Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu (pilot episodes) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu |
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Pilot Episodes DVD cover art
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| Country of origin | Denmark |
| No. of episodes | 2 (later split into 4) |
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| Original network | Cartoon Network |
| Original release | January 14, 2011 |
The pilot episodes are the very first parts of the Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu TV show. This show uses computer animation to bring its world to life. It was created by Michael Hegner and Tommy Andreasen. The story is all about six young ninja who live in a make-believe world called Ninjago. They work together to fight against bad guys and protect their home.
These first Ninjago episodes, which were two long episodes later split into four shorter ones, first aired in the United States on Cartoon Network on January 14, 2011. They came out in Europe just ten days later. Because these first episodes were so popular, the show continued with its first full season, called Rise of the Snakes. This season started in December 2011. The pilot episodes were released on DVD in March 2011. Each pilot episode was about 11 minutes long, making the original two combined episodes 22 minutes. This 22-minute length was common for the show until the eleventh season.
The pilot episodes introduce five of the main ninja characters: Kai, Cole, Jay, Zane, and Nya. You also meet their wise teacher, Sensei Wu. These characters became the main heroes of the whole series. The story in these first episodes focuses on the ninja team trying to stop the evil Lord Garmadon. He wants to get his hands on the four powerful Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu.
Contents
Meet the Voices
Main Characters
- Vincent Tong as Kai, the brave red ninja who controls fire.
- Michael Adamthwaite as Jay, the funny blue ninja who controls lightning.
- Brent Miller as Zane, the smart white ninja who controls ice.
- Kirby Morrow as Cole, the strong black ninja who controls earth.
- Kelly Metzger as Nya, Kai's sister, who is also a hero.
- Paul Dobson as Sensei Wu, the wise teacher who guides the ninja.
- Mark Oliver as Lord Garmadon, the main villain in these first episodes.
Other Characters
- Michael Kopsa as Samukai, the leader of the Skulkin army.
- Brian Drummond as Nuckal and Kruncha, two of the Skulkin.
How the Show Was Made
Creating the Story
The Ninjago pilot episodes took two years to plan. It all started with a drawing by Tommy Andreasen, one of the creators, showing five elemental ninjas. Early ideas included the Skulkin and Lord Garmadon as the bad guys. They also came up with a special fighting style, first called "Spinjago," which later became "Spinjitzu." The writers, Dan and Kevin Hageman, wanted the story to feel like one big movie. They made sure the first villains were skeletons because kids thought they were "real" fantasy bad guys.
Animation Style
The show's animation, from the pilot episodes up to the tenth season, was done by Wil Film ApS in Denmark. They brought the world of Ninjago to life.
Launching the Series
The TV show was created to help launch the Lego Ninjago toy line. It was first planned to be a short project, only lasting for two seasons. But because it became so popular and successful in its first year, the show kept going and has been in production ever since!
The Story So Far
Long, long ago, the First Spinjitzu Master created the world of Ninjago. He used four special Golden Weapons: the Scythe of Quakes, the Shurikens of Ice, the Nunchucks of Lightning, and the Sword of Fire. Before he passed away, his two sons promised to protect these weapons. But the older brother, Garmadon, became evil. He wanted all four weapons to change Ninjago into his own dark vision. In a big fight, the younger brother, Wu, sent Garmadon to the Underworld. Wu then hid the weapons across Ninjago, with a dragon guarding each one.
Sensei Wu knew Garmadon would try to return. So, he looked for four talented teenagers to learn Spinjitzu. He wanted them to find the Golden Weapons before Garmadon and his Skulkin Army could get them. Wu found Kai, a young blacksmith, and began training him at the Monastery of Spinjitzu. There, Kai met three other ninja: Cole, Jay, and Zane.
The ninja teamed up to find the Golden Weapons and save Kai's sister, Nya, who had been kidnapped by the Skulkin. They found the Scythe of Quakes in the Caves of Despair, learning Spinjitzu along the way. Next, they found the Shurikens of Ice and the Nunchucks of Lightning, facing a dragon at each spot. That night, Kai got the Sword of Fire from the Fire Temple and freed Nya. But then, Garmadon's shadow appeared! Sensei Wu arrived and fought his brother's shadow. However, the Skulkin surprised Cole, Jay, and Zane, stealing the other three Golden Weapons.
Sensei Wu decided to go into the Underworld with the Sword of Fire. He believed this was the only way to stop Garmadon. The ninja followed him, riding on the backs of the guardian dragons, who agreed to help them. In the Underworld, Samukai, the Skulkin leader, attacked Wu. But the ninja used Spinjitzu to create a powerful Tornado of Creation, which defeated the Skulkin. Samukai picked up all four Golden Weapons, but they were too strong to be held together. The power destroyed him, and this opened a portal for Garmadon to escape the Underworld. Back in Ninjago, the ninja celebrated their win, knowing Garmadon would surely return someday.
Episodes
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No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
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| P1 | P1 | "Way of the Ninja" | Michael Hegner & Justin Murphy | Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman | January 14, 2011 | N/A | |
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Kai and Nya, who are brother and sister blacksmiths, meet a mysterious old man named Master Wu. He wants their help to train against his evil brother Garmadon and his new army of Skulkin. After Nya is taken, Kai joins Wu's other students, Jay, Zane, and Cole, to find and protect the Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu.
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| P2 | P2 | "The Golden Weapon" | Michael Henger & Justin Murphy | Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman | January 14, 2011 | N/A | |
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The ninja go to the Caves of Despair to get the first Golden Weapon, the Scythe of Quakes. But the Skulkin army is already there, making it a race to get the weapon.
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| P3 | P3 | "King of Shadows" | Justin Murphy | Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman | January 14, 2011 | N/A | |
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The ninja successfully get three of the four Golden Weapons. Only the Sword of Fire is left. They must face dangerous challenges to keep the weapons away from Garmadon.
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| P4 | P4 | "Weapons of Destiny" | Justin Murphy | Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman | January 14, 2011 | N/A | |
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Wu takes the Sword of Fire to the Underworld and fights Samukai, who now has the other Golden Weapons. The ninja ride on the guardian dragons to follow Wu into the Underworld.
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What Came Next
Since the pilot episodes were so successful, the Ninjago series grew into a huge media franchise. This means it led to many other things like video games, books, and even theme park rides! It also inspired The Lego Ninjago Movie in 2017, which was a big movie based on the show.
Other Ninjago Adventures
After the pilot episodes, six short mini-movies were released in 2011. These were only about 3 minutes long each. Their titles included Flight of the Dragon Ninja and Secrets of the Blacksmith.
A video game based on the pilot special, called Lego Battles: Ninjago, came out on April 12, 2011. It was made just for the Nintendo DS system.
See also
