Fifteen years of LEGO NINJAGO!
Posted by TheBrickPal,
The NINJAGO animated series is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary today! To commemorate this amazing milestone, LEGO has many plans in store, to occur throughout 2026.
The press release follows:
Get Ready to GO FULL NINJA as LEGO NINJAGO Celebrates Its 15th Anniversary: New Collabs, Play Sets, Content & Events
- Since its launch in January 2011, LEGO NINJAGO has become the LEGO Group’s longest-running homegrown entertainment IP and a prominent evergreen toy line
- The 15th anniversary year will bring epic storytelling, creative and fun LEGO sets, exclusive collaborations, and immersive real-life experiences to fans
Billund, Denmark, 14 January 2026: As LEGO NINJAGO marks its 15th anniversary, the LEGO Group is thrilled to tease and unveil a year of epic celebrations, special edition LEGO sets, new stories to enjoy, unexpected collaborations including new partnerships, new digital adventures in Fortnite, and in-person events that will unite fans old and new in the spirit of the ninja lore.
When LEGO NINJAGO debuted in January 2011, it went beyond a typical product launch. After 18 months of research, it transformed a simple ninja concept into a dynamic universe rich with powerful characters, immersive storytelling, and innovative playsets. The pilot season of the LEGO NINJAGO series in 2011 captivated audiences, prompting the team to expand the series further. The journey continued with the launch of the NINJAGO movie in 2017 and entered a new era in 2023 with merged realms and source dragons.
The plan was for NINJAGO to run for a few years, but 15 years later the homegrown entertainment IP is still going strong and has a major fanbase across age groups. In fact, NINJAGO has one of the largest fandoms in the LEGO brand. The stories about teamwork, mastering, development and unlocking true potential have been consistent throughout the years in the TV series and products, and in 2026, the adventure will reach new heights.
Nigel Kong, Head of Product at the LEGO Group said: “As we celebrate 15 years of LEGO NINJAGO, we’re incredibly proud of how this universe has developed and inspired creativity, resilience, and adventure for fans around the world. We are also endlessly thankful for our fan community, who continues to engage with the NINJAGO universe. This anniversary is not just a celebration for us, it’s for our fan community – whether a lifelong or new fan, now is the time to Go Full Ninja! 2026 marks the beginning of an exciting new era for the franchise.”
NINJAGO as the first homegrown LEGO IP to be featured in LEGO Fortnite
NINJAGO entered the LEGO Fortnite world for the very first time last month, inviting players to experience what it means to Master their True Potential in the digital world. The launch introduced a major content update for LEGO Fortnite Odyssey including a brand-new LEGO NINJAGO Island for fans to explore. It also transformed iconic NINJAGO characters into life-size battle-ready forms within the popular Fortnite Battle Royale, complemented by NINJAGO-themed Emotes in the Fortnite Shop. This is just the start of bringing fans of both NINJAGO and Fortnite together, as the story continues in a second NINJAGO update in 2026!
LEGO NINJAGO Family Boardgame coming
To further celebrate the anniversary, the LEGO Group and Asmodee are launching a new cooperative family board game, called NINJAGO Destiny’s Bounty Adventures. This collaboration offers fans and families a new way to connect and enjoy the NINJAGO universe together. The game is designed to bring friends and families together and lets players team up as Ninjas to defend the iconic ship Destiny’s Bounty from a host of villains. The game will be available globally from July 30, 2026.
LEGO NINJAGO 15th Anniversary collection – designed for ages 14+
- Fans can get their hands on the Blacksmith which is packed with nostalgia and hidden details referencing the past with the LEGO NINJAGO Four Weapons Blacksmith set (71858). The 1259-piece set opens to reveal a bedroom and forge packed with details, stickered tiles of mini trading cards, and the golden weapons map. The set also comes with 6 minifigures: Maya, Ray, Nya, Blacksmith Kai, Master Wu and for the first time, a collectible Elemental Master of Earth on a display stand.
- The LEGO NINJAGO Ninja Character Display (71866) shows a stunning monastery gate display made of 447 pieces that feature 7 iconic minifigures from Season 1, plus the exclusive collectible Elemental Master of Lightning. The set is the perfect centrepiece for showcasing ninja heroes that are loved by many, including an opening gate, a cherry blossom tree, a tearoom decorated with stickers and more.
- Lastly, fans can choose to celebrate 15 years of the theme with an upgraded version of the iconic Mech with the LEGO NINJAGO Lloyd's Titan Mech (71860) made of 1293 pieces. The figure is a reimagining of one of the most iconic NINJAGO sets and comes armed with a large sword alongside a never seen before shield that splits and transforms into a pair of wings for dynamic battle poses and customization. The set includes 3 minifigures: Lloyd, Grimfax and a collectible elemental Master of Ice on a stand. Available for pre-order now via: www.LEGO.com/product/lloyds-titan-mech-15th-anniversary-71860
Supercharged storytelling that will level up LEGO NINJAGO
Alongside the awesome anniversary sets, fans can look forward to a bold new era for the TV series and content. This year, fans will get to enjoy Season 4 of NINJAGO: Dragons Rising in addition to the introduction of a new, unexpected and unparalleled narrative, aiming to prove unexpected plot twists and engagement.
Join NINJAGO DAY celebrations in LEGO Stores
To celebrate NINJAGO’s 15th anniversary, select* LEGO Stores in EMEA and AMS will host NINJAGO Day events featuring hands-on building and giveaways, taking place on January 17th and 18th – details below. Go full Ninja and come along!
LEGO NINJAGO enters Fan Events
In 2026, the LEGO Group will celebrate the 15th Anniversary by participating across a range of LEGO Fan events throughout the year, including Brickvention Australia in January 2026, with more events coming later. The ambition is to offer engaging programmes for children, fans and families to join the celebrations across the anniversary year.
NINJAGO celebrations across LEGOLAND Parks
To celebrate 15 years, LEGOLAND Parks** are unleashing an all-new, action-packed event: NINJAGO Celebrations. Visitors can expect brand-new live shows, exclusive costume characters, epic giveaways, and hands-on build experiences that bring the NINJAGO story to life in the parks, alongside the return of fan-favourite scavenger hunts and immersive 4D movies. Fans can also jump back into the action on the much-loved LEGO NINJAGO - The Ride in LEGO NINJAGO World.
Go, Ninja, Go! Stay tuned for more LEGO NINJAGO updates and announcements throughout the year via www.LEGO.com/aboutus/newsroom and the LEGO Group’s social media channels.
*The in-store NINJAGO Day celebrations will be across select LEGO Stores in EMEA and AMS. Some events will run one day, and some are over two days, see below.
EMEA
- LEGO Store Barcelona: 17th January
- LEGO Store München Zentrum: 17th Jan
- LEGO Store Paris: 17th and 18th Jan
- LEGO Store Amsterdam: 17th and 18th Jan
- LEGO Store Leicester Square London: 17th and 18th Jan
AMS
- United States – The LEGO Flagship Store Fifth Avenue, The LEGO Store Mall of America & LEGO Store Nebraska Crossing: 17th & 18th Jan
- Canada – LEGO Store West Edmonton: Jan 17th & 18th
LEGOLAND Park activations
**Event dates vary by park
- California 17 Jan – 16 Feb Weekends
- Florida 17 Jan – 16 Feb Weekends
- Japan 31 Jan – 15 Mar
- Korea 21 Mar – 31 May
- Germany 28 Mar – 12 Apr
- Windsor 28 Mar – 12 Apr
Please note: California, Florida and Japan will activate LEGO NINJAGO Weekends and NINJAS UNITE, rather than NINJAGO Celebrations.
What are your favorite NINJAGO memories? Let us know in the comments below!
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51 comments on this article
Wasn’t it like yesterday that there was an article about Ninjago being 10 years old and therefore eligible for being in a random set of the day? And said RsotD being manipulated to select Ninjago set on the first possible day? :-) It surely couldn’t have been 5 years already…
What does the Master of Lightening do? They have power of the bleach element?
I remember when Ninjago launched, it did feel like they’d nailed something special - lightning in a bottle like GI Joe, the Transformers, or TMNT.
The fact it’s proved popular for fifteen years really shows just how special it is, though. No other LEGO internal IP has achieved that level of staying power.
Most impressive.
It's nice to see a non-licensed theme have such success. I wonder if LEGO really knows why it was successful. Sure, you have "powerful characters, immersive storytelling, and innovative playsets". There's also associated media like television series, video games, or movies. The minifigures are generally done well with new character types and new elements. The sets offer substantial diversity with action-type playsets, vehicles for everywhere (land, sky, water), and buildings.
But, a lot of other homegrown themes (like Legends of CHIMA) check a lot of those same boxes and don't have the longevity. Maybe it comes down to the simple fact that ninjas are cool and LEGO has done a great job structuring the product around that core concept.
Such a cool series for mech, dragon and vehicle fans. Hopefully Ninjago will run for many years to come.
PS: Is it possible to post all the Lloyd's Titan Mech images somewhere? Is there a press kit for it? Lego lists ohne three on there website, so does the set page on bricklink.
Edit: Thalia.de has all the set images
Everybody knows you never go full Ninja.
@goshe7 said:
"But, a lot of other homegrown themes (like Legends of CHIMA) check a lot of those same boxes and don't have the longevity. Maybe it comes down to the simple fact that ninjas are cool and LEGO has done a great job structuring the product around that core concept."
It also helps that Ninjago is a very wide mix of things so can continually reinvent itself but remain the same theme. It can have fantasy creatures as antagonists, or it can have more realistic antagonists. It can be set in traditional architecture and modern architecture. It can have futuristic and traditional vehicles. It can have dragons but also futuristic technology such as mechs and can be based on land, in the sky or on or even under the sea. Ninjago has taken the place of just about all the fantasy elements of traditional LEGO themes while the more realistic / everyday life type stuff is in City and Friends. Whereas other homegrown themes of the past had more boundaries, Ninjago had and still has much more freedom. And that is probably why it has replaced all those short lived themes of the past. It needs little advertising and character development as it is now a continual theme, and sets from this year easily sit alongside all the other Ninjago sets of today as well as sets of 5, 10 and 15 years ago as they are all the same theme. Whereas a set from Atlantis didn't really work alongside a set from Alien Conquest, one from Pharaoh's Quest and one from Monster Fighters despite being just a year or two apart.
Go go go Ninja Go!!
I love the theme.
@CCC said:
" @goshe7 said:
"But, a lot of other homegrown themes (like Legends of CHIMA) check a lot of those same boxes and don't have the longevity. Maybe it comes down to the simple fact that ninjas are cool and LEGO has done a great job structuring the product around that core concept."
It also helps that Ninjago is a very wide mix of things so can continually reinvent itself but remain the same theme. It can have fantasy creatures as antagonists, or it can have more realistic antagonists. It can be set in traditional architecture and modern architecture. It can have futuristic and traditional vehicles. It can have dragons but also futuristic technology such as mechs and can be based on land, in the sky or on or even under the sea. Ninjago has taken the place of just about all the fantasy elements of traditional LEGO themes while the more realistic / everyday life type stuff is in City and Friends. Whereas other homegrown themes of the past had more boundaries, Ninjago had and still has much more freedom. And that is probably why it has replaced all those short lived themes of the past. It needs little advertising and character development as it is now a continual theme, and sets from this year easily sit alongside all the other Ninjago sets of today as well as sets of 5, 10 and 15 years ago as they are all the same theme. Whereas a set from Atlantis didn't really work alongside a set from Alien Conquest, one from Pharaoh's Quest and one from Monster Fighters despite being just a year or two apart. "
I heard something very similar from Lego designers once, that with something like Pirates, you do a couple of ships, a fort, an island, a few smaller sets and you're pretty much done. With Ninjago there's way more room to be creative.
I must admit when it first came out I dismissed it entirely as kids' rubbish, now it's one of my favourite themes....
One of the best Lego themes of all time and its not even close. It's had a major part of my up-bringing and I'll forever be grateful for the memories it's given me. The sets are consistently some of Lego's coolest and best valued, and it's appeal to both adults and children cannot be understated. Thank you Ninjago!
@Crux said:
"Everybody knows you never go full Ninja."
And you surely don't go Under Ninja!
Ninjago helped bring me out of my dark ages.
Mechs are awesome but I'll be honest, I'm glad that I didn't get into collecting them...
I’m probably not the intended target audience having got back into Lego in 2014 as a 55 year old, but Ninjago sets often stand out for sheer quality of design - 70751 Temple of Airjitsu was a revelation and the Ninjago City modular series post TLNM cemented my love for the theme without really knowing much of the back story. The sheer variety of sub themes does make it stand out. I’ve just discovered all the Ninjago series on ITVX and am now using my retirement to catch up! Just ordered the Old Town set and looking forward to that build. Long live Ninjago!
@ohrmazd said:
"What does the Master of Lightening do? They have power of the bleach element?"
They were thrown out of the Forbidden Six for limited applications of their power. The words "you just don't seem like evil overlord material" will forever echo in their mind.
It's pretty crazy to see Ninjago celebrating its 15th anniversary. It was a big part of my childhood and I have lots of great memories because of it.
I remember when a friend of mine got the first Ninjago set in the neighbourhood 2258, and when I got my first set 2260. I remember collecting, discussing, and playing with the sets across the years with my closest friends... definitely lots of good memories.
Ok, but that's 15 years where we still don't have a Ninjago Advent Calendar with a Santa Wu and it's *right there, Lego.* It'd be (more) affordable too as an internal IP.
I remember when it first came out
I feel old
I am going to feel ancient when the 20th anniversary rolls around
I don't have many Lego Ninjago sets, but I did buy 70618. Though, for the life of me, I never understood why this Pirate Ship came with a bunch of ninja's on board. Had to fix that and add cannons.
70751 I bought for the shadow puppets. Really neat design.
70671 for the fox. Fantastic piece for a cheap set!
How are the Ninjago shows? My husband and I enjoy pretending to be kids and love watching Dreamzzz. We tried Friends and noped out.
I prefer the more traditional look of the ninja’s costumes in their early incarnations.
@PixelTheDragon said:
"I remember when it first came out
I feel old
I am going to feel ancient when the 20th anniversary rolls around "
You’re not old. I remember LEGO before it had figures of any kind, not just minifigures - any kind of figure :~O
15 years of Ninjago shows what can be done with creative story-telling & no Tech involved.
I've seen a few episodes, not really for me. But I have a bunch of sets because I think they're cool, even have a display collection of the main characters.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @ohrmazd said:
"What does the Master of Lightening do? They have power of the bleach element?"
They were thrown out of the Forbidden Six for limited applications of their power. The words "you just don't seem like evil overlord material" will forever echo in their mind."
I think Pink Zane from 71708 would have found them useful.
Honestly, to me it feels like Ninjago has been around for even longer than 15 years.
@ohrmazd said:
"What does the Master of Lightening do? They have power of the bleach element?"
No. That would be the Master of Hydrogen Peroxide ;-)
I went to the Lego shop today to pick up the 7 Ninjago Build A Minifigures, I didn't realise how appropriate it was to do it today!
I am still disappointed that the teases 15 years ago weren’t a return to the Ninja sets of the 90s, but I can’t fault the theme for longevity.
@CCC said:
" @goshe7 said:
"But, a lot of other homegrown themes (like Legends of CHIMA) check a lot of those same boxes and don't have the longevity. Maybe it comes down to the simple fact that ninjas are cool and LEGO has done a great job structuring the product around that core concept."
It also helps that Ninjago is a very wide mix of things so can continually reinvent itself but remain the same theme. It can have fantasy creatures as antagonists, or it can have more realistic antagonists. It can be set in traditional architecture and modern architecture. It can have futuristic and traditional vehicles. It can have dragons but also futuristic technology such as mechs and can be based on land, in the sky or on or even under the sea. Ninjago has taken the place of just about all the fantasy elements of traditional LEGO themes while the more realistic / everyday life type stuff is in City and Friends. Whereas other homegrown themes of the past had more boundaries, Ninjago had and still has much more freedom. And that is probably why it has replaced all those short lived themes of the past. It needs little advertising and character development as it is now a continual theme, and sets from this year easily sit alongside all the other Ninjago sets of today as well as sets of 5, 10 and 15 years ago as they are all the same theme. Whereas a set from Atlantis didn't really work alongside a set from Alien Conquest, one from Pharaoh's Quest and one from Monster Fighters despite being just a year or two apart. "
We need Ninjago Dino Adventures! Caveman Ninja-Go!
@CCC said:
" @goshe7 said:
"But, a lot of other homegrown themes (like Legends of CHIMA) check a lot of those same boxes and don't have the longevity. Maybe it comes down to the simple fact that ninjas are cool and LEGO has done a great job structuring the product around that core concept."
It also helps that Ninjago is a very wide mix of things so can continually reinvent itself but remain the same theme. It can have fantasy creatures as antagonists, or it can have more realistic antagonists. It can be set in traditional architecture and modern architecture. It can have futuristic and traditional vehicles. It can have dragons but also futuristic technology such as mechs and can be based on land, in the sky or on or even under the sea. Ninjago has taken the place of just about all the fantasy elements of traditional LEGO themes while the more realistic / everyday life type stuff is in City and Friends. Whereas other homegrown themes of the past had more boundaries, Ninjago had and still has much more freedom. And that is probably why it has replaced all those short lived themes of the past. It needs little advertising and character development as it is now a continual theme, and sets from this year easily sit alongside all the other Ninjago sets of today as well as sets of 5, 10 and 15 years ago as they are all the same theme. Whereas a set from Atlantis didn't really work alongside a set from Alien Conquest, one from Pharaoh's Quest and one from Monster Fighters despite being just a year or two apart. "
See but that's the rub mate,
Ninjago Hijack's a new theme design every season and mixes in their "ninja elements". Whereas i would much rather have those themes release by themselves and not have to be mixed with whatever the Ninja are doing. We got this independently with Atlantis, Power Miners, Space Police, where we're exploring a given world as is without mashing the Ninja into it (side note if LEGO wants to do this why not revive time cruisers in a modern way where they visit all sorts of worlds as that would make more sense)
Ninjago has subthemes like "Hunted" & "Seabound" which I really enjoyed some of the sets from those lines (dieselnaut & Hydro Bounty), but I still feel it's out of place to shove Ninja in to those worlds. Can you imagine if we got an independent post-apocalyptic theme & Underwater theme instead? I think the thematic design would look much better, and yes it wouldn't last 15 years, but instead we would have 15 different worlds we explored wholistically in those 15 years.
Fundamentally I believe sets aren't as appealing when you shove in Japanese Ninjas into every theme you touch. I'd rather have a dedicated Ninja theme for that where we can set the rules and stick to them. Dreams is for mixing worlds, Ninjago just hijacks what could be free themes.
Thoughts?
When people tell me alternative brick sets are amazing because "they have lights!" and "the quality of the bricks is awesome!", and "they're much cheaper!", and why I bother with LEGO, my answer is always "Ninjago" (and Star Wars and City, my three favourite themes).
No other company does anything like Ninjago. Their big sets are amazing and they still make tons of playsets every year. I love everything about them. They bring me joy. And yet I have never watched the show.
I think Ninjago is a fantastic line and I'm super happy to see it succeed.
Friends and Ninjago is the last time Lego created truly enduring original themes, so congrats to 15 years on the market!
@emQ said:
"How are the Ninjago shows? My husband and I enjoy pretending to be kids and love watching Dreamzzz. We tried Friends and noped out."
I would recommend it! The early seasons were pretty good! I can't speak for the entire show, since I haven't seen it all, but it's worth a watch. The Lego YouTube channel has posted complete season compilations 1 through 8(with more probably to come), likely in honor of the 15th anniversary. Definitely make sure you have the right watch order since it can be a little confusing, and the pilots aren't in season 1.
Thank you NINJAGO, you’re the reason my LEGO purchasing has not quit.
Growing up with Bionicle, I'm happy to see Ninjago's success. It feels more like Bionicle's spiritual successor more than Hero Factory did. I'm not super into the series, but it's nice to see a solid, story-driven series continue on this long. Lego's got something special.
@Denmark_Dragon said:
"Can you imagine if we got an independent post-apocalyptic theme & Underwater theme instead? I think the thematic design would look much better, and yes it wouldn't last 15 years, but instead we would have 15 different worlds we explored wholistically in those 15 years."
I think the designs would look pretty much the same, just with different minifigures. And that is kind of my point. Ninjago took all the fantasy ideas and put its core characters in those sets instead of the ones that would have been there if they were a short lived theme. I own only a few Ninjago sets now, including the TLNM Destiny's Bounty. Remove the figures, add a few in more traditional clothes and change a few parts and it makes a lovely ship.
@ohrmazd said:
"What does the Master of Lightening do? They have power of the bleach element?"
Not quite, you've got the wrong kind of lightening. He specializes in weight reduction.
15 years huh? Wow I feel old. Anyways, happy birthday to the theme that made me a Lego collector.
15 years? That sounds like the perfect time to finally end the show and put it out of its misery.
15 years means:
-nearly 9 years since the movie ruined the show with the horrid redesigns (Season 8, 2017)
-7 years since the show transferred studios and ruined itself (Season 11, 2019)
-3 years since the show completely jumped the shark with its "soft reboot" (Dragons Rising, 2023)
We're in the fourth era of Ninjago; it gets worse each time. And now...
"fans can look forward to a bold new era for the TV series and content."
Yeah, no thanks. I only look upon the future with dread.
"the introduction of a new, unexpected and unparalleled narrative, aiming to prove unexpected plot twists and engagement."
What does this even mean? Is this just part of DR Season 4 or are they launching something else entirely? How do they intend to "prove" plot twists and engagement? This sounds like nonsense.
All that said, since LEGO has posted most of the episodes on YouTube, I'm thinking of going through and rewatching the old episodes this year before finally catching up on Dragons Rising, to see what all the fuss is about. I don't expect to be impressed, but I might as well observe it.
My absolute favorite theme, and so happy to see it reach this anniversary. ll
Allthe people talking about growing up with Ninjago: I'm three times as old as this line, at least until my next birthday. You dang kids, get offa my lawn!
sure wish LEGO had given Monkie Kid an actual chance and actually put it on networks and streaming platforms people actually watch. it's a much better quality series than Ninjago...
I didn’t have any kits as a kid (all our Lego was jumble sale loose parts) and I was too old for Ninjago to exist yet anyway, but my partner picked up the magazine that had 892312 Sora as the cover mount minifig on the completely accurate assumption that I’d really like her, and two years later I have a Ninjago Problem. The kits are just so cool! And also mostly affordable! They have GIANT ROBOTS and DRAGONS, two of my most very favouritest of things. And of course the minifigs have great design, too. Lego has long been very strong at colour coding designs but the Ninjago characters are a masterclass.
(Also I too would like a Ninjago Advent Calendar, please and thank you Lego.)
@Zander said:
"
@PixelTheDragon said:
"I remember when it first came out
I feel old
I am going to feel ancient when the 20th anniversary rolls around "
You’re not old. I remember LEGO before it had figures of any kind, not just minifigures - any kind of figure :~O"
I’m so old that I remember when horses were brick built….wait…uh….I’m so old that I remember when shields had stickers…uh….um…I’m so old that I remember when City buildings had open backs….um…..ok….I’m so old that I remember when megaphones were also laser guns…ok, that’ll have to do.
@yellowcastle said:
" @Zander said:
"
@PixelTheDragon said:
"I remember when it first came out
I feel old
I am going to feel ancient when the 20th anniversary rolls around "
You’re not old. I remember LEGO before it had figures of any kind, not just minifigures - any kind of figure :~O"
I’m so old that I remember when horses were brick built….wait…uh….I’m so old that I remember when shields had stickers…uh….um…I’m so old that I remember when City buildings had open backs….um…..ok….I’m so old that I remember when megaphones were also laser guns…ok, that’ll have to do."
15 years?! Wow! That makes me feel like a young puppy. Woof!
I'm so young, I don't remember yesterday. That's why I keep buying Lego. Yay!
Favorite Ninjago memory: when La-loid's dad tries to teach him to throw a ball.
@yellowcastle said:
" @Zander said:
"
@PixelTheDragon said:
"I remember when it first came out
I feel old
I am going to feel ancient when the 20th anniversary rolls around "
You’re not old. I remember LEGO before it had figures of any kind, not just minifigures - any kind of figure :~O"
I’m so old that I remember when horses were brick built….wait…uh….I’m so old that I remember when shields had stickers…uh….um…I’m so old that I remember when City buildings had open backs….um…..ok….I’m so old that I remember when megaphones were also laser guns…ok, that’ll have to do."
I'm so old that I remember when roadplates were the same thickness as baseplates, and my first Space set was from the tail end of Classic Space. (If and when 6780gets chosen for RSotD, prepare for a *lot*of gushing...)
@CCC said:
" @goshe7 said:
"But, a lot of other homegrown themes (like Legends of CHIMA) check a lot of those same boxes and don't have the longevity. Maybe it comes down to the simple fact that ninjas are cool and LEGO has done a great job structuring the product around that core concept."
It also helps that Ninjago is a very wide mix of things so can continually reinvent itself but remain the same theme. It can have fantasy creatures as antagonists, or it can have more realistic antagonists. It can be set in traditional architecture and modern architecture. It can have futuristic and traditional vehicles. It can have dragons but also futuristic technology such as mechs and can be based on land, in the sky or on or even under the sea. Ninjago has taken the place of just about all the fantasy elements of traditional LEGO themes while the more realistic / everyday life type stuff is in City and Friends. Whereas other homegrown themes of the past had more boundaries, Ninjago had and still has much more freedom. And that is probably why it has replaced all those short lived themes of the past. It needs little advertising and character development as it is now a continual theme, and sets from this year easily sit alongside all the other Ninjago sets of today as well as sets of 5, 10 and 15 years ago as they are all the same theme. Whereas a set from Atlantis didn't really work alongside a set from Alien Conquest, one from Pharaoh's Quest and one from Monster Fighters despite being just a year or two apart. "
It's the TV show. No other LEGO theme has had a form of media that has been kicking on for this long. So LEGO designers always had content to pull from for sets. Many kids grew up watching the show all the way back in 2011 (myself included). So it stayed somewhat relevant in pop culture. Although it never reached the highs of the LEGO Movie. Ninjago was also the spiritual successor to Bionicle, it kind of filled the void that was left behind. It's sort of like many books need popular films to make them reach global fame. So Ninjago needed the show. But you're also correct in saying that Ninjago has unique characteristics that allow it not die out which in turn allows it cannibalise many themes. We aren't far from Space Mechs
@emQ said:
"How are the Ninjago shows? My husband and I enjoy pretending to be kids and love watching Dreamzzz. We tried Friends and noped out."
Go for it. I’ve just started at the beginning, now onto Series 4 Tournament of Elements and loving it. Yes it’s aimed at kids but it’s all good fun and I’m enjoying learning all the history of the theme.
And definitely the minority here, but the movie is my favorite LEGO movie and I only like the more traditional “buildings” sets…
@WhileyFox said:
" @CCC said:
" @goshe7 said:
"But, a lot of other homegrown themes (like Legends of CHIMA) check a lot of those same boxes and don't have the longevity. Maybe it comes down to the simple fact that ninjas are cool and LEGO has done a great job structuring the product around that core concept."
It also helps that Ninjago is a very wide mix of things so can continually reinvent itself but remain the same theme. It can have fantasy creatures as antagonists, or it can have more realistic antagonists. It can be set in traditional architecture and modern architecture. It can have futuristic and traditional vehicles. It can have dragons but also futuristic technology such as mechs and can be based on land, in the sky or on or even under the sea. Ninjago has taken the place of just about all the fantasy elements of traditional LEGO themes while the more realistic / everyday life type stuff is in City and Friends. Whereas other homegrown themes of the past had more boundaries, Ninjago had and still has much more freedom. And that is probably why it has replaced all those short lived themes of the past. It needs little advertising and character development as it is now a continual theme, and sets from this year easily sit alongside all the other Ninjago sets of today as well as sets of 5, 10 and 15 years ago as they are all the same theme. Whereas a set from Atlantis didn't really work alongside a set from Alien Conquest, one from Pharaoh's Quest and one from Monster Fighters despite being just a year or two apart. "
It's the TV show. No other LEGO theme has had a form of media that has been kicking on for this long. So LEGO designers always had content to pull from for sets. Many kids grew up watching the show all the way back in 2011 (myself included). So it stayed somewhat relevant in pop culture. Although it never reached the highs of the LEGO Movie. Ninjago was also the spiritual successor to Bionicle, it kind of filled the void that was left behind. It's sort of like many books need popular films to make them reach global fame. So Ninjago needed the show. But you're also correct in saying that Ninjago has unique characteristics that allow it not die out which in turn allows it cannibalise many themes. We aren't far from Space Mechs"
It isn't just the TV show, or any of the associated media. There are kids that have never seen the TV show but still get into Ninjago. Probably because it is what it on the store shelves and they like fantasy more than City type sets.
@CCC said:
" @WhileyFox said:
" @CCC said:
" @goshe7 said:
"But, a lot of other homegrown themes (like Legends of CHIMA) check a lot of those same boxes and don't have the longevity. Maybe it comes down to the simple fact that ninjas are cool and LEGO has done a great job structuring the product around that core concept."
It also helps that Ninjago is a very wide mix of things so can continually reinvent itself but remain the same theme. It can have fantasy creatures as antagonists, or it can have more realistic antagonists. It can be set in traditional architecture and modern architecture. It can have futuristic and traditional vehicles. It can have dragons but also futuristic technology such as mechs and can be based on land, in the sky or on or even under the sea. Ninjago has taken the place of just about all the fantasy elements of traditional LEGO themes while the more realistic / everyday life type stuff is in City and Friends. Whereas other homegrown themes of the past had more boundaries, Ninjago had and still has much more freedom. And that is probably why it has replaced all those short lived themes of the past. It needs little advertising and character development as it is now a continual theme, and sets from this year easily sit alongside all the other Ninjago sets of today as well as sets of 5, 10 and 15 years ago as they are all the same theme. Whereas a set from Atlantis didn't really work alongside a set from Alien Conquest, one from Pharaoh's Quest and one from Monster Fighters despite being just a year or two apart. "
It's the TV show. No other LEGO theme has had a form of media that has been kicking on for this long. So LEGO designers always had content to pull from for sets. Many kids grew up watching the show all the way back in 2011 (myself included). So it stayed somewhat relevant in pop culture. Although it never reached the highs of the LEGO Movie. Ninjago was also the spiritual successor to Bionicle, it kind of filled the void that was left behind. It's sort of like many books need popular films to make them reach global fame. So Ninjago needed the show. But you're also correct in saying that Ninjago has unique characteristics that allow it not die out which in turn allows it cannibalise many themes. We aren't far from Space Mechs"
It isn't just the TV show, or any of the associated media. There are kids that have never seen the TV show but still get into Ninjago. Probably because it is what it on the store shelves and they like fantasy more than City type sets."
I can confirm this. I didn't really follow the TV show as a kid, but I was into Ninjago from the very beginning. It was the sets and characters themselves that really appealed to me.
@Boettner_Builds said:
"And definitely the minority here, but the movie is my favorite LEGO movie and I only like the more traditional “buildings” sets…"
I's my least favorite of the theatrical movies, but I still enjoyed it. I've never seen any of the show, and I wonder what my opinion of the movie would have been if I had.