICLE. I don't think it's certain that this has any connection to Pohatu besides being a brown set, though, especially considering that since so little of the model is finalized it's not a sure thing that the color is finalized either.

I´m pretty sure this is the source.-Gata

[Aanchir]

With the exception of the Kikanalo and Avak's face, I can't say I ever really preferred a prototype to a final model. I mean, this could've been Pohatu:

For this one, I'd say I prefer the final, fatter model.

That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I´ve ever seen. -Gata

I can kinda see why they scrapped it. It doesn't look anything like a Toa. More like a Rahi, though. I surely wouldn't be seen exiting a store with that.

Keep in mind that this is a VERY early prototype. No one knew what a Toa looked like at that point because there were no Toa. In fact, I think this is from even before the name "BIONICLE" had been settled on; at this stage they were still "Bone Heads of Voodoo Island". That would explain the lack of a mask; at this point the plan was to give them heads which could be knocked off instead.But I too am glad the actual Pohatu didn't end up like that.

I'm pretty sure that's just a random MOC.

It's not a MOC. I don't remember the source, but this was indeed an early prototype for what would become BIONICLE. I don't think it's certain that this has any connection to Pohatu besides being a brown set, though, especially considering that since so little of the model is finalized it's not a sure thing that the color is finalized either.

I´m pretty sure this is the source.-Gata

Actually, I think this is, although sadly the second and third pages and the larger versions of the images are no longer available. The description fits. If the larger image were still around, it'd be here.Thankfully, many of the images from that article can be seen here: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=47820

[Wrinkledlion X]

Oh, thank God those foam mask pics are still available. I had forgotten about those. (I like this one, it makes me think of an old-timey ice cream shop.)

[Sybre]

Oh, thank God those foam mask pics are still available. I had forgotten about those. (I like this one, it makes me think of an old-timey ice cream shop.)

I'm sure glad THAT mask wasn't accepted!

[Lewa97]

I think the prototype Inika masks are cooler than the finals. I mean, those rubber masks are practically useless for MOCs.