The New York Toy Fair is taking place February 16-19, and for LEGO fans, this is an exciting event. Although the two earlier events – the London Toy Fair and the German Toy Fair – revealed some upcoming set names, numbers, and prices, pictures were not allowed (see: New LEGO Sets at the 2019 Toy Fairs). However, the New York Toy Fair is much more open in this regard, and this is usually the first time when we can get a good look at many of the sets that will be released later in the year. So, let’s take a look at what we know so far. 🙂
➡ LEGO HIDDEN SIDE SETS: The LEGO Group unveiled at the New York Toy Fair LEGO Hidden Side, an augmented reality-enhanced LEGO play theme where kids must turn a haunted world back to normal, one ghost at a time. It is the only play experience available today that fully and seamlessly integrates augmented reality (AR) with physical construction to reveal a hidden world of interactive play.
Developed for children 7 years and up, LEGO Hidden Side includes a series of eight “haunted” building sets full of awesome functionality and secret surprises that, on their own, provide the build and roleplay fun of any LEGO play theme. Activating the bespoke AR app developed together with the theme brings the models to life, revealing a hidden world of interactive mysteries and challenges to solve. When combined, the two worlds make each other even more compelling and fun.
“Our years of experience pioneering the convergence of technology and physical play have taught us that kids expect exciting play experiences that move seamlessly between physical and digital worlds – something we call fluid play,” said Tom Donaldson, senior vice president, Creative Play Lab at the LEGO Group. “At our core we focus on tactile building, but AR presents opportunities to enhance physical LEGO play with new action and mastery elements. We’re breaking the mold of gaming-first AR play experiences to create a new type of play where the physical world actually influences the AR layer, instead of the other way around.”
LEGO Hidden Side building sets deliver everything kids love and expect from a LEGO building experience – the challenge of the build, a detailed model with functionality, and minifigure characters set in a story-driven universe. Each model can be built as it appears by day – a school house, bus, or graveyard, for example – and has transforming functionality to become the haunted version of itself.
The app lets kids assume a first-person perspective and play together with the two characters – Jack and Parker – as they explore their hometown of Newbury, using their mobile phones to see and solve paranormal mysteries beneath the surface of their environment. Game play prompts kids to hold their phone up to the physical LEGO models and interact with various elements, or “points of possession,” which release virtual ghosts that kids must then capture in the AR game to stop the haunting. Numerous scenarios create dynamic gameplay that requires kids to keep one hand in each world to progress the play. Donaldson added, “As we have designed LEGO Hidden Side, physical manipulation of the LEGO models alters the AR experience, and the AR experience prompts new things to discover in the physical models, creating a deeply engaging reciprocal play experience in two worlds that has never been seen before.”
The app also consists of a digital game that kids can play independent of the building set. After launch, the app experience will continue to expand with the addition of new ghosts, new game challenges, and randomization of gameplay so the experience is different every time kids play. Donaldson noted, “We’re leveraging some of the best elements of mobile games to keep the experience fresh, encouraging kids to return to their LEGO sets time and again to see what is different. With the thoughtful integration of LEGO building and AR technology, we can deliver a truly innovative play experience that taps into the everchanging landscape of fluid play, where children constantly find new moments and forms of play.”
LEGO Hidden Side will be available globally in late summer 2019. Physical sets include the #70418 LEGO Hidden Side Lab (174 pieces, $19.99), the #70419 LEGO Hidden Side Boat (310 pieces pieces, $29.99), the #70420 LEGO Hidden Side Graveyard (335 pieces, $29.99), the #70421 LEGO Hidden Side Truck (428 pieces, $39.99), the #70422 LEGO Hidden Side Diner (579 pieces, $49.99), the #70423 LEGO Hidden Side Bus (689 pieces, $59.99), the #70424 LEGO Hidden Side Train (698 pieces, $79.99), and the #70425 LEGO Hidden Side High School (1,474 pieces, $129.99). The LEGO Hidden Side app will be a free download from the App Store and Google Play.
➡ LEGO JURASSIC WORLD – NEW SETS: Universal Brand Development (Universal) and the LEGO Group announced at the New York Toy Fair an exciting expansion to the popular LEGO Jurassic World portfolio of toys and content; a new building sets assortment inspired by an all-new, animated mini-series – LEGO Jurassic World: Legend of Isla Nublar. Following the adventures of Claire, Owen, and fan-favorite dinosaurs seen in the 2018 animated specials, LEGO Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit, this new mini-series runs 13 episodes and will debut later this year.
Set in 2012, three years before the events of the Jurassic World movie, LEGO Jurassic World: Legend of Isla Nublar picks up where the story left off from LEGO Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit. Newly hired animal behaviorist Owen Grady and Assistant Manager of Park Operations Claire Dearing team up on Isla Nublar to deal with everything the Jurassic World park throws their way. And “everything” includes runaway dinosaurs, ongoing construction to expand the park, tourists everywhere, unpredictable tropical weather, and an impulsive boss! Plus, a mysterious saboteur with surprising ties to the park’s past is on a quest to find a legendary treasure and destroy Jurassic World forever! What could possibly go wrong? Everything…
“The box office and retail success of 2018 proved Jurassic World is the definitive dinosaur brand,” said Vince Klaseus, president of Universal Brand Development. “This year we’re focused on continuing to expand the Jurassic World story through always-on content and new experiences for fans of all ages. Our partnership with the LEGO Group allows us to do just that and more.”
Building on the success of the 2018 LEGO Jurassic World offering, the LEGO Group will globally launch four building sets that take the storytelling and role-play opportunity beyond the blockbuster film year, giving fans the chance to bring new adventures, characters and dinosaurs home for even more play. “Jurassic World is one of those properties that just works so well in LEGO form,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president, licensing & entertainment for LEGO Group. “The theme and stories appeal to kids and adults at the same time, and with this content, we offer a fun and unique twist by adding LEGO creativity and humor to an evergreen property. We’re thrilled to expand our successful partnership with Universal to introduce more original LEGO Jurassic World stories that will inspire imaginations and continued play.”
The four building sets based on LEGO Jurassic World: Legend of Isla Nublar are as follows: #75934 LEGO Jurassic World Dilophosaurus on the Loose (168 pieces, $19.99), #75935 LEGO Jurassic World Baryonyx Face-Off: The Treasure Hunt (434 pieces, $59.99), #75937 LEGO Jurassic World Triceratops Rampage (447 pieces, $59.99), and #75938 LEGO Jurassic World T. Rex vs. Dino-Mech Battle (716 pieces, $89.99). You can see all four sets in the video-preview below by JANGBRiCKS.
➡ LEGO STAR WARS – NEW SETS: As we discussed previously, there are five LEGO Star Wars Anniversary Edition sets coming, and each of them come with an original yellow minifigure on a stand, as well as a vehicle and other minifigures. The collection includes the #75243 LEGO Star Wars Slave I (1007 pieces, $119.99), the #75258 LEGO Star Wars Anakin’s Podracer (279 pieces, $29.99), the #75259 LEGO Star Wars Snowspeeder (309 pieces, $39.99), the #75261 LEGO Star Wars Clone Scout Walker (250 pieces, $29.99), and the #75262 LEGO Star Wars Imperial Dropship (125 pieces, $19.99). Other Star Wars sets include the #75236 LEGO Star Wars Duel on Starkiller Base (191 pieces, $19.99), the #75238 LEGO Star Wars Endor Assault (193 pieces, $29.99), the #75239 LEGO Star Wars Hoth Shield Generator (235 pieces, $29.99), the #75240 LEGO Star Wars Major Vonreg’s TIE Fighter ($496 pieces, $69.99), the #75241 LEGO Star Wars Echo Base Defense (504 pieces, $59.99), and the #75242 LEGO Star Wars Black Ace TIE Interceptor (396 pieces, $49.99). I have included a video-preview of the anniversary sets in the previous Toy Fair summary linked at the end of this post, and the second batch is previewed below.
➡ LEGO TOY STORY 4 SETS: Toy Story 4 is coming to theaters in June, and we are also going to get new sets related to the film. Interestingly, they are all released under the LEGO Juniors (now called LEGO 4+ line), and there is also a LEGO DUPLO set. Another interesting change is that the minifigs now have regular heads instead of the moulded heads from the previous series. Sets include the #10766 LEGO Toy Story Woody & RC (69 pieces, $9.99), the #10769 LEGO Toy Story RV Vacation (178 pieces, $34.99), the #10770 LEGO Toy Story Buzz & Woody’s Carnival Mania (230 pieces, $49.99), and the #10771 LEGO Toy Story Carnival Thrill Coaster (98 pieces, $19.99). You can see the sets in the video-preview below by MandRproductions.
➡ THE LEGO MOVIE 2 – NEW SETS: Following the film’s opening nationwide, The LEGO Group unveiled at the New York Toy Fair three additional building sets that join its broad collection of toys inspired by the new big-screen animated adventure, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, so that families can discover the joy of playing together. Leading the next wave of film-inspired building sets is the #70838 LEGO Movie 2 Queen Watevra’s ‘So-Not-Evil’ Space Palace, including the Queen, Batman, Ice Cream Cone, Celeste, Royal Guard, Stars, and Hearts (995 pieces, $99.99). A detailed #70837 LEGO Movie 2 Shimmer & Shine Sparkle Spa includes the ‘glampire’ Balthazar, Flaminga, Lucy, Unikitty, Benny, Eight, and Archimedes (691 pieces, $69.99). Finally, builders will love the #70842 LEGO Movie 2 Emmet’s Triple-Decker Couch Mech, a next-level build upon Emmet’s invention from the original film that can be rebuilt into a walking mech, featuring Emmet, Unikitty and Sweet/General Mayhem (312 pieces, $29.99). You can see all three sets in the video-preview below by JANGBRiCKS.
The LEGO Movie 2 video-game will be available for Nintendo Switch system, PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One X, and PC. Players join Emmet, Lucy and a host of other heroic characters go beyond their world and save their friends from the strange inhabitants of the Systar System. The game’s one-of-a-kind experience centers on open-world adventures with a strong emphasis on creative solutions to puzzles and building, such as using tools to create roads, change the landscape and build structures to unlock more rewards and missions. For more information about the game, you may visit LEGOMovie2-videogame.WBgames.com.
In addition, a deep roster of partners is introducing The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part into dozens of lifestyle product categories. Fans will find soft goods such as apparel, backpacks, lunch kits, sleepwear, underwear, socks, bedding, beach towels, throws, and headwear; hardlines such as clocks and watches, storage and display, lighting, costumes and roleplay, holiday ornaments, and water bottles. Paper goods include stationery, greeting cards, wrapping paper, party goods, calendars and posters, and classroom exchange. Publishing includes chapter books, movie guides, sticker books, readers, reference books, activity books, and magazines.
And that wraps up what have been revealed at the New York Toy Fair. As you can see, there is a lot to check out, discuss, and prepare for. What do you think? Which one is your favorite upcoming LEGO theme, LEGO set, or LEGO minifigure? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below! 😉
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