HAPPY HALLOWEEN - LEGO Monster Set Anniversaries - 15 & 5 year!

[kelceycoe]

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN AND WITH HALLOWEEN AROUND THE CORNER I WANTED TO HONOR THESE MONSTER MEMORIALS:

15TH: This year marks the 15th year since the Studios monster subtheme (called Scary Thriller and even Scary Monsters) made its debut, introducing Universal-style monsters. Although TLC had licenses on Universal Studios properties such as Jurassic Park and Steven Spielberg's name, one is led to believe that they did not have the Universal Studios Monsters license or, at least, were granted permission to make sets resembling this license. There were four sets and even at times these sets mixed monsters from other movies (like the 2017 edition of The Mummy with Tom Cruise). The main monsters represented were a Vampire, Werewolf, Frankenstein, and The Mummy, although these characters were more or less designed to be costumed actors on film sets. The sets, in many ways, closely resembled the Universal Studios monster films. Other monster mashups included a modified version of Dr Jeckyll/Mr Hyde as the Scientist in the Frankenstein set, the ghost costume and a female actress in the same set (I am guessing an homage to Phantom of the Opera) and The Hunchback in the Vampire set. Although not directly stated by his name, Van Helsing makes an appearance too in the Vampire set.

5th: This year marks the 5th year since the Monster Fighters line was released. Centered around the fictional steampunk culture, here, a gang of monster hunters must stop Lord Vampyre from eclipsing the sun forever. Many of the sets were different from actual sets in the movies but at times, especially with the Vampyre's castle, they had some similarities. Given the design of the vehicles one must wonder if the time period wasn't meant to be depression-era, especially since many monster movies were released around this time. The sets, in some ways like the Werewolf set, reused previous ideas from the original line. However, some sets did indeed create new editions of older sets and introduce new monster properties from which they were derived. I suggest the following:

* Lord Vampyre's Castle - Dracula

* Frankenstein - Frankenstein

* The Mummy - A chariot,

* Werewolf - The Wolf Man

* Sea Creature - Creature from the Black Lagoon

* Vampire Hearse / Coffin Car - Munsters Coach & Dragula. The driver had been called Renfield, Dracula's assistant, in the preliminary box displays, as well as Dracula being used for Dracula's Castle.

* Vampire's Bride - A spin-off of Bride of Frankenstein mixed with Elvira

* Haunted House - Munsters (the creator of the set was wearing a Munsters shirt during the reveal for this set) and some Addams Family influence since there was a Frankenstein's monster butler

* The Zombies - White Zombie (it was supposed to feature the VoodDoo doctor) and of course was, after all, a zombie wedding in a graveyard

* Ghost Train - I am guessing a very loose idea from the 1941 film by the same name

* Spooky Boy & Spooky Girl - Although they came later, it's worth noting Spooky Boy is more like Pugsly Addams while Spooky Girl, which you would think is Wednesday Addams, reminded me more of Lydia from Beetlejuice due to her schoolgirl outfit

* Tiger Woman - close to the 1944 film by the same name

* Mr Good/Evil - A spinoff from Dr Jeckyll/Mr. Hyde

* Grandfather clock - Any number of horror films, though Disney's Haunted Mansion ride stands out for me

* The Fly/Scientist - obvious

* Venus Flytraps (Scooby doo) - Little Shop of Horrors

* Graveyard / Witch scenes - Wizard of Oz, Walking Dead

* Most zombies are likely influenced by Walking Dead and the rise of the zombie movie craze around that time

* One can't help to think if Mad Monster Party and Groovie Ghoulies helped to influence any of these sets and CMFs

* Frankenrocker - I know the Beetlejuice show done this at Universal Studios Orlando but I can only find the frankenstein monster from Munsters playing the guitar

 

Almost all of these comparisons to all the Monster properties mentioned are based on my observation since the only time we knew of TLC acknowledging their relation to existing monster movies was at an event where recording was prohibited during an advance presentation of the line.

[Robert8]

Happy Halloween! 

Can't believe it's been 5 years since Monster Fighters.... it seems it was yesterday

also, it seems LEGO loves Halloween just as much you do 

I'm so getting this book. 

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/BYyd0oRAi2b/?taken-by=legoman_scotland

Edited September 26, 2017 by Robert8

[kelceycoe]

Holy crap, thanks for that. Didnt know about that book. Might be another rehash like Ideas was with the Playbook.

Update: Yep it's a rehash of several books and a UK exclusive for Sainburys: 

http://bricksfanz.com/lego-fright-night-book-review/

It's also interesting to note how TLc still relies a lot on the MF line to promote Halloween.

Also, there is a New campaign for Halloween coming - I found it through Google. Hopefully it gives us some good stuff.

Edited September 27, 2017 by kelceycoe

[kelceycoe]

This is the 2017 Halloween campaign from LEGO. Looking at the source code, we will have to "ring the bell" of the three doors for treats like wallpaper and the like that's already on the web site. It seems to cover Nexo Knights, City, and Elves, so it doesn't appear it's any more Halloween related than through its marketing using the Haunted House, Spooky Boy, and Devil Boy CMFs.

 

https://www.lego.com/en-us/campaigns/halloween-trick-or-treat

[Hart New Bob]

1 hour ago, kelceycoe said:

This is the 2017 Halloween campaign from LEGO. Looking at the source code, we will have to "ring the bell" of the three doors for treats like wallpaper and the like that's already on the web site. It seems to cover Nexo Knights, City, and Elves, so it doesn't appear it's any more Halloween related than through its marketing using the Haunted House, Spooky Boy, and Devil Boy CMFs.

 

https://www.lego.com/en-us/campaigns/halloween-trick-or-treat

I think they did the same thing last year...