Crystalized is the fifteenth and final season of the animated Ninjago television series (titled Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu before the eleventh season). The series was created by Michael Hegner and Tommy Andreasen. The season aired in two parts: the first in May 2022, and the other from September to October 2022. Following the passing of Kirby Morrow, Andrew Francis is cast as the new voice actor of Cole.
The storyline of the fifteenth season directly follows on from the preceding season, Seabound. The first part of Crystalized focuses on the ninja attempting to restore Nya to her human form, becoming fugitives in the process. The rest of the season centers around the return of the Overlord as the season main antagonist, under an alias called the Crystal King, as he assembles some of the greatest adversaries from the ninja's past to conquer Ninjago.
A sequel series to support the continuation of the Lego Ninjago brand titled Ninjago: Dragons Rising premiered in June 2023 exclusively on Netflix.
Voice cast
Main Sam Vincent as Lloyd Garmadon, the Green Ninja Vincent Tong as Kai, the red ninja and Elemental Master of Fire and Nya's brother Michael Adamthwaite as Jay, the blue ninja, Elemental Master of Lightning and Nya's yang/boyfriend Brent Miller as Zane, the white/titanium ninja and Elemental Master of Ice Andrew Francis as Cole, the black ninja and Elemental Master of Earth Kelly Metzger as Nya, the Elemental Master of Water, Kai's sister and Jay's yin/girlfriend Paul Dobson as Sensei Wu, the wise teacher of the ninja Jennifer Hayward as P.I.X.A.L. a female nindroid, and Zane's love interest Mark Oliver as Garmadon Scott McNeil as the Overlord/the Crystal King
Supporting Erin Mathews as Miss Demeanor Kelly Sheridan as Gayle Gossip Michael Donovan as Police Commissioner Alan Marriott as Dareth Michael Dobson as Pythor P. Chumsworth Heather Doerksen as Skylor Paul Dobson as Warden Noble Adrian Petriw as Fugi-Dove Michael Antonakos as The Mechanic Brian Drummond as Twitchy Tim Deven Mack as King Vangelis Britt McKillip as Harumi Lee Tockar as Cyrus Borg David Raynolds as Nelson Shannon Chan Kent as Racer Seven Gavin Langelo as Vinny Sharon Alexander as Ultra Violet Nicholas Holmes as Jake Tabitha St. Germain as Sammy Brynna Drummond as Antonia Brian Dobson as Ronin
Casting The season features the return of the main cast, who have voiced the ninja characters across the series, excluding Kirby Morrow as the character Cole. Crystalized was the first season to feature Andrew Francis as the character's voice actor. Francis was cast in the role following the loss of Morrow, who had previously voiced the character since the beginning of the series. Series co-creator Tommy Andreasen released an open letter to fans explaining the decision to recast the part of Cole. He stated that several options had been considered regarding the character's future, including retiring the character, using existing dialogue from previous seasons to retain Morrow's voice in the series, creating a story where Cole does not speak, or recasting. The Ninjago team made the ultimate decision to recast the part. Andreasen explained, "We must remain true to the character Kirby shaped. Cole is crucial in the 2022 story and the World and Ninjago need Cole. So, recasting it was! And a very hard and emotional one at that."
Andreasen revealed on Twitter that a new actor voicing a new character would be introduced in the season, which he described as, "one of the weirdest and wonderful ones [the writers] have ever come up with." He also revealed that the character Jake would return in the season, voiced by Nicholas Holmes, and that the character Kai would have, "much love and romance in the year to come."
Release In January 2021, Tommy Andreasen mentioned the script for the season on Twitter and said that fans would have to wait until 2022 for the season to be released. The Lego Group released several preview clips on its official YouTube channel leading up to the season's premiere, including an official teaser on April 29, 2022, and an official trailer on May 20, 2022. In a France TV Pro press release for the season, which was released in May 2022, an official season poster was revealed that drew comparisons to the design of the theatrical release poster for Avengers: Endgame. The season was scheduled to premiere in France on June 6, 2022. The first twelve English episodes were released online on The Lego Group's YouTube channel on May 20, 2022, with viewing restricted by region but were removed three days later with no explanation, but were made public again on June 1, 2022. On the same day, they were also released on Netflix. It also debuted on CITV in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2022.
A trailer for the second half of the season was revealed during the Lego Con 2022 live show on June 18, 2022. At Comic Con 2022, it was announced that the second half of the season will be released in early October on Netflix. The 13th and 14th episodes, titled A Sinister Shadow and The Spider's Design, respectively, were released earlier on Sky Go in New Zealand on September 18, 2022. Netflix Australia later confirmed the second half of the season would be released on October 1, 2022.
Plot
A group called the New Ninja appear in Ninjago City, fighting vengestone smugglers. The ninja team has lost faith and broken up.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 1 "Farewell to Sea" Nya roams the Endless Sea as a water dragon but then begins to recover her memories. She meets a water elemental named Nyad, who helps her to find her way back home.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 2 "The Call of Home" The ninja reunite and uncover a secret shipment of vengestone in a subway tunnel. They are forced to fight Miss Demeanor and her thugs, but are shamed when the New Ninja defeat the villains.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 3 "The Shape of Nya"
Nya returns to the monastery in her aqueous form and Zane freezes her to maintain her shape. The team decide to break Aspheera out of Kryptarium prison to steal her staff so that Aspheera can drain Nya's elemental power and return her back to human form. Skylor helps to keep Nya frozen while they retrieve Aspheera and the staff.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 4 "A Mayor Problem" During their mission, the ninja are forced to fight the New Ninja and Kai accidentally reveals their identities, making them fugitives.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 5 "Public Enemies 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5!" Aspheera agrees to help them in exchange for her freedom and returns Nya to her human form. The New Ninja arrive at the monastery and arrest the entire ninja team except for Nya. Aspheera escapes and is recruited by a stranger known as the Crystal King.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 6 "A Painful Promise!"
The ninja are sentenced to five years in Kryptarium prison. They find themselves surrounded by their old enemies, including Pythor. Lloyd is visited by the Crystal King's messenger, who warns him that the Crystal King is gathering Lloyd's enemies against him.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 7 "Ninjago City vs. Ninja!" When Pythor is recruited by the messenger and broken out of prison, the ninja try to stop him, but fail.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 8 "Kryptarium Prison Blues" The ninja eventually escape with the help of Nya, disguised as Samurai X, and Dareth, but find themselves wandering the desert while pursued by sheriff HoundDog McBrag.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 9 "Hounddog McBrag" On the road they are picked up by a young singer who is making her way to Ninjago City and Zane learns the benefits of emotions.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 10 "The Benefit of Grief" The ninja reunite at Twitchy Tim's gas station, where Fugi-Dove helps them escape from McBrag. They confront The Mechanic in his lair and subdue him, allowing Lloyd to impersonate him at the Council of the Crystal King.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 11 "The Fifth Villain" There he meets the other members, who are Aspheera, Pythor, King Vangelis, and Mr. F, but his identity is discovered and he is captured. The Crystal King's messenger reveals herself to be Harumi, whom Lloyd believed to be dead.Ninjago, Season 15. Episode 12 "The Council of the Crystal King"
Harumi explains that, after her death, she was resurrected by the Crystal King and agreed to serve him, even after learning his true identity as the Overlord. Using vengestone bought from Vangelis prior to his defeat by the ninja, Harumi built an army that can negate the ninja's elemental powers. Harumi reveals her plan to steal the Golden Weapons from the monastery and Lloyd vows to stop her.Ninjago, Season 15. Episode 13 "A Sinister Shadow" Kai, Jay, Zane, and Cole are attacked by explosive Crystal Spiders, trapping them underground. This enrages Lloyd, who believes his friends to be dead, and awakens his previously dormant Oni powers.Ninjago, Season 15. Episode 14 "The Spider's Design" The Crystal Council (now joined by the Mechanic) attack the monastery, destroying it and taking the Golden Weapons. Wu, Skylor, and P.I.X.A.L. are saved by MiniPix 7, one of P.I.X.A.L.'s miniature robot assistants, while Nya escapes in her Samurai X armour.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 15 "The Fall of the Monastery" As Nya rescues the trapped ninja, Aspheera performs a ritual that corrupts the Golden Weapons and allows the Overlord to take physical form once again.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 16 "Darkness Within"
The Overlord uses his powers to grant the Crystal Council new abilities, bring the Crystal Army to life, and make the Oni Temple airborne. Lloyd refuses to join and escapes, taking Harumi with him, and they both fall off the temple into the jungle.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 17 "The Coming of the King" The ninja head to Primeval's Eye to rescue Lloyd, just as he and Harumi are found by the Crystal Council. Lloyd is forced to abandon Harumi and escape with his friends, informing them of the Overlord's return.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 18 "Return to Primeval's Eye" The Crystal Army begins marching towards Ninjago City, corrupting everyone in their path. The ninja try to stop them, but find that their vehicles are being drained by the vengestone . Wu and Lloyd track down Garmadon living in an apartment in Ninjago City.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 19 "Crystastrophe" Garmadon reveals that since his departure, he has started a journey of self-improvement, by caring for a potted plant he called Christofern. He agrees to help the ninja after the Crystal Army destroys his apartment and damages Christofern.Ninjago, Season 15, Episode 20 "Christofern"