Pilot Episodes

*“Father is no longer here! Good and evil, there has always been a balance. Where I go, the balance can be destroyed. Soon I will be strong enough to possess the Four Weapons, so I can recreate the world in my image!”*

— Garmadon's final lines before disappearing, "Weapons of Destiny."

## Pilot Episodes

* Poster 1
* Poster 2

## Title Card

The **Pilot Episodes** are the first installment in the *LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu* series. It was originally released on January 14th, 2011. It is often referred to by fans as ***Way of the Ninja***. Kai is the main protagonist for this installment and Samukai is the main antagonist. The Skulkin serve as the villainous faction.

It is the first installment in the Prophecy of the Green Ninja arc. It introduces all of the main characters of the series, being the original four Ninja, Wu, Nya, and the main antagonist Lord Garmadon. The collectible weapon for this installment is the Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu.

In Fall of 2011, six mini episodes were released as sequels to the pilot episodes. They range from showing the Ninja hanging out on their dragons to a flashback of Garmadon's original banishment to the Underworld.

It is followed by *Rise of the Snakes*.

## Plot Summary

*"Long before time had a name, Ninjago was created by the First Spinjitzu Master, by 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 of 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 them. 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."* - Sensei Wu in "Way of the Ninja."

Young blacksmith Kai joins the ninja team in an effort to rescue his younger sister, Nya. Under the tutelage of their wise sensei, the four teenagers band together to face Samukai and the Skulkin army, led by Wu's evil brother, Lord Garmadon.

## Characters

* Cole - Kirby Morrow
* Garmadon - Mark Oliver
* Jay - Michael Adamthwaite
* Kai - Vincent Tong
* Kruncha - Brian Drummond
* Nuckal - Brian Drummond
* Nya - Kelly Metzger
* Samukai - Michael Kopsa
* Wu - Paul Dobson
* Zane - Brent Miller

## Battles

* Kai & Wu vs. Skulkin Army
* Kai vs. Cole, Jay, & Zane
* The Ninja vs. Rocky
* Kai vs. Garmadon's shadow
* Wu vs. Garmadon

## Locations

* Ninjago
	+ Ignacia
		- Four Weapon's Blacksmith
	+ Mountains of Impossible Height
		- Monastery of Spinjitzu
	+ Caves of Despair
	+ Ninjago City
	+ Floating Ruins
	+ Frozen Wasteland
		- Ice Temple
	+ Forest of Tranquility
		- Fire Temple
* Underworld
	+ Garmadon's Dark Fortress

## Episodes

 2
 3
 4

## Sets

Kai was the mascot ninja, and the box art depicted a variety of locations. The Golden Weapons were the collectible items.

* 2258 Ninja Ambush
* 2259 Skull Motorbike
* 2260 Ice Dragon Attack
* 2263 Turbo Shredder
* **2504 Spinjitzu Dojo**
* 2505 Garmadon's Dark Fortress
* 2506 Skull Truck
* 2507 Fire Temple
* 2508 Blacksmith Shop
* 2509 Earth Dragon Defense
* 2516 Ninja Training Outpost
* 2518 Nuckal's ATV
* 2519 Skeleton Bowling
* 2520 Ninjago Battle Arena
* 2521 Lightning Dragon Battle

### Spinners

* 2111 Kai
* 2112 Cole
* 2113 Zane
* 2114 Chopov
* 2115 Bonezai
* 2116 Krazi
* 2170 Cole DX
* 2171 Zane DX
* 2172 Nya
* 2173 Nuckal
* 2174 Kruncha
* 2175 Wyplash
* 2254 Mountain Shrine
* 2255 Sensei Wu
* **2256 Lord Garmadon**
* 2257 Spinjitzu Starter Set

## Notes

* Although it was called "Masters of Spinjitzu" on LEGO.com, Tommy Andreasen said that the pilot season does not have a name, but they have referred to it as "Way of the Ninja."
* These episodes were originally meant to be a standalone story meant to introduce the toy line, but fan enthusiasm allowed it to continue into a full series.
* In a concept for the original ending, the ninja followed Garmadon into a portal to the future.
* The original *Character Encyclopedia* incorrectly refers to the pilot episodes as Season 1, and the *actual* Season 1 as Season 2.
* This installment has a total of 6 spin-off episodes dedicated to it

## Continuity

* Garmadon's evil form strongly resembles that of an Oni. It is implied in later seasons that the bite of the Great Devourer counteracted the Balance inside of Garmadon, letting his quarter Oni blood become dominant.
* The Dragons introduced in this installment are said to be able to ferry between realms. At the time it is not known that Wu and Garmadon both have a quarter Dragon blood in them.
* Kai & Nya's parents are absent in this installment, and it is implied that they died. Ray is shown in a flashback being given the Map of the Golden Weapons by Wu, but his design is different than how he later appears. At the time it is unknown that the two of them are being held captive by Krux.