#bionicle brutaka

[voidaspects]

A rambling defense of Makuta Spiriah('s design)!

Here’s a very long winded post about a bionicle side character that I suddenly have a lot to say about

I had no strong opinions of this like an hour ago and I suddenly have a massive rant to go on!

Okay, so, Makuta Spiriah, the 2008 bionicle combo model, is regarded as one of the ugliest combo models made for the series, from what I can see. It’s hard to deny that his model is pretty ugly and unremarkable, when you first see it. The colours clash, the construction is weird, and there’s a weird extra not-matoran guy included randomly? I won’t lie, I didn’t have a very good opinion of him either.

However

As of now, this past hour, I have built this figure, and felt compelled to make a defense of his design, because we’ve been far too harsh.

So, makuta spiriah is a pretty obscure character in the wider bionicle storyline, and would probably have just been a footnote in the story, were it not for the “Federation of Fear” story serial, in which he was a prominent member of the team. I probably wouldn’t have had an interest in building him, were it not for me wanting to collect every member. With all of the component sets for spiriah collected, my team is now completed (pic at the end). And I was immediately struck by how much better he looked in person? Like, don’t get me wrong, he’s still weird and janky, and his colour scheme is somewhat hard to adjust to, and all of the things you’d expect on initial glance (botar this is not) but I fully expected him to be ugly as hell, and instead he’s a pretty competent and cohesive model?

I think there’s a few reasons for this, but the biggest one in my opinion is actually the reason I felt the need to make this post, because it’s one of the main things I see people talking about with this model:

I am completely, intensely certain that the other model on his back is intended to be part of his construction, and it seems to just be accepted as a given that it isn’t for some reason?

So, the reason I feel so intensely about this is that pretty much every time this model is mentioned, without fail, there’s sort of a fun fact about how “Spiriah is canon, but the matoran-esque thing on him is non-canon”

This doesn’t seem to have a direct source, so much as it’s a conclusion drawn due to how this second model is perceived. Specifically, the conclusion is drawn from: “there appears to be a weird, slapped together matoran character on his back, to showcase the matoran fusion function from 2008” + “No such character exists in the story” = “this part of the model isn’t canon”

And see, this logic treats the interpretation that this is a separate character as a given. Like… it doesn’t seem to be questioned. And with this mindset, yeah, when you put the models beside each other as individual things, they both look awful:

You’re left with what seemingly appears to be a weirdly shaped antroz and some extra dude made from scraps. But in all honesty, I think this is just accepted as a fact due to spiriah already being accepted as an ugly model. I instead want to propose this as my first piece of evidence that this is not how this is intended to be seen. But my evidence doesn’t stop there.

For instance, another thing worth mentioning is the fact that there is not a single official depiction of the spiriah model that shows the two seperated, from what I can see. They are never once shown on their own in any capacity.

The one single exception to this is this part of the instructions, which tell you to construct the entirety of this second model as it’s own thing, before inserting it onto spiriah. However, this leads us to an additional point, being that this step is in the middle of spiriah’s construction, before you’ve even attached his arms. If this was intended to be a seperate model, why would it be attached during his body construction?

My final piece of evidence I want to propose, relates to the notion of this second model being “an extra little thing you make from the scraps.” I think this idea is popular because of just how barebones it looks on it’s own. Like a weird afterthought. People rationalize this idea with the explanation that this was just to show the matoran fusion function that was being heavily advertised in 2008. They just wanted to insert the-matoran-on-his-back function and threw this extra thing together, right?

Except, having built this figure now… I don’t think you guys realize just how many extra pieces are left. Like, no, this wasn’t a bottom of the barrel little extra thing. They had three mask option and kept the head bare. There was so much to work with.

(Also, fun fact, the matoran-thing has asymmetrical weapon pieces, but both of the chosen weapons have a second version available that wasn’t used, meaning it was a conscious choice for some reason. I don’t have a point to make with that, I just think it’s kinda weird and worth mentioning lmao)

Anyway, my point is, I strongly believe there is NOT some weird non canon extra guy with spiriah. Spiriah is, instead, a model that integrated a full matoran build into it’s construction as an actual design element. It uses the motif of the matoran fusion function, but the matoran instead fills out his figure, bulking him up to look more cohesive and complex.

Now, whether this is intended to be just an abstract way to construct his design, or he’s actually intended to look like he has a person melded into him or something, overtly, I’ll leave up to you. The makuta are weird and mutated enough that it honestly could very well be the latter, though it’d be an awfully weird thing to go unmentioned. But who knows, maybe some poor matoran got shadow-absorbed nidihki and krehka style. Or something. Your call!

Anyway, I’ll finish off this weirdly specific rant by just saying that I think this really changed the way I look at some of these models. I think the vast amount of criticism I’ve seen of Spiriah is reflective of the fact that on a glance, he looks super unappealing, to the point that no one really wants to build him, and therefore people maintain these opinions without ever seeing him in person? Not to sound like I know better or anything, I would never have built him if it weren’t for my love of the Federation of Fear story, and up until this moment I firmly believed Spiriah was one of the worst models of the line. Jarringly coloured, weirdly proportioned. I’d have no reason to believe otherwise, had I not done this.

I just think that’s neat, and I also think it’s neat that I suddenly had so much to say immediately after building him. I still don’t think he’s anything special, granted. He could absolutely be improved. But as he is? He’s still pretty dang cool! Cooler than I think any of us have given him credit for! And I think that makes me appreciate him more!

So shout out to the biggest failure in bionicle history. At least someone thinks something about you is a success!

(Lariska model created by Gerou100 (unofficial fanon contest winning model) (it’s canon in my heart))

#bionicle #lego bionicle #toy collection #bionicle collection #bionicle lore #bionicle 2008 #makuta #federation of fear #bionicle federation of fear #bionicle makuta #spiriah #makuta spiriah #brutaka #bionicle brutaka

[donot-lose-your-head]

My dealer: got some straight gas 🔥😛 this strain is called "Antidermis" 😳 you'll be bonked out of your Kanohi💯

Me: yeah whatever. I don't feel shit.

5 minutes later: dude I swear I have to fulfill The Plan rn.

My buddy Brutaka pacing: The three that must be one. The two that must make them one. He must remember, he must be made to see, or the journey of 100,000 years will be for nothing. He hides beneath, preparing to meet his destiny. We must go there, we must right the wrong. So many wrongs before the Shattering can end.

#bionicle #zoinked #brutaka #holy shit

[demitsorou]

Brutaka better continue sweeping the polls because what is more sexier than a bitter gay man that's way into huffing evil sentient gas and with power to open doors to other dimensions.

Commission for eyematic, from 2021.

#brutaka #bionicle #biomech #monster #biomechanical #terato #biomecha #demi-bionicle-art #demitsorou-art

[neoruke]

Elegance 

#bionicle #brutaka #bionicle art #digital art #artists on tumblr

[bioniclechicken]

In the Toa Empire universe, the renegade Toa Nidhiki is finally found to be hiding on Daxia. Empress Tuyet conscripts a quartet of dangerous criminals to assassinate the Toa of Air before he reveals the truth behind Lhikan's death.

#bionicle #art #my art #bc #federation of fear #brutaka #vezok #takadox #carapar #alternate universe #fanfiction #vezok because vezon was never born here #and yes this is inspired by suicide squad kill the justice league

[takuas-eyebrows]

idk why but after 10 years of female this and female that, it seems so strange to hear brutaka refer to female makuta as “women”

#bionicle #axonn #brutaka

[arr-jim-lad]

i absolutely cannot stand how edgycool brutaka has been written bc i fall for it. i fall for all of it. i am like a small child falling for extremely obvious coolness bait. he's so shadow the hedgehog. he's even gay

#brutaka #bionicle

[ariartaccount]

Axonn and Brutaka, some of my favorite sets

#bionicle #lego #axonn #brutaka #digitalart #art #drawing #krita #sketch #bonkle

[tiredspacedragon]

I know I've posted about this elsewhere, but I don't remember if I've talked about it here, so stop me if you've heard this one before.

Y'know how Zamor Spheres are all made of clear crystal, and take on the colour of their contents? Hence why the Piraka's spheres are all sickly green, because they're full of Antidermis?

Y'ever think about how, since the Toa Inika's Zamor were filled with Energized Protodermis, canonically speaking they would all be silver instead of red/yellow, blue, and green? Because I think about it a lot.

#bionicle #bonkle #toa inika #zamor #all those colours actually do exist in-story #the zamor hakann uses to steal brutaka's power was blue #the one hewkii used to drain that power back was yellow #and the stasis-field sphere axonn gave jaller to use on vezon was sea-green #but they were all one-offs

[randomwriteronline]

One night, when all is over, when all can rest; when Kiina sleeps listening to the waves, Berix nursing the newest still unfinished project, Gresh not having any new scars to count, Click barely batting a wing; Ackar hears the voice of Mata Nui smile with such infinite love, and wakes up.

He sits up and listens again: if he strains his ears, if he forces himself to shut down the frantic beating of his heart, he thinks he can hear that voice again. He could swear he is talking, maybe humming, so close and yet so impossibly far away, even further than the resting place of the Ignika but somehow right next to him, tone filled with mournful joy, with an affection that brings one to tears.

Someone is out there, outside.

Someone is singing, outside.

He leaves.

One night, when all is over, Ackar forces himself to stumble out of town and into the cold, into the slowly receding desert which is giving way to life once more; he follows beneath the starlit sky barren of blue or green moons the sound, the song, the voice, an enthralled sleepwalker chasing desperately after a lucid dream he knows cannot be and yet so desperately wants to find, a spellbound seaman bewitched by a cannibal siren's serenade dragging his ship against the jagged cliffs upon which the object of his desire perches with monstrous arms outstretched so lovingly towards him.

He chases after the sound, the song, the voice: he could swear it's the same, the same deep and comforting sound upon whom he once laid his hand on to call 'friend'; he could swear it's the same, so sweet and so heartbroken, and his throat twists tight into a knot as he knows he will not see what he wants, yet he wants so badly.

He chases after the sound, the song, the voice: it splits but does not shatter. Like the hairs of a braid its pieces join together, tangle gently, form a harmony that no mouth can replicate.

He stops.

He looks.

One night, when all is over, Ackar watches and listens.

He knows them, he recognizes them: the twelve of them arranged in two concentric circles, only six of them singing, only six of them silent, their language so far beyond what his anatomy could comprehend or hope to produce, and yet he understands.

He understands from the inner circle's tight fists, their shaking shoulders, their shuddering chests as they struggle to breathe. He understands from the outer circle's solemn pronounciation, the anguish in their shining eyes, their longing and trembling voices.

He understands and hushes, and listens to their mourning song.

One night, when all is over, the Toa Mata mourn who they were fated to protect and instead failed.

One night, when all is over, the Toa Mahri mourn who they could not hold back from the choice of fate.

One night, when all is over, Toa Takanuva mourns all who he will never accept he could not die in the stead of.

Six voices raise, six lights like an aurora across the sky - two figures, mighty and wise and yet so powerless, dancing in their dirge with bodies composed of mourning songs harmonizing together - warriors burying a king, a peer, a friend, a stranger. Six more join, louder to the point of wailing, no composure, burning stars bursting as violently as their destructive end allows, children crying inconsolable the death of a hero, a peer, a friend, a sibling.

The Toa howl like wild hounds into the empty desert night in which no bloody star shines, in the heartbroken artificial language of their manufactured living people.

One night, when all is over, Ackar looks and listens.

In their twelve voices he hears yet another, at once earth and sky, enormously strong yet as light as the birdsong.

In their thirteen voices he hears Mata Nui.

In their thirteen voices Mata Nui smiles.

He smiles with such infinite love.

One night, when all is over, Ackar whispers: I love you.

One night, when all is over, the Toa scream: I love you.

One night, when all is over, Matoro booms: I love you.

One night, when all is over, Mata Nui smiles: I love you.

Ackar cries.

#bionicle #ackar #toa mata #toa mahri #takanuva #matoro #mata nui #random writing #grief tw #based on the song 'cosmic love' by florence and the machine #watch me apply this song to bionicle in like 6577 different ways mostly platonic #its about the mata and mata nui but also ackar and mata nui but also matoro and the mahri but also takanuva and every character ever #but also about 2015 pohatu and kopaka but also vakama and lhikan but also the metru and metru nui but also the metru and each other but als #the mata and each other but also the mahri and each other but also the metru and the mata/the mata and the mahri/the mahri and the metru #but also mata nui and teridax but also brutaka and axonn but also krahka and the metru but also matoro and mata nui but also the ignika and #matoro but also the rahaga and the mask of light but also the rahaga and teridax but also the rahaga and vakama hordika but also nuju and #whenua but also onewa and krahka but also the av matoran and the mata but also the voya/mahri matoran and fate as a whole but also macku #and hewkii but also the chroniclers and each other but also takua and jaller but also jaller and hahli but also kiina and mata nui but also #berix and kiina but also the makuta and the universe but also the great beings and mata nui but also the great beings and spherus magna #feel free to add onto it honestly #anyways YEA. THIS. TAKE IT.

[dogesterone]

friends to lovers to bitter enemies to begrudging coworkers to lovers

#bionicle #bonkles #axonn #brutaka #this is my last one before bed #i think they have grumpy middle aged divorced gay ex husbands energy #helryx was their divorce lawyer

[voidaspects]

Slowly but surely building out my full Order of Mata Nui collection.

My remaining checklist is as follows:

1. Get the remaining pieces for Tobduk

2. Get the remaining pieces for Krakua

3. Think about how only Johmak specifically is entirely absent

4. Cry

5. Take solace in the fact that I already own Jerbraz

#bionicle collection #lego bionicle #bionicle #order of mata nui #axonn #brutaka #bionicle botar #helryx #mazeka #bionicle hydraxon #bionicle maxilos #bionicle spinax #bionicle trinuma #bionicle lore

[dougielombax]

With all due respect, your honour.

They are, as you say, an old married couple.

I’d even say that they’re both terminally divorced.

#personal stuff #dougie rambles #what #my poor attempt at a joke #this sounded better in my head #lego #bionicle #lego bionicle #axonn #brutaka #Bionicle Lego #bionicle lore #cursed #divorced #terminally divorced #no context #shitpost #old married couple #they’re married #they’re divorced #this is true #it is known

[mimicry-works]

You can pick up a Skakdi like a cat if your hand's big enough

#bionicle #Vezon #brutaka #fan art #bionicle redesigns #mimicry art

[azazelleviathan]

[old art still from backlog]

Brutaka and Maxulos rough sketches

#bionicle #brutaka #maxilos #voya nui #mahri nui #bionicle art

[turagapohatu]

(Axonn defending Brutaka in court) Axonn: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Axonn: Over the past four days you have seen State Prosecutor attempt to effectively bamboozle you with a series of hearsay arguments and loose speculative evidence placing my client at the scene of the crime during the time of the murder. Axonn: You are tasked to consider the evidence and whether it proves, beyond a reasonable doubt, whether my client is guilty. Axonn: Is my client a perfect man? No. Brutaka: I killed him, yeah.

#source: game changer #bionicle #incorrect bionicle quotes #axonn #brutaka