Author: Graham

A rare look at LEGO Model Designers’ sketch models and protypes provides a glimpse into how NINJAGO sets are designed.

When LEGO designers are working on a product, they have different ways of designing; some might sketch something by hand first, some might work digitally with special software, but many just sit down with some bricks and start iterating. There are usually many different versions of a model before anything close to the final set is realised, but the finished ‘sketch model’ is very important; this is the model that gives a good idea of what the final set will be, but isn’t yet up to LEGO set standards.

Sometimes the same designer works on a product all the way though, sometimes one designer comes up with the sketch model and then another designer comes up with the finished model. The process though requires the sketch model to be turned into a visually appealing, playable, stable LEGO set.

These images show early versions of LEGO NINJAGO sets, alongside the finished version that was released.

9444 Cole’s Thread Assault

9445 Fangpyre Truck Ambush

9450 Epic Dragon Battle

70727 X-1 Ninja Charger

70747 Boulder Blaster

71738 Zane’s Titan Mech

For even more examples of how LEGO NINJAGO designs evolved – including the classic 70627 Dragon’s Forge, 70592 Salvage M.E.C. and the packaging for the spinners – order a copy of Blocks magazine Issue 75, which includes an exclusive feature looking at how LEGO NINJAGO was created, developed and embraced by fans around the world. It’s all part of the big celebration of the LEGO NINJAGO 10 year anniversary, which has kicked into high gear today.

To get Blocks every month – at a discount and earlier than the shops – order a 12-month or 24-month subscription. Direct debit payment options are available too; to find out more get in touch via subs@silverbackpublishing.rocks.

It’s 10 years since LEGO NINJAGO launched! The incredible action-adventure theme has gone from strength to strength, and now its origin story is revealed.

To celebrate 10 years of LEGO NINJAGO, the LEGO Group has revealed the story of how the theme began (don’t worry, there are also lots of great new products too). Here is what the secretive company has shared about how it all began:

Late on a Friday in fall 2019, a drawing was made that would be the beginning of something big. Tommy Andreasen did a sketch showing different elemental ninjas and the team had the idea of the ninja being on a sort of spinners to make an active minifigure play.

On the drawing you see a ninja of water, tough that ended up not being added until Nya became the master of water in 2015. The sketch has the word ‘Spinjago’ on it, which was the first idea of a name, which then developed into ‘Spinjitzu’ – a combination of the words ‘spin’ and ‘ninjitzu’.

The ‘NINJAGO’ name was also a combination of the words ‘NINJA’ and the word ‘GO’ which was taken form the end of the LEGO Group company name. It was also thought to be a great activator, like a battle cry.

Well… that’s the short version of the story at least. For the full story, including what Tommy thinks about the name NINJAGO and why it’s special, you’ll need to get Blocks magazine Issue 75. It has an in-depth look at how the action-adventure range began, how it has become a LEGO evergreen and how it is now celebrating its legacy.

And if you think the artwork above is cool, it’s just the beginning. Our special feature includes dozens of never-before-seen pieces, including LEGO designer sketch models, television development sketches and concept art.

To get Blocks every month – at a discount and earlier than the shops – order a 12-month or 24-month subscription. Direct debit payment options are available too; to find out more get in touch via subs@silverbackpublishing.rocks.

LEGO NINJAGO has been running for 10 years – and there’s plenty happening to celebrate including a special feature in Blocks magazine, 23 new LEGO sets, 71741 NINJAGO City Gardens, collectible gold minifigures and a clothing collaboration with HYPE.

The LEGO Group has announced how the company will mark the incredible milestone of NINJAGO reaching its 10^th anniversary. For 10 years, the theme has been on toy store shelves and television screens, as well as becoming a theme park ride, a theatrical movie, a series of comics and much more.

‘It has been an amazing journey to see a product range turn into something that kids have enjoyed for 10 years,’ says LEGO Design Manager Michael Svane Knap, the longest-serving designer on the theme. ‘Some have grown up with LEGO NINJAGO and are now expressing their gratitude and telling us how they have learned lifelong skills. In my opinion, that is the best thing about LEGO NINJAGO. Kids learn about friendship, confidence and much more… and of course, that ninjas are cool!’

He reveals the full inside story, along with other LEGO insiders and the creators of the animated television series, in Blocks magazine Issue 75 – available now. A small taste of that is provided in this story about how the NINJAGO idea came about in the first place and this look a how a handful of the models were developed.

To mark the anniversary, 71741 NINJAGO City Gardens will be available exclusively at LEGO.com. The incredible 5,685 piece set will be available to order at some point today. It includes an exclusive gold coloured Master Wu minifigure, with other collectible characters included with NINJAGO Legacy sets this year.

Four new sets are coming in March and will continue the NINJAGO story (the full checklist is available here):

71745 Lloyd’s Jungle Chopper Bike
71746 Jungle Dragon
71747 The Keepers’ Village
71748 Catamaran Sea Battle

Season 14 of the animated television series will launch this year, which will be a tribute to the voice actor Kirby Morrow, who has voiced Cole since the show started and passed away at the end of 2020.

Be sure to start this epic year right with a copy of Blocks magazine Issue 75, with an exclusive look at how LEGO NINJAGO was devised and how it has developed since, featuring never-before-seen artwork.

To get Blocks every month – at a discount and earlier than the shops – order a 12-month or 24-month subscription. Direct debit payment options are available too; to find out more get in touch via subs@silverbackpublishing.rocks.