From January through May 2023, an astounding 71 sets made it to 10,000 supporters on the LEGO® Ideas platform. As we all know, only a very limited number make it through the review process and into production. In the first 2023 LEGO® Ideas review results, the LEGO® Group revealed two sets out of the 71 that will move forward towards store shelves. These join eight sets already in various stages of production, and the Polaroid camera due out on January 1, 2024. Of course, all we have at this point in terms of the two new concepts are the fan model images. The final look, official brick count, and price come closer to actual production.
The first of the two sets to make it through is the Cullen House from Twilight. This is the brainchild of Nick Micheels (aka LobsterThermidor). Interestingly, Nick currently has a second set in review as well. The Cullen House entered the race on February 3, 2023, skyrocketing to 10,000 supporters by the next day. Clearly people out there are thirsty for twinkling vampires. I never read the books, and I did not really like the first movie (resulting in me never watching the others). Consequently, the subject matter interests me a grand total of not at all. However, as a LEGO® fan, I can appreciate the build for the modern looking house that it is. I also appreciate Nick’s humour in writing up the design over on the LEGO® Ideas site.
If the vampires in Twilight are ancient, how come they all still act like moody teenagers?
The second set to make it through the first 2023 LEGO® Ideas review surprised me a little. Not that it is a bad design in any way. In fact, the build is beautiful. But the LEGO® Group released a similar (though smaller) set in the Friends theme recently. This one is the work of Valentina Bima (aka Goannas89) who submitted her concept on December 7, 2022 and went on to achieve 10,000 supporters by January 9, 2023. It was not the mind-blowing, two-day rise of Twilight, but a respectable run all the same. I am very much a fan of this Botanical Garden. Tack on the Friends set, and you’ll have a huge exhibit for your Minifigures to enjoy. I had plans to double up the Friends set in a mod, but now I might hold off… Though the Ideas Botanical Garden is still a long way off.
In terms of timelines, I wouldn’t expect these new concepts as official sets for another year, or even two. If we look at the first round of 2022 LEGO® Ideas announcements, it took seven months for Tales of the Space Age, about a year and a third for the Orient Express, and a year and five months for the Polaroid Camera to go from approval to store. Plus, there are eight sets still ahead of these ones. What are those eight sets, you ask?
Family Tree
The Family Tree is a contest winner. Similar to the Viking Village, this one is a collaboration with Target in the United States. The design won the “What Does Family Mean to You?” contest launched in August 2022. It was created by veteran LEGO® Ideas fan Bulldoozer, who also brought us the Cosmic Cardboard Adventures GWP. Bulldoozer came out on top during a fan vote running from October 12 – 26, 2022 and was announced the winner during the following December. Like Viking Village, this set is destined to be a Target exclusive in the United States. However, it will also retail through the official LEGO® Store so Canadian (and international) fans can enjoy it as well.
Dragon’s Keep: Journey’s End
Dragon’s Keep: Journey’s End was the first Ideas submission by BoltBuilds. Unlike most other Ideas concepts, this set did not go through the usual 10,000 supporters and review. Instead, BoltBuilds entered in the Dungeons and Dragons 50th Anniversary contest launched in October 2022. Dragon’s Keep won the fan vote which ran from November 28 – December 12, 2022. LEGO® Ideas officially named BoltBuilds the winner in January 2023. 2024 marks Dungeons and Dragons’ 50th anniversary. No doubt LEGO® Ideas reveals the official set soon.
Red London Telephone Box
The Red London Telephone Box is the brainchild of Bricked1980. The designer revealed the concept on the platform in February 2022, and hit 10,000 supporters by early July. LEGO® Ideas included the Telephone box in the second round of 2022 reviews, and it was approved for production in February 2023.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas was also approved during the second round of 2022 reviews. LEGO® fan Tvrulesmylife originally placed the concept on LEGO® Ideas in July 2022. By early September, the build reached 10,000 supporters. The Nightmare Before Christmas remains popular, I am not surprised LEGO® gave the set the green light. However, the 30th Anniversary of the film passed on October 29, 2023, marking a missed opportunity in my opinion. Granted, the production scheduled from approval in February 2023 to launch in October of the same year would have been gruelling. Still…
Jaws
Fan designer By Diving Faces released Jaws in March 2022. Though, this was the second entry of a Jaws themed set from the creator. It achieved 10,000 supporters by November of the same year, qualifying it for the third round of 2022 reviews. The LEGO® Ideas team approved the set for production in May 2023. The original movie came out in June 1975. Unlike with the Nightmare Before Christmas, the LEGO® Group would have ample time to meet the 50th Anniversary deadline. I think it would be another missed opportunity to release this set earlier than 2025.
The Cat
The Cat was also part of the third round of 2022 reviews, alongside Jaws. This design comes from By the Yellow Brick. This set did not have the meteoric rise experience by some of the other sets on this list. The Cat entered the LEGO® Ideas platform in December 2020 and achieved 10,000 supporters nearly two years later in November 2022. All the same, it passed the review phase and entered production in May 2023.
Reading, Reading, Reading
Reading, Reading, and Reading is the third contest winner on this list. The Me, Myself, and I challenge launched in late May of 2023 in celebration of Singles Day (which I didn’t know existed prior). The goal was to represent something you would do for yourself alone. Fr_An came out the winner in July. This set will be a GWP in the near-ish future.
Disney Magic
Next up is Disney Magic. It is the fourth contest winner on this list, having come out on top in the 100 Years of Fairytales challenge. The contest launched on May 1, 2023, and represents the third collaboration between LEGO® Ideas and Target. Consequently, you can expect this set to be a Target exclusive in the United States, but available everywhere else through the LEGO® Store. The winning design comes from 2A2A. While masterfully executed, I am starting to feel a little bit of Disney 100 ennui when it comes to LEGO® sets. I hope when the set comes out that it features some new Minifigures and not just rehashes.
What are your thoughts on the Cullen House and Botanical Garden? Have they changed your LEGO® Ideas priority list at all? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or reach out on social media.
Until next time,
-Tom
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4 responses to “First 2023 LEGO® Ideas Review Results”
Regarding the Nightmare Before Christmas set, I think it would be more apt to release it on the movie’s 31st anniversary when considering the subject matter.
Hi Tom, I remember you have written about a friend of yours, a canadian reseller of minifigures. Can you give me the website again ? Thanks and besh wishes for Christmas to you and your family
Emmett’s Toy Chest. You can actually see the link in the right-hand menu in desktop view, or scroll down to the bottom past the end of the article on mobile🙂
Thanks Tom