The first sets based on Avatar: The Way of Water were unveilled on LEGO.com today, ahead of the film’s release in December 2022. These sets will be released January 1 2023. Some of these sets feel a little more affordable than those released earier in the year from the first film, so it will be interesting to see how they compare for building experience: I note particularly that the two smaller sets in the first wave of Avatar sets had around 580 pieces, while 75575 has only 179 and 75576 has 259. The minifigures for the new characters, living a more water based lifestyle, are light azure – a little different to the medium blue used for the Na’vi.

While you might wonder the value of a prolonged period of time between the release of the original Avatar, and the first LEGO® sets related to the film, perhaps we should look towards Star Wars where we had a greater delay, as well as new films being released around the same time as the LEGO sets were introduced in 1999. Of course, despite being one of the largest grossing films of all time, Avatar did not have such a profound effect on the popcultural zeitgeist as Star Wars.

HOWEVER

The world of Pandora provides a magnificent opportunity to bring all sorts of exciting colours and organic shapes to life, to say nothing of the sand green hardware of the Resources Development Administration (RDA)- represented in this wave by a submarine along with a ‘Crab suit’ diving mech. These contrasts are part of the appeal of these sets, presenting something relatively unique in the LEGO ecosystem at present. I’ll be presenting my slightly delayed reviews of the first wave of sets over the next few weeks. Read on to see the sets coming in January, 2023:

75575 Ilu Discovery

Piece Count: 179 Pieces

Consumer Description 

Dive into the ocean of Pandora with this beautiful LEGO® Avatar Ilu Discovery set. Join Tsireya and Tuk for exciting underwater adventures. Recreate your favorite movie scenes and play out your own stories. Use your Na’vi kuru to connect with the ilu and hold tight as you glide and soar over the colorful coral reefs of the Pandoran seabed.

Shopper Description 

Kids and Avatar movie fans aged 8+ can travel to the imaginary exoplanetary moon of Pandora with this LEGO® Avatar Ilu Discovery (75575) set. Relive favorite moments from Avatar: The Way of Water or create dynamic scenes and storylines with the posable ilu figure, Tsireya and Tuk minifigures and Pandoran coral-reef setting.

• Dimensions – The ilu (without display base) measures over 1.5 in. (4 cm) high, 5 in. (12 cm) wide and 8 in. (21 cm) deep

Price: $AUD39.99/USD24.99/24.99€/£19.99

75576 Skimwing Adventure

Piece count: 259 Pieces

Consumer Description 

Use the power of the Na’vi kuru to bond with the ferocious skimwing and hold tight as you glide through the coral-rich Pandoran ocean. Join Jake Sully and the Metkayina clan leader, Tonowari, for exciting ocean adventures. Recreate your favorite movie scenes and play out your own storylines. Explore the magic of Pandora with this beautiful LEGO® Avatar set.

Shopper Description 

Avatar fans will adore this 8+ LEGO® Avatar Skimwing Adventure (75576) set. Kids and moviegoers can relive favorite movie moments or create their own scenes and storylines with the posable skimwing figure, Tonowari and Jake Sully minifigures and alien coral reef setting.

• Dimensions – The skimwing (without display stand) measures over 2.5 in. (6 cm) high, 13 in. (33 cm) long and 13 in. (33 cm) wide

Price: $AUD39.99/USD34.99/34.99€/£29.99

75577 Mako Submarine

Piece Count 553 Pieces

Consumer Description 

A Mako submarine, piloted by the evil RDA Quaritch, is patrolling the coral-rich seabed of the Pandoran ocean. Hide in the underwater cave where you can plan a way to free the Sully family’s human friend Spider from the sub! Join Na’vi heroes Neteyam and Ao’nung for action-packed adventures, recreate epic movie scenes and play out your own stories with this amazing LEGO® Avatar Mako Submarine set.

Shopper Description 

Impress any Avatar fan with this 9+ LEGO® Avatar Mako Submarine (75577) toy playset. The sub is packed with details from Avatar: The Way of Water and comes with cool functions, including 2 opening cockpits and 3 movable propellors. This set also includes Neteyam, Ao’nung, Spider and RDA Quaritch minifigures and 3 coral-covered Pandoran seabed settings.

• Dimensions – Submarine (without display stand) measures over 3 in. (7 cm) high, 11 in. (29 cm) long and 5.5 in. (14 cm) wide

Price: $AUD89.99/USD59.99/59.99€/£49.99

75578 Metkayina Reef Home

Piece Count: 528 Pieces

Consumer Description 

Travel to the alien moon of Pandora. Join Neytiri, Kiri, Ronal and Tonowari at the Metkayina village, located by Pandora’s ocean reefs and suspended from the massive Pandoran mangrove-like trees. Paddle the Metkayina canoe and explore the colorful coral. Recreate your favorite movie moments, play out scenes and create your own storylines with this beautiful LEGO® Avatar set.

Shopper Description 

This 9+ LEGO® Avatar Metkayina Reef Home (75578) toy playset will capture the imagination of any Avatarenthusiast. The set depicts a Metkayina clan dwelling, nestled into the alien mangrove-like trees of Pandora above colorful coral reefs. Kids and movie fans can relive favorite moments from Avatar: The Way of Water, create dynamic scenes or play out stories with the Neytiri, Kiri, Ronal and Tonowari minifigures.

• Dimensions – The main hut measures over 7.5 in. (19 cm) high, 16 in. (41 cm) wide and 9.5 in. (25 cm) deep

Price: $AUD129.99.99/USD79.99/79.99€/£69.99

75579: Payakan the Tulkun & Crabsuit

Piece Count: 761 Pieces

Consumer Description 

Join Lo’ak and Tsireya for an undersea Pandoran adventure, where a menacing RDA trooper is exploring the seabed in a powerful and transformable crabsuit submersible. Hold tight to Payakan the tulkun as you speed through the water to safety. Relive favorite movie moments, create epic scenes and play out exciting storylines with this impressive LEGO® Avatar set.

Shopper Description 

Dive into the oceans of the exoplanetary moon Pandora with this 10+ LEGO® Avatar Payakan the Tulkun & Crabsuit (75579) toy building set. Kids and Avatar fans can relive their favorite movie moments, create dynamic scenes or play out exciting storylines with the posable tulkun figure, crabsuit submersible and Lo’ak, Tsireya and Crabsuit Driver minifigures.

• Dimensions – The tulkun (without display stand) measures over 3 in. (8 cm) high, 15 in. (39 cm) long and 12.5 in. (32 cm) wide

Price: $AUD159.99/USD99.99/99.99€/£89.99

I have to admit, I am loving the combination of recolours being used in the coral outcrops in these sets, as well as the fabric elements used for wings and cover the Reef Home. For me, the Mako Sub is probably my first pick, followed by the Reef home.

What about you? Are there any sets in this wave that capture your imagination? Are you looking forward to Avatar: The Way Of Water? Leave your comments below, and until next time,

Play Well!