Review: 41595 Belle
Posted by Huw,BrickHeadz, LEGO's answer to Funko's collectable Pop Vinyl figures, were revealed at San Diego Comic Con last year where eight exclusive figures were available to attendees.
Now we are just weeks away from the general release of the first series of twelve: eight Super Heroes, two from Beauty and the Beast that were announced on Wednesday, and two from an unrevealed franchise.
LEGO has kindly and very efficiently sent us the ten known ones so it's my pleasure to be able to bring you one of the 'net's first reviews.
Not being much of a Super-Heroes fan, I liked the look of Belle and the Beast the most, so I'll take a look at 41595 Belle today and 41596 Beast over the weekend or early next week.
Box
It comes packaged in a nice shiny box showing the model on the front and the 'real-life' inspiration on the side.
The box is labelled 11, indicating this is the 11th figure of the first series, although 'series one' is not shown on the box.
The mystery pair (41593 and 41594, 9th and 10th of the series) are shown on the back of the box but I am not at liberty to reveal what they are yet.
Parts
Sticker-haters can breathe a huge sigh of relief that all the decorated parts are printed. In this case, there's four curved cool yellow slopes printed with frilly dress details, a 1x4 brick with the top of Belle's dress, two eyes and a 2x4 tile, common to all series 1 figures, indicating that it's a series 1 figure.
There are other cool yellow parts, including 1x2 curves slopes and 1x1 plates although none are new in this set.
Construction
The base of the dress and the head are built with studs on all four sides to enable building in every direction.
Here's the display base, which I presume will be the same for all figures:
The completed model
The head and body are, as you can see above, constructed around a 4x4 core, and without base the figure stands about 9 bricks tall, or 10cm, which is smaller than Pop Vinyl figures but, like them, the head and hair account for about half the height.
Belle is attired in a delightful cool- and normal-yellow dress and is clutching the rose that's so important to the story (no spoilers here... :) )
Her flowing hair has been modelled using a variety of curved slopes and has an angled bun at the top.
LEGO's official pictures only show one side and the front so here are views from all angles:
Verdict
BrickHeadz are very stylised caricatures of popular media figures. Their core design provides enough flexibility to build just about anyone although I suspect it is likely to suit some better than others. I think Belle looks great as one: perhaps not very lady-like but nevertheless instantly recognisable.
The one thing that bothers me about it, and all of them for that matter, is the position of the eyes. They do not look right so close to the edge of the face. Bringing them closer to the centre using jumpers might not look any better, so I guess this is the look LEGO has gone for so I'll have to grow to like it. Presumably printed eyes were tried but rejected.
Super Heroes are well and good but they don't appeal to everyone so it's pleasing to see LEGO produce figures for other popular licenses. Beauty and the Beast, something that I would say has more appeal to females than Super Heroes, is an excellent first choice given that there's renewed interest in it thanks to the live action film that's out soon.
Really, I didn't want to like this set, I didn't want it to be the catalyst to start collecting them all but having built and beheld it, I can immediately see the appeal and I suspect I'm on the slippery slope to doing so. Even the post-Brexit UK price of £9.99 is not off-putting although closer to the equivalent of the US price of $9.99 (about £8) would of course have been preferable.
I think LEGO has a hit on its hands with BrickHeadz and we can but hope that they are not just another 3-year flash-in-the-pan theme like many these days and that they are here to stay, like Pop Vinyls seem to be. I'm certain there's plenty of mileage in them.
This set was kindly provided for review by LEGO. The views and opinions in it are my own.
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64 comments on this article
Wow... just wow... not sure I understand why TLG felt the need to do this. Are the Pop things really a threat to their business? All of these will be a pass for me....
Looking very interesting. Had decided not to get these but having second thoughts.
Pop isn't a threat, but Lego is trying to grab a corner of that apparently popular market.
Thst said, I still haven't made up my mind about these...
I for one am overwhelmingly stoked for this line - as someone who has already made over 60 custom ones I'm super excited to get some and try to build my digital ones with real pieces!
Has anyone explained yet why all of these sets have a "1" on the baseplate?
(Oh, Series 1. Nevermind!)
I can't be the only one who things this entire style looks awful...?
@Huw is the box taped or glued, and can the figure be put back in the box assembled? Thanks in advance.
I'm not as enthusiastic about this set as I am about the others (and I do like the others), but I do like the design of it. It does seem rather similar to the POP! brand though.
That being said, if they make some for Spider-Man, I would totally buy them.
no trying to be rude....but she's built like a brick shithouse.
I wonder what theme the other two are going to be?
Assuming it's an existing theme like the rest, my money (and hopes) are on Star Wars.
I don'the know but Luke and Vader would be good for the first ones
The box is glued as most European packed ones are but those from Mexico might not be, as is often the case.
Yes it fits back in the box. Its 12cm high.
Why the number 1 on the base? this is for series one? or that base should indicate 11 as the 11th set within the series?
These look really cool! Can't wait to get a hold of these.
Great review! Not a huge fan based on pictures, but it appears that the BrickHeadz are much more charming in person. Curious to see how to line does.
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thanks for the review Huw! I didn't want to get sucked into this latest fad either, but it seems I'm growing to like them more and more as I see them: being as obsessive of a Captain America fan as I am, I assume that will be the one I buy if I end up getting one...
I'm dying to see a Boba Fett in BrickHeadz form
At least I know I'm not the only one who hates the big-headed aesthetic, but I think these "collectibles" are becoming a plague on the merchandise spectrum. Unfortunately, I'm in the minority, so they're here to stay.
They have really captured her likeness.
These are really cool, but they don't seem very playable/pose-able. There was something similar to these in the Blocks issue 19 preview Brickset posted a while back, which seemed much better in my opinion.
http://images.brickset.com/news/014-015BLKS%20issue%2019.jpg
I'm very much looking forward to the theme, I've just posted my LEGO BrickHeadz interpretation of Dancing Groot from Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
Dancing Groot: https://www.flickr.com/photos/adeelzubair/32644969396
Any chance of a photo with a minifigure to more easily convey scale?
Are they really trying to compete with those pop figures? At leas those are cute. Pointless, but cute. These are really ugly.
Awesome. I initially wasn't sure about these. Then I decided to get the ones for the characters I liked. Now I'm thinking about whether I should just get them all. I see this could get expensive!
I don't really like the look of these sets but I'll buy a few of them as parts packs.
@Huw, do the plates that make her neck have flesh color printed on one edge?
Wow. The fact that it has the one printed on the stand ticks me off. Why have a series number and not the individual number printed on the box (11)? That is so ridiculous.
As others have said, I think they aren't great... maybe useful for parts if you can get them on sale anywhere?
In other photos, the skin looked tan. However, the skin here looks like light nougat. What color is the skin? Because it could become a problem for characters wearing tan clothes.
@Schmidt, I've added one to the end for you.
@tkatt, the head and neck are tan and the dress top print on he 1x4 brick has a tan section to match.
@Huw Thanks! I hope they switch to flesh, but maybe they have a policy against fleshie parts (i.e. they don't want people making entirely fleshie MOCs, if you get what I mean).
@Huw Will the 2 unrevealed brickheadz sets be releasing along with all of the others?
8BrickMario: You're not necessarily in the minority. But products don't have to appeal to a majority to sell well; they just have to appeal to enough people. For example, I'm sure there are loads of LEGO fans who don't care for LEGO Technic or LEGO Architecture, but what matters to those themes' success isn't the number of people who DON'T care, it's the number of people who DO.
Anyway, good review and beautiful photos! I have no particular interest in these sets unless they make some based on IPs I really enjoy like Moana or LEGO Ninjago, but they certainly are cute! I think the separation of their eyes actually adds to their cuteness. The construction of this one's dress is really interesting. I figure the other sets' bases aren't in fact built the same, because if they were they couldn't really all attach the same way (most of the characters just have 1x2 plates as feet).
It's very cute and will also make a fantastic parts pack. I already have ideas on how I'd use the printed parts, and it seems very useful to have those pale yellow bits, and all the curved brown pieces... my interest in this theme is rising.
@MBJosh04, I don't know. I guess they might, and that they'll be revealed ahead of the New York toy fair which begins on the 18th.
They'll certainly be revealed when this set hits the shelves on the 15th, that's for sure!
@Aanchir, yes you are right about the bases, they are likely to all be a bit different to suit the character.
Brick built figures of superheroes and other themes, seems like a great line! Parts are really nice, prints for all the sets, the line seems like it has lots going for it. I don't collect POPs or whatever the big headed collectibles are called, but I'll be buying as many of these as I can afford. Hope we get more themes (Star Wars, LEGO Movie, Minecraft)
Not interested.
But wait... haven't I said so about SW Constraction figures and just ended up buying Grievous and Obi-Wan on sale?
Well, forget it...
'The mystery pair (41593 and 41594, 9th and 10th of the series) are shown on the back of the box but I am not at liberty to reveal what they are yet.'
Talk about a cock tease. haha Why even bother to bring that up? My guess is it's PotC and it will be shown with the LEGO Direct set.
These seem useless to me. I wish LEGO made the stupid printed head thing and the series 1 tw0 2x2 titles instead of a 2x4.
All you pessimists ... these look really cool! :P
This line doesn't interest me but I can see the display appeal that they may have (some of those printed pieces look useful).
This isn't for me, but I could see my daughter liking Belle. And those dress slopes might work for an awning on a modular building. I've tried the same with Cinderella printed slopes.
Thanks for the review. I am curious on the two unrevealed sets now. Because maybe one of them will be a "I have to have it" type of set.
@Huw Do the 2 unrevealed sets look good?
Does anyone now if they are going to reissue the Superman and Wonder Woman that were at the SDCC?
@MrMouth1117 I don't believe so, as those were SDCC Exclusive and only available at SDCC. That would be cool though!
I don't mind the black eyes, but wonder what these would look like if you replaced them with the white printed eyes found in Creator animal sets - or even the 'happy' eyes like in the Christmas Build Up Set from '16.
I can't believe that you already got the BrickHeadz! I think I'll get them for their pieces, especially the modified bricks.
Mystery pair sounds interesting...
I bet that the mystery pair is Gaston (beauty and the Beast) and Another character from Beauty and the Beast, maybe Belles dad?
@MBJosh04 Or characters from a TV series. Quote lego: Have fun growing your LEGO BrickHeadz collection with other classic characters from your favorite movies, TV series, games and comics
Yes that could be, but it is likely that they will be from beauty and the Beast as the lego batman movie has 4 brickheads and so does marvel. Only the future will tell... or maybe we can break Huw!
Could the unknown sets be from whatever Disney film is comming out this year? (I know they are doing Frozen 2 but I dont think that's happening until 2018 so it cant be that)
A formula one series would be cool but I doubt it would sell very much, particularly the less successful drivers
I like these a lot. I wonder why they are called Brick'H'eadz with the H between apostrophes
^ The apostrophes are arms!
oh duh...
Glad these all will be printed, I wasn't too sure as the images showed an edged sheen on the printed parts making it look like stickers
Great review as always, but don't think I'll be picking this up
"Even the post-Brexit UK price of £9.99 is not off-putting although closer to the equivalent of the US price of $9.99 (about £8) would of course have been preferable."
This is the equivalent of the US price. US prices are listed without tax. In the UK, you pay 20% VAT. On today's exchange rates, the difference is under 40p (and Sterling's been volatile to say the least, so you'd forgive companies for adding a little padding).
What are the other 2 this is driving me crazy
these are glorified parts boxes
LEGO has a big issue in regards to such 'toys' where Pop vinyl does not. Why? Pop Vinyls are not restricted to G or PG themes. I see all sorts of Pops 'themes' out there (including super hero ones), generating demand for kids and adults alike. Will these be profitable enough for LEGO to make enough to justify what is essentially a paper weight? Pops are essentially that way too, but are intended for that; this is a building block toy.
Maybe they will do gangbusters, but I just do not see it.
Happy collecting for anyone who likes them... For me ? Nahh Not interested at all and simply awful... Thank you for the great Review anyway !
Great review for an awful product. The whole series looks dreadful imho, but as others have said before, on clearance some might be good as parts packs at least.
Why would they print pieces for these and then put sticker sheets like you'd find in a scrapbook kit in the lego friends sets?!?!?
The pink brick is for the brain but what is with the red brick? Underwear?
seems to be legos response to mega's kubros. their both cutesy, blockey, brick-built figures covering many thing themes.