LEGO Ninjago

LEGO Ninjago (formerly known as LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu until mid-2019) is a Danish-American CGI-animated television series created by Tommy Andreasen & produced by The LEGO Group. The series' pilot episodes aired on January 14, 2011, and the series proper began on December 2, 2011. It is the first LEGO cartoon to air on Cartoon Network, and the longest-running. It was also the longest-running show to air on Cartoon Network, until it stopped airing on the channel after Season 13, and moved to Netflix.
In 2019, the series dropped the subtitle of Masters of Spinjitzu and the episode run-times were changed from 22 minutes to 11 minutes.
== History ==
==== The Creation of the Series ====
In 2009, LEGO decided to remake a theme that had existed for many years called Ninja (a Castle sub-theme that was discontinued in 2000), taking some ideas from the old theme and made a new one called Ninjago.
Later, Tommy Andreasen and Thomas Fenger created the martial art of Spinjitzu.
On February 22, 2010, the Hageman Brothers finished the first draft of the pilot episode.
On May 2, 2010, the first concept was made where Kai fought a skeleton.
==== Cancellation and Return (2013-2014) ====
Originally LEGO had planned that the series would end after two seasons. Because of fan demand, in 2014, it returned with Season 3.
==== New Animation Studio (2019) ====
Starting with the eleventh season, LEGO changed the animation studio from WILFilm ApS to WildBrain (formerly called DHX Media).
== Synopsis ==
"Long before time had a name, Ninjago was created by the First Spinjitzu Master using the four weapons of Spinjitzu: The Scythe of Quakes, the Nunchucks of Lightning, the Shurikens of Ice, and the Sword of Fire. Weapons so powerful, no one can handle all their power at once. When he passed away, his two sons swore to protect them. But the oldest was consumed by darkness, and wanted to possess the weapons. A battle between brothers broke out, and the oldest was struck down and banished to the underworld. Peace returned, and the younger brother hid the weapons. But knowing his older brother's relentless ambition for power, he placed a guardian to protect them. And for fear of his own demise, a map for an honest man to hide."
Six young ninja with elemental powers (Lloyd, Jay, Kai, Cole, Zane and Nya) are tasked with defending the fantastical world of Ninjago, a land created by the legendary First Spinjitzu Master. Trained by the wise Master Wu, Lloyd Garmadon and his friends use their skills, weapons, and vehicles to fight against evil masterminds and fearsome otherworldly creatures.
== Characters ==
Lloyd Garmadon (voiced by Jillian Michaels from Season 1 to 7, Sam Vincent fron Season 8 to 15) - The destined Green Ninja, the youngest but most powerful of the team. Once a bratty child, he was forced to grow up quickly in order to become the Green Ninja. He is a natural leader and wise beyond his years. He is Garmadon and Misako's son, Wu's nephew, and the First Spinjitzu Master's grandson.
Kai (voiced by Vincent Tong) - The hotheaded and cocky Red Ninja of Fire. He is Nya's older brother and son of Ray and Maya.
Jay (voiced by Michael Adamthwaite) - The inventive and comedic Blue Ninja of Lightning. He is Nya's boyfriend, the adoptive son of Ed and Edna Walker, and son of the actor Cliff Gordon.
Cole (voiced by Kirby Morrow) - The strong and steady Black Ninja of Earth. He is the rock and foundation of the team. He is the son of Lou and Lilly, the previous Master of Earth. 
Zane (voiced by Brent Miller) - The stoic and calculating Titanium Ninja of Ice. Once believing himself to be a human orphan, he discovered his identity as a Nindroid (a robot ninja). He struggled with this fact at first, but he has accepted his true nature and uses his robotic intelligence to assist the team. He was built by the late Dr. Julien.
Nya (voiced by Kelly Metzger) - The confident and intuitive Water Ninja. She is Kai's younger sister, Jay's girlfriend, the original Samurai X, and daughter of Ray and Maya.
Master Wu (voiced by Paul Dobson) - A Master of Spinjitzu, and the wise, old sensei of the Ninja. He is the second son of the First Spinjitzu Master, Garmadon's younger brother, and Lloyd's uncle.
Lord/Master/Emperor Garmadon (voiced by Mark Oliver) - The Lord of Destruction, the Ninjas' first enemy, and most recurring antagonist. Bitten by a cursed serpent as a child, he transformed from Wu's heroic brother to a diabolical warlord who allied with other dark forces in order to achieve his goals. He was freed from his poison by his son, and he became a peace-loving sensei for a short time. Master Garmadon sacrificed himself in order to atone for his past, but he was eventually resurrected by an evil gang into a crueler version of his evil form. He is the First Spinjitzu Master's first son, Misako's husband, Wu's older brother, and Lloyd's father.
Misako (voiced by Kathleen Barr) - A historian and archaeologist, who is also Lloyd's mother and Garmadon's wife.
P.I.X.A.L. (voiced by Jennifer Hayward) - A Nindroid like Zane, who was once wired into Zane's head. After having a physical body again, P.I.X.A.L. became the current Samurai X. She is Zane's love interest and Dr. Cyrus Borg's creation.
Dareth (voiced by Alan Marriott) - The self-proclaimed "Brown Ninja" and ally of the Ninja.
== List of Episodes ==
=== Pilot Episodes ===
# "Way of the Ninja"
# "King of Shadows"
=== Season 1: Rise of the Snakes ===
# "Rise of the Snakes"
# "Home"
# "Snakebit"
# "Never Trust a Snake"
# "Can of Worms"
# "The Snake King"
# "Tick Tock"
# "Once Bitten, Twice Shy"
# "The Royal Blacksmiths"
# "The Green Ninja"
# "All of Nothing"
# "The Rise of the Great Devourer"
# "Day of the Great Devourer"
=== Season 2: Legacy of the Green Ninja ===
# "Darkness Shall Rise"
# "Pirates vs. Ninja"
# "Double Trouble"
# "Ninjaball Run"
# "Child's Play"
# "Wrong Place, Wrong Time"
# "The Stone Army"
# "The Day Ninjago Stood Still"
# "The Last Voyage"
# "Island of Darkness"
# "The Last Hope"
# "Return of the Overlord"
# "Rise of the Spinjitzu Master"
=== Season 3: Rebooted ===
# "The Surge"
# "The Art of the Silent Fist"
# "Blackout"
# "The Curse of the Golden Master"
# "Enter the Digiverse"
# "Codename: Arcturus"
# "The Void"
# "The Titanium Ninja"
=== Season 4: The Tournament of Elements ===
# "The Invitation"
# "Only One Can Remain"
# "Versus"
# "Ninja Roll"
# "Spy for a Spy"
# "Spellbound"
# "The Forgotten Element"
# "The Day of the Dragon"
# "The Greatest Fear of All"
# "The Corridor of Elders"
=== Season 5: Possession ===
# "Winds of Change"
# "Ghost Story"
# "Stiix and Stones"
# "The Temple on Haunted Hill"
# "Peak-a-Boo"
# "Kingdom Come"
# "The Crooked Path"
# "Grave Danger"
# "Curse World, Part I"
# "Curse World, Part II"
=== Season 6: Skybound ===
# "Infamous"
# "Public Enemy Number One"
# "Enkrypted"
# "Misfortune Rising"
# "On a Wish and a Prayer"
# "My Dinner with Nadakhan"
# "Wishmasters"
# "The Last Resort"
# "Operation Land Ho!"
# "The Way Back"
=== Season 7: Hands of Time ===
# "The Hands of Time"
# "The Hatching"
# "A Time of Traitors"
# "Scavengers"
# "A Line in the Sand"
# "The Attack"
# "Secrets Discovered"
# "Pause and Effect"
# "Out of the Fire and Into the Boiling Sea"
# "Lost in Time"
=== Season 8: Sons of Garmadon ===
# "The Mask of Deception"
# "The Jade Princess"
# "The Oni and the Dragon"
# "Snake Jaguar"
# "Dead Man's Squall"
# "The Quiet One"
# "Game of Masks"
# "Dread on Arrival"
# "True Potential"
# "Big Trouble, Little Ninjago"
=== Season 9: Hunted ===
# "Firstbourne"
# "Iron and Stone"
# "Radio Free Ninjago"
# "How to Build a Dragon"
# "The Gilded Path"
# "Two Lies, One Truth"
# "The Weakest Link"
# "Saving Faith"
# "Lessons for a Master"
# "Green Destiny"
=== Season 10: March of the Oni ===
Note: While in other countries it was broadcast as a season, on Cartoon Network US it broadcasted as a movie with all 4 episodes combined.
# "The Darkness Comes"
# "Into the Breach"
# "The Fall"
# "Endings"
=== Season 11: Secrets of the Forbidden Spinjitzu ===
# "Wasted True Potential"
# "Questing of Quests"
# "A Rocky Start"
# "The Belly of the Beast"
# ""Boobytraps and How to Survive Them""
# "The News Never Sleeps"
# "Ninja vs Lava"
# "Snaketrastrophy"
# "Powerless"
# "Ancient History"
# "Never Trust a Human"
# "Under Siege"
# "The Explorer's Club"
# "Vengance is Mine"
# "A Cold Goodbye"
# "The Never Realm"
# "Fire Maker"
# "An Unlikely Ally"
# "The Absolute Worst"
# "The Message"
# "The Traveler's Tree"
# "Krag's Lament"
# "Secret of The Wolf "
# "The Last of the Formlings"
# "My Enemy, My Friend"
# "The Kaiju Protocol"
# "Corruption"
# "A Fragile Hope" 
# "Fire & Ice"
# "Awakenings"
=== Season 12: Prime Empire ===
# "Would You Like To Enter Prime Empire?"
# "Dyer Island"
# "Level Thirteen"
# "Superstar Rockin' Jay"
# "I am Okino"
# "The Glitch"
# "The Maze of the Red Dragon"
# "The Cliffs of Hysteria"
# "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back"
# "Racer Seven"
# "The Speedway Five-Billion"
# "Stop, Drop and Side Scroll"
# "Ninjago Confidential"
# "The Prodigal Father"
# "The Temple of Madness"
# "Game Over"
=== Season 13: Master of the Mountain ===
# "Shintaro"
# "Into the Dark"
# "The Worst Rescue Ever"
# "The Two Blades"
# "Queen of the Munce"
# "Trial By Mino"
# "The Skull Sorcerer"
# "The Real Fall"
# "Dungeon Party"
# "Dungeon Crawl"
# "Grief-Bringer"
# "Masters Never Quit"
# "The Darkest Hour"
# "The Ascent"
# "The Upply Strike Back"
# "The Son of Lilly"
=== The Island ===
# "Uncharted"
# "The Keepers of the Amulet"
# "The Gift of Jay"
# "The Tooth of Wojira"
=== Season 14: Seabound ===
# "A Big Splash"
# "The Call of the Deep"
# "Unsinkable"
# "Five Thousand Fathoms Down"
# "The Wrath of Kalmaar"
# "Long Live the King"
# "Escape from Merlopia"
# "The Tale of Benthomaar"
# "The Storm Amulet"
# "Riddle of the Sphinx"
# "Papergirl"
# "Master of the Sea"
# "The Calm Before the Storm"
# "Assault on Ninjago City"
# "Nyad"
# "The Turn of the Tide"
=== Season 15: Crystalized ===
# "Farewell the Sea"
# "The Call of Home"
# "The Shape of Nya"
# "A Mayor Problem"
# "Public Enemies 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5!"
# "A Painful Promise"
# "Ninjago City vs. Ninja"
# "Kryptarium Prison Blues"
# "Hounddog McBrag"
# "The Benefit of Grief"
# "The Fifth Villain"
# "The Council of the Crystal King"
=== TV Specials ===
# "Day of the Departed"
== Seasons and TV Specials ==
=== Pilot: Masters of Spinjitzu (2011) ===
The two pilot episodes aired as a one-hour special on January 14, 2011.
Plot: "Wu seeks out four brave boys – Cole, Jay, Kai and Zane – whom he trains in the art of Spinjitzu to become protectors of the Golden Weapons. Kai is the last one to be recruited by Wu. When Kai meets Wu for the first time, Samukai and his evil Skeleton Army show up to kidnap Kai’s sister, Nya, and steal the map showing the location of the Golden Weapons. Behind the kidnapping is Lord Garmadon, who is controlling the Underworld. The fire ignites within Kai. He is determined to save Nya, so he follows Wu to join the rest of the ninja."
=== Season 1: Rise of The Snakes (2012) ===
The first season premiered on December 2, 2011, with "Rise of the Snakes" and "Home". It ended after 13 episodes with "Day of the Great Devourer" on April 11, 2012.
Plot: "Since Lord Garmadon’s disappearance from the Underworld, NINJAGO Island has been at peace, but the young ninja have grown lazy. While Garmadon lurks in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike, the ninja meet his young son, Lloyd, who carelessly unleashes a fearsome new enemy upon NINJAGO Island – the ancient tribes of the Serpentine. The leader of the Serpentine, Pythor, hatches an evil plan to bring back the legendary, all-consuming snake, the Great Devourer."
=== Season 2: Legacy of the Green Ninja (2012) ===
The second season premiered on July 18, 2012, with "Darkness Shall Rise". It ended after 13 episodes with "Rise of the Spinjitzu Master".
Plot: "Lord Garmadon has disappeared with all Four Golden Weapons and now he controls the Serpentine. Meanwhile, the ninja intensify their training of young Lloyd so he will be strong enough to defeat Lord Garmadon in the final battle. To gain evil power, Lord Garmadon goes to the Golden Peaks to convert all Four Golden Weapons into the weapon of creation – the Mega Weapon."
=== Season 3: Rebooted (2014) ===
The third season premiered on January 29, 2014, with "The Surge". It ended after 8 episodes with "The Titanium Ninja".
Plot: "Victory in the Final Battle between the Golden Ninja and the Overlord has ushered in a new era of peace and begun a technological renaissance. NINJAGO City has been rebuilt into a futuristic wonder and is now completely interconnected. Welcome to New NINJAGO City. The ninja have found there is very little need for their heroics and have become teachers at Wu’s Academy. But peace is an illusion…"
=== Season 4: The Tournament of Elements (2015) ===
The fourth season premiered on February 23, 2015, with "The Invitation". It ended after 10 episodes with April 3, 2014, with "The Corridor of Elders".
Plot: "When Zane sacrificed himself to stop the Golden Master, the power of the Golden Weapons unlocked new abilities within him, revealing a new layer of titanium. The immense energy dispatch destroyed parts of him and caused Zane to vanish into the Digiverse. Only P.I.X.A.L. was aware of Zane’s digital presence – or so she thought..."
=== Season 5: Possession (2015) ===
The fifth season premiered on June 29, 2015, with "Winds of Change". It ended after 10 episodes with "Curseworld, Part II" on July 10, 2015.
Plot: "A grieving Lloyd is possessed by the ghost of Morro – the Master of Wind and Wu’s first student. In Lloyd’s body, Morro renders the other ninja powerless before stealing Wu’s staff. It contains three hidden symbols, the path to finding the Tomb of First Spinjitzu Master. Wu knows that if Morro finds the tomb, he will claim the Realm Crystal. This relic has the power to open the fabric between realms, enabling the powerful Preeminent to enter the NINJAGO world."
=== Season 6: Skybound (2016) ===
The sixth season premiered on March 24, 2016, with "Infamous". It ended after 10 episodes with "Operation Land Ho!" and "The Way Back" on July 15, 2016.
Plot: "With the defeat of Morro’s ghost invasion, the ninja have now become huge media celebrities. But dark forces once more threaten NINJAGO Island as the Teapot of Tyrahn is rediscovered by the ghost of Clouse, Master Chen’s former right-hand man. He allows Nadakhan, an evil Djinn and captain of the infamous Misfortune’s Keep, to escape the teapot. After reassembling his pirate crew, Nadakhan returns to his home realm of Djinjago, to find it collapsing. This destruction, caused by the ninja defeating the Preeminent, leads Nadakhan to vow revenge. He refits his ship so it can fly and prepares to attack. Now they are Sky Pirates."
=== Day of the Departed (2016) ===
"Day of the Departed" is a Halloween special, that aired on October 29, 2016.
Plot: "When Cole returns to Yang's haunted temple to seek revenge on the former Airjitzu Master who turned him into a ghost, he accidentally uses a powerful Dark Magic blade that unleashes the spectral forms of Ninjago's greatest villains and traps himself in the temple! While Cole battles for his freedom, the Ninja must return their ghostly foes to the Departed Realm before they gain the power to remain in Ninjago forever!"
=== Season 7: The Hands of Time (2017) ===
The seventh season premiered on May 15, 2017, with "The Hands of Time". It ended after 10 episodes with "Lost in Time" on May 26, 2017.
Plot: "Shortly after the Day of the Departed, Master Wu awaits his old enemy Acronix to complete a battle they began 40 years ago. But Wu never should have faced such a powerful foe alone. Acronix hits Wu with the Time Punch, which causes him to start rapidly aging! Acronix escapes and reunites with his twin brother Krux, who has been living the past 40 years in disguise as the lovable Dr. Sander Saunders. During this time, Krux has been breeding a new slithering enemy: the Vermillion Warriors."
=== Season 8: Sons of Garmadon (2018) ===
The eighth season premiered on April 16, 2018, with "The Mask of Deception". It ended after 10 episodes with "Big Trouble, Little Ninjago" on May 25, 2018.
Plot: "A mysterious motorcycle gang called the Sons of Garmadon has arrived in NINJAGO® City in the action-packed season 8 of the NINJAGO TV series. Their goal: collect all three Oni Masks to resurrect Lord Garmadon! Can the might of Lloyd, the Green Ninja, and the ninja team stop them in time? It will take all their skills and courage, plus brand new vehicles to defeat this dangerous biker gang."
=== Season 9: Hunted (2018) ===
The ninth season premiered on August 11, 2018, with a two hour special consisting of "Firstbourne", "Iron and Stone", "Radio Free Ninjago", and "How to Build a Dragon". It finished after ten episodes on August 25, 2018, with a one-hour-and-a-half special consisting of "Saving Faith", "Lessons for a Master", and "Green Destiny".
Plot: "While Lloyd and Nya resist Emperor Garmadon's oppressive hold on Ninjago City, Young Wu and the rest of the Ninja are stranded in a barbaric realm where fierce dragons are being hunted down by Iron Baron and his gang of Dragon Hunters. Lloyd must endure in NINJAGO City, the others need to find the fabled Dragon Armor if they ever hope to get back home to stop Emperor Garmadon once and for all."
=== Season 10: March of the Oni (2019) ===
The 4-episode long tenth season premiered on April 19, 2019, as a two-hour movie.
Plot: "Bringers of doom, darkness, and destruction descend upon NINJAGO, and all hope seems lost. The ninjas must fight off the Oni invasion – but how can they defeat this destructive power and protect the NINJAGO legacy? There isn’t much time left - is this the end of NINJAGO, or will good defeat the powers of evil?"
=== Season 11: Secrets of the Forbidden Spinjitzu (2019-2020) ===
The 30-episode long eleventh season premiered on June 22, 2019 with two episodes, "Wasted True Potential" and "Questing for Quests". This is the first season to feature 11-minute long episodes.
Plot: "Basking in the glory of their recent victory, the ninja embark on a new adventure to explore a mysterious pyramid– just for a little light rest and recovery, of course. But has success lulled our heroes into a false sense of security? When the ninja accidentally set an ancient threat loose, nothing could ever have prepared them for the mayhem that follows."
=== Season 12: Prime Empire (2020) ===
Plot: "When the old, legendary video-game, "Prime Empire", resurfaces, players begin to disappear. In order to solve the mystery, the Ninja enter a dangerous digital world ruled by the mysterious villain Unagami."
=== Season 13: Master of the Mountain (2020) ===
Plot: "The ninja are invited to the beautiful Shintaro Kingdom to celebrate the young Princess Vania's birthday. At first glance, the Ivory City looks like a pristine place, but the ninja soon uncover a dark, obscure, long-forgotten underworld: The Dungeons of Shintaro. Once inside, they must fight their way to freedom through a maze of tunnels paved with dangers and strange creatures ruled by the merciless Skull Sorcerer. The ninja must choose their path wisely."
=== The Island (2021) ===
Plot: "Our ninja heroes have returned to Ninjago City after their latest adventure. But there's no time to chill out because all sorts of mischief is going on in Ninjago City! Meanwhile, Master Wu and Misako are on an expedition with Clutch Powers. This season, our heroes turn from crime fighters into explorers, because the mysterious island is calling them!"
=== Season 14: Seabound (2021) ===
Plot: "When Nya’s powers are suddenly disrupted, the ninjas travel to the the bottom of the Endless Sea for answers. They find a dangerous underwater world ruled by Prince Kalmaar, who wants to destroy NINJAGO City by waking the all-powerful sea serpent Wojira. The ninjas must find the prized amulets to stop him and keep their home safe. Will they triumph over the evil they face in the depths of the ocean?"
=== The Virtues of Spinjitzu (2022) ===
The Virtues of Spinjitzu aired from January 11, 2022 to February 15, 2022 on YouTube.
Plot: "Now is the time to take your ninja skills to the next level. You must upgrade all the crucial virtues you have learned. Be prepared to seize your moment. This is your destiny!"
=== Season 15: Crystalized (2022) ===
Plot: "The ninja are back for another season with brand new adventures in NINJAGO®: Crystalized! This time they have been locked up in Kryptarium Prison where they are surrounded by some of their old enemies.
Here they learn a mysterious Crystal King is recruiting a council of evil enemies. To find out the identity of this new enemy, they escape from prison and become fugitives.
Who is the Crystal King? Why is he gathering a powerful counsel? Get ready for another action-packed mission with the ninja!"
== Movie ==
In 2017, a feature-length theatrical film, "The LEGO Ninjago Movie", was released by Warner Bros. Animation as part of the LEGO Movie franchise. It takes place in an alternate continuity to the show.
Plot: "In this big-screen NINJAGO adventure, the battle for NINJAGO City calls to action young Master Builder Lloyd, aka the Green Ninja, along with his friends, who are all secret ninja warriors. Led by Master Wu, as wise-cracking as he is wise, they must defeat evil warlord Garmadon, The Worst Guy Ever, who also happens to be Lloyd’s dad. Pitting mech against mech and father against son, the epic showdown will test this fierce but undisciplined team of modern-day ninjas who must learn to check their egos and pull together to unleash their inner power of Spinjitzu."
== Notes ==
* It is currently the longest-running show on Cartoon Network from the 2010s that is still on the air (albeit not being a Cartoon Network Original).
* It is the first LEGO Series to have 100 episodes.
* Ninjago is the first acquired series that has 13 seasons, with a special and 2 canon pilot episodes.
* In 2021 the 10th anniversary of the series is celebrated.
* It is treated the Season 11 as a part of a new series by several sources. This may be due to the Masters of Spinjitzu subtitle being dropped, and LEGO occasionally branding it as a "new series" in promotional material.
** On the Cartoon Network USA app/website, the season is separated from the others, as if it is the "first season" of a "new series".
** The same goes for the following seasons.
* On November 7, 2019 the series began to be broadcast on Cartoon Network (Latin America), it was originally aired on Disney XD from the beginning until Season 7. Seasons 8 and 9 were later uploaded to Youtube of LEGO's Youtube channel.
* Although the movie is not canon, the designs of the ninja, Garmadon, Wu and Ninjago City (until Season 11) are the same as the movie.
* Legends of Chima is in the same continuity as Ninjago, due to Chima being 1 of the 16 realms of the Ninjago series."
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