LEGO

LEGO is a Danish brand of toy bricks that can be used to assemble models of various intricacy. In 1999, Star Wars became their first licensed product (Spider-Man, Harry Potter, Batman, Indiana Jones, and a few others followed) and since then, building sets from all six films have been released. These sets mainly feature prominent vehicles, and a few scenes.

Many fans of this LEGO theme have made custom sets for the Star Wars Universe from their existing pieces.

The LEGO Star Wars video game, released in 2005, was based on the LEGO sets portraying characters such as Anakin Skywalker and Mace Windu in the prequel movies.

A sequel was also released, which is based on the original trilogy (episodes IV, V and VI). It is presented in a similar format, though introduces new features to correspond more with the interactivity of LEGO. A compilation of the first two LEGO Star Wars games named Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga was announced at Celebration IV. Incorporating all six films, the game was released on all three next-gen consoles, as well as the Nintendo DS.

The current Star Wars license with LEGO is said to have been renewed to continue through to 2011.

Craft
As mentioned above, spacecraft and other vehicles are LEGO Group mainstay for the line. The sets include spacecraft such as the Millennium Falcon and the X-wing, along with some less well-known craft, such as the Flash Speeder and Count Dooku's Geonosian speeder bike (both of which are no longer available for general sale). Specific pieces of special design and various printed pieces have been developed by the company to achieve an accurate look of some of the more complicated craft. LEGO uses stickers as opposed to transfers, as they are more cost-effective.

Some sets over time have been redesigned by LEGO, such as the Millennium Falcon, snowspeeder, landspeeder, and X-Wing fighter. The AT-TE and Republic Gunship are the most recent of these, having been redesigned and released in 2008. The Slave I has been redesigned three times (two for Boba Fett, one for Jango Fett) the latest in 2006. Minifigures have even been redesigned like the Super Battle Droids (changed from blue to silver), 2007 sets have many redesigned minifigures such as Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi (the torso and face colors have been changed), commander, security, pilot droids (torso piece is completely yellow, red, and blue now, respectively, as opposed to the more accurate but less cost-effective printed circles) and droidekas (made with new pieces that showcase a more movie-accurate look, but prevent the figure from folding into a ball). Some minifigures (such as Boba Fett and stormtroopers) have been temporarily redesigned for certain sets with printed legs, hips, and arms. Stormtroopers are probably the most redesigned figure to date, featuring three different helmet designs, three different types of heads, and two different torsos (the old gray and a new "bley").

Ultimate Collector's Series
Some vehicles have been created to be more detailed larger and more accurat than most. This line of models is known as the Ultimate Collector's Series (UCS). Due to the larger scale, more pieces are required and higher skill level to build these models is usually needed. They are also more expensive than most LEGO sets. Some of the models included in the UCS line are the X-wing, Imperial Star Destroyer, Snowspeeder, Y-Wing, AT-ST, blockade runner, and the TIE Advanced, most recently, a new, minifig scale Millennium Falcon (the only UCS set to come with minifigs). These UCS models also come with a fact sheet on their ships; however, there are no minifigures included. (Besides the aforementioned Millennium Falcon) Astromech droids are included in the UCS X-Wing, Y-wing, and Naboo Starfighter (head only).



Expanded Universe
LEGO has already released and plans to release several Expanded Universe sets, including a TIE/d fighter, a TIE Crawler, and Anakin's customized Jedi starfighter from The Clone Wars. Along with an AT-TE including Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Captain Rex and Rotta, a Republic Gunship with two special stickers (which can customize the Gunship to be either the Lucky Lekku or the Crumb Bomber) were released with Asajj Ventress, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Commander Cody, and Plo Koon figures, and a V-19 Torrent starfighter was released with a new clone pilot.

From The Force Unleashed videogame is the Rogue Shadow, with Juno Eclipse, Galen Marek, and a battle-damaged Darth Vader. LEGO has also made a Droid Gunship, a Homing Spider Droid, a Republic Fighter Tank and Anakin's freighter, Twilight. LEGO has also created their own Star Wars vehicles such as a Rebel scout speeder and an Imperial dropship, because of their wish to create "army-building" sets without infringing upon Hasbro's action figure copyright. Also in August 2009 lego is planning to release a Ventor class republic cruiser similar to the star destroyer that was minimized so you can carry it. They are planning to release it for 115 US Dollars.

MINI Series (2002-2005/2007)
In 2002, LEGO began releasing a line of MINI models. These models were much smaller than the normal sets and had fewer pieces and therefore were not as detailed, though they were much cheaper. There have been a wide range of MINI models released, ranging from Episode I's MTT to Episode VI's Imperial Shuttle.

In 2005, two promotional MINI models were released in celebration of the release of Episode III. New MINI sets wil be released 2009, such as V-19 Torrent Starfighter, Clone Turbo Tank, and Snowspeeder.

However, StarWars.com is currently accepting pre-orders for new Star Wars key-chains, which is a set of three new MINI Star Wars vehicles from Episode IV (the Y-wing, TIE Advanced, and Millennium Falcon). LEGO has released key-chains in the past as minifigures, but this will be the first time in which a MINI vehicle becomes a key-chain. A new wave of "bag charms", as they are officially called, includes the Slave I, a Jedi interceptor, and Luke's landspeeder.

Locations/Scenes
LEGO has also created sets or parts of a set that is focused on scenes/locations from the movies such as the "Final Duel" and "Jedi Defense" sets.

"Locations" range from large sets to single objects, such as moisture vaporators and cranes. Single objects are most often paired with vehicles, such as the Episode Two speeder bike sets: 7113 (Owen Lars' swoop) with the moisture vaporator and 7103 (Count Dooku's Geonosian speeder bike) with the crane. No Episode II sets, aside from Clone Wars sets, are currently available for general sale.

Most of the smaller location sets are paired with vehicles, not limited to single props. 7180 B-wing came with a Rebel Control Center, and 4502 X-wing Fighter had Yoda's Dagobah hut as a side-draw. Episode I's 7121 Naboo Swamp, a swampy landscape of plant life, was paired with two STAPs and their battle droid pilots.

Also, there are the massive stand-alone playsets, such as 4480 Jabba's Palace (though this can be connected to 4475 Jabba's Message and 4476 Jabba's Prize to form an even larger Jabba's Palace), 10123 Cloud City, and 7257 Ultimate Lightsaber Duel. The latest large playset is 10188 Death Star, featuring scenes from both Death Stars, such as the trash compactor, the Emperor's throne room, and the conference room.

Characters
The final, but very integral part of a LEGO Star Wars set is the characters. Almost all of the saga's most iconic characters have been incarnated into LEGO form.

The most common form in which characters appear in the LEGO universe are as minifigures, classic LEGO people. These come with a boxy torso and interchangeable heads; torso; headpiece (hair or some form of headgear); cape (made from real cloth and attached onto the neck, before the head), appearing on some characters; and legs; though most fans switch arms, hands, and even hips while this is not officially intended.

New minifigures of accessories representing characters never cease to cause excitement. Due to the unique appearances of the many droids, soldiers and aliens that comprise this universe, many new molds have been specially created for the series. These include the General Grievous minifigure, the Gungan and Rodian heads, and the helmets of Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers (including stormtrooper variations) Molds for accessories have also been created, such as helmets, headpieces, weapons, etc. These include the lightsaber handle (which has since been reused for other purposes both in and out of the Star Wars range), electrobinoculars, the recent new-mold blasters in the 2007 sets, Rebel pilot helmets, and more.

There are a few variations of the standard LEGO minifigure produced for the Star Wars range. The most controversial and prominent type are the light-up lightsaber (LUL) minifigs, released with some of the larger Episode III sets in 2005. Characters given the treatment include Darth Vader, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Luminara Unduli. These figures look like usual ones on the surface, except that, to facilitate internal electronics, no components can be removed, except the headpiece. When the head is pressed down, an LED illuminates the LEGO lightsaber blade. The batteries last three hours and are not intended for replacement, though they can be replaced. These proved to be so unpopular that all minifigures except Luminara have been replaced in some way or another with non-LUL minifigures.

The other variation is the minifigure magnet. So far, four of such sets (containing three characters each) have been released. The 12 characters are Yoda, Anakin Skywalker, a green clone trooper, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, a Stormtrooper, an AT-ST Pilot, a Rebel Pilot, a Royal guard, Princess Leia, Boba Fett, Anakin Skywalker (young), Darth Maul and a Naboo Pilot. Strong magnets are placed in the minifigure's legs and torso, so while they look exactly like a normal LEGO minifig, they can stick onto magnetic surfaces. Unlike LULs, only the legs and the torso of the minifigure cannot be separated. As of 2008, these minifigures have ceased production, most likely because of new legislation discouraging the use of such small magnets in a children's toy.

Star Wars products were also among the first, besides the Spider-Man and Harry Potter (starting at the Prisoner of Azkaban sets) range, to experience the change from yellow to "flesh-tone". As of mid-2004, all of LEGO licensed product ranges experienced a change in skin tone from the classic yellow to the more realistic flesh-tone. These minifigs are often called "fleshies".

Other less common incarnations of characters from the universe include Technic models and UCS characters.

Technic
Technic is a form of LEGO which entirely forsakes the regular brick design and relies on technical parts such as gears, axles, cross-bars, and so on. It is mainly droids, such as the pit droid, R2-D2, C-3PO, battle droid, super battle droid, and droideka that have been incarnated in this unique form. Technic sets allow for accurate features and various movements otherwise impossible. Both the pit droid and battle droid sets fold up, while the super battle droid has a quick-draw blaster function; R2-D2 produces a tool arm, and C-3PO's head and arms fall off when the center is pushed.

However, Jango Fett, Darth Vader, and the stormtrooper have also been turned into Technic figures as well, possibly because of the mechanical appearance of their costumes.

Ultimate Collector's Series
The last way characters appear in LEGO is as UCS models (see "craft" above). Darth Maul's bust and Yoda were the only two UCS characters as of 2007, but General Grievous collectors model was released in 2008. Building at this scale provides immense amounts of character detail. These sets are made up mostly of standard LEGO bricks.

List of Sets
Visit the wiki dedicated to everything about the Lego Star Wars Universe: Lego Star Wars Wiki. or see List of LEGO sets on the Star Wars Merchandise Wiki.

Information resources

 * Official Star Wars LEGO Site
 * Peeron.com database
 * LUGNET database
 * From Bricks to Bothans - Star Wars LEGO Fan Resource Site
 * Brickipedia, a LEGO wiki
 * Brickwiki, another LEGO wiki
 * Lego Star Wars wiki
 * Saber-Scorpion's Lair the Jedi Knight story illustrated in LEGO
 * Brickwiki, another LEGO wiki
 * Lego Star Wars wiki
 * Saber-Scorpion's Lair the Jedi Knight story illustrated in LEGO

Commerce resources

 * LEGO Star Wars at LEGOShop.com


 * BrickLink

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