LEGO Designer videos long have been informative sources of information on the development of many major LEGO sets. When a notable set is released, a designer video is bound to follow. The timing however has grown in variation these past few instances. LEGO’s latest video covers a certain LEGO Harry Potter 20th-anniversary set already long released. Shipping delay issues in the Americas notwithstanding, the Hogwarts Icons – Collector’s Edition (76391) has been available since September. So why did LEGO provide a designer video for it only this week? Whatever the reason, it’s available here now, and we thank The Brick Fan for this nice heads up.
Marcos Bessa, LEGO Design Master, serves as our host for the LEGO HP Hogwarts Icons – Collector’s Edition (76391) video. A set designed for this LEGO theme’s 20th anniversary makes epic call-backs to several items from the book/film franchise. Bessa takes us through the set’s elements, from Tom Riddle’s Diary, to Hermione’s potions tray and the magnificent brick-built Hedwig. Let’s not forget the accompanying three golden minifigures commemorating 20 years of LEGO Harry Potter. And yes, filling your name on the blank for your Hogwarts admission letter is an exciting experience.
Potter-fans take heart. The LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Icons – Collector’s Edition (76391) remains available on Shop@Home. Picking it up now also guarantees your gift-with-purchase of the Hogwarts Gryffindor Dorms (40452) modular mini-set. Note that this promo lasts only while there are supplies left, or until November 7, whichever comes first.
Let’s look at the themes LEGO has been dabbling in, from last year to this one. First, they appear to be really delving into real-world football/soccer, judging from their recent Creator Expert sets. The Old Trafford (10272) in 2020 and Camp Nou (10284) this year are interesting. That’s more so with the rumors of a set for Real Madrid’s home stadium next year. Second, LEGO’s been putting their gender inclusivity initiatives to high gear. Remember the “Get the World Ready for Girls” sub-slogan for “Rebuild the World”? Anyway, it looks like LEGO’s latest move combines these two themes at once.
According to The Brick Fan, LEGO just announced itself as an official sponsor for the UEFA Women’s EURO Championship. Originally slated for this year, COVID pandemic troubles pushed this women’s football tournament for 2022. England from July 6 to 31 will play host to 16 European women’s teams duking it out. And LEGO is acting as national sponsor, in line with their “Ready for Girls” campaign under “Rebuild the World.” We can thus expect some initiatives to be launched by LEGO in line with this major sporting event. However, they won’t tell us more about it until sometime next year.
We don’t know yet exactly what LEGO has in mind to celebrate sponsoring the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022. At least LEGO is giving us this neat promotional vid, released ahead of the Final tournament draw this Thursday. Putting together LEGO building, football, and girls? It’s an interesting combination at least.
Ever since the LEGO City Stuntz bike sets debuted in the middle of 2021, they apparently fired players’ imaginations. After all, this City sub-theme encouraged custom builds of stunt courses that the brick-built vehicles, especially bikes, can traverse. Thanks to their fly-wheel assembly enabling them to maintain hand-pushed acceleration, those stunt-bikes can theoretically clear those brick-built jumps. To further promote the sets, LEGO engaged the services of a freestyle motocross (FMX) team. The Bold Dogs FMX thus stars in this new promotional video from LEGO, interpreting the City Stuntz…well, stunts.
As shown in the vid (shared courtesy of Brick Fanatics), the Bold Dogs take on some custom-build submissions using the LEGO City Stuntz sets. Jumping an ice-cream truck while shooting a ball at the standing hoop on top? It took a few tries, but they did it. Clearing both the ring of fire from Stunt Competition (60299) and a City Fire Truck? The Bold Dogs send two of their riders to replicate it IRL.
Their third stunt copy: a multi-vehicle jump including a truck like in Stunt Show Truck (60294). Again the riders gamely duplicate the brick-built stunt, including a forklift carrying a (prop) shark. The last stunt duplication is a four-bike jump over a helicopter and light plane; easy.
One can’t help but think the timing of this LEGO City Stuntz sets promo is somewhat deliberate. For the Americas, LEGO pulled at least four sets from store shelves and Shop@Home due to “product quality issues.” Then again, the Bold Dogs FMX is a UK-based team and that market along with Europe suffered no pullout. Who can tell? Hopefully LEGO manages to fix the Americas-only problem soon, since these stunt sets really are quite awesome.
Just in case you “Harry Potter” and LEGO fans forgot, LEGO reminds you again that the theme’s 10 years old. This 20th anniversary celebration for “LEGO Harry Potter” is happening all year long. We’ve been getting new sets and new LEGO Store promos (or at least there were this October). And LEGO also has been getting famous figures attached to the “Harry Potter” franchise to say hello. Their latest guest is actor Matthew Lewis, aka Neville Longbottom. That’s right: destroyer of the last Horcrux (and tragic prequel character) and “technical” savior of the Wizarding World.
Yes, look at the thumbnail of that video, released last weekend on YouTube. Matthew Lewis had a massive glow-up from his chubby freshman and unassuming 7th-year looks, eh? But what has LEGO planned for his guest video? Why, Matt’s being challenged to build his 20 favorite scenes from the “Harry Potter” films, using the 20th anniversary LEGO sets! And boy did it look like he was having fun doing just that. One reason might be that Lewis was also sneaking side-commentary on what his own character was doing. Indeed, Neville slaying Nagini the last Horcrux is (in Matt’s POV) better than Harry killing the Basilisk.
The LEGO Creator Expert Pickup Truck (10290) had one of the earliest set reveals recently. We first learned about it in July, well before it officially released this past October 1. It being a rather key LEGO set release, it was just a matter of time before we got the designer video. And so we have, this past Wednesday, on the 13th. The arrival of this video felt comparatively late. LEGO Queer Eye – Fab 5 Loft (10291) got its designer video October 5; note the numbering. But that may be just semantics at this point.
As seen above, LEGO designer Pierre Normandin takes us through the paces of this set’s features. AFOLs who have been around since the 1950s would likely find the descriptions of this vehicle as nostalgic. The time period also lends to the Easter egg that is the LEGO logo on the tailgate. It uses the logo font from that particular decade. The Creator Expert Pickup Truck (10290) also boasts some of the mechanical interactivity one might expect from a Technic set. Having a steering wheel that can turn the front tires and an adjustable rear-view mirror makes the set feel “real.” This set is a prime candidate for immediate purchase by LEGO VIPs this week, with Double Points still in effect.
We’re coming close to a full month now since the LEGO Queer Eye – Fab 5 Loft (10291) was introduced. It became available alongside many other sought-after LEGO sets this past October 1. Did we miss anything else with LEGO’s usual promotion practices for key set releases? Yes we did. There’s the official designer video bit.
Here’s The Brick Fan with the scoop on the LEGO Queer Eye – Fab 5 Loft (10291) set designer video. LEGO VP for Design Matthew Ashton plays host for this special look on the set inspired by the Netflix show. Collectors and “Queer Eye” fans know, where this set is concerned, that the designers collaborated closely with the production.
Ashton indeed goes into some detail of that cooperation to get this awesome LEGO set right. Unfortunately LEGO may have had uploading troubles with the vid because it’s incomplete. The footage only runs for three minutes and terminates in mid-speech by Ashton.
Let’s hope LEGO notices and fixes the designer video soon. LEGO Queer Eye – Fab 5 Loft (10291) costs $99.99 and remains available with stock on Shop@Home. The set presents a nicely compressed look at the “headquarters” of the “Queer Eye” makeover team, the Fab 5. Some past reviews pointed out a discrepancy between the building instructions and the set’s box art. Nope, we don’t recommend pulling out the minifigure C-hands from the included alternate torsos/shirts. You’ll just ruin the connections.
ADDENDUM: By the time this feature was posted LEGO took down the 10291 designer video. We’ll keep an eye out if the vid is replaced and put up the new one when it’s there.
In case you missed it, LEGO has announced another LEGO Harry Potter set that marks the licensed series’ 20th anniversary. Earlier in June, LEGO launched a series of commemorative LEGO Harry Potter 20th Anniversary sets that highlight several key moments in the movie franchise. And this time around, LEGO has announced that it will offer what could be the most technically impressive display set that it has come up with that celebrates the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in brick format. The LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Icons-Collectors’ Edition (76391) is an 18+ set that is slated to arrive in September retailing for $250.
As the name implies, the Hogwarts Icons-Collectors’ Edition (76391) is a collection of some of the most memorable elements, magical objects, and accessories that one can find in the famed school of wizardry. The set clocks in at 3,010 pieces and features brick renditions of Harry’s wand and glasses; Ron’s iconic chocolate frog; Hermione’s collection of potions containing 5 bottles of potions and magical ingredients; Tom Riddle’s diary; the Golden Snitch; and a customizable school scarf to suit any Hogwarts House. And on top of it all is the absolutely beautiful brick version of Hedwig the owl, with an equally exquisite Hogwarts official invitation. I have to say that this newer LEGO version of Hedwig is a lot better than what LEGO offered last year with the stand-alone LEGO Harry Potter Hedwig (75979). Lastly, the set also comes with three additional LEGO Harry Potter golden commemorative minifigures of Albus Dumbledore, Prof. Minerva McGonagall, and Hagrid. The designers of this set also took the extra mile of offering a nice display stand for these 3 iconic characters and the other six commemorative minifigures that came with the LEGO Harry Potter 20th anniversary series.
There are so many cool things that I would like to point out about this set, but it will be better if you will take a look at it yourself over at LEGO Shop@Home. You may also want to click on the affiliate link below if you want to add this to your LEGO wishlist. For a closer look at this set, one of my favorite LEGO set reviewers Tiago Catarino, has a great breakdown and review of the LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Icons-Collectors’ Edition (76391) over at his YouTube channel. You may want to check that out as well.
Are you excited about this new LEGO Harry Potter 18+ set? Let me know in the comments below.
3,010 pieces | $249.99 | Coming Soon on September 2, 2021
LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™ Icons – Collectors’ Edition is a recreation of some of the series’ most memorable imagery, brought together in a celebratory display piece created with adult enthusiasts in mind.
A captivating collection of magical mementos This homage to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter features many iconic artifacts in a single, stunning model. There’s Harry’s wand and glasses; Ron’s chocolate frog; Hermione’s potion tray containing 5 bottles of potions and magical ingredients (including Gillyweed, Felix Felicis ‘liquid luck’ and Polyjuice); Tom Riddle’s diary; the Golden Snitch; and a school scarf (customizable to suit any Hogwarts™ House). On top of this enchanting ensemble sits Hedwig™ the owl, holding a much-coveted invitation to Hogwarts. This fascinating model is accompanied by 3 exclusive golden minifigures – Albus Dumbledore™, Minerva McGonagall™, and Rubeus Hagrid™ – and a display stand with a decorated tile celebrating 20 years of LEGO Harry Potter.
LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™ Icons – Collectors’ Edition (76391) is a build-and-display homage to the Wizarding World, created with adult Harry Potter enthusiasts in mind.
Includes iconic artifacts: Harry’s wand and glasses, a tray of potions, Tom Riddle’s diary, the Golden Snitch, a Hogwarts™ scarf, Hedwig™ carrying an invitation to Hogwarts™ and more.
Also includes 3 exclusive anniversary golden minifigures – Albus Dumbledore™, Minerva McGonagall™ and Rubeus Hagrid™ – and a stand decorated with a tile celebrating 20 years of LEGO® Harry Potter™.
This rewarding project provides a hands-on, stress-relieving building experience, as 3,010 LEGO® bricks gradually transform into a stunning, full-size evocation of the Harry Potter™ universe.
This captivating construction project makes a great birthday gift, Christmas present or personal treat for any model-making enthusiast or adult fan of the Harry Potter™ movies.
Measuring over 17.5 in. (44 cm) high, 19.5 in. (50 cm) wide and 13 in. (33 cm) deep, this stunning model provides an attractive conversation piece for any home or workplace.
In case you missed it, LEGO Shop@Home has now made available for pre-order the LEGO Star Wars The Armorer’s Mandalorian Forge (75319). This set is included in the ever-growing collection of LEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian sets, which we previously revealed as part of this year’s Summer 2021 LEGO Star Wars releases.
The LEGO Star Wars The Armorer’s Mandalorian Forge (75319) clocks in at 258 pieces and retails for $30, with the option of pre-ordering it today at LEGO Shop@Home. It features the first-ever minifigure version of enigmatic The Armorer, together with the Mandalorian, and Paz Vizsla.
Read on for the set’s official product information. You may also click on the following affiliate link below if you wish to pre-order this now.
258 pieces | $29.99 | Pre-order this item today, it will ship from September 1, 2021
Young fans can relive Star Wars: The Mandalorian scenes and pretend to mold beskar armor with this detailed LEGO® brick model of The Armorer’s Mandalorian Forge (75319). It features a Mythosaur logo over the entrance, detachable forge with a rotating exhaust hood and melting pot, Holocron, cool machinery, storage cabinet, and assorted accessory elements including 3 beskar bars and a thermal detonator.
Awesome building toy The set includes 3 new-for-September-2021 LEGO minifigures – The Mandalorian, Paz Vizsla, and The Armorer – with cool weapons and accessory elements including a special Mandalorian rifle and 2 jetpacks for extra creative play possibilities. Step-by-step instructions are included so even LEGO beginners can enjoy the building experience.
Fun gifts The LEGO Group has been recreating starships, vehicles, locations, and characters from the Star Wars™ universe since 1999. LEGO Star Wars is now its most successful theme, offering a wide range of gift ideas to suit fans of all ages.
Fulfill a child’s passion for Star Wars: The Mandalorian and inspire them to construct and role-play their own stories with this detailed LEGO® brick model of The Armorer’s Mandalorian Forge (75319).
Includes 3 new-for-September-2021 LEGO® minifigures – The Mandalorian, Paz Vizsla, and The Armorer – with cool weapons and accessory elements, including 2 jetpacks, to inspire imaginative play.
Features a Mythosaur logo over the entrance, detachable forge with flame elements, rotating exhaust hood and melting pot, Holocron, machinery, table with a hidden compartment, and a storage cabinet.
The forge has lots of accessory elements for creative play, including an extra Mandalorian helmet, 3 beskar bars, a thermal detonator, and broom, plus forged weapons and a blaster.
Fun to build and play with solo or as a group activity, this building toy makes the best birthday present, holiday gift, or surprise treat for creative kids and any Star Wars™ fan aged 8 and up.
The Mandalorian Forge measures over 3.5 in. (9 cm) high, 7 in. (18 cm) wide, and 6.5 in. (16 cm) deep and looks great displayed in a child’s bedroom between playtime adventures.
Following the official reveal of our very first MCU-inspired LEGO CMF (71031), LEGO’s Malaysian online store has been updated to now include the LEGO Marvel The Avengers Advent Calendar (76196) slated to be available later this year.
First revealed via LEGO’s Japanese online catalog, the LEGO Marvel The Avengers Advent Calendar (76196) is expected to retail for $40. And since it is already listed on LEGO’s servers, we can assume that this first Marvel-inspired Advent Calendar will also appear in LEGO’s US online shopping portal any time soon.
Based on its official images, we can likewise expect the following minifigures to included be included in the said LEGO Advent Calendar: Iron Man (in holiday sweaters), Spider-Man (with mug and churros), Nick Fury, Captain Marvel, Thanos, Thor (with red scarf), Black Widow (with a stick of marshmallow). The mini builds do not disappoint as well. We have a miniaturized Quinjet, Helicarrier, Hall of Armor, Avengers Tower, and an Infinity Gauntlet complete with all six Infinity Stones. For what it’s worth, this Advent Calendar is the best and most cost-effective way to have this iconic minifigure cosmic weapon, complete with all the stones.
Read on for the set’s complete and official product description. I’ll update this post once this Advent Calendar makes its appearance over at US LEGO Shop@Home.
LEGO Marvel The Avengers Advent Calendar (76196)
298 pieces | $39.99
Give any Marvel fan aged 7 and up a special super-hero Christmas treat with the LEGO® Marvel The Avengers Advent Calendar (76196).
A magical mix of Marvel Avengers gifts Behind each of the calendar’s 24 doors are daily gifts for kids to reveal throughout December’s buildup to Christmas. There are 7 minifigures – Iron Man, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Thor, Captain Marvel, Thanos, and Nick Fury – plus exciting items and amazing accessories from the Marvel Universe that kids will love: a Quinjet, Helicarrier, Spider-Man drone, Avengers Tower, and more. As the big day approaches, kids can mix up the gifts to create endless, exciting, super-hero adventures.
The creative play lasts all year Kids can combine this cool collection of building toys with other LEGO Marvel playsets to inspire imaginative play possibilities that last all year long.
Give Marvel fans a special super-hero Christmas treat with the LEGO® Marvel The Avengers Advent Calendar (76196). Behind each of the 24 doors is a great gift to build, play with and display.
Includes 7 minifigures – Iron Man, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Thor, Captain Marvel, Thanos, and Nick Fury – plus exciting items and amazing accessories from the Marvel Universe that kids will love.
As the big day approaches, kids can combine the gifts to bring imaginative Marvel adventures to life.
With 24 days of surprises and imaginative fun that lasts all year long, this super cool advent calendar is the perfect pre-Christmas gift for any young superhero aged 7 and up.
The 24 gifts found within this special holiday calendar combine easily with all other LEGO® Marvel sets for endless creative building, imaginative play, and impressive displays.
Buildable play experiences include a Quinjet, Helicarrier, Spider-Man drone, and Avengers Tower.
Behind door 24 is an awesome surprise (clue: it’s one of the most powerful objects in the universe!).
Just in case you missed it, the August 2021 LEGO Store Calendar has been released, giving us a closer look at this month’s uber-exclusive gift-with-purchase (GWP) set in the form of the LEGO Ideas Sailboat Adventure (40487).
If you recall, the Sailboat Adventure (40487) is the overall winner of the LEGO Ideas Build That Holiday contest from last year giving it the privilege of becoming the next fan-inspired promotional set following the likes of the LEGO Ideas Vintage Car (40448) and the still to be revealed LEGO Ideas The Adventures of the USS Cardboard. Designed by LEGO fan builder Yan Chevalier (aka yc_solo over at LEGO Ideas), this LEGO Ideas GWP set clocks in at 330 pieces and will be yours for free once your single-receipt LEGO purchase reaches $200 or more. I have to say that the set comes with a hefty price point, but considering how substantially large this is at more than 300 pieces, plus the figures that go with it, I guess it still has great value for money.
The LEGO Ideas Sailboat Adventure (40487) is available for an early release for LEGO VIPs from August 1 to 3, and general availability to all (while stocks last of course) from August 4 to 29. Just in case you got yours already, be kind to share your general impressions of this set in the comments section below.
