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The late 1990s marked a challenging period for LEGO. Faced with fierce competition, the company grappled with declining sales and the need for innovative ideas. Previous collaborations with other brands had initially bolstered sales, but high royalty payments ate into profits. Realizing a shift was necessary, LEGO sought to create their own unique properties replete with memorable characters and engaging narratives.
By flipping through the 1999 LEGO catalog, one can see the introduction of various new in-house themes, including Insectoids, Aquazone, and Rock Raiders. However, the theme that would become a cornerstone for LEGO would be the introduction of Throwbots, or Slicers, later that year. This initial step laid the groundwork for the creation of Bionicle.