Matatu

The KanohiKanohiMasks that grant powers and sustain life, they're the most vital artifact in the Matoran Universe. Matatu, the Mask of Telekinesis, was the Great KanohiGreat KanohiThe most common mask type worn by Toa and other powerful beings, forged from the highest-grade Kanoka discs. worn by Toa MetruToa Metru and Toa HordikaSix Matoran elevated by Lhikan to save their city, mutated by Visorak venom, and restored in time to deliver the population to safety. NujuNujuNuju served as a Ko-Metru seer, Toa Metru of Ice, and Turaga of Ko-Koro who spoke only in bird calls translated by Matoro.. It allowed its wearer to move objects within line of sight using thought alone, and to apply projected force in the form of telekinetic strikes. It could not lift its own wearer.

Power#

The Matatu permitted its wearer to move targets within their range of sight using the mind alone. The same principle extended to projected force: a wielder could deliver a telekinetic strike against an opponent at distance, equivalent in effect to a heavy blow. The mask did not, however, allow its wearer to lift themselves. That single restriction was the load-bearing constraint of the power.

The Great variant and the Noble variant differed only in duration of effect and in the degree of mental resilience the mask granted its user against strain. Both versions performed the same function within their respective limits.

Forging#

The Matatu was forged on Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. from a pairing of Teleport and Shrink KanokaKanoka DisksMetru Nui's most versatile artifact: flying disks equally at home in sport, combat, and crafting.. Per the KanokaKanoka DisksMetru Nui's most versatile artifact: flying disks equally at home in sport, combat, and crafting. record, this pairing sat alongside other recipes such as the Miru (Teleport and Weaken) and the PakariPakariThe Mask of Strength amplifies physical power and never stops working, giving its wearer a constant edge. (Regeneration, Enlarge, and Remove Poison). The forging took place at the Great FurnaceThe Great FurnaceThe largest furnace in Ta-Metru, site of the Morbuzakh King Root's nest and the recovery of the fused Great Disks that became the Kanohi Vahi. of Ta-MetruTa-MetruThe fire district where Ta-Matoran perfected their craft and powered Metru Nui's industry for thousands of years., the site responsible for the production of all Great KanohiGreat KanohiThe most common mask type worn by Toa and other powerful beings, forged from the highest-grade Kanoka discs..

A detail preserved in the record of mask accessories notes that before VakamaVakamaA Ta-Metru maskmaker transformed into the Toa Metru of Fire, leader of his team through the Visorak war, and Turaga of Ta-Koro for a thousand years. became a Toa MetruToa Metru and Toa HordikaSix Matoran elevated by Lhikan to save their city, mutated by Visorak venom, and restored in time to deliver the population to safety., he personally crafted an eyepiece for NujuNujuNuju served as a Ko-Metru seer, Toa Metru of Ice, and Turaga of Ko-Koro who spoke only in bird calls translated by Matoro.'s Matatu. The eyepiece could be carried on the Great Matatu and on the AkakuAkakuKopaka's mask of x-ray vision was Bionicle's most practical power, granting sight through stone and snow where others saw only obstacles. and Akaku NuvaAkaku NuvaThe Kanohi Nuva mask of x-ray vision, worn by Toa Nuva to see through stone and illusion alike., but not on Noble variants.

Use by Nuju#

The best-documented application of the Matatu came during the imprisonment of OnewaOnewaOnewa served as Toa Metru of Stone, led Po-Koro through the Dark Time, and constructed the Metru Nui statue honoring the fallen Toa Mahri Matoro., WhenuaWhenuaToa Metru of Earth and later Turaga of Onu-Koro, formerly an Onu-Metru archivist whose career in the Archives shaped his role across the rescue of Metru Nui and the long residency on Mata Nui., and NujuNujuNuju served as a Ko-Metru seer, Toa Metru of Ice, and Turaga of Ko-Koro who spoke only in bird calls translated by Matoro. by TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna., recorded in BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru NuiBIONICLE Reference BooksSix Scholastic and AMEET reference titles published between 2003 and 2009 form the primary printed canon for the Matoran Universe. This page catalogs what each book contains and where the editions diverge.. When tensions in the cell erupted into a fight between OnewaOnewaOnewa served as Toa Metru of Stone, led Po-Koro through the Dark Time, and constructed the Metru Nui statue honoring the fallen Toa Mahri Matoro. and WhenuaWhenuaToa Metru of Earth and later Turaga of Onu-Koro, formerly an Onu-Metru archivist whose career in the Archives shaped his role across the rescue of Metru Nui and the long residency on Mata Nui., NujuNujuNuju served as a Ko-Metru seer, Toa Metru of Ice, and Turaga of Ko-Koro who spoke only in bird calls translated by Matoro. involuntarily activated the Matatu, drawing a pile of rubble into the room and ending the dispute. He subsequently used the mask deliberately to break a hole through the cell wall, allowing the four fugitives to escape.

In a later sequence, NujuNujuNuju served as a Ko-Metru seer, Toa Metru of Ice, and Turaga of Ko-Koro who spoke only in bird calls translated by Matoro. used the Matatu to transport VakamaVakamaA Ta-Metru maskmaker transformed into the Toa Metru of Fire, leader of his team through the Visorak war, and Turaga of Ta-Koro for a thousand years. into position to confront TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. directly, after the Toa MetruToa Metru and Toa HordikaSix Matoran elevated by Lhikan to save their city, mutated by Visorak venom, and restored in time to deliver the population to safety. had trapped the MakutaMakuta (Species)Shadowy Antidermis beings and the Brotherhood's elite, Makuta commanded darkness and shaped the Matoran Universe's fate. within a Toa SealToa SealA cage of Protodermis created by six Toa combining their Elemental Powers, used to trap powerful beings.. VakamaVakamaA Ta-Metru maskmaker transformed into the Toa Metru of Fire, leader of his team through the Visorak war, and Turaga of Ta-Koro for a thousand years. then revealed the newly forged VahiKanohi VahiThe Kanohi Vahi was the Legendary Mask of Time, forged by Toa Metru Vakama from the six fused Great Disks of Metru Nui during the city's evacuation., the Mask of TimeMask of TimeThe Kanohi Vahi is the Matoran Universe's deadliest mask, capable of stopping or accelerating time, and its creation nearly tore Metru Nui apart.. The novel description and the corresponding sequence in BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru NuiBIONICLE Reference BooksSix Scholastic and AMEET reference titles published between 2003 and 2009 form the primary printed canon for the Matoran Universe. This page catalogs what each book contains and where the editions diverge. differ slightly in detail, but in both accounts NujuNujuNuju served as a Ko-Metru seer, Toa Metru of Ice, and Turaga of Ko-Koro who spoke only in bird calls translated by Matoro. was the wielder of the mask and VakamaVakamaA Ta-Metru maskmaker transformed into the Toa Metru of Fire, leader of his team through the Visorak war, and Turaga of Ta-Koro for a thousand years. the passenger.

Variants and Bearers#

The Great Matatu was worn by NujuNujuNuju served as a Ko-Metru seer, Toa Metru of Ice, and Turaga of Ko-Koro who spoke only in bird calls translated by Matoro. in his Toa MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it. and Toa HordikaToa HordikaToa mutated by Visorak venom into bestial hybrids, forced to fight their primal nature and hunt for a cure. forms. Upon becoming a TuragaTuragaFormer Toa who fulfilled their destiny and transformed into leaders. Turaga wield Noble Kanohi masks and weakened elemental powers, guiding their communities., NujuNujuNuju served as a Ko-Metru seer, Toa Metru of Ice, and Turaga of Ko-Koro who spoke only in bird calls translated by Matoro. retained a Noble Matatu as his primary mask. The remaining TuragaTuragaFormer Toa who fulfilled their destiny and transformed into leaders. Turaga wield Noble Kanohi masks and weakened elemental powers, guiding their communities. of Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years., VakamaVakamaA Ta-Metru maskmaker transformed into the Toa Metru of Fire, leader of his team through the Visorak war, and Turaga of Ta-Koro for a thousand years., NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras., MatauMatauA former Le-Metru test driver who became a Toa Metru, Matau wielded air, illusion, and shape-shifting before sacrificing his Toa power to wake the sleeping Matoran., OnewaOnewaOnewa served as Toa Metru of Stone, led Po-Koro through the Dark Time, and constructed the Metru Nui statue honoring the fallen Toa Mahri Matoro., and WhenuaWhenuaToa Metru of Earth and later Turaga of Onu-Koro, formerly an Onu-Metru archivist whose career in the Archives shaped his role across the rescue of Metru Nui and the long residency on Mata Nui., each carried a Noble Matatu as a secondary mask in their inventories.

Powerless Noble Matatu were worn by a number of MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. across Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years. and Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive., including AziboAziboAzibo was an Onu-Matoran prospector of Onu-Koro whose discovery of the Great Sundial at the bottom of Mine Shaft B opened a concealed passage into Mangaia., KalamaKalamaKalama is a Ta-Matoran of Fire native to Metru Nui who wears a powerless Matatu and bears the black and red colors of his kind. He worked in Protodermis Reclamation on Metru Nui before serving as a member of the Ta-Koro Guard, and later came to reside on Spherus Magna., KantaiKantaiKantai was a Ko-Matoran hermit who dwelt by the ice flows of Ko-Wahi and taught the Principle of Willpower to any who asked. He guided Hahli in her training and later returned to Metru Nui before the evacuation to Spherus Magna., KopekeKopekeKopeke was a Ko-Matoran ice carver of Ko-Koro who served in the Chronicler's Company at Kini-Nui and was later elected the third Chronicler of the Matoran Universe., MakaniMakaniMakani was a Le-Matoran musician of Le-Koro who greeted arrivals at the village gates. He survived the Nui-Rama and Bohrok crises, returned to Metru Nui, and later evacuated to Spherus Magna., Piatra, OrkahmOrkahmOrkahm was a Le-Matoran Ussal rider of Le-Metru, Matau's chief rival, one of the six finders of a Great Disk, and later a Gukko Force member on Mata Nui., and ShasaShasaShasa is a blue Ga-Matoran of Water who wears a Kanohi Matatu and lives on Spherus Magna. She serves a dual role as a weaver and a guard in the Ga-Koro Defense Force.. KaziKaziKazi is a Ko-Matoran of Ice who wears a Kanohi Matatu and is distinguished by his white and light-blue coloring. A member of the Voya Nui Resistance Team, he wields Echo Forks and resides on Spherus Magna. wore a powerless mask of Great Matatu shape. None of these granted the mask's power, the wearers not being ToaThe Toa: Heroes of the Matoran UniverseThe Toa were biomechanical guardians sworn to protect the Matoran, bound by a strict code and defined by sacrifice across every age of the universe., but the silhouette circulated widely as a recognised Ko-MatoranKo-MatoranIce Matoran who were quiet scholars and star-watchers, built to survive the frozen peaks of Ko-Wahi. form.

Comparison to Related Powers#

Telekinesis through the Matatu shared functional ground with other movement-related KanohiKanohiMasks that grant powers and sustain life, they're the most vital artifact in the Matoran Universe., but differed from each in significant ways. The Miru allowed its wearer to levitate themselves. The Matatu did not. The KakamaKakamaThe Mask of Speed granted superhuman velocity but blinded its wearer to the world around them. granted personal speed but did not affect any object beyond the wearer. The Matatu could move external objects but not the wearer.

What distinguished the Matatu was its capacity to apply force at distance to any object within line of sight. Within the standard Toa MetruToa Metru and Toa HordikaSix Matoran elevated by Lhikan to save their city, mutated by Visorak venom, and restored in time to deliver the population to safety. loadout, this gave it the broadest range of practical applications: combat strikes, rescue work, and the transport of MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. in spheres or in free-fall. The line-of-sight requirement preserved its limits, since the wearer could not act on targets concealed by walls or terrain.

Continuity of the Mask#

NujuNujuNuju served as a Ko-Metru seer, Toa Metru of Ice, and Turaga of Ko-Koro who spoke only in bird calls translated by Matoro. wore the Matatu across every stage of his existence in which he was capable of channelling a KanohiKanohiMasks that grant powers and sustain life, they're the most vital artifact in the Matoran Universe. power. As a Toa MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it. he carried Crystal SpikesCrystal SpikesThe Crystal Spikes were the paired Toa Tools of Toa Metru Nuju, used to channel Ice powers and to scale the vertical architecture of Metru Nui.; as a Toa HordikaToa HordikaToa mutated by Visorak venom into bestial hybrids, forced to fight their primal nature and hunt for a cure. he retained the same equipment in altered form; as a TuragaTuragaFormer Toa who fulfilled their destiny and transformed into leaders. Turaga wield Noble Kanohi masks and weakened elemental powers, guiding their communities. he carried an Ice Pick as his badge of office. The Matatu remained constant through all three forms, paired with the elemental power of ice that defined his service.

His later guidance of the Toa InikaToa Inika and Toa MahriSix ordinary Matoran transformed by lightning from the Red Star into heroes who ultimately revived the Great Spirit itself. through the CodrexThe CodrexA spherical vault built by the Great Beings beneath Karda Nui to house the Toa Mata in stasis and control the final phase of Mata Nui's reawakening. and the broader Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years. records continued under the same Noble Matatu he had taken at his transformation into a TuragaTuragaFormer Toa who fulfilled their destiny and transformed into leaders. Turaga wield Noble Kanohi masks and weakened elemental powers, guiding their communities.. The mask is not known to have ever passed to another bearer.