As the deep fandom from around the world migrates towards Brickworld Chicago, the LEGO Group is making sure that there will be something for everyone to be talking about once they arrive – Old school fans can talk about the Eldorado Fortress, while Disneyfans can talk all about the Ideas Hocus Pocus Sanderson Sisters’ Cottage revealed on Monday. Today: fans of contemplative, mindful builds get a look at the another Icons set: 10315 Tranquil Gardens.
And out of nowhere, the Lego group have announced 10508 El Dorado fortress: a reimagining of the classic 1234 from 1989. This set will be released on 4thJuly 2023 (VIPs; 7th July for others), has 2508 pieces and comes with 8 mini figures, along with a monkey (but perhaps not the classic monkey we nostalgically long for, but rather the 2022 version) as well as a small boat for the Imperials. It is priced at $aud329.99/$USD 214.99/€214.99/£189.99.
The fort can open up for classic play experiences after the kids have gone to bed, and can be closed up to help keep the living room table tidy. In its open configuration, the model measures over 10.5 in. (27 cm) high, 27.5 in. (70 cm) wide and 9.5 in. (24 cm) deep.
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I’m not going to lie. I have never seen Disney’s Hocus Pocus. I first heard of this film when the Ideas submission made it through the review phase. I have subsequently heard that while the film started life with lack-lustre reviews, it has become an annual Halloween Children’s Viewing Staple in some parts of the world. Halloween has not held much traction in Australia, historically. In recent years, however, we have see a significant upswing in the number of kids roaming the streets in late October, hoping that someone will give them the lollies and sweets (sorry- I can’t bring myself to call it candy) that their parents restrict for the rest of the year. But I digress.
The original film is now over 30 years old, had a much anticipated sequel full of questioning reviews on IMDB and apparently a third film is entering development. As such, there is certainly a nostalgic drive behind the LEGO Ideas submission made by Belgian Fan Amber Veyt is palpable, and with the appeal held by sets such as the LEGO Haunted House and the perennial recurring Halloween themes minifigures and Iconic sets, I can see that this will probably hold a much broader appeal than just fans of the movie (s?).
The set is due for release on July 1(VIPs) or July 4 for those who didn’t sign up, and wish to spend their US Independence Day taking on LEGO.com. It has 2316 pieces, 6 minifigures and a Catand will cost $AUD349.99/ $USD229.99/€229.99/£199.99/5199.9 TRY/97990.0 HUF/299.99 CAD.
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Since the very beginning, Ninjago sets have involved some sort of play gimmick – be it character spinners wihin an arena, flyers or fist powered tornado spinners, and the latest wave, coinciding with the new story of Dragons Rising is no exception. With the least expensive boxed sets in the theme, and containing one each of Core ‘veteran’ ninja that feature regularly in the series, these sets have some new elements, new minifigures and interesting play potential. To say nothing of inconsistent fluorescence under UV light.
We have 3 such sets in this Dragon Power range: 71777 Kai’s Dragon Power Spinjitzu Flip; 71778 Nya’s Dragon Power Spinjitzu Drift; and 71779 Lloyd’s Dragon Power Spinjitzu Spin. Each set comes with a Ninja minifigure, a Droid like figure from the Imperium, Some Gates and a trap, holding a golden Dragon Elemental Orb. The orbs are perhaps the most interesting new elements included in these sets. We will come to these shortly.But first, here are the elements included in all of these sets:
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The news dropped yesterday that there were some new Ninjago related figures present in the Build a MiniStations at LEGO Stores Worldwide. (when is yesterday any more? I am currently in Scotland, this morning was in Dubai, and on Tuesday morning was in Melbourne).
This afternoon I touched down in Glasgow and made a B-Line to the Glasgow LEGO Store. While there I was able to check out the build a mini station – the new BAM elements were all present and accounted for: Lloyd Kai and Nya were there, in their ‘Core’ form, as seen in the first half year releases this year and last.
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Is this one of the best LEGO Dragon Sets Ever?
Fun Fact: This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first ever LEGO Dragon being released, as part of the Dragon Knights range in 1993. This year, we have seen lots of dragons appearing in Ninjago Core, as well as the forthcoming Dragons Rising series. However, Ninjago does not have the Monopoly on LEGO Dragons.
Dragons are frequent characters in The Journey to the West, the novel which inspires the Monkie Kid range. We recently looked at the 80049 Dragon of the East Palace – and Mei is descended from the Yu Long, the White Dragon horse, 3rd son of the Dragon of the West – brother of the Dragon of the East, featured in that set. As such, it is quite reasonable for Mei to have a Guardian Dragon, probably sent by her ancestors, to provide protection in times of trouble.
This set was sent to me by the LEGO Group for review purposes, and I’ll admit, there was something intriguing about its appearance from the outset, that I couldn’t initially put my finger on. But we will get to that later.
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Another of the upcoming June Releases, 40647 Lotus Flowers looks like it offers a simple but effective floral arrangement in a relatively inexpensive package.
With 220 Pieces and is priced at $AUD19.99/USD12.99/€12.99/£10.99/CAD16.99. It belongs to the company’s ‘Iconic’ theme, and will be a LEGO-branded retail exclusive.
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Nobody will deny that Dinosaurs are the principal non-human characters in Jurassic Park. They make the place unique and provide the narrative with a sense of drama. The humans share in their part of the heroics, but the Dinosaurs steal the show. There is, however, something else that contributes to the Character of Jurassic Park: The vehicles. They give the humans a way to travel at speeds that might be able to escape a rampaging Raptor, a terrifying Tyrannosaurus or a stationary Stegasaurus… wait- scratch that last one.
After years of waiting, the iconic Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler – used as a utility vehicle around the park – has finally arrived in LEGO® form, in not just one, but two sets.
They are 76958 Dilophosaurus Ambush and 76960 Brachiosaurus Discovery. Priced at $USD19.99/AUD42.99 and $USD79.99/AUD139.99, respectively, they represent the entry-level and premium sets in the range. One comes with a single minifigure, while the other has 3; one has a small side build, while the other dedicates half its part count to a most delightful tree. But they both have a JEEP WRANGLER, and that is what I want to focus on today.
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This year is the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese Zodiac. As such, we have seen rabbits cropping up in all sorts of places during the year. We have seen small figures, large figures, small builds and large ones. More than I care to consider. So, when the LEGO Group sent over a copy of the 40643 Jade Rabbit for review, I thought we might take this moment to look at all those occasions that rabbits and hares have been incorporated in this year’s LEGO® sets, a leporine review, as it were.
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June is just a week away, and we are still seeing new releases being announced. Today, its 42158 – Perserverance, the Mars Rover still wandering around up there on the surface of the red planet, gathering information about the planet, analysing soil and rock samples, while looking for signs that the planet might be able to support life.
When I was a kid, the Viking Probes hit the surface of Mars. Somewhat remarkably, it would turn out, given the technology available at the time. We got some black and white pictures, which were colourised for the cover of National Geographic. the first images ever, taken from the surface of an alien world.
And now NASA are back. At first, there was Curiosity, but now we have Perserverance – roaming the surface for a couple of years, going at its own pace. Today, the LEGO Group have unveiled a Technic set, full of functions, for release on the 1st of June. With 1132 pieces, it will have a retail price of £84.99 / €94.99 / $USD99.99 / 899.0 CNY /1999.9 TRY / 39990.0 HUF / 129.99 CAD/159.99 AUD.
Measuring 32cm long, 23 cm wide, and another 23 cm high, the set is full of functions, allowing kids to come to terms with some of the engineering principles in play with suspension, gear boxes, steering and more.
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