Meanwhile Jaller's on a Gukko yelling, "TAKUAAAAAAAA!"

@MCLegoboy said:
"Meanwhile Jaller's on a Guko yelling, "TAKUAAAAAAAA!""

Beat me to it

I absolutely loved the play feature of this set, but I didn't like the looks and how oversized Pewku is. It was good to be able to get the main Matoran even if I couldn't get the disk-throwing McToran versions of them.

TAKUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This one is still one I want to add to my collection. Takua is still my favorite character from the franchise all these years later. Although I do find it interesting how this set gave him blue hands and feet after his prior MNOG appearance had yellow feet, but hey it still works. The Mask of Light style Matoran are also one of my favorite takes on the characters; same proportions as the 2001 McToran with their wide bodys and stumpy legs, but with more possibility with waist rotation, hip joints for the legs and arms in ball sockets instead of the more fixed rubbery arms of 2001. Its a shame we never saw any Le-Matoran or Onu-Matoran done in this style though, I would have loved to have seen Kongu and Tamaru for Le-Koro and Nuparu and Onepu for Onu-Koro done in this style as official sets.

I absolutely loved the Ussal crabs from the Mata Nui Online Game. When this set came out, I felt like I'd told someone that I really like the Piper Cub, and then I walk out and see a 747 parked in the driveway.

I get that they wanted to make a more posable Matoran design after the McD's promo, and that it would have been tricky (but not impossible) to do so without making them bigger than the Turaga, but the Ussal crab? Did it really have to be the size of a patio?

@xboxtravis7992:
I'd say you could always build your own, but there's one part that has never been made in any Onu-Koran colors, and three parts that have never been made in any Le-Koran colors. I never really liked the design myself. The proportions seemed too apelike. I remember seeing a MOC with a much smaller frame, which matched the proportions of the movie characters a lot better. Using an original design, it should be possible to pick elements that are available in all six color schemes.

As for Takua, I also found it weird that they gave him a medium-blue mask, when it looked primary blue in the game. That was the color I used for my McToran Takua.

Oh man, Takua... The true hero of BIONICLE.

@PurpleDave said:
"I'd say you could always build your own, but there's one part that has never been made in any Onu-Koran colors, and three parts that have never been made in any Le-Koran colors. I never really liked the design myself. The proportions seemed too apelike. I remember seeing a MOC with a much smaller frame, which matched the proportions of the movie characters a lot better. Using an original design, it should be possible to pick elements that are available in all six color schemes."

There's a video I saw that shows you how to rebuild the McToran and make them more poseable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMvx4xOCXTk

Bonkle Lore, get your Lore here! Huwbot brings all the bookkeepers to the comments, get it while it's hot!

@Galaxy12_Import said:
"Bonkle Lore, get your Lore here!"
Anyone who knows anything about this franchise knows that the comments section is about to get hit with some REALLY long comments... :-0

(And I say, bring it on! :-))

@Robot99 said:
" @Galaxy12_Import said:
"Bonkle Lore, get your Lore here!"
Anyone who knows anything about this franchise knows that the comments section is about to get hit with some REALLY long comments... :-0

(And I say, bring it on! :-))"

Well, since you asked...

Takua and Pewku both came to the island of Mata Nui from the city of Metru Nui. There Pewku was the favorite crab of Orkahm, a Le-Matoran who worked on the test track with Matau before he became a Toa and later a Turaga. As for Takua, he was a rather infamous slacker known for doing his best to avoid his assigned duties in the city. He was so determined in his efforts that an entire squad of Vahki was assigned to keep tabs on him.

On Mata Nui, Pewku became a racing crab in Onu-Koro, ridden by Ussalry Captain Onepu. As time passed, however, she slowed down, and was thus turned over to the care of Midak. This Onu-Matoran, unusual for enjoying spending time in the bright sun, employed her as a taxi crab, allowing travelers to ride from Onu-Koro to gate between Onu-Wahi and Po-Wahi and back. It was in this way that Pewku became acquainted with Takua.

Takua, who had changed little since losing his memories of Metru Nui, was at the time wandering across the island, aiding the villages and the newly arrived Toa Mata. He did this after being the one to summon them by gathering the Toa stones created by the Toa Metru. For one reason or another, Pewku took a shine to Takua, and eventually came looking for him. She then carried Takua to a secret entrance to the Mangaia, the hidden lair of Makuta Teridax beneath the island.

Pewku would later become Takua's constant companion and mount, accompanying him on a brief quest with the Toa Nuva in search of the Bohrok-Kal. She would continue to accompany him throughout the quest for the Seventh Toa, which this set depicts. Of course, it would ultimately turn out that Takua himself was the destined Toa of Light. This would prove that he was not, in fact, a Ta-Matoran with an inexplicably blue mask, but an Av-Matoran, or Matoran of Light.

Later lore would reveal that Takua was among many Av-Matoran scattered throughout the universe under new identities, their previous memories hidden from them, by the Order of Mata Nui as a precaution against the Av-Matoran tribe being wiped out. Now known as Takanuva, our plucky hero would see many more adventures, as well as three more sets depicting his Toa form: 8596, 8699, and 7135. As for Pewku, she would briefly serve as mount to Takanuva's Ta-Matoran best friend Jaller, before he too transformed into a Toa. After this, she was returned to the care of her original (so far as we know) master, Orkahm, and played no role in the storyline afterwards.

So we’ve got a bit of a two parter here, let's get down to business!

First, Takua. Personally I’d recommend everyone here play the Mata Nui Online Game and watch the Bohrok Online Animations. They’re two of the best pieces of BIONICLE media, both star Takua, and they're a thoroughly awesome romp.

Takua was one of the villagers of Ta-Koro on the island of Mata Nui. For the longest time, Takua never quite fit in. Not only did he wear blue armor unlike any of his peers, but he could never find a place he belonged. Ta-Wahi was too hot, Le-Wahi too moist, Po-Wahi too dry, nowhere on the island felt good to live in. He couldn’t farm lava, he couldn’t forge tools, he wasn’t much of a fighter, and so he never took up a proper job. His general laziness and lack of focus drew ire from the Ta-Matoran, and while the elder Vakama tried to defend Takua eventually his people got the better of him, and Takua was banished from the village.

For a while Takua roamed the island and eventually settled down homeless on the Ta-Wahi beach. Then disaster struck! Makuta Teridax’s Rahi attacked all the villages at once. The Turaga were kidnapped, the Toa Stones stolen, and the Vuata Maca trees stopped producing power. No one knew what to do, so Takua rose to the task! Single handedly, the scrappy Matoran managed to defeat the Rahi that had taken the Turaga, recover the ceremonial Toa Stones from across the island, and restore the Vuata Macas’ power supply. Despite his efforts, only the Turaga truly knew of his heroism, but the journey helped Takua realize his purpose. He was an adventurer! And he was going to discover all the secrets Mata Nui had to offer.

Before his exploration could truly begin, Vakama gave Takua one final task. He was to take the six Toa Stones to the legendary Kini Nui at the center of the island. When Takua did so the stones created a massive beam of light that shot Takua into the air! The beam summoned the six Toa heroes to Mata Nui to finally save the island, but Takua landed on the Ta-Wahi beach with a grand thud that completely whipped his memory.

The amnesiac Takua soon set out to recover his memories in a grand month-long adventure around the island. While the Toa were busy recovering their Masks of Power Takua set out to explore the island, learn it’s history, and help defend the villages. During his travels he:

Saved the population of Ga-Koro who were trapped in a sunken hut and were running out of air.

Uncover a plot by the Po-Matoran Ahkmou to use infected Kohli Balls to mind control the village of Po-Koro.

Helped stop a lava breach and open up the Lightstone Mines, bringing light back to Onu-Koro.

Uncovered an entrance to Mangaia beneath Onu-Koro that at the time was sealed shut.

Took to the skies with Kongu to save kidnapped Le-Matoran and Taipu from the Rama-Hive, where he watched Onua save and infected Lewa from Makuta’s control.

Saved Koopeke at the Tren Krom break, though he was too late to save the other Ta and Ko-Matoran lost in the fray.

Got lost in the drifts where he was rescued by Matoro.

Throughout his adventures the Turaga finally came up with a job that would suit Takua. For the first time in 1,000 years, the Matoran of Mata Nui would have a Chronicler! Takua was to gather tales and record events from across the island.

Eventually Takua was called upon for his greatest task. The Toa were going to descend into Kini Nui to fight Makuta in his lair, but when doing so they’d be vulnerable to Rahi from behind. While the other Matoran set up defenses around the villages for a final assault, Takua was to gather a team of six Matoran to protect Kini Nui and the Toa underground.

Takua assembled his crew, the Chronicler's Company, a band of misfits from across the island. Kapura, a Ta-Matoran who couldn’t run. Macku, a Ga-Matoran who couldn’t listen. Tamaru, a Le-Matoran who was scared of heights. Hafu, a Po-Matoran that no-one liked. Taipu, an dumb Onu-Matoran. And Koopeke, who even by Ko-Matoran standards was silent and aloof.

Together this crew defended Kini Nui from hordes of Rahi attackers. The seven fought valiantly, but as hordes of giant beasts descended on them they were pushed further and further back. But, when all hope seemed lost help arrived! Kongu and the Gukko Force, Onepu and the Ussalry, Jaller and the Ta-Koro guard, and warriors from the other villages burst onto the scene. The Turaga were mistaken, Makuta had not tried to attack the villages, all his forces had been sent to Kini-Nui and helped arrived just in time!

But the battle wasn’t over! Takua was sent to the village of Onu-Koro upon the Ussal steed Pewku where a mysterious button had appeared. When he pressed the button it opened a secret passage to Makuta's lair! Takua descended into the depths and watched the Toa as they faced off with the ultimate force of destruction.

When Makuta was defeated and the smoke cleared the Toa were teleported back to an upper chamber, but Takua was left underground. There he witnessed the next stage of Makuta’s plan, the dark lord awakened the Bohrok Swarms! Takua managed to escape just in time thanks to a gift from Turaga Onewa. He emerged back on the beach he started his adventure, where Vakama was ready to meet him. Vakama knew the Bohrok were coming, but before they arrived the Matoran might as well celebrate their victory over Makuta’s forces. He also finally told Takua his name, which he had forgotten during the fall, and the two returned to Ta-Koro under a firework lit sky.

Midak soon gifted Takua Pewku as a steed and during the Bohrok War the two traveled the island to gather tales of the fray. During the battles Takua assisted in saving the village of Le-Koro from the swarm’s parasitic Krana, and when the villages of Po-Koro and Ga-Koro were threatened by the swarm he stood proud as the last line of defense. During this time he also became best friends with Jaller, and the two became close to lovers (not as close as Hewkii and Macku, but much more than most Matoran bonds.)

Around three months after the Toa arrived on the island Takua’s life would change forever. It was the day of the grand Kohli Championship, the match was going to start within the hour, and Takua was nowhere to be found. Jaller set off to find out what his teammate was up to, and soon found him investigating a strange totem across a lava river. Takua dropped the totem and it fell in the lava, but soon a mysterious mask drifted to the surface. Takua collected it and rushed back with Jaller and Toa Tahu to play in the match.

Takua and Jaller lost the Kohli match, but just as it ended the strange mask fell out of Takua’s bag. A bright light shone from its surface toward Takua, but he shifted the light onto Jaller. The Turaga brought the two Matoran to Turaga Nokama to translate an inscription inside the mask. It was the Kanohi Avohkii, the Mask of Light! The mask was to choose a herald who would follow it’s glowing beam and lead them to the location of the seventh Toa, the Toa of Light!

Takua tried to shirk the duty, and convinced the Turaga that the mask had chosen Jaller as herald. Jaller in turn convinced the Turaga that Takua should accompany him as Chronicler and record the story. The two set out on top of Pewku to find the seventh Toa.

Makuta soon learned of the mask's discovery. As a being of shadow, a Toa of Light would be deadly to him. He was left no choice but to unleash his most powerful servants. The Sons of Makuta, the Rahkshi. The Rahkshi went to the surface to hunt down the herald and kill him before he could find the seventh Toa.

Takua and Jaller traveled all across the island fleeing their Rahkshi pursuers. From the thick jungles of Le-Wahi, to the frozen peaks of Ko-Wahi, to the tunnels of Onu-Wahi. While in the tunnels of Onu-Wahi, Takua and Jaller were separated. There Makuta’s eyes manifested in the shadows and confronted Takua. Makuta threatened Takua and told him to hand over the Mask of Light, or else Jaller would die.

Takua became afraid, and so did what he had done best for the 1,000 years before his great quest to summon the Toa. He ran away. He took Pewku and left Jaller with the Mask of Light.

Takua fled to the village of Onu-Koro in shame while Jaller continued his quest. Soon however, the village was attacked by three of the Rahkshi. In the grand frey between Toa, Rahkshi, and Matoran Takua realized they weren’t hunting for the mask, they weren’t hunting for Jaller, they were hunting for him. The village of Onu-Koro was destroyed, Pohatu and Onua presumed dead, and it was all Takua’s fault.

Takua quickly reunited with Jaller, saving him from falling off a cliff-face, and the two continued their quest. Soon the two arrived at their destination. Kini-Nui. Takua found it anticlimactic. Before the two could figure out how to summon the seventh Toa they were attacked, all six Rahkshi appeared! All hope seemed lost, until the six Toa arrived! The Toa and Rahkshi dueled beneath the ancient temple in heated battle. As the fight raged on, victory seemed on the Toa’s side, if it were not for Turakh, the Rahkshi of fear, who aimed its staff at Takua and froze him with his power. Jaller jumped forward and grabbed the monster’s staff. The overwhelming power of fear tore Jaller’s brain to pieces and he collapsed in Takua’s arms. With his dying breath Jaller and Takua shared their final words.
“I’m supposed to make the sacrifice”
“No, the duty was mine. You know who you are... you were always different”
and Jaller handed Takua the mask as he collapsed. Takua had lost his best friend.

Jaller was right. Takua was different. There’s a reason he never felt at home in Ta-Koro. There’s a reason he couldn’t do the jobs the other Ta-Matoran could do. It’s because he wasn’t a Ta-Matoran. He wasn’t a Matoran of Fire. He was an Av-Matoran. A Matoran… of Light.

Takua doned the Mask of Light and with a blinding flash transformed into Takanuva! The Toa of Light! With his power he blew the Rahkshi to smithereens and prepared for his fight with Makuta, but that’s a story for another day…

(btw’s Jaller came back to life, long story, he has PTSD from dying now)

Next up is Pewku.

Long ago, Pewku was a cart hauler on the island of Metru Nui, helping the Matoran Ohrkham transport goods across the city. When the Matoran fled Metru Nui to Mata Nui Pewku followed. She soon became a part of the Onu-Koro Ussalry where she became the mount of its leader Onepu. Under Onepu’s service Pewku became a champion racer, winning the Great Ussal Race three times!

Eventually though, time came for her to retire. Over eons she had grown three times that of a typical Ussal, and become a rusted creaky husk of her former self, her bright blue paint chipping away. Onepu trusted her to the Ussal farmer Midak who employed her as a taxi crab, shuttling Matoran from Onu-Koro to Po-Koro. She quickly became the most respected and revered Ussal of the flock, and though her joints were getting rickety she was still as spunky as ever.

When Takua set out to help Onu-Koro with their lightstone issues, he rode Pewku through the tunnels to reach the underground city. During their brief time together, Pewku grew fond of the Matoran.

When time came for the Battle of Kini Nui, Pewku followed the Ussalry there. Once there Midak gifted Pewku to Takua as his personal steed, and she helped him reach the secret passage to Makuta’s lair.

Pewku went on to become one of Takua’s best friends, helping him seek stories to Chronicle throughout the island. When Takua became Takanuva she was given to Jaller, and when Jaller left to save the Toa Nuva on Voya Nui Pewku was returned to Ohrkham.

Btws this set is fantastic. Pewku has wheels on her belly so when you roll her on the floor her legs skitter like an actual crab. It's adorable.

@PurpleDave said:
"I absolutely loved the Ussal crabs from the Mata Nui Online Game. When this set came out, I felt like I'd told someone that I really like the Piper Cub, and then I walk out and see a 747 parked in the driveway.

I get that they wanted to make a more posable Matoran design after the McD's promo, and that it would have been tricky (but not impossible) to do so without making them bigger than the Turaga, but the Ussal crab? Did it really have to be the size of a patio?

@xboxtravis7992 :
I'd say you could always build your own, but there's one part that has never been made in any Onu-Koran colors, and three parts that have never been made in any Le-Koran colors. I never really liked the design myself. The proportions seemed too apelike. I remember seeing a MOC with a much smaller frame, which matched the proportions of the movie characters a lot better. Using an original design, it should be possible to pick elements that are available in all six color schemes.

As for Takua, I also found it weird that they gave him a medium-blue mask, when it looked primary blue in the game. That was the color I used for my McToran Takua."
That's a perception error on your part then - Takua's mask actually is medium-blue in the games. Look at a screenshot of him in the game next to a screenshot of a Ga-Matoran. His mask is the same color as their bodies.

IMO it's the movie proportions that are wrong, not the sets; the set designs came first and then were meddled with by the movie design artists (Although there were cases where the set sent to the animators was a prototype that was later refined, most notably Makuta - hence why there are some parts mismatches and the movie Krahkan doesn't resemble the set version; the prototype had a beta mockup design made by sticking a Pakari Nuva to a Vahi. Makuta being tainted red instead of charcoal, however, is pure art department meddling). I think the set Matoran proportions are decent and work well for a universe of Technic beings and as a direct evolution of the McDonald's sets (which also had very wide arms) . And they allow for a very functional Technic gimmick.

I really wish they had found a way to do Le- and Onu- Matoran in the upgraded style. Maybe as McDonald's Build-A-Figures. Or maybe making room in the regular lineup by doing the Ko-, Po-, and Ga-Matoran as either-or builds instead of separate sets for each. I wish one of the 3D-printing people would do a kit for them. Ideally posted on Thingiverse.

As for Pewku, of course she needed to be bigger. A. The Matoran were bigger and so she needed to be bigger to hold them (especially two at once) and B. It allowed for a more sophisticated Technic gimmick. This was a set that had to stand on its own, after all. I'm satisfied with the explanation for it, too - it's an advanced stage of growth.

2003: The year LEGO was at the edge of Bankruptsy, and very close to selling off the company. None of the sets they had at the time were making any substantial profits. Thankfully, Bionicle was there, and thanks in part to the Mask of Life Direct to DVD movie, its sales were at an all time high. According to the book Brick by Brick by David C. Robertson, about 40% of the LEGO's total sales in 2003 were comming from Bionicle, and Bionicle made more than 100% of the profits. That's quite impressive.

So, now, meet Takua, the main star of MNOG and The Mask of Light movie, and the true Hero that saved LEGO.

@water_jedi_17 said:
"Slightly off topic , but was there any in depth justification for the existence of Takutanuva? Or was that character only created to explain what the combiner model was?

I remember seeing the Mask of Light movie and wondering why he looked nothing like the combiner model at the time, so was just wondering what the story behind him was, whether it was Greg or Lego that came up with the idea.

Nice set though, really like some of the parts usage to make Pewku especially those tubes."

Takutanuva's got a few reasons for existing.

First and foremost was to set up the mystery of what *is* Makuta. In 2003 Makuta Teridax was still a massive enigma. The story had never truly explained what he was, just that he was the baddie. The scene where Takanuva threatens to remove Makuta's mask is the first time we hear fear or disgust in the villain's voice, the thought of loosing his mask is devastating. The reason why is simple, he doesn't want anyone to know of his true form, that he's just a sentient cloud of toxic smoke.

Second was to open the gate to Metru Nui. Makuta makes it pretty clear at the start of the fight that the gate is practically impossible to open. There's no way anyone except Maktua could've opened the door, so convincing him to do it was the best way. Given one of the Avohkii's powers is awakening the good in other people's hearts I don't think they *needed* to fuse, but oh well.

Third was to sacrifice a portion of the Makuta's lifeforce to bring Jaller back to life. At the time it felt like a bit of a cheap move, but given how racked with guilt and fear over it Jaller remains through the franchise it actually ended up being an interesting development. I wish they'd done more with it.

There's also two more speculative theories I have about it.

First is that it redefined how we understood fusion in BIONICLE. Prior to Takutanuva fusions had always been consensual and between three or six individuals. Takutanuva established that just two people could be fused together, and that non-consensual fusions are possible. While it wasn't a big part of the story, future characters show that forced and non-consensual fusions can be unhinged, violent, and confused compared to consensual ones and created some interesting characters.

Second is that it was a stepping stone for Takanuva's understanding of morality. I saw a pretty epic analysis on Youtube a while back, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaCkc7Io2-4
The gist of it is that prior to his fight with Maktua, Takua had a pretty black-and-white perception of the world around him. After fusing, Takanuva managed to find the good in Makuta's heart and possibly found the evil in his own heart. During 2008 when Takanuva went on a series of dimension hopping adventures a pretty prevalent theme of the serials was how no-one was destined to be good or evil and how all people are the product of circumstance, and based on what Greg Farshtey has said this may have led to Takanuva having to solve a major moraly-grey problem sometime in the series' epilogue.

@ThatBionicleGuy said:
"But since this picture is surely CG rather than photographed, it's a rather puzzling mistake - unless it was done deliberately to keep the shoulder from being hidden behind Pewku's tubes, I guess.)"

Nope, I guarantee it's a legit set photo. Early renders were limited for the small Bionicle sets while these larger more part intense sets still were actual photos. In 2003 for example, the Bohrok Kal and the Rahkshi all have rendered CGI boxart, but the rest of the sets that year are all photographs.