Anapouri

Understandable, and that sucks. I remember how finicky and picky school computers/laptops were. Can't do anything on them. ^^;

No, it's not. I was inspired by the idea of Rahkshi but she isn't one. She's basically just a snake with a suit. I can understand the opinion of the Nuva armor, but I used them because I like them. It helps balance out all of the angles and, due to her having an already extremely solid build, adds a soft touch to her appearance. I do want her to appear feminine. Other armor usage was too masculine for me and you wouldn't have been able to read her as a female unless I simply stated it. The snake mechanic is probably my favorite part of her. I keep taking her off of the suit just to wrap her around my wrist or something.

So I finally got around to revamping my Self Moc from 2012. I took an entirely different approach for her. I was inspired heavily by some Rahkshi designs that I had seen floating around here, but the construct is entirely my own take on a body chassis using the new CCBS system. I incorporated some Hero Factory parts that I had managed to pick up as well as many of the new elements from the 2015 BIONICLE theme. My concept for this design is that Anapouri is actually a snake-like entity that uses a suit in order to perform daily tasks and functions. Similar to the Rahkshi but in her own way. I constructed the MOC in two pieces. The first half was the body/torso frame. The second half was the snake body and head. The snake portion of her build attaches to her body via her back, creating a sturdy spine, tail, and reinforcing the build entirely. However, the body doesn't need her to be attached to support itself. She is extremely articulated and has little problems with pose ability. I made sure that the joints were free enough for a wide range of motions and action. There are no gear functions but I added some greebles in the neck area for flare. She dons a smiths hammer, used to forge weapons of the mightiest caliber, but formidable enough in its own right in case she needs to take matters into her own hands. ----------------- I even wrote a little Okoto style blurb to make her a little more interesting. I made her into a weaponsmith this time around, which is something I never normally go for when I make something so I thought it would be an interesting shift. ----------------- On the mythical island of Okoto, a lone smithery exists somewhere hidden among the mysteries of the lush forests and dark caverns. Anapouri, the serpentine blacksmith, carves her name in history by creating some of the most refined weapons on the island. Those who are rare to grace her presence often find themselves lost in the tales of old, a craft passed down through the ages for both the working class and the defenders of the islands many troubles. There is little she cannot forge, and a weapon that has passed through her dexterous fingers is sure to etch itself into the memories of those who bear witness to it. ----------------- Separated: http://i.imgur.com/yBgrCNB.jpg Full body: http://i.imgur.com/nwoW3hp.jpg http://i.imgur.com/MzXw0Nx.jpg http://i.imgur.com/RJeRMb6.jpg http://i.imgur.com/bkOMzyX.jpg http://i.imgur.com/lWRr2mb.jpg http://i.imgur.com/RyMa2WW.jpg http://i.imgur.com/h9hjHja.jpg http://i.imgur.com/3wyEP4K.jpg http://i.imgur.com/j6ichSu.jpg http://i.imgur.com/0el1DTt.jpg http://i.imgur.com/IES5SwX.jpg http://i.imgur.com/NMRmTvp.jpg

I agree, it's kind of cute! I wish the teeth were either chrome, white, or silver. Also, I remeber Gadunka having much larger feet. He seems a bit top heavy so I think larger feet with meatier thighs would look good on him. Also, I do miss his claws, but what you did for them is a nifty idea.

I'm trying to figure out where people are getting the term "lost". In the videos, it states that they were skattered and hidden away. It doesn't imply how they were skattered, so we can assume by visual cues that they were placed on these hidden structures and the Protectors are actings as guides for the Toa via memory.

Also at the beginning of the first video, they have the villagers sitting on top of poles in the water in meditative states, much like monks and warriors are depicted to do in stereotypically depicted asian culture references.

I want to say it's just because of the limited amount of sets so they just selected which masks to put in them. I want to assume the Skull warriors that they will be selling are ones that specific Toa end up fighting according to their location or element or something. They'll probably add Tahu and Gali in there at some point. Anyway, I want to say it's either the raw elemental energy of the golden mask or them being drained of their power or something. Who knows. We just have to wait and see I guess.

It may be a common motif, but I found it interesting, which is why I pointed it out. No need to dismiss it due to it being a commonality. I even gave links that explained and expressed the mythos of Muramasa and Masamune to help back up my statement, so you can't say there isn't any evidence of it being inspired or drawing from something as such. Even that in itself is to point out that it is drawing from SOMETHING in that general archetype if you consider it one. Just making discussion, you know? Also careful with the religious stuff, I think that's against the rules here? But yes it does seem to draw from the Christian Cane and Able mythos as well. ---- I think the Japanese myth stood out to me more in relation to Ekimu and Makuta due to the craftsman trade involved.

I want to agree that the Protectors hid them away. They are clearly leading the Toa to them.

I noticed that the backstory behind the current start of the G2 BIONICLE story seems to have a bit of inspiration drawing from the Japanese mythos of the rivalry between Muramasa and Masamune. If you're unfamiliar with the myth, you can check it out here. Though it's a historical Japanese myth, these two people did live in different eras for each other, but were known for forging legendary swords and became famous for the quality and mastery of their art. According to the myth, Muramasa, whose blades could cut and destroy with ease but were known for being bloodthirsty and cursed, was jealous of Masamune, whose swords were so powerful they could create and restore compared to destroy and kill. http://loreandlegends.blogspot.com/2008/07/muramasa-and-masamune.html http://pjj.cc/test2/register/viewer.php?su=Legend&fm=view http://afistfulofrubbish.tumblr.com/post/96664617501/10-000-cold-nights

I'll check out both places! Thank you for the information. If there are any others I'd be happy to know them too.

Recently, all of the G2 Toa, the Lord of Skull Spiders, and the Protectors (I bought them all). Before G2, the last G1 set I opened was one of the Makuta from the last arc, but I can't remember which one.

...A place that I can order CCBS parts from? I've searched all over the LEGO store online and I can't find any. I'd like to order a bunch of the newer elements to use in building projects.

I really wish the decals on the new Toa's chestpieces could be removed easily. I think they'd look tremendously better without them.

I'm just hoping that, whatever is the new Makuta whenever they get to that, that it looks good and has interesting functionality.

I may or may not be interested in those depending on the price.

Pretty much. I bought one of them to see what they were like when they first released them. Basically, they're these mech suits powered by a little tiny guy that rolls up into a ball. They're really poorly made and the joints tend to break or not work correctly (too tight or too loose). Also the little guys broke easily as well. They were held together by these little ball joints on a thin peg molded into their body parts and those could snap and break off, making it impossible to reattach their arms, legs, or heads. But yeah.

That first link is a NeoShifter, haha. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zDSXprgCL.jpg

Oh he's pretty cool looking. I really like his head. I know it's a mask but I read it as more of a head overall due to the construction style. But yeah, it looks pretty cool with all of the spiked and curved edges. Also, I love how you incorporated that turbine-like piece on his abdomen. He has a nice, powerful shape to him.

Thank you for the input. I appreciate it. ^^

Ooh I remember when they first came out. My first memory was seeing the canister wash up on a beach on the island of Mata-Nui. I think it was a commercial. Then I saw the sets at the store when I was out shopping with family and I begged them into buying me Tahu, Kopaka, and Onua. I only ended up getting Onua though, but later that year they suprised me with the rest of them for Christmas.

Okay this is pretty cool. Those sawblades! I do kind of want to see them that frosted transparent blue like the Protector of Ice uses as a shield thing, but otherwise this looks really cool. It's a shame it doesn't have any functions though.

YEEEEES. This is how I imagine a Rahkshi to be. I really love how sturdy and well structured it appears. Especially those legs. That reverse joint articulation looks fantastic on the torso, though I wish you used the same yellow elements on the legs instead of the transparent ones. I also love your take on how the kraata is the whole upper portion of the head not just something inside of a container.

Oooh I really like how you handled her. I disagree with what people have said about her mouth. She sort of has that look to her in the movie, if I remember. I also love that you included the shard on her chest, and how simple yet refined her design is with the new elements.