New Disney and LEGO partnership
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:04 am
Considering there's only one Lego topic on UD (and it's for Harry Potter Legos interestingly enough), I'm not sure how exciting this news is, but it was certainly exciting for me! I was rebuilding my old Star Wars Legos this evening and it got me thinking about other brands and franchises Lego has partnered with. Naturally, the first to come to mind for me was Disney. I remembered around 2001 or 2002, Lego actually had some Disney Lego sets with Mickey Mouse. The complete line is seen here:
http://guide.lugnet.com/set/?qc=lego/playtheme
I was a subscriber to the Lego Club magazine and catalogs and remember seeing this and the whole series in the catalog. I was SUPER EXCITED to see Disney themed Legos as I've always been a fan of both Disney and Lego. Unfortunately, Lego decided to make their Mickey Legos for the little kid age group using mostly large sized regular Lego bricks and simple model design (sets between the giant Duplo brick sets and the normal Lego System sets). I was really tempted to buy them just to have Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto figures to play with my other Legos, haha.
No new sets were offered after that initial wave and it seemed like Disney's partnership with Lego had ended despite the opening of the Lego Imagination Centers in both Disney World and Disneyland. In recent years, there have been Disney MegaBloks sets (Lego's rival company) with Disney Princess, Winnie the Pooh, Pirates of the Caribbean, MIckey Mouse Clubhouse, and Disney/Pixar's Cars. (http://www.megabrands.com/Shop/Brands/)
I have a few older MegaBlok's sets (Space aliens and Western) and I enjoyed them for the great detail they put in each set, though this is mostly in reliance to specialty pieces and stickers. I prefer Lego overall because the quality just seems to be so much better in their sets. Lego bricks stick together better as MegaBloks were always prone to falling apart if you handled it too much after and during building. Also, I feel more thought and creativity is put into Lego sets since they rely on their basic catalog of bricks and pieces and don't give-in to making specialty bricks too often and when they do, it's kind of necessary (e.g. C3PO's head, Batman's headgear, Harry Potter's hair, etc.). Also MegaBlok's seem a lot more kid oriented and less appealing to all ages as opposed to Lego sets. I'm revisiting my Lego's moreso than my MegaBloks, since the emphasis and building and creativity is more prevalent in the former.
Anyhow my reminiscing with my old Legos led to some Google searches and this very long post is leading up to the SUPER EXCITING (and a bit old) news that Disney has once again partnered with Lego for a new series of sets!!!!!!!!!!! Basically there will be three Disney franchise Lego sets:
Toy Story 1 - 3 (Lego Duplo and Lego System!!!)
Cars (Lego Duplo)
Prince of Persia (Lego System)
I'm wondering how the Lego Duplo Cars sets will compare/compete with the already established MegaBloks sets:
Cars MegaBloks: http://www.megabrands.com/Shop/Brands/Disney_Cars/
Lego Duplo: http://duplo.lego.com/en-us/Default.aspx
Here's another article with a Lego model of Buzz Lightyear:
http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/20 ... -lego.html
The Star Wars and Harry Potter Lego sets have been really popular, creative, satisfying and faithful to their original sources. I have high hopes for these new Lego sets and I'm definitely going to get a Toy Story Lego setwhen they come out!! I'm hoping that these sets sell well so that more Disney movies and hopefully Disney theme park sets are developed!!
Speaking of Disney Lego theme park sets, has anyone seen the fakey Disney Legos at the Disney Theme parks? They are really more adorable than cool and they look like they came 20 years too late for theme park merchandise. I took lots of pictures from our last trip to WDW. I will post them later. Also, they cost a ridiculous $25 a box and it's really not comparable at all to $25 Lego sets. The Jungle Cruise set came with flat cardboard animals!
http://guide.lugnet.com/set/?qc=lego/playtheme
I was a subscriber to the Lego Club magazine and catalogs and remember seeing this and the whole series in the catalog. I was SUPER EXCITED to see Disney themed Legos as I've always been a fan of both Disney and Lego. Unfortunately, Lego decided to make their Mickey Legos for the little kid age group using mostly large sized regular Lego bricks and simple model design (sets between the giant Duplo brick sets and the normal Lego System sets). I was really tempted to buy them just to have Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto figures to play with my other Legos, haha.
No new sets were offered after that initial wave and it seemed like Disney's partnership with Lego had ended despite the opening of the Lego Imagination Centers in both Disney World and Disneyland. In recent years, there have been Disney MegaBloks sets (Lego's rival company) with Disney Princess, Winnie the Pooh, Pirates of the Caribbean, MIckey Mouse Clubhouse, and Disney/Pixar's Cars. (http://www.megabrands.com/Shop/Brands/)
I have a few older MegaBlok's sets (Space aliens and Western) and I enjoyed them for the great detail they put in each set, though this is mostly in reliance to specialty pieces and stickers. I prefer Lego overall because the quality just seems to be so much better in their sets. Lego bricks stick together better as MegaBloks were always prone to falling apart if you handled it too much after and during building. Also, I feel more thought and creativity is put into Lego sets since they rely on their basic catalog of bricks and pieces and don't give-in to making specialty bricks too often and when they do, it's kind of necessary (e.g. C3PO's head, Batman's headgear, Harry Potter's hair, etc.). Also MegaBlok's seem a lot more kid oriented and less appealing to all ages as opposed to Lego sets. I'm revisiting my Lego's moreso than my MegaBloks, since the emphasis and building and creativity is more prevalent in the former.
Anyhow my reminiscing with my old Legos led to some Google searches and this very long post is leading up to the SUPER EXCITING (and a bit old) news that Disney has once again partnered with Lego for a new series of sets!!!!!!!!!!! Basically there will be three Disney franchise Lego sets:
Toy Story 1 - 3 (Lego Duplo and Lego System!!!)
Cars (Lego Duplo)
Prince of Persia (Lego System)
http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top ... m_no=26457Animation World Network wrote:Disney and LEGO Group Announce Strategic Licensing Relationship
February 16, 2009
The LEGO Group and Disney Consumer Products have announced a multi-year licensing agreement that gives the world's premiere construction toy brand access to an extensive portfolio of renowned Disney and Disney Pixar properties. LEGO and LEGO DUPLO products are currently in development for three franchises -- Disney Pixar's Toy Story and Cars, and Prince of Persia -- all scheduled to launch in 2010.
Children's imaginations will go "To infinity and beyond" when, beginning in 2010, they will be able to re-create the adventures of Buzz Lightyear and Woody with LEGO toys inspired by the TOY STORY franchise. TOY STORY-themed construction sets will be available on both LEGO DUPLO and LEGO System platforms, building the adventure and fun for children ages 2-12. LEGO System products based on TOY STORY and TOY STORY 2 will launch in January 2010, to be followed in May by construction sets based on the new animated feature, TOY STORY 3, scheduled to hit theaters in Disney Digital 3D June 2010. Toy Story-themed LEGO DUPLO products launch in June 2010.
Lightning McQueen will rev his engine at the starting line of a DUPLO portfolio that will have young builders creating and exploring the high-octane world of the CARS franchise. The CARS-themed LEGO DUPLO line will feature iconic scenes from Radiator Springs and the Piston Cup Championship raceway and will feature favorite Cars characters like McQueen, Mater and Sally. CARS-themed LEGO DUPLO products are scheduled to launch in June 2010.
A line of LEGO System construction toys based on Walt Disney Pictures' and Jerry Bruckheimer Films' PRINCE OF PERSIA: SANDS OF TIME, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Mike Newell and scheduled to release in May 2010 is also in development. The film, based on the best-selling video game franchise of the same name, stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina and Gemma Arterton in an epic tale of Prince Dastan's struggle to stop an evil ruler from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world. PRINCE OF PERSIA-themed LEGO products are scheduled to launch in April 2010.
I'm wondering how the Lego Duplo Cars sets will compare/compete with the already established MegaBloks sets:
Cars MegaBloks: http://www.megabrands.com/Shop/Brands/Disney_Cars/
Lego Duplo: http://duplo.lego.com/en-us/Default.aspx
Here's another article with a Lego model of Buzz Lightyear:
http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/20 ... -lego.html
The Star Wars and Harry Potter Lego sets have been really popular, creative, satisfying and faithful to their original sources. I have high hopes for these new Lego sets and I'm definitely going to get a Toy Story Lego setwhen they come out!! I'm hoping that these sets sell well so that more Disney movies and hopefully Disney theme park sets are developed!!
Speaking of Disney Lego theme park sets, has anyone seen the fakey Disney Legos at the Disney Theme parks? They are really more adorable than cool and they look like they came 20 years too late for theme park merchandise. I took lots of pictures from our last trip to WDW. I will post them later. Also, they cost a ridiculous $25 a box and it's really not comparable at all to $25 Lego sets. The Jungle Cruise set came with flat cardboard animals!
