2011 NINJAGO sets

[Delta 38]

Hi all. I have to admit that when I first saw the announcement of this theme and the promo / marketing info that followed, I was pretty skeptical. But over the last few weeks, I've been lucky enough to pick up the smaller/mid-sized sets—Ice Dragon, Skull Motorbike, Turbo Shredder—and was quickly won over. I think the "quirkiness" of mixing skeletons, ninjas, fantasy, and vehicles first turned me off, but now I realize it's the theme's biggest asset. Not to mention the continued expansion of our definition of "minifigure", given the cool new skeleton body. (Not partial to the ugly big-headed ones, personally.)

I agree with that. The two sides are so diverse that it's almost like two themes in one (though I think it's a bit vehicle-dominant). As I missed the original ninja theme, and these skeletons are new, it's somewhat convenient that the two ideas were merged.

I can't believe I didn't notice before (probably because I don't recall seeing them), but in those promotional videos, the skull truck can be seen. How long will the series last for? Maybe the series is intended to be short (completed fully) so some of the new sets can be seen.

[ka.lego]

I can't believe I didn't notice before (probably because I don't recall seeing them), but in those promotional videos, the skull truck can be seen. How long will the series last for? Maybe the series is intended to be short (completed fully) so some of the new sets can be seen.

I haven't had a reason to ask before, but does anyone know if sets get released differently in different regions? Do they come out at different times and in different allotments? Or are they pretty much released at the same times?

Edited January 15, 2011 by ka.lego

[---Vertea---]

Hi all. I have to admit that when I first saw the announcement of this theme and the promo / marketing info that followed, I was pretty skeptical. But over the last few weeks, I've been lucky enough to pick up the smaller/mid-sized sets—Ice Dragon, Skull Motorbike, Turbo Shredder—and was quickly won over. I think the "quirkiness" of mixing skeletons, ninjas, fantasy, and vehicles first turned me off, but now I realize it's the theme's biggest asset. Not to mention the continued expansion of our definition of "minifigure", given the cool new skeleton body. (Not partial to the ugly big-headed ones, personally.)

If you're looking for reviews, there are several online of varying quality.

Video Reviews

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ninjago+review&aq=f&safe=safety_mode=true

Minifig Reviews

http://uglyduck-bricklink.blogspot.com/2011/01/lego-ninjago-minifigure-guide.html

Text / Image Reviews

http://www.ninjagoreviews.com/

(Who knew there was a site just for Ninjago reviews? Weird.)

Hope this helps.

dude... what are the odds... I'm actually helping out with that website. A friend of mine makes websites and I give him a hand when he needs it. I was supposed to do articles for the Ninjago site, but I've been a bit busy job hunting. I'm actually behind on his stuff, which is pretty inexcusable.

[Oky]

Well, I just saw the movie... and I feel kinda dizzy. Even the freakin dragons were spinning! Other than that, it was actually kinda fun. The skeletons were even more anoying than the battle droids from The Clone Wars, but Sensei Wu was hilarious. I totally want his minifig now. They left it open-ended, so maybe there will be a sequel. I liked how the skull vehicles utilized a flux capacitor to cross over to the Underworld. What I didn't like were the countless plot holes, but I guess those were to be expected from a movie that is solely made to sell sets (and trading cards, and a boardgame, and a videogame, and books, and watches, and...). It was also pretty lame that Nya's sole purpose was to give Kai a reason to join the ninjas. If we do get a sequel, I hope she'll join them too and start taking care of herself.

Are you referring to the 2263 Turbo Shredder?

No, he is talking about 2506 Skull Truck. Yes, it was in the movie, as were all the other summer sets.

[Cecilie]

It was also pretty lame that Nya's sole purpose was to give Kai a reason to join the ninjas. If we do get a sequel, I hope she'll join them too and start taking care of herself.

That sounds pretty lame, yeah, but she doesn't seem to be portayed as a damsel in distress in the actual sets. I just got my hands on the new 2011 catalogue (in norwegian though), and it shows she'll be getting her own spinner-pack in april, with two daggers as weapons. Her bio in the catalogue roughly translates (from norwegian) as follows:

"Name: Nya - sister of fire

Weapon: Two daggers

Strength: She's psychic

Fixes her big brother's mistakes. Kai's sister is a little spitfire who loves to fight"

Sorry if this is all common knowledge (this thread is getting waaaay too long to backtrack for info), but at least it makes me happy to see they don't make Nya out to be a damsel in distress.

[ziljin]

Well, I just saw the movie... and I feel kinda dizzy. Even the freakin dragons were spinning! Other than that, it was actually kinda fun. The skeletons were even more anoying than the battle droids from The Clone Wars, but Sensei Wu was hilarious. I totally want his minifig now. They left it open-ended, so maybe there will be a sequel. I liked how the skull vehicles utilized a flux capacitor to cross over to the Underworld. What I didn't like were the countless plot holes, but I guess those were to be expected from a movie that is solely made to sell sets (and trading cards, and a boardgame, and a videogame, and books, and watches, and...). It was also pretty lame that Nya's sole purpose was to give Kai a reason to join the ninjas. If we do get a sequel, I hope she'll join them too and start taking care of herself.

I watched the movie too. I thought it was entertaining. I hope they make a sequel if they make a Wave 2. Although it would be pretty lame to have to wait so long just for 2 more episodes. Well I was going to get the Dojo and Dark Fortress and ninja training outposts for the minifigs but I think I will just get the Dark Fortress for the castle pieces. It has a decent amount of black and gray pieces and black panels which I can use for a black fortress. I just ordered the Prison Tower Rescue so if I buy this set I should have enough black bricks to make a small castle.

[TheMasterChief]

I too have just seen the movie. It was appealing to my younger brother. Also, not to brag but I just purchased Kuckal's ATV It's a pretty nice set, actually. to the designer!

[lowbike1]

, I think the name 'NinjaGo' sounds abit cheesy and Childish in my opinion

well... it is a kids toy, so...

[Prominence]

I too have just seen the movie. It was appealing to my younger brother. Also, not to brag but I just purchased Kuckal's ATV It's a pretty nice set, actually. to the designer!

Any chance you'll do a review and post it on YT?

Off-topic: How do I change my avatar? I'm new here :)

[ka.lego]

No, he is talking about 2506 Skull Truck. Yes, it was in the movie, as were all the other summer sets.

Yes. Thanks Oky. I went and corrected my post. I totally had no idea there were summer sets. After reading your correction I checked out brickpedia. Sorry if this was all covered already in this thread. I'm new to the forum and I admit I didn't read all 60+ pages of old posts. After seeing the picture for the Earth Dragon, I'm really excited. I was pleasantly surprised by the Ice Dragon and can't wait to see the rest.

It was also pretty lame that Nya's sole purpose was to give Kai a reason to join the ninjas. If we do get a sequel, I hope she'll join them too and start taking care of herself.

That sounds pretty lame, yeah, but she doesn't seem to be portayed as a damsel in distress in the actual sets....

Fixes her big brother's mistakes. Kai's sister is a little spitfire who loves to fight"

...but at least it makes me happy to see they don't make Nya out to be a damsel in distress.

I just want to thank both of you for bringing this up. I've always been disappointed by the lack of quality female characters in kids' toys, especially for a great brand like LEGO that I think has more potential than most to be able to bridge the gap between "girls' play" and "boys' play". Here's hoping that Nya does end up being a great, well-rounded character. Really though, would it be so hard to have made one of the Ninjas female from the start? Better still, two? There was a thread on FBTB about suggestions to LEGO for new themes, and I expressed some concerns about the portrayal of young women and suggested some themes to help with this. I'm definitely appreciative of andinterested in this sort of constructive critique. Again, I'm new, so I'll take a look at the rest of the forums to see if there's a more appropriate spot for this topic.

Cheers!

[Delta 38]

I haven't had a reason to ask before, but does anyone know if sets get released differently in different regions? Do they come out at different times and in different allotments? Or are they pretty much released at the same times?

As others have said, the skull truck is from the next wave. There is probably a variation in release as to when they come out (the sets have just started appearing), though the order stays the same, I think.

Well, I just saw the movie... and I feel kinda dizzy. Even the freakin dragons were spinning! Other than that, it was actually kinda fun. The skeletons were even more anoying than the battle droids from The Clone Wars, but Sensei Wu was hilarious. I totally want his minifig now. They left it open-ended, so maybe there will be a sequel. I liked how the skull vehicles utilized a flux capacitor to cross over to the Underworld. What I didn't like were the countless plot holes, but I guess those were to be expected from a movie that is solely made to sell sets (and trading cards, and a boardgame, and a videogame, and books, and watches, and...). It was also pretty lame that Nya's sole purpose was to give Kai a reason to join the ninjas. If we do get a sequel, I hope she'll join them too and start taking care of herself.

Oh, it's a movie, right. The way the trailers were presented made it seem like a series, which is why I made that comment before.

Were there any more interesting vehicles or structures in the movie that might become sets? I'd really like some more buildings, particularly for the skeletons. Although I didn't really want it at first, I'll now get Garmadon's fortress because otherwise the skeletons don't have a base of some sort.

I just want to thank both of you for bringing this up. I've always been disappointed by the lack of quality female characters in kids' toys, especially for a great brand like LEGO that I think has more potential than most to be able to bridge the gap between "girls' play" and "boys' play". Here's hoping that Nya does end up being a great, well-rounded character. Really though, would it be so hard to have made one of the Ninjas female from the start? Better still, two? There was a thread on FBTB about suggestions to LEGO for new themes, and I expressed some concerns about the portrayal of young women and suggested some themes to help with this. I'm definitely appreciative of andinterested in this sort of constructive critique. Again, I'm new, so I'll take a look at the rest of the forums to see if there's a more appropriate spot for this topic.

Well, now that I know the plot, I have to say that the role I thought Nya previously had seems to have been downgraded. I would have been fine with female ninjas, so long as they looked the same as the current ones to fit in.

[buddy]

Brickset have justed added a new NinjaGo set to their catalog, 30084 it is just a blue ninja. Here is a picture of it:

~buddy~

[The Yellow Brick]

well... it is a kids toy, so...

You do realise that I posted that before we even got to see any images for the set

[Darth Jar Jar]

Heres a pics of Nyas,Cole DX and Nuckals spinner sets

Edited January 15, 2011 by Darth Jar Jar

[Masked Builder]

Has anyone seen Skeleton Bowling in stores in the US?

[prateek]

I just noticed that Jay in Skeleton Bowling is wearing Dragon Riding clothes. Why? Maybe the bowling dojo is his dragon, explaining why we haven't seen a Lightning Dragon yet

[Masked Builder]

I just noticed that Jay in Skeleton Bowling is wearing Dragon Riding clothes. Why? Maybe the bowling dojo is his dragon, explaining why we haven't seen a Lightning Dragon yet

You never know but I doubt it.

[VenVoi]

Used a TRU rewards coupon and got Krazi for $6 today I can't tell a difference between him and the other skeleton I own in terms of quality. The only downside is the lack of his jester hat, but I have it on order from BL for $2.65 total, so I'm still coming out 1-2 dollars ahead without having to buy the ice dragon (Krazi is the only part of that set I like).

[Geki Brick]

I realize that I'm trying to guess how much Mountain Shrine is going to be, and whether Lightning Dragon Battle will be a $20 set...I just can't wait for them to come out and find out myself-_-. Gee...anybody have that problem where you can't wait for the things you want to come out? It's driving me nuts!

[Oky]

That sounds pretty lame, yeah, but she doesn't seem to be portayed as a damsel in distress in the actual sets.

I know, that's why it was so disappointing to see her portrayed as one in the movie.

I hope they make a sequel if they make a Wave 2.

Well, as we already know, there will be a Wave 2, but all the sets from Wave 2 are based on the first movie, so the earliest that we can espect a sequel is with a third wave.

Yes. Thanks Oky. I went and corrected my post. I totally had no idea there were summer sets. After reading your correction I checked out brickpedia. Sorry if this was all covered already in this thread. I'm new to the forum and I admit I didn't read all 60+ pages of old posts.

No problem.

I just want to thank both of you for bringing this up. I've always been disappointed by the lack of quality female characters in kids' toys, especially for a great brand like LEGO that I think has more potential than most to be able to bridge the gap between "girls' play" and "boys' play".

You have some valid points, but this theme, like so many others, is clearly geared at boys.

If you would like to continue this discussion, I'd suggest you start a topic for it in the General Discussions forum. I don't think there is one yet, at least not a current one.

Oh, it's a movie, right. The way the trailers were presented made it seem like a series, which is why I made that comment before.

Were there any more interesting vehicles or structures in the movie that might become sets?

Well, it was shown in two separate episodes, "Way of the Ninja" and "King of Shadows", and the story was open-ended, so it did seem like a pilot for a larger series, but there has been no word of a planned series so far. I think it's possible though.

And no, there wasn't really anything new in the movie that we don't already have a set of except the dragons and the sail ship that we saw in the trailers, and some Ewok-style gliders and a lame horse carriage.

Brickset have justed added a new NinjaGo set to their catalog, 30084 it is just a blue ninja. Here is a picture of it:

Cool, thanks! That looks like a neat promo. I wonder if they have the other ninjas like that too and where you can get these. This looks like a much better way of acquiring ninjas than the spinner packs.

Has anyone seen Skeleton Bowling in stores in the US?

I think I saw it at the Lego Store, but I'm not completely sure.

I realize that I'm trying to guess how much Mountain Shrine is going to be, and whether Lightning Dragon Battle will be a $20 set...

Didn't we already have this conversation?

I first imagined it to be like what you said, but this guy does have a spinner included and the super popular/rare golden sword. Now with Lego, I think they will jack up prices because of those two proponents. It will still be the smallest structure set though (not counting the impulse).

Yes, but it also seems to have less pieces. If you look at the shrine, it's somewhat <insert that tiresome argument>.

As for the Lightning Dragon, I think Mrlegoninja has a point in saying that if it's true that the set title includes the word "Battle" it's likely that it will be bundled with a skeleton vehicle, making it more than $20.

And don't worry, we all have those buying urges when we see new sets. That's one of the terrible things about seeing early pics.

Edited January 16, 2011 by Oky Wan Kenobi

[Geki Brick]

I found out through legal means that the Mountain Shrine box is in fact, the same dimensions as the Skeleton Chopper set. The Earth Dragon Defence box unfortunately, has the same dimensions as the Turbo Shredder. Now if the prices are analogous as well, we've got a decently priced Mountain Shrine and a $30 Earth Dragon Defence.

[Arigomi]

I think my favorite part of the movie was the horse carriage scene. Sensei Wu has no reservations about how he abuses his naive students.

I'm a little sad that TLG decided against making a special mold for Sensei Wu's bamboo staff.

[Mr Spielbrick]

Having only seen the trailer and being mostly interested in separate parts (to make my own figs): pleasepleaseplease let there be a set with the red ninja's hair in it. That'd be awesome. Makes the ninja more human too, to get to see them without their masks on all the time. Helps with variation, helps with wanting to collect all versions of the ninja...

I have to say, recent and future sets of various themes are quite good for parts-collectors like myself. In Ninjago, we get all these lovely Oriental bits and pieces (the patterned glass from the dojo! the straw hat!) and totally unexpected coolness (black army helmet! better skeleton arms! golden lightsabre-hilt-variation!). Very nice.

[ka.lego]

I have to say, recent and future sets of various themes are quite good for parts-collectors like myself. In Ninjago, we get all these lovely Oriental bits and pieces (the patterned glass from the dojo! the straw hat!) and totally unexpected coolness (black army helmet! better skeleton arms! golden lightsabre-hilt-variation!). Very nice.

Agreed whole-heartedly. Parts-collecting was the main reason I picked up some of these sets. All the pieces you listed plus some others more than make these sets a great addition to one's collection. However, as I've said before, once I actually built the Ice Dragon and Skull Bike, I was actually pretty impressed by the finished product. The "fun-" and "cool-factor" just clicked for me. The tank thing was quite the opposite though...I gave up after the first two pages. Ha. For a vehicle it was feeling a little too unsubstantial...all frame, no fat. I have a feeling it would be the same thing with the playsets—fortress, skeleton bowling, dojo—if I for some reason got my hands on those. Doubt I will, though those patterned glass pieces are tempting.

[Prominence]

I found out through legal means that the Mountain Shrine box is in fact, the same dimensions as the Skeleton Chopper set. The Earth Dragon Defence box unfortunately, has the same dimensions as the Turbo Shredder. Now if the prices are analogous as well, we've got a decently priced Mountain Shrine and a $30 Earth Dragon Defence.

There's a Skeleton Chopper set?