The Evolution of Star Wars Minifigs

[AndyC]

When pirates first came out I wonder if there was the same debate about the printed faces,hooked hand,peg leg etc. All of it is evolution of a classic design

If the web had been about there almost certainly would have been. As it is I remember being quite shocked to see not just peg legs and hooked hands but but even minifgs with different faces (even if they were really minor variants of the classic smiley). I also remember being super excited about them too though and that's probably as true for kids today seeing newer, more accurate figs than in the past.

Personally I'll mix 'n' match them as I want - classic smileys, modern yellows, fleshies and clone warsy ones all just bundled together. Love 'em all. :)

[Flobnomdob]

I really think that the detailing is perfect (Though I'm not a fan of the printing on the Battle Pack Commander, the lines where too thin to be 'Legoy') but the awesomeness gap between he original and new figures is just growing too large, in my mind. THe new Grievous is just too much better in my opinion, and I wish these new figures came in cheaper sets. Also, when a minifig has full front and backprinting and a fleshie face specially designed for tht use and perhaps even printed hiar/headgear, plain legs can just look strange.

One super-annoying thing for me is that there's an increase in flesh necklines on 'figs. Just look at the latest Dooku- now that torso cannot be used on a yellow minifig, for about 5mm worth of flesh. it's just not worth it!

[legolandia]

Personally I think that evolution is inevitable and necessary. I love the new minifigures with all their details. The detailing on the minifigs is a consequence of advances in printing technology. And the flesh color is better than yellow in my opinion.

Like in all areas of life though there's always going to be those who "yearn the old ways" and find it difficult to accept change.

[Blondie-Wan]

But Blondie, don't forget that Lego can't "evolve" one line and not the other, they have to be consistent. So if the City line demands more detailed minifigs, they update all their minifigs, independent of what line it fits in. So if the market is asking for more details in the firemen/police/emergency line, they're upgrade everything, from Castles to SW.

I know, but I'm not sure they are being consistent. Lots of the "current" minifigures that are being replaced (or are about to be) are already comparable in detail to non-SW minifigures from such themes as Kingdoms, City, even the Minifigures line (the collectible ones), and some of the ones replacing them are arguably more detailed than other minifigures in those other lines. Moreover, a lot of the upcoming redesigns don't actually appear to be substantially more detailed than the ones they replace, just differently detailed. Above the waist, the upcoming stormtroopers don't appear to be more detailed than the current ones; they just have printed legs now, and the torsos have a different (but not necessarily more detailed, more realistic or better) interpretation of the stormtrooper armor than the current ones do.

Every big and traditional brand is doing so, trying to cram as much details and features in their lines as it's economically viable. Electronic entertainment and xing ling toys are a BIG bogey man to all the traditional toy lines, like Lego and Playmobil, so the brands have to keep up. If any of them stop coming out with new stuff and features, they sink.

I know, but they don't specifically need redesigns of all the minifigures for that.

Edited November 29, 2011 by Blondie-Wan

[Werlu Ulcur]

Of course no one wants just new details, we want better details. I don't know all the older figs, so it's very possible that Lego is just "swapping details", and not really introducing something new. But that my friend, is the bane of what I call "the collecting mentality" that we as AFOL are not immune to - and Lego knows that very well. The prime example is the chromed Darth Vader. It was not part of the movies, costs (a lot) more then a regular Vader minifig but most collectors want one, just because it's a "collector's item".

If we all have this collecting mentality, and if Lego knows that, they WILL issue different minifigs with very small differences from the original minifig. They knows it will sell because we all collect minifigs and it's different from the original one that we already have. It's the same story for every toy line or item that is collected by adults.

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

I like the new minifig when the face are serious: I don't like the Star Wars Clone War series where the face looks like a cartoons

[Huntleyfx]

I agree with the "collecting mentality" mindset, and I am aware how that can go overboard. I was initially intending to get a few stormtroopers, which then lead to wishing to create a "type set" of the various Imperial troops, which then to their beginnings (CW.) In short, the Stormtrooper Battle Pack brought me out of the Dark Ages. AFOLs definitely make a great market, and I enjoy the new figures as much as the next guy, but my issue is that the new figures just don't look good. In the attempt to capture more detail in an animated form, it seems like looks are going by the wayside.

On a side note, I am also concerned with practical matters, as I am afraid with LEGO's quality control, and more complicated prints, mis-prints will become even more rampant.

[Vicmackey80]

The progress of SW minifigures is great, especially in the headgear, i hate only thing..light flesh colour (in all theme of Lego)..the Lego minifigure is YELLOW..only YELLOW!!!!!!!

[382nd Legionnaire]

I'm just really glad TLG switched over to flesh colors. I would like to see shoulder printing and I think that would be detailed enough for a minifig.

[Oky]

Is that my picture of CW Grievous I see in the title image?

Good idea to have a separate thread for this. In my opinion, the more detail the better. The new ARC Trooper and the sand trooper, as well as many of this year's minifigs are just gorgeous to me! There might be a point in the future where they go too far with the detail, but they haven't reached it yet in my opinion, so until then, give us more minifigs like Cloud City Boba!

[JackJonespaw]

2012 is getting a little too detailed for a classic fan's taste. Take this, for example.

And the check out the minifig in the same set.

This isn't really as good as the version available in the Death Star.

Edited November 30, 2011 by JackJonespaw

[Cpt. Dan]

This isn't really as good as the version available in the Death Star.

Something about 3PO just does not seem right. Maybe I'm just too old school but the more pictures I see the more turned off towards buying these sets I become

Edited November 30, 2011 by Cpt. Dan

[Thea Neotera]

I don't like the new C3PO either, but I think the Sandtrooper looks good :D

[Cpt. Dan]

I don't like the new C3PO either, but I think the Sandtrooper looks good :D

They are neat, but with an already established army they will stick out. I think I am just being ridiculous about

these figs. Kudos to Lego for such incredible detailing, even if I'm being a grumpy 23 year old .

[Thea Neotera]

Yeah, I have to agree that it would totally suck for people who like to build armies. But never having the desire to do so, I like the details :D

[Cpt. Dan]

Yeah, I have to agree that it would totally suck for people who like to build armies. But never having the desire to do so, I like the details :D

It could be the perfect fig for the MOC or display! I have to try and see the light side in it. I must admit, I do wish ST came with leg printing like in Imperial Inspection. Along with clones as well. That would be really neat. Instead we're stuck with Horn Company and Bomb Squad troopers that really stick out! I must apologize, I am very particular about my figs.

[Fallenangel]

That is the point I disagree with. Yellow does not look better than flesh tone, because no one in the world has yellow skin. LEGO is about playing for kids, and when the figures aren't even recognizable as humans it takes away from the play experience. Kids want a toy with people that look like the people in the world that they see, and people with yellow skin don't just go strolling down the street on a daily basis now do they?

If I saw a person walking down the street with a head wider than his shoulders and nearly as tall as his legs are long, lacking ears, nostrils, and knees, with shoulder and hip joints that only move in one plane, two fingers per hand, stubby legs, and rectangular feet as wide as his hips, well... I'd call a doctor. Seeing as minifigures are proportionally flawed in the first place, the argument that they need to resemble humans more is a rather weak one. Minifigures feature molded parts that can't be easily modified and are generally less versatile in comparison to regular elements. Thus for them to try to become more accurate through detail is to advance a movement that is flawed at its core.

[Brickdoctor]

If I saw a person walking down the street with a head wider than his shoulders and nearly as tall as his legs are long, lacking ears, nostrils, and knees, with shoulder and hip joints that only move in one plane, two fingers per hand, stubby legs, and rectangular feet as wide as his hips, well... I'd call a doctor. Seeing as minifigures are proportionally flawed in the first place, the argument that they need to resemble humans more is a rather weak one. Minifigures feature molded parts that can't be easily modified and are generally less versatile in comparison to regular elements. Thus for them to try to become more accurate through detail is to advance a movement that is flawed at its core.

Indeed. Remember that the LEGO minifigure is intended to be a cartoonish representation of the character, not an exact replica. For those that want replicas, there are action figures, which is why I don't want LEGO minifigs to become like action figures. There's a certain attraction the LEGO minifig has in its disproportionate, inaccurate simplicity that no other toy humanoid has, for me.

[Fallenangel]

There's a certain attraction the LEGO minifig has in its disproportionate, inaccurate simplicity that no other toy humanoid has, for me.

"Something about the painted face, the fake smile. There always seemed to be a darkness lurking just under the surface, a potential for real evil."

EDIT: Interestingly enough, a similar discussion appears to be taking place in General Discussions.

I'm somewhat reminded of the fact that there existed minor dimensional variations between the various stormtrooper helmets used in the films (including one famous "stripeless trooper") as well as the fact that Vader's helmet was not only asymmetrical but sported a two-tone paint scheme. Not to mention transforming equipment, rank badges, and even inconsistencies between props. I wonder, will these be incorporated into future minifigure designs as well? Just think, someday we’ll have minifigures of TIE pilot ”EXITP” as well as TIE pilot ”9X942”. (Is that Aurebesh on their helmets?)

Edited November 30, 2011 by fallenangel309

[Mr Man]

Indeed. Remember that the LEGO minifigure is intended to be a cartoonish representation of the character, not an exact replica. For those that want replicas, there are action figures, which is why I don't want LEGO minifigs to become like action figures. There's a certain attraction the LEGO minifig has in its disproportionate, inaccurate simplicity that no other toy humanoid has, for me.

This sums it up perfectly for me .

[Zzz]

I am a bit of an army builder myself, so with all due respect to you other guys out there who like to be surrounded by legions of Stormies or such - we cannot expect TLC to consider our collections when it comes to minifigs. If you army-build Castle or Police or whatever, all minifigs of all themes have been exchanged several times over the past 10 years, and it's good how it is.

I for myself don't always stick with the latest but with the one I am most happy about in terms of design and money spent. So if TLC throws out ONE new Stormie in 2012, we can all do the math if we like to have our armies replaced with this guy. And seriously, missing out the opportunity to get Stormie BPs a couple years ago is not TLCs fault, neither is our unwillingness to pay the prices on BL or Ebay. I think the BP Stormy was really really nice and the small changes on the torso won't justify it for me to spend A LOT (or have a mess with BL / Ebay buy/sell orders) in exchanging my guys. For everyone who wants to exchange, he's gonna throw a lot of old Stormies in the market and make some guys pretty happy. And about the Sandys, they are special troops, I think they'll blend in perfectly with my BP-Stormies, they have the same helmet design, it will look awesome, I am pretty sure. Will probably get 3 of those droid escape sets to have my small platoon!

About 3PO, we all have the choice which one to take, right? Everyone's a winner here, since we don't need legions. (now that's frightening me..)

[1980-Something-Space-Guy]

This isn't really as good as the version available in the Death Star.

To tell you the truth, I always believed that 3PO was missing his exposed cables. However, something looks wrong with the one in this pic. It could be the light, but the orange chest lines are too light, and the torso detailing calls for leg detailing to match the body.

[Darth Nihilus]

To tell you the truth, I always believed that 3PO was missing his exposed cables. However, something looks wrong with the one in this pic. It could be the light, but the orange chest lines are too light, and the torso detailing calls for leg detailing to match the body.

Also, the print gold color is slightly different than the pearl gold on C-3PO's arms, legs, and head. Now I know hwy he doesn't look right.

[Piranha]

I don't like the new C-3PO one bit, wish they had done chrome

[Thea Neotera]

I wonder why they still don't include a silver leg for 3PO. TLG made dual-colored legs before. Even if just a print...

Speaking of which, why aren't his legs printed? I would hope that 3PO is more iconic than a sand trooper...