Review: 71019 The LEGO NINJAGO Movie Collectable Minifigures (2)
Posted by CapnRex101,
The first part of our 71019 The LEGO NINJAGO Movie Collectable Minifigures review concerned the heroes but today we turn our attention to the villains as well as the citizens of NINJAGO City. These include some of the most anticipated characters along with many new parts so I hope that the range will continue to impress.
You can read the first section of our review here or continue reading below for part two...
Minifigures
The evil Garmadon emerged as an opponent of the ninja in the very first wave of NINJAGO sets before being redeemed later in the series. I am delighted to see him return in the movie and his new design is very reminiscent of the original character, albeit with far more detail and the second pair of arms which was introduced in series two so the villain could wield all four golden weapons at once.
Black dominates the minifigure but I think the dark blue belt and grey armour are sufficient to break up the otherwise monochromatic colour scheme, particularly when viewed from the front. These printed designs look brilliant and I like the angry grimace on Garmadon's face as well as his new hat, known as a coolie. This includes some textured detail and is only available in black here, although it appears in several other sets in different colours.
Garmadon carries a black staff with a decorative component on top. This pearl dark grey element resembles a hammerhead shark in shape and is a scaled down version of the weapon wielded by Garmadon's mech in a few promotional images. The staff is currently exclusive to the Collectable Minifigures, as is this version of Garmadon himself.
Shark Army General #1 was mentioned in a recent teaser for The LEGO NINJAGO Movie at San Diego Comic-Con but we have yet to see her in action. She wears an elaborate cape which consists of two flexible plastic elements and her hair piece is new in this colour, having first appeared in dark brown on the Zombie Businessman. I like this short style as female minifigures are more often seen with longer hair so a bit of a variety is very welcome. The general looks nervous which is no surprise given Garmadon's established tendency to dispose of his minions once their usefulness has ended.
However, Shark Army General #1 looks as though she has seen plenty of military action, sporting several medals and a blue sash which identifies her as the the leader of the army. The blue jacket looks great but I think the printing on the legs is even better, featuring rows of shiny silver and blue scales which match the colour of her belt and sash.
The general comes with a pink milkshake rather than a weapon, thereby indicating that she directs her troops from the rear instead of leading from the front. I like the printed design around the circumference of the cup and the trans-clear top looks great too so I will definitely be looking to acquire a few more of these. Shark Army General #1 did not really capture my attention when images were released but this is now among the best of all in my opinion.
The Shark Army Octopus does not appear in any sets at the moment and is one of the wackiest members of Garmadon's aquatic army so this minifigure seems certain to be popular! The helmet is made from a rubber material and cast in dark orange. It looks brilliant, leaving a space for the eyes to peak through a gap in the mask and showing a scar on the head underneath.
The soldiers wear sand blue and light bluish grey uniforms but there is an impressive variety of designs. This example includes a black belt and kneepads as well as a pearl dark grey armour component which fits around the neck. A large tank is found on the back while the front displays a battery symbol, showing either how much oxygen is left in the tank or how much power remains in the suit.
The Octopus Warrior is armed with a light bluish grey stud shooter which launches trans-orange 1x1 round plates. I suspect these are intended to represent blobs of ink and that they are orange to match the colour of the headgear, although real octopus ink is black. He also comes with a pearl silver fish, perhaps used as a baton or simply as a snack!
The Shark Army Octopus' helmet seems rather unsuitable for battle based on its sheer size but I imagine the Shark Army Angler must be even more frustrated by the illicium dangling in front of her face! Nevertheless, this is another brilliant figure, wearing a bizarre sand green helmet which is designed to resemble an anglerfish. I like the fleshy lure which protrudes from the forehead and the teeth surrounding the minifigure's eyes look superb.
The torso is primarily grey and sand blue but features some muscle definition along with a tactical vest. The legs are similarly detailed but there is no printing on the reverse which is somewhat disappointing. Fortunately, the pearl dark grey tank covers most of the back and the moulded detail on the anglerfish helmet continues to impress. In fact, you could probably use the helmet to represent an actual anglerfish as its shape is reasonably realistic.
The Shark Army Angler is armed with an enormous mace. Its handle is shaped like a fish and the spiked ball is mounted on a pearl dark grey 3L bar. These two elements have only appeared once before, with the Frightening Knight from series fifteen of the Collectable Minifigures, so it is pleasing to see them again.
The Shark Army Great White wears a dark blue officer's uniform which resembles that of Shark Army General #1. His sash is dark red rather than blue and the many golden medals and chains which cover the torso appear melted, presumably in connection with the burned areas on the legs, arms and helmet..
The black shark helmet looks very intimidating, with rows of teeth surrounding an angry facial expression. I love the critically low battery symbol and am eager to discover how the Shark Army Great White came to look so bedraggled. It is worth noting that the helmet is made from a hard plastic, unlike those of the octopus and anglerfish warriors, while the black tanks are a separate component and have not appeared in this colour since 2012.
The Great White wields a fish flamethrower, perhaps suggesting that the damage to his uniform is accidentally self-inflicted. The theme of fish-shaped weapons is a lot of fun, not least because it has yielded a few new colours for the fish, including this black component which is exclusive to the Collectable Minifigures range at the moment.
Flashback Garmadon depicts Lloyd's father before he became a megalomaniacal super villain, although his fashion sense is no less flamboyant. He wears a decidedly 1970s shirt with a wide tie and an enormous collar along with a pair of reddish brown trousers. They look splendid and I like the sunglasses which are printed beside a smile on the head.
Garmadon's hair is blonde to match that of his son but he still looks rather scary, with grey wrinkles and pointed teeth. The ridges on the back of the torso are rather unsightly as they would be more suited to an armoured character but otherwise I think this figure looks pretty impressive on the whole. It will be interesting to see how this seemingly friendly father became a villain who seeks to destroy cities and rule the entirety of NINJAGO.
Flashback Garmadon comes with a black camera and a 2x2 printed tile showing a Polaroid photograph of a volcano with the word 'HOME' written underneath in NINJAGO lettering. I love the apparently suburban environment in which the volcano is set, with a white picket fence in front and idyllic rolling hills in the distance!
The last of the three Garmadon minifigures is Volcano Garmadon. He wears a brilliant set of matching pyjamas which appear very briefly in the trailer when Lloyd receives an accidental video call from his father. I love the medium blue colour scheme and the little volcano motifs look brilliant alongside tiny flames and clouds. This printing is present on both torso sections as well as the legs and all four arms but the back is totally plain which is disappointing.
However, Garmadon's enormous helmet looks marvellous and includes plenty of moulded detail. The shaping is very faithful to a traditional samurai helmet and the horns are particularly impressive, increasing the villain's height even further! I also enjoy the idea that Garmadon wears his helmet to bed and his smiling facial expression is absolutely perfect for such a fun minifigure.
The minifigure holds a new pearl silver spoon and the bowl element which has been introduced for The LEGO NINJAGO Movie. The same accessories appear with Lloyd Garmadon but the bowl is sand green on this occasion and is decorated with a white wave design which runs all the way around it.
Gong and Guitar Rocker is the first of the four civilians which complete the series. He features a black hair piece with a red band and his sleeveless shirt is red too. There is no printing on the back but it looks great from the front, featuring a skull and cross bones as well as the word 'METAL' and some fabric creasing. The left arm is decorated with a dragon tattoo and a black wristband which seem appropriate for the character.
The guitarist's legs are dual-moulded so include a pair of black trousers and white boots. Both are printed with some attractive detail on the front, notably including four yellow lightning bolts and a studded belt. The metallic silver details are slightly shiny so look particularly impressive under bright light conditions. This is the only minifigure in the series which includes two faces, one of which features a frown while the other is yelling.
A red and white electric guitar completes the figure. This guitar element has only appeared twice before and the printed design is entirely new so I am pleased to add it to my collection. However, the plethora of guitarists which have appeared in past series of the Collectable Minifigures may reduce the appeal of the Gong and Guitar Rocker. Even so, the figure looks great and will undoubtedly fit well in 70620 NINJAGO City.
The GPL Tech works for Garmadon Propulsion Laboratories and is a huge fan of Batman! The 'GIT' tag on her jacket might refer to the Gotham Institute of Technology, perhaps revealing that she has traveled between realms after the destruction of the barriers in The LEGO Movie. On the other hand, it may simply be a name tag or the initials of a graphic designer who worked on this series.
This is yet another impressive minifigure. She sports a white lab coat over her Batman shirt and the coat continues onto the dual-moulded legs. The printing around the hips does not line up perfectly but I like the rows of buttons and the pen in her top pocket is a lovely detail. Her comically enormous glasses are excellent too.
The GPL Tech is equipped with a folding laptop and a red mug. Unfortunately, there is no printing on the laptop screen and the mug is also left plain which seems a shame. This would have been a good opportunity to produce a black cup with the bat symbol on it, thereby complementing the minifigure's shirt!
The Sushi Chef was among my most anticipated minifigures of the series and it does not disappoint. The bald head accessory looks superb and includes a black and white bandana to match the rest of his uniform, consisting of a printed robe, white trousers and black boots. This dual-moulded colour combination has not appeared before and is perfect for an updated Grand Admiral Thrawn minifigure.
The robe features black fabric at the edges and is covered with a shrimp pattern. This continues across both sides of the torso and it looks brilliant, as does the chef's moustache and smiling expression. I am looking forward to adding this minifigure to the Rice and Shine sushi bar on the top level of 70620 NINJAGO City, for which he was presumably designed.
He is fully prepared for working at the restaurant, including a rare pearl silver cleaver along with some new 1x1 sushi tiles. It is quite surprising that the existing sushi piece was not re-used but I always welcome a new design and it is good to see two such accessories included, one of which is attached to a black cylinder to represent the sushi before slicing. I imagine this will prove to be a popular minifigure even for those who have no interest in NINJAGO as he would fit perfectly into any city environment.
The LEGO NINJAGO Movie Collectable Minifigures were met with a very positive response when they were revealed last month but the colourful N-POP Girl appeared to be the most popular of all. It is easy to see why as the pastel colours of her hair and dress are unlike any minifigure we have seen before and the level of printed detail is exceptional, most notably including a depiction of Unikitty on her torso! The back is printed with matching symbols and two stylised hearts adorn the spring yellowish green and medium blue boots.
The face looks suitably cheerful and the hair is as colourful as the rest of the figure, dyed in blue and pink. This piece first appeared on Harley Quinn and appears just as impressive here, with texturing on every surface and elaborate pigtails. The striped tutu is even more colourful, including pink, bright light yellow and spring yellowish green decoration, all of which is printed on a white component.
A pink and blue teddy bear accompanies the N-POP Girl so the colours of her hair, clothing and accessory are all properly coordinated. This is certainly in the running for my favourite minifigure of the entire series which says a great deal as I think the standard has been very high throughout the range as a whole.
Overall
LEGO's printing and moulding techniques are becoming more advanced as each year passes and that is certainly evident here. The series includes some of the most detailed headgear we have seen, ranging from elaborate aquatic helmets to simple hair pieces which include extraordinary textured detail. Furthermore, the designs on the torsos and legs look fantastic, although the absence of back printing is disappointing on certain minifigures.
Some figures are certainly weaker than others, as in every wave. Characters such as the Gong and Guitar Rocker seem unlikely to fulfill a major role within the film while very similar versions of Lloyd, Nya, Kai and Master Wu appear in other sets which may reduce their appeal. However, I think the overall range of characters and the quality of the minifigures is excellent so I would have no hesitation in recommending the whole series. My favourites are the Sushi Chef, the N-POP Girl, Shark Army General #1 and Volcano Garmadon but I would be interested to hear yours.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the range in the comments below.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review is an expression of my own opinions.
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23 comments on this article
Great review!
The LEGO Facebook confirmed that GPL stands for Garmadon Propulsion Laboratories, suggesting a villainous role in the film.
@TheBrickPal - Thanks, I have updated the article.
I like that N-Pop Girl! Other than that, I probably won't get any of these.
Very impressive though!
Nice that they were scientifically accurate on making the Angler a female character, it's a tiny detail, but it's a fun one. XD
Great job on reviewing them!
You're right about the sushi guys legs working for Thrawn. I'm also think the Rockers legs could be adapted for a biker scout and the Flashback Garmadon arms might work for Sabine or even the newest Ahsoka.
^^ha! It makes me feel smart that I get that!
8 out of 20 minifigs have back printing.
Thanks for the review. I don't like that there are versions of figures that are very similar to the sets. However, I think the rest of the series is quite strong.
It irks me that the octopus only seems to have 7 tentacles. Does that make it a septapus? Maybe that's part of the joke, haha. I love that it's separate to the tank too, I was worried that they would be melded together. :)
I would marry the Shark Army General 1 if I were Kai
Thanks CapnRex101 for the Minifigure series review.
That N-POP figure she's fabulous! She would fit in well somewhere among all the fairground sets.
The original translated list I had for this listed the Scientist as 'Giant laser mechanic' so it must be involved with the laser pointer
Those Volcano pyjamas will look great on Dr. Inferno, for those of us who still love the Agents theme!
Dope. So hard to pick a favorite. Although perhaps contrary to most others' tastes, it's not N-Pop Girl.
Shark Army General 1 is the one I am aiming for although the N-Pop Girl design is amaizing.
Looking forward to Flashback Garmadon. Good hairpiece for current POTUS.
Hasn't it been pretty standard for CMFs not to have back printing or dual face printing? Yes some do but for the vast majority no.
Spelling mistake alert: "white trsouers" when talking about the sushi chef. Great review otherwise though.
The General's torso would be great for GI officer in The Insurgency.
I am only interested in N-POP Girl, that guitar guy, and two accessories: the Master Wu Cornflakes pack und Lloyd's bowl with that great Asian design. Other than that, meh.
Great review! I like the Volcano Garmadon minifig and the Sushi Chef. Truthfully though, I wouldn't mind finding any of these minifigures in a blind bag. I'm guessing the blueprint Lloyd is holding is printed. If so, that's awesome!
I really appreciate the consistency of the Ninjago lettering. Sure, it's not a full company (we haven't even approached that level of detail since Bionicle), but it's these little details which really make my day.
Just picked up a few bags at a local super market. The new price point really hurts, with a full set now at 80 EUR and that is only with no accidental doubles. The figures themselves are great, even though I have not been following Ninjago at all.
The figures can be used well outside their universe and the additional parts are great. I love the rice bowl, the Samurai helmet and the Kendo helmet. And the sushi chef is amazing in its own right.
So all in all, an amazing set, but please LEGO, reconsider your price point.