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Aanchir

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Blog Entries posted by Aanchir

  1. Aanchir
    Two of my BIONICLE 2015 set reviews for The New Elementary have now been posted, with a third still forthcoming. I received six BIONICLE sets from the LEGO Group to review for that site: three Toa and three Protectors.
     
    Check out my review of 70788 Kopaka - Master of Ice right here!
     
    Check out my review of 70784 Lewa - Master of Jungle and 70786 Gali - Master of Water here!
     
    And finally, because I was lucky enough to receive these three particular Toa, you can see my attempt at building a 2015 version of Toa Kaita Wairuha right here!
     
    What's more, I recently finished writing an article on the BIONICLE theme's triumphant review for Blocks, a British-based magazine for the LEGO fan community! I believe it will be appearing in the January 2015 issue of the magazine.
     
    I am thrilled to have had this opportunity to own, build, and play with these new BIONICLE sets, and for the opportunity to share that experience with the LEGO fan community! My hope is that the articles I've been writing will not only inform BIONICLE fans about the new sets, but also perhaps educate other LEGO fans about just what it is that makes the BIONICLE theme and its return such a big deal for so many people.
  2. Aanchir

    Ninjago Stuff

    By Aanchir,

    So I saw the new Ninjago episode tonight! It was pretty intense. The series is definitely moving towards a conclusion that will do the series as a whole justice. A short summary of the coolest parts and my thoughts follow:
     
     
     
     
    In other Ninjago news, I found a Japanese online shop today that had descriptions of next year's Ninjago sets. I obviously can't share this on BZPower since this site probably wasn't supposed to disclose this so soon... but at the same time, it gives some insights into how the story Masako told might relate to the upcoming sets and the story that ties in with them. It won't be too long before we get to that point in the TV series, and at that point the next wave of sets might be officially revealed so I can discuss some of these particular observations.
     
    Also, anyone want a wallpaper of the NRG Ninja from the LEGO Ninjago sets? Because I got one, and it looks great on my new laptop:
     

     
    Click here to visit the topic in the General Art forum!
     
    also jeez somebody post in the Ninjago: Master of Spinjitzu TV Series Discussion Topic already. It's been a week since anyone's posted there, and ten days since anyone other than me posted there! And new episodes have started airing again!
  4. Aanchir

    Sebald Code For Dummies

    By Aanchir,

    Hello. If you are reading this then you are not only in a large minority intent on self-inflicted misery, but you may also be a reader of my epic, Frost Rising. Regardless, you are probably interested in finding the answer to one question: What is Sebald Code?
    Let's begin with a little history. Sebald code is named for its inventor, a volunteer named Dr. Gustav Sebald. Dr. Sebald was a reputed filmmaker who is well known for his production of movies such as Ghosts in the Desert, Goblins in the Garden, Mummies in the Jungle, Lions in the Mountains, Vampires in the Retirement Community, Leeches in the Lake, Werewolves in the Rain, Surgeons in the Theater, Gorillas in the Fog, Bats in the Train Station, Ants in the Fruit Salad, Zombies in the Snow, Hypnotists in the Office, Bigfoot in the Mall, Alligators in the Sewer, Realtors in the Cave, and The Littlest Elf. He was rarely featured in popular media besides his own, possibly due to his participation in the Volunteer Fire Department, yet his participation also earned him recognition on both sides of the schism that rocked its foundations. The Sebald Code was a method he invented to hide secret messages in his films, which were to be viewed by fellow volunteers to alert them of impending danger. Sadly, Dr. Sebald passed away for unknown reasons. Criminal activity such as arson or drowning is suspected, specifically from members from the opposite side of the schism.
    The Sebald Code is an obcure code, yet a simple one to master. The Sebald Code is present in passages or films where it is introduced by the ringing of bell. The word immediately following the bell as well as every eleventh word afterwards are all code words. The coded message ends when another bell is rung. Therefore, if the passage in question was...

    ...then the secret message is "Bionicle Rex likes cheese," and you know that the Evil Lord Survurlode is planning an attack. However, if the passage was...

    ...then the secret message is "brakelattabasaasta feed me," and you know that there is a villainous spammer who is out to get you.
    With this knowledge in hand, please post comments in this entry, and practice your newfound skills decoding the secret message in Chapter Six of Frost Rising.
     
    With all due respect,
    Aanchir: Rachira of Time
  5. Aanchir
    I was thinking about how Ninjago's story compares to BIONICLE, specifically on the subject of character development. Now, naturally, what I'm about to say is going to be disputed. But personally, I feel Ninjago is stronger than BIONICLE in terms of character development, and here's why:
     
    Compared to BIONICLE, LEGO Ninjago explores its characters and shows their development on a much more individual level than BIONICLE often did. Obviously the TV-series format is a major asset here. Certain episodes can be geared towards exploring and developing certain characters. The ways that the Ninja have independently come to unlock their true potential in episodes seven through nine are good examples of this.
     
    Now, BIONICLE did have strong individual character development in certain arcs. Mask of Light showed individual growth for some of the Toa (mainly Tahu) as well as its stars Jaller and Takua. Legends of Metru Nui gave Vakama a great deal of character development. Vakama's character development continued in Web of Shadows, along with character development for Matau. Mata Nui underwent character development in The Legend Reborn.
     
    You should be sensing a pattern here. The strongest character development for individuals in the series tended to take place in movies-- or in the very least, during years that had movies to tie them together.
     
    The BIONICLE comics, on the other hand, had very little individual character development-- most of the Toa's challenges were overcome through teamwork, and thus individuals rarely had a chance to show growth-- at best, their already-acquired traits would shine when they were needed to help a teammate.
     
    The books are an odd case. Some of them were pretty great in terms of character development. My favorite story arc for character development was 2007, when we saw some great changes in personality among the Toa Mahri, and the reasons for these changes were explored.
     
    One of the most memorable scenes ever, for me, was when Jaller and Kongu discuss why Kongu had become such a joker since going on Jaller's quest. Kongu reveals that this was a coping technique he learned my trying to follow the example Toa Lewa set as a lighthearted free spirit. In this, an inconsistency between his 2001-2003 portrayal as a disciplined military leader and his 2006-2007 portrayal as comic relief was made into an example of personal growth.
     
    At the same time, I don't think this was character development that many readers caught onto, and it demonstrates how in BIONICLE, individual character growth took a back seat to adventure, happening mainly behind-the-scenes. It's similar to some of the character growth we see in Hero Factory under close examination. In 2010 Bulk was established as a dull character with little mental capacity, and a character bio mentioned that he was extremely self-conscious about this. Later, in Savage Planet, a big deal is made of the fact that he's been reading lately, culminating when Furno addresses him as "big guy", to which Bulk replies indignantly "I'm more than just the big guy!" For those fans who followed the story from its origins, this is monumental character development, but it mostly happened backstage.
     
    A similar perceived inconsistency, Natalie Breez's vocal feminism in Ordeal of Fire, wasn't really character development, but that characterization had previously been seen in 2010's Hero Factory FM podcast, when she came on as a special guest to rebuke Tibor Terrell's gag-worthy Hero Factory: The Musical, which cast her as William Furno's love interest. She was quick to point out that her responsibilities as a Hero came first, and she had no interest in romantic pursuits, especially with her teammates. She also spoke on how for outsiders, Hero Factory was usually associated with burly male Heroes, and that as a female Hero she hoped to do away with some of this prejudice.
     
    But back on topic. It's pretty clear to me that actual character growth, with characters uncovering answers about themselves and maturing as characters, did not tend to take the forefront very often in BIONICLE any more than it does in Hero Factory. Adventure is the name of the game.
     
    Is this a fault of Greg Farshtey's writing? Hardly. He handles character development and characterization quite well in the Ninjago theme. I can attest to the level of character development in the four Ninjago novels Kai: Ninja of Fire, Zane: Ninja of Ice, Cole: Ninja of Earth, and Jay: Ninja of Lightning. While the 2011 Ninjago TV episodes focused almost entirely on Kai, these four books explore all four Ninja's characters a lot deeper, even touching on things not explored in the TV show until the 2012 season like Zane's mysterious past and Jay's embarrassing upbringing.
     
    So I think the lack of individual character development in BIONICLE is more a symptom of its very objective-based storytelling and not any one author's storytelling style. In BIONICLE, there was always an overarching mission the Toa were pursuing. Hero Factory's story is also very objective-based, although the "objective" tends to be the more repetitive "capture the Monster of the Week". Ninjago's has objectives, but its objectives are often more individual than BIONICLE's. Each Ninja has their own reason for being a part of the team, not just because of the Power of Teamwork or the team being chosen for them by destiny and/or manufacture. And each Ninja has personal struggles to overcome if they hope to succeed as Ninjago's protectors.
     
    Any thoughts on this theory? I realize I rambled more than I probably should have, but I'd still love to hear if others agree, disagree, or think my reasoning is based on flawed principles in the first place and that BIONICLE had more outstanding character development than I remember.
  6. Aanchir
    I was just listening to some BIONICLE movie soundtracks on BioMedia Project. While it's good for a nostalgia kick, I'm finding that much of the music is just as generic as I remembered.
     
    I don't mean that in the sense that it's not memorable or distinctive. It definitely checks both of those boxes. But there's nothing about it that makes it a particularly apt fit for the BIONICLE story and universe in particular. A lot of it sounds like it could just as easily belong to an adaptation of any adventure story, like an adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. Most of the instrumentation feels like very typical Hollywood adventure movie fare.
     
    Anybody else remember BIONICLEmusic.com? Something that's always stuck in my head was the description on the mixer page: "The music of BIONICLE is a mixture of the mystical and the mechanical. Like the Toa, it blends the power of high technology with a raw elemental force." The only music that checks either of those boxes in the first three BIONICLE movie soundtracks (at least the selections featured on BMP — I don't know how much they might be omitting) is the end credits music. In the first movie, the end credits movie has some very clear tribal drum rhythms, while in the second movie it includes both those rhythms and some synthesized electronic/mechanical sounds. The third movie's end credits music keeps the exciting drumbeats but for some reason loses the electronic sounds once again.
     
    I respect Nathan Furst's work here, and what he's capable of, but this is the reason these have never really ranked among my favorite BIONICLE music or my favorite soundtracks in general.
     
    What kinds of soundtracks do I generally like? Well, the soundtrack to The LEGO Movie is one good example. The music in that has a feel that perfectly suits the janky, stop-motion-style action that characterizes the movie. Likewise, the soundtracks for Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra both do a fantastic job evoking the Asian-inspired fantasy world with their rhythms and instrumentation. Even LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu does a good job with this — give this playlist a listen if you want to hear plenty of amazing examples.
     
    If next year's BIONICLE revival has a soundtrack even half as well-suited to the franchise as any of these franchise's soundtracks, I will consider it a major improvement. BIONICLE has had some fantastic music over the years, but I feel that in the movies in particular, it too often came at the expense of the soundtrack's sense of identity.
  7. Aanchir
    Before we proceed, let me say that this model is NOT MINE. It was created by LEGO Group designers (EDIT: The designer was Christoffer Raundahl, one of the inventors of this building system whose BIONICLE design credits include the original Tahu and Kopaka sets), though it is most likely a MOC and not a set design (if it is an unannounced set design, though, you are free to celebrate at your leisure). The painted variant was detailed by Søren Westborg, a Danish artist who seems to specialize in painting tabletop gaming figurines, as a commission for LEGO Systems A/S.
     
     
    Original model (photo taken by Flickr user Teabox at LEGO World in Copenhagen)
    Another pic of the original model
    A pic of the painted version
    Gallery of Westborg's commissioned work (also includes a lovely painted Raw-Jaw)
     
    I've built the leg and foot of the model on LDD (minus the heel piece, which is not available on LDD) and it's quite brilliant how they go together. I hope that some of these techniques wind up in sets eventually. These models have all the complexity of Witch Doctor and then some, and yet it comes together into a model that is far more refined and cohesive in design. Truly this model demonstrates that the Hero Factory building system is far from infeasible for "titan-sized" models. It just takes some very clever use of parts and a custom skeleton to create something every bit as incredible as many of BIONICLE's greatest titan models. And of course, as far as set design is concerned, a sufficient price point and age range for such a large, complex model.
  8. Aanchir

    Midterm MOC Report

    By Aanchir,

    Well, it turns out Kit Martello didn't perform too well in the BBC contest, only getting around seven votes in the first round of polling. I don't feel too bad about not winning, since there was a lot of talent in the contest, but it still bothers me that most of my feedback concerning Kit has been largely negative. Regardless, I think Sparkytron's Eris is due a round of congratulations for emerging victorious in the final poll. There are several things I dislike about this MOC, particularly the stand, but it's still a work of art in the end.
     
    In other MOCing news, I've posted a topic of my various tablescraps over the past few months. Now, I don't mean "tablescraps" in a negative sense. I'm quite proud of these, and none of them are bare-bones Heromods. But compared to Kit Martello these were all fairly simple endeavors. I anticipate bringing Kit Martello and some of these MOCs (particularly my good buddy Bogwaddle) to Brickfair Virginia this year. I'm hoping to continue modding some of these in the meantime, and perhaps scrapping some of the more basic ones to open those pieces back up for experimentation.
     
    One set I've been hoping to get lately, both for its MOCing potential and for its brilliance as a model, is 70500 Kai's Fire Mech from the Ninjago line. But frustratingly, none of the stores around where I'm attending college seem to have it. Still, I'm keeping a sharp lookout for it, and will not be afraid to get it online if double VIP points happen before I find it in a brick-and-mortar store.
     
    So that's what's up on the LEGO/MOCing side of things. Schoolwork and other obligations have been keeping me from dedicating long stretches of time to MOCing or building, but I've recently started making progress on my drawing assignments again so hopefully I can get caught up fairly soon.
  9. Aanchir
    In my last entry, I shared my first two BIONICLE 2015 set reviews for The New Elementary. Now, I can share the third and final (for now, at least). Check out my review of 70778 Protector of Jungle, 70780 Protector of Water, and 70781 Protector of Earth right here!
     
    In addition, I've managed to draw something I'm really proud of for the first time in months! Check out my drawing of Gali - Master of Water right here in the General Art subforum!
     
    I'd love to draw some other BIONICLE characters, including maybe one of the Protectors I got, though I might want to wait to see if we learn anything more about their individual personalities in case that might inspire a particularly fitting pose.
  10. Aanchir
    ...In another show altogether.
     
    Turns out they are voiced by Brian Drummond and Tabitha St. Germain. You might know them better as Mr. and Mrs. Cake from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
     



    Of course it's already well-known that voice acting can be a tightly-knit community, but it's still fun to find amusing little coincidences like this.
     
    P.S.: I am not at all suggesting any sort of relationship between the actual voice actors. That would be a little bit weird.
     
    P.P.S.: Feel free to substitute Onewa and Nokama, if that's your OTP for some reason
  11. Aanchir
    (cross-posted from Brickset)
     
    This is just something I've been thinking about lately. When #70751 Temple of Airjitzu was announced, a question that seemed to be on a lot of people's minds is "how many AFOLs will be interested in buying a Ninjago set?" (or conversely, "how many Ninjago fans are even old enough for a set this size?") This is something that I see a lot of in the AFOL community — themes like Ninjago being perceived as "too childish" for most adults to take a serious interest in.
     
    And yet at the same time, that seems to fly in the face of the actual target audience for these themes. Many AFOLs are perfectly fine with buying LEGO City sets, and yet even the largest LEGO City sets such as #60097 City Square (1683 pieces, $190) and #60098 Heavy-Haul Train (984 pieces, $200) are recommended for ages 6–12. By comparison, the smallest Ninjago sets like #70752 Jungle Trap and #70739 Airjitzu Kai Flyer are aimed at ages 6–14, while the largest non-exclusive sets like #70732 City of Stiix and #70738 Final Flight of Destiny's Bounty are aimed at ages 9–14. The Temple of Airjitzu itself is aimed at ages 14+.
     
    Some might point to the "silliness" of the story as evidence of the Ninjago theme's childishness, what with the colorful ninja piloting sci-fi vehicles and fighting robots, ghosts, and fantasy monsters. And yet there are plenty of AFOLs who have no trouble enjoying LEGO Super Heroes sets (and the corresponding Marvel Cinematic Universe movies) that portray fights between Norse gods, robots, aliens, mutants, mech pilots, and B-movie monsters. I've also heard plenty of AFOL excitement for the Scooby-Doo theme, based on a series in which a bunch of teenagers and their talking dog solve formulaic cartoon mysteries perpetrated by middle-aged men and women in goofy monster costumes. Are these things honestly any less silly, or is it just the veneer of nostalgia that makes AFOLs less afraid to enjoy these "old-school" cartoon and comic book adventures?
     
    For what it's worth, the LEGO Ninjago TV series can be quite cerebral compared to what you might expect from a merchandise-driven cartoon, with plenty of character development, complex storylines, and moral ambiguity. The LEGO Ninjago sets are intricate and full of creative part use, elaborate action features, and intricate details. So why is it that so many AFOLs who casually enjoy themes aimed at an even younger audience have a hard time seeing Ninjago as anything other than a "kiddy theme"?
     
    The only explanation I've been able to come up with is that character-driven, genre-blending themes like Ninjago are so different than the themes many older AFOLs grew up with like Town or Castle. Because so many kids, teens, and young adults like these themes in a way they can't begin to understand, these older AFOLs assume that themes like Ninjago are simply more childish than the LEGO themes and movie brands that they continue to enjoy from their own childhoods.
  12. Aanchir

    Brain Attack Musings

    By Aanchir,

    I was just thinking about the Hero Factory Brain Attack sets and was struck by something unusual. Obviously, from a story perspective, it's obvious that the theme for the year was a combination alien invasion/zombie apocalypse. But has anybody noticed that the sets almost had more of a historical fantasy flavor to them?
     
    Think about it — the heroes had helmets with visors that folded down over their eyes, and segmented metallic armor. Rocka, Furno, and Stormer all carried a traditional sword and shield combo, Breez carried a staff and shield, Evo carried a polearm, and Surge carried some type of lightning lance. Furno even had a cape. The villains had elemental themes and included a dragon, an ogre, a minotaur, a rock giant, a frost giant, a spider monster, and some type of sea or lake monster, and those that carried weapons also carried very traditional sorts of weapons like swords and flails.
     
    Needless to say, this "robot knights" theme was a lot different than the "robot police" theme of 2012, in which every hero carried a pair of handcuffs and some type of shooter as either a primary or secondary weapon, and the villains looked more like the sort of theme villains you'd expect to see in a superhero comic.
     
    I wonder if the sets and story for the Brain Attack arc might have been better if they didn't have to balance these medieval-inspired design sensibilities with a 50s B-movie storyline about genetically engineered mind-controlling brain creatures from SPACE! A time travel arc, with the heroes stranded in their robotic world's distant past, might have suited the designs better.
  13. Aanchir
    Hey everybody. Sorry it's been a while since I last blogged! But we're less than halfway through February and already there's been more than enough news in the last week and a half to fill a blog entry.
     
    On Saturday, January 31st I was invited by Black Six to become a BZPower News Reporter. I jumped at the opportunity. I already report news to BZPower rather frequently, and this was an opportunity to both do that in an official capacity and help other people get the news THEY find on the front page. The news was announced two days ago. I'm still learning the ropes, but hopefully soon I can be posting news articles.
     
    But in the meantime, something has come up that might make me even busier. You see, just a day earlier, I learned that the LEGO Group had liked an application I had put in for a design position in their girls' category and wanted a Skype interview with me that coming Monday. The interview was a great experience. I got to speak with Rosario Costa, the design director for the LEGO Group's entire girls' category. It was an honor for me to even be able to speak with a designer so influential, and I felt like the interview went well.
     
    I was told I'd hear back within the next week about whether I would be moving on to the next stage of the recruitment process. In the meantime, I finished inking my Gali drawing from December and got set up to receive BZPower news e–mails. Yesterday I got another e–mail from LEGO recruitment. It was an invitation to an all-expense-paid trip to attend a recruitment workshop in Billund! The workshop will be on the 23rd and 24th of this month. The e–mail also included a design assignment to work on over the next two weeks (the LEGO Group will be shipping me bricks to use).
     
    I recognize, if I get this job, I will have to give up my recently acquired BZPower news position. But even if I do well in this workshop, I have no idea how long it might be before I hear whether I got the job, let alone before I start work. In the meantime, I hope I will be able to help the news team report on LEGO news, including the impending release of the Elves theme which I've been eagerly anticipating.
     
    Working as a LEGO designer has long been a dream of mine, and even if I don't get the job I'm thrilled to have made it this far, and that confidence will help motivate me to apply for other LEGO job openings in the future. And the workshop experience should also give me a taste of just what it will take for me to achieve this lifelong dream.
  14. Aanchir

    Big Announcement

    By Aanchir,

    Dear friends,
     
    The past year has been really bumpy for me in a lot of ways. I’ve grappled with emotional dependency, depression, anxiety, and more. One good thing that has come about over the past year, albeit with some challenges of its own along the way, is thinking critically about my gender identity, which has led to some big realizations.
     
    For a long time I have related really well to my female peers and have felt deeply invested in their personal struggles. Many of the fictional characters I was most inspired by as well as characters I was most interested in creating in my own art also tended to be girls and women. Meanwhile my feelings about my own more masculine traits have ranged from apathy to frustration — the closest I could generally come to pride in my appearance was a vague, dubious sense that other people might like or respect me more as an adult if my appearance and presentation were sufficiently “manly”. I was never quite satisfied with the way I presented myself in selfies and self-portraits and for the longest time I couldn’t figure out why.
     
    As a teenager, I would frequently try and visualize what it would be like to be a girl, sometimes in my head, sometimes with the aid of drawings or with software like the Yahoo Messenger avatar creator, and sometimes just by assuming feminine poses in the mirror when I was certain of my privacy. I didn’t really think too deeply about my motivations, though. Wasn’t all this curiosity just a quirky, introverted teenage way of coming to terms with my attraction to the female body? Come to find out, probably not!
     
    In early March I finally opened up to myself about the possibility (or rather, near certainty) that I might be transgender. By this point I had a lot of transgender friends in the LEGO community, and their experiences spoke to me on a personal level. I’d also had over a decade to move beyond the narrow-minded thinking that my after-school Catholic youth group lessons had tried to instill in me. And as soon as I started thinking about my feelings and experiences in the context of being a transgender girl, all these disconnected bits and pieces suddenly made complete sense within my life’s overarching narrative. It’s been extremely liberating to be honest with myself and with some of the people closest to me, whose support and encouragement has been invaluable.
     
    From here on out, you can call me Skye. I’m 27 years old and only just beginning the journey of loving myself for the sensitive, bright, and beautiful woman I am. I ask you to please be supportive of me as I engage with this process of self-reflection and discovery. It’ll be intimidating for me sometimes — even with as much social progress as there’s been as of late, the world is still a scary place for a woman. It’s also going to be a lengthy learning experience. It’s one thing to hear about how confusing things like women’s clothing sizes or prices can be; it’s another thing entirely to have to make sense of that confusion! But with all these big steps comes a long-overdue sense of pride and confidence in who I am, not just what I can do. I hope I can make all of you proud as well!
     
    With love,
    Skye
  15. Aanchir

    POBZPC!

    By Aanchir,

    Wow! In response to a recent news report, I got a proto energy boost, which means I've finally achieved Premier Outstanding BZPower Citizen status!
     
    To be honest, this might not change a whole lot for me. It's not like I've been actively seeking to achieve this status, and seeing my name in orange is not a huge change. Also, I'm not sure how many people actually pay attention to a member's rank when it's not indicative of a staff position. Still, I feel like it's a significant milestone... significant enough for a blog entry, at any rate.
  16. Aanchir
    This amazing LEGO leaflet from the 1970s has been making the rounds this week. It's definitely worth a read. But unfortunately, some people have tried to spin this as "look how much LEGO has changed" when in fact that's at odds with the truth of the situation.
     
    Believe it or not, the 1970s were not some idyllic time before the concept of gendered marketing existed. During the 1970s, the LEGO Group had two themes which had what could be considered "dolls houses": "Homemaker" (http://brickset.com/sets/theme-Homemaker) and "Building Set with People" (http://brickset.com/sets/theme-Building-Set-with-People). And with few exceptions, box art and catalog images for any of these sets would show GIRLS playing with the toys. Including an admirably progressive leaflet with these sets does not mean the sets were not designed or marketed to particular genders.
     
    In reality, what I think this image shows is how much has NOT changed. LEGO still designs sets that anybody, man or woman, boy or girl, can enjoy. That doesn't mean they won't design or market certain sets for the audience that they expect to enjoy them most. But it does mean that a child can buy whatever set they want, and then use the parts from that set to build whatever they want, even if it's not the same thing that other kids their age and gender are building.
     
    I think it's a bit of a shame that people still can't seem to realize this without a leaflet spelling it out for them.
  17. Aanchir
    Anyone who read my last entry on Mistika height might get the impression that I have dabbled before in BIONICLE heights for set and story, and so I have. In fact, a few of my recent PMs to Greg have dealt with the height of certain characters in story. But anyway, I've managed to get a decent word document together for my own reference when dealing with issues of height, and decided today while updating it with tentative information on the canon height of Takanuva that it was worth posting here, though I expect only artists and others who pay attention to this stuff anyway to read all of the information that follows.
     


    Matoran
    Matoran are about 1 bio tall. (Reference: Metru Nui Matoran; Toa Metru). Today’s standard for average Matoran height is still about 16 modules, as was the case in 2004.
     
    An Av-Matoran exposed to the energies of Karda Nui is 16-18 modules tall. Therefore, while some are scarcely above average height, others reach a height of 5 feet, or 1.11 bio.
     
    The Matoran of Mahri Nui are around average height. One can estimate a Voya Nui Matoran to be around 0.8 bio in height, given their set-based height of around 13 bio, or half the average height of a Toa. Pre-2004 Matoran do not conform to a one-bio height, as is detailed in the Turaga section below.
     
    Toa
     
    Toa are about 1.6 bio tall. Today’s standard for average Toa height is around 26 modules, or around the height of Kopaka Nuva Phantoka
     
    A Toa of Light exposed to the energies of Karda Nui is assumed to be 2.63 bio tall or 11.81 feet tall. This is derived from the height of the Takanuva set of 2008, which may like many large boxed sets deviate from the canon height relative to Toa of the era. (Interestingly, this approximation of Takanuva’s height relative to the height of a regular Toa is around the same proportion as the height of a Toa to the height of a Matoran. This ratio in turn is approximately equal to the golden ratio.)
     
    Turaga
    Turaga are arguably about 1 bio tall. (Reference: Turaga Dume; Metru Nui Matoran, Toa Metru). Today’s standard for average Turaga height is still about 16 modules according to this model. However, the Turaga of Mata Nui had highly differing heights with a mean of 10.33 modules and a mode of 11 modules. This means Turaga are on average only around half of the height of a Toa, or .8 bio. The solution to this puzzle becomes clear when one considers the height of the rebuilt Matoran of Mata Nui. These sets were also 11 modules tall. Rebuilt Matoran are supposedly normal Matoran height, represented by the Metru Nui Matoran to Toa Metru ratio. It becomes clear that a change arose in the BIONICLE canon around the time of BIONICLE: Mask of Light, rendering average Matoran height and thus average Turaga height larger, as is visible in the movie. Thus, we can assume that the Dume model is the more up-to-date model and that the standard for average Turaga height today is indeed 16 modules. Variance from this norm has not been shown, but it is likely as possible as it was among the outdated heights of the Mata Nui Matoran.
     
    On the subject of height in modules
     
    One module represents approximately 3.185 inches in story-defined Earth measure according to today’s standards. Therefore, the variance between a 27-module Toa Mahri Jaller and a 21-module Toa Mahri Kongu is around a foot and a half—A considerable difference, considering that this renders Kongu less than six feet compared to the average Toa height of 7’2”! This is perhaps the highest negative variation from the norm that can be allowed, that is, five modules today. The highest positive variation yet seen is in Lewa Nuva Phantoka and Toa Mahri Nuparu, with a mere one stud. Thus the “average” heights referred to on this page should be read as “normal” heights, and are more a mode than a mean approximation. An accurate mean sadly cannot be established, not having seen a considerable amount of Toa who fall into today’s standards of measurement.
     
    For Artists Only
     
    Using one comic book standard for proportions which approximates an adult or superhero figure as 7½ heads high, we find that a 3½ module head (the almost unvarying norm) calls almost exactly for our convenient 27-module Toa. The 3½ module head and 16 module height of a typical Matoran give us a height of 4½ heads high. This rarely will suffice for an artist in HSB, due to the tendency of expressing Matoran as preteens or at least well-developed children, but may prove suitable for other styles. Remember that in any style the head height in inches, feet, or bio is not to be identical—If one Toa is taller than another, this likely owes itself to the figure having a larger head (Sorry, Tahu).
     
    In movie style or any other style requiring an expressive mask, remember that the head height is dependent on the height of the mask-wearing figure. Therefore, you may wish to deviate significantly from the normal human proportions and follow the movie-style criteria. A movie-style Toa figure is typically around 6 masks high, while a movie-style Matoran falls closer to their height in feet—approximately 4-4½ masks high.
     
    There may be errors-- I tried to proofread it and ended up messing up some of my calculations in the process, and have since attempted to fix my mistakes. I hope someone finds this useful.
  18. Aanchir
    Let me make this clear: I do not hate TTV. I do not enjoy the TTV podcast (mostly just personal preference — I do not enjoy getting my news in video form when given the choice), but I respect them for what they do — and I reserve the right to be disappointed when they do it badly. 
    If a BZPower set review made similar mistakes, praising or criticizing features that do not exist when the set is built correctly, then I would want them to be held accountable as well. In fact, I have vocally criticized instances when I feel like BZPower set reviews have fallen short of expectations, such as when a Legends of Chima set was criticized earlier this year for a building mistake made by the reviewer, or when reviewers poorly "estimated" the piece counts of those and the summer Hero Factory sets, despite the official piece counts already being publicly available from several reputable sites.
     
    "Fueling the excitement" is not necessarily an honorable goal in and of itself. Even excitement ought to have real substance behind it, or it devolves into tabloid-level sensationalism. But even if it were unquestionably honorable, having honorable goals does not mean freedom from criticism. People DO make mistakes, and when they make mistakes they should be held accountable. And a mistake by a well-respected YouTube channel with hundreds of viewers is not the same as a mistake by a random dude on a message board. The wider and faster misinformation spreads, the more of a mess it is to clean up.
     
    I do not criticize TTV or try to correct misinformation originating from them because I enjoy taking them to task. To be honest, I'd rather I didn't have to. I'd like to be able to just trust them completely to keep people informed. I'd rather not feel a sense of apprehension when I see they've "reviewed" a set months before its release. But if I see them saying something untrue and see others repeating that information, I feel like I'd be amiss if I didn't correct it.
     
    So please, if you see me (or anyone) criticizing TTV, don't assume it's because I have some kind of petty grudge against them. The fact that I have high expectations of news outlets like BZPower News or TTV means that I care about what they do, and consequently, about how well they do it.
  19. Aanchir
    Welp, I'm pretty close to prepared for Brickfair. Got my clothes, MOCs, name badge, and art all packed up.
     
    MOCs I'm exhibiting this year include Caitlyn Gauss XL, Delwyn Buckler, Blacktron Vivisector, Kit Martello, Hero Factory Canine Buddy, Rise of the Dread Colossus (submarine only — I had to borrow some of the Dread Colossus's tentacles for Delwyn's hair, so he's out of commission), and My Little Tahu. I think Delwyn Buckler and Caitlyn Gauss XL will probably be the most popular of those seven.
     
    As far as art is concerned, I will mostly be bringing the same collection of drawings I brought last year — sadly, I have not really made much cool new LEGO-related art since then.
     
    I'm registered for the BZPower parts draft and will also probably be bringing a hat or two for the Hatpile. A number of my BZPower friends who I spent time with last year (Lady Kopaka, Turakii #1 Lavasurfer, Toa Lhikan Hordika, and Cholie) will not be making it this year for various reasons, so I think a good portion of my time will be spent trying to make new connections both within the BZPower community and the larger AFOL community.
     
    I will also look at vendors to see if I can find anything that interests me. While packing, I came to the realization that I do not really have any light-colored LEGO T-shirts, except for old Brickfair T-shirts and a Barraki Kalmah T-shirt that is a little worse for the wear. So as with last year, I will definitely want to try buying some new LEGO-related wearables. I'll also be on the lookout for affordable CCBS parts and constraction sets. I got a steal on some pre-owned Legends of Chima constraction sets last year (basically half-off), and a bunch of useful CCBS parts the year before.
     
    This will be my first time staying at a hotel for Brickfair (in the past my family has always driven there and back each day), so that should enable me to take part in more evening activities, including enjoying the brand-new "World of Lights" (sadly, none of my MOCs are going to have any light-up features, though). Maybe a visit to the vendors could change that, if they happen to be selling LifeLites or something similar, but generally the MOCs I'm bringing aren't characterized by a lot of transparent elements.
     
    If you happen to be attending, come and find me! I will be wearing the same brick badge as the past two years, though it is larger than the one pictured and has more yellow (including a brick printed with my screen name, Aanchir). I should be spending a good amount of time at the BIONICLE table hanging out with the BZPower crew.
     
    That about covers it, I think! If you're also going to be at Brickfair, leave a comment so I'll know to be on the lookout for you!
  21. Aanchir
    Earlier I was looking at how this year's Hero Factory sets compare to similarly-priced BIONICLE sets in terms of complexity. Turns out they fare rather well. Let's look at one in particular: 44024 Tunneler Beast.
     

     
    Tunneler Beast is a $9.99 set coming out this summer (as such, it's at the lowest price point for this year's sets). It boasts 59 pieces (45 if you don't include the minifigure or his accessories) and 20 points of articulation (15 if you don't include the jaw and fingers, which only rotate along one axis each).
     
    A typical Piraka cost $9 in 2006, which according to WolframAlpha would be about $10.60 in today's money. Each Piraka had 41 pieces (plus one extra for Hakann and Thok's weapons) and 13 points of articulation.
     
    If we reach back a bit further, the Vahki cost $9 each in 2004, which would be $11.32 today according to WolframAlpha. Each one of those had just 32 pieces and only 10 points of articulation (perhaps eleven or twelve if you count the squeezable launcher-jaws, but that's being extremely generous since those couldn't really hold a pose).
     
    Now, obviously I'm being a bit selective here. There are a number of BIONICLE canister sets that had more pieces than Tunneler Beast, particularly if you don't include the minifigure and accessories (though several of those sets, like the Toa Mahri, are inflated by lots and lots of ammo pieces, not to mention a plethora of pins and axles). I don't know if any canister sets have more points of articulation than Tunneler Beast, though. Chirox had just 17 including the chest that splits open, and Pridak had just 16 even if you count the mandibles separately. Even Gorast, with her six limbs, had just 18 points of articulation including the wings! And in any case, you have to be just as selective to suggest that Hero Factory, as it exists today, is considerably LESS complex than BIONICLE sets of similar size or price.
     
    Just food for thought. I'm personally fascinated how far Hero Factory has advanced since 2010, when the $7 hero sets were pitifully simplistic and repetitive even by BIONICLE standards. There are some rumors floating around that Hero Factory might be ending soon, and now that it's been around for four and a half years those rumors are starting to seem more believable than every other year of its life that they've been thrown about.
     
    But we've been assured that its building system is here to stay, and that gives me great confidence that the NEXT constraction theme will not be hindered by such a rocky start. The new building system really did put Hero Factory on the fast track to greater complexity and diversity of designs, and this year I feel like the Hero Factory sets in general not just one or two have finally stepped out of the long shadow of their BIONICLE predecessors.
  23. Aanchir
    A little over a month ago, Tim Johnson (owner of one of my favorite LEGO blogs, The New Elementary) approached me asking if I'd like to review some sets for his site. I jumped at the opportunity, and today I can announce that my first review for TNE is now live! Click here to take a look at this amazing set and the many interesting LEGO elements it offers!
     
    I am very proud of how this review turned out. I am already working on another review for the site, and will share it here when it is complete!
  24. Aanchir

    Life Update 4/6/13

    By Aanchir,

    Hey, BZPower. Sorry for not being too active this past month. Life's been kind of crazy for me.
     
    I suppose before I jump into talking about fun things like MOCs, I should get the important stuff out of the way. School has not been going well for me. I'm in my second semester studying Industrial Design, but my classes have really been a huge source of anxiety, which has at times been crippling for me. I have a couple weeks left here in Boston, but after that I'm going to take a semester off to get some counseling and therapy, perhaps try and get a job, and take time to re-evaluate my life goals, which may not be attainable through the path I'm currently on even if I can get my emotions in check.
     
    Now, I've gotten slight relief from various opportunities to visit with family and friends. As I announced in my last entry, I went to Cloudsdale Congress over Spring Break, and it was a phenomenal experience. I definitely plan to attend other My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fan conventions in the future, because it was really fun and eye-opening (giving me the chance to interact with dozens of other bronies as well as to explore areas of the fandom I hadn't yet indulged in, like the fan music). I roomed with some bronies from my hometown, and I look forward to attending some meetups with them over the summer -- they're very fun people!
     
    After the convention I had some time to burn before my mom could pick me up and take me home, so I visited the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. On the way there, I happened to be on the subway with some of the folks from the fan project Double Rainboom, including PKEmi, who voiced Rainbow Dash (A bit of warning, I still haven't seen Double Rainboom, since I'm going to a meetup in Boston to see it tomorrow, so don't spoil it in the comments). We all had a great conversation, and Emi and I have managed to connect via social networks since then, which is great. Always nice to make a lasting connection at an event like this.
     
    I spent just a couple days at home before I had to go down to North Carolina to visit my Nana, who has been in the hospital for a few weeks after having a fall. It was good to visit her, even though I'm worried about her. Then I took a plane from New Bern to Hartford, where my uncle from Connecticut picked me up to stay with him for a few days. My aunt and uncle have a fifteen-month-old baby who's a joy to spend time with, and it was great to spend the next couple days there before getting on the bus to get back to school.
     
    Since then I spent last weekend with my aunt and uncle again to celebrate my birthday (March 29) and Easter, and I got to see them and my baby cousin once more just last night when my aunt came up to Boston for a conference. It's so wonderful watching my baby cousin grow up and learn to explore the world, and I hope even over the summer when I'm not as close by I can still find time to visit them.
     
    Now, as far as LEGO is concerned, I've mostly been working with LEGO Digital Designer lately, since that had a considerable update recently. Most notably, it includes over 600 new decorations, including almost every decoration from Collectible Minifigures series 1-8! However, as is often the case, these were not mapped to the parts that use them in the software's code, meaning that I had to edit them into LXFML files myself. You can download my LXF of Minifigures Series 1-9 here. Note that parts from Series 1-8 which could not be decorated correctly are colored 294 Phosphorescent Green to differentiate them, and that some decoration surfaces like the Small Clown's hat and all decorated minifigure arms distort the decorations placed on them.
     
    Additionally, I recently got some major progress reverse-engineering the stunning Hero Factory MOC by Christoffer Raundahl which I mentioned in this entry. You can see my results here:
     

     
    LXF Download
     
    Errors include six parts left off of the arms (two shells due to an illegal connection and four hoses due to being too fiddly and frustrating to connect correctly), four substitutions (the custom head, the square shell detail elements on the heels, and the speaker shell detail element on the chest), four parts within the torso build not connected correctly (the shoulder suspension beams, which were giving me a lot of grief, and the hoses that connect the legs to the torso), and finally some parts potentially missing from the back, including whatever parts are meant to connect the wings to the back -- sadly, I do not have any pics of the back of this MOC.
     
    The final model would probably contain around 225 pieces and cost $50-60 as a retail model. I have managed to build a considerable portion of this model (the torso, one leg, and one upper arm) in real life to ensure that fiddly parts like the arm and leg suspension work correctly, and it's just as brilliant in its design as I imagined. It has, among other things, revealed to me just how narrow-minded I have been in envisioning uses for the 3M double ball cup (98565) introduced in Stormer XL, since despite its few connection points this piece is an invaluable structural element. Truly I would love to see this model, or a similar model derived from its design, as an official set.
     
    Anyway, that's enough rambling for today. Overall, I'm doing my best to maintain a positive outlook and take each week one day at a time. It's been a bit rough but I'm confident that once I'm back home I will have plenty of time to work on putting myself back together and finding a path I'm willing to pursue.
  25. Aanchir
    Lately I've been thinking a lot about the Hero Factory building system and its commonly-perceived flaws.
     
    Chief among these is the allegation that the builds are too repetitive. It's kind of funny to read this because frankly this was a major criticism of BIONICLE builds for many years as well, and it was far from rare even when people weren't complaining about it. Remember Inika builds? They were the default build from 2006-2009, and many people really and truly hated the repetition.
     
    But repetition in BIONICLE builds goes back even further than that. The same basic canister set leg design (foot + ball cup + lower leg beam + upper leg beam + upper leg shell) was the order of the day from 2004-2009, and in 2006 the arm construction was also changed to this default style. It could be argued quite convincingly that all but a small handful of BIONICLE canister sets (specifically Gorast, Krika, and the Visorak) from 2004-2009 were functionally identical from the waist down.
     
    But what about torsos, one might ask? BIONICLE fans have always had a somewhat bizarre preoccupation with the torso. A new torso construction is tantamount to a new build altogether. And in fact, sets like Carapar or Mistika Toa Onua who have a new torso piece, but the same torso construction as before, tend to get a lot more leeway than those that reuse an existing torso shell. Oddly enough, prior to 2007, it was rare for any sets in a canister set or small set series to have any meaningful differences in torso build between one another. Only Pohatu in his first two forms had any meaningful difference in torso construction from his teammates.
     
    But Hero Factory models, despite using the same two torso beams in most cases, have mixed up the torso build considerably over the past few years. Small and medium hero sets generally have a very simple torso build, but when villains are brought into the equation, we have figures like Toxic Reapa, whose armor style is completely unique to him, Jawblade, whose torso construction is integrated with his jaw and is decidedly non-humanoid, Thornraxx, who does not even use a traditional torso beam, XT4, who introduced an entirely new torso beam, and of course the villain sets of the Savage Planet arc, of which only one (Waspix) had a traditional armor style. This year, we see even more variations as Technic is incorporated into the builds to a greater extent than before.
     
    The same question springs to mind with this issue as in the days of the Inika builds. If you are so bored of repetitive builds, what better design can you come up with to replace them? Generally, this is where complaints about repetition tend to fall apart. People don't want something better, they just want something different. The issue is that variety for variety's sake is one reason BIONICLE stopped being financially viable over the years, and generally a torso element that varied considerably from the default humanoid torso design was obsolete within a couple years. Look at the various Vahki, Rahkshi, and Visorak torso pieces as examples. Most had very limited use outside of the function they were intended to support. They could be incorporated into more unique builds given a disproportionate amount of effort, but on the whole they were simply more limited in their application than the more generic humanoid torso elements.
     
    The Inika build lasted so long partly because the Inika torso had extremely versatile connection points, a flat, unobtrusive design that allowed it to work with many styles of armor, the potential to work with sets of various sizes, and very little extraneous detail that would become visual shorthand for a particular series of sets. Very few other torso designs could boast this kind of versatility.
     
    Similarly, the current Hero Factory torso beams offer most of these same benefits. I can think of one major improvement that would benefit Hero Factory sets these days, just as it would have benefited BIONICLE sets: the implementation of waist articulation, with separate armor shells for the upper and lower torso. It's not a desperate need, but it'd greatly improve the number of realistic and expressive poses a Hero Factory figure could be put into.
     
    But it's understandable that this may be a long time coming. The only BIONICLE canister set to offer full waist articulation, Pridak, demonstrated one weakness that comes with this added feature: an extra point of articulation can sometimes make it challenging for a set to support its own weight. Jointed waists are also somewhat difficult to armor with a basic modular system. So on the whole I would not be surprised to wait quite a while before a simple, intuitive, versatile design for a waist joint presents itself.
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