The BIONICLE theme is a 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.
2010 LEGO Sets
2010 marked the debut of Collectible Minifigures Series 1 and 2, launching a global collector phenomenon. LEGO expanded its Disney partnership with Cars under DUPLO and Toy Story sets in minifigure scale, while Prince of Persia joined the lineup alongside Star Wars sets celebrating The Empire Strikes Back’s 30th anniversary. New original themes included Atlantis, Hero Factory (successor to BIONICLE), World Racers, and Kingdoms, a return to historically inspired castle play. Several older lines ended, including Agents, Bob the Builder, Indiana Jones, and Thomas & Friends.