Occasionally, LEGO releases some odd licensed themes that adult LEGO fans can’t really relate to and consider a waste of time and resources, but for whatever reason LEGO still think it’s worth giving them a shot. Such themes are usually short-lived, but may appeal to kids, make some collectors happy, and offer unique colors and new pieces for the rest of the LEGO fan community.
Some examples that come to mind are LEGO Spongebob Squarepants, which actually ended up being quite successful and ran for several years. LEGO Angry Birds, LEGO Adventure Time, and LEGO Powerpuff Girls achieved much less success. Recently, LEGO has been teasing about two new licensed themes that are also making LEGO fans puzzled but also curious; LEGO Trolls, and LEGO Minions.
The first Trolls film based on the cute and scary dolls was released back in 2016 by DreamWorks Animation. The film followed two trolls who go on a quest, to save their village from destruction by the Bergens, creatures who eat Trolls to be happy. The film was received very well and was a great commercial success. A sequel is scheduled for release in April of 2020, titled, Trolls World Tour. The related LEGO sets are scheduled to be released around the same time. I wonder how LEGO is going to handle the trolls’ fluffy, spiky hair.
The Minions film released in 2015 as a spin-off of the Despicable Me franchise produced by Illumination Entertainment for Universal Pictures. It followed the adventures of three Minions; Kevin, Stuart, and Bob. The film received mixed reviews, but still did extremely well, and ended up becoming the third highest-grossing animated film (behind Incredibles 2 and Frozen). A sequel is scheduled for release in July of 2020, titled Minions: The Rise of Gru. We can assume that the related LEGO sets will be released around the same time.
It is interesting to note that Mega Construx released Despicable Me and Minions based sets and collectible figures for several years prior to this announcement by LEGO. The sets were well designed, and the figures were especially cute. I know many people, including LEGO fans, who collected them. I’m curious to see how LEGO will handle the design of the characters, as their shape, eyes, hairstyles, and accessories are so much part of their character. Mega did a really good job with this, but LEGO tends to be more self-restrictive in terms of minifigure design. If you are looking for something weird and quirky right now, check the LEGO Powerpuff Girls sets and the LEGO Unikitty sets at the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like the idea of LEGO Trolls and LEGO Minions? What kind of sets do you think we will see from these licenses? And how do you think the characters will look like? Are you looking forward to these themes, or do you plan to skip them? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below!
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I may have to pick up a couple or so minions for my Lego city as cameo figures. I have Lego movie Emmit Wyldstyle and Unkity on the sidewalk checking the place out. The Ghost Busters are about to do some bustin’ in the Parisian Restaurant, Hawkeye is driving the blue Shield pickup with Loki in the back at a pretty fast rate out of town while Iron Man is standing on top of the Brick Bank eyeing them. I also have a guy cosplaying as a Storm Trooper driving to the Lego City Comic Con (But I think the guy needs to take his helmet off, not the safest to be driving with that thing on!) So I think I’d have room for a couple minions or so.
I rather like the minions, as long as it’s from one of the Despicable Me movies, not so much from their own movie. Less is more, that sorta thing. 😉
LOL! That sounds like a great setup! The Minions would fit right in! 😀
Too little, too late. C’mon LEGO….. keep up!
I agree that they could have gotten the licenses earlier, but these sets are for the new movies, There could be a surge of interest.
Not only that, but this opens up to the possibility of other DreakWorks properties like How to Train Your Dragon and Shrek. Just saying.
HTTYD is already made by Playmobil, although I don’t know if Playmobil is considered a construction toy brand. Their sets are very well done, and as far as I can tell, they sell well. Another great license they have is Ghostbusters.
I guess technically Playmobil is a model toy brand, although I still doubt that Lego and Playmobil could have the same license simultaneously…
I think it’s great that Lego doing the minions and the troll themes. Deep down every adult there’s a child in side them. That’s why it’s ok for us (adults) to be apart of Lego even though it was ment for children. It expanded ever since to fit the adult community. As adults when we see a set made from our childhood tv shows we reminisce those childhood days and go crazy to buy that set. I remember Voltron and how many adult fans said it was part of there childhood. As well as others like teenage mutant ninja turtles , Ghostbusters and The Flintstones. It would be great if Lego can do a Looney tunes theme……bring back the turtles!!! Lol.
Ehh…. not my cup of tea, but as long as they don’t take away production from other themes, I’m okay with it. What I’m surprised about is that they are releasing two new smaller themes next year. Isn’t that’s unusual? Are they retiring something?
Is it that unusual? And I guess they could be retiring several licensed themes without any movie in the pipeline.
My guess is that both Unikitty and Powerpuff Girls is going to get retired, with Trolls and Minions taking their place.
I’m really curious to see how they do the hair for both the Trolls and some of the Minions. We have some of the Mega Minions and they are very good. The Trolls could have fantasy elements like the Elves sets. I’m looking forward to that.
Both special hair and head molds have been done for licensed themes before.
Yes, but the trolls have fuzzy hair! LEGO never made fuzzy hair for minifigs. They did have some dolls with doll hair in the Belville and similar lines though. 😀
I guess Belville could be tolerable, but the less said about Scala, the better…
For Belville, I have to add that despite all the flak, the theme actually survived for 14 years, that’s a long time!
I’m curious about the Trolls. It could give us some good pieces. Shrek would be interesting too. How to Train Your Dragon would be amazing, but perhaps too close to Ninjago with all those dragons. And, as others said, it is already made by Playmobil.
Lego is getting too many weird licenses…. that’s all I have to say about that…..
Actually Peter, maybe the how to train your Dragon could be made into the next Vikings theme. I think it’s time for Lego to bring that theme back again.
I like that idea! But as others said, it may interfere with Playmobil currently using the license.
Can’t say Troll minifies interest me.
I’ll keep an open mind to the Minion minifies but I don’t know how they could stack up to the MegaBloks Minions with very poseable arms and legs affixed with sockets and 360˚ movement.
Oh! And I also loved the removable goggles.
MegaBloks really did do a good job of capturing the spirit of the Minions! I wonder how the “roundness” of Minions will translate to the “gridiness” of the Lego model…
I’m curious too! And I also like the Mega minions. They are very cute and very posable, as you said. 🙂
I’m interested to see how LEGO tackle the hair issue. I dunno if any of you have seen the Kreo versions of Trolls ;big heads, real hair and small bodies!
I don’t know if LEGO will go the real hair route though!
As a LEGO fan I would prefer a classic head with removable hair and ears but as a Trolls fan id like real hair and a moulded custom head would probably be more appealing to younger buyers!
Possibly we’d get custom heads with molded hair imitation…