Ninjago, le soulèvement des dragons

A review from a 10 year fan of Ninjago.

I know that Ninjago has sort of faded into obscurity since 2018 or so and it all stems from the fact that people can't get over a simple redesign. They chose to just not watch the season or watch the season with the intent to hate on it even thought it has given us some of the best Ninjago content in so long.

Ninjago hadn't taken a severe hit to quality until 2020 and that was when the show struggled to come up with new ideas, and didn't know how to write meaningful character arcs for the Ninja.

Bring in Dragons rising which genuinely has the potential to become the best addition to the Ninjago franchise. They introduce a plethora of New main characters while also still writing the original ninja so so well. The worldbuilding and character writing is probably the best we've ever seen in Ninjago, and the shows visuals look stunning. I am urging original fans of Ninjago to give this a shot because this has been outstanding so far, and has strengthend my love for the series which has been slowly dying out since 2020 or so.

If your worried that the show seems childish, just wait until you get to late season 2-early season 3 where the show finally tackles more mature themes and is as dark as it has ever been.

So far Dragons Rising Seasons 1 & 2 dropped, and I gotta say that Seasons 1 & 2 of Dragons Rising are some of the best seasons of Ninjago ever produced. The story isn't rushed at all as it actually takes its time to fully flesh out the characters and the stories, speaking of the characters: There are a bunch of newly introduced characters in this pre-reboot, even 3 brand new members for the ninja team. All 3 of them are well-written and are actually likeable characters. There's also a baby/teenager dragon called Riyu in the team, which is like the baby yoda/baby groot of Ninjago right now.

Speaking of the old ninja, they're also still in this show as a huge part of it, and they aren't entirely sidelined. If they are sidelined, then that is simply a buildup for the future of Ninjago (Dragons Rising seasons 3, 4, 5 etc.) The villains are also cool except for a few which I think are just meh.

And the animation. Oh. My. Goodness.

That animation is absolutely phenomenal. It's genuinely so visually beautiful, so beautiful to the point where you'll forget that this is a LITERAL LEGO SHOW ABOUT RAINBOW NINJA MINIFIGURES. That's how good the animation is.

Overall, this is one of the best things that has ever happened to Ninjago after a horrible finale season (Season 15/Crystalized) and I am so happy that a great childhood show like Ninjago is still on its toes running for more and greater content to bring.

I was blown away by the first season of Ninjago: Dragons Rising. After multiple, what I think are failed seasons produced in Ninjago from 2019-2022, the show is BACK, and PACKS A PUNCH! The 22 minute episode format is back again, which I think is great, and fits the show really well. The graphics and details are exceptional and top notch, in what I think are the best graphics in all of the previous seasons of Ninjago. The new main characters of Arin, Sora, and Wyldfyre, and the antagonists of Lord Ras and Emperor Beatrix are exceptionally well written, giving me great hope for future seasons of this show. The soundtrack is awesome and carries the show greatly, as always. The plot does not seem rushed as in the other episodes in the Wildbrain era, and the plot builds and stacks up in a great way. The lore of Ninjago is deepened by a great extent by the events of the Merge, which opens up a lot of new opportunities. Overall, this might be the best season behind those in the Oni trilogy (Sons of Garmadon, Hunted, March of the Oni). Definitely 10/10 stars from me, can't wait to what new stuff this show has to offer.

From start to finish the character's new to old are instantly enjoyable with great interactions they do a great job of making Arin and Sora likeable protagonists and the many villains unlikeable. The merge is a well done and intriguing way to do a soft reboot. The story is a simple yet affective good vs evil story. The hero's trying to protect the dragons while the villains try to capture the dragons' simple right? It could have been a boring story, but the characters elevated the experience. The 16 realms merging worked to give the ninja new locations to go to with new allys and villains to fight while it also does have a bit of fetch quest style it doesn't drag on to long for the most part. The story isn't complete quite yet but once it is i would say i recommend this series to anyone trying to get into Ninjago's story but also longtime fans.

Ninjago: Dragons Rising earns a perfect 10/10 from me. As a longtime fan, I was blown away by this season's blend of thrilling action, deep character development, and poignant themes of friendship and bravery. Season 1 delights with its exciting storyline and heartfelt moments, while Season 2 delves into darker territory, resonating with older viewers without losing the series' charm. The writing is masterful, crafting a narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat while delivering meaningful messages. Dragons Rising is a must-watch, showcasing Ninjago at its absolute best. I was worried about all the new changes in this series, however I am so pleasantly surprised. Its such a fun and enjoyable show with great messages and characters. The writing is amazing and very enjoyable.