Max_Nui Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 I was browsing the interwebs today and found this article about the early days of Bionicle: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2001/08/19/lego-plots-a-comeback/8b0fdf1f-534b-4996-8429-b45ac055d9d6/ Its a fascinating read, as it was written before many of the sets were released. Really gives you a perspective on how the theme was viewed externally. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Six Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 Fun fact: I was interviewed for this story but I guess they didn't like what I had to say. I'm pretty sure I have a print copy of it somewhere. Also, BZPower wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the two people mentioned here: Quote Christian Gemuenden, a 20-year-old student in southern Germany, started a Bionicle site but had to shut it down after it attracted too much traffic. Gemuenden, who follows changes to the Bionicle story closely, has collected the 72 masks of power. "I have them all, but there'll be more," he said. Gemuenden is now helping to gather information for British friend Michael Edwards, 19, webmaster of a fan site launched in March. It lists the characters, the story and news about rare collectible masks. Edwards has found about 32 promotional masks that haven't yet been widely released. Christian and Mike ran fan sites that eventually merged to become Kanohi Power, which merged with BZCommunity to become BZPower! 10 Quote Bio of a BZP Admin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSLBrowning Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 1 hour ago, Black Six said: Christian and Mike ran fan sites that eventually merged to become Kanohi Power, which merged with BZCommunity to become BZPower! BZPower... is a Kaita. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckschwa Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 I'm pretty sure I cut out this article and still have it saved somewhere.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheesy Mac n Cheese Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 (edited) Do you think there are any TV news recordings mentioning it? Stuff like this. I mean, I know it was never a craze quite like that example, but maybe some report about popular Christmas toys or something, and they happen to mention Tahu, or the Bahrag. Edited May 5, 2021 by Cheesy Mac n Cheese 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...
Toa Hovoki Zehvor Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 I had a chuckle at the article describing the '01 sets as "futuristic-looking". I remember feeling like the Bohrok were the most space-age toys imaginable when I first had my parents help me build them in '03, and then being awestruck every year thereafter after as each wave seemed to top the last! 11 hours ago, Max Nui said: I was browsing the interwebs today and found this article about the early days of Bionicle: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2001/08/19/lego-plots-a-comeback/8b0fdf1f-534b-4996-8429-b45ac055d9d6/ Its a fascinating read, as it was written before many of the sets were released. Really gives you a perspective on how the theme was viewed externally. Thanks for finding and posting this, it really does add an important perspective that gets lost sometimes: that Bionicle truly was a phenomenon that was hard not to take notice of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synan Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 I love how the Mindstorms sets were considered "expensive" for LEGO sets at $199.99. I only wish the high-end sets were still under that price. Quote Insert signature here Scrap that idea. I'm leaving mine blank. Except for this: My BZPRPG characters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zidonaro Posted May 7, 2021 Share Posted May 7, 2021 The vocabulary... My goodness, it screams early 2000s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humble_Matoran Posted May 7, 2021 Share Posted May 7, 2021 This is fascinating. Bionicle really did have such a large impact on the toy industry and really the culture for many kids (myself included) growing up in that era. Great find! Quote currently searching for ANY Gray Plastic Krana Kal (GPKK) If you were a member of Proto-squad, or know someone who was, please feel free to get in contact with me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xboxtravis Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 Breathlessly mumbling phrases about Bionicle lore that most people don't understand? That's still me. Quote All aboard the hype train! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planetperson Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 I've never seen this article before, and it's actually quite fascinating. It's something to see rumors about the early days of Bionicle confirmed in print. The 2001 SUV tours are news to me! Quote July 2009 Comic Scans | MNOLG Soundtrack Official Greg Discussion Weekly Digest | My Lego Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorahloflekoro Posted May 27, 2021 Share Posted May 27, 2021 I just ran into something that reminded me of something Bionicle and I ended up here (I was surprised I was able to guess my old password) - feels weird looking back ~20 years. I got hooked on the MNOLG and the community discussions, stories, etc. on here back when I was in middle school - Bionicle wouldn't have been as interesting to me without the connected online communities in addition to their new marketing strategies. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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