21360 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory: the minifigures
Posted by Huw,
21360 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was revealed yesterday but, although I've built it, I've not had time to prepare a full review in time for today's embargo.
So, in this article, I'm just going to examine the minifigures. As you would hope, all the main cast members are present among the nine figures and they are all excellent.
Willy Wonka
The set is based on the 1971 film adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, so the minifigures are based upon the characters' appearance in it.
In that version, factory owner Willy Wonka, played by Gene Wilder, wore a purple velvet jacket, a frilly shirt, an oversized brown bow-tie, and a top hat over his shoulder-length light brown hair. All of which have been replicated faithfully here with a finely printed torso, printing on the legs, and what I presume is a new dual-moulded hair/hat piece.
The double-sided head's expressions reflect the character's genial nature.
Oompa Loompas
The green-haired, orange-skinned Oompa Loompas are the factory's workforce. They generally wear brown shirts and white trousers with braces crossed over their chests and backs.
Two are provided in the set and both have double-sided heads which, surprisingly, are different. One has a smile and a glum look, while the other has a glum look, a open-mouthed smile, and slightly different eyes.
Charlie Bucket
Charlie, the titular star of the book but not the film, is one of five finders of the golden tickets that Willy Wonka inserted into bars of chocolate that admit the bearers to his chocolate factory.
The golden ticket is a printed gold tile and looks excellent. Charlie wears a plain dark blue crew-neck jumper in the factory sequences of the film, reflecting his family's austere background, so consequently this unprinted minifigure also looks plain.
Grandpa Joe
Charlie's Grandpa Joe was bedridden for decades until his grandson found the golden ticket. Buoyed by the prospect of visiting Wonka's factory, he somehow manages to muster the energy to get out of bed and accompany him.
The minifigure is a good likeness of the old grey-haired gent, attired in a suit and tie. One side of the head has an exasperated expression, the other a smile.
Veruca Salt
Veruca is a spoilt, pampered child who always gets what she wants. She doesn't acquire her golden ticket fairly: her father had his peanut factory workers find it for her.
She gets her comeuppance, though: she and her father meet an untimely end in the factory's waste chute!
Her red dress, black belt, frilly collar and long brown hair have been replicated flawlessly here, as has her grumpy 'I want it now' expression.
Violet Beauregard
Violet loves chewing gum, chewing on the same piece for months on end. She's bad-mannered, highly competitive, and determined to win but, ultimately, her impulsiveness causes her factory tour to come to a premature end when she chews a piece of prototype chewing gum and inflates into a giant blueberry.
Her outfit looks spot-on again, although it would have been fun if she'd come with a second, purple, head.
Augustus Gloop
Hailing from Bavaira in Germany, Augustus is a greedy and obese child. He's the first to meet his end in the film, when he drinks from the chocolate river, falls in, and gets sucked up the extraction tube.
He's smartly dressed in a jacket with green lapels and brass buttons, and a tie. Unlike the other child figures, he has normal-sized legs which have -- unsuccessfully -- been printed to make it look like he's wearing shorts. I would have preferred unprinted medium ones, though, because he looks like an adult in the lineup photo at the head of the article.
The smudge of chocolate around the mouth on one side of his face looks wonderful!
Mike Teevee
As his name suggests, Mike Teevee is obsessed with television shows, particularly westerns. He wants to be a cowboy, so he wears a cowboy outfit and a Stetson when he visits the factory. His fixation with TV seals hs fate there when he's shrunk down small enough to fit inside one.
His hat is attached to a neck bracket, and removing it reveals the same wonderful pattern on the back as on the front of the torso.
His double-sided head has a smile and a glum expression.
I am not really fan of the film, but I am of the book, having read it to my daughters when they were young. I enjoyed reminding myself about the characters while researching for this article.
I think the designers have done a great job on them, the new torso prints especially. Some of the double-sided heads have been reused from elsewhere, but they all suit the characters perfectly.
Charlie is a bit plain, but rightly so, so Augustus not having shorter legs is really my only complaint. That's easily remedied by swapping them for medium ones should you wish, though.
I'll crack on with the set review and publish in the next few days.
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69 comments on this article
Surely Lego could have spared some of the extra cents they're making off that Star Wars summer wave to give Wonka some dual molded legs, right? Figs are nice regardless though, especially grandpa Joe.
I thought that Augustus was too tall as well. However, looking at stills from the film, he looks like Larry Bird towering over the other children, so I think he’s accurately represented.
Also, it’s great to see how solid the white print on the Oompa Loompas’ torsos is.
Anakin, er, Charlie, can we get you some torso printing? Leg printing? Something??? And why is Gloop the best executed Minifigure? It should be someone with more importance. I also feel as though they got Willy’s head wrong. His outfit looks great, but the head? No. I will say the Golden Ticket looks really nice. Is Violet’s hair piece a new mold? I don’t think I’ve seen it before.
Ok, that was too many questions. Hey, at least the Oompa Loompa’s look great! Finally, I love Grampa Joe’s torso and head, as well as Veruca’s torso. I may have to find a way to get them.
Edit: Ok, it’s no new mold, and somehow not even a recolor… I wonder how I missed that.
The lack of printing on Charlie feels like a bit of a meta touch. Like he’s too deprived to afford clothes as fancy as the other minifigures.
Fun fact: the guy who played Charlie has this as his only film role. He went on to become a vet (which is ironic, considering how many of his patients would be averse to chocolate).
You stole Fizzy Lifting Drink!! You get NOTHING!
Ridiculous. None of the Oompa Loompas look even remotely like Hugh Grant!
Also nice to see Danny Reid 13 years later. I thought he’d have gained regular legs, but I suppose not.
Is it pronounced Bucket or Bouquet?
Veruca Salt’s skirt looks plastic. I don’t recall seeing that before.
Now we have a Gene Wilder minifig, we need one of Richard Pryor too. If you know, you know.
@ToysFromTheAttic said:
"Now we have a Gene Wilder minifig, we need one of Richard Pryor too. If you know, you know."
That’s right, that’s right. We been bad, we been bad.
Spittings a dirty habit.
:/
I know a worse one.
:/
@Wallace_Brick_Designs, I believe that Violet's hair is the same mold as Mrs. Proudfoot's in 10354.
@Beren_Luthien said:
" @Wallace_Brick_Designs, I believe that Violet's hair is the same mold as Mrs. Proudfoot's in 10354."
Thank you. Yeah, I just saw that in the NewElementary review. It’s a nice hairpiece, so I hope it’s not locked in $200+ sets.
Gloop's long legs look about right when compared to the other child actors
https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/galleries/x701/79423.jpg
Where's the Willy's Chocolate Experience GWP?
@ohrmazd said:
"You stole Fizzy Lifting Drink!! You get NOTHING!"
I said good day!
I'm glad you mention the purple head for Violet as it struck me straight away, especially for a super expensive set like this one : when you aim for that kind of price details are important
@Wallace_Brick_Designs said:
" @Beren_Luthien said:
" @Wallace_Brick_Designs, I believe that Violet's hair is the same mold as Mrs. Proudfoot's in 10354."
Thank you. Yeah, I just saw that in the NewElementary review. It’s a nice hairpiece, so I hope it’s not locked in $200+ sets."
There’s also a medium nougat one used for Wendy Darling. Cheapest set bring $60, if you’re not tied to needing the brown hair.
@Nannig said:
"I'm glad you mention the purple head for Violet as it struck me straight away, especially for a super expensive set like this one : when you aim for that kind of price details are important"
There's always this one
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3626pb2786
I suspect Oompa Loompa figures will go for nice prices aftermarket, bummer there are only two in the set. But having four face patterns to choose from is a nice touch.
@Vindicare said:
" @Wallace_Brick_Designs said:
" @Beren_Luthien said:
" @Wallace_Brick_Designs, I believe that Violet's hair is the same mold as Mrs. Proudfoot's in 10354."
Thank you. Yeah, I just saw that in the NewElementary review. It’s a nice hairpiece, so I hope it’s not locked in $200+ sets."
There’s also a medium nougat one used for Wendy Darling. Cheapest set bring $60, if you’re not tied to needing the brown hair. "
Ah, yeah there is. Well, one hairpiece won’t convince me to buy a set. Oh well.
I can’t believe I have to say this again, but the kids do NOT die or even have lasting physical consequences in the 1971 movie! Wonka says that they’ll be returned to their “normal, horrible selves, but maybe they’ll be a bit wiser for the wear.” Somehow, people always think the kids die.
@The1RealmShifter said:
"I can’t believe I have to say this again, but the kids do NOT die or even have lasting physical consequences in the 1971 movie! Wonka says that they’ll be returned to their “normal, horrible selves, but maybe they’ll be a bit wiser for the wear.” Somehow, people always think the kids die."
Because although i already love the movie, it would be twistedly fantastic if they did. Like a candy coated Saw movie.
I mean, you have seen the Fabuland comments here when its RSotD, right?
The Candy Man can because he mixes it with love, indeed.
for violet could have done something similar along lines of Aunt Marge from HP, and mike TV could had a statue of himself
They did a great job with most of these minifigures. I still think that Charlie's hair piece looks off, though; it looks too long.
@PDelahanty said:
"Veruca Salt’s skirt looks plastic. I don’t recall seeing that before."
The plastic short triangle skirt originated in the Trolls movie sets and is used for short-legged minifigures.
The description of Grandpa Joe is so passive aggressive haha ‘somehow’ ??
"Buoyed by the prospect of visiting Wonka's factory, he somehow manages to muster the energy to get out of bed and accompany him."
Too bad Grandpa Joe couldn't have been buoyed by the prospect of getting out into the workforce to help support his poor nearly-starving family... :-P
@The1RealmShifter said:
"I can’t believe I have to say this again, but the kids do NOT die or even have lasting physical consequences in the 1971 movie! Wonka says that they’ll be returned to their “normal, horrible selves, but maybe they’ll be a bit wiser for the wear.” Somehow, people always think the kids die."
It's sort of a "said not shown" type of thing, and I think for a lot of us who first saw the movie as toddlers not having the visual of the kids being rescued made us miss the dialogue confirmation they were safe. The Burton film does show the kids alive, but warped and deformed in all sorts of goofy ways; so it is arguably the more terrifying fate for the kids than Wilder's gentle confirmation they're all okay.
Another franchise but a good comparison to how I think warped memory changes popular perception, everyone talks about Henry being bricked up in the tunnel in Thomas & Friends/The Railway Series despite the next episode/story ALWAYS showing Henry being rescued from the tunnel after what had been at most a few months in there. People will talk ad-nauseum about "that time an engine was bricked up to die all Edgar Allen Poe style" in Thomas & Friends, and the popular public perception is that Henry was killed off there despite being a reoccurring character throughout the franchise. The irony being that franchise DOES have an engine who spent decades buried underground (Duke) but nobody remembers that one except the dedicated fans. I think the Wonka = "kids dead" stems from that similar misremembering of a story seen as a kid, and the internet's love of "take something nostalgic and make it TWISTED" type stories.
I'd have liked the other parents and Slugworth, but I love this set even in spite of its shortcomings. For me, this film is one of only two movies ever (the other being The Princess Bride) to be better than the book, so this is an instant buy. I understand the people that feel the set could have been better, though.
@Huw I know you mentioned that you were not a fan of the 1971 film, but purely out of curiosity, which movie do you prefer, the movie with Gene Wilder or the one with Johny Depp? (If you have seen them both, of course.)
@Beren_Luthien said:
" @Huw I know you mentioned that you were not a fan of the 1971 film, but purely out of curiosity, which movie do you prefer, the movie with Gene Wilder or the one with Johny Depp? (If you have seen them both, of course.)"
I think I've only seen the original once so don't remember it well.
If they had given Gloop short legs, those exist in a “shorts and shoes” dual-molded design that wouldn’t have even required any print to look right. But for everyone complaining about the lack of a blueberried Veruca Salt, it’s worth noting that this moment in the movie is when Gloop runs afoul of his nature, while the other three malcontents are still in the same shape as when they arrived for the tour. It therefore makes sense that only Gloop has a misbehavior face. What’s supremely disappointing is the utter lack of Vermicious Knids.
@LegoMKB said:
"Surely Lego could have spared some of the extra cents they're making off that Star Wars summer wave to give Wonka some dual molded legs, right? Figs are nice regardless though, especially grandpa Joe."
No, they only make billions of dollars a year they can't just make better quality products. How else would they be able to invest in new factories making lower quality products if they did that?
@PurpleDave said:
"If they had given Gloop short legs, those exist in a “shorts and shoes” dual-molded design that wouldn’t have even required any print to look right. But for everyone complaining about the lack of a blueberried Veruca Salt, it’s worth noting that this moment in the movie is when Gloop runs afoul of his nature, while the other three malcontents are still in the same shape as when they arrived for the tour. It therefore makes sense that only Gloop has a misbehavior face. What’s supremely disappointing is the utter lack of Vermicious Knids."
I was also disappointed at the absence of a President Gilligrass minifigure ;)
@Vindicare said:
" @ohrmazd said:
"You stole Fizzy Lifting Drink!! You get NOTHING!"
I said good day!"
Come on Charlie, we're leaving. I'll get even with him if it's the last thing I do.
(Have you ever noticed all the parents say that last bit about 'getting even' as they're being led away by Oompa Loompas?)
@RawBrick69 said:
"Where's the Willy's Chocolate Experience GWP?"
^ this guy's asking the real questions.
Originally I would say Augustus needs to be shorter since he is a child...but looking at movie stills, he's almost as tall as Gene Wilder!!! So long legs makes sense actually and it allows printing. He's a whole head taller than everyone except for Mike where he is almost 2 heads taller! Wow
But the figures look solid overall. I don't know if I'll get the set, but I'm sure it's cheaper to go that route instead of the figures by themselves.
@Huw said:
" @Beren_Luthien said:
" @Huw I know you mentioned that you were not a fan of the 1971 film, but purely out of curiosity, which movie do you prefer, the movie with Gene Wilder or the one with Johny Depp? (If you have seen them both, of course.)"
I think I've only seen the original once so don't remember it well."
As a dad, but not having ever read the book, I’m curious what makes you a fan of the book and not the movie?
I was wondering who the other random adult was, don't remember the film well enough to figure it was the fifth child. I like Wonka's design here too.
What's the rush? You have almost 3 weeks to post a review before release day.
@Murdoch17 said:
" @RawBrick69 said:
"Where's the Willy's Chocolate Experience GWP?"
^ this guy's asking the real questions."
Well, okay, one of the minifigures has the correct torso and face
Quite a mixed bag. Charlie and Grandpa Joe are a bit disappointing, but Augustus and Willy Wonka look great.
@Nannig said:
"I'm glad you mention the purple head for Violet as it struck me straight away, especially for a super expensive set like this one : when you aim for that kind of price details are important"
Yeah but if they had given her an alternate purple face I can imagine the comments would be along the lines of “That doesn’t happen in this scene! She doesn’t turn purple until the inventing room, this set represents the chocolate room! Details are important!”
@elangab said:
"What's the rush? You have almost 3 weeks to post a review before release day."
The early bird catches the worm (traffic).
Was Grandpa Joe a malingerer?
@yellowcastle said:
" @elangab said:
"What's the rush? You have almost 3 weeks to post a review before release day."
The early bird catches the worm (traffic)."
I think that an established site such as this is past the "I got it first!" stage.
@elangab said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @elangab said:
"What's the rush? You have almost 3 weeks to post a review before release day."
The early bird catches the worm (traffic)."
I think that an established site such as this is past the "I got it first!" stage."
We usually try and publish our reviews as soon as the embargo has lifted, particularly when it's so close to the set being revealed as was the case here, but it's becoming increasingly difficult with the number of sets released and the quantity that LEGO send us. We are expanding our review team to help do so.
But, it is a trade-off between, do we publish ASAP, which can be weeks before release as is the case here, in the hope of maximising traffic, or wait until a set is released in the hope of encouraging early sales and increasing affiliate revenue.
@elangab said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @elangab said:
"What's the rush? You have almost 3 weeks to post a review before release day."
The early bird catches the worm (traffic)."
I think that an established site such as this is past the "I got it first!" stage."
Some in our community also don't necessarily patronize the other fan sites. As such, Brickset trying to get us updates as close to Embargo End dates provides a service to us, striking when the iron is hot right after the press release.
There are only so many reviewers, quite a lot of sets, and a certain expectation of quality for Brickset reviews. I've come to appreciate whatever reviews Brickset can provide when they are ready to provide. If anything, I'm always pushing Brickset to consider providing more AFOL Experience type discussions. :o)
Update: @Huw beat me to it, lol. :o)
@gunther_schnitzel said:
"Is it pronounced Bucket or Bouquet?"
"RICHARD!"
"Oh no, it's the Bucket woman."
"The Bouquet residence, the lady of the house speaking."
Seriously though, even the worst episode of Keeping up appearances is thousands of times better and more entertaining than this depraved movie.
Grandpa does a good job of passing off as an Albert Eistein figure
The minifigs look wonderful! I just can't believe how good Wonka's minifig looks. So much like Gene Wilder, it's crazy!
The legs are a bit lacking... Augustus Gloop in this set is wearing kneepads.
Oompa Loompa, do-ba-dee-doo
I've got another puzzle for you
Oompa Loompa, do-ba-dee-dee
If you are wise you'll listen to me
What's with LEGO and all these washed out prints?
Began years ago and it's gotten worse since
"Only the best!" their executives say
But do you agree when you go to pay?
The fans will still buy anyway!
Oompa Loompa, do-ba-dee-da
If you've got standards, you will go far
You'll reject this silliness too
Like the oompa loompa do-ba-dee-doo!
"Hailing from Bavaira in Germany, Augustus is a greedy and obese child."
Hummmmmm, Bavaria maybe?
Ach mein lieben!
@Huw said:
"But, it is a trade-off between, do we publish ASAP, which can be weeks before release as is the case here, in the hope of maximising traffic, or wait until a set is released in the hope of encouraging early sales and increasing affiliate revenue."
As a reader I prefer to wait longer, and in return get a more thorough review over a quick yet dirty one. I will keep coming back to a site that provide that, as is the case with Brickset. This is true for all sites, from news to hobbies. That being said, if these article boosts traffic I can understand the reasoning to publish it like that. It is a rarity here, so hopefully team expansion will help. Given the number of sets Lego produces, I can see how it's becoming an issue to cover them all and keep the quality up there.
@yellowcastle said:
" Some in our community also don't necessarily patronize the other fan sites"
I don't view this site as a "fan site", it's not a blog or a forum. It's one of the most - if not the most - recognized and "go to" Lego hobby related professional websites out there. It's more of a running business than a fan site.
I'm not a fan of the original movie due to its colors... Something feels off about them, they're very 70s. Somehow, Lego has managed to reproduce that awkward feeling really well with the minifigs: they look modernly detailed and yet old. Kudos to them, and hopefully the fans will enjoy this authenticity!
@elangab said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" Some in our community also don't necessarily patronize the other fan sites"
I don't view this site as a "fan site", it's not a blog or a forum. It's one of the most - if not the most - recognized and "go to" Lego hobby related professional websites out there. It's more of a running business than a fan site.
"
There are other sites??!
@Wellspring said:
" @Huw said:
" @Beren_Luthien said:
" @Huw I know you mentioned that you were not a fan of the 1971 film, but purely out of curiosity, which movie do you prefer, the movie with Gene Wilder or the one with Johny Depp? (If you have seen them both, of course.)"
I think I've only seen the original once so don't remember it well."
As a dad, but not having ever read the book, I’m curious what makes you a fan of the book and not the movie?
"
It's been over 30 years since I've seen the movie, and still remember thinking it was pretty bad. I've read the book many times before and since and liked it a lot.
Reading some of the other comments here, there were quotes I could not even vaguely match to the story, and lo, Wikipedia informs me it's because the movie added some cancerous subplot about industrial espionage, thereby changing both the ending and the characters' motivations. In the book, Charlie's virtue was his humility in simply enjoying the place for how wonderful it was, which was exactly what Willy Wonka valued and rewarded without tricks. The other children were all in some way self-centered, and came to nasty ends because of it. That was all the contrast that was needed; the book is essentially an illustration of the beatitude "blessed are the pure in heart." From reading the synopsis, it sounds like the movie polluted it.
Wonka - OK.
Oompa Loompas- needed a new hairpiece. They look like they have been to a hairdresser.
Charlie- too plain. He needs some print on his sweater, even just to show some texture. A plain figure doesn't fit with the others and it looks like the owner has lost a figure and replaced it with a cheap one.
Grandpa, Veruca, Violet - all good. But I agree a purple head or even the reverse side showing a transformation would have even good.
Augustus - OK, except those legs. Too high and the print is dreadful, not even printed on the sides. They were doing leg side printing a decade ago. It would have been good to have some printed belly arc or "fat rolls" to suggest size.
Mike - OK
@CamberbrickGreen said:
" @elangab said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" Some in our community also don't necessarily patronize the other fan sites"
I don't view this site as a "fan site", it's not a blog or a forum. It's one of the most - if not the most - recognized and "go to" Lego hobby related professional websites out there. It's more of a running business than a fan site.
"
There are other sites??!"
I think this whole "internet"-fad is really starting to take off.
Pretty lackluster. Especially given the price. The kids should have specialized heads. They look like they came straight from a MOC. And no side leg printing on Augustus and Willy is pathetic. It also would've been nice if they included their accompanying parents.
Grandpa Joe looks exactly like Albert Einstein!
:)
There weren’t any female Oompa Loompas in the movie yet they’ve given one of the figures the female eyelash prints. I’d ask why but we all know the answer. For the price they’re charging you’d hope they’d aim for accuracy over activism. Didn’t realise Disney bought this IP too. /s
@elangab said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" Some in our community also don't necessarily patronize the other fan sites"
I don't view this site as a "fan site", it's not a blog or a forum. It's one of the most - if not the most - recognized and "go to" Lego hobby related professional websites out there. It's more of a running business than a fan site."
We started out as a fan site but over time, and unplanned, it morphed into a business.
@lemish34 said:
"Grandpa Joe looks exactly like Albert Einstein!
:)"
Is this Lego's apology for not including Albert Einstein in 21355?
I know the set is based on one specific scene, but since this is likely the only Charlie and the the Chocolate Factory we’ll get, at least for a long time, it would’ve been nice to get a more comprehensive selection. The other four adults, for a start, but also a nano fig Mike in a small TV build, Aunt Marge-esque Violet, a fully chocolated Gloop, a rubbish covered Salt. I understand of course that TLG would never have added another 8 minigures / minifig substitutes into a set of this size and price, but honestly I think if they had, and charged £20 or even £30 more for it, it would have enticed more people, myself included. As it is, and despite these figures being largely well-executed and accurate, they’re just… boring, in a way the book isn’t and each lacks their defining characteristics.