Season 1: Rise of the Snakes

*This article is about the season. For the episode, click here.*

*Sensei once told me it's not the size of a ninja in a fight, it's the size of the fight in the ninja. All this training, all of these battles we've had with skeletons and Serpentine. We've persevered through so much, we can't just give up now. A ninja never admits defeat. A ninja always pick himself up when he is down. Which is exactly what Sensei Wu would want us to do right now.*

— Kai to the other ninja, "Day of the Great Devourer"

## *Season 1: Rise of the Snakes*

### Season

1

The **first season** of *Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu*, subtitled **Rise of the Snakes**, was preceded by the pilot episodes and the mini-movies and succeeded by Season 2. Each of the four original ninja were the focus, Lloyd was the mascot character, Pythor served as the main antagonist, and the Serpentine were the villainous faction of the season.

## Official Description

*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.*

## Cast

* Announcer - Michael Dobson
* Acidicus - Paul Dobson
* Chokun - Michael Dobson
* Cole - Kirby Morrow
* Dr. Julien - Mark Oliver
* Ed - Colin Murdock
* Edna - Jillian Michaels
* Elderly Woman - Mark Oliver
* Falcon - Paul Dobson
* Fan #1 - Kelly Metzger
* Fan #2 - Jillian Michaels
* Fangtom - Mackenzie Gray
* Fangpyre Soldier - Brent Miller
* Fang-Suei - Michael Adamthwaite
* Father - Paul Dobson
* Garmadon - Mark Oliver
* Jay - Michael Adamthwaite
* Kai - Vincent Tong
* Kruncha - Brian Drummond
* Lloyd Garmadon - Jillian Michaels
* Lou - Kirby Morrow
* Mezmo - Michael Adamthwaite
* Mystake - Mackenzie Gray
* Mother - Kelly Metzger
* News Reporter - Paul Dobson
* Nuckal - Brian Drummond
* Nya - Kelly Metzger
* Passing Parkgoer - Michael Adamthwaite
* Postman - Michael Adamthwaite
* Pythor P. Chumsworth - Michael Dobson
* Rattla - Paul Dobson
* Skales - Ian James Corlett
* Skalidor - Michael Dobson
* Slithraa - John Novak
* Spitta - Vincent Tong
* Subway Controller #1 - Vincent Tong
* Subway Controller #2 - Michael Adamthwaite
* Tour Guide - Vincent Tong
* Waitress - Kirby Morrow
* Wu - Paul Dobson
* Young Boy - Michael Adamthwaite
* Zane - Brent Miller

## Sets

One of the largest waves of sets next to the pilot episodes wave, these sets generally depicted ninja vehicles and Serpentine vehicles along with side builds often depicting shrines.

These sets were released in two waves, with the second wave including more variety in many ways. The Hypnobrai and Fangpyre came in the first wave, as they were the first two tribes to be released in the TV series, while the other three tribes (Anacondrai, Constrictai, and Venomari) were released in the second wave. The second wave included the addition of translucent spinners, translucent vipers, the NRG ninja, and the Green Ninja.

The Green Ninja was the mascot character, the box art generally depicted jungle or mountain locations, and the collectible items were the Golden Weapons, Serpentine Staffs, and Fangblades.

* 9440 Venomari Shrine
* 9441 Kai's Blade Cycle
* 9442 Jay's Storm Fighter
* 9443 Rattlecopter
* 9444 Cole's Tread Assault
* 9445 Fangpyre Truck Ambush
* 9446 Destiny's Bounty
* 9447 Lasha's Bite Cycle
* 9448 Samurai Mech
* 9449 Ultra Sonic Raider
* 9450 Epic Dragon Battle
* 9455 Fangpyre Mech
* 9456 Spinner Battle Arena
* 9457 Fangpyre Wrecking Ball

### Spinners

* 9558 Training Set
* 9561 Kai ZX
* 9562 Lasha
* 9563 Kendo Zane
* 9564 Snappa
* 9566 Samurai X
* 9567 Fang-Suei
* 9569 Spitta
* 9570 NRG Jay
* 9571 Fangdam
* 9572 NRG Cole
* 9573 Slithraa
* 9574 Lloyd ZX
* 9579 Starter Set
* 9590 NRG Zane
* 9591 Weapon Pack

### Booster Packs

* 9551 Kendo Cole
* 9552 Lloyd Garmadon
* 9553 Jay ZX
* 9554 Zane ZX
* 9555 Mezmo
* 9556 Bytar
* 9557 Lizaru

## Trivia

* This template can be removed once the section has been organized.

* The collectible items featured in this season are the Golden Weapons, the Serpentine Staffs, and the Fangblades.
* This is one of two consecutive seasons to contain 13 episodes, along with Season 2. Season 3 broke the trend with only 8 episodes.
* This is a season which the season title is also an title of a episode. It would later be followed by The Hands of Time.
* This is the only season in which the Golden Weapons appear in every episode, if the intro is excluded.
* This season reveals multiple things about the ninja:
	+ Zane is a Nindroid.
	+ Cole was trained as a dancer, like his father.
	+ Jay grew up in a junkyard.
	+ Lloyd is revealed to be the Green Ninja.
* Cole mentions Clutch Powers in the ninth episode, referencing the 2010 LEGO movie, LEGO: The Adventures of Clutch Powers.
* The ninjas' four dragons—Flame, Wisp, Shard, and Rocky—left the ninja in the third episode, only to return in the season finale, now as the Ultra Dragon—a hybrid of all four Dragons.
* The identity of the Green Ninja (being Lloyd) was accidentally revealed in February 2012, two months before the actual reveal episode, "The Green Ninja" was released due to LEGO's presence at the Toy Fair in which 9574 Lloyd ZX was revealed.
* This season has three arcs, which are Lloyd releasing the Serpentine (episodes 1-6), the search for the Fangblades (episodes 7-12), and the fight against the Great Devourer (episode 13).
* The *Character Encyclopedia*, incorrectly refers to the pilot episodes as Season 1, and the *actual* Season 1 as Season 2.
* This is the first season to air over two years. The second is Season 11 which aired in 2019 and 2020 in the United States.
* There was a live stream of all the Season 1 episodes hosted by LEGO and was only available for residents of the US.
* Netflix calls this season "Rise of the Serpentine."
	+ The season is also called "Rise of the Serpentine" on the LEGO.com Ninjago museum.

## Focus characters

### Protagonists

* This is the only season where the four original ninja (Kai, Jay, Zane, and Cole) were the main focus characters.
* The ninja's true potentials played a significant role in their stories this season.
	+ Kai was focused on in Episodes 6, 10 and 13.
		- In Episode 6, he discovered the identity of Samurai X, being Nya, which he kept it a secret until Episode 8.
		- In Episode 10, his desire of becoming the Green Ninja became the main plotline of the episode. In addition, he was wary of Garmadon joining them and battled him. Later, Kai was caught in a predicament where he had to choose either the Fangblade or Lloyd to rescue, and after choosing Lloyd, he unlocked his True Potential and discovered the identity of the Green Ninja.
		- Kai inspired the team in Episode 13, as well as gathering a plan to defeat the Great Devourer by using the Tornado of Creation to form the Ultra Sonic Raider.
	+ Jay was focused on in Episodes 3 and 8.
		- In Episode 3, his relationship with his parents was the main plotline of the episode. He was also the first to use his Golden Weapon as a vehicle to retrieve the Fangpyre Staff.
		- In Episode 8, he asks Nya out on a date which she agrees to. However, he pricks his finger on the Fangpyre skeleton and begins to change into a snake. This lasts until he unlocks his True Potential to save Nya.
	+ Zane was focused on in Episodes 2 and 7.
		- Zane's struggles to fit in with the team was the main plotline of Episode 2. He meets the Falcon for the first time and follows it to a Hypnobrai base. Later, he discovers the *Destiny's Bounty*, which becomes the ninja's new home after the monastery was burned.
		- In Episode 7, he discovers he is a Nindroid and struggles with this revelation throughout the episode. After finally accepting who he is, he is the first ninja to unlock his True Potential.
	+ Cole was focused on in Episodes 2 and 9.
		- In Episode 2, he is taken under control by the Hypnobrai Staff and turns on the ninja. He's later revived after hearing Wu's flute.
		- In Episode 9, his relationship with his father was the main plotline of the episode. In addition, Cole reveals he used to be a dancer and this helps the ninja win Ninjago Talent for a Fangblade. Later, Cole saves his father and unlocks his True Potential in the process.
	+ Lloyd is the mascot character, and while he was not a ninja in the beginning, but his identity had changed several times throughout the series.
		- Lloyd served as an antagonist in Episodes 1 - 4, but he became a protagonist starting from Episode 5.
		- In Episode 10, it was revealed that Lloyd was the Green Ninja.
		- He was focused on in Episode 11 where he embraced the role of the Green Ninja to save the ninja team from the Serpentine.

* Nya had focus moments as Samurai X in Episodes 5 and 6, however, her role was minor in this season.
	+ Wu also had some capacity in the show.
		- He was focused on in Episodes 7 and 12.
			* In Episode 7, he entered the Realm of Madness where he met Garmadon for the first time since the pilot. Their conflict was a main plotline of the episode and their journey together was vital to the season.
			* In Episode 12, he left the ninja to fight Pythor on the way to the City of Ouroboros.

* Garmadon is partially reformed in this season and is helping the ninja as an antihero.
	+ In Episodes 8 and 9, he briefly fights Master Wu in Realm of Madness, but when he learns that Lloyd is in danger, he helps Wu get through the realm.
	+ In Episode 10, Garmadon lives on the *Bounty* with the ninja and makes their lives uncomfortable. He then steals the Golden Weapons on Wu's orders to have Kai fight him.
	+ In Episode 11, he leaves the *Bounty*, but later returns and fights the Serpentine with the help of the Skulkin.
	+ In Episode 13, Garmadon returns to help the ninja and kills the Great Devourer. He then disappears with the Golden Weapons.

### Antagonists

* Pythor served as the main antagonist of this season. His goal of awakening the Great Devourer to destroy Ninjago and the rest of the surface was also one of the main plot elements of this season.
	+ In Episode 4, he is released by Lloyd, pretending to be his friend and then betraying him and disappearing along with the Map of Dens.
	+ In Episode 5, he freed the remaining two Serpentine tribes and tries to unite all the tribes, but fails.
	+ In Episode 6, he finds the Lost City of Ouroboros and defeats the other Serpentine generals in the Slither Pit, becoming the Snake King.
	+ In Episode 7, he creates a Map of Fangs so he can wake up the Great Devourer.
	+ In Episode 8, he finds the first Fangblade and gets it at Mega Monster Amusement Park.
	+ In Episode 9, he pretends to be a Talent show judge and gets a second Fangblade.
	+ In Episode 10, he goes to the Fire Temple and finds a third Fangblade.
	+ In Episode 11, he finds a fourth Fangblade and captures the ninja, who defeat him, so he has to sneak into their ship.
	+ In Episode 12, he steals the Fangblades from the ninja and reawakes the Great Devourer, but is swallowed by her.

* Skales served as the secondary antagonist of this season.
	+ In Episode 2, he disagreed with his general's orders and therefore challenges him to a fight, defeating him and becoming the new Hypnobrai general.
* The Great Devourer, despite only appearing briefly in episodes 7 and 12 before being fully present in episode 13, and her reawakening are one of the primary plot aspects of this season and the reason for Pythor's search for the Fangblades.
* Other important antagonists include Lloyd (Episodes 1-4), Slithraa (Episodes 1-2), Fangtom, Skalidor, and Acidicus.
* The Serpentine were the villainous faction of the season.

## Videos

LEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Trailer (2012): https://youtu.be/1vpNcfM1xE8
## Episodes

LEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Episode 1 Rise of the Snakes Full Episodes English Animation for Kids: https://youtu.be/ToFrFxKX1vULEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Episode 2 - Home - Full Episodes English Animation for Kids: https://youtu.be/s-EckiA1nPwLEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Episode 3 - Snakebit - Full Episodes English Animation for Kids: https://youtu.be/ds6vpLNM2GULEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Episode 4 - Never trust a Snake: https://youtu.be/GLW8Ye9IbRILEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Episode 5 - Can of Worms: https://youtu.be/\_7TFA8jsTNALEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Episode 6 - The Snake King: https://youtu.be/KAlDgacLDQsLEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Episode 7 - Tick Tock - Full Episodes in English: https://youtu.be/JhanyQCDF-ELEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Episode 8 - Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Full Episodes in English: https://youtu.be/rkB\_JqkSDRcLEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Episode 9 - The Royal Blacksmiths: https://youtu.be/AU1-5JSwRWMLEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Episode 10 - The Green Ninja - Full Episodes in English: https://youtu.be/T6xI162sLk0LEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Episode 11 - All of Nothing: https://youtu.be/KanQ75JxCn4LEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Episode 12 - The Rise of the Great Devourer: https://youtu.be/gxgk1V4AAOQLEGO Ninjago - Season 1 Episode 13 - Day of the Great Devourer Full Episodes English: https://youtu.be/ZNtZDvQTVeo
## Gallery

### Promotional media

Promotional image for Rise of the SnakesNetflix headerNRG Jay and Zane art based on the seasonPromotional image in the set instructionsLEGO Magazine teaserFrom Journey to MasteryThe poster from Legoland
### Character posters

Kai ZXJay ZXCole ZXZane ZXSamurai XLloydLloyd ZXRattlaFang-SueiSnappaBytarChokunLizaruLasha
### Intro

The Green Ninja hood with Kai's eyebrow design.
## Translations

 Hungarian
 Italian
 Korean
 Polish
 Spanish

## References

1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20210617035944/https://www.lego.com/en-us/campaigns/kids/ninjago/season-9
2. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20170517233739/https://www.lego.com/en-us/ninjago/museum/season-1-rise-of-the-serpentine/season-1