In the run-up to the latest installment of the LEGO DREAMZZz animated series dropping on September 6 2024, I thought we might start a small survey of other ways that books, comics and other media have been used to encourage builders to ‘Cross the Themes’
The Storytelling behind LEGO DREAMZZz provides an interesting mechanic that allows fantasy creations to exist in the otherwise mundane world of LEGO City. Many of the sets in the theme exploit this excuse to mash up fantastical ideas with the mundane. The choices provided for each model also make it a little easier for kids to come up with a different final toy in the set.
As one of the original minifigure themes, the LEGO Castle theme has a history with many Adult Fans: initially as an item of childhood joy, and subsequently as a nostalgic call back to simpler times. While the regular Castle playsets dwindled into nothingness almost a decade ago, their legacy has been revisited through 2022’s 10305 Lion Knight’s Castle, as well as a number of Gifts with Purchase: 40567 Forest hideout along with 40601 Majisto’s Magical Workshop.
10193: Medieval Market: The Largest Castle Set
But before the great Castle Renaissance of recent years, the largest castle set (by number of pieces) was 10193 Medieval Market. With 1601 pieces, this set from 2009 was the largest castle set released prior to the 10305 (with 4514 pieces). If we include surrogate castle themes such as the inital Hobbit and Lord of the Ringssets, and (if you dare) Nexo Knights, it outsized only by the Tower of Orthanc. Harry Potter might be considered another surrogate castle theme, but only the larger Diagon Alley sets, along with the microscale builds of Hogwarts have more pieces than 10129 Medieval Market.
7189 Mill Village Raid
Suffice to say, for many years, this has been one of the largest Castle sets, embodying the civilian aspects of medieval life. Prior to this, we had the occasional blacksmith, and tavern, and subsequently the not infamous 7189 Mill Village Raid – part of 2011’s Kingdoms line up , this civilian farm had the opportunity to be overrun by the Dragon Knights (who seem a little different to those depicted in the early 1990s.
This is of course the one and only set that previously brought us the LEGO Goat. Just why we never saw another goat for years remains the subject of speculation – the official line is that the mould was ruined- although the relative scarcity did allow for profiteering and investment, with the iconic animal rarely fading into obscurity, of only because of outlandish behaviours on the secondary market. Tes – thats right, over $100 for a Goat.
The Role of Collectable Minifigures in keeping our Castles Populated
Now, while the 10305 Lion Knight’s Castle brought us a ‘proper’ castle set, fans have never really be left alone, with Collectable minifigures revisting some aspect of medieval life with almost every one of the numbered sets over the year.
Ultimately, series 25 brought forth great cries of excitement from The People with the arrival of the Goat herd, as well as the reimagined Bat-Lord. The Goatherd brought us a new remoulded goat – this time with unprinted sided.
The LEGACY/ICONS castle range has included Lion Knights, Black Falcons, Forestmen, and Dragon Knights. In collectable minifigures, we can add Fright Knights( Fright Knight in Series 19, along with the Vampire Knight in 2024) , along with a Wolf pack Rogue, wayback in 2016.
The Big Reveal: 10332 Medieval Town Square
And so it is into this Millieu that the latest LEGO ICONS set is announced: the 10332 ICONS Medieval Town Square. With 3304 pieces, 8 minifigures and a newly minted Grey Goat this set will be released on the 1st of March 2024.
The model features two large structures that open to reveal detailed interiors, including a tavern, cheese factory, shield-painting workshop, guard tower, woodworking shop, and weaving workshop. There is also a tree and vendor stall in the town. There are also functional features including a crane and a small water mill.
The Minifigures
We see the weaver, wood worker, the cheese maker, the shield artistthe barmaid/landlady as well as the local noble… tax collector and a lion knight. But wait… who is that sneaking around the edges? could it possibly the return of the wolf pack? Oh yes.. there is a Dark Stone Grey Goat!
Return of the Wolf Pack
The Wolf Pack – a gang of ruffians have not been seen in full since the Rogue in Series 16 Minifigures, and they have seen a significant upgrade since their original appearance back in the 1990s.
Evolution of the Wolf Pack!
Tribute to the Yellow Castle Era
Looking further into life in the village, I love the tapestry and the tribute it pays to the original yellow Castle sets from 1978-79:Including the iconic cypress trees.
From the outset, castle sets, and castle builders have been at the forefront of developing new techniques for architectural detail as well as landscaping, and you can see how the design of these thatched roofs has evolved since the days of the Medieval Market, where simple, long 45º slopes would do the job.
Medieval Roofing: 2009Medieval Roofing: 2024. What a difference 15 years makes!
The increased parts usage can be seen, in part, in the level of detail in the roof, as well as the overall structure and surrounding landscape – something which is developed significantly in theis new set compared with the 10193 Medieval Market.
Here is a closer look at the tavern in the older set, compared with the new version. As I rebuilt the bed, every reddish brown 1×1 tile I touched split in half… so glad we are past this era of brittleness…
10193 Medieval Market – the Tavern
It is an interesting exercise in looking at the evolution of building techniques employed in this type of set, as well as the evolution of the LEGO colour palette over the past 15 years.
I am excited to see this set in real life, and I expect it will be the launchpad for a number of medival MOCs that will spring up over the next few years. The presence of the LIONs Knight in this set suggests that this vilage might be under the watchful eye of the the castle released in 2022, and I suspect that, side by side, they will form a formidable display.
I love the way this set captures the look and feel of a contemporary Castle Construction, using increasingly specialised techniques to capture the details in ways that would not have been considered 15 years ago. This detail, in combination with new figures (and of course the goat) all contribute to making this set one to look out for in MArch – particularly if Castle is your thing
What do you think of this set? Is it a fitting sequel to 10129? How about as a companion piece to 10305? Why don’t you leave your comments below!
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In which we explore the early days of LEGO® Castle, take in the early factions, and look at just what made Castle sets ‘Classic Castle’…
Over the past 18 months, the Rambling Brick has looked at the development of Classic Town from the early days, through the System era, a World City inspired Dark Ages to LEGO® City we know today. We have followed this up with a look at Classic Space, and its evolution through to the turn of the century. There is still an article to follow up here, looking at space themes in the 21st Century, and where they are today. This is particularly pertinent, given the 2022 reimagining of the original LEGO Space Flagship set: the 928/497Galaxy Explorer. This is not that article.
Before I write that article, for reasons that will eventually become apparent, I would like to take a look at the other pillar of the Classic LEGO Minifigure Themes – Castle. While Town gave kids the chance to live out the present, and space allowed them to imagine the Future, Castle allowed then to explore the past.
As a kid growing up in Australia, castles were a thing of fantasy: we only really saw them in books (with drawings) and in movies or on television. Typically in the context of an episode of Doctor Who. While the country has been inhabited for tens of thousands of years, the need for permenant fortifications was never really needed. In fact, the only castle I am aware of in Australia was built in the early 1970’s and run as a theme park.
But what are the characteristics of Classic Castle? And what time frame might be considered ‘Classic’? In this post, we will look at: Castle inspiration before minifigures existed; the initial range of Castle sets (1978-1981), and finally, consider Castle sets throughout the rest of ‘LEGOLAND’ phase: 1984-1990.
It seems like a lifetime ago that the LEGO Ideas fan vote took place, to select the theme for a 90th Anniversary, AFOL level build. It was a close call between the castle and Space themes, but this seems to be the grander of the two sets. With 4514 pieces and 20 minifigures, this set goes on sale to VIPs on August 3, with general release August 8. The set is aimed at an adult audience and will cost $399.99 / £344.99 / €399.99 /549.99 599.99 AUD/449.99 CAD.
If you are a fan of LEGO Castle, this has almost everything, and everyone: villagers, Black Falcons, Lion Knights, Forestmen a wizard and a queen. But no King! I wonder if there will be a realistic way to obtain one in the months to come?
Despite being a theme that was there In The Beginning, when the Minifigure Era of LEGO® arrived back in 1978, Castle has not been well represented in more recent years. It is probably closer to 10 years since we saw any buildings geared more towards medieval life, rather than warring factions of knights, kings, monsters and castles.
Castle sets of the Fantasy Era were one of the mainstays in our house when my children were starting to play with LEGO, around the time that I emerged from my Dark Ages – sets such as the the 10193 Medieval Market Village, and the 7189 Mill Village raid (the sole minifigure scale set to come with not one, but two goats.) were among our favorites. As such, there has been quite a bit of excitement – both in our household, and amongst the AFOL Community regarding the forthcoming release of the LEGO®Ideas 21325 Medieval Blacksmith.
I was fortunate to be sent a prerelease copy of the set for review by the LEGO Group. All opinions are my own. Provision of materials for review does not guarantee a positive review.
The set will be released on Febrary 1st 2021. It contains 2164 pieces, and will cost 149.99 USD/ 199.99 CAD 146.99 EUR / 134.99 GBP /249.99 AUD
