(Written by William)
LEGO recently released three new LEGO BrickHeadz sets, featuring Harry Potter characters. As I have mentioned in the past, I’m a collector of LEGO BrickHeadz and I’m always up to see what’s new for these cubic characters. I feel that this is worth pointing out since I’m partial to the overall theme, but not everyone might feel the same way.
With that said, unless you are an avid LEGO BrickHeadz collector or a Harry Potter fan, the new sets may be a bit hard to recommend. Two of them focus on the magical sport of Quidditch with the four characters representing the four seekers of their respective houses. This explains why everyone has a broom. Unfortunately, this means all four of these characters are wearing similar robes in different colors, so expect many of the same types of builds.
Fortunately, the third set features some new adult characters in the Harry Potter universe. And what’s more, is that they are fairly popular in their own right because of their distinctive look. If you can tell which set I’m more favorable to, then you must have gotten high marks in divination! Let’s see why that is the case.
#40616 LEGO HARRY POTTER & CHO CHANG
Have you ever wondered why LEGO remakes the main character of any theme so many times? Well, it all comes down to an error that toy companies made in the past. You see, a toy company would come out with the main cast of a show and it would sell well. Then as the show went on, they created new characters. The problem is, those who found out about the show late, felt like they missed out on the main characters who were still in the show. And the ones who had the main characters didn’t necessarily want all the odd side characters. In each case, sales dried up and the show and its toys got canceled.
Fast forward to today. Remaking a main character like Harry Potter makes it so that no one misses out. Plus, by putting him in a different outfit, there’s a reason for collectors to buy a new version of the main character. That is essentially what we have here. And LEGO even sweetened the deal by adding in Cho. Now you may think this pairing is because there was a brief point where the two dated. However, judging by their outfits and the other set with Hogwarts students, this is more because each character was a Seeker in their own house’s Quidditch team.
Of the two, Harry is the more interesting build. His glasses feature two clips that support minifigure hoops. The hoop on the left side of his face is especially interesting as its clip is built using part geometry to hold it together. Part geometry is where the shape of the part is what holds the build together. Behind Harry’s face are a small panel and a corner tile with the clip and plate assembly floating inside his head. There is only the shape of the parts filling up the empty space that allows this to be possible.
Cho, on the other hand, is a surprisingly boring build. The only other interesting features of the set are the printed tiles for the torsos and Harry’s scar.
#40617 LEGO DRACO MALFOY & CEDRIC DIGGORY
If you do plan to pick up the new LEGO Harry Potter BrickHeadz, I’d probably recommend building this one first. It is not because it is remarkable in any way, but rather the opposite.
Apart from the hairstyles and the colors of the robes, you’re pretty much building the same BrickHeadz. The unique parts are the 2×4 tiles to decorate the torsos and that’s about it. This set is all about filling out the roster of characters that were just notable enough to deserve a LEGO BrickHeadz version.
#40618 KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT & NYMPHADORA TONKS
Now we get to the truly different characters in the lot. Both utilize brackets on the front of their outfits to create some interesting angles and drapes. Plus, both feature some very distinct and eye-catching color palettes. And both feature printed tiles for their torsos, plus Kingsley has a whole host of printed curved slopes to make up the edging of his hat.
Granted, these characters weren’t extensively featured in the books or the movies, but their overall design displays a high degree of individuality. That is why they both captured the imaginations of fans. Plus, this further bolsters the ranks of the Order of the Phoenix.
LEGO HARRY POTTER BRICKHEADZ – FINAL THOUGHTS
At $20 USD for each set, I can’t say it is the easiest lot of LEGO BrickHeadz to recommend. I found the most engaging to be Shacklebolt and Tonks since I didn’t feel like I was rebuilding the same BrickHeadz over and over again just in a slightly different color. So, for builders, I really only suggest the last set as something worthwhile.
The Quidditch lineup is nice for the most avid collector. They are for those who find Quidditch to be one of the most engaging parts of Harry Potter. And I will admit that Harry is interesting to build. However, it is important to note that these characters, for the most part, feel like nothing more than color swaps.
As for those looking for interesting parts, I think Kingsley’s printed hat elements do have some potential. Beyond those, there’s nothing that feels spectacular. So, I believe most people will immediately know whether or not they’ll be picking these up. If you are on the fence, chances are you should probably pick something else that excites you. These are more about checking off names to show they have been represented. If you’re interested, you can get them at the LEGO Harry Potter section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? Do you collect LEGO BrickHeadz? And how do you feel about the new LEGO Harry Potter BrickHeadz characters? Feel free to share and discuss in the comment section below!
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