Rebooted is the third season of the animated television series Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu (titled Ninjago from the eleventh season onward). The series was created by Michael Hegner and Tommy Andreasen. The season aired from 29 January to 26 November 2014, following the second season titled Legacy of the Green Ninja.[1] It is succeeded by the fourth season, titled Tournament of Elements.
The second season was originally intended to be the final season of the series due to the show and its associated Lego Ninjago product line having been planned as a three-year project. However, due to the strong performance of the television series and feedback from fans within online forums, it was continued with the release of Rebooted.[2]
Although the season is titled Rebooted, it is a continuation of the storyline from the previous seasons, rather than a reboot. The season reintroduces Ninjago City with new advanced technology and features the return of the Overlord in digital form as the season's main antagonist. Rebooted is also the first season to introduce the nindroid character P.I.X.A.L. into the series.[3]
The Rebooted episodes were directed by Jens Møller, Martin Skov, Michael Helmuth Hansen, Peter Hausner and Trylle Vilstrup.[25]
Animation
The animation for the third season was produced at Wil Film ApS in Denmark.[25]
Release
The first two episodes of the season titled The Surge and The Art of the Silent Fist were released on Cartoon Network on 29 January 2014. The third and fourth episodes titled Blackout and The Curse of the Golden Master were not released until 16 April 2014. The second half of the season was released in July and November 2014. The episodes were also released in pairs with Enter the Digiverse and Codename: Arcturus being released on 13 July 2014, and The Void and The Titanium Ninja being released on 26 November of the same year.[26]
Synopsis
Inspired from Zane's father, Ninjago City was rebuilt by Cyrus Borg into a futuristic metropolis with more advanced technology. However, the Overlord returns as a computer virus and took control of all of Borg's technology and got an army of Nindroids. The Overlord wanted to steal Lloyd's golden powers that made him the Golden Ninja, with the help from Pythor. The ninja had to stop the Overlord from becoming the unstoppable Golden Master, who had once terrorised the serpentine.
Cyrus Borg rebuilds Ninjago City as a futuristic metropolis, following the events of the Overlord's defeat. The ninja, Sensei Wu, Nya and Dareth are teachers at Darkley's (now Sensei Wu's Academy) and Lloyd travels around Ninjago. The Overlord however reemerges, having survived in the Digiverse and takes over all technology. Cyrus Borg gives the ninja the Techno-Blades and new suits, before both him and Sensei Wu are captured. Borg's assistant, a robot named P.I.X.A.L, begins the production of a nindroid army for the Overlord.
The ninja retreat from the Nindroids to Lord Garmadon's monastery, where he teaches them The Art of the Silent Fist. Zane runs into P.I.X.A.L., and uses the Techno Blades to release her from the Overlord's control. The team is ambushed by Nindroids and is forced to split up. Lloyd and Garmadon visit Nya's Samurai X cave, while the ninja infiltrate Ninjago City's power station, to cut off the Overlord's power supply. The destruction of the power station causes all nindroids to shut down, along with P.I.X.A.L., with her last words asking Zane if they are "compatible".
The Overlord's code is saved by a mysterious hooded figure who claims to be an ally. Zane gives half of his power source to revive P.I.X.A.L., while the Ninja search for a way to return to New Ninjago City and eventually reach Jay's parents' junkyard. At the Junkyard, they are attacked by the hooded figure and a corrupted Sensei Wu. Wu and the hooded figure are defeated, the latter leaving behind a white scale. In the meantime, Lloyd and his father head for Hiroshi's Labyrinth to hide from the Overlord's forces.
The ninja journey under Ninjago City to visit the Serpentine, to ask them about the white skale. The Serpentine tell them of the legend of the Golden Master, and Skales reveals that only one serpentine could possibly be the hooded stranger. The Nindroids attack and the ninja must fight to protect the Serpentine. Lloyd and his father are ambushed by an army of Nindroids in Hiroshi's Labyrinth. Lloyd is cornered by the Nindroid Mechdragon and the hooded stranger, who reveals himself to be Pythor, having survived the Devourer.
Fall of the Golden Master
31
5
"Enter the Digiverse"
Peter Hausner
Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman
July 13, 2014 (2014-07-13)
N/A
Lloyd has been captured by Pythor and is taken away aboard the Mechdragon. The Overlord begins to drain his Golden Power, to regain his physical form and become the Golden Master. The Ninja enter the Digiverse, to confront the Overlord but as he grows more powerful, he begins to overwhelm them. In the real world, Pythor, Wu, and the Nindroid army attack Borg Tower, while Garmadon tries to fend them off. The Ninja share Lloyd's golden power and expel the Overlord from the Digiverse. Turning Wu and the corrupted machines in Ninjago City back to normal. Lloyd narrowly escapes as the Mechdragon, as it plummets into the sea, with the Overlord still inside but finally free.
32
6
"Codename: Arcturus"
Michael Helmuth Hansen
Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman
July 13, 2014 (2014-07-13)
N/A
Pythor and a group of Nindroids free the Overlord from the submerged Mechdragon. Wu and Garmadon soon discover that they have devised a plan known as "Project: Arcturus". Kai is dispatched to follow a Nindroid convoy in the X-1 Prototype, but he is captured after a long chase. The ninja regroup and head to the Lost City of Ouroborus, where they discover an underground rocket ship. After freeing Kai, the ninja make a last-minute decision to board the rocket as it blasts off into space.
The rocket ship heads into the trail of the Arcturus Comet, where the Nindroids seek to recover the remains of the Mega Weapon, which has been blasted into space after its last use. The Ninja attempt to stop them, but are eventually abandoned on the comet's surface, as the Nindroids escape with the gold they sought.
The Nindroids melt the remains of the golden weapons into a suit of armor for the Overlord, who has transformed into the Golden Master. The ninja return to Ninjago from space to find the Golden Master, now grown to massive size, wreaking havoc on the city. They take refuge in the Temple of Fortitude, and devise a plan to shrink the overlord with a pill. The plan fails when Pythor swallows the pill instead, and the Ninjas are subdued. Zane overloads his power source, sacrificing himself to destroy the Golden Master. A memorial service is held for Zane, but P.I.X.A.L. finds out that his consciousness has survived.
Ratings
The third season of Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu continued the popularity of the preceding seasons and built on its ratings from the previous years. It consisted of four special events that aired throughout 2014, which averaged triple-digit viewer gains in the categories of children and all boys in comparison to the previous season. The January premiere ranked as the top telecast of the year on basic cable with boys 2-11 and boys 6-11.[30]
