Ninjago: Dragons Rising

Ninjago: Dragons Rising
Ninjago: Dragons Rising Season 1 Part 1 poster
Genre	Action Adventure Science fantasy Martial arts Superhero
Based on	Lego Ninjago
Written by	Kevin Burke Chris "Doc" Wyatt Eugene Son Hanah Lee Cook Liz Hara Glen Lakin Tanya Yuson
Directed by	Rich Johnson Daniel Ife Shane Poettcker Allan Phan
Voices of	Deven Mack Sabrina Pitre Sam Vincent Brian Drummond Nicole Oliver Vincent Tong Kelly Metzger Brent Miller Kazumi Evans Giles Panton Diana Kaarina Paul Dobson Andrew Francis Ashleigh Ball Michael Adamthwaite
Theme music composer	Jody Tompkins & Theofania Pavli
Opening theme	"We Rise" by Theofania Pavli
Composers	Jay Vincent Michael Kramer Adam Dib
Country of origin	Canada Denmark
Original language	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	40
Production
Executive producers	Jill Wilfert Keith Malone Asa Tait Lars Danielsen Robert May Pamela J. Keller Kevin Burke Chris "Doc" Wyatt Stephanie Betts Josh Scherba Morgana Duque
Producers	Jason Cosler Ryan Pears
Running time	22 minutes
Production companies	WildBrain Studios The Lego Group
Original release
Network	Netflix
Release	June 1, 2023 (2023-06-01) – present
Related
Ninjago Legends of Chima Nexo Knights Lego Dreamzzz

Ninjago: Dragons Rising is an animated television series produced by WildBrain Studios and The Lego Group. It is based on the Lego Ninjago brand of construction toys and a sequel to Ninjago (2011–2022). Part 1 of the first season of the show premiered on Netflix on June 1, 2023. Part 2 was released on October 12, 2023. A second season released in 2024, with Part 1 on April 4 on Netflix and Part 2 on July 25, 2024 on Peacock but then removed and now will be released on Netflix in October 3, 2024.

After Crystalized, a phenomenon known as "The Merge" combines Ninjago with the rest of the sixteen realms of creation, introducing new threats, and causing chaotic aftershocks called Mergequakes. Years later, Lloyd befriends two civilians: Arin and Sora, the former, a fan of the Ninja, and the latter, a technopath from the totalitarian kingdom of Imperium. The three are tasked with finding the rest of the scattered ninja and combating the Claws of Imperium, who covet dragons in order to drain their life force as a resource.

The ninja, having successfully rescued the dragons trapped in Imperium, set out on a quest to find the three Dragon Cores, that can stop the Mergequakes. They split off into three teams: Lloyd and Arin; Nya and Sora; and Kai and Wyldfyre. Together, they search the Merged realms looking for the cores, coming across new elemental masters, Cole, and even new creatures. But Empress Beatrix manages to steal the Dragon Cores in order to power her weapon, so she can destroy the realms for good.

Lloyd starts having visions of a blood moon, which leads him and the ninja to Egalt and Rontu, two dragon masters who can teach the ninja a special technique called "rising dragon technique", which can defeat Shatterspin, an ancient technique now used by the current elemental master of smoke, Cinder. Meanwhile, Ras and Jordana have acquired pieces needed to free the Forbidden Five from captivity. They just need Bonzle, a spell turned into a skeleton living in the Land of Lost Things.

When Dragon Matriarchs were murdered for their horns that can bring the rest of the Forbidden Five into the merged lands, the ninja infiltrate a tournament to search for them and the culprit. All the while, Arin begins to wonder about his position in the ninja after being told the person responsible for the Merge and his parents' disappearance.

• Deven Mack as Arin, a civilian who idolized the Ninja in his youth. He lost his parents after The Merge and somehow managed to teach himself Spinjitzu, an ability thought impossible. He also inadvertently invented Object Spinjitzu.
• Sabrina Pitre as Sora, known in her past as Ana, a technological engineer originally from Imperium who gained recognition for creating a hard light hologram projection device called Photac. She defected from Imperium when she found out how cruelly they treated dragons, leading to her parents and classmates shunning her. After The Merge, she befriended Arin and lived in the Crossroads, becoming a mech racer. She discovers that she has technokinetic powers that were boosted in the presence of Riyu, until she unlocked her True Potential.
• Sam Vincent as Lloyd Garmadon, the legendary Green Ninja and chosen guardian of Ninjago, and the son of Misako and the former supervillain Garmadon. He wields elemental energy and remains in Ninjago City to prevent Mergequakes and train Arin and Sora.
• Brian Drummond as Riyu, a dragon said to have great power, and like his kin he's capable of boosting an individual's powers in close proximity and he can fly.
• Vincent Tong as Kai, Nya's brother and the hot-headed Master of Fire whom Lloyd tasked with surveying the Merged Realms to look for the rest of their teammates until he caught up with him and Nya in the Realm of Madness. During their hunt for the Dragon Cores, Kai decided to take Wyldfyre under his wing.
• Kelly Metzger as Nya, Kai's sister and the Master of Water who lived with the Craglings of the Realm of Madness following the Merge, helping them prevent Dragons from stealing the Cragling's species' life energy. She later rejoined Lloyd, Kai, Zane, and Cole.
• Brent Miller as Zane, the Ice Ninja who was kept in suspension for years after The Merge. He later rejoined Lloyd, Kai, Nya, and Cole.
• Andrew Francis as Cole, the Earth Ninja, who ended up in the Land of Lost Things helping those who ran away from home. Cole later rejoined Lloyd, Kai, Nya, and Zane.
• Kazumi Evans as Wyldfyre, a feral pyrokinetic human who was raised with a dragon Heatwave as well as a caregiver robot. After Heatwave was captured by the Claws she sought to rescue him. She joins the Ninja in their search for the Dragon Cores, eventually becoming Kai's protégé.
• Paul Dobson as Master Wu, the Ninja's mentor who has lived for thousands of years. He goes missing following the Merge but his teachings live on in Lloyd.
• Bethany Brown as Euphrasia, a Writer of Destiny and the current Elemental Master of Wind. She was born in the Cloud Kingdom and received the Elemental Power of Wind after the Merge which she decided to hide as she was a Writer of Destiny, until she was forced to use it to save her kingdom when it became attacked with the help of the Ninja. She therefore triggered a process of modernization of methods in the Cloud Kingdom.
• Peter Kelamis as Geo, the Elemental Master of Fusion and a member of the Finders. He is an hybrid of Munce and Geckles, which led to him being rejected by both tribes due to their historical rivalry. Geo eventually ended up in the Land of Lost Things where he encountered and integrated the Finders. After the Merge Geo discovered his Elemental Power and met Cole who ended up in the Land of Lost Things. He later participated as a competitor in the Tournament of the Sources alongside the other Elemental Masters of his generation.
• David Kaye as Frak, a Serpentine, Arin's childhood best friend, one of Ras' former students, and the Elemental Master of Quake, who competed in the Tournament of the Sources alongside the other Elemental Masters of his generation. He joins the Ninja.

• Ashleigh Ball as Dr. LaRow, a head scientist of the Advanced Systems Lab working for the Kingdom of Imperium.
• Brian Drummond as Ras, a black and purple colored tiger warrior who served on Imperium's military, aiding the Claws in capturing dragons until he was stripped of his position and escaped to recruit Jordana for his master. He's physically strong and wields a hammer.
• Brian Drummond as Fedulian, a Merlopian that owns an antiques shop in the Crossroads.
• Mackenzie Gray as Dorama, a former famous pyro-technician and showman in Ninjago.
• Michael Adamthwaite as Jay, the former Blue Ninja, and a master of Lightning who ended up as one of the managers of the Administration after he lost his memories of who he was and his travels with the other ninja. He left the Administration and was recruited by Ras, only to be cast away following his loss to Nya in the Tournament of Sources.
• Nicole Oliver as Beatrix, the former power-hungry empress of Imperium who orders the capture of as the seven Source Dragons in an effort to colonize the Merged Realms.
• Diana Kaarina as Jordana, a scientist who claims to be Sora's rival. She managed to extract raw Source Dragon energy for Beatrix and Ras' master.
• Ian Hanlin as Cinder, a master of Smoke.
• Giles Panton as Rapton, the field leader of the Claws of Imperium who, after capturing many dragons, helped the Ninja in Beatrix's defeat. He later returned to dragon hunting.
• Ian Hanlin as Blorko
• Vincent Tong as Bleckt, Roby's uncle, who conspired with Ras to rig the Tournament of Sources.

• Mark Hildreth as Karit
• Kazumi Evans as Denholt
• Michael Adamthwaite as Roderick Allen
• Rhona Rees as Underwood
• Ian Hanlin as Prentis

• Deven Mack as Nokt, a member of the Forbidden Five.
• Emily Tennant as Rox, a member of the Forbidden Five.
• Michael Adamthwaite as Zarkt, a member of the Forbidden Five.

• Brian Drummond as Arin's father
• Kelly Sheridan as Arin's mother
• Kelly Sheridan as Kreel, a citizen of the Crossroads and owner of Kreel's Junkyard. She is a mech racer with a crew of Whack Rats.
• Brian Drummond Lobbo, a flying robot
• Andrew Francis as Egalt, a dragon and teacher for the Rising Dragon Technique.
• Kazumi Evans as Rontu, a dragon and teacher for the Spinjitzu.
• Paul Dobson as Source Dragon of Energy, one of the seven Source Dragons. Like the rest of his kind, the Source Dragon is an immensely powerful being. However, during to his confinement under the hands of Ras, his dominion over the realms was nullified and was compelled to provide energy to the Kingdom of Imperium while being incarcerated beneath the kingdom. After Beatrix was deposed, the Source Dragon was freed by Lloyd.
• Niah Davis as Source Dragon of Life, one of the seven Source Dragons.
• Diana Kaarina as Source Dragon of Motion, one of the seven Source Dragons.
• Michael Adamthwaite as Source Dragon of Strength, one of the seven Source Dragons.
• Ian Hanlin as Master Suetonius, the leader of the Writers of Destiny and the current Master Writer of the Cloud Kingdom.
• Aidan Drummond as Marcus, one of the Writers of Destiny.
• Tabitha St. Germain as Gandalaria, the high sorceress of Mysterium and the one who created Bonzle.
• Sabrina Pitre as Hantro, a Serpentine that lives in Ninjago City. She supplies Fedulian's antiques shop.
• Bill Newton as Intelligent George, an influencer in the Merged Realms that makes theories and talks about people who were lost in the Merge.
• Mark Hildreth as Arrakore, a djinn and one of the few known inhabitants of Djinjago to escape from its destruction. After having his hope restored, he began to restore his realm harnessing his wish magic once more.
• Deven Mack as Gus, a resident of the Crossroads.
• Jason Simpson as Sora's father
• Kathleen Barr as Sora's mother
• Richard Newman as Spirit of the Temple, a mystic figure in the Temple of the Dragon Cores.
• Vincent Tong as Mr. Koenig, was Sora and Jordana's former school teacher.
• Kelly Metzger as Bone Guard
• Richard Ian Cox as Bone King
• Kelly Sheridan as Bone Warrior
• Joanne Wilson as Caregiver bot
• Deven Mack as Claw Hunter
• Mark Hildreth as King Crag-Nor, the ruler of the Kingdom of Madness and the King of the Craglings.
• Craglings are large, brutish-looking rock monsters that live in the Kingdom of Madness and are led by King Crag-Nor.
• Jason Simpson as Dale, a farmer and mechanic from an unknown ocean village.
• The algae farmers are farmers from a realm parallel to Ninjago.
• Adam Nurada as Ocean gang leader, An unnamed Merlopian is a pirate that leads the ocean gang.
• The ocean gang is a group of Merlopian pirates.
• The Matriarch of Fallen Leaves was an Arc Dragon that led a tribe of dragons of Fallen Leaves. She was killed by Nokt and Rox who was possessing Jordana's body so they could use her arch crown to open the portal to the Nether-Space.
• Brenda Crichlow as The Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons, a dragon of matriarch rank who holds the position of leadership within a herd of Mountain Dragons. She was killed by Nokt and Rox who was possessing Jordana's body so they could use her Dragon Crown to open the portal to the Nether-Space.
• The Patriarch of the Northern Spiral was an Arc Dragon that led a herd of dragons of the Northern Spiral. He was killed by Nokt and Rox who was possessing Jordana's body so they could use his arch crown to open the portal to the Nether-Space.
• Matriarch's daughter, An unnamed baby Mountain Dragon is the daughter of the former Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons and the next leader of their herd.
• Andrew McNee as Gulch
• Sabrina Pitre as Howler 1
• Richard Ian Cox as Howler 2
• Sweeper is a creature that was created by Dr. LaRow. It was intended to clean Imperium Sewers until it ended up at the Land of Lost Things, where it created a body of junk and became known as the Hoarder.
• Ben Toth as Boy
• Abigail Journey Oliver as Girl
• Andrew McNee as Alfonzo Frohicky, the Assistant Keeper of the Monastery who runs various carnival events in the Crossroads.
• Sabrina Pitre as Spitz, a young Hypnobrai and a member of the Finders.
• Vincent Tong as Fritz, a Formling and a member of the Finders.
• Michelle Creber as Bonzle, a spell made mortal being.
• Nicole Oliver as Zeatrix, Beatrix's twin sister and Master of Shockwave.
• Tabitha St. Germain as Tox, the Master of Poison.
• Ian Hanlin as Mr. Pale, the Master of Light.
• Ryan Beil as Roby, the Games Master for the Tournament of Sources.
• Paul Dobson as Zur, The master of Reflex.
• Kizzy, a Water-Tide from the Azure Reef, the Elemental Master of Balance.
• Crab monster is a creature that terrorized a village in the sea.
• The Mucoids are a race comprised of snail people originating from the Mother Garden.
• Deven Mack as Chef Grab-Barg is a Mucoid chef and has a rivalry against Arin.
• Brian Drummond as Tope-Epot, a Mucoid and a citizen of the Crossroads.
• Heatwave is a Fire Dragon that serves as the patriarch of his tribe residing in the Lava Wastes. He raised Wyldfyre in the Wyldness ever since she was just a baby.
• Jiro is a Lightning Dragon.
• Zanth is a Djinjagan Dragon.
• Obscuria is the current Elemental Master of Shadow
• Garry Chalk as Zant-Tanz, the Elemental Master of Plants, the acting general of the Mucoid Warriors, and the supreme leader of the Mother Garden.
• Ron Halder as Emperor Levo Vespasian-Orus, the emperor of the Kingdom of Imperium and a former Elemental Master of Shockwave.

A series of canonical shorts were released in 2024, to tie in with the release of the new sets that came out in the same year.

A second series of canonical shorts were released in 2024, set between parts 1 & 2 of season 2.

A third series of canonical shorts were released in 2024, set between parts 1 & 2 of season 2.

A fourth series of canonical shorts were released in 2024, set between parts 1 & 2 of season 2.

The new series was produced following the final season of the Ninjago television series, which had been on air since 2011 and concluded in 2022. For the new series, animation company WildBrain Studios moved to Unreal Engine 5 to improve on the animation quality of its predecessor.^[1]

The lead writers for the series are Chris "Doc" Wyatt and Kevin Burke. Wyatt confirmed on Twitter that Ninjago: Dragons Rising is a new show, rather than a continuation of the previous Ninjago series, which had been on air for 11 years.^[2]

The series was initially revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2022. Season 1 of Dragons Rising was released on Netflix on 1 June 2023 in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Latin America, and in other territories later in the same month or the next except for the UK, where it was released on ITVX on 5 June 2023.^[3][4] It was later aired on Cartoon Network in Southeast Asia and Europe.

Season 2 Part 1 was released on 3 April 2024 on Netflix in Finland, and on the next day was also released in the United States.

Season 2 Part 2 was originally given the release date of October. However, it had all 10 episodes in English unintentionally published by streaming service Peacock on 25 July 2024, less than a day after the first trailer for Part 2 was released by LEGO. All 10 episodes were quickly saved before Peacock could remove them, 2 months before part 2 was intended to be released.

The Hollywood Reporter gave the first season a positive review, saying that it looked just as good as the previous Ninjago series.^[5] The series has generally been viewed in a highly positive light.

Several playable characters and a new level based on the series were launched in Lego Brawls in June 2023.^[6]

• Ninjago: Dragons Rising on Netflix
• Ninjago: Dragons Rising at IMDb