I thought it would be so simple to predict where this year’s run of Harry Potter sets was going: 2018 – Films 1&2; 2019: 2&4; 2020 5&6. I had been feeling pretty confident believing that this year we would be seeing sets relating the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1&2. It turns out I was wrong. Life’s like that sometimes!

The LEGO Group have just officially announced the sets for the northern Summer 2021

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of LEGO Harry Potter, we see some settings not visited in the current series of sets, as well as a couple of conceptually new sets:

In the collection of sets announced today, we have scenarios from the Philosopher’s Stone; Chamber of Secrets and The Prisoner of Azkaban. We also meet some characters, not previously seen in minifigure form. We also have some ‘off minifigure theme’ sets in the form of Wizards Chess, Giant buildable Harry and Hermione and, embracing the spirit of last year’s kinetic Hedwig: a sculpture of Fawkes, Dumbledore’s pet phoenix.

We also see that the six golden minifigures which were revealed on the LEGO Groups social media feeds last weekend in included in some of these sets.

Let’s take a browse through them, and see what we know…

LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™: Polyjuice Potion Mistake (76386)

RRP €/$19.99 (179.95DKK, 17.99 GBP, 32.99 AUD)

With 217 pieces, the full model measures 3 in. (8 cm) high, 5 in. (12 cm) wide and 2.5 in. (6 cm) deep and connects easily to LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™ Chamber of Secrets (76389) to double the fun. It is one of many modular sets that combine to create a complete Hogwarts™ Castle.

Builders can join Harry, Ron and Hermione as they brew the powerful Polyjuice potion in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom and transform as they gulp the potion. Don’t forget to explore the hidden tunnel beneath the sink.

Includes 3 minifigures: Harry Potter™, Hermione Granger™ and Ron Weasley™, and an exclusive golden anniversary Harry Potter™ minifigure.

With two Harry Potter figures,and the characters dressed in Slytherin robes, I suspect Harry and Ron’s heads are reverible, to turn them into Crabbe and Doyle – in keeping with the alternate hair styles available for them in the set too. I love the cat head for hermione to put on. Surely this bodes well for a Fabuland reboot, in conjunction with some of the Vidyo figures?

LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™: Fluffy Encounter (76387)

RRP €/$39.99 (349 DKK, 34.99 GBP, 69.99 AUD)

With 397 pieces, the set measures over 12 in. (30 cm) high, 7.5 in. (19 cm) wide and 2.5 in. (7 cm) deep and connects easily to other LEGO® Harry Potter™ sets.

Young witches and wizards can try their luck at sneaking past the giant, 3-headed dog, and reaching the trapdoor before Fluffy wakes!

Includes 3 minifigures: Harry Potter™, Hermione Granger™ and Ron Weasley™, and exclusive golden anniversary Hermione Granger™ minifigure

I love the look of Fluffy here: with a combination of specially molded heads, and brick built construction. The printed flag representing the harp strings is quite clever too.

LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogsmeade™ Village Visit (76388)

RRP €/$79.99 (749DKK, 69.99 GBP, 139.99 AUD)

With 851 pieces, the model measures over 8.5 in. (22 cm) high, 11.5 in. (30 cm) wide and 3.5 in. (9 cm) deep.

Take a trip to the snowy village of Hogsmeade to buy tongue-tingling acid pops from Honeydukes™ or order a refreshing Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks.

Includes 6 minifigures: Harry Potter™, Dean Thomas, Professor McGonagall™, Madam Rosmerta, Mr. Flume and Mrs. Flume, and an exclusive, golden Ron Weasley™ minifigure

Mr and Mrs Flume run Honeydukes sweet’s shop, and Madam Rosmerta is the landlady at the Three Broomsticks. This is the first time that these figures have appeared in Minifigure form. Dean Thomas appeared in the first set of Wizarding World Collectable minifigures, but this is his first appearance in a regular set. The buildings here look terrific, and would not be out of place in a winter village layout.

LEGO® Harry Potter™ Chamber of Secrets (76389)

RRP €139.99/$129.99 (1249 DKK, 129.99 GBP, 229.99 AUD)

With 1,176 pieces, the set measures over 15.5 in. (40 cm) high, 15.5 in. (40 cm) wide and 4 in. (11 cm) deep and combines easily with other LEGO® Harry Potter™ sets for extra fun.

Budding builders can join the action in the Chamber of Secrets as Harry battles against Tom Riddle and the Giant Basilisk.

Includes 10 minifigures: Harry Potter™, Ginny Weasley™, Tom Riddle, Colin Creevey, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Luna Lovegood™, Gilderoy Lockhart™, Albus Dumbledore™, Professor Sinistra and Nearly Headless Nick, and an exclusive, golden anniversary Voldemort™ minifigure

This was a significant scene in the second movie, and many were a little baffled when it was overlooked in the 2018 range. I am glad to see figures for Tome Riddle and Gilderoy Lockhart, as well as less prominent, but still important characters such as Justin Finch-Fletchly (finally bringing us hufflepuff robes), and Colin Creepy, as well as a younger Luna Lovegood than we have typically seen. Again, bringing us Ravenclaw robes. Aurora Sinistra is the astronomy professor, and while she plays a relatively minor role in the source material, this presents us with a positive representation of a woman of colour. I appreciate the fact that this set gives us some of these minor characters, rather than bulking up the figure count with more Ron and Hermione. And are they pixies?

LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™ Wizard’s Chess (76392)

RRP €69.99/$59.99 (649 DKK, 64.99 GBP, 109.99 AUD)

With 876 pieces, this enchanting chess set from the wizarding world measures over 3 in. (8 cm) high, 10.5 in. (27 cm) wide and 10.5 in. (27 cm) deep.

LEGO fans can try their hand at the magical game to save the Philosopher’s Stone before using the pieces again and again to master the art of Muggle chess. Available exclusively from Target in the US, and LEGO.com and LEGO Stores globally. 

Includes 3 minifigures: Harry Potter™, Hermione Granger™ and Ron Weasley™, and an exclusive, golden anniversary Severus Snape™ minifigure

Also includes 32 buildable chess pieces based on the iconic scene in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone™

LEGO® Harry Potter™ Harry Potter™ & Hermione Granger™ (76393)

RRP €129.99/$119.99 (1199 DKK, 119.99 GBP, 199.99 AUD)

Buildable models of 2 iconic characters: Harry Potter™ and Hermione Granger™: Children can maximize the magical fun with these 10 in. (26 cm) tall brick-built Harry Potter™ and Hermione Granger™ models as they recreate some of their favourite storylines from the films. Available exclusively from Target in the US, and LEGO.com and LEGO Stores globally. 

With 1,673 pieces, both models stand over 10 in. (26 cm) tall.

It has been over 20 years since the buildable Minifigure set, 3723, was released. These are on a smaller scale, but are posable, with moving arms and legs. It would be great if the jumper bricks had other house colours on the reverse, or if alternative prints were available: certainly an interesting option going forward!

LEGO® Harry Potter™ Fawkes, Dumbledore’s Phoenix (76394)

RRP €/$39.99 (349 DKK, 34.99 GBP, 69.99 AUD)

Large, buildable Fawkes display model with moving mechanical wings.

LEGO fans can capture the magical personality and graceful flight of Fawkes, the intelligent Phoenix from the Harry Potter films. Available exclusively from Target in the US, and LEGO.com and LEGO Stores globally. 

With 597 pieces, the wingspan is over 14 in. (35 cm); model is over 9.5 in. (24 cm) beak-to-tail.

Following on from the philosophy of the Forma prilot project from years ago, this kinetic sculpture comes with a Dumbledore minifigure (inspired by the Richard Harris portrayal) and a new mold for Fawkes. I love the look of the bird’s talons gripping his perch. certainly not a creature to be trifled with!

LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™: First Flying Lesson (76395)

RRP €/$29.99 (269.95DKK, 27.99 GBP, 49.99 AUD)

With 264 pieces, this set measures over 6 in. (15 cm) high, 8 in. (20 cm) wide and 2.5 in. (6 cm) deep.

Builders can grab a broomstick and take part in a flying class with Madam Hooch, mounting a broom and shooting off on a wild ride around the Hogwarts rooftops. Available exclusively from Kohl’s in the US, and LEGO.com and LEGO Stores globally. 

Includes 3 minifigures: Neville Longbottom™, Draco Malfoy™ and Madam Hooch minifigures, and an exclusive, golden anniversary Professor Quirrell minifigure.

With Madam Hooch, Neville and Draco minifigures, this set feels as though it flies in the face of Harry Potter and the Contractual Obligation, but again, I do not think the set loses much for this, because if this is the only LEGO Harry Potter Set that you own, you probably don’t care about Harry anyway!

Here is the accompanying Press Release:

BILLUND, April 16th, 2021: Today, the LEGO Group and Warner Bros. Consumer Products have revealed a new captivating mix of LEGO® sets to help young witches and wizards explore the enchanting adventures of Harry Potter’s second year at Hogwarts™.

From the tantalizing tactics of Wizarding Chess to Polyjuice Potion trickery, the sets are packed full of popular characters, creatures and imaginative features to help young builders reenact their favorite adventures from the films, as well as crafting magical storylines of their own.

While the enchanted walls of Hogwarts set the scene for many of the new sets, builders can spread their wings and explore the rest of the wizarding world by taking flight with the fiery feathers of Dumbledore’s beloved Phoenix, Fawkes, or visiting the snow-capped streets of Hogsmeade Village. Many of the sets also interconnect to extend the play into different areas of Hogwarts.

A number of the new sets come with an exclusive golden minifigure to mark the 20th Anniversary of LEGO Harry Potter. For years, LEGO play has helped Wizarding World and LEGO fans feel even closer to the magic, and these collectibles mark just some of the characters that have helped them play out endless memorable moments across two decades of LEGO Harry Potter.

The new sets will be available from LEGO.com, LEGO Stores and selected retailers from 1st June and more widely from 1st August. A selection of the sets will also be available to pre-order from 16^th of April at LEGO.com.

Marcos Bessa, LEGO® Harry Potter™ Design Lead commented: “Two decades ago, we launched the first LEGO Harry Potter set – which I played with as a 12 year old – and fans have remained just as enchanted by the magical adventures that they can relive and replay with the LEGO sets today as they were in 2001. These new products are packed full of captivating features and exciting design twists that we hope will excite and enthrall builders of all ages as they explore some of their favourite moments from the films.”

Greater Representation

In this wave of LEGO Harry Potter sets, we have 29 minifigures representing characters from the films. Of these, 11 are women, two are people of colour and 9 have not been represented in regular Harry Potter sets previously. Last month, I reviewed the gender representation of minifigures in LEGO Star wars, and how the gender distribution has eveolved over the years. I have been waiting for this year’s sets to be announced, before completing my surrent analysis of Harry Potter. Look out for it at the Rambling Brick over the next few days.

But is that All?

We have some great sets announced today, representing some of the ‘missing moments’ from the first 3 films. However, there are still a number scenes from the next films that coud be given a set or two: 12 Grimmauld place, the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix for one, and both of the Deathly Hallows Movies including Godric’s Hollow and the Malfoy’s mansion. Given that the initial announcement of 6 Golden Minifigures omits Dumbledore, Sirius Black, Umbridge and McGonagal, I wonder if there might be another few 20th Anniversary sets coming our way later in the year.

Which other scenes would you like to see brought to life in LEGO form? What about Golden figures? who would you like to see? Leave you comments below, and until next time,

Play well.