Category: LEGO News

So yeah, we can expect LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog (21331) to sell like hotcakes when it launches January 1. That much is certain considering that the set is primarily targeted at adults. And why shouldn’t it be? Many collectors gunning for this 39^th LEGO Ideas set would have grown up with Sega’s mascot videogame character. Aside from the usual LEGO news outlets, even gaming sites like IGN have covered this wonderful item. Many of these features even went with videos of 21331, as photogenic as it is. Needless to say, LEGO won’t be falling behind in promoting its own.

Brick Fanatics tells us that LEGO has released a promo trailer for the Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog set (21331). It’s no designer vid, but one that really calls to the franchise fan in every LEGO collector. We see a first-person POV of a fan playing “Sonic” videogames across the decades. He starts with the original 1991 game on his Genesis and a CRT TV. Then he moves to a Sega Game Gear title. Next, he’s playing Sonic on the last Sega console the Dreamcast. The guy even ignores a call from one “Amy” on his period-appropriate Nokia. Several fast game-gen transitions later, the POV dude puts a “Sonic” minifig on a familiar-looking LEGO Ideas set.

Welcome to the Green Hill Zone! It’s time to capture the gameplay of the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog in LEGO bricks… 💫 https://t.co/XFeBDfAxvT #LEGO #LEGOIdeas #SonicTheHedgehog #GreenHillZone pic.twitter.com/0RiaYy0I5j

— LEGO (@LEGO_Group) December 28, 2021

If you grew up in the 1990s playing Sega Genesis and claim this didn’t touch you, we name you liar. It’s easily the most nostalgia-powered commercial for any retro-aesthetic product yet devised. Not only is LEGO Ideas Sonic (21331) assured of selling, there’s also the possibility of collectors getting multiples. Making the pieces comprising Green Hill Zone connectible end-to-end is a stroke of genius. Come January 1, 2022, LEGO collectors have “Gotta Go Fast!”

To better pace our daily LEGO news, we at The Brick Show put this off as much as we could. But now we’re spreading the word. A Mexican retailer put it up online the day before. But now, LEGO finally has its official product listing. We’re talking of course about the 39^th LEGO Ideas set: Sonic the Hedgehog (21331). Brickset gives us this happy news of a long-awaited set. While some details were revealed in the box image from the Mexican retailer, now we have a clearer picture. Let’s have a look at the final evolution of Viv “toastergrl” Grannell’s original product idea years ago.

For starters, the name “Sonic the Hedgehog” says plenty from the original “Sonic Mania – Green Hill Zone.” Both original and finished product depicts the iconic Green Hill Zone game area. But Grannell referenced the remade version from 2017’s “Sonic Mania.” The official LEGO Ideas set instead looks back to the original 1991 “Sonic the Hedgehog” on the Sega Genesis. Dr. Egmman/Robotnik is back on his Egg Wrecker instead of the Death Egg Robot. Apparently the layout was also designed so it could be expanded by multiple Ideas Sonic (21331) sets. The Sonic minifigure also sees a slight overhaul from its original outing on “LEGO Dimensions.”

From Sonic, to Robotnik, to the Badniks and terrain, LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog (21331) is a love letter. For LEGO builders who felt the need to “Gotta Go Fast” since the 1990s, January 1 couldn’t get here fast enough. And with that, we go to the product details themselves.

LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone (21331)

1,125 pieces | 1 minifigure | $69.99 | coming January 1, 2022

Celebrate a pop culture icon and showcase the gameplay of a true classic with this LEGO® Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog™ – Green Hill Zone model (21331). Enjoy quality time with no distractions, recreating authentic details of the Green Hill Zone, including a palm tree, bridge loop, rings, TV screens, Dr. Eggman’s Eggmobile and a spring for Super Sonic Jumps.

• Recreate the Green Hill Zone in LEGO® bricks – Recapture the magic of Sonic the Hedgehog™ with this LEGO Ideas model of an all-time classic platform game level (21331)
• Iconic characters – A Sonic the Hedgehog™ LEGO® minifigure, plus brick-built figures of Dr. Eggman with his buildable Eggmobile, Moto Bug with 2 face options, and Crabmeat
• Authentic obstacles and details – Build a palm tree, bridge loop and lever-activated spring for Super Sonic Jumps, plus 7 rings and 2 buildable TVs with 5 screen elements and 5 sticker options
• Collect Chaos Emeralds, just like in the game – Earn an emerald for every build you complete and display all 7 on the stand with Sonic

Among LEGO sets, those of the LEGO Ideas line aren’t what one might term as “regular releases.” New Ideas sets depend on product ideas that gained fan support and impressed reviewers. And even then some time might pass between set announcement and actual launch date. But we digress. We may recall how back in February, LEGO Ideas chose “Sonic Mania: Green Hill Zone” to become a set. Back in September we caught scattered info on its product details: set number 21331 and an early 2022 release. Now, courtesy of German LEGO news source Promobricks, we have box art images too.

Said images were discovered by Promobricks on Mexican online market platform Mercado Libre. Behold LEGO Ideas #39, Sonic the Hedgehog (21331). Despite being dropped from the name, this is still clearly Sonic’s Green Hill Zone, originated by Viv “toastergrl” Granell. The set depicts an iconic stretch of the original “Sonic the Hedgehog” videogame’s first area. We have a grassy course spanning a short bridge, stage checkpoint and one loop. Sonic must navigate this course while collecting his power rings and TV-monitor power-ups. Standing in his way are crab- and beetle-type Badniks, with their master Doctor “Eggman” Robotnik. It looks like a LEGO Super Mario set but given a “Sonic” makeover.

The Mercado Libre retail listing prices LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog (21331) at about 2,699 Mexican pesos. That’s a bit pricier than the rumored European pricing months ago, of around €69.99 (the above converts to €115). The release window apparently remains the same, early 2022. If this set goes the way of Ideas #03 Minecraft, LEGO could create a new line to complement LEGO Super Mario. Gamer collectors can dream.

For aspiring builder-members of LEGO Ideas, almost any subject or franchise not touched by LEGO before has “set potential.” Builders could drum attention for IPs that might be considered obscure outside their core fandoms. We can see this in some submissions of the Third 2021 Review Stage. Who can readily remember the “Short Circuit” duology of 1980s sci-fi comedy films? Outside its native Finland (and adoptive home of Japan), who knows of the adorable “Moomins“? In the LEGO Ideas product idea stage, none of it matters but the set build. Now, it’s a 1960s-80s young-reader detective story series’ turn to impress.

The Three Investogators

If you know other youth-sleuth detective series beyond “Nancy Drew” and “The Hardy Boys,” you’ve probably read “The Three Investigators.” Created by Robert Arthur, the investigators are three teen amateur detectives living in coastal California. With the initial patronage of iconic film director Alfred Hitchcock, the Three Investigators tackled mysteries from 1964 to 1987. Despite cancellation in the US, the franchise has continued internationally, particularly in Germany. LEGO Ideas member Valkon created a brick-built rendition of the investigators’ office/headquarters. This product idea just gained 10,000 supporters over the weekend. Now the impending scrutiny of the review team awaits it.

Junkyard Office

Readers of “The Three Investigators” would recall the titular team working out of a trailer inside a salvage yard. Valkon brings the setting to life in one of the busiest building sets yet depicted in LEGO Ideas. The trailer’s front yard is littered in random junk, with a table saw, birdhouse and bikes. Our heroes Jupiter Jones (German “Justus Jonas”), Peter Crenshaw (“Shaw”) and Bob Andrews operate their business inside the trailer. We see accurate depictions of their office, photography darkroom and multiple secret entrances as described in the books. “Three Investigators” fans would certainly love to see this become an official LEGO Ideas set someday.