Season 9: Hunted

Season 9 of LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu, subtitled Hunted, is the currently airing season; it is preceded by Season 8 and begins a week after its events. The Golden Dragon Master is the mascot character, while there will be no focus character. Iron Baron and Lord Garmadon serve as the main antagonists and the Dragon Hunters and Sons of Garmadon are the season's villainous factions.

Following the supposed demise of Wu and the original Ninja, Lloyd and Nya resist Lord Garmadon's tyrannical control of Ninjago City. The original Ninja are stranded in the Realm of Oni and Dragons, where they must save the Dragons from the barbaric Dragon Hunters. The season started airing in Australia in late June 2018, with the sets being released on July 2 in Australia. It is currently unknown when the season will air in the United States.

Official Description
''While Lloyd and Nya resist Emperor Garmadon's oppressive hold on Ninjago City, Young Wu and the rest of the Ninja are stranded in a barbaric realm where fierce dragons are being hunted down by Iron Baron and his gang of Dragon Hunters. Lloyd must endure in NINJAGO City, the others need to find the fabled Dragon Armor if they ever hope to get back home to stop Emperor Garmadon once and for all.''

Marooned Ninja

 * Cole - Kirby Morrow
 * Jay - Michael Adamthwaite
 * Kai - Vincent Tong
 * Zane - Brent Miller
 * Wu - Madyx Whiteway as a child, Paul Dobson as a teen and old man
 * Faith - Kathleen Barr (formerly a Dragon Hunter, Heavy Metal, now an ally of the Ninja)

The Resistance

 * Dareth - Alan Marriott
 * Griffin Turner - Doron Bell Jr.
 * Karlof - Scott McNeil
 * Lloyd Garmadon - Sam Vincent
 * Misako - Kathleen Barr
 * Mistaké - Tabitha St. Germain
 * Neuro - Paul Dobson
 * Nya - Kelly Metzger
 * Paleman - Kirby Morrow
 * P.I.X.A.L. - Jennifer Hayward
 * Shade - Andrew Francis
 * Skylor - Heather Doerksen
 * Tox - Ian James Corlett

Sons of Garmadon

 * Chopper Maroon - Sam Vincent
 * Lord Garmadon - Mark Oliver in the present, Kai Emmett as a child
 * Harumi - Britt McKillip
 * Luke Cunningham - Michael Adamthwaite
 * Killow - Garry Chalk
 * Mohawk - Vincent Tong
 * Mr. E - Brent Miller
 * Ultra Violet - Maggie Blue O'Hara

Dragon Hunters

 * Arkade- Michael Donovan
 * Chew Toy- Scott McNeil
 * Daddy No Legs - Ian James Corlett
 * Iron Baron - Brian Drummond
 * Jet Jack- Rhona Rees
 * Muzzle - Brent Miller
 * Skullbreaker - Michael Adamthwaite

Echo Zane will make his first true appearance in the series, with Brent Miller reprising the role. Colossi, the giant rock titan built by Garmadon at the end of season eight, also returns.

Various unnamed Sons of Garmadon gang members and Dragon Hunters appear throughout the season. Mother Doomsday also makes a cameo in "Radio Free Ninjago."

Sets
The banner on the Season 9 sets has the usual Ninjago logo in white, and next to it appears to be the Golden Dragon Master with a shadow of a Dragon behind him.

Set List
 * 70644 Golden Dragon Master (flyer
 * 70645 Cole - Dragon Master (flyer)
 * 70646 Jay - Dragon Master (flyer)
 * 70647 Kai - Dragon Master (flyer)
 * 70648 Zane - Dragon Master (flyer)
 * 70650 Destiny's Wing
 * 70651 Throne Room Showdown
 * 70652 Stormbringer
 * 70653 Firstbourne
 * 70654 Dieselnaut
 * 70655 The Dragon Pit
 * 70658 Oni Titan

Spoiler Notes

 * Mr. E doesn't appear in the intro alongside Harumi, Ultra Violet, and Killow, foreshadowing his demise early in the season.
 * According to Dan and Kevin Hageman, the Ultra Dragon was killed by the Dragon Hunters, and their skeletal remains have been made into Iron Baron's throne.
 * Most of the Elemental Masters from season four return in this season, including Karlof, Griffin Turner, Shade, Neuro, Skylor, Tox, and Paleman. They will act on their promise from season four of helping the Ninja by joining the Resistance.
 * Several Elemental Masters, including Jacob Pevsner, Gravis, Ash, Chamille, and Bolobo, do not appear in this season. Due to Bolobo being arrested, and Chamille presumably being a villain. The others are unknown.
 * 70651 Throne Room Showdown and 70658 Oni Titan appear to be the only sets that don't take place in the Realm of the Oni and the Dragon.
 * This is the second season to not feature "The Weekend Whip" as the intro theme.
 * For April Fools day, Tommy Andreasen posted a status on Twitter with three events from Season 9, two of which are real and one of which is fake. The three events stated that the Ninja will speak the language of the dragons, that Dareth will unlock his true power, and that there would be a talking rat. Additionally, The Hagemen brothers hinted that if Dareth didn't get a power, he would get a pet Dragon.
 * A post from the Official Ninjago Facebook account included text in the Alphabet of Ninjago that translates to: "Dareth with the power of. . . ." hinting Dareth's powers.
 * Dareth temporarily gets an Elemental Power of "brown" from drinking one of Mistaké's teas.
 * Mistaké talks to Lloyd as a rat in "The Gilded Path."
 * Echo Zane is set to return this season; this will be his first true appearance in the series, as his role in Skybound was erased due to Jay's final wish.
 * According to Tommy Andreasen in an interview with Brent Miller, someone will die this season. The identity of this character is not stated. Later, in "Iron & Stone" these characters were revealed to be Mr. E and The Ultra Dragon.
 * According to the Hageman Brothers on Twitter, Season 9's theme will be "independence."
 * Jay seems to be the calmest Ninja even though he is usually the one who freaks out.
 * This lasted for two episodes, then he was back to normal.
 * In "Iron & Stone," Skylor revealed that her powers came back.

Antagonists
Heavy Metal and Harumi served as the secondary antagonists of the First Realm and Ninjago. After Heavy Metal's redemption, Harumi became the sole secondary antagonist.
 * Iron Baron and Lord Garmadon serve as the main antagonists of the First Realm and Ninjago.
 * Other major antagonists include Ultra Violet and Killow.
 * Mr. E serves as a minor antagonist due to the fact that he was killed by Garmadon for failing to capture Lloyd.
 * The Dragon Hunters and the Sons of Garmadon serve as the villainous factions of the First Realm and Ninjago respectfully.