2011 NINJAGO sets

[Milargo]

That's funny, because I kind of had the exact opposite reaction upon seeing the pictures for the first time. Honestly, the NinjaGo playsets are probably some of the weakest kits TLC has released in years, IMO. The skeleton fortress and ninja dojo just don't really compare to sets like the Portal of Atlantis, Space Police HQ, Kingdom's Castle, or even 2011's Atlantean Temple. I can understand what you mean about this theme being a "stepping stone," but the problem is that it also seems to be the biggest release of 2011, with all the collectable figures pushing the set count way above the likes of Atlantis, Pharaoh's Quest, and even StarWars. If some of TLC's other 2011 releases were being given the same treatment, then I'd be perfectly fine with NinjaGo, but as it stands I don't like to see a second-rate theme take the spotlight away from everything else.

Woah ho ho ho, just when I convinced my self to be positive about Lego 2011. Man what a downer.

Well, look at the bright side, they might sell booster packs for the NinjaGo trading cards!

I don't think the NinjaGo theme is "taking the spotlight away" from the other themes per se, Lego is just really tryin' to push it through , Maybe the line between Duplo and system is thinning.

I don't think NinjaGo is quite so bad, I mean that dragons pretty cool.

Then again, I seem to be apathetic about next year's lego in general. City is underwhelming, Pharaoh's Quest seems more like Adventures with monsters then an actual step up in design, Hero Factory is an absolute bust, and Star Wars is very boring apart from the new figures. The only stuff that seems to maintain the quality of the last few years are Atlantis and a couple of the new Police sets, and even then they don't have the same wow factor as Space Police III, Prince of Persia, or even this years' Atlantis and City. It just seems like they've taken a big step backwards in both originality and set designs - and no, I don't consider putting Ninjas and Fantasy Castle skeletons in the same box "original" in the least. I'll ask again: does anyone else feel this way?

Brutally frank I see.

The truth hurts, you're right. So far from the looks of it Hero Factory is a bust, city is nothing special aside from a couple police sets and maybe some harbor sets. but I do like Pharaoh's Quest, it reminds me of Vikings (Personally I like the monsters.) And I never really cared much for Star Wars after 1990s, with exception of the UCS and a couple others, never liked the animated sets. (Not sure if those're the sets for 2011, haven't checked.)

But I'll still keep gripping on hopes that Hero Factory will turn out better than it currently looks.

But yes, I do agree for the most part.

[Cutty]

This line will be parts fodder galore!

All those nice skeletons are going to back up my Castle-skeleton-army. And the new style skeletons definitely scream to be commanders or individuals with personality or something along these lines.

Then the Ice-dragon. I like it, yet wished it was more like Castle's dragons. The system-and-bionicle construction feels like a major step back into Vikings' time. Although I loved that theme for figs and parts, the monsters were... lacking. Why repeat old flaws?

Still I'll hold back on my FINAL final decision to invest into bigger sets, as the pics we got are prelims in some cases for sure (the black castle!).

Edited October 18, 2010 by Cutty

[Milargo]

This line will be parts fodder galore!

How true.

Something about this line just screams "clearance". Maybe it's the tops n' cards.

And the new style skeletons definitely scream to be commanders or individuals with personality or something along these lines.

Didn't notice the new skeletons, and their armor, until now. I blame the small, somewhat blurry pictures.

Love those new armor pieces, and some of those new skeletons look interesting.

Then the Ice-dragon. I like it, yet wished it was more like Castle's dragons. The system-and-bionicle construction feels like a major step back into Vikings' time. Although I loved that theme for figs and parts, the monsters were... lacking. Why repeat old flaws?!

Am I the only one that loved the Viking monsters?

The Ice-dragon does a good job of polishing the Bionicle/System look, improving where the Vikings left off.

Still I'll hold back on my FINAL final decision to invest into bigger sets, as the pics we got are prelims in some cases for sure (the black castle!).

Good call indeed, wasn't sure if they were preliminary. But with a magnifying glance, I see that the black castle looks a bit too hollow even for a NinjaGo set.

Me? I'll probably wait for clearance.

[Aanchir]

That's funny, because I kind of had the exact opposite reaction upon seeing the pictures for the first time. Honestly, the NinjaGo playsets are probably some of the weakest kits TLC has released in years, IMO. The skeleton fotress and ninja dojo just don't really compare to sets like the Portal of Atlantis, Space Police HQ, Kingdom's Castle, or even 2011's Atlantean Temple. I can understand what you mean about this theme being a "stepping stone," but the problem is that it also seems to be the biggest release of 2011, with all the collectable figures pushing the set count way above the likes of Atlantis, Pharaoh's Quest, and even StarWars. If some of TLC's other 2011 releases were being given the same treatment, then I'd be perfectly fine with NinjaGo, but as it stands I don't like to see a second-rate theme take the spotlight away from everything else.

I suppose tastes will differ. I won't pretend that it's the epitome of the LEGO building experience. All the sets look very, very simple, much moreso than recent "action themes" like Atlantis and Power Miners. And as you say, the buildings are little more than walls. But still, my point is that when you consider the size of most Ninjago sets, they still manage to maintain an attractive and consistent style-- a traditional Japanese architectural style for the ninja's buildings, and a science-fantasy style for the skeletons' buildings and vehicles.

It's also worth keeping in mind that we only know of the NinjaGo sets for the first half of the year. If experience with Power Miners and Atlantis is any evidence, the biggest and most complex sets won't be appearing until the second half of the year. So there's still a chance of a large Ninja building, if not to the same extent as Ninja's Flying Fortress was.

You do have good reason to be concerned about this theme stealing the spotlight, though, since it's pretty clear from the leaked retailers' catalogs that LEGO is devoting a great amount of their budget towards promoting this theme (just as Atlantis got the majority of the budget this year, pushing Power Miners and Space Police III to the side). And I think it's extremely likely that as with Power Miners and SPIII, there will be a fairly limited selection of sets for the returning theme Atlantis in the coming year (although there seem to be more releases for Atlantis than for either of those themes, keep in mind that the "golden armor" gimmick would seem to imply that what we've seen is the full 2011 Atlantis lineup).

Of course, the most appealing thing about Ninjago for me, at least, are the skeleton minifigs. Skeleton legs in boots? Check. Arms that blow any of the "ideal" concepts I had come up with out of the water? Check. They're probably going to be enough for me to get at least one of the smaller Ninjago sets, but even if I don't I'm praying that these parts (besides the new torsos, which don't appeal to me much) will carry over to skeleton minifigures in other themes.

Then again, I seem to be apathetic about next year's lego in general. City is underwhelming, Pharaoh's Quest seems more like Adventures with monsters then an actual step up in design, Hero Factory is an absolute bust, and Star Wars is very boring apart from the new figures. The only stuff that seems to maintain the quality of the last few years are Atlantis and a couple of the new Police sets, and even then they don't have the same wow factor as Space Police III, Prince of Persia, or even this years' Atlantis and City. It just seems like they've taken a big step backwards in both originality and set designs - and no, I don't consider putting Ninjas and Fantasy Castle skeletons in the same box "original" in the least. I'll ask again: does anyone else feel this way?

I myself am impressed with most of the 2011 sets we've seen, even though only Atlantis has yet earned a guarantee that I'll invest in it. Hero Factory for me feels like it's finally "growing up" rather than being just a super-simplified BIONICLE with a different name, acquiring its own unique building style having more versatile palette of new pieces than those specialized ones encountered this year (while I had little incentive to get any Hero Factory sets this year, I'm very intrigued by the ones next year and may end up getting at least a couple). The City theme also impresses me, although I've never been much of a city collector (probably in part because it's been years since I've had enough floor/table space to create an adequate LEGO city from even the sets and MOCs I have). Pharaoh's Quest, meanwhile, is unlikely to appeal to me the same way as Agents, Power Miners, Space Police III, and Atlantis did, but it strikes me as an innovative theme with very attractive set designs and a fairly unique carved-stone aesthetic (the giant jackal-sphinx and stone cobra are definitely impressive designs, especially the cobra since I have experience with how difficult it is to make a poseable snake that doesn't feel unnaturally segmented).

And then, looking back, this is exactly the same way as I felt last year about this year's sets. They seemed impressive, but none jumped out at me as sets I needed to get. And I was relieved at that idea because it meant I could better control my budget-- but so much for that. In the earlier half of this year I ended up investing a lot in Power Miners and Space Police sets both new and old, as well as Atlantis (a theme I hadn't expected to start collecting, but was a foregone conclusion once my brother received the Neptune Carrier for Christmas). And since then I have gotten two of the latest three Space Police sets, and have only the collectible minifigures to thank for helping me satisfy my LEGO addiction without breaking the bank. So perhaps I might end up with a larger collection of the new sets than I can currently anticipate.

[prateek]

Wow. This site is the worst Lego site ever. Seriously. I don't even think my 8 and 9 year old cousins will like it.

Does your mom slice bread with a sword?

Lego does Yo Momma jokes now?!?

I guess that makes them "not ninja".

Or just a super epic fail ninja

[Nikola Bathory]

I have to agree - this minisite is so stupid, these questions "does your mother..." are simply stupid. Probably only 6 or 7 years old could find them cool.

[Milargo]

Wow. This site is the worst Lego site ever. Seriously. I don't even think my 8 and 9 year old cousins will like it.

Lego does Yo Momma jokes now?!?

Looks like it.

a super epic fail ninja

Isn't that the site's tag line?

I have to agree - this minisite is so stupid, these questions "does your mother..." are simply stupid. Probably only 6 or 7 years old could find them cool.

Never thought I'd see this on a lego website.

Really, I'm shocked.

Edited October 19, 2010 by Milargo

[Aanchir]

Lego does Yo Momma jokes now?!?

I actually thought that quiz was funny (and not offensive like the traditional Yo Momma joke). Not funny enough to keep me entertained through the whole quiz-- I'm sure someone who was willing to make up their answers could get better comedic effect, though, and I'm sure many kids would happily say that yes, their mom does strike from the shadows or what-have-you.

I have to agree - this minisite is so stupid, these questions "does your mother..." are simply stupid. Probably only 6 or 7 years old could find them cool.

...Which is probably the point. After all, that seems to be consistent with the theme's target audience, correct? Naturally, then, there's no point in targeting the teaser site towards AFOLs and thereby misrepresenting the theme and expectations of the final site for any and all viewers.

I myself thought the site was cute. Half of it is funny, while half is so-unfunny-it's-funny. And in any case, we've only seen one fourth of the teaser site; other updates will be appearing within the coming months and hopefully will bring the site closer to explaining the actual theme and what it's about.

[Bfahome]

The skeleton fotress and ninja dojo just don't really compare to sets like the Portal of Atlantis, Space Police HQ, Kingdom's Castle, or even 2011's Atlantean Temple.

It's sort of ironic that two of the sets you mentioned are Atlantis sets. Remember when the first pictures of Atlantis surfaced? It was just a bunch of red vehicles and a gate thing. Nowhere near the cream of the crop that came out later in the year.

Heck, the first Atlantis pic we got was of the failtrike. Definitely not a good representation of the quality of the other sets.

[Front]

As a Part Designer I can declare 2011 as the coolest year ever. Sets are awesome, parts even cooler

I only got a single Hero Factory set on my table, but really look forward to adding a Skeleton fighting a Ninja soon.

What will happen if 2012 is even better, 2013 will add a bit on top of it, and 2014 will define sligtly higher levels ? Will we explode ?

Front aka Erland

[Peppermint_M]

I for one was already aware that my mother was a ninja (she sneaks around better than any ninja I've ever known.)

Remember folks, LEGO is marketed at children in the main, Action Themes doubly so. Only a select few themes have enough of an AFOL following to warrant special sets and sub-themes (USC, Modular Buildings etc) and the minisites are quite certainly for the kids.

[Milargo]

As a Part Designer I can declare 2011 as the coolest year ever. Sets are awesome, parts even cooler

I only got a single Hero Factory set on my table, but really look forward to adding a Skeleton fighting a Ninja soon.

Well thanks for the good news!

Faith has been renewed.

What will happen if 2012 is even better, 2013 will add a bit on top of it, and 2014 will define sligtly higher levels ? Will we explode ?

If by we, you mean our houses and if by explode you mean packing em' to the limit with Lego bricks until they explode...

Then yes!

[Aanchir]

As a Part Designer I can declare 2011 as the coolest year ever. Sets are awesome, parts even cooler

I only got a single Hero Factory set on my table, but really look forward to adding a Skeleton fighting a Ninja soon.

What will happen if 2012 is even better, 2013 will add a bit on top of it, and 2014 will define sligtly higher levels ? Will we explode ?

Front aka Erland

Cool news. Could you tell us what themes you designed parts for besides Hero Factory, or would that be breaking a non-disclosure agreement?

[Front]

Cool news. Could you tell us what themes you designed parts for besides Hero Factory, or would that be breaking a non-disclosure agreement?

Where was the news ? (lol)

For 2011 it is HF exclusively. We have been busy on this theme, which I'm not doubting you have already guessed. I was committed 100 % to that theme.

But I help where it's needed, and like to do System parts too, which I actually is doing right now. This also give me a chance to work with other designers etc, building new friendships while actually getting a job done.

Front aka Erland

[Nikola Bathory]

I was so happy when they stopped Bionicle, but now they have this Hero Factory nonsense. For me, this is not LEGO. Call me a purist or something else if you wish, but Lego = System.

[Milargo]

Where was the news ? (lol)

For 2011 it is HF exclusively. We have been busy on this theme, which I'm not doubting you have already guessed. I was committed 100 % to that theme.

Cool, I look forward to seeing the new parts I saw in the preliminary pictures up close.

They certainly look different from anything Lego's ever produced.

I was so happy when they stopped Bionicle, but now they have this Hero Factory nonsense. For me, this is not LEGO. Call me a purist or something else if you wish, but Lego = System.

[Aanchir]

I was so happy when they stopped Bionicle, but now they have this Hero Factory nonsense. For me, this is not LEGO. Call me a purist or something else if you wish, but Lego = System.

I do think I understand your point-- while BIONICLE parts were fully compatible with System in terms of practicality, as far as style goes they do often feel out-of-place among System sets and MOCs. Heavy detail such as pistons and implied joints were one of the reasons I loved the series (I've always had a strong appreciation for good part design as well as good set design), but they basically called out any part as a BIONICLE part the minute you saw it (besides the three-length tooth/eye from 2002, transparent globe/eye from 2007, and other low-detail parts some AFOLs might not even recognize as being from BIONICLE).

However, Hero Factory really strikes me as something that could help solve that problem, particularly next year. The parts are greatly simplified, both in function and design. All the armor parts have smooth, broad areas similar to System parts, and the joints themselves are reduced to a ball joint and a socket joint with a couple more ball joints in between. I can foresee some beautiful mechs being constructed with these less specialized parts. There are also fewer specialized masks/helmets-- the bad guy sets have them, but the good guy sets now have smoother and less detailed helmets, with much more versatile binoculars and scopes and whatnot attached on top. The most specialized pieces that remain are the weapon pieces, and there are now only about three of those for the heroes-- and they're all much lower in detail than past BIONICLE weapons.

We saw a sort of a "preview" of this style with the Ben 10 Alien Force sets, but while the shapes of their parts were simplified, the functions weren't. An armored upper leg/arm was still stuck being an armored upper leg/arm. There were some versatile detail pieces, like tiny barbs, scaly plates, and crystalline spikes that jutted off some of the sets' armor, but they obviously weren't useful enough to have been in any sets since. Notably, the Ninjago set Garmadon's fortress (hey! I'm almost back on-topic!) uses the tail pieces from some of the Ben 10 sets as a sort of a ribcage motif on the very front.

Overall, I feel like Hero Factory is "growing up", in a sense-- not in its target audience, but in that it's no longer depending on the patterns and expectations of BIONICLE sets to support it. So while you still might not be compelled to get the clearly kid-targeted sets (which are, of course, still action figures, which some may feel have no place in LEGO whatsoever), I hope once the sets are out you might appreciate the difference between this and its predecessor, BIONICLE. And even if you don't, hopefully LEGO will be wise enough to take advantage of this new and simpler style and find versatile, unexpected uses for some of these new joint pieces, even within System themes.

[Peppermint_M]

Chaps, this seems to be devolving from a discussion on Ninja Go into a discussion on the merits of Bionicle. I worthy subject I am sure, but better suited to the Action Figures sub forum.

Yes, I am aware many Action Themes incorprate such parts, but the focus here needs to be the new theme Ninja Go.

[lisqr]

Copied over from the 2011 city post. These seems to be unrevealed. I can't find them in the leaked catalog.

5702014734630-terrain vehicle in 2506 with a skull June 1, 2011

2507 5702014734647 temple fire June 1, 2011

5702014734654 Smithy 2508 June 1, 2011

2509 5702014734661 Defending the Earth Dragon January 6, 2011

5702014734685 Nuckal ATV 2518 January 1, 2011

2520 5702014734708 arena January 1, 2011

They all sound interesting.

[Milargo]

Chaps, this seems to be devolving from a discussion on Ninja Go into a discussion on the merits of Bionicle. I worthy subject I am sure, but better suited to the Action Figures sub forum.

Yes, I am aware many Action Themes incorprate such parts, but the focus here needs to be the new theme Ninja Go.

Right-O, back to topic.

Copied over from the 2011 city post. These seems to be unrevealed. I can't find them in the leaked catalog.

5702014734630-terrain vehicle in 2506 with a skull June 1, 2011

2507 5702014734647 temple fire June 1, 2011

5702014734654 Smithy 2508 June 1, 2011

2509 5702014734661 Defending the Earth Dragon January 6, 2011

5702014734685 Nuckal ATV 2518 January 1, 2011

2520 5702014734708 arena January 1, 2011

They all sound interesting.

Defending the Earth Dragon, huh. Well that certainly sounds interesting, I thought you were always supposed to slay dragons in the Lego themes.

Terrain vehicle in 2506 with a skull So many interesting set names, with names like these I wonder what the sets'll look like. Guess I'll have to wait until 2011, or at the least until some leaked images make their way to the internet.

Nuckal ATV , When Googling Nuckal, I came across a link to Brickipedia which said (s?)he's part of the NinjaGo line. And when I Google ATV it gives me all-terrain vehicle for the definition, I knew Ninjas had some pretty advanced technology for their time, but I never imagined.

With all this advanced technology, I can't help but wonder if set temple fire will include a fire truck to help put the temple fire out, when the automatic sprinkler systems fail. And the Ninjas are forced to make an emergency call to the fire department from their Iphones.

With all that considered, one can only assume that set "Smithy" is a Machinery Factory that's being relocated to Vietnam, raising prices is tough for Japanese manufacturers when the quality of their products is suspect after a slew of scandals over dangerously UN-NINJA products, not to mention Japan's factories are getting squeezed by rising prices for energy.

Hey you know what, these do sound interesting.

I think I'm gonna like this series after all.

Edited October 20, 2010 by Milargo

[Baylego]

Ooh, an Earth Dragon! My weakness is Lego dragons, so I am sure to like this theme. Two dragons is just too much happiness for me !

[Mrlegoninja]

I was so happy when they stopped Bionicle, but now they have this Hero Factory nonsense. For me, this is not LEGO. Call me a purist or something else if you wish, but Lego = System.

Really? I really loved bionicle, mostly the Bohroks.

[Delta 38]

What does "terrain vehicle in 2506 with a skull" mean? And what was 2506 again?

Anyway, the only thing that really interests me is the ATV. I don't know what "smithy" is, though I can guess that it's probably some armory or something.

The others sound large. I'll reserve judgement until I see the minifigs or the actual sets themselves.

[Oky]

I can't make anything of these strange translated titles. We'll have to wait for pics to know what they really are.

With all this advanced technology, I can't help but wonder if set temple fire will include a fire truck to help put the temple fire out, when the automatic sprinkler systems fail. And the Ninjas are forced to make an emergency call to the fire department from their Iphones.

What does "terrain vehicle in 2506 with a skull" mean? And what was 2506 again?

It's the set number. Must've gotten into the set name by mistake somehow.

Could a mod or K-D please add a list of all the rumored sets for this theme to the first post? That would help keep track of these things.

OK, so let's review what this theme is going to include:

Trading Cards with spinning tops

System sets

A boardgame

A Brickmaster book

A movie

A website, possibly with more videos and games

Lego sure doesn't spare any expense to market this theme. What's next? NinjaGo: The Videogame? NinjaGo backpacks? NinjaGo pajamas?

[Lordofdragonss]

OK, so let's review what this theme is going to include:

Trading Cards with spinning tops

System sets

A boardgame

A Brickmaster book

A movie

A website, possibly with more videos and games

What a movie?! Can't wait to see it! I love lego Movies! But seriously, where did you get this info?

I wonder what ground dragon will be? Maybe he will be brown with crystals?!