LEGO 40581 BIONICLE Tahu and Takua GWP designers reveal concept secrets

The LEGO designers behind the upcoming 40581 BIONICLE Tahu and Takua GWP have revealed more secrets behind the set’s development.

Next week sees the arrival of an all-new LEGO GWP in the shape of 40581 BIONICLE Tahu and Takua. Released to celebrate more than 20 years of the legends of the Toa, the upcoming promotional set includes a brick-built pair of classic constraction characters, as well as a surfboard and display stand for Tahu – the leader of the original six Toa Mata.

Two of the LEGO designers behind the model, Nick Vás and Niek van Slagmaat, recently took to social media to reveal initial concepts and thinking behind the GWP set, including a variety of alternative creations and aesthetic approaches.

As previously reported, LEGO designer George Gilliatt also revealed his role in the development of 40581 BIONICLE Tahu and Takua on Twitter, and the part he played in the project. “I helped Nico (Vás) with some of the early concept work for this product,” says Gilliatt. “The idea with this design (above) was to represent the whole Toa Mata team in one product by building them in a tiny scale. They felt very BIONICLE to me because they used the same Technic elements for their limbs as the original Turaga!”

The designer also mentioned how he created an early version of one of the BIONICLE characters whilst he was tinkering with another then-in-development model. “When (James May) and I were working on 31124 Super Robot, I made this MOC (My Own Creation) where I reskinned the Robot as Tahu,” he states, “mostly changing the leg and head design, and adding the flame sword!”

“When I saw the new limb element that had been designed for NINJAGO (especially because it was moulded in orange), I knew I had to make a MOC of Tahu using them!” Gilliatt discusses. “I also thought a System Tahu would look amazing on a display stand with the Mata Nui Stone.”

Unfortunately it doesn’t look as is BIONICLE fans will be able to make their own versions of Gilliatt’s designs, as he mentions, “All of the creations I have shared were either MOCs of very early concept models, not intended to be official LEGO products, so building instructions will not be provided.”

40581 BIONICLE Tahu and Takua will be available as a GWP online and in-stores from January 27, 2023, with spends of £90 / $100 / €100 and over.

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