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Unfortunately, Lego’s Avatar set is 13 years too late

29.9.2022

Translation: Katherine Martin

Thirteen years after its release in cinemas i.e. much too late, Lego has launched a set based on the first «Avatar» film. Visually, it doesn’t quite manage to win me over with Toruk Makto and the Tree of Souls either.

In «Avatar», a paralysed ex-marine takes part in a scientific experiment, which sees him travel to the planet Pandora as an alien hybrid. That’s the short version. And given that «Avatar» is the most successful blockbuster of all time, I don’t really need to say much else. Practically everyone has seen it at least once. Probably about thirteen years ago, though. And that’s the crux of the issue.

«Avatar» hit cinemas in 2009. To remind you of how long ago that was: that was the year Barack Obama was the US President, Windows 7 was the most recent operating system, Michael Jackson died and Lady Gaga’s «Poker Face» entered the Swiss charts.

So why is Lego only just launching this licence, 13 years too late?

LEGO

EUR130,41

LEGO Toruk Makto and the Tree of Souls

75574, LEGO Rare Sets

My guess is that Lego expects to achieve some tidy sales figures with this licence over the next few years. After all, despite the first «Avatar» film already being 13 years old, the franchise is being milked for all its worth in true Disney fashion. The second instalment will be released in cinemas at the end of 2022. On the back of this, Lego is sure to launch more sets in early 2023. Not only that, but more movies are already in the pipeline: «Avatar 3» in 2024, «Avatar 4» in 2026 and «Avatar 5» in 2028.

Sadly, the film industry doesn’t often dare to venture into new territory, preferring instead to make sequels of successful movies. This is to the benefit of licence partners like Lego, who’re able to keep on cashing in. Like I said, that’s my guess. Whether that’s the case for the «Avatar» sets remains to be seen. My first encounter with it didn’t exactly set the heather alight.

Lego Avatar’s Tree of Souls is pretty repetitive to build.
Source: Ramon Schneider

The Tree of Souls looks pretty with its low-hanging leaves. Various turquoise tendrils sprout up from the ground by the roots – some of which are fluorescent and glow in the dark. This breathes a bit of life into the set. However, I was disappointed by the stone diorama pockmarked with leaves. Visually, it doesn’t have much to contribute, and it looks a little lost within the space. I suspect it’s only been included in the set so that Lego could squeeze in some more bricks. It’s only job is to serve as a stand for Toruk, the Leonopteryx Rex from Pandora.

In the Lego Avatar set, Toruk nestles on a stand above the diorama.
Source: Ramon Schneider

Lego has done a fairly pitiful job of recreating the dragon-like creature. The only part of it that I like is the head. Its blue fins provide a nice contrast to the red skin. The mouth has also been done pretty well – it can be opened to varying degrees, which conveys a certain menace. However, absolutely no love has gone into the design of the wings. They consist solely of a thin piece of plastic, and are only printed on one side. Lego would’ve been better off solving this with bricks, skipping the diorama entirely. Pity.

The legs on Lego Avatar’s minifigures are too long in proportion to their bodies.
Source: Ramon Schneider

In contrast, the minifigures included in the set land a few brownie points with me on account of some nice details. Each of the four Na’vis has its own print, and is kitted out with its own weapons. What bothers me are their proportions. Anyone familiar with «Avatar» knows that the inhabitants of Pandora are taller than humans. They have an average height of about three metres. The minifigures, on the other hand, only have long legs. Their torsos are the same size as those of other minifigures, which looks strange.

Verdict

I’m not blown away by the «Avatar» set. This is partly because it’s 13 years too late in making it to market. Lego could’ve saved itself the bother, waited until the new film came out and created a matching set for it. On the other hand, the implementation is also mediocre. Though the Tree of Souls is pretty, the Torak hasn’t been completely thought through, the stone diorama is totally superfluous and the minifigures are weirdly proportioned. And don’t even get me started on the price. At 170 francs, I think it’s a third higher than it should be.

It’s safe to assume that Lego will release more sets related to the new «Avatar», which be in cinemas in December. I’ll definitely watch the film. If it manages to get its hooks into me, I might just give the upcoming sets another chance. But only maybe.

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Ramon Schneider

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Ramon.Schneider@digitecgalaxus.ch

I get paid to play with toys all day.

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