Ninjago: Dragons Rising Explained
| Genre: | |
| Based On: | Lego Ninjago |
| Theme Music Composer: | Jody Tompkins & Theofania Pavli |
| Opentheme: | "We Rise" by Theofania Pavli |
| Country: | |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 2 |
| Num Episodes: | 40 |
| Runtime: | 22 minutes |
| Network: | Netflix |
| Last Aired: | present |
| Related: | |
Ninjago: Dragons Rising is an animated television series produced by WildBrain Studios and The Lego Group. It is based on the Lego Ninjago brand of construction toys and a sequel to Ninjago (2011–2022). Part 1 of the first season of the show premiered on Netflix on June 1, 2023. Part 2 was released on October 12, 2023. A second season released in 2024, with Part 1 on April 4 and Part 2 on July 25, 2024 on Peacock. It will be released on Netflix in October.
Synopsis
Season 1
Part 1
After Crystalized, a phenomenon known as "The Merge" combines Ninjago with the rest of the sixteen realms of creation, introducing new threats, and causing chaotic aftershocks called Mergequakes. Years later, Lloyd befriends two civilians: Arin and Sora, the former, a fan of the Ninja, and the latter, a technopath from the totalitarian kingdom of Imperium. The three are tasked with finding the rest of the scattered ninja and combating the Claws of Imperium, who covet dragons in order to drain their life force as a resource.
Part 2
The ninja, having successfully rescued the dragons trapped in Imperium, set out on a quest to find the three Dragon Cores, that can stop the Mergequakes. They split off into three teams: Lloyd and Arin; Nya and Sora; and Kai and Wyldfyre. Together, they search the Merged realms looking for the cores, coming across new elemental masters, Cole, and even new creatures. But Empress Beatrix manages to steal the Dragon Cores in order to power her weapon, so she can destroy the realms for good.
Season 2
Part 1
Lloyd starts having visions of a blood moon, which leads him and the ninja to Egalt and Rontu, two dragon masters who can teach the ninja a special technique called "rising dragon technique", which can defeat Shatterspin, an ancient technique now used by the current elemental master of smoke, Cinder. Meanwhile, Ras and Jordana have acquired pieces needed to free the Forbidden Five from captivity. They just need Bonzle, a spell turned into a skeleton living in the Land of Lost Things.
Part 2
When Dragon Matriarchs were murdered for their horns that can bring the rest of the Forbidden Five into the merged lands, the ninja infiltrate a tournament to search for them and the culprit. All the while, Arin begins to wonder about his position in the ninja after being told the person responsible for the Merge and his parents' disappearance.
Voice cast
See main article: List of Ninjago characters.
Main
- Deven Mack as Arin, a civilian who idolized the Ninja in his youth. He lost his parents after The Merge and somehow managed to teach himself Spinjitzu, an ability thought impossible. He also inadvertently invented Object Spinjitzu.
- Sabrina Pitre as Sora, known in her past as Ana, a technological engineer originally from Imperium who gained recognition for creating a hard light hologram projection device called Photac. She defected from Imperium when she found out how cruelly they treated dragons, leading to her parents and classmates shunning her. After The Merge, she befriended Arin and lived in the Crossroads, becoming a mech racer. She discovers that she has technokinetic powers that were boosted in the presence of Riyu, until she unlocked her True Potential.
- Sam Vincent as Lloyd Garmadon, the legendary Green Ninja and chosen guardian of Ninjago, and the son of Misako and the former supervillain Garmadon. He wields elemental energy and remains in Ninjago City to prevent Mergequakes and train Arin and Sora.
- Brian Drummond as Riyu, a dragon said to have great power, and like his kin he's capable of boosting an individual's powers in close proximity.
- Vincent Tong as Kai, Nya's brother and the hot-headed Master of Fire whom Lloyd tasked with surveying the Merged Realms to look for the rest of their teammates until he caught up with him and Nya in the Realm of Madness. During their hunt for the Dragon Cores, Kai decided to take Wyldfyre under his wing.
- Kelly Metzger as Nya, Kai's sister and the Master of Water who lived with the Craglings of the Realm of Madness following the Merge, helping them prevent Dragons from stealing the Cragling's species' life energy. She later rejoined Lloyd, Kai, Zane, and Cole.
- Brent Miller as Zane, the Ice Ninja who was kept in suspension for years after The Merge. He later rejoined Lloyd, Kai, Nya, and Cole.
- Andrew Francis as Cole, the Earth Ninja, who ended up in the Land of Lost Things helping those who ran away from home. Cole later rejoined Lloyd, Kai, Nya, and Zane.
- Kazumi Evans as Wyldfyre, a feral pyrokinetic human who was raised with a dragon Heatwave as well as a caregiver robot. After Heatwave was captured by the Claws she sought to rescue him. She joins the Ninja in their search for the Dragon Cores, eventually becoming Kai's protégé.
- Paul Dobson as Master Wu, the Ninja's mentor who has lived for thousands of years. He goes missing following the Merge but his teachings live on in Lloyd.
- Bethany Brown as Euphrasia, a master of Wind.
- Peter Kelamis as Geo, a master of Fusion.
Villains
- Brian Drummond as Ras, a black and purple colored tiger warrior who served on Imperium's military, aiding the Claws in capturing dragons until he was stripped of his position and escaped to recruit Jordana for his master. He's physically strong and wields a hammer.
- Brian Drummond as Fedulian, a Merlopian that owns an antiques shop in the Crossroads.
- Mackenzie Gray as Dorama, a former famous pyro-technician and showman in Ninjago.
- Michael Adamthwaite as Jay, the former Blue Ninja, and a master of Lightning who ended up as one of the managers of the Administration after he lost his memories of who he was and his travels with the other ninja. He left the Administration and was recruited by Ras, only to be cast away following his loss to Nya in the Tournament of Sources.
- Michael Adamthwaite as Zarkt, a member of the Forbidden Five.
- Nicole Oliver as Beatrix, the former power-hungry empress of Imperium who orders the capture of as the seven Source Dragons in an effort to colonize the Merged Realms.
- Diana Kaarina as Jordana, a scientist who claims to be Sora's rival. She managed to extract raw Source Dragon energy for Beatrix and Ras' master.
- Emily Tennant as Rox, a member of the Forbidden Five.
- Ian Hanlin as Cinder, a master of Smoke.
- Giles Panton as Rapton, the field leader of the Claws of Imperium who, after capturing many dragons, helped the Ninja in Beatrix's defeat. He later returned to dragon hunting.
- Deven Mack as Nokt, a member of the Forbidden Five.
- Vincent Tong as Bleckt, Roby's uncle, who conspired with Ras to rig the Tournament of Sources.
Minor
- Andrew McNee as Alfonzo Frohicky, the custodian of the monastery.
- Michelle Creber as Bonzle, a spell made mortal being.
- Nicole Oliver as Zeatrix, Beatrix's twin sister and master of Shockwave.
- Tabitha St. Germain as Tox, the master of Poison.
- Ian Hanlin as Mr. Pale, the master of Light.
- Ryan Beil as Roby, the gamesmaster for the Tournament of Sources.
Episodes
Season 1 (2023)
Season 2 (2024)
Shorts
The Elemental Mechs (2024)
A series of canonical shorts were released in 2024, to tie in with the release of the new sets that came out in the same year.
Return to the Wyldness (2024)
A second series of canonical shorts were released in 2024, set between parts 1 & 2 of season 2.
Wyldfyre's Stories (2024)
A third series of canonical shorts were released in 2024, set between parts 1 & 2 of season 2.
Wyldfyre's Voice Notes (2024)
A fourth series of canonical shorts were released in 2024, set between parts 1 & 2 of season 2.
Production
Development
The new series was produced following the final season of the Ninjago television series, which had been on air since 2011 and concluded in 2022. For the new series, animation company WildBrain Studios moved to Unreal Engine 5 to improve on the animation quality of its predecessor.[1]
Writing
The lead writers for the series are Chris "Doc" Wyatt and Kevin Burke. Wyatt confirmed on Twitter that Ninjago: Dragons Rising is a new show, rather than a continuation of the previous Ninjago series, which had been on air for 11 years.[2]
Release
The series was initially revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2022. Season 1 of Dragons Rising was released on Netflix on 1 June 2023 in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Latin America, and in other territories later in the same month or the next except for the UK, where it was released on ITVX on 5 June 2023.[3] [4] It was later aired on Cartoon Network in Southeast Asia and Europe.
Season 2 Part 1 was released on 3 April 2024 on Netflix in Finland, and on the next day was also released in the United States.
Season 2 Part 2 was originally given the release date of October. However, it had all 10 episodes in English unintentionally published by streaming service Peacock on 25 July 2024, less than a day after the first trailer for Part 2 was released by LEGO. All 10 episodes were quickly saved before Peacock could remove them, 2 months before part 2 was intended to be released.
Reception
The Hollywood Reporter gave the first season a positive review, saying that it looked just as good as the previous Ninjago series.[5] The series has generally been viewed in a highly positive light.
Other media
Several playable characters and a new level based on the series were launched in Lego Brawls in June 2023.[6]
Notes and References
- Web site: Bradley . Dan . 27 April 2023 . 'Ninjago: Dragons Rising' Trailers and June 1st Netflix Release Date in US . 28 April 2023 . TheHDRoom . en.
- Web site: LEGO NINJAGO writer clarifies Dragons Rising is 'not a season title'. Wharfe. Chris. Brick Fanatics. 18 April 2023. 18 April 2023.
- Web site: Netflix Builds on 'LEGO Ninjago' Franchise with New Series. Milligan. Mercedes. Animation Magazine. 27 April 2023. 28 April 2023. en-US.
- Web site: New Ninjago series coming soon. Lego.com. 6 May 2023. en-US.
- Web site: 2023-06-09 . Spider-Man, Gremlins and Ninjago: What THR's Kid Critics Are Saying . 2023-07-02 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
- Web site: 2023-06-15 . LEGO Brawls - Official Ninjago Dragons Rising Trailer . 2023-07-02 . IGN Africa . en-za.
