Ninjago: Tournament of Elements

Tournament of Elements is the fourth season of the animated television series Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu. The series was created by Michael Hegner and Tommy Andreasen. The season aired from 23 February to 3 April 2015, following the third season titled Rebooted. It is succeeded by the fifth season, titled Possession.
The fourth season follows the storyline of the ninja searching for Zane by competing in Master Chen's Tournament of Elements. The season introduces Master Chen as the main antagonist and also several Elemental Masters into the series, who each have individual elemental powers, such as amber, shadow and smoke. The season marked the first time that two seasons were released in one year, replacing the previous schedule of one season released per year.

Voice cast

Main

Jillian Michaels as Lloyd Garmadon, the Green Ninja and Elemental Master of Energy
Vincent Tong as Kai, the Red Ninja and Elemental Master of Fire
Michael Adamthwaite as Jay, the Blue Ninja and Elemental Master of Lightning
Brent Miller as Zane, the White/Titanium Ninja and Elemental Master of Ice
Kirby Morrow as Cole, the Black Ninja and Elemental Master of Earth
Kelly Metzger as Nya, Kai's sister
Paul Dobson as Sensei Wu, the wise teacher of the ninja
Mark Oliver as Sensei Garmadon
Jennifer Hayward as P.I.X.A.L. a female nindroid
Ian James Corlett as Master Chen/Tox
Supporting
Heather Doerksen as Skylor
Scott McNeil as Karlof/General Arcturus
Doron Bell Jr. as Griffin Turner
Kirby Morrow as Paleman/Gravis
Andrew Francis as Shade
Scott McNeil as Clouse
Kathleen Barr as Misako
Mark Oliver as Mistaké/Gravis
Michael Dobson as Pythor P. Chumsworth
Michael Adamthwaite as Bolobo
Brent Miller as Ash
Paul Dobson as Jacob Pevsner/Warden Noble/Rufus McCallister/Neuro
Lee Tockar as Cyrus Borg
Brian Drummond as Nuckal/Kruncha
Alan Marriott as Dareth/Captain Soto
Maryke Handrikese as Camille
Alessandro Juliani as Kapau
Ian Hanlin as Chope
Michael Donovan as Eyezor
Brian Dobson as Sumo Zumo
Production

Development

Writers Dan and Kevin Hageman have stated that the season was inspired by the 1973 martial arts film Enter the Dragon. The director of the film Robert Clouse was also the inspiration for the character Clouse, an antagonist in the season.

Animation

The animation for the fourth season was produced at Wil Film ApS in Denmark.

Direction

The Tournament of Elements episodes were directed by Jens Møller, Michael Helmuth Hansen, Peter Hausner, Per Düring Risager and Trylle Vilstrup.

Release

The season premiered on Cartoon Network on 23 February 2015 with the release of The Invitation. The subsequent episodes were released across March and April 2015 until the release of the season finale titled The Corridor of Elders on 3 April of the same year.

Synopsis

The ninja heard that Zane is alive with being rebuilt with titanium and they can get him back by entering Master Chen's Tournament of Elements. However, Chen brought the elemental masters into the tournament just to steal their powers. Kai, Chen's daughter Skylor, the ninja, Wu and Garmadon goes against Chen before he releases any Anacondrai Warriors from attacking Ninjago City.

Episodes

Reception

Ratings

Tournament of Elements continued the popularity of the preceding seasons of Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu. Its Monday 6.30pm time slot was the top telecast of the day among boys aged 2–11 and 6–11, and it was the top telecast in its time period among children aged 2–11, 6–11 and all boys.

Critical reception

Reviewer Melissa Camacho for Common Sense Media gave Tournament of Elements a 3 out of 5 star rating and noted that the season contains "lots of action-packed fantasy violence". The reviewer opined, "This colorful, fast-paced action series features the teen Ninja making sense of loss as they continue to learn lessons about loyalty and teamwork. It also highlights the importance of fighting with a sense of morality behind it, which is an interesting angle for an animated show based on toys."

Other media

Video game

An associated action game titled Lego Ninjago: Tournament was released on 23 January 2015 for IOS, which was developed by The Lego Group.

Mini-movies

Five mini-movies were released in June and July 2015 on the Lego YouTube channel to accompany the season, which focus on the main antagonist, Master Chen. The mini-movies were produced by Wil Film ApS and were titled Chairful What You Wish For, Chen's New Chair, Chair Play Chen, Chair Up Chen and Bad Chair Day.