Karalora

Huh. I was going off Robert8's post for the year. As for shelf appeal, package appearance can be a huge part of it. I think all of us, all else being equal, would rather buy a LEGO set in a pristine box than one with visibly bashed-in corners and box-cutter marks on the facing side. I have literally passed on picking up a few CMFs because the display was full of creased-up bags that had obviously been worked over by bag-feelers. Besides the feeling that someone else has already been through and snagged all the desirable minifigs, there's a sense of unhygiene to it all. Who knows where those grabby hands were previously?

For people like me, who hate the look of an over-handled, rumpled display (and the near-certainty that all the "good" figures have been snapped up by someone who can pop over to the LEGO Store whenever they like and spend hours crunching every bag), this is very good news indeed. But wow, not until 2025? Why such a long lead time if they have settled on a box design?

I don't think the original dragon suit dude came with accessories (please correct me if I'm wrong). The costume includes both wings and a tail so that's probably why. As for the popcorn suit...maybe the difficulty of the new mold? It's pretty highly textured.

They're all ADORABLE. I don't think I've ever had a series before where I actively wanted them all, but this amazing!

As cultural appropriation goes, the Tribal Chief CMF seems relatively benign. Is it a caricature? Yes...but so is every minifig. It's a literal, if simplified, representation of a Plains Indian chieftain wearing his ceremonial war bonnet--that is, it's not misusing the costume as "fashion," or as the mascot of a non-indigenous sports team, or any of the other common mockeries that rightly draw heavy criticism. There is probably a good argument to be made that using this image for a frivolous toy is disrespectful in any case, but that's the sort of judgment that must be made by the community in question.

What an utterly delightful MOC! This lands firmly in the "dang, I wish this were a real set" category.

I'm impressed that Camilla looks so good considering she's made from the standard chicken mold. That printing goes a long way!

Looks like I spoke too soon regarding the passing of the mantle! @Dorayaki steps up! Tyrant: A charmingly over-the-top fantasy villain! You have a point about how TLG likes to have warring factions in Castle and tends to code one side as evil...but when that side is human they don't really look evil in that wonderful fantasy fashion. We need somebody like this. I really like the recolored seagull as a crow/raven. Drink Kid: The boba tea costume (and matching accessory) is a lot of fun, but I'm not sure about the face here. The pale eyebrows and half-moon glasses make it look more like a senior than a kid. Kebab Chef: That is one serious serving of shawarma! Of course I love the national costume too. Bowler: They seriously made a Friends bowling set with no pins? What in the world were they bowling at? I love how serious this gal looks for what has never been regarded as a very serious sport. I can easily imagine people hunting for these just for the pins to make a full-sized bowling alley MOC, or to repurpose them as juggling clubs. (Hey, there's a circus CMF concept...a Juggler!) Mannequin: I actually really like this; something like it would give boutique MOCs (and modified official sets) a more polished look than the blank minifigs that tend to be used. The fancy handbag is a winner too. Florist: He can hang out with the Landscaper! The sunflower would make a welcome addition to the LEGO flower collection--I've kitbashed them before out of existing parts but never loved the results. Green Man: This concept is on my Top Ten Wanted list, so I'm already intrigued. The leaf mask, the elk-like antlers, the shillelagh! The green squirrel is a fun addition although not very versatile. Galaxy Diva: This is such a specific concept, and yet it works extremely well with the parts selection. I kinda love her! Naturalist! My man Chuckie D! Two new bird molds and a lovely Victorian suit and hairdo! Sassy Dwarf: Semi-serious question for the artist here...how do you know TLG hasn't produced any girl dwarves? Because they all have beards? Who says female dwarves don't have beards? In all seriousness, I doubt LEGO would go that route, so a character like this is somewhat overdue. War Nurse: I'd go with something more like Historical Nurse for the name, to avoid the association with 20th Century warfare which TLG normally tries to avoid. Very nice crisp design Mergirl: This is a terrific concept! How old is she, like 4? (or the equivalent for her species) Child-sized mermaid tails are such an obvious concept that I don't know why I never thought of them, and the redesigned jellyfish would be an instant hit I'm sure. I really like the perky pink hair too. Merlion: What a delightful idea! You're absolutely right that we need more statue figures, and this is a great break from the humanoid standard. Everyone who ever MOCed a park with a fountain in it would want one. And it's a fantasy concept, which I always approve of. Capricorn: Very specific, but it introduces the Zodiac subtheme, which definitely interests me! I like how you include both the glyph on the brooch and the shape of the constellation itself. Not sure about the colors--Capricorn is an earth sign and is also ruled by Saturn, which might warrant something more on the dark brown end of the spectrum. I won't nitpick though. Tengu: Another awesome fantasy/folklore archetype! He really does look perfect, and of course sets up a joke where human minifigs are astonished that he even has a nose, let alone a long one! I'm digging the feather fan. Lucky Cat: Another familiar Japanese image, and one I never knew I wanted until I saw it right here. Of course there should be a maneki-neko minifig! Wudan: Absolutely beautiful! If you've been following my comments you know how much I love the cultural costumes, the more intricate the better. General Frost: I feel like TLG might shy away from such a blatant war reference, but I love his design. (I am, of course, also all about the seasonal folklore characters.) That beard is a real winner! I think people would get a kick out of the ice rifle too. Thunderbird: This one I am less certain about. I like the look of him, you've recreated the style of PNW native art very well, but hints of cultural appropriation always make me squirm a little and I'm not sure if this is authentic enough to be appreciative rather than appropriative. Robotic Housekeeper: A classic! Remember when we all thought we'd have robot servants in The Future? How'd we wind up settling for just a Roomba? Aries: You really seem to like horned hairpieces, between this gal, Capricorn, and the Green Man. Not that I am complaining! As with Capricorn, I would adjust the color here to perfect the astrological reference--Aries should be bold red! I'd also give her a sheep rather than a goat--no matter how much we want the goat back, Aries is the Ram. Are you planning to continue? These are all so attractive!

My heart hurts having to write what I know will be the last of these, but what a sweet way to go out! Hammer Wielder: You will be 0% surprised to know that I adore him. Thor is unfortunately becoming pop-culturized out of his genuine historical and cultural relevance, so I love how specific this is with the knot and scroll designs on his helmet, hammer, and boots. That forked lightning piece is inspired! Frontiersman: I definitely want this one--I swapped out some bits of Wiley Fusebot from the LEGO Movie to have my own, but this is much closer to the look I prefer. Is that a wolf-dog companion I see? (We know from later on in the wave that it can't be a pureblood wolf... Traditional Dancer: We once again see the attention to exquisite detail that usually accompanies these "cultural archetype" figures, with the patterning on the cloth and the intricate design of the headdress. Only thing I would change would be to add some gold ornaments to snap onto the hands as seen in some performance costumes. Dollmaker: I guess someone has to come up with all those spooky dolls and haunted toys! This guy is deliciously creepy, and I love the idea of specialized hairpieces for the microfigures. That's an idea with a lot of untapped potential. Imperial Soldier: I'm almost sorry to say it, but the map is the most enticing aspect of this one for me. The figure itself is as excellently designed as any other, but as an updated version of a classic LEGO faction, it doesn't make my eyes pop the way some of the more unique ones do. Polo Player: Like most of the sports figures, this one doesn't interest me, but I'm sure polo enthusiasts would go nuts over it. (I think I said the same thing about the Lacrosse Player back when I reviewed whichever wave that was.) Phantom Thief: Now we're back to something that tickles my fancy! She is just superb! The dark purple costume palette! The cheeky expression! The hat/hair combo! The recolored sack and Faberge egg! The calling card! The very specific genre of comic book this sort of character evokes! I see from the comments before mine that she seems to be the favorite this time around, or close to it, and no wonder! This is a magnificent character! Seasonals Collector: I feel called out. (Just kidding.) Is this guy related to the parents from the Advent Calendar? If not, they should meet up and talk shop. The costumed dog is a real winner (as they usually are), and there's something amusingly recursive about a 1x1 brick printed as a Brickheadz figure. Fireman: While the City figures are rarely my favorites, I'm impressed by the realistic gear here. It just now occurs to me that most firefighting scenarios in City sets are fairly benign--a trash can or isolated tree in a park or abandoned building goes up, and a crew of smiling firefighters with fun trans-light blue pieces comes to put it out, and all is well. Not this guy, though. This guy is doing some serious rescue work at a house fire in that getup. A real civic hero. Cecaelia: (I'm not sure about the spelling here, but I'm going with what you put down.) This is about the only other thing you could have done with the hair/ears piece you gave the Evil Mermaid, and it looks really good in both cases. I don't know if Ursula was the first of these in popular culture or if she just mainstreamed the idea, but it's hard now to imagine an underwater fantasy setting that doesn't include them. Strangely enough, I don't think this guy is evil as such...just stern. Turtle Girl: There is definitely a story here, with the teary-but-smiling face and the nature program on TV. (That face would be repurposed for so many special occasion MOCs!) I've grown quite fond of the animal costumes, both official and Robert9-produced, and this makes a lovely addition to the collection. Scientist Man: Come on, it should have been Astrophysicist! Albert Einstein is such an obvious example of an instantly-recognizable historical figure that it's a little strange he hasn't been a real minfig yet. This design is so simple, yet effective. Lunch Lady: A public school classic! She looks perfect, and the color of the apple juice box somehow captures that "perfectly normal, but subtly unappetizing" vibe of all institutional food. Ogre: Sadly, I think the Shrek franchise spoiled the market for brutish green ogres, but I'd definitely go for a few of these. The Fantasy Forces of Darkness need their heavy-hitters, after all. I like the different-colored nubs on the club. Feral Boy: Frankly, I think TLG owes us Mowgli to go with Tarzan Jungle Boy. This one would definitely be a hot item for the wolf (and this is how I know the Frontiersman's companion is probably a crossbreed), but let's show some appreciation for the kid too. He's definitely had a hard life in what, twelve years, judging by all the scars, but he's still chipper and ready to face the world! Cyberpunk Guy: The color palette here is exceptionally eye-catching, and nicely reflects the visual direction the genre has taken in recent years--leaning away from black-with-neon-accents to a more color-infused look. There's also something a bit androgynous about the use of teal, pink, and purple with an otherwise masculine-presenting character. The Unikitty skull design on the tee-shirt is a witty touch! And finally, our last-minute bonus... Bouffon: Black-eyed but still grinning. An example for all of us in today's world. I'd love to have a jester in black and purple just for the Goth aesthetic. Thank you, @Robert8 Most sincerely. Your work has been the highlight of Eurobricks, and especially of the Special LEGO Themes forum, for these six years. I don't know who else could possibly take up your mantle.

Hear, hear! I would adore a Halloween village.

tfw you realize it all ENDS tomorrow...

This one seems unlikely to me; most of the characters anyone would go for are already in the 123 Sesame Street set. Grover and The Count are the only popular ones I can think of that aren't in that set. I doubt anyone is clamoring for a minifig of Guy Smiley or the Amazing Mumford or Prairie Dawn.

Astrophysicist, I should think. There are many kinds of geniuses (and he's featured a lot of them!)

Like plastic! *rimshot*

Yes, and when a toddler hides behind the window curtains, clearly visible from the shins down and noticeably giggling, you are required by the standards of human decency to loudly wonder where they are and why you "can't find" them.

I think most people with permanent or chronic walking difficulties use a different kind of crutch (wrist-mounted) than the ones Clumsy Guy is sporting, but his broken leg does count as a temporary disability if nothing else.

Would this be a good time to point out that my religion welcomes both gender non-conformance and the dyeing of hair in bright colors not usually seen on mammals? Also, it is impossible for a child to be "confused" about the gender of a LEGO minifig they are playing with, because it is the child who decides every aspect of that minifig's identity in the first place. If the kid holds up a minifig in a police uniform with beard stubble and says it's a "lady," you can take that to the bank.

I don't go in for bag-feeling anyway. I hate seeing a display where someone has gotten there ahead of me and rumpled them all, and I don't want to inflict that situation on anyone else.

I found some at Target today, bought 5, and received...a Gonzo and 4 Fozzies. I suppose that serves me right for jumping the gun on the official release. I still plan to order more tomorrow.

It's not an animal, but is that CORN I see???

F is also the 6th letter of the alphabet. Just saying.

I know I can't expect it to continue forever, but...I have never seen anyone as prolific, creative, and competent at this as you are. In not just the concepts for the figures, but their designs and the execution of the images. They're just gorgeous in every way.

And then...no more.

Maybe it's more the case that a theme becomes "one and done," instead of continuing, because it doesn't sell well.