Lego Minifigures (theme)

Lego Minifigures (stylized as LEGO Minifigures) is a 2010 Lego theme based on a set of collectible Lego minifigures. Each figure is an original character with new clothing and facial designs, and most contain previously unseen accessories. Each series usually contained 16 different minifigures; however, some series contain as few as 9 minifigures, while others contain up to 22. Since 2021, the number of different minifigures for a series is set to 12.in 2023, the Disney 100-anniversary series came out,bringing the total number of figures to 18, although it was once again reduced to 12 with the second Marvel series. This series also introduced paper boxes,instead of the plastic bags,making it no longer possible to feel up the pieces for each figure.[1]

This article is about the 2010–present Lego theme. For the toy figurines, see Lego minifigure.

Minifigures
SubjectCollectible minifigures
Licensed fromThe Lego Group
Availability2010–present
Total sets679 minifigures (43 series)
CharactersVarious, such as from sports, history, popular culture, etc.
Official website

Overview
Lego Shark Suit Guy (series 15)

The series consists of a number of individually themed collectible Lego minifigures based on movies, sports, history, and popular culture.[2] The figures are sold individually in sealed, unmarked packets, giving customers a random chance at obtaining any particular figurine. While considered a novel approach by some, it has raised controversy amongst enthusiasts and collectors, increasing the amount of difficulty in obtaining a complete collection.[3] Purchases from many retailers make no guarantees regarding the contents of a particular packet. Despite attempts to obfuscate the contents of these packets, the bags of Series 1 and 2 have a second figurine-specific bar code on the rear of the packet, next to the EAN/UPC product bar code (which is unique to each series). This has allowed customers to identify individual figures within the packet, significantly decreasing the amount of money and effort required to obtain a complete collection, and eliminates the possibility of unintentionally receiving duplicates.[4] There are also apps for both iPhone and Android devices that utilize these bar codes.[5]

Lego has eliminated the figurine-specific bar codes on all Series 3 and 4 packets and replaced them with a braille-like system of dots embossed in the lower seal of the bag. In theory, this will allow customers to continue identifying the figure enclosed within.[6][7] Later series do not have any markings to indicate their contents.

On average a new series has been released every four months. Release dates sometimes vary between countries.

In September 2021, Matthew Ashton, The Lego Group's Vice President of Design announced the Collectible Minifigures alongside City, Friends, Creator, Lego Classic, Technic, Speed Champions, Monkie Kid, Ninjago and DOTS themes were continue until at least 2023.[8]

Development

During the development process of the Lego Minifigures theme, Lego designers Tara Wike explained the concept of the Lego Minifigures theme. Tara Wike explained, "Here’s a good example I’ll go to Austin and say, “let’s do an elephant girl”, and he'll doodle that up and we'll go brief the sculptors. And it's usually not just out of thin air, we’ve done some other animal helmets before, so we’ve got some experience with that. We'll have a rough wish, but we know that we'll have limitations, and we go to the sculptors and they come back with their proposal, and we always have a mould engineer sitting in on our weekly design meeting so that they can flag things right away. But our sculptures are actually very good at knowing what we can get in and out of a mould."[9] Also Creative Lead Astrid Graabæk explained, "We design both for kids and adults in this theme. We look at what kids from five year olds and up find exciting, that also sparks their imagination and trigger play for them. At the same time, we also look at what is exciting for adults, and especially AFOLs. Are there new elements, character choices, or colour changes we think would be exciting. We launch three times a year and it’s a variety of classic launches (numbered series) and also these external IP (intellectual property) such as Looney Tunes which is the current one out now."[10]

Collectible Minifigures

According to Bricklink, The Lego Group has released 784 Collectible Minifigures.[11]

Collectible Minifigures of the series released so far.

No. Set Number Series Name First Release Date No. of Minifigures Notes
1 08683 Series 1 5 March 2010 16
2 08684 Series 2 2 September 2010 16
3 08803 Series 3 14 January 2011 16
4 08804 Series 4 1 April 2011 16
5 08805 Series 5 22 August 2011 16
6 08827 Series 6 December 2011 16
7 08831 Series 7 May 2012 16
8 08909 Team GB Olympic Series July 2012 9 Released exclusively in the UK and based on Team GB to commemorate the London 2012 Summer Olympics
9 08833 Series 8 September 2012 16
10 71000 Series 9 7 October 2012 16
11 71001 Series 10 6 February 2013 17 Contains Mr. Gold (Only 5000 Produced)
12 71002 Series 11 30 June 2013 16
13 71004 The Lego Movie Series January 2014 16 Based on The Lego Movie
14 71005 The Lego Simpsons Series 1 May 2014 16 Based on The Simpsons
15 71007 Series 12[12][13][14] August 2014 16
16 71008 Series 13 December 2014 16
17 71009 The Lego Simpsons Series 2 April 2015 16 Based on The Simpsons
18 71010 Series 14 August 2015 16 Branded as a Monsters Series
19 71011 Series 15 5 December 2015 16
20 71012 The Lego Disney Series 1[15] 1 May 2016 18 Based on Disney Characters
21 71014 DFB Series[16] May 2016 16 Exclusively in Europe. Based on DFB - The Mannschaft (Germany National Football Team)
22 71013 Series 16 1 September 2016 16
23 71017 The Lego Batman Movie Series 1[17] 1 January 2017 20 Based on The Lego Batman Movie
24 71018 Series 17 1 May 2017 16
25 71019 The Lego Ninjago Movie Series[18] 1 August 2017 20 Based on The Lego Ninjago Movie
26 71020 The Lego Batman Movie Series 2[19] 1 January 2018 20 Based on The Lego Batman Movie
27 71021 Series 18 1 April 2018 17 Party-themed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Lego minifigure
28 71022 The Lego Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts Series 1[20] 1 August 2018 22 Based on Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises
29 71023 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part Series 1 February 2019 20 Based on The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
30 71024 The Lego Disney Series 2[21][22] 1 May 2019 18 Based on Disney Characters
31 71025 Series 19[23][24] 1 September 2019 16
32 71026 The Lego DC Super Heroes Series[25] January 2020 16 Based on DC Comics Super Heroes
33 71027 Series 20 19 April 2020 16
34 71028 The Lego Harry Potter Series 2[26] 1 September 2020 16 Based on Harry Potter franchise
35 71029 Series 21[27] 1 January 2021 12
36 71030 The Lego Looney Tunes Series[28][29][30] 26 April 2021 12 Based on Looney Tunes franchise
37 71031 Marvel Collectible Minifigure Series 1[31][32][33][34][35] 1 September 2021 12 Based on Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise
38 71032 Series 22 1 January 2022 12
39 71033 The Lego Muppets Series[36][37][38] 1 May 2022 12 Based on Jim Henson's Muppets franchise
40 71034 Series 23[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] 1 September 2022 12
41 71037 Series 24[48] 1 January 2023 12
42 71038 The Lego Disney 100 Minifigure Series[49][50][51][52] 1 May 2023 18 Based on Disney Characters
43 71039 Marvel Collectible Minifigure Series 2[53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60] 1 September 2023 12 Based on Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise

Online games

LEGO Minifigures Online
Main article: Lego Minifigures Online

On 29 August 2013, Funcom officially announced a massively multiplayer online game based on the Minifigures theme, in which there are several worlds the player can travel to and fight enemies, as well as dungeons based on the setting. The game used traditional click-to-move mechanics, allowing younger users to jump into the action. However, for advanced users, there were special abilities activated using the number pad. It was going to be free-to-play, but you could unlock Minifigures by purchasing one and entering a code, however they could also be obtained in-game. It was released in late 2014 for iOS, Android, and PC as either a download client or in-browser on the LEGO website.[61]

Funcom announced that LEGO Minifigures Online would be closing on 30 September 2016. Starting 6 June 2016, new players will be unable to join the game and the in-game chat will be disabled. Existing players would still be able to play up until 30 September 2016.[62]

Other merchandise

In 2022, The Lego Minifigures brand has also produced Plush Toy Collection.[63]

Awards and nominations

In 2022, Lego Marvel Series Collectible Minifigures (set number: 71031) was awarded "Toy of the Year" and also "Collectible of the Year" by the Toy Association.[64]

In September 2022, The Muppets (set number: 71033) was awarded "Toy of the Year" and also "Collectible of the Year" by the Toy Association.[65]

References
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  2. "LEGO Minifigures". Lego shop. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010.
  3. "Nuove opzioni Build A Minifigure in arrivo! - Pianeta Brick". 5 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
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