Lego Creator

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Lego Creator
Lego Creator.svg
Sub‑themes3 in 1, Botanical Collection, Designer Set, Inventor Set, Magazine Gifts, Miscellaneous, Model Making, Modular, Mosaic, Postcard, Promotional, Seasonal, Traffic, Value Packs and X-Pod
Licensed from The Lego Group
Availability2001–present
Total sets610 [1]
Official website

Lego Creator (stylized as LEGO Creator) is a Lego theme for generic models. Creator sets have few specialized bricks to create buildings, creatures, vehicles, and robots. Some sets featured instructions for three different possible builds from the bricks included and most sets in recent years have used the 3-in-1 label. Creator is also a parent theme to Lego Icons, a Lego subtheme for adolescents and adults featuring advanced building techniques and large piece counts, mostly known for Modular Buildings and detailed vehicles. Creator also has had several other subthemes such as X-Pods and mosaics.

Contents

Overview

The original theme called Creator was launched in 2001 and had over-sized minifigures, [2] such as mascots Tina and Max, targeting a younger demographic but was discontinued after one year. In 2002, the Creator name was used for sets composed of buckets or tubs of generic Lego bricks, which later became "Make and Create" and then "Bricks and More". In 2003, a theme called "Designer" began have subject specific sets with bricks and instructions included to build multiple models based around a concept, such as vehicles or animals. In 2006, Lego then began branding its Designer sets under the "Creator" theme. In 2004, a subtheme called X-Pods had similar smaller builds included in travel-sized containers and was also then branded under the Creator theme in 2006. The 2006 X-Pods were also the first Creator theme to use the "3-in-1" labeling on the packaging, which later became a primary feature of Creator sets. In 2007, the Creator line introduced two sets based around creating mosaics under a separate sub-theme. The theme began including Lego minifigures in sets based around buildings in 2011.

In September 2021, Matthew Ashton, The Lego Group's Vice President of Design announced the Creator alongside City, Friends, Lego Classic, Technic, Speed Champions, Monkie Kid, Ninjago, Collectible Minifigures and DOTS themes were continue until at least 2023. [3]

Sub-themes

According to BrickLink, The Lego Group released 610 playsets as part of the Lego Creator theme. [1]

3 in 1

3 in 1 is a subtheme that provides instructions split into three parts that allow young builders to choose three different ways to build models such as creatures, structures and vehicles, including Mythical Creatures and Pirate Roller Coaster. [4]

X-Pods

X-Pods were formerly a subtheme of Designer sets [5] from 2004 [6] to 2005 and transitioned to the Creator brand in 2006. X-Pods were small, portable containers that contained small sets of Lego bricks. They came with a strap to join them together for easy mobility and transportation. The X-Pod theme also had smaller polybag versions of select sets without the mobile pod itself and had the first branded Creator 3-in-1 sets in 2006. [7]

Creator Expert / Icons

A Lego model depicting a real-life London Bus. Lego London bus.jpg
A Lego model depicting a real-life London Bus.

Starting in January 2013, Lego merged its advanced technique models into the Creator line under a new sub-theme called Creator Expert, with the first release being 10233 Horizon Express. Previously, the advanced sets had been themed under Lego Model Team until the labeling was discontinued in 1999. After Model Team, the advanced sets had no labeled theme and were typically only sold as exclusives. [8] The exclusive sets were later re-released under the Creator Expert brand, with some received new updated packaging such as the 10220 Volkswagen T1 Camper Van that had originally been released in 2011.

Creator Expert is focused specifically for adolescents and adults. In 2020, the boxes ceased using the branding as "Creator Expert" and simply used an 18+ age rating and simple black box to further advertise for an older demographic, [9] although the sets continued to be sold under the Creator brand at the Lego website. [10] Creator Expert typically has annual releases that follow themes such as a Winter Village; a product line first released in 2009 focusing on winter-holiday aspects, [11] [12] Modular Buildings; a series of town, apartment, and retail structures first launched in 2007, and models based on real world vehicles.

In 2021, Lego launched the Botanical Collection sub-theme featuring sets inspired by plants, flowers and other flora. The Flower Bouquet and the Bonsai Tree sets were the first to be released, with sets inspired by bird of paradise flowers, orchids and succulents following. [13] Due to immense popularity, the collection became its own theme in 2025 and was renamed to simply Botanicals.

In 2022, the Lego Group announced the Lego Creator Expert theme would be rebranded as Lego Icons come January 2023. [14]

Video games

Lego Creator (video game)

Lego Creator is a sandbox game for Microsoft Windows, which involves building with virtual Lego elements. The game has no missions, objectives, challenges, or money constraints. The game was released on 11 November 1998. [15] [16] [17]

Lego Creator: Knights' Kingdom

Lego Creator: Knights' Kingdom is a construction simulation video game for Microsoft Windows. It allows players to use virtual Lego pieces, first to build a medieval kingdom, and then to use the kingdom in a battle against the character Cedric the Bull. It is a stand-alone sequel to the 1998 game Lego Creator , and is based on the first incarnation of Lego's Knights' Kingdom theme. [17]

Lego Creator: Harry Potter

Two sandbox games were released as part of the Lego Creator series: Lego Creator: Harry Potter (2001) [18] and Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). [19] Both games allow the player to build their own sets in a virtual world based on the Lego Harry Potter theme, and interact with their constructions by taking control over minifigures or creatures that have been added to the world by the player. [20]

Reception

In 2015, The Lego Group reported that the Lego City, Lego Creator, Lego Technic and Lego Star Wars themes had contributed to its first half results jump 18 per cent for 2015. [21]

In January 2023, Fantasy Forest Creatures (set number: 31125), Downtown Noodle Shop (set number: 31131), Majestic Tiger (set number: 31129) and Medieval Castle (set number: 31120) were listed as one of "The Best Lego Sets for Kids in 2023" by  IGN . [22]

Awards and nominations

In 2019, Roller Coaster set was awarded "Toy of the Year" and also "Playset of the Year" by the Toy Association. [23]

In 2022, Flower Bouquet (set number: 10280) was awarded "Toy of the Year" and also "Grown-Up Toy of the Year" by the Toy Association. Everyone is Awesome (set number: 40516) was awarded "Toy of the Year" and also "Specialty Toy of the Year" by the Toy Association. [24] Everyone is Awesome (set number: 40516) also won British LGBT Awards for 2022. [25]

In 2022, adidas Originals Superstar (set number: 10282) was awarded "Best Licensed Product“ in the category "Toys, Games, Novelties (ages 8 and up)" by Licensing International in Las Vegas. [26]

In 2022, Ferris Wheel (set number: 31119) was awarded "STEAM Toy of the Year" by the Toy Association. [27]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of Lego</span>

This article lists notable events and releases in the history of the Lego Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lego Space</span> Discontinued Lego theme

Lego Space is a science fiction-oriented Lego theme which focuses on astronauts, space colonization, spaceships, and extraterrestrial life. Introduced in 1978, along with Castle and Town, with each of the three themes representing the 'Past' (Castle), 'Present' (Town) and 'Future' (Space). It is one of the oldest and most extensive themes in Lego history, consisting of over 300 individual sets.

Lego <i>Harry Potter</i> Lego theme based on the Harry Potter film series

Lego Harry Potter is a Lego theme based on the film series of the same name and the eponymous novels by British author J. K. Rowling. It is licensed from Warner Bros. Lego models of important scenes, vehicles and characters were made for the first six films and all of the published books. The first sets appeared in 2001, to coincide with the release of the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Subsequent sets were released alongside the new films, until Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The line then went dormant for three years, with sets being released in 2010 and 2011. In 2018, it was announced that more sets based on the Harry Potter franchise would be released, including new sets based on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and its sequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

<i>Lego Creator</i> (video game) 1998 video game

Lego Creator is a sandbox game for Microsoft Windows, which involves building with virtual Lego elements. The game has no missions, objectives, challenges, or money constraints. The game was released on 11 November 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lego City</span> Lego theme

Lego City is a theme under which Lego building sets are released based on city life, with the models depicting city and emergency services, airport, train, construction, and civilian services. It evolved from LEGOLAND Town as one of the three original themes that Lego produced upon its launch of the Lego minifigure in 1978 along with Castle and Space, with each of the three themes representing the 'Past' (Castle), 'Present' (Town) and 'Future' (Space). The Town brand was briefly replaced with Lego World City in 2003 and 2004 before it was simply rebranded as Lego City in 2005.

Lego Atlantis was a product range of the construction toy Lego, themed around the underwater world of Atlantis. The range was launched in early 2010 and discontinued by the end of 2011. The toy sets included models of buildable underwater vehicles, as well as "heroic diver" and "shark warrior" minifigures. A ride based on the range was operated at Legoland Windsor Resort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lego Toy Story</span> Lego theme

Lego Toy Story is a Lego theme based on the Disney·Pixar's Toy Story film franchise. The first four sets were released on December 30, 2009, with an additional two sets being released on January 4, 2010. In May 2010, five Lego and four Duplo sets were released under the Toy Story 3 sub-theme. The original theme was discontinued in 2011. For the release of Toy Story 4 there was one Duplo set based on the third film and 6 Lego sets based on the fourth film. These sets were released in March and in April 2019 this time under the Juniors line. The minifigures in the sets were also now redesigned. The revival theme was discontinued in 2021.

Lego Minifigures are a 2010 Lego theme based on a set of collectible Lego minifigures. Each figure is an original character with new clothing and facial designs, and many contain previously unseen accessories. Each series usually contains 16 different minifigures; however, some series contain as few as 9 minifigures, while others contain up to 22. Since 2021, the number of different minifigures for a series is set to 12. In 2023, the Disney 100-anniversary series came out, bringing the total number of figures to 18, although it was once again reduced to 12 with the second Marvel series. This series also introduced paper boxes, instead of the plastic bags, making it no longer possible to feel up the pieces for each figure.

Lego Ninjago is a Lego theme that was created in 2011 and a flagship brand of The Lego Group. It is the first theme to be based on ninjas since the discontinuation of the Lego Ninja theme in 2000. It was produced to coincide with the animated television series Ninjago, which was superseded in 2023 by a new series titled Ninjago: Dragons Rising.

Lego Pirates of the Caribbean is a discontinued Lego theme that is based on the film series of the same name. It is licensed from Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films. There are nine known sets. The first wave was released in May 2011 with the second wave coming out in November 2011. In November 2010, it was officially announced by Lego that the video game Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game was in production. It was released on May 10, 2011, in North America. The series acts as a thematic replacement for the popular Lego Pirates theme, featuring many of the same elements. Most of the sets are similar to the Lego Pirates theme. The theme was first introduced in 2011 and discontinued in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lego Speed Racer</span> Lego set series

Lego Speed Racer was a 2008 Lego theme based on the 2008 film Speed Racer. It consists of four sets which were first released in April 2008. The product line was discontinued by the end of 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lego Friends</span> Lego theme

Lego Friends is a product range of Lego construction toys designed primarily for girls that was launched in 2012. It introduced "mini-doll" figures, which are about the same size as traditional Lego minifigures but are more detailed and realistic. The original cast consisted of Andrea, Olivia, Stephanie, Mia and Emma. The theme was relaunched in January 2023 to focus on a more diverse cast of characters: Aliya, Nova, Zac, Liann, Paisley, Leo, Autumn and Olly.

Lego Super Heroes is a theme and product range of the Lego construction toy, introduced in 2011, owned by The Lego Group and licensed from DC Entertainment, Marvel Entertainment, Warner Bros., The Walt Disney Company and Pixar.

Lego Disney is a Lego theme based on the various Disney Princesses and Disney characters involved in different Disney films and television series. It is licensed from Walt Disney Pictures. The theme was first introduced in 2016 and was re-branded theme from the Lego Disney Princess line in 2017. The toy line was accompanied by several shorts and television specials based on Lego Disney.

Lego Juniors was a product range of the construction toy Lego, designed for children aged 4 to 7 years old. It acted as a transition from the Duplo to the regular Lego System. Lego Juniors initial release was on February 14, 2014, with the tagline Easy to build. It was the successor to the Bricks & More line released in 2009. Unlike its predecessor, Lego Juniors offered specialized bricks to make builds look more realistic while using fewer pieces for an easier build. The product line was discontinued by December 31, 2018 and rebranded as "4+" in 2019. 

Lego Icons is a series of Lego construction toys aimed at a demographic of adolescents and adults. Beginning in 2000 without an established logo or icon, Icons features models such as aircraft, sculptures, and world buildings, selling as exclusives with numerous specialized elements and complex building techniques. Icons is considered a challenge to both the target audience and Lego designers. All Icons sets are classified into specified sub-themes; however, the entirety of Icons is classified as a sub-theme of Lego Creator.

<i>The Lego Movie</i> (Lego theme) Lego product line based on The Lego Movie

The Lego Movie is a Lego product line based on the 2014 film of the same name. It was licensed from The Lego Group, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Warner Animation Group. The theme was first introduced on 26 December 2013 in the United Kingdom and 30 December in the United States to coincide with the release of the film, along with The Lego Movie Videogame. Further sets were produced to coincide with the release of the second film in The Lego Movie franchise, titled The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. The product line was discontinued by 31 December 2019.

Lego BrickHeadz is a Lego theme that recreates iconic characters from themes like DC, Marvel Comics, Star Wars and Disney as buildable characters. The theme was first introduced in 2016.

Lego Fusion was a Lego theme that combined standard Lego bricks with a mobile app that was designed to interact and communicate with the build models according to the principle of augmented reality. The theme was first introduced on 1 August 2014 and exclusively in North America. It was eventually discontinued by the end of July 2015.

References

  1. ↑ "Brickset Creator Sets – 2001". Brickset. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Lego Ninjago, Monkie Kid, Speed Champions and more continuing to 2023". Brick Fanatics. 12 September 2021.
  3. ↑ "Lego Systems, Inc. Introduces Hundreds Of New Building Sets To Inspire Creativity In Children Of All Ages". PR Newswire . February 16, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Lego Shop: Make & Create: Lego Designer Sets". Lego Shop. Archived from the original on October 22, 2004.
  5. ↑ "X-Pods hit the UK". Brickset. January 21, 2004.
  6. ↑ "Creator – X-Pod – 2004 – Brickset: Lego set guide and database". Brickset. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  7. ↑ "10232 Palace Cinema". Brickset. December 27, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Lego ditches Creator Expert branding in favour of 18+ marking". Brickset. May 4, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Creator Expert About". Lego Shop. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  10. ↑ https://brickset.com/article/479/spend-75-at-a-lego-store-and-get-a-free-pick-a-brick-box!, Brickset. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  11. ↑ https://brickset.com/article/45700/this-delicious-gingerbread-house-is-this-year-s-winter-village-set, Brickset. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  12. ↑ "New LEGO Botanical Collection - About Us". LEGO.com. 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
  13. ↑ "LEGO Creator Expert theme officially rebranded as Lego Icons". Brick Fanatics. 30 May 2022.
  14. ↑ "Building Games with Lego". PC Zone . No. 69. Dennis Publishing. November 1998. p. 32.
  15. ↑ "LEGO Media International Introduces Three New Software Titles". TheFreeLibrary.com . Archived from the original on 7 October 2018.
  16. 1 2 "Bits N' Bricks Season 4, Episode 43: The LEGO Game That Unlocked True Digital Creation" (PDF). Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  17. ↑ "Lego Shop: PC & Video Games: Lego Creator Harry Potter PC Game (5787)". 3 February 2005. Archived from the original on 3 February 2005.
  18. ↑ "Lego Shop: PC & Video Games: Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ (14555)". 12 February 2005. Archived from the original on 12 February 2005.
  19. ↑ "Bits N' Bricks Season 4, Episode 43: The Lego Game That Unlocked True Digital Creation" (PDF). Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  20. ↑ "18 percent global sales growth in the first half of 2015". Lego.com. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  21. ↑ "The Best Lego Sets for Kids in 2023". IGN . 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  22. ↑ "2019 TOTY Winners". The Toy Association.
  23. ↑ "2022 TOTY Winners". The Toy Association. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  24. ↑ "Lego 40516 Everyone is Awesome wins LGBT Award". Brick Fanatics. 25 June 2022.
  25. ↑ "Licensing International Unveils Awards Winners". License Global.
  26. ↑ "2022 TOTY Winners". The Toy Association. Archived from the original on 2022-02-19. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
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