Skybound is the sixth season of the computer-animated television series Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu (titled Ninjago from the eleventh season onward). The series was created by Michael Hegner and Tommy Andreasen. The season aired from 24 March to 15 July 2016, following the fifth season titled Possession. It is succeeded by the television special Day of the Departed.
The sixth season introduces the Djinn pirate Nadakhan and his crew of sky pirates as the main antagonists of the season. It follows the storyline of Nadakhan tricking each of the ninja characters by granting them three wishes and trapping their souls until only Jay and Nya are remaining. In the season finale, the entire events of the season are reversed when Jay makes his final wish.
Voice cast
Main
Jillian Michaels as Lloyd Garmadon, the Green Ninja
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, the Elemental Master of Water and Kai's sister
Paul Dobson as Sensei Wu, the wise teacher of the ninja
Kathleen Barr as Misako
Scott McNeil as Nadakhan
Supporting
Jennifer Hayward as P.I.X.A.L. a female nindroid
Paul Dobson as Flintlocke
Vincent Tong as Doubloon
Nicole Oliver as Dogshank
Ian James Corlett as Clancee
Michael Adamthwaite as Squiffy
Brian Dobson as Bucko
Ian James Corlett as Monkey Wretch
Scott McNeil as Clouse
Brent Miller as Echo Zane
Heather Doerksen as Skylor
Alan Marriott as Captain Soto
Production
Animation
The animation for the sixth season was produced at Wil Film ApS in Denmark.
Direction
The episodes for the sixth season were directed by Jens Møller, Michael Helmuth Hansen, and Peter Hausner.
Music
The season was accompanied by the release of a remixed version of The Weekend Whip, the show's official theme song, which is performed by The Fold. The remixed song is titled The Pirate Whip.
Release
A video clip providing a first look at the season was shown at the Lego Ninjago panel at San Diego Comic-Con in 2015, which was later released online on the Lego YouTube channel. The Lego Group teased the storyline for the season on 5 November 2015 with the release of the first official poster that depicted the character Jay battling against the season's antagonists, Nadakhan and his crew of sky pirates. An official trailer for the season was released on the Lego YouTube channel on 7 January 2016. The season premiered on Cartoon Network on 24 March 2016. The rest of the season was released throughout June and July 2016, with the season finale titled The Way Back being released on 15 July of the same year.
Plot
Clouse (who is now a ghost escaped from the Cursed Realm) finds the Teapot of Tyrahn and frees the evil Djinn or Genie Nadakhan. He grants Clouse three wishes, traps him inside the teapot, and then searches for the Realm Crystal to reunite his crew of sky pirates. When he discovers that the ninja are protecting it, he frames them for various crimes, which results in them becoming wanted criminals. The ninja split up to escape but Nadakhan imprisons Wu and Misako in the teapot. Nadakhan finds the Realm Crystal in the Hiroshi Labyrinth Stronghold. In Kryptarium Prison, the ninja meet Captain Soto, who explains that they must use a drop of Tiger Widow venom to weaken Nadakhan, so they head for the location of the last Tiger Widow spider. Nadakhan frees his crew from across the Sixteen Realms and they repair the Misfortune's Keep. They visit his home realm and kingdom, Djinjago and discover that it is deteriorating, caused by the ninja destroying the Cursed Realm. Khanjkhan gives Nadakhan the Djinn Blade, which Nadakhan uses to slash the Teapot of Tyrahn, causing the souls of Clouse, Wu, and Misako to transfer into the sword. He returns to Ninjago and swears revenge on the ninja.