It's my first topic here. So if there are improper words or format, please inform me.

Sometimes I found out that many liscensed themes don't have the scenes and characters we want. And while we ask for it, the themes are already discontinued.

Usually LEGO just release several sets and then stop to consider whether these sets can represent the total essense of the story. I believe only StarWar fans are satisfied since it's the only longlasting theme.

Dinscontinued themes:

Mickey Mouse:

Honestly it wasn't a true theme due to unreal Mickey minifigs, so it's doesn't mean too much if LEGO make any other Mickey sets.

Harry Potter:

Thanks to LEGO who continue it in 2011 and most newer themes are added, even though some fight themes in the latter stories (mainly novel volume 5~7) aren't made into bricks. Still, most main characters are made into minifigs. (maybe not Cho Chang or Fleur?)

Avatar/ The Last Airbender:

Obviously the worst treatment of the bunch. It just broke down in season 1 and now the story already goes with three seasons and a new legend of Korra.

Prince of Persia:

If we talk about the game title, this theme didn't make other scenes and characters (eg, Kaileena) from the sequels of games. But the LEGO theme stress mainly on the adapted story of the Disney movie. We're not sure if LEGO should also make use of game materials, or only if Disney would love to shoot sequels.

Toy Story:

Many main characters in Woody's groop (BoPeep, Mr&Ms PotatoHead, Slinky, Barbie) didn't become bricks. And as we know, the series possibly has some thing to do with the franchise of other toy companies.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Most characters and notable scenes are bricks. If we have to pick, it might be prequel stories (eg, Arabella Smith) and the possible fifth sequel to the series.

Ongoing themes (2012):

SpongeBob Squarepants:

It's experimental continued now with several sets. Most symbolic buildings had been bricks (except Sandy's home). For characters, I'd love to see Pearl, Karen and the ocean royalty.

Spiderman:

Spiderman was released along with the previous two movies but didn't go out with the last one (eg, Sandman, Venom). And for the new film series: The Amazing Spider-Man, we'd love to see if new specific scenes and characters can be included this time.

DC / Marvel works:

Even though there would be other sets, the current problem is that the sets mainly focus on "omniverse" of all works and not their original stories. We dont know if we can see the classic scenes ,and other characters who were major in the original stories but minor in the omniverse (eg, Pepper Potts, Lois Lane).

Another problem is that even though DC and Marvel would continue on their franchise, some stories that the themes were based on (eg, Harry Potter, Avatar Aang) was "ongoing" stories that not yet completed. Rather than Star Wars and Lord of Ring who had finished their main story, I think LEGO shouldn't make those themes at that time since they can't assure that these sets conclude the whole story. Unless they can make good plans to release new sets in different seasons and years until that story ends.

The discontinuation of the Indiana Jones theme as well made me a little upset, there was still a good amount of life left yet in that franchise. There were several iconic scenes from the series made, such as the temple at the beginning of raiders, the titular Temple of Doom and the Akator temple in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but I would have loved more sets from Last Crusade. For example, the catacombs in Venice would have made a great medium-sized set similar to the graveyard from the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull line. A train car playset from the beginning of the film with young Indy's earlier adventure would have been a lot of fun, and of course the Grail chamber with a cool Grail knight minifigure.

As for Spider-Man sets that is because MB has had the licensing right to the character since after the second movie. Only thing LEGO can make is stuff from the comics and from the new cartoon, which they have already made. So do not be expecting any Amazing Spider-Man sets coming from LEGO, no matter how cool it would be.

I think saying that Lego should produce sets on licenses which already have a complete series of episodes/movies is irrational. Themes are most popular while they're ongoing, so TLG has to release sets during that time. The line-up of sets and minifigs may have better quality if they are produced after the completion of the story arc of a licensed theme, but what's the point having slightly better sets if there is no or little demand for them? It's just not profitable, so they have to make some compromises. And quite frankly, I'm just fine with that, even if it means the cancellation of potentially great themes such as Avatar. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to wait for the Avengers sets until after the release of The Avengers 3!

You also have to keep in mind that most of the so-called errors in sets are made by choice, such as the inclusion of Iron Man in Loki's Cosmic Cube Escape for the sake of having an exclusive/desirable fig and one of the main four Avengers in the set.

Prince of Persia:

If we talk about the game title, this theme didn't make other scenes and characters (eg, Kaileena) from the sequels of games. But the LEGO theme stress mainly on the adapted story of the Disney movie. We're not sure if LEGO should also make use of game materials, or only if Disney would love to shoot sequels.

The game franchise had no involvement with the license. The Lego sets were strictly based on the Disney movie, since Disney does not own the rights to the franchise, just the movie rights.

Because there is no current plans for a sequel, it makes sense for Lego to have made it a one-wave release, just like they did with Speed Racer (a theme you left out).

And as for Spider-Man, the new sets are with the Marvel license. Lego has not made a new license with Sony as far as I know, so they can't make sets based on the new movie.

-Omi

Edited July 2, 201212 yr by Omicron

I think the only two sets that I was really disappointed to see go were the Indiana Jones, and the POTC. Not so much for the Licensed aspect of the Pirates, but the fact that it was pirates at all.

You forgot to list LOTR, Star Wars (even though those aren't discussed in this forum), and Cars. And maybe even Phineas and Ferb, which might come next year.

As a bit of a Harry Potter fan, I have to admit that I (and many other HP lego fans) would love to have new Harry Potter sets.

I was really sad when HP was discontinued, they still had lots of sets to make.

As for Spider-Man sets that is because MB has had the licensing right to the character since after the second movie. Only thing LEGO can make is stuff from the comics and from the new cartoon, which they have already made. So do not be expecting any Amazing Spider-Man sets coming from LEGO, no matter how cool it would be.

That is indeed a pity. I was looking forward to seeing TASM in Lego.

I'm not a Marvel fan, but if I was I think I'd be thankful that TLG don't have the license to make X-Men and Spiderman sets based on the films. For me the comics have to trump the films as source material, if for no other reason that the potential for sets is far wider reaching.

I really miss the Indiana Jones theme. I was lucky enough to get a couple of the sets when they were out, but didn't buy some of the others.

I now regret it. For HP, I was really in to it during the beginning with the yellow figures. I have bought some of the newer ones though such as Diagon Alley, my favorite HP set. I will definitely miss the HP theme though.

Prince of Persia was an okay theme IMO. I ended up buying most of the sets during sales or when they were put on clearance.

I really do love the new SuperHeroes line, but have sadly sold my old Spiderman and Batman sets on Ebay. I deeply regret that now. That is why I have bought multiple of the new SH so I can keep one MISB, and one to play with.

I really do hope TLG continues to bring licensed themes in the future as they are definitely some of my favorite sets.

Harry Potter was the only licensed theme I have any sets of (I do have a few Star Wars minifigures, but that's it for that theme ), so that's the theme I miss the most. We still never got any Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw uniforms! There were also a bunch of sets they didn't make; I really wanted a new Chamber of Secrets and clock tower for the new modular Hogwarts of 2010/2011.

Would Jurassic Park and Nestle from the Studios theme count?

Would Jurassic Park and Nestle from the Studios theme count?

It was Jurassic Park in name only, and it was just dinosaurs and recreations from JP3, with no actual JP figs.

-Omi

I was quite disappointed at the failure of the Avatar: The Last Airbender sets, even though to be fair the sets we did get weren't that good. I get the feeling executive meddling from Nickelodeon was one of the contributing factors to the quality of those sets, seeing as it looks like the Spongebob theme got a much higher budget. Couple that with the fact that LEGO licensed sets from that era in general pale in comparison to modern ones, and I'm left with little desire to pay the outrageous prices for one of those sets on the aftermarket. Still, it's a shame that theme didn't do better, seeing as the sets faded away just as the show started really taking off.

Lets not forget about Mcdonalds.(Does this count?)There was a happy meal line in which you made vehicles with printed faces of the the characters on the front.Getting free legos with your food wasn't bad,but I would have loved to see some minifigs!

I really miss the Indiana Jones theme. I was lucky enough to get a couple of the sets when they were out, but didn't buy some of the others.

I now regret it.

When Indiana Jones sets were out I was in my dark ages and didn't pay much attention to them. I do remember seeing the Flying Wing on clearance at Walmart for at least 2 weeks. I was kind of tempted to get it. Probably would have gotten me out of my dark ages sooner. I didn't buy it, and I completely regret it. Now I am going back and buying them from the secondary market.

Now, whenever I hear reports of certain lines getting discontinued I make getting the remaining sets a priority above anything new coming out. I just picked up the HP Hogwarts Castle and Diagon Alley a few weeks ago. Now I have all the HP sets that were on my want list.

Edited July 6, 201212 yr by sharky

I was really sad to see Indy go. I wish it could have gotten one more wave. We still needed Sallah, Marcus Brody, Donovan, Toht, Lao Che, the Maharajah, a couple of the Nazi colonels, Mac, Oxley, Young Indy, and some others.

I think saying that Lego should produce sets on licenses which already have a complete series of episodes/movies is irrational. Themes are most popular while they're ongoing, so TLG has to release sets during that time. It's just not profitable, so they have to make some compromises.

I can understand that, but lack of completeness do decrease the williness of consumers, and we hate to see commercialization kill creativity. Still some themes aren't bound by time (DC works,Spongebob.)

In the opinion I gave, it can be that they should release in several waves or different years, one for their movie/TV series adaption beginning in theaters, and the last wave when the official story near its end.

Edited July 13, 201212 yr by Dorayaki

And if they were to make a Sandy's Treedome building set in the SpongeBob theme they would have to bring back this piece, previously seen only in LEGO Space and in Aquazone Hydronauts:

...unless they just release her tree-house, picnic table and hamster wheel. One of the the things LEGO overlooked when redesigning Sandy's air helmet was the pink flower, which they left out of the design at the last minute before releasing the Glove World set to the general public.

I was very dissapionted to see POTC go. I was starting to really get in to that theme . I guess I wait for a POTC 5.

Lets not forget about Mcdonalds.(Does this count?)There was a happy meal line in which you made vehicles with printed faces of the the characters on the front.Getting free legos with your food wasn't bad,but I would have loved to see some minifigs!

I remember getting Bionicles with my Happy meals, even though they were pretty bad.

I'm personally very excited for the new Ferrari Racers polybag sets. I always loved the Ferrari sets, but now they will be using the new Car parts.

I see now why the non-Avengers Marvel Super Heroes sets are so generic: the X-Men movies were produced by Fox and the Spiderman movies were produced by Sony and the Lego License is with Marvel Studios. So how does Disney fit in with the Marvel license now that Disney owns marvel?