What constitutes a minifig?

[captaintau]

I'm posting this in the General area since I think the question could pertain to multiple themes, though please excuse my reference to Star Wars, since that's my area of "expertise" so to speak.

What constitutes a minifig? How do you define what is or isn't a minifig?

For example, Mr Diver Man is a minifig; he has a typical LEGO body with arms, legs, a head and even a smart SCUBA system.

We generally acknowledge that Battle Droids are minifigs; they have (droid) bodies, (droid) legs, (droid) arms and a (droid) head.

I think we also generally acknowledge that R2-D2 is a minifig even though he doesn't fit the general description. Ditto GONK droid and the Buzz Droid.

What of the B'Omarr Monk?

What of the Dwarf Spider Droids? The Mouse Droid?

If they're minfigs on the basis of being minifig-sized (like R2-D2) then what of the new Hailfire Droid or the Vulture Droid? Are they minifigs?

I was just thinking this today. Anyone have any ideas?

[UniqueBuilder]

They're "living" creatures. Minifigy enough for me. ;-)

[xenologer]

lol

this reminds me of the recent debate where scientists had to decide 'what constitutes a planet?'

Good question tho.

Im not much a SW collector, but some other questionable examples are, the Drones from ExoForce, the Mars Mission Jelly Aliens, and the LoM Aliens.

The EF Drones I pretty much treat as minifigs, same level of characterization, sorta. On the other hand their arms are often used as parts elsewhere; which I wouldn't tolerate for the more traditional human minifigs.

(then again, normal minifig heads are often used as other parts, so I guess this doesnt count much).

Jelly Aliens, ... no way, they are just 2 pieces with no arms.

LoM aliens, I don't have any but don't really consider them to be minifigs, I guess the main distinction between them and the Drones is their legs are a 1piece stand more than actual legs. By the same logic, I guess I dont consider BattleDroids to be minifigs either; they're just more robot arm parts....

I guess thats my working defenition them:

A minifig has movable arms, and 2 Separately movable legs.

Battle Droid, Bionicle Minifig, LoM, Jellies, that legless villian in the Agent prototype pics, are not minifigs.

EF Drones are.

Pluto is not a planet.

Edited March 31, 2008 by xenologer

[Siegfried]

My distinction is if a part has been made for the purpose then they are a mini-fig. Thus astromechs are mini-figs, but Gonk droids and the B'Omarr Monks are not.

[MoonCheese]

Minifigs are obviously minifigs. I also count figs that are designed to be used with a minifig-based system to be minifigs. This includes SW droids and non-humans, skeletons, and so on. The 4+ Juniors and Belville/Scala stuff isn't minifigs as they are designed to fit a larger scale. I also had a few "figs" that were essentially funnily sloped blocks with heads (no arms or legs or anything), which I don't consider minifigs. I think they came from some old Lego Basic set.

[JimBee]

i consider minifigs to:

1. fit in all minifig based sets without mods or struggle

2. are able to hold acesseries, like a lightsaber and the like.

3. have removeable: hair/headpice from head, head from torso, arms from torso, hands frrom arms, legs from waist, and legs/waist from torso. i count minifigs like r2d2 and young anakin to be...sub-minifigs. i dont consider animals like taun tauns (not made yet, but in the video game) and <insert that tiresome argument> pieces to be minifigs.

hope this helped, but this is my own opinion. ;-)

[blueandwhite]

My distinction is if a part has been made for the purpose then they are a mini-fig. Thus astromechs are mini-figs, but Gonk droids and the B'Omarr Monks are not.

I agree with this definition. Minifigs are just that; LEGO figures made with specialized parts that make the figure recognizeable as such. I don't consider ordinary brick-built figs/animals/droids to be minifigs.

[captaintau]

My distinction is if a part has been made for the purpose then they are a mini-fig. Thus astromechs are mini-figs, but Gonk droids and the B'Omarr Monks are not.

I see your logic, Sinner, but disagree. B'Omarr monks are living, sentient creatures. Like Humans. In my oppinion, they ARE minifigs. Though GONK droid is certain arguable, though not by other definitions in this thread |-/

[captaintau]

Minifigs are obviously minifigs. I also count figs that are designed to be used with a minifig-based system to be minifigs. This includes SW droids and non-humans, skeletons, and so on. The 4+ Juniors and Belville/Scala stuff isn't minifigs as they are designed to fit a larger scale. I also had a few "figs" that were essentially funnily sloped blocks with heads (no arms or legs or anything), which I don't consider minifigs. I think they came from some old Lego Basic set.

The new Hailfire and the Vulture Droid are minifig scale. They're much bigger, but they're to scale.

[Scouty]

I would be unable to give a say in the subject matter...

I just thought that a min-fig would be made of arm, legs, torso, and head...

When I saw that the droids were called figures, I was a bit surprised.

My understanding may be different now, though.

[Siegfried]

I see your logic, Sinner, but disagree. B'Omarr monks are living, sentient creatures. Like Humans. In my oppinion, they ARE minifigs. Though GONK droid is certain arguable, though not by other definitions in this thread |-/

So you would see the Lego sarlacc in 6210 as a minifig?

[captaintau]

So you would see the Lego sarlacc in 6210 as a minifig?

Interesting question.

No, I wouldn't. Nor the Kaadu, the Dewback or the Veractyl

Do monkeys, sharks, parrots, bats and dogs count? I don't know.

[Hewman]

Lego on their boxes seem to list almost anything as a minifig. I count battle droids and R2 units, I exclude anything that can jus tbe made up from regular lego bits without any specialist minifig part (even though R2 has pieces that similar versions of have been used in non minifig ways, he's still a minifig as the primary purpose for these pieces is to be in a minifig.

Things like the mouse droid are not in my opinion a minifig.

Going back to my classic space days there were robot minifigs (well bricklink lists them as such) but I don't count them as minifigs in my collection.

Thanks for brining this up and letting me share my 2 cents worth.

[Athos]

I don't consider B'Omarr Monk or the Gonk Droid or the Mouse Droid or the Buzz Droid or the Pit Droid minifigures. I also exclude the animals, because to me, a minifigure is representation of a human-type being.

Basically, I'd go with the following definition:

"A lego creation that: (1) is generally and substantially similar to the classic minifigure shape and design; (2) substantially relies upon the classic minifigure pieces; and (3) in its final form substantially resembles an anthropomorphic form."

Though this would exclude R2, which I would propose we grandfather in.

Steve, who thinks we should develop a whole Napoleonic Lego Code...

[iamded]

I see minifigs as, well, miniature figures. That is people or robots etc, not vehicles or buildings.

~Peace

[captaintau]

But what of droids that are also vehicles?

Interestingly, as has been mentioned, the definitions on here obviously clash with TLC's definition since (for example) the Mouse Droid, GONK droid etc are all classed as minifigs.

[Oky]

I think this has something to do with storytelling. I think it's about what something is meant to be or represent. So my theory is that anything that was designed as a character (something that has a personality and interacts with other characters) is a minifig, everything else is an object or vehicle. So, to answer your questions, aliens, robots, and even mouse droids are characters and therefore can be seen as minifigs. If you need proof, look at the box, they're being listed among the minifigs on there. I am not sure about spider droids as they don't really seem to have a personality and hardly interact with other characters (except for shooting at them), but I am sure it's safe to say that Vulture and Hailfire Droids are just smart vehicles. Does this make sense? I hope I could help.

Edited April 17, 2008 by Oky Wan Kenobi

[captaintau]

Thanks for reviving this thread as we never reached a conclusion, though we may never.

I would argue that mouse droids have as much "personality" as a battle droid, a buzz droid and thefore also a spider droid and vulture droid.

I think we're very hung up on size.

The troll is a minifig, right? Admitted a bigger f***er of a minifog. Surely he's bigger than a dwarf spider droid (and arguably has as much "personality" )

[Scouty]

I'd rather think that our classical minifigure is what a mini-fig is. None of this "extra" or specially sized thingies. I think I'd just call the droids and such like LEGO droids.

[Siegfried]

I thought we agreed that I was right?

Interestingly, as has been mentioned, the definitions on here obviously clash with TLC's definition since (for example) the Mouse Droid, GONK droid etc are all classed as minifigs.

Yes you are right, and the Sandcrawler is probably the best example of this. However, I think Lego are being dolts and are giving the marketing people too much latitude. Besides, Lego called the new castle bad guys "Trolls warriors" and "Giant Trolls" and I'm sure most agree that it's a silly name.

EDIT: Here's another reason to ignore the "definition" by Lego; it kind of kills the discussion as it makes the answer quite easy; "Whatever Lego labels as one!"

[Brickmaster]

I count mini figs as the normal mini figure, head, the torso and arms and such, I don't count robots and whatnot, because, well, their body parts cant be used with my other mini figures. I don't count the battle droids as mini figures, but just figures I suppose.

You can argue it and stuff, but it's just how my mind naturally divides 'em.

Edited April 18, 2008 by Brickmaster

[captaintau]

So, who's ever going to buy a set with NO minifigures (not counting UCS)?

Because if only traditional minifigs are minifigs, then there's a lot of set without any minifigs in at all, including some expensive sets.

[Siegfried]

So, who's ever going to buy a set with NO minifigures?

Errr... me! Lots of times!

[tenabrae]

I guess thats my working defenition them:

A minifig has movable arms, and 2 Separately movable legs.

By that definition the new dwarves and the child in (greengrocer ? the anniversary town?) aren't minifigs because their legs don't move.

--

My opinion is pretty much anything humanoid that can be used in a 'minifig way' ... holding stuff and/or sitting in stuff (I still count the new dwarves and such though I do think they're partially un-playworthy). I reckon the stupid jelly aliens are still minifigs, sucky minifigs, but minifigs none-the-less.

Edited April 19, 2008 by tenabrae

[Shoc]

By that definition the new dwarves and the child in (greengrocer ? the anniversary town?) aren't minifigs because their legs don't move.

--

My opinion is pretty much anything humanoid that can be used in a 'minifig way' ... holding stuff and/or sitting in stuff (I still count the new dwarves and such though I do think they're partially un-playworthy). I reckon the stupid jelly aliens are still minifigs, sucky minifigs, but minifigs none-the-less.

Yep, that's one of my definitions. The other one is:

:skull:

Edited May 5, 2008 by Shoc