Category: Miscellaneous

Host Revealed and Casting Starts for “LEGO Masters” Australian Version

Back in July, it was revealed that LEGO Masters, the brick-building reality competition for LEGO fans produced by Tuesday’s Child for Channel 4 in the UK, has been picked up by reality programming distributor Endemol Shine Group, with the intent of having localized versions produced in countries around the world.

The first two countries to take up that gauntlet have been Germany and Australia, the latter intended to be aired on major network Channel Nine. Just over three months since the news broke, Channel Nine made a little teaser on Wednesday about their own LEGO Masters show, particularly about who they’ve tapped to host it.

Australian comedian and actor Hamish Blake is set to be the host of LEGO Masters Australia, as was seen during a trade show where Channel Nine was previewing its upcoming new programs. Blake got on stage wearing a life-sized minifigure bodysuit and introduced himself by taking the smiley headpiece off.

This version of LEGO Masters has already begun casting for contestants, adults and minors in solo or teams, all ready to face the various large-scale LEGO building challenges that await them to be crowned the LEGO Master of Australia. The show starts sometime in 2019.

Download and Print These Latest LEGO Ninjago Coloring Pages

After the teaser that shows us what to expect from next year’s line of LEGO Ninjago sets, let’s look back at your favorite ninjas with these cool, LEGO Ninjago coloring pages. Similar to our LEGO DC Super-Villains coloring pages, this newest addition to our gallery allows you to download and print your favorite Ninjago character as you see them during the show’s previous seasons. It’s a nice way to express the creative ninja in you.

Just click on the image or the link below and have them printed on any letter-sized bond paper. Which is your personal favorite among these? Share with us what you think in the comments below.

 

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Cole

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Cole

 

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Jay

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Jay

 

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Kai

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Kai

 

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Lloyd

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Lloyd

 

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Morro

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Morro

 

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Nya

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Nya

 

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Sensei Garmadon

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Sensei Garmadon

 

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Sensei Wu

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Sensei Wu

 

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Skylor

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Skylor

 

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Zane

LEGO Ninjago Coloring Page – Zane

 

Dubai Breaks Guinness Record for Biggest Awareness Message Built in LEGO

Look into any fairly recent edition of the Guinness Book of World Records (and some of its specific-topic spinoffs) and you’ll find a lot of records that has LEGO, or its products, involved. Many of these listings would be of “largest builds”, whether they’re official sets or some notable MOCs. One LEGO-related record was recently broken on Guinness in the Middle East. While it’s not just another brick-built structure, vehicle or any fantastical creature it’s instead the biggest awareness message built in LEGO. Conceptualized by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai, UAE, the message touches on the potential dangers of talking on the phone while driving.

Participants of this LEGO building project and the Guinness World Record  attempt, include RTA staff and local students. Using an approximate total of 140,000 red and blue 1×1 LEGO brick on a wall lined with white baseplates, the builders formed the RTA logo and an awareness message written in Arabic and English: “Your life is worth more than a phone call”.

RTA head Maitha bin Adai said in an address during the building event that their achievement means to send “a loud and clear awareness message” to Dubai motorists, cautioning them against the risks of using of using phones while driving.

Guinness adjudicators were on hand to measure the statistics following the attempt, and confirmed that the brick-build RTA awareness message at the Dubai Festival City complex is now in fact, the biggest awareness message built in LEGO.

LEGOLAND Dubai Brick or Treat Offers Exclusive LEGO Brick Souvenir

It’s October and the various LEGOLAND Resort theme parks and Discovery Centers around the world are now kicking off their various Halloween-themed celebrations as the month rolls by towards the day itself. Most of these party periods go by Brick or Treat, but even when the name isn’t used, there are plenty of spooky attractions to be had in LEGOLAND.

For instance, LEGOLAND Dubai Resort in the UAE doesn’t have a Brick or Treat label for its Halloween seasonal attractions, but nobody should care once the park is properly dressed up for trick or treating and more starting next week.

The centerpiece of LEGOLAND Dubai’s Halloween “spooktacular” fun  attractions is the Cobweb Castle, where the park’s child guests can dress up as skeletons or witches and whatnot (in LEGO style too) and explore the indoor haunted castle with a giant LEGO Frankenstein at the head of a host of other scary monsters.

Other attractions include a LEGO pumpkin patch filled with brick-built Jack-o-Lanterns watched over by Ernie the Scarecrow. Cobweb Castle also has a stage where Halloween costume contests and dance-offs are held. Finally, actual trick-or-treating activities in LEGOLAND Dubai are made all the sweeter by the free Goldbear candies courtesy of LEGO’s Halloween confectionery partner Haribo.

Finally, LEGOLAND Dubai is offering a special LEGO brick during their Halloween events, a commemorative piece illustrated with the occasion on its side. Most LEGOLAND parks in the US and Europe no longer give commemorative bricks, but here’s one to be found in Dubai for the duration of Halloween festivities

LEGOLAND Dubai’s Halloween attractions are on from October 16 to the 31st, All Hallows’ Eve itself. Tourists who might be headed to the UAE at the time with children in tow can try booking ahead for a fun time in LEGOLAND Dubai on their website.

Toys R Us Is Making a Comeback as Geoffrey’s Toy Box

After the news broke out that negotiations are in order that might revive Toys R Us in the US and in the UK, hope was renewed on the possibility of seeing the toy giant opening its doors once again. Though the details of the negotiations were still a bit sketchy at that time, it looks like more info is coming in which gives us a hint on what Toys R Us will be at the wake of its revival. And today, an official press release from TRU itself has finally shed light on what will happen to the beloved toy store. To be clear about one thing: a planned buyout of the company was eventually cancelled because TRU’s controlling lenders saw that the company brand and name is too valuable for such a decision. Their solution is to transform TRU and rebrand it accordingly as Geoffrey’s Toy Box. Here’s a portion of the press release which focuses on what we can expect from the new rebranding.

Geoffrey’s Toy Box

Geoffrey, LLC, as reorganized, will control a portfolio of intellectual property that includes trademarks, ecommerce assets and data associated with the Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us businesses in the United States and all over the world, including a portfolio of over 20 well-known toy and baby brands such as Imaginarium, Koala Baby, Fastlane and Journey Girls. The reorganized company will own rights to the Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us brands in all markets globally, with the exception of Canada. It will also become the licensor of the brands to the company’s existing network of franchisees operating in countries across Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and in South Africa.

As stated in the above press release, Geoffrey’s Toy Box will give emphasis on their existing portfolio of IPs and will own the rights to all Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores and brands. Exempted from this is TRU Canada. It is also interesting to note that in the recent Dallas Toy Preview, Geoffrey’s Toy Box is specifically described as,

“Wholesale toy distributor and intellectual property company whose focus is on popular play patterns across trusted brands that kids and parents love. Geoffrey’s Toy Box is a fully outfitted organization with design, development and global sourcing expertise. Portfolio includes popular brands like Journey Girls, Fastlane, True Heroes, You & Me, Imaginarium, Just like Home and more!”

It is then followed by a list of product categories that it will offer. Geoffrey’s Toy Box will follow a “shop-within-a-shop” strategy where they will partner with other big retailers and malls for that floor space in order to meet the demands of the shopping crowd especially as the holiday season kicks in. This is somehow similar to what LEGO is trying to accomplish with its LEGO Pop-Up Stores concept.

We still don’t have any information yet on what specific third party toy brands will Geoffrey’s Toy Box will carry, but there is a good possibility that we might still see the LEGO brand as one of them.  The only question is if this strategy will somehow be able to bring back that nostalgic appeal of visiting a TRU toy store, and if this will be enough to significantly compete against online retail giant Amazon.

What’s your take on this brick fans? Are you excited to see how Geoffrey’s Toy Box will turn out? Are we to see upcoming LEGO sets displayed in their store shelves eventually? Share your thoughts below.

Brickset Releases 2018 Review on Chinese LEGO Knockoff Brands

True, LEGO now has the beginnings of a strong foundation to expand its market in China, home to so many clone and knockoffs to the world’s most famous building-brick toy brand. But despite government recognition and even some legal victories, the stubbornly determined copycats continue to churn out their LEGO knockoff brands.

Our fellow LEGO news source and online set guide Brickset has just recently completed an updated edition of their survey of the various China-originating LEGO knockoff brands that they’ve nicknamed Communist LEGO. Some of the many brands it covers include prominent LEGO posers like Xingbao and Lepin, the latter already smarting from a recent court action.

The Communist LEGO survey, complied by Brickset contributor Anthony Tomkins, includes reviews of some 30 sets from various LEGO knockoff brands, all of which he graded from passable enough to work with authentic LEGO pieces, to hopeless causes that should just be ignored and thrown into the trash bin.

Tomkins’ 2018 survey is available in PDF form on the Brickset website. If your curiosity on the subject of LEGO copycat brands has been piqued, you can also read the survey’s previous editions going back to the year 2015 when Brickset first began their review. For true blue LEGO fans, it all makes for some interesting, funny and terrifying reading.

LEGO Marvel Spider-Man Vexed by Venom Animated Special Coming in 2019

A new animated special, LEGO Marvel Spider-Man Vexed by Venom, coming soon in 2019!

A new LEGO Marvel animated special has been announced during this year’s recently concluded New York Comic Con, and it looks like our friendly neighborhood web crawler will be swinging into action once again.

Marvel.com published the reveal while the audience attending the NYCC got the first-hand announcement from the Marvel Animation panel during the last day of the Comic Con, among other Marvel animated films slated to be released next year.

LEGO Marvel Spider-Man Vexed by Venom Details

Entitled LEGO Marvel Spider-Man Vexed by Venom, the newest LEGO-inspired Marvel animated film is the 4th offering following the likes of LEGO Marvel Super Heroes – Avengers Reassembled, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes – Guardians of the Galaxy: The Thanos Threat, and LEGO Marvel Super Heroes – Black Panther: Trouble in Wakanda.

In LEGO Marvel Spider-Man Vexed by Venom, Spider-Man has to deal with the anti-hero symbiote, with Venom teaming up with Green Goblin for some serious tech theft problems. Though there is no official announcement from the LEGO Group, I couldn’t help but think that the upcoming LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Spider-Man Mech vs. Venom Mech (76115), revealed during SDCC last July is somehow related to this new LEGO animated film.

76115 1
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Spider-Man Mech vs. Venom Mech (76115).

Here’s the full announcement from Marvel.com.

New Animated LEGO® Spider-Man Special Coming Next Year

Details revealed at New York Comic Con 2018!

Today at New York Comic Con 2018, Marvel Entertainment announced that a new animated LEGO special titled LEGO Marvel Spider-Man: Vexed by Venom is slated to premiere next year!

The voice cast for the special includes: Robbie Daymond as Spider-Man/Peter Parker, Ben Pronsky as Venom, Josh Keaton as Green Goblin, Laura Bailey as Gwen Stacy/Ghost-Spider, and Tara Strong as Mary Jane!

In LEGO Marvel Spider-Man Vexed by Venom, tech theft is at an all-time high thanks to Green Goblin & Venom… So can our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man put an end to their mysterious villainous scheme before all of New York City is destroyed?

This special follows the previous collaborations between Marvel & The LEGO Group: LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes – Avengers Reassembled, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes – Guardians of the Galaxy: The Thanos Threat, and LEGO Marvel Super Heroes – Black Panther: Trouble in Wakanda.

Similar to LEGO Marvel Black Panther – Trouble in Wakanda, it’s highly possible that we will see the LEGO Marvel Spider-Man: Vexed by Venom launching on Disney XD or on LEGO’s YouTube channel. On a similar note, the next MCU Spider-Man film, Spider-Man: Far From Home, is due to be launched on July 5, 2019, making its animated counterpart a great way of promoting the film.

LEGO Star Wars Kessel Mine Worker (40299) Minifigure Now Available at Barnes & Noble

If a limited edition LEGO minifigure is of the Star Wars line, then there’s a chance that it will be given some extra attention. We’ve already seen this trend over the past year with numerous limited edition LEGO Star Wars minifigures such as the 2017’s R3-M2 (40268) and DJ (40298), and the most recent being Mud-trooper Han Solo (40300) himself. The latter is now available over at Shop@Home for every minimum $35 LEGO purchase, but he’s not the only one and that’s not the only place where it’s going on. And now it looks like it will soon be followed a similar promo offered only at Barnes & Noble: the LEGO Star Wars Kessel Mine Worker (40299).

According to a report by fellow news source,  The Brick Fan, this next exclusive LEGO Star Wars collectible minifigure is currently available as a gift-with-purchase over at Barnes & Noble for a certain minimum amount. To be precise, the Kessel Mine Worker (40299) can be yours to keep for any single receipt, LEGO Star Wars purchase worth $29.95 and above at B & N.

This Barnes & Noble promotion is said to run until October 18. But apparently if you can’t be bothered to by any other LEGO Star Wars sets from them to hit the minimum, then you can apparently buy the Kessel Mine Worker (40299) polybag itself for only $1.27 apiece. What are you waiting for?

Life-Sized LEGO Bugatti Chiron Showing in Paris Motor Show this October

In months past LEGO set out to prove their promise that one can “build for real” with LEGO pieces. They proved that concept beyond the shadow of a doubt by trumping their LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron (42083) set  by recreating an actual, life-sized car using only LEGO Technic components and lots of Power Function motors forming an engine. Ever since the reveal and test drive (slower than the real Chiron, but who cares?), the life-sized LEGO Bugatti Chiron built on 1:1 scale has been going around on a grand European tour. It already had two stopovers in Germany – Dusseldorf and Munich – and for its third stop, it’s going to Paris, France next.

And it’s not just any display; the life-sized LEGO Bugatti Chiron will dropping in on nothing less than the Paris Motor Show, where it will have a place of honor next to all those real cars that clock speeds more in line with the actual Chiron’s 248 mph. It’s bound to be the star anyway.

Probably helping is the fact that several automakers are not showing up in Paris: Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and more. This is more because of a declining interest trend in automobile show participation and not a one-off phenomenon for this.

So LEGO will be sharing the exhibition with the likes of Audi, Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes, Porsche, Suzuki, Toyota and many others, up until October 14. That’s a great time for motor-heads and LEGO fans to see the Technic Bugatti up close, a testament to building for real by LEGO.

Toys R Us Looking at Possible US Revival

It had been a sad passing when toy retail giant Toys R Us closed its doors in the very nation of its birth. That was sad for LEGO too, as TRU was one of its major retail partners with plenty of promotional events activities tied to them. And while the brand continues on in Canada and continental Europe, it just doesn’t feel quite the same.

But what if we told you that it may not last; that Toys R Us might ape the Ironborn adage from Game of Thrones to, in paraphrase, never die but rise again? It seems a revival is in the cards.

When last we heard of TRU US, it was on the block for a bankruptcy auction of its brands and assets by the hedge funds acting as its controlling lenders. Said lenders have abruptly pulled the plug on the auction, opting to revitalize the brand.

The controlling lenders now want the company, currently operating as Geoffrey LLC, to lend its brand instead to “a newly established, independent US business” using both the Toys R Us and Babies R Us branding. Rather than reopen the closed retail operations, it will be a new start for all.

Granted, the fact that the company is still saddled with outstanding debts and had let go of so many employees will make reviving TRU stateside a hard sell. But for the many LEGO fans that have relied on the retailer for their LEGO shopping, this could be very welcome news. One can only hope for the best with the attempt.