The BIONICLE theme is series of sets based on modified TECHNIC pieces and ball-and-socket joints to create larger figures. Bionicles coincided with a series of comic books and graphic novels released during the set's run from 2001 to 2016. The theme was introduced in 2001 and originally discontinued in 2010, being succeeded by Hero Factory but additional sets were also released up until 2016 after it's break in 2010 to 2014. BIONICLE sets were tied together by an elaborate original storyline within the comic books and other multimedia that centered around bio-mechanical characters which are generally large, powerful beings that usually serve for good. The name BIONICLE is short for BIOlogical ChroNICLE.
2004 LEGO Sets
2004 was a shakeup year at LEGO, coming off of 2003 with record losses. Some significant events include the release of the QUATRO System for very young children, and most notably the replacement of many long-standing LEGO colors including gray, dark gray, brown and violet and the introduction of some new colors like light nougat which ultimately became the skin tone for many minifigures. In 2004, The LEGO Group created a partnership with Ferrari and a number of LEGO Ferrari sets were released that year based on Ferrari’s Formula 1 racing cars. New themes released in 2004 included Maersk, Knight's Kingdom II and Ferrari under the Racers theme. LEGO discontinued the Adventurers Orient Expedition, the original Spider-Man theme, LEGO World City and Gravity Games.