Are there too many licensed LEGO themes?

[Renny The Spaceman]

9 hours ago, Murdoch17 said:

This is one of the Universe's great unanswerable questions when it comes to the user in question. It's in the same vein of "What is the answer to Life, the Universe, and everything?", "Doctor Who?", "how do minifigures smell?", "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" and "who would win in a battle: The Death Star or a Borg cube?".

But back onto the topic at hand....

Borg Cube has a funnier name so it wons

[MAB]

11 hours ago, imposter said:

This is just an EXAMPLE.

In Star Wars, Harry Potter, DC, Marvel, Game Themes you get always same boring characters. This mf however comes to my OWN Castle universe. Before that I have to give him a back story. Maybe even a new name. New weapon & accessories. An Ally. Is he a BOUNTY HUNTER working for Black Falcons >> order to capture Lion Knight's Queen. (Then blackmail Lion Knight's to give some randoms).

...

Maybe he travels only night time. He eats wolfs in forrest. So his BIGGEST opponent is Beastmaster (Wolfpack). This Black Hunter needs an ally. Could it be an owl. And so the story continues. Where he can stay? Maybe there could be a massive inn where no one ask your name or where you come. 

These licensed figures could all make good bounty hunters for castle ...

 

 

 

 

and many others. Boba Fett would not as he doesn't have the right look. However, neither does this Dreamzzz figure. I wouldn't use this torso in a medieval castle setting.

 

 

 

[Tariq j]

13 hours ago, imposter said:

 

In Star Wars, Harry Potter, DC, Marvel, Game Themes you get always same boring characters. This mf however comes to my OWN Castle universe. Before that I have to give him a back story. Maybe even a new name. New weapon & accessories. An Ally. Is he a BOUNTY HUNTER working for Black Falcons >> order to capture Lion Knight's Queen. (Then blackmail Lion Knight's to give some randoms)

I’m not sure I would agree with Star Wars. The Dark Falcon for example has some pretty great figures that could be adapted into someone’s collection. Harry Potter also has a good variation of characters and since the sets are only based of the 8 films of course there’s inevitably going to be repeats.

 

 

[Peppermint_M]

I have used a lot of star wars figure parts in various ways. Rebel gear fits Adventurers easily, with a touch of Dieselpunk. First Order/Imperial forces can be quickly repurposed into troops.

Sith are handy for dark wizards, scheming advisors and the other usual shady bunch.

Even trooper figures/mandos can be remixed in to less Star Wars with a few accessories or a little fig bash.

As for the Dreamzzz figure? Yeah not for castle, but citizen of LEGO city? Yes. She could be easily placed in any town, modular or city location without standing out. Or as a Ninjago civilian. Switch the head for a robot or alien? SF character. 

I don't think the toy can be blamed for lack of creativity...

[MAB]

9 minutes ago, Peppermint_M said:

As for the Dreamzzz figure? Yeah not for castle, but citizen of LEGO city? Yes. She could be easily placed in any town, modular or city location without standing out. Or as a Ninjago civilian. Switch the head for a robot or alien? SF character.

Indeed, not every character has to or can fit into every other theme as if it did then that would mean they are all very plain. I was pointing out that sloth torso one as a rebuttal of Boba Fett not fitting into castle - there are plenty of unlicensed figures that cannot fit into Castle (or Space, or any other theme). Not every figure can fit into Castle, whether it is licensed or unlicensed. However, most licensed and unlicensed figures could be used to fit into some other theme but not all themes.

I've also used very identifiable characters like Darth Vader and Simpsons in CITY MOCs - the whole of Vader in the windows of a Collectables Store, as well as in a cinema foyer, the Simpsons heads as masks in a fancy dress shop, a storm trooper and cyber man outside a petrol station (there is a real one near me that has daleks too).

[imposter]

Dreamzzz... Shark Submarine 

Creativity: 5

Playability: 4

Minifigures: 4

Colorscheme: 5

 

[MAB]

Now this is the subjective scores thread...

ICONS The Lord of the Rings - Rivendell

Creativity: 10 

Displayability: 10

Minifigures: 9

Colourscheme: 10

 

[BrickBob Studpants]

Turtle and his magical talent of derailing every thread, including his own

[Peppermint_M]

Is anyone interested in keeping this going? 

Once upon a time this might have ended pages ago, but engagement is engagement. 

[icm]

I suggest that any future threads on this topic be merged into this one. They're always the same.

[imposter]

You are saying that well known figures from STAR WARS are fine with OWN universe. For example Castle. 

That 1 SPY, could be from time of "Black Death", the plague. BUT when I look at it I hear Han Solos voice and so on. That is not a good thing. Now once again you get your SW spaceships. Slave 1 with new colors. I some how feel bad for SW people. They just don't understand the beauty of LEGO.. 

[CloneCommando99]

36 minutes ago, imposter said:

You are saying that well known figures from STAR WARS are fine with OWN universe. For example Castle. 

That 1 SPY, could be from time of "Black Death", the plague. BUT when I look at it I hear Han Solos voice and so on. That is not a good thing. Now once again you get your SW spaceships. Slave 1 with new colors. I some how feel bad for SW people. They just don't understand the beauty of LEGO.. 

I’ve never felt so confused and insulted simultaneously.

 

Let me tell you something, I have always liked SW shuttles. Ever since I first watched SW when I was 4 years old.

Therefore, [insert Kingpin reference] I took my spare parts and built a damn good self-made variation of the iconic Lambda. It didn’t matter that it was made from a fever dream of different colours or was too boxy. I loved each new variation I made because it was mine and my minifigs had something to deploy from. Luke Skywalker would have epic battles with Vader, General Greivous, battle droids, non-Lego dinosaurs and Lego city minifigs. I didn’t care if it was canon or not. It was up to my young imagination. The vehicles, the storylines, the different locations made from the carpet, garden, bed sheets, old wooden railway kits. It all mattered to me. I made my own epic stories. And I’m sure this is exactly what most young Star Wars fans have done.

If that’s not true creativity and creating your own universe. Then I don’t know what is. 

 

Edited April 15 by CloneCommando99

[BrickBob Studpants]

1 hour ago, imposter said:

Turtly nonsense

You hear Han's voice when looking at Garindan? Yeah, hearing voices in your head is not a good thing (especially when they tell you to do things) 

Also, Jango's Slave One doesn't have a "new" colour scheme. We've had it before, in 2002

1 hour ago, imposter said:

They just don't understand the beauty of LEGO.. 

How's the air up there, on your high horse?  

[MAB]

1 hour ago, imposter said:

That 1 SPY, could be from time of "Black Death", the plague. BUT when I look at it I hear Han Solos voice and so on. That is not a good thing. 

Just because you don't have enough imagination and cannot see a licensed minifigure or its parts outside of its theme does not mean others do the same. It is no different to using a Dreamzzz character outside of its theme expecially if you are a Dreamzzz fan and know the associated media. 

Here is the actor behind your night hunter figure ...

 

[imposter]

My point was that when I see the SW spy, figure I have also, I see SW spy. Even I MOC it a bit. It is still generic SW figure without any creativity.

We might even see SW going down next few years. AND the main reason is a lack of creativity. That theme repeats itself, similar to Superhero themes. We might even witness downfall of Marvel and DC, movies and lego. 

[MAB]

54 minutes ago, imposter said:

My point was that when I see the SW spy, figure I have also, I see SW spy. Even I MOC it a bit. It is still generic SW figure without any creativity.

 

There is no more creativity in the Night Hunter, someone (not you) designed that figure for LEGO to sell toys and media content. 

I think you are confusing familiarity with creativity. You seem to be so familiar with Star Wars characters that you cannot use them or their parts in other situations. Maybe if you watch Dreamzzz episodes over and over then you will become familiar with them and not able too see the characters in other situations. 

[imposter]

Some how I found TLG's own creations more inspiring. For example the LEGO Movie 1 and 2 are actually very CREATIVE. Now Dreamzzz represents TOP DESIGN. It is very high quality theme. You have to see set a live to understand how good they are. Not all of them but at least 50 % of them.

[MAB]

35 minutes ago, imposter said:

Some how I found TLG's own creations more inspiring. For example the LEGO Movie 1 and 2 are actually very CREATIVE. Now Dreamzzz represents TOP DESIGN. It is very high quality theme. You have to see set a live to understand how good they are. Not all of them but at least 50 % of them.

In your opinion, and it is great that you enjoy that one theme more than other themes. However, the fact that other themes exist is not a bad thing as not everyone thinks the same and different themes inspire other people. That does not mean that the themes they enjoy are not creative or badly designed. Botanicals, for example, have inspired many people to buy and build flowers, including people that were not previously into LEGO. Some even go on to design their own plants using LEGO. If LEGO had not done those sets, they wouldn't have done more sets aimed at the same demographic that Dreamzzz is aimed at, as they would have even more internal competition (there is already some overlap with Ninjago). Other themes target other people to increase overall sales.

[imposter]

Point of this TOPIC is that we had about 20 originals themes / per year. NOW 2025 we have about 5 and in end of 2026 about 3.... IN-HOUSE THEMES? Do I have to write here what happens next?

[CloneCommando99]

1 hour ago, imposter said:

Some how I found TLG's own creations more inspiring. For example the LEGO Movie 1 and 2 are actually very CREATIVE. Now Dreamzzz represents TOP DESIGN. It is very high quality theme. You have to see set a live to understand how good they are. Not all of them but at least 50 % of them.

Watch at your own risk. This might give you a heart attack.

The LEGO Movie also starring: Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, TMNT’s Michelangelo, Abraham Lincoln, Wonder Woman, Milhouse Van Houten, Shaquille O'Neal, Gandalf, Dumbledore and more.

Lex Luthor, Harley Quinn and Aquaman were in TLM2

6 minutes ago, imposter said:

Point of this TOPIC is that we had about 20 originals themes / per year. NOW 2025 we have about 5 and in end of 2026 about 3.... IN-HOUSE THEMES? Do I have to write here what happens next?

Is Technic not in-house?

Edited April 16 by CloneCommando99

[icm]

10 minutes ago, imposter said:

Point of this TOPIC is that we had about 20 originals themes / per year. NOW 2025 we have about 5 and in end of 2026 about 3.... IN-HOUSE THEMES? Do I have to write here what happens next?

Off the top of my head, I don't think there's ever been a year with twenty (20) distinct original themes. Can you please name the year and list the themes?

[imposter]

https://brickset.com/sets/year-2011

Just an example...

[icm]

1. Advanced Models - mixed licensed and unlicensed. We'll call it unlicensed for the purposes of this thread.
2. Architecture - licensed.
3. Atlantis - unlicensed.
4. Bricks and More - unlicensed.
5. Cars - licensed.
6. Castle - unlicensed.
7. City - unlicensed.
8. Collectible Minifigures - unlicensed.
9. Creator - unlicensed.
10. DC Comics Super Heroes figures for San Diego Comic Con - licensed.
11. Duplo - mixed licensed and unlicensed. We'll call it unlicensed for the purposes of this thread.
12. Education - unlicensed, but not a regular retail theme.
13. Games - unlicensed.
14. Gear - not a theme for the purposes of this thread.
15. Harry Potter - licensed.
16. Hero Factory - unlicensed.
17. Ideas - only licensed sets in 2011.
18. Life of George - unlicensed.
19. Master Builder Academy - unlicensed, but not a regular retail theme.
20. Mindstorms - unlicensed.
21. Miscellaneous - unlicensed, but not a regular retail theme.
22. Ninjago - unlicensed.
23. Pharoah's Quest - unlicensed.
24. Pirates of the Caribbean - licensed.
25. Power Functions - unlicensed, but does it really count as its own theme?
26. Promotional - mixed licensed and unlicensed, doesn't count as a theme for this thread.
27. Racers - unlicensed.
28. Seasonal - unlicensed.
29. Space (Alien Conquest) - unlicensed.
30. Spongebob Squarepants - licensed.
31. Star Wars - licensed.
32. Technic - unlicensed except for the flagship set.

For the purposes of this thread, I count the following unlicensed themes in 2011 from the Brickset list:

1. Advanced Models
2. Bricks and More
3. Castle
4. City
5. Collectible Minifigures
6. Creator
7. Duplo
8. Games
9. Hero Factory
10. Life of George
11. Master Builder Academy
12. Mindstorms
13. Ninjago
14. Pharoah's Quest
15. Racers
16. Seasonal
17. Space
18. Technic

Ok, that's not quite twenty (20) but it's pretty close. I'll give it to you.

[BrickBob Studpants]

30 minutes ago, imposter said:

end of 2026 about 3.... IN-HOUSE THEMES?

Are you actually a turtle of the mutant kind? They only have three fingers on each hand to count  In 2026, we already know that City, Technic, Friends, Creator, Dreamzzz, Classic, Botanicals, Lunar New Year, and Ninjago will continue. And of course we have Icons and Ideas, which are only partially licensed.

It‘s also very likely they‘ll introduce a new big bang theme to replace Dreamzzz, but of course we won‘t hear about that for a while. And Monkie Kid, which evidently was a success, will likely be replaced by a new theme as well, to continue fostering the Chinese market.

Not sure where you‘re going with your „ZOMG IN 2030 ALL THEMES WILL BE LICENSED“ fearmongering  Do you honestly believe that? 

[icm]

As for 2024, going from the Brickset list I count:

1. Animal Crossing - licensed
2. Architecture - licensed
3. Art - mixed licensed and unlicensed, we'll count it as unlicensed here
4. Brickheadz - licensed
5. Bricklink Designer Program - unlicensed
6. City - unlicensed
7. Classic - unlicensed
8. Collectible Minifigures - mixed licensed and unlicensed, we'll count it as unlicensed here
9. Creator - unlicensed
10. DC Comics Super Heroes - licensed
11. Despicable Me - licensed
12. Disney - licensed
13. Dreamzzz - unlicensed
14. Duplo - mixed licensed and unlicensed, but mostly licensed in 2024! I'll count it as a licensed theme here
15. Fortnite - licensed
16. Friends - unlicensed
17. Gabby's Dollhouse - licensed
18. Gear - not a theme for the purposes of this list
19. Harry Potter - licensed
20. Icons - mixed licensed and unlicensed, we'll count it as unlicensed here
21. Ideas - mixed licensed and unlicensed, but mostly licensed in 2024
22. Jurassic World - licensed
23. Marvel Super Heroes - licensed
24. Minecraft - licensed
25. Miscellaneous - unlicensed
26. Monkie Kid - unlicensed
27. Ninjago - unlicensed
28. Promotional - mostly unlicensed GWPs, so I'll count it as a theme here
29. Seasonal - unlicensed
30. Sonic the Hedgehog - licensed
31. Speed Champions - licensed
32. Star Wars - licensed
33. Super Mario - licensed
34. Technic - mostly licensed in 2024, with some unlicensed sets
35. The Legend of Zelda - licensed
36. Wednesday - licensed
37. Wicked - licensed

I would count as unlicensed themes for 2024:

1. Art
2. Bricklink Designer Program
3. City
4. City Space (I'm counting it separately from City here)
5. Classic
6. Collectible Minifigures
7. Creator
8. Dreamzzz
9. Friends
10. Icons
11. Botanicals (I'm counting it separately from Icons here)
12. Ideas (a few unlicensed sets)
13. Miscellaneous
14. Monkie Kid
15. Ninjago
16. Promotional
17. Seasonal
18. Technic Space (I'm counting it separately from the licensed Technic sets here)

So, that's about the same number of unlicensed themes as in 2011, while the licensed portfolio has grown.

Edited April 16 by icm