Albert Balanza, Author at The Brick Show

Record-Breaking 57 Product Ideas Qualify for the First 2021 LEGO Ideas Review

They just keep on coming, and I love it! The LEGO Ideas fan submission platform has just concluded with another record-breaking high, with a total of 57 product ideas qualifying for the First 2021 LEGO Ideas Review stage, as announced over their blogsite. These 57 submissions managed to get the necessary 10,000 fan votes needed to progress for this year’s first LEGO Ideas review.

Since the start of the pandemic, the LEGO Ideas platform saw a steady increase of fan submissions, largely as a result of increased LEGO building at home. As I’ve mentioned before in a previous related article, this is a testament to how LEGO building as a hobby, turned out to be a positive outlet for most LEGO fans as we strive to cope with the series of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders.

I’ve always been a fan of LEGO Ideas, and I’ve covered and supported some of its fan submissions that eventually found their way to becoming official LEGO Ideas sets. And I also intend to continuously cover every LEGO Ideas fan submission that reaches that 10K support milestone. However, the recent influx of review stage qualifiers is just kind of hard to keep track of! I guess I just have to double down on keeping them on my radar. It will always be a pleasure to see the creativity of the LEGO fan community spring into life, so be ready with the scroll wheel because this will be a very lengthy list.

Additionally, it should be mentioned that there was a particular fan submission that didn’t make the cut even though it managed to reach 10,000 supporters. The Stadium Tour did not eventually qualify for the First 2021 LEGO Ideas Review because it failed to follow the platform’s stipulated guidelines, particularly on “intellectual properties”.

As a last note, the Third 2020 LEGO Ideas Review Stage is about to be concluded, with the announcement of the winner slated to happen sometime this summer. We have to wait a lit bit more to see which among the 25 qualifiers in this particular review stage will go on to become an official LEGO Ideas set. For now, let’s take a look at what these new 57 product qualifiers for the First 2021 LEGO Ideas Review Stage has to offer. Which is your personal favorite? Let us know in the comments below.

1. The Princess Bride: The Guilder Frontier by FSLeinad

2. Tutankhamun by Swan Dutchman

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas – Halloween Town by Tvrulesmylife

4. Hyrule Castle (The Legend of Zelda) by Artem Biziaev

5. The Polar Express by Minibrick Productions

6. Steampunk Airship by BrickHammer

7. B aba Yaga by Artem Biziaev

8. T he Office by SoGenius106

9. L EGO DNA Double Helix Discovery by LegoDNA

10. T he X-Files: I Want To Believe by BrentWaller

11. M etroid: Samus Aran’s Gunship by L-DI-EGO

12. The House of Chocolate by Lepralego

13. C hitty Flies Again! by Norders

14 Among Us: The Skeld Detailed Map by VaderFan2187

15. W elcome to the Black Parade by VNMBricks

16. S ucculent Garden by Succulent Joe

17. T he Village Post Office by Bricked1980

18. T rain Bookends by Jimmi-DK

19. L EGO Viking Ship by JonasKramm

20. Jazz Quartet by Hsinwei Chi

21. A nimal Crossing: New Horizons Paradise by TiagoCatarino

22. M edieval Marketplace by DominikQN

23. Bike Lanes by MarcelSteeman

24. Working Bowling Alley – With Functional Pinsetter & Ball Return! by LEGOParadise

25. A sterix & Obelix by ZetoVince GP

26. LEGO Bookends by farmfarm

27. The Shire, The Hobbithole of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins by TB Brickcreator

28. T he King’s Castle by BrickHammer

29. C harlie and The Chocolate Factory by FACEBRICKUP

30. The Trulli of Alberobello by Renato Lovicario RennaWSL

31. A ncient Greek Temple by HP_Brixxter

32. The Karate Kid “Wax On, Wax Off”by Delusion Brick

33. Claus Toys by Bricky_Brick

34. The Sewing Workshop by Bricky_Brick

35. My LEGO Totoro (Feat. Cat Bus) by legotruman

36. NASA’s SLS & Artemis by Matthew Nolan & Whatsuptoday & Albinolan

37. T he Lisbon Tram by Bricky_Brick

38. Via Rail Canada – The Canadian by NickLafreniere1

39. Castle of Lord AFOL and the Black Knights by SleeplessNight

40. SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy (BFR) by haymaw99 & khehmeyer

41. The Simpsons – The Krusty Burger by FastBrickStudios

42. LEGO Modular Expansion Pack by Fargo73

43. 4½-Litre 1927-31 Bentley ‘Blower’ by bencroot19

44. Fantasy Castle by LEGO Monkey

45. T he Castle of Brickwood Forest by poVoq

46. Violin by SAMUEL HO

47. Marine Life by Brick Dangerous

48. L EGO Astronaut by legotruman

49. The Office by Lego The Office

50. Winter Snow Globes by legotruman

51. A Map of Middle-Earth by Artem Biziaev

52. R etro Arcade by If You Build It

53. Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs by Hanwasyellowfirst

54. A Nice Day At The Farm by Adri Clo

55. The Forth Bridge by michaeldineen7

56. Scania Next Generation S730 by mpj83

57. M odular Portal Testing Chamber by Angry4rtichoke

LEGO BrickHeadz Voldemort, Nagini & Bellatrix (40496) Revealed

Following the recent reveal of a new LEGO BrickHeadz Harry Potter pack in the form of set 40495, we now have another one that we can add to our collection this June. This time around LEGO BrickHeadz fans can expect the arrival of a 3-pack, LEGO BrickHeadz Voldemort, Nagini & Bellatrix (40496) set.

Thanks to info shared by Promobricks, we can expect this new set to arrive in June alongside its Hogwarts counterparts. This LEGO BrickHeadz version of the “One Who Must Not Be named”, along with some of his cohorts, gives their characters a bit of LEGO humor and a certain degree of brick cuteness. I simply love the way Nagini turned out, giving the iconic Horcrux a bit of a chibi vibe. Bellatrix is easily recognizable as well, with her classic locks of hair replicated using those round 2×2 plates.

The LEGO BrickHeadz Voldemort, Nagini & Bellatrix (40496) is now the 7th BrickHeadz set from its Wizarding World subtheme, slated to be released in June. It clocks in at 344 pieces and is expected to retail around the $20-$25 price point. Since the box art has already made its appearance in the wild, we can expect this to be listed over at LEGO Shop@Home anytime soon.

LEGO Masters US Season 2 Contestants Revealed

We’re just a month away before we see the return of the grandest LEGO building contest on television. In its first season, we saw Tyler and Amy emerge as the ultimate LEGO Masters with their final build, The Treasure of the Griffin. And this time around, another batch of 12 teams will be vying for that coveted brick trophy, and $100,000 to become the ultimate champion in LEGO Masters US Season 2. The US version is released by FOX with LEGO Batman’s Will Arnett returning as its host. Its first episode is scheduled to air on June 1, 2021 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).

Read on for the LEGO Masters US season 2 press release. Here’s also a look at the twelve pairs of contestants taking up the challenge.

HIT UNSCRIPTED COMPETITION SERIES “LEGO MASTERS” RETURNS WITH ALL-NEW CONTESTANTS FOR A MAKE-OR-BREAK SEASON TWO!

Paired in Teams of Two, 24 LEGO(R) Enthusiasts Impress with New Elaborate Builds on the Season Premiere, Airing Tuesday, June 1, on FOX

Bringing imagination, design, and creativity to life, Season Two of LEGO MASTERS – hosted and executive-produced by Will Arnett – premieres Tuesday, June 1 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, when 12 new pairs of LEGO(R) enthusiasts go head-to-head, with infinite possibilities and an unlimited supply of LEGO(R) bricks. The new duos are set to compete against each other in even more ambitious brick-building challenges – including an earthquake tower challenge, a demolition derby, a LEGO(R) fashion show, and more – to be crowned the country’s most talented amateur LEGO(R) builders. In each episode, Arnett, alongside expert Brickmasters and LEGO(R) employees Amy Corbett and Jamie Berard, will encourage the builders, introduce incredible challenges and put their creativity and skills to the test. The competing pairs who impress the Brickmasters the most will progress to the next round, until the finale, during which the top teams will face off for a $100,000 cash prize, the ultimate LEGO(R) trophy, and the grand title of LEGO MASTERS.

Bryan & Lauren

From Laguna Beach, CA | Siblings

Caleb & Jacob

From La Crosse, WI | Brothers

Dave & Richard

From Chicago, IL and Brooklyn, NY respectively | Friends

Jack & Dawn

From Milton, OH and Coopersville, MI respectively | Siblings

Maria & Philip

From Grand Rapids, MI | Married Couple

Mark & Steven

From Atlanta, GA | Brothers

Natalie & Michelle

From Tulsa, OK and Mesa, AZ respectively | Friends

Paras & Moto

From Boston, MA and Denver, CO respectively | Friends

Susan & Jen

From American Fork, UT | Friends

Syreeta & Randall

From Queens, NY, and Chicago, IL respectively | Friends

Zach & Tim

From Gaylord, MI | Father-Son

Zack & Wayne

From Stockton, CA | Brothers

Here’s A Closer Look at the Latest LEGO Vidiyo Bandmates Series 2 (43108) Minifigures

The latest batch of LEGO Vidiyo sets has been revealed, making it perhaps one of the most prolific themes that ever came up with new, and funky minifigure characters. This next series of LEGO Vidiyo sets not only added a handful of regular sets but also further expanded its line of colorful LEGO Vidiyo minifigure characters that are worthy of special mention. And on top of that, LEGO is also expanding its minifigure collectibles with the introduction of the LEGO Vidiyo Bandmates Series 2 (43108) minifigures.

As I’ve mentioned earlier in February, I do appreciate the creative process that the LEGO designers undertook to come with these original minifigures. It’s a weird and funny selection of comical characters ranging from beat-mixing aliens, DJ robots, jammin’ monsters, and anthropomorphic singers – all given that hilarious LEGO treatment.

The LEGO Vidiyo Bandmates Series 2 (43108), like its predecessor, introduces twelve new Vidiyo characters added to the ensemble. They still come in the usual mystery box packaging, together with new uniquely printed 2×2 BeatBit tiles. And though Series 2 is not yet listed over at LEGO Shop@Home, we can be pretty sure that it will be up anytime soon considering that this 2nd wave LEGO Vidiyo sets is scheduled to be available in August. Let’s take a closer look.

Zombie Dancer (43108)

Vampire Bassist (43108)

Slime Singer (43108)

Dragon Guitarist (43108)

Karaoke Mermaid (43108)

Alien Dancer (43108)

Puppy Singer (43108)

DJ Rasp-beary (43108)

DJ Beatbox (43108)

DJ Captain (43108)

Discowgirl Guitarist (43108)

Carnival Dancer (43108)

The LEGO Vidiyo Bandmates Series 2 (43108) will retail for $4.99 per mystery box, expected to arrive in your nearest LEGO Store and at LEGO Shop@Home starting August 1, 2021.

Which is your favorite in this series? Let us know in the comments below.

The LEGO Group Named as One of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Companies

Here’s another win and recognition for LEGO. After last February’s achievements at the Toy of the Year Awards, The LEGO Group (TLG) has been selected to be part of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Companies. The prestigious listicle highlights some of the companies that redefined and shaped their respective industries and has proven to be of significant, positive impact on the lives of consumers.

Roughly presented in five categories (Pioneers, Leaders, Innovators, Titans, and Disruptors), TLG managed to be recognized as one of the companies that broke new grounds even in these challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s what Time Magazine has to say:

The LEGO Group: Fostering Creativity

During worldwide COVID-19 lockdowns, LEGO creations have stacked up in homes with children. The company reported a 21% jump in sales, resulting from the immediate demand for in-home entertainment and the company’s pre-pandemic push to boost online sales globally. While its flagship product remains the classic brick, the 88-year-old family-owned company is evolving to recognize the diverse needs of young consumers with new offerings like Lego Braille Bricks and pandemic-inspired online content and hybrid learning resources. As families continue to hunker down, Lego love appears to be growing. “I have never gotten so many letters … [about] how important LEGO play has been,” CEO Niels B. Christiansen tells TIME.

Though LEGO has been in the business of making plastic bricks for more than 80 years, its innovation and forward-thinking strategies have proven to be invaluable in times of crisis such as this. And now that the world is under the grips of a disruptive pandemic, it’s great to know that the LEGO brick is still around to give some sort of respite from the daily stresses that we encounter. Kudos to The LEGO Group and to the millions of LEGO fans who made this possible.

LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi and the Great Protector (30454) Polybag Arriving Soon

The LEGO Customer Services portal has been updated, revealing an accompanying polybag for the LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi sets. These sets are currently available over at LEGO Shop@Home, and it’s good to know that TLG has also thrown in a polybag for the newest LEGO Marvel subtheme. The LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi and the Great Protector (30454) polybag has now been revealed, with its building instructions made available online.

The polybag comes in at 55 pieces and features a mini version of the Great Protector as it is referred to in the MCU. As a scaled-down version of its larger counterpart in the Battle at the Ancient Village (76177), this polybag version highlights the same white and red color scheme for the water dragon on top of a decorative translucent light blue design plate first introduced this year in sets such as Iron Man vs Thanos (76170) and the aforementioned Battle at the Ancient Village (76177). This miniature dragon somewhat resembles and gives a similar vibe as that of 2017’s Green Ninja Mech Dragon (30428) polybag from the LEGO Ninjago Movie theme.

The LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi and the Great Protector polybag is also a great way to add the latest LEGO MCU superhero to your roster of superhero minifigs. It features Shang-Chi in his red, printed torso with a golden staff accessory, similar to how he is presented in other regular sets.

We’re still waiting for further information on where to find this polybag, and once we have it, I’ll update this post accordingly. In the meantime, you want to see and try to build this mini version of the Great Protector using these building instructions.

LEGO Super Mario Fuzzy & Mushroom Platform (30389) Polybag Revealed

It looks like Luigi will be accompanied by his first LEGO polybag expansion set. After the reveal of the LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Luigi (71387), now comes another polybag in the Nintendo-inspired series. Similar to its predecessors, the LEGO Super Mario Fuzzy & Mushroom Platform (30389) offers a sort of expansion for the starter course set, with plenty of various elements and buildable figures.

The catch though is that it might be a sort of third-party retailer exclusive as reported by Brickfanz. LEGO Super Mario fans in the UK may obtain this polybag as a sort of a gift-with-purchase set particularly over at Zavvi, GAME, and Smyths Toys. I’m not 100% sure if this will eventually land in the US, but it is most likely that the LEGO Super Mario Fuzzy & Mushroom Platform (30389) polybag will find its way to US LEGO Stores in the near future.

Coming in at 39 pieces, this latest polybag includes a scannable tile, a buildable Fuzzy character, and other obstacle course elements.

This polybag joins the rest of the LEGO Super Mario 2021 sets that have been revealed already. And in case you missed it, you may want to check out the rest of these offerings over at LEGO Shop@Home, or by clicking on the following affiliate links below.

LEGO Brickheadz Minions Now Available at LEGO’s Online Store

Other than the LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi sets making their appearance over at LEGO’s online store, another pair of cinematic tie-ins has now been officially included in LEGO servers. While the LEGO Brickheadz Minions made their debut in Australia a couple of days ago, Brickheadz collectors in the US will be pleased to know that they are now available for purchase over at LEGO Shop@Home.

Other than the regular sets that are already up on the shopping site, these new members to the ever-growing Brickheadz collection are a very much welcomed gesture. Check out their official images below together with their product descriptions. And if you wish to add these new LEGO Brickheadz Minions to your LEGO shopping cart, kindly do us a favor and click the following LEGO affiliate links below.

LEGO Brickheadz Gru, Stuart, and Otto (40420)

244 pieces | $19.99

LEGO® BrickHeadz™ Gru, Stuart, and Otto (40420) features 3 characters from the Minions movie: Gru, Minion Stuart, and Minion Otto with a zodiac stone. They are all part of the LEGO BrickHeadz collection and come with their own character ID and a sturdy baseplate for easy display, either individually, as a group, or alongside other BrickHeadz models.

This collectible building set lets kids construct fun LEGO® BrickHeadz™ models of 3 recognizable characters from the Rise of Gru movie.
A great gift for LEGO® and Minions fans, this set provides an age-appropriate build-and-play experience for kids aged 10 and up.
Combine with LEGO® BrickHeadz™ Belle Bottom, Kevin, and Bob 40421 for even more mischievous fun.
With Gru standing over 3” (8cm) tall and his Minion buddies over 2” (6cm) tall, this 244-piece buildable toy delivers big creative fun as kids build, play, and display.

LEGO Brickheadz Belle Bottom, Kevin, and Bob (40421)

309 pieces | $19.99

LEGO® BrickHeadz™ Belle Bottom, Kevin, and Bob (40421) features 3 characters from the Minions movie: Belle Bottom, Minion Kevin, and Minion Bob with a weapon. Like all models from the LEGO BrickHeadz collection, these 3 each come with a unique character ID and a sturdy baseplate for easy display, whether individually, as a group, or alongside other BrickHeadz models.

This 309-piece, buildable toy enables kids to construct 3 familiar LEGO® BrickHeadz™ characters from the Rise of Gru movie.
A great gift for LEGO® and Minions fans, this set provides an age-appropriate build-and-play experience for kids aged 10 and up.
Combine with LEGO® BrickHeadz™ Gru, Stuart, and Otto 40420 for even more mischievous fun.
Belle Bottom stands over 3” (9cm) tall, Minion Kevin over 3” (8cm) tall, and Minion Bob over 1” (5cm), giving kids big fun as they build, play, and display.

LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi Sets Now Available at LEGO Shop@Home

It looks like LEGO Shop@Home has been updated once again among other things, giving us a closer look at what the latest LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi sets have to offer. If you recall from last week, 3rd party-retailers have started publishing these sets on their sites along with the release of the film’s official teaser trailer. And this time around, we can see these latest MCU tie-ins up close and personal from LEGO’s online store.

As a side note, there are plenty of set reviews already out there if you wish to have a thorough look at these tie-ins before you cross them out from your LEGO wishlist. But in case you’ve weighed your options already, then you might want to take a look and click on the following LEGO Shop@Home affiliate links below.

LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi Battle at the Ancient Village (76177)

400 pieces | $39.99

Put epic adventures into a child’s hands with LEGO® Marvel Shang-Chi Battle at the Ancient Village (76177) featuring a spectacular Dragon and 4 iconic characters from Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Dragon excitement and adventure
With its articulated body, the buildable, serpent-like Dragon twists and turns in kids’ hands. Iconic minifigure characters from the movie, including Shang-Chi, Wenwu, Xialing, and Death Dealer, inspire epic role play. 2 minifigures can attach to the dragon’s water base to create exciting battle scenes. The water base can be removed so the fight can continue on dry land. LEGO construction toys are a great way of playing out Marvel adventures – and kids will love to build, play and display with this amazing, stand-out set.

Put Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings adventures into kids’ hands with this LEGO® Marvel Shang-Chi Battle at the Ancient Village (76177) set.
Includes 4 minifigures – Shang-Chi, Xialing, Wenwu, and Death Dealer – and a buildable, articulated dragon with a detachable water base.
Kids recreate exciting scenes from Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and act out imaginative stories of their own.
A great birthday, Christmas or ‘just because’ gift for young superheroes and brave dragon-slayers aged 8 and up.
The dragon measures over 8 in. (22 cm) high, 11 in. (28 cm) long, and 4 in. (12 cm) wide. An ideal size for hands-on play and, when the action ends for the day, an awesome display piece.

LEGO Marvel Shang-Chi Escape from the Ten Rings (76176)

321 pieces | $29.99

LEGO® Marvel Shang-Chi Escape from The Ten Rings (76176) is bursting with iconic action and adventure from the next Marvel Studios hit film. With amazing characters, vehicles, and lots of cool weapons, it’s an awesome playset that kids will love to build, play and display.

High-speed Marvel movie action
Kids join some of the coolest characters around when they role-play endless imaginative adventures with Shang-Chi, Katy, and Morris from Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. There are thrilling car and motorcycle chases and battles using an armory of weapons. Kids can take on Wenwu, leader of the Ten Rings, and his henchman Razor Fist, who fights with a disc shooter and a 1×4 spring shooter that launches ‘arrows’ at whoever is in its sights. LEGO construction toys are a great way of playing out Marvel adventures – and this set puts all the action into kids’ hands!

LEGO® Marvel Shang-Chi Escape from The Ten Rings (76176) is filled with famous characters, vehicles, and weapons from Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Includes 4 minifigures – Shang-Chi, Katy, Wenwu, and Razor Fist, plus a Morris figure, an SUV, 2 shooter turrets, and 2 motorcycles.
Comes with fun accessories and weapons, including 2 rings, a crossbow, 2 daggers, a sword, and a spear.
Kids relive Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings movie action and role-play cool adventures of their own as they build, play, and display with this thrilling construction toy.
Treat a child aged 7 and up to this sought-after gift for their birthday, Christmas, or ‘just because’.
The car measures over 1 in. (5 cm) high, 5 in. (13 cm) long, and 2 in. (6 cm) wide – the perfect size for kids to enjoy hands-on play with it and then put it on display in their rooms.

More 2021 LEGO Vidiyo Sets Debuts at LEGO Shop@Home

There’s a new tune in brick town and this time in the form of eight new 2021 LEGO Vidiyo sets. This repertoire of music-inspired LEGO sets further expands the LEGO Vidiyo world with two BeatBoxes, twelve Bandmates, and five unique Stage Models.

Launched in the early part of this year, LEGO is clearly intentional in its desire of fusing music, top-notch AR, and brick-building fun in this next series of LEGO Vidiyo sets and Bandmates. And being true to its genre, LEGO has now offered a fitting concert stage set for the Bandmates to jam together. The inclusion of new minifigure characters also expands the collection of Vidiyo characters to now include almost 50 minifigs. And with these new 2021 LEGO Vidiyo offering full regular sized sets, the building possibilities that come from are pretty exciting.

You may find more details via the LEGO Group’s press release, while you can add these new 2021 LEGO Vidiyo sets to your LEGO wishlists by clicking on the following affiliate links below. These sets are scheduled to be released in August, so be sure to keep an eye on them.