“It is an Oni. My father called them the Bringers of Doom. He feared that they would one day spread out from their realm and cover all the lands of creation in darkness.”
The Oni Trilogy is the third arc in the first generation of Ninjago. It tells an overarching story about the Oni and the heritage of Lloyd, Garmadon, and Wu.
The Ninja are at their peak, and after the loss of Wu, they train in order to face their deadliest foe yet: the Oni. The Bringers of Doom are hinted at since the beginning of Season 8, until it leads to the final battle in Season 10. This phase can also be seen as a focus for Lloyd as a whole, as he plays a big part in all 3 seasons.
The focus characters of this arc, in order, are Lloyd, Wu, and Garmadon. Each season focuses on one of the descendants of the First Spinjitzu Master.
The seasons the arc is made up of are the Sons of Garmadon, Hunted, and March of the Oni and amasses a total of 24 episodes.
It is preceded by the Master Trials and succeeded by the Book of Elements. A midquel between this season and Season 11 was released to tie together the loose ends that remain after changes made titled The Splinter in the Blind Man's Eye. It has been written by Tommy Andreasen on Twitter since 2021. It is considered "could-be-canon," as it doesn't conflict with canon, and serves to answer the remaining unanswered questions that March of the Oni left.
Chronology[]
Sons of Garmadon (2018)[]
A year after the loss of Master Wu, the Ninja, led by the newly dubbed Master Lloyd, must protect the Royal Family and prevent a group known as the Sons of Garmadon from successfully reviving Lord Garmadon at the Temple of Resurrection using the Oni Masks. This is the first season to feature the redesigned Ninja originally featured in The LEGO Ninjago Movie.
Lloyd is the main protagonist and Harumi is the main antagonist. The Sons of Garmadon serve as the villainous faction. It focuses on Lloyd attempting to stop the Sons of Garmadon from reviving his father, and introduces the Oni into the lore, revealing that Lloyd is 1/8 Oni and Dragon. The collectible item for this season is the Oni Masks.
Hunted (2018)[]
Young Wu is the mascot character for this season and Iron Baron and Garmadon are the main antagonists. The Dragon Hunters and the Sons of Garmadon serve as the villainous factions. It focuses on Wu growing up in the Realm of Oni and Dragons, as well as Lloyd's efforts in Ninjago to defend against his tyrannical father. The season also reveals the home world of the Oni, and that they have mysteriously gone missing. The collectible items for this season are the Golden Dragon Armor.
While Lloyd and Nya resist Emperor Garmadon's oppressive hold on Ninjago City, Young Wu and the rest of the Ninja are stranded in a barbaric realm where fierce dragons are being hunted down by Iron Baron and his gang of Dragon Hunters. Lloyd must endure in Ninjago City, the others need to find the fabled Dragon Armor if they ever hope to get back home to stop Emperor Garmadon once and for all.
March of the Oni (2019)[]
After years of training in the ancient arts to become Masters of Spinjitzu, after growing as both warriors and family, after protecting the realm from enemy after enemy, the Ninja pitch a heroic last-ditch effort against the Bringers of Doom. They are fighting for the Ninjago world and its rich history, and they are fighting for their legacy – and they will give it their everything. Why? Because they are Powerful. They are Family. They are Ninja.
Garmadon is the focus character of this season, and The Omega is the main antagonist. The Oni serve as the villainous faction. This one focuses on the road to redeeming Lord Garmadon, and how he, his brother, and his son deal with the march of the Oni on Ninjago. There is no collectible item for this season, as there was only one set released for this half of the year. However, the Golden Weapons are the collectibles for the Legacy sets that released alongside of this season.
Characters Introduced (by season)[]
- Chopper Maroon - Sam Vincent
- Emperor of Ninjago - Richard Newman
- Empress of Ninjago - Ellen Kennedy
- Harumi - Britt McKillip
- Hutchins - Alan Marriott
- Killow - Garry Chalk
- Luke Cunningham - Michael Adamthwaite
- Mr. E - Brent Miller
- Ultra Violet - Maggie Blue O'Hara
- Arkade - Michael Donovan
- Chew Toy - Scott McNeil
- Daddy No Legs - Ian James Corlett
- Faith - Maggie Blue O'Hara
- Iron Baron - Brian Drummond
- Jet Jack - Rhona Rees
- Muzzle - Brent Miller
- The Omega - Zach LeBlanc
Battles[]
- Lloyd vs. Sons of Garmadon
- Lloyd vs. Mr. E
- Ninja & Royal Palace of Ninjago vs. Sons of Garmadon
- Ninja vs. Mr. E
- Zane vs. Sons of Garmadon
- Zane vs. Mr. E
- Ninja vs. Samurai X/The Quiet One
- Lloyd vs. Harumi
- Ninja vs. Sea Monster
- Ninja vs. Harumi & the Sons of Garmadon
- Lloyd vs. Lord Garmadon
- Cole, Kai, Jay, & Zane vs. the Colossus
- Lloyd vs. Harumi
- Marooned Ninja vs. Dragon Hunters
- Mr. E vs. Lloyd, Nya, P.I.X.A.L., & Dareth
- Zane, Jay, & Kai vs. Slab
- Zane, Jay, & Kai vs. Heavy Metal
- Dragon Hunters vs. Faux Firstbourne
- The Resistance vs. Sons of Garmadon
- Resistance vs. Harumi
- Marooned Ninja & Faith vs. Jet Jack
- Mystake vs. Lord Garmadon
- Skylor & the Colossus vs. Lord Garmadon
- Colossus vs. the Resistance
- Iron Baron vs. Firstbourne
- Marooned Ninja vs. the Colossus
- Lloyd & Wu vs. Lord Garmadon
- Lloyd vs. Lord Garmadon
- Ninja vs. Oni
- Ninja vs. Garmadon
- Lloyd & Garmadon vs. Oni
- Lloyd & Garmadon vs. The Omega
- Ninja & Garmadon vs. Oni Horde
- Garmadon vs. The Omega
Episodes[]
Series Impact[]
- The origins of the First Spinjitzu Master are revealed. Long before time had a name, the Oni and Dragon lived in the First Realm and were infinitely at war with each other. One day a child was born of both worlds, the First Spinjitzu Master. He left the First Realm to start his own, Ninjago, trying to find balance.
- This confirms that Garmadon and Wu are Human/Oni/Dragon hybrids, as well as Lloyd
- This explains, somewhat, where Lloyd's powers come from, as they are an amalgamation of Destruction, Creation, and Golden Power.
- This confirms that Garmadon and Wu are Human/Oni/Dragon hybrids, as well as Lloyd
- P.I.X.A.L. is revealed to be the new Samurai X in this season after being alluded to in the previous one.
- The origins of Zane's elemental powers are revealed. It's said that the previous Elemental Master of Ice visited Dr. Julien weary and passed on his power to Zane before taking off.
- The flashback revealing this also shows Wu meeting Zane for the first time at some point before we are first introduced to them, when Zane is meditating under a frozen pond.
- It is revealed in a flashback that Cole met Master Wu climbing the Mountain of Impossible Height because of growing distant from his father after the death of his mother, Lilly.
- Garmadon is resurrected in this season, using the powers of the Oni Masks, his Oni form returns from the Departed Realm full of rage and hatred. It is implied in later seasons that because of the influence of the Oni Masks (and the inherent negativity surrounding his revival,) that he does not have memories of his life as Master Garmadon, before his sacrifice.
- The Ninja's designs are altered to fit the movie designs for this season. It is implied that their appearances changed due to the time travel in the previous season, but this was confirmed not the case.
- Lloyd's design change is the most apparent, as he now has green eyes, showing that he has grown closer to his Elemental Power.
- Even with the design changes, aspects of certain characteristics that were integral to the TV show are kept in, such as Zane's titanium form and Cole's ghost scar (which has faded to a point where it only appears when he's using his Earth Punch.)
- It is revealed that Harumi's motives come straight from the events of Day of the Great Devourer. Her parents were killed in the Devourer's rampage on Ninjago City, and she resented the Ninja (especially Lloyd) for this for the rest of her life.
- Master Wu returns from the time vortex in this season as a baby, slowly beginning to age up again, as the effects of the Reversal Blade wear off.
- This is the first season where the Ninja stop from using Airjitzu and their Elemental Dragons again.
- The reason for not using Airjitzu is found in a non-canon novel Way of the Departed. Apparently, it is created using Edo magic, which is inherently evil, and can lead to the Ninja's destruction.
- The reason for not using the Elemental Dragons again is unknown, but the writers stopped them from using these two abilities to make the Ninja more grounded.
- The Commissioner rambles on about random enemies the Ninja could be fighting and mentions Sky Pirates, unaware that they were a real enemy that the Ninja fought in an erased timeline.
- Jay and Nya share a moment remembering the events of Skybound.
- Curiously, the other Ninja do not make note of this statement (although there could be a reasonable explanation for this,) because they encountered the Sky Pirates in The Dark Island Trilogy.
- The original four Ninja and Wu are stranded in the First Realm at the end of this season, having been taken there by Mystake's Traveller's Tea, leaving Nya and Lloyd in Ninjago assuming they were defeated.
- This is the first season to mention the storm spirit Wojira (though in this season she is referred to as "Wohira.") It is also mentioned that an ancient tribe worshipped her, possibly in reference to The Keepers.
- The Mechanic, one of Ninjago's villains, makes his reappearance in The Mask of Deception after making his debut in Skybound. He was last seen being locked up in Kryptarium Prison, but he has since escaped.
- In the episode "The Quiet One," several past villains and locations are mentioned by Lloyd.
- When discussing the funny sounding names of locations in Ninjago, Lloyd chalks them up as "not all that," claiming some of them have scary names but aren't really all that scary. The ones he mentions are Hiroshi's Labyrinth (first seen in Rebooted,) the Caves of Despair (first seen in the pilot episodes,) and Blind Man's Eye (first seen in Possession.)
- When discussing the greatest villain that the Ninja have faced, Harumi mentions "the one that got away," (in reference to herself,) Lloyd wonders if she may be referring to Morro, the Great Devourer, or Pythor.
- When Samurai X's identity is revealed to be P.I.X.A.L., Jay claims that he called it, which Cole denies. This is referenced in Way of the Departed when Cole mentions the several guesses that Jay made at the identity of Samurai X, one of them being P.I.X.A.L..
- In the flashbacks during Harumi's parent's deaths, Gayle Gossip is seen on the TV televising the destruction of the Devourer, however she is not introduced as a character until the following season.
- The Mask of Deception marks Quanish the Elder's first appearance, although he does not speak, and it is not made note of until The Splinter in the Blind Man's Eye.
- The events of this season pick up one week after the events of Season 8.
- Because of this, the Marooned Ninja's suits are battle damaged versions of their SoG suits.
- The fate of the Ultra Dragon is revealed, when he left Ninjago to go to the Spirit Coves back in Season 1, he returned to his home world of the Realm of Oni and Dragons. When he got there, he was caught by the Iron Baron and the Dragon Hunters and killed. His bones were made into the Iron Baron's throne.
- Most of the Elemental Masters from Tournament of Elements return in this season, including Griffin Turner, Shade, Neuro, Tox, and Mr. Pale, as well as Karlof and Skylor returning from The Hands of Time. They act on their promise from season four of helping the ninja by joining the Resistance.
- Jacob Pevsner, Gravis, Ash, Chamille, and Bolobo are the only Elemental Masters to not appear in this season. Bolobo is revealed to have been arrested and most of the others' whereabouts are unknown.
- Chamille is described as becoming a villain for some reason. Since then, her fate remains unknown.
- Skylor is revealed to have regained the use of her powers after her father manipulated her to complete the spell to turn him into an Anacondrai.
- Jacob Pevsner, Gravis, Ash, Chamille, and Bolobo are the only Elemental Masters to not appear in this season. Bolobo is revealed to have been arrested and most of the others' whereabouts are unknown.
- It is revealed this season that Mystake, the owner of the tea shop featured in Seasons 1, 2, and 4, is actually an Oni. She was sent to Ninjago along with the other Oni in ancient times to retrieve the First Spinjitzu Master, but instead allied with him and decided to stay in Ninjago with him.
- Her Oni form is shown off in this season for the first time, giving the first hint that Garmadon's evil form is meant to emphasize his Oni blood.
- In Lloyd's battle with his father, he uses the Art of the Silent Fist against him to defeat him, which is a martial art that Master Garmadon taught his son in the Season 3 episode of the same name.
- While it is plainly evident that this is the case, and it was written so, it is not made explicitly clear in this episode because the writers felt that that was reaching too far back for fans of the show to remember.
- Harumi's death in this season is reminiscent of her parent's deaths from flashbacks that took place during Day of the Great Devourer.
- Wu's child and teenager forms are the same forms he takes when he is de-aging during the mini-episode Golden Hour.
- Dareth is given some sort of ability by one of Mystake's teas (known as "Brown Power,") but he loses it soon after he urinates what he drank away. It is unknown if this hints at him having some latent and unknown abilities in him still.
- The Marooned Ninja find in the First Realm that the Oni have mysteriously vanished from the realm they supposedly inhabit. This is foreshadowing their invasion of the 14 Realms in the following season.
- It is revealed that Garmadon lied waste to Ninjago because he was preparing for this very attack. Apparently, he witnessed the Oni's darkness approaching from the Departed Realm and tried to be as imposing as he could so that he could fight them back. When he loses his powers and is sent to jail, he warns Lloyd that "they" will come.
- Firstbourne, the first of the Dragons, is revealed to be the original holder of all Elemental Powers (except for two.) The First Spinjitzu Master inherited the bulk of these powers and passed them on to what would become the Elemental Masters. She also passed these powers onto many of the Dragons in the First Realm.
- Elemental Dragons that we already knew about were Wisp, Rocky, Shard, and Flame (together forming the Ultra Dragon.)
- We are also shown other Fire, Ice, Lightning, and Earth Dragons, as well as a Wind Dragon. It is implied that there are Elemental Dragons for each Element.
- Later in the series it is revealed that the ancient sea serpent Wojira possessed the Element of Water, so this may be the first non-First Realm originated Element.
- It could also be that Wojira is somehow a descendant of a dragon. This is speculation.
- Later in the series it is revealed that the ancient sea serpent Wojira possessed the Element of Water, so this may be the first non-First Realm originated Element.
- What remain of the Sons of Garmadon are sent to Kryptarium Prison at the end of this season.
- The final episode of Hunted, "Green Destiny," hinted that the future villains would be the Oni, as Garmadon previously hinted that "they" are coming. The Oni are referred to as "the Bringers of Doom," and consume entire realms in darkness. Their march through the realms is shown as dark clouds engulf everything they touch.
- The Monastery of Spinjitzu returns in this season, despite being burned down by the Hypnobrai in "Home" and again accidentally by Kai in "The Hands of Time."
- It was confirmed in the book Fired Up! that the Monastery was rebuilt by the ninja.
- The Realm Crystal is destroyed for the second time in this season, this time permanently, because it was previously destroyed in an erased timeline.
- Garmadon regains his powers in this season due to creating a small conflict with the ninja.
- Nya accepts Jay asking her to be his "Yang" in the season finale. It is worth noting that this is not the same as marriage, but it is a similar bond that people share in the world of Ninjago. This event is brought up again during Season 13.
- The Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu are reforged in their season, making this their first appearance as individual weapons since "Wrong Place, Wrong Time." They are reforged by Kai, who wears his original blacksmith from "Way of the Ninja" suit in the last episode of this season.
- They are reforged after melting down the Golden Armor of the Golden Master that was kept safe in a vault underneath Borg Tower. Other relics that remain in this vault are the Overlords original Nindroid army, the Serpentine General's staffs, the Sword of Sanctuary (which was last seen in Curseworld, Part II,) the Realm Crystal, the Helmet of Shadows, Yang's portrait, and Anacondrai spears.
- The Golden Armor was hinted at having been locked away by Cyrus Borg back in The Invitation.
- It has apparently been long enough that the power in it has faded so that the Ninja may hold it without evaporating.
- It is revealed that Golden Power, the power of Creation, repels the Oni.
- The Tornado of Creation is performed for the first time since "Day of the Great Devourer." It is used to defeat the Oni. The reason for this is because it is retconned that the Tornado of Creation can only be achieved with the Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu, hence why it is never used again after Season 1.
- This is a continuity error, as of the three times the Tornado is used in the past, only one of them was used with the Golden Weapons in-hand. The other two were used when the weapons were in close proximity to the Ninja, but that does not fit the established criteria.
- The Golden Weapons go dim at the end of the season, implying that their power is lost.
- The Oni's fate are left ambiguous at their defeat.
- Garmadon leaves the Ninja at the end of the season, and his fate is revealed in the comic series titled Garmadon.
- Due to the drawback of having used the Tornado of Creation, Lloyd sees a vision of the First Spinjitzu Master, who thanks him for his years of service. He offers Lloyd the choice of leaving Ninjago to be happy in (what I can only assume is the afterlife,) but Lloyd chooses to stay in Ninjago to be a Ninja.
- Lloyd only remembers the events of this vision as a dream.
- All of the Ninja's major battles of the past are painted on a mural on the walls of the Monastery. The events described are that of the pilot episodes, Rise of the Snakes, Legacy of the Green Ninja, Rebooted, Tournament of Elements, Possession, Skybound, The Dark Island Trilogy, The Hands of Time, Sons of Garmadon, and Hunted.
- The Dark Island Trilogy is placed on the mural instead of Day of the Departed because the writers felt as that was a bigger part of Ninjago's history.
- A painting of the Ninja's hands is added to the mural signifying the events of March of the Oni.
- This is the first episode where Cole suffers a "fall." It is foreshadowed in Grave Danger that Cole's destiny remains uncertain, and as the season goes on, there is a common gag that he keeps falling. The fall that he suffers in this season will traumatize him for seasons to come. It is the first instance where he is presumed dead when he falls.
- In the final battle with The Omega, Garmadon takes the full form of an Oni for the battle, showing off the unique Oni ability of shapeshifting.
- Borg Tower and the Destiny's Bounty are rebuilt in this season after being destroyed in Hunted and Sons of Garmadon.