More Updates for LEGO Ideas – LEGO Rebrick Closing

The end of June was something of a new start for LEGO Ideas, the brand’s very own platform for inspiring builders to send their custom brick creations in the hope that they may become official sets. It was marked with a new website design, a new logo, and new guidelines. All these changes to the LEGO Ideas platform looked plenty impressive when it went live. But as it turns out, the redesigns were merely the beginning. One major new update to Ideas is the integration of another LEGO platform which will eventually lead to LEGO Rebrick closing down this month.

While it was launched only two years ago in 2016, LEGO Rebrick has proven very popular with plenty of participation in all its contests. Still, in an effort to streamline its online platforms, and with LEGO Rebrick closing, this means that the site’s content will now be a part of the LEGO Ideas Contests page.

Here’s a list of what to expect from the platform, according to the LEGO Ideas blog:

  1. A new Staff Pick feed that shows both Product Ideas and Contest Entries
  2. Lightboxes are back! This isn’t new, but it’s useful and we missed them after they were removed in the last release.When you click an image in an idea or entry, it will open a lightbox and you can view it full screen within your browser window.
  3. Improved look for Contest pages including a full-width header and less visual clutter. Check it out on the Voltron Scene contest.
  4. New Notifications menu you can find by clicking the bell on the top menu. Customize your alerts in Settings.
  5. Color-coded flags for news feed items. Product Idea flags are yellow, Contest Entries are blue. We’ve also added a tool tip for context when you hover over them.
  6. You can now disallow followers in Settings.
  7. One Contest entry at a time. You can enter contests as many times as you want, but you can only have one awaiting a moderator approval at a time. Quality over quantity!
  8. More Visible “Submit Product Idea” link, so you can more easily find it on a mobile device.
  9. Improvements to Ending Soon timer for product ideas on the Discover page. If there’s less than a day left, it now shows hours and minutes.
  10. Minor Terms of Service update changing language to better support Contests.

Finally, LEGO Rebrick will close for good on September 14. Sad as it may sound, we just hope for the best for this new direction that the LEGO Ideas platform is taking.

Bricklink Teases the Launch of the New AFOL Designer Program

Bricklink has announced earlier today that they will be partnering with LEGO in recognizing some of the unique work and designs by the AFOL community. The LEGO fan community has been a driving force in promoting creativity in using the LEGO brick throughout the years, and it’s but fitting that LEGO recognizes the effort of these talented MOCers and builders. Our resident master builder Tyler Clites, even had the distinct honor of being invited inside the LEGO House in Denmark to showcase some of his best MOCs so far. Thankfully, the LEGO Group is now expanding this recognition program to include other LEGO builders under its new and exciting AFOL Designer Program.

According to Brinklink, it will be the platform of choice in hosting the Adult Fan of LEGO or AFOL Designer Program once it kick-starts on September 12, in line with the continuing celebrations of the LEGO brick’s 60th anniversary. However, it looks like to be a temporary arrangement and hopefully LEGO themselves will host the said recognition program later on. Here’s the announcement from Bricklink.

Today is such an exciting day at the BrickLink office because we finally get to reveal a very special collaboration with none other than the LEGO Group. We’ve been bursting at the seams because of how long we’ve had to keep this program a secret! Now that we’ve all had a minute to scream and catch our breaths, let’s get into the details.

What is the AFOL Designer Program?

This program celebrates creativity by realizing unique AFOL designs with truly original themes. What better timing than to kick it off in the year of the 60th anniversary of the LEGO brick? For a limited time, BrickLink will be hosting the AFOL Designer Program. We are honored to help highlight your creativity and help make your designs a reality.

Where can I get more information?

An official announcement and more details about the program will be revealed Wednesday, September 12th. Mark your calendars!

-BrickLink Team

It’s still a bit sketchy on how the AFOL Designer Program will be different from the LEGO Ideas platform, or previous LEGO Rebrick contests for example. Stay tuned here on the Brick Show when the big reveal is unveiled on September 12.

 

LEGO BrickHeadz Newt Scamander and Gellert Grindelwald (41631) Set Officially Revealed

A new LEGO BrickHeadz duo will soon finally find their way from the MACUSA to your nearest local LEGO store. The new LEGO BrickHeadz Newt Scamander and Gellert Grindelwald (41631) dual-pack has been officially revealed via LEGO’s Facebook page earlier today. Numbered #76 and #77 respectively, this dual-pack set comes in at 247 pieces and will retail for the same price of $19.99 like other previous LEGO BrickHeadz dual sets.  In my opinion, these are one of the best LEGO BrickHeadz sets that I’ve seen so far, with a very accurate brick rendition of their hair and clothes while still retaining that particular BrickHeadz vibe.

It is a welcome surprise that the LEGO BrickHeadz Newt Scamander and Gellert Grindelwald (41631) set is slated for an early release of October 1, ahead of the film’s November 16 release. Check out LEGO’s press release for more information, courtesy of The Brothers Brick.

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This LEGO® BrickHeadz™ 41631 Newt Scamander™ & Gellert Grindelwald play set is fun to build using colorful LEGO bricks that recreate all the iconic details from the Fantastic Beasts™ series, including Newt’s waistcoat, coat and detachable case, plus Grindelwald’s different colored eyes. Both come with detachable wands and stand on a buildable collector’s baseplate for easy display in your home, office or anywhere you like.

Buildable Newt Scamander™ & Gellert Grindelwald LEGO® BrickHeadz™ construction characters feature decorated eyes and authentic details from the Fantastic Beasts™ series, including Newt’s waistcoat and jacket, Grindelwald’s different colored eyes and 2 wands.
Each LEGO® BrickHeadz™ construction character comes with its own buildable collector’s baseplate.

Have fun growing your LEGO® BrickHeadz™ collection with other characters from your favorite movies, TV series, games and comics. Fantastic Beasts™ toys measure over 2” (7cm) tall without baseplate. Baseplate measures over 1” (4cm) square.

LEGO to Pursue Sustainable Material Changeover Despite Possible Adverse Effect on Profit

The business situation for The LEGO Group has been rather touch and go over the past year or so, despite the sheer volume of new building sets and related products that are always being released. Recently they have, in the span of mere days, announced both their intention to change over and pursue sustainable material by 2030 and a report of recovering profits and stable revenue for half of 2018.

It was after the release of that report on LEGO’s financial results for H1-2018 that CEO Niels B. Christiansen reiterated the company’s goal of transitioning from traditional plastic to plant-based alternatives on all product bricks and pieces. He also noted that he is aware of how this ongoing development could bite into their profit margins.

“I’m not even sure that we currently yet can live up to the quality that we want,” Christiansen noted. “But it’s an agenda that we want to drive and an agenda that our owner is behind. We want to become a leader on this.” He speaks of course of LEGO’s owners, the Kirk Kristiansen family, from which the directive to move on to sustainable materials for brick production came from.

Already LEGO manufacturing has gone with bio-plastics for all plant pieces on new and upcoming sets, including the special Plants from Plants (40320) package; only time will tell when they would completely pursue sustainable material use and to begin transitioning the rest of their bricks and elements in the process.

LEGO sales in the US have been heavily affected by the closure there of once-titanic retailer Toys R Us. Only improving figures from European markets ensured that the first half of this year resulted in an even keel for revenues.

LEGO BrickHeadz Witch (40272) Now Available at LEGO Shop@Home

Last month we caught wind of the new, Halloween-themed seasonal LEGO BrickHeadz Witch (40272) set with all the trappings of her nature: broom, cauldron and a weird-looking tree. Its first images were from a sighting of the set at the shelves of the Copenhagen, Denmark LEGO Store.

Barring that super-early availability of the LEGO BrickHeadz Witch (40272) on LEGO’s home country, the most likely time for the set to become available in all major markets would have been sometime in October in our estimate. But what do you know; it may be a Halloween set, but LEGO has made Christmas come early.

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What we mean is that as of this week, the LEGO BrickHeadz Witch (40272) is now listed on shop.LEGO.com as available for purchase. Comprising of 151 pieces to form the main witch brick-built figure and her spooky props, each set is retailed at $9.99.

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Spook your friends with a LEGO® BrickHeadz™ Halloween Witch!

Say “Double, double toil and trouble!” and add a touch of sorcery to your celebrations with this scary LEGO® BrickHeadz™ 40272 Halloween Witch. Check out her pointy nose and hat, detachable broom, cauldron, bone and pumpkin. This spooky construction character also comes with a buildable collector’s baseplate with a seasonal calendar and BrickHeadz logo for display in the home, office or anywhere you like.

  • Buildable LEGO® BrickHeadz™ Halloween Witch construction character features green skin, decorated eyes, pointy hat and a detachable broom.
  • Also includes a buildable cauldron scene with a bone element.
  • Each LEGO® BrickHeadz™ construction character comes with its own buildable collector’s baseplate featuring a seasonal calendar and BrickHeadz logo.
  • Have fun growing your LEGO® BrickHeadz™ collection with other characters from your favorite films, TV series, games and comics.
  • Mash up your LEGO® BrickHeadz™ construction characters to create supercool hybrids or your own amazing characters.
  • Stands over 3” (9cm) tall without baseplate.
  • Baseplate measures over 4” (11cm) wide and 2” (6cm) deep.

LEGO-IKEA Team-Up Encourages More Play at Home

It had been one of the most unusual bits of LEGO-related news that came out in June, when the globally renowned Danish toy company announced a collaboration initiative with the Swedish-Dutch king of ready-to-assemble furniture IKEA. The reason given for this LEGO-IKEA team-up was for increasing environmental sustainability in their products, but no clarification was given.

The only line said by LEGO and IKEA on the products they’re working on together was that they’re (obviously) geared toward children. A LEGO-IKEA team-up would go towards “encouraging more play at home, and allowing children to be more creative, to experiment and to dream”.

LEGO is only one of several companies that IKEA has forged collaborative efforts with lately. There are also deals made with audio brand Sonos, luxury house Byredo, and shoe and athletic wear giant Adidas. They’re said to embody having the quality of major brands while making them also IKEA-level affordable.

While this is rather old by now, here’s a teaser by IKEA on the products they’re collaborating on with LEGO, posted on Instagram. It’s a short scene of children playing with LEGO Bricks and an IKEA stool. These products will start coming out in 2019 and years beyond, to be found at IKEA’s children’s sections.

Source: BHG

LEGO Harry Potter Collection Coming to Xbox One X October 30

Way back in July, we got our very first hints of a return of two of the most famous LEGO Harry Potter video games in compilation, as the LEGO Harry Potter Collection. Both UK retailer Argos and the Game Software Regulations Board of Taiwan confirmed it coming for the Nintendo Switch. This week, new information on the LEGO Harry Potter Collection re-release was revealed. Aside from the Switch it will also be on the Xbox One X. Furthermore, that version’s release date of October is earlier than the Switch version’s November. And if that’s not enough, it’ll look even better too on-screen.

Here’s what the re-release blurb says:

The LEGO® Harry Potter™ Collection brings LEGO® Harry Potter™: Years 1-4 and LEGO® Harry Potter™: Years 5-7 remastered! This compilation unites the creative prowess of LEGO and the expansive world of Harry Potter, with an exciting journey full of spell-casting, potion-making, puzzle-solving, lessons, dueling and much more for players of all ages to enjoy.

 

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Any old game getting a re-master on the Xbox One X would mean a visual overhaul into 4K graphic resolution. The above is one of the screenshots released for the LEGO Harry Potter Collection on Xbox One X. Notice the smooth renders brought about by ultra high-resolution.

The LEGO Harry Potter Collection combines the earlier titles of Years 1-4 and Years 5-7 into one massive package of adventure through the story of the Boy Who Lived, told in LEGO by Warner Bros. Interactive and Traveller’s Tales. Catch it for the Xbox One X this coming October 30.

 

Captain Marvel Has Arrived!

MCU’s post-Infinity War phase is now slowly unfolding, and what best way to do so with the introduction of the film franchise’s first solo, cosmic powered heroine. Avengers: Infinity War gave us our first official teaser of her eventual involvement in the events following the infamous Thanos Snap, and this time, Entertainment Weekly has now shared exclusive images of Captain Marvel in all her galactic glory.

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EW also revealed some key plots of the film without being too spoilery. According to their report, Captain Marvel will not begin with the usual origin-story, but will show her already powered and suited up for her mission together with the Kree elite military group, Starforce. Think of them like a high-powered, intergalactic Special Forces. I can’t help but think and be amused on how they stand in contrast with the rowdy bunch of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

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Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL
L to R: Leader of Starforce (Jude Law), Ronan (Lee Pace), Korath (Djimon Hounsou), Att-Lass (Algenis Perez Soto), Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Bron-Char (Rune Temte) and Minn-Erva (Gemma Chan)

Several characters were also revealed such as the megalomaniac, Ronan the Accuser, who was once a highly respected ranking officer of the Kree society during the events of Captain Marvel. We also see Korath once more, and a new enigmatic character played by Jude Law. He is introduced as Starforce’s commander and will serve as a sort of mentor to Captain Marvel as she comes to terms with her newly acquired super powers. We also get to glimpse the film’s antagonists which are the highly dangerous and skilled shape-shifting Skrulls.

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Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL
L to R: Leader of Starforce (Jude Law), Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), and director Anna Boden.
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Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL
L to R: Leader of Starforce (Jude Law) and Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson)
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Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL
Left: Talos (Ben Mendelsohn)

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the reveal is the digitized younger version of Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson), with the missing eye patch during his younger years in S.H.I.E.L.D. Perhaps the events in Captain Marvel will reveal how he eventually earned his famous battle scar to become one of the agency’s most revered operative.

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Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL
Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson)

I’m quite positive that LEGO has already something in the works in line with Captain Marvel, and like any other LEGO Marvel Superhero sets, we will surely be getting one or two tie-in sets to celebrate the release of the film. Captain Marvel’s minifigure version will surely be a hit, especially if the designers manage to capture her blue and red costume pretty well. It is also fair to assume that we will be having the Ronan the Accuser back with a new minifigure iteration, together with a patch-less and younger version of Nick Fury. It’s also interesting to see how the Skrull will look like since this may require a new minifigure head mould. Though we don’t have our first official teaser trailer yet, we can be assured that before the year ends and before Captain Marvel  debuts on the big screen on March 8, 2019 we will have a better look on how MCU’s most powerful superhero will play her role culminating in the events of Infinity War’s End Game. And of course, the LEGO sets that will go along with it.

For now, be sure to check out the rest of the LEGO Marvel Superheroes Infinity War sets, together with our heroes’ chibby counterparts in LEGO BrickHeadz form over at shop.LEGO.com. Thanks once again to EW for sharing these images.

LEGO Bricktober 2018 Minifigures Rumored To Be Released in US LEGO Stores

After confirming that the LEGO Harry Potter Bricktober 2018 minifigures will be made available in the US via Barnes & Noble, it seems that LEGO is now teasing on where we can expect the rest of this highly collectible minifigures. We know that these annual releases are usually available in Toys R Us before the toy retail giant closed all its stores in the US, UK, and Australia last June. Many LEGO fans were anxious then on whether the LEGO Bricktober minifigure promotions will still run in spite of TRU’s demise. But thankfully, LEGO still has something in store and the release of the official LEGO Bricktober 2018 images a few weeks ago has confirmed that we will still have our usual LEGO Bricktober minifigs soon.

LEGO Bricktober 2018

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TRU Minifigure Pack 7798031 1

A LEGO customer service email shared via social media seems to suggest that we will not need to look far and wide to find our share of these minifigs. According to an Instagram post that is now making its rounds across the LEGO community, LEGO’s costumer service has confirmed that the LEGO Bricktober 2018 minifigures will available in US LEGO stores this November and December.  To quote,

“The Bricktober promotions will be available through the LEGO stores throughout November and December. This is the only information we have to share at this time. Please keep an eye out for more information.”

Well, I guess we should better start calling this Brickvember and Brickcember for that matter.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnU3m21gAAu/

We should bear in mind that even if LEGO’s customer service email seems to have confirmed the availability of the LEGO Bricktober 2018 minifigures in local LEGO stores, it will still be wise to consider this as a rumor. In the past, LEGO’s customer service and their social media managers were a bit off the mark when it comes to accurately telling when and how new LEGO sets will be released.

We’re also not sure as of the moment if this will be a future store promotional of some kind. And since the LEGO Store October Calendar has already been released, and there was no mention of any Bricktober promos, then we have to probably wait for the November Store Calendar to be released next month. The LEGO Shop@Home portal is also mum about these LEGO Bricktober 2018 minifigs as of this writing. My best guess is that it may be a part of a Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal in November. Whatever the case, we will soon find out.

LEGO US Reps Spent a Day with Preschool Children at Nearby School

Things must be rather busy at the global organization of The LEGO Group, particularly in the wake of their recently released revenue report for the first half of 2018. That however, doesn’t mean they won’t have time for goodwill activities, be they a large public event or something much quieter. Much like the main LEGO HQ is located in the Danish town of Billund, so too is their main US HQ, located in the town of Enfield, Connecticut. Not long ago, 30 LEGO US reps spent a day with preschool children students at nearby Tommie Johnson Child & Family Center, a preschool under the Square One umbrella.

A fun time was had by all as the LEGO team engaged around 150 Square One preschoolers in various building activities. One example has each child being given six 2×4 Duplo bricks having them copy, one by one, a design created by a chosen student.

That and other LEGO building games serve to help these preschoolers improve skills in memory, movement and creativity. As Square One development and communications head Kristine Allard says, “Playtime is a critical component of every child’s intellectual and social development. Who better to demonstrate that than the experts from LEGO?”

This is the start of a newly-minted partnership between LEGO US and Square One Preschools. Following the outreach activity by the company’s US staff with the kids at the Family Center in Enfield, LEGO will also design a new playroom facility for them. They’ll have LEGO sets aplenty, for sure.