Accio Lego

Might take longer than we’d hope. Right now Standard parts service has been suspended from the US and Canada due to certain political posturing mucking up shipping fees. The arctic fix isn’t visible for us at all, so that’s a significant market that isn’t buying it simply because they aren’t allowed. So it might take Lego longer than usual to realize that depressed sales are related to the price and not that.

Have you rewatched the DA patronus lesson scene or looked at any official artwork/merchandise recently? The animals themselves might be very bright, but they’re surrounded by a distinct halo of blue light, which is why pretty much all official merchandise makes them light blue. They’re also transparent, which in my opinion is a pretty crucial feature in making sure they come off as a magical spell and not a weird colored animal. Irregardless what you (or any of us) think, Harry Potter is a licensed series, and the license holders are going to have final approval on something like this. And for something as integral as the color of the most popular spell in the franchise, they are going to demand brand consistency. So no matter what extras there might be — satin or sparkles, the upcoming patronus animals will definitely be trans light blue.

Harry’s Stag might be preexisting, but a large animal like that in a $20 set that already includes Hagrid and almost certainly some new parts to make a motorcycle accommodate him? Seems unlikely, especially with the recent price hikes. I’d expect Harry’s patronus to feature in one of the summer sets instead. For the Escape from Privet Drive set I’d expect a smaller animal of some sort. Considering that Lupin is merely heavily associated with the Hospital Wing (assuming it’s PoA based) instead of actually present when we know his Wolf will be included, that opens up the possibility of Arthur’s Weasel, Fred and George’s Magpies, Ron’s Terrier, or Kingsley’s Lynx. I wouldn’t discount Aberforth’s Goat either, since he casts it in the DH book and the chances of getting anything final battle based in the summer wave are slim and the Goat is a preexisting mold that’s not too big or multipart.

It apparently does include a Chocolate Frog card and the Icons version featured an actual minifigure. That said, it would probably just be Dumbledore again. Kinda salty that the Rookery apparently doesn’t include Ron. He’s really getting shafted in the DH sets, isn’t he.

What confusion is there to cause? The main tower is the rounded one next to the Great Hall. It contains the Headmaster’s office and likely acts as a high traffic navigation hub for students. Nothing about its title says it has to be the tallest, it’s instead named for its relative position within the castle. The Astronomy Tower houses the observatory where astronomy classes are held and needs to be the tallest to help facilitate that.

Ron would definitely deserve the new mold budget – he’s a main character no matter how often Lego likes to neglect him. It’s not surprising you don’t remember the movie version much, Ron’s patronus appeared for only a couple of seconds and not as prominently or clearly as Hermione’s, Luna’s, or Ginny’s, but it is a smooth coated terrier (probably a Jack Russel). So even the Westie mold that seems to have been phased out wouldn’t have been ideal.

There are actually very few patronuses known beyond what the books confirmed. But there are a decent handful that have been revealed through Pottermore or interviews. There’s also a decent number of extended universe characters with known forms, but I doubt we’ll see any of those. If you’d like a list: Books: Stag (Harry) Otter (Hermione) Rat Terrier (Ron) Swan (Cho Chang) Hare (Luna - this was first shown in the OotP movie but confirmed in the DH book) Lynx (Kingsley Shacklebolt) Weasel (Arthur Weasley) Cat (McGonagall and Umbridge) Fox (Seamus Finnigan) Boar (Ernie McMillan) Goat (Aberforth Dumbledore) Doe (Lily and Snape) Movies: Horse (Ginny – shown in the same scene that Luna’s Hare was introduced, so we can assume it’s similarly canon. It’s certainly featured in official merch before) Interviews and Pottermore: Phoenix (Albus Dumbledore – technically seen in the books, but as Harry doesn’t get a good look at it it was only confirmed later) Wolf (Remus and Tonks) Jackrabbit (Tonks pre-change) Magpie (Fred and George) I’m expecting to see a new mold for the Doe at the very least. I’m not expecting to see the Boar or Swan, and if we get the Fox it will be because the mold already exists. I’m more optimistic about the Magpies, Weasel, and Lynx (in that order) because their characters are more prominent. We’ll definitely see the return of the Stag (Otter, Hare, and Cat have already been confirmed), and I’m also expecting to see recolors of the Phoenix and Small Dog (Wolf is already confirmed). I’m cautiously optimistic about the Goat.

The gold figs in the Icons set were fairly unpopular though. More importantly, it makes little sense for a definitive Collectors Edition of the first movie/book to spend budget money on a spell that’s not seen or even mentioned until the third.

Lupin won’t be in the Hospital Wing either — presuming this is the PoA scene instead of the CoS, he’d still be running around the grounds as a werewolf at that point. But he character is still so integral to that sequence of events that no one’s questioning why his Wolf would feature here, so Luna’s Hare coming with the Rookery makes perfect sense since it’s her home, even if we probably won’t get a Luna minifig in that set. Likewise, I expect McGonagall’s cat to feature in the Sorting Hat set because she conducts the sorting ceremony. If we see the same pattern as the golden minifigs from the 20th anniversary sets, then there likely won’t be patronuses in sets without minifigures, which means the Cornish Pixie and large sized Ford Anglia won’t have them, and I have serious doubts about the 18+ Collectors Edition as well. But that still leaves the Escape from Privet Drive set and the entire summer wave.

I didn’t want to get too optimistic, I’ll admit. Magpies have longer tails and smaller, straighter beaks, but they’re still corvids and the biggest differences between them and Ravens, the size and colors, wouldn’t be applicable in a format where colors are uniform and relative size has always been a bit loosey goosey. I’d love to be wrong though, and I think a little display stand with a pair of sparkly blue magpies (no reason to separate them) would be very attractive to collectors.

Latest new drop – for the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter LEGO, some sets next year will come with collectible patronus figures. This will obviously consist of several animals in unprinted trans blue with sparkles. Current rumors say Lupin’s Wolf and Hermione’s Otter will be included. We should also expect to see the return of Harry’s Stag, Luna’s Hare, and the Cat (originally for Umbridge in the Ministry of Magic set, but likely to be brought back for McGonagall here). Other current animals to possibly get the patronus treatment like the Wolf: - Terrier dog (definitely since it’s Ron’s) - Horse (Ginny’s) - Fox (Seamus Finnigan) - Raven (as Magpies for the Weasley twins) - Phoenix (Dumbledore, although if they wanted to do a flying version this would be an opportunity) - Goat (Aberforth Dumbledore) Patronus Animals that do not currently exist in Lego form (in other words potential new animal molds we could see): - Doe (Snape and Lily, DEFINITELY happening) - Boar (Ernie McMillan) - Swan (Cho Chang) - Lynx (Kingsley Shacklebolt) - Weasel (Arthur Weasley)

After series 26 was Space themed there weren’t any space characters in series 27 (the closest being the jet-pack racer), so I wouldn’t be surprised if the May series doesn’t have any animal costumes (with maybe an exception for a new Dino costume since the January series doesn’t seem to have one). Hopeful news for those of us who want actual animals and other new accessories in a cmf.

Harry Potter polybag next year apparently is 30724: Dumbledore’s Office with Harry – 42 pieces. Best candidates for the specific scene would either CoS (meaning we could get Fawkes in a polybag!) or GoF with the pensieve (although there also pensieve scenes in HBP and DH2 that could work I suppose).

Looks like we’re also getting another metal novelty for those who purchase the D2C the first week like the Weasley clock magnet from last year. This one is a gold colored brick archway with Hogsmeade signs dangling underneath it.

I’m pleasantly surprised that we’re getting the DH2 DA hideout version of the Room of Requirement, but l, in retrospect, I probably shouldn’t be – last year to go with the Burrow we got Borgin and Burke’s, which is where we see Harry floo to from the Burrow, so it makes sense that the year we get Hogsmeade with the first ever Hog’s Head we’d get the location that connects to the Hog’s Head via secret passage.

Halloween BAM figures have leaked: Mummy (costume?) with bandage head covering and Black Cat accessory Witch girl featuring the witch hat and hat that’s only appeared in Hocus Pocus and D&D licensed sets before, plus a purple shirt with bats and a matching printed skirt piece. Ghost woman in a nightgown with white splat piece printed with a ghost face as an accessory Definitely a good selection of parts for those who like spooky or just general magic and witchcraft.

Just saw the upcoming Halloween BAM figures and one is a ghost that uses the same white and grey color scheme as the Harry Potter ghosts (although a bit more heavy on the white than any of the licensed characters), and the black cat will be making an appearance along with the first unlicensed appearance of the pointed witch hat with flowing wavy hair (ginger). So it will be a good time for anyone wanting to put together Harry Potter background characters.

Honestly, this would be ideal for me – it’s always sad when one of the trio misses out on completing a set, and Lego isn’t the only company to neglect Ron’s rat terrier.

The Harry Potter gwp this year is apparently the Room of Requirement. Given the hints towards the fifth movie in the Hogsmeade set, it’s entirely possible we’ll see some new or returning sparkling trans blue animals.

When you think about it, between old themes and general archetypes, an ‘Under the Sea’ themed CMF is just as obvious a choice as the Space one. Do a few updates of old themes, a mermaid and a sea monster or two, a helmet diver, someone in modern scuba gear, a Pearl diver, an underwater robot operator, an aquatic animal costume, and maybe even a selkie or another mythical creature – all on trans blue bases like the Space series had printed stars.

There are several small details I love – Aberforth finally having his kilt, the triangular box of exploding bonbons that you can see Draco holding in one of the pics, Katie having an alternate possessed face and a little clear stand to make her hover, Ariana’s portrait, they packed a lot of detail into a cramped set for all that everyone is complaining about depth and piece count is all I’m saying. Latest rumor is also that the GWP is the Room of Requirement! Given the DA sign up sheet we can see in Hogsmeade, fingers crossed that we’ll get an OotP based mini set and have a chance of a new patronus – anyone got statistics on recolors in GWPs?(fingers crossed Ron’s terrier finally appears)

Because butterbeer isn’t alcoholic – it’s like root beer or ginger ale, and the only evidence we have otherwise is Winky getting drunk off it in the books – which likely just means that house elves can get intoxicated on an ingredient that has no effect on humans. That said, The Three Broomsticks does offer a variety of alcoholic beverages, and the actual reason that Lego is willing to do it and the Hog’s Head is because they fall under the ‘fantasy and historical’ exception that also applies to weapons. Case in point, the Medieval Town Square includes an inn that has a keg of something definitely alcoholic in the ground floor dining area, but that’s okay because it’s obviously in a historical setting.

If it’s the white horse they might be taking a little inspiration from the scene in Sorcerer’s Stone where the students leave for the holidays on sleds pulled by horses that color. Also excited to learn that in addition to the three establishments with known proprietors on the minifig list there with be Zonko’s, Dervish and Bangs, and the Owl Post office. Zonko’s especially is good news - hopefully we’ll see the fanged frisbee print come back there. Hopefully we’ll also have at least on owl other than Hedwig to go in the post office too. I do hope the carriage driver is a carriage driver and not a Zonko’s employee though. It would be a shame for Hogwarts Mystery to create the colorful character of Bilton Blimes only for the Lego version to fig barf something that could be mistaken for a carriage driver to replace him.

Minifig list is apparently: 1. Harry Potter 2. Ron Weasley 3. Hermione Granger 4. Draco Malfoy 5. Katie Bell 6. Professor McGonagall 7. Cornelius Fudge 8. Aberforth Dumbledore 9. Horace Slughorn 10. Madam Rosmerta 11. Mrs. Flume 12. Carriage Driver Rosmerta, Aberforth, and Mrs. Flume suggest that we’ll be seeing at least the Three Broomsticks, Hog’s Head, and Honeydukes, and the Carriage Driver probably means a horse and carriage to be driven. It also looks like there will be scenes covered from both Prisoner of Azkaban and Half-Blood Prince. Fingers crossed we might see Zonko’s as well.

Black Pearl and Enterprise leaks but still no Hogsmeade – fingers crossed it will be soon though