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.
2006 LEGO Sets
2006 for LEGO was a year of new themes being introduced and a number of well known themes being retired. LEGO in 2006 introduced and discontinued The Avatar: The Last Airbender, introduced the original Batman theme, Exo-Force, Mindstorms NXT, SpongeBob SquarePants, Remote control Trains and Aqua Raiders. However, the following themes were discontinued; Clikits, Vikings. While LEGO Sports was re-introduced in 2006 with a couple Soccer/Football sets.