Lego City

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Lego theme. For the TV series based on it, see Lego City Adventures. For the video game also based on it, see Lego City Undercover.
Lego City
Lego City logo, used since January 2015.png
Other namesLegoland
Lego Town
Lego World City
Sub‑themesFire
Police
EMS
Swamp Police
Train
Great Vehicles
Diving
Demolition
Arctic
Volcano
Space
Prison Island
Jungle
Mining
Stuntz
SubjectCity life
Licensed fromThe Lego Group
Availability1978 (as "Legoland Town")–present
Total sets1353[1]
Official website

Lego City is a theme under which Lego building sets are released based on city life, with the models depicting city and emergency services (such as police and fire), airport, train, construction, and civilian services. Legoland Town is one of the three original themes that Lego produced upon its launch of the Lego minifigure in 1978 along with Castle and Space. The Town brand was briefly replaced with Lego World City in 2003 and 2004 before it was simply rebranded as Lego City in 2005.

Overview[]

The Lego City theme traces its origins to Lego Town, a theme introduced with the first minifigures in 1978, when a completely new range of buildings and vehicles were introduced for the European markets, although Lego sets with city buildings and vehicles had been commonplace since the late 1960s.[2]

In 1975, a precursor to the minifigure was introduced, in the same scale but without moving parts. Through the mid-1970s Town sets had buildings and vehicles functioning more as models, with minifigures unable to ride the vehicles. This continued with the new minifigures, for some of the sets in its early years. In 1980, the Trains theme was completely revamped to complement the Town sets. By 1983, the remaining vehicle based sets that were not minifigure compatible had been discontinued.

All sets were originally released under the "Legoland" label until it was discontinued and replaced with "Lego System" branding in 1991. Eventually, different subthemes under the "Town" brand were used to tie together related sets, such as police, coast guard, emergency services, airport, road rescue, trains, fire, and harbour. During the Christmas season, a City-themed advent calendar set is sold through the online Lego Shop and at retailers.

On June 22, 2019, Lego City Adventures aired on Nickelodeon during a Saturday morning lineup along with SpongeBob SquarePants.

In June 2020, following the murder of George Floyd by police, Lego made an announcement that they would temporarily stop marketing police-related Lego City sets. Due to misinformation claiming that they removed these sets from being sold that led to backlash, Lego issued a follow-up statement emphasizing that the sets were still for sale and that digital advertising for the sets would just be temporarily halted.[3][4][5]

In January 2021, Lego released a new plate-based road system for the City theme that differed from its predecessor, which used baseplates whose height equaled one-half of plate.[6] However, this system was critizised by some members of the Lego community due to its alleged incompatibility with the former baseplates, which had been gradually reduced in usage and limited to sets such as Lego Modular Buildings.[7]

Subthemes[]

According to Bricklink, The Lego Group released 1353 playsets and promotional packs of the Lego City theme.[1]

Outside of Lego City's generic city and town life based sets that are released regularly (with Fire and Police being the two most prolific - both of which have been the flagship sets throughout the history of the theme), City has had various subthemes, many of which are recurring. Under the Lego Town theme, the subthemes released during the 1990s and early 2000s also had individualized branding and labeling. In 2003 and 2004,[8] the only town-based sets were released under the "World City" label. Since the launch of City in 2005, they are just labeled as City sets but often have multiple sets based around a single concept released at the same time during Lego's release schedule.

Many of these subthemes would diverge notably from the urban city life depicted in general sets, including such themes as leisure resorts, rural farming and space port rocket launching.

Town subthemes (1991–2002)[]

  • Arctic: 2000
  • City Center: 1999–2000
  • Divers: 1997
  • Extreme Team: 1998–1999
  • Flight: 1992–1996
  • Launch Command: 1995
  • Nautica: 1991
  • Outback: 1997
  • Paradisa: 1992–1997
  • Res-Q: 1998
  • RSQ911: 1991–1992
  • Space Port: 1999
  • Town Jr: 1997–1998, 2001–2002

City subthemes (2005–present)[]

  • Airport: 2006, 2010, 2016, 2020
  • Arctic: 2014, 2018[9]
  • Cargo: 2008, 2013
  • Coast Guard: 2008, 2013, 2017
  • Construction: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009
    • Demolition: 2015
  • Deep Sea Explorers: 2015, 2020
  • Emergency/Medical: 2006, 2012, 2018
  • Farm: 2009–2010
  • Fire: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
    • Forest Fire: 2012
  • Great Vehicles: 2012–2022
  • Harbour: 2007, 2011
  • Jungle: 2017
  • Mining: 2012, 2018[9]
  • Police: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022
    • Elite Police: 2013, 2020
    • Forest Police: 2012
    • Mountain Police: 2018[9]
    • Prison Island: 2016
    • Sky Police: 2019
    • Swamp Police: 2015
  • Space: 2011, 2015, 2019, 2022
  • Town: 2009, 2012–2013, 2015–2022
  • Trains: 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018
  • Volcano Explorers: 2016
  • Wildlife Rescue: 2021
  • Stuntz: 2021[10]

Octan[]

"Octan" redirects here. It is not to be confused with octane.
Octan logo, unchanged since 1992.

Octan is a fictional oil company that has appeared in multiple Lego sets since 1992.[11][12] Before that time, logos of the real-world oil companies Esso, Shell, and Exxon were used on sets. The Shell logo continued to be used on promotional sets after that time. In 2014, Lego announced it would not renew its marketing agreement with Shell, under pressure from the environmental group Greenpeace.[13]

Octan first appeared in the 1992 sets "6397 Gas N' Wash Express" and "6594 Gas Transit".[12] Since the release of the Octan name, Lego has not signed any further deals with Shell or other gas corporations.

Octan (or oktan) is the Danish word for octane, a component of gasoline.

Octan has appeared in a number of Lego video games. Lego Island for example features an Octan gas station and the company sponsors the race track.

In The Lego Movie, Octan is the base company of the main antagonist Lord Business. His company is the producer of almost all of the commodities in his dominion.

In the Lego set "7747 Wind Turbine Transport", a variant of the Octan logo is depicted which reads "Octan Energy", implying a new division responsible for renewable energy. In the set "60016 Tanker Truck", another variant is seen with "Energy" in much larger and fully green type.

In a number of Town and City sets it is shown that Octan has a racing team that competes in at least Formula One, GT racing and rallying.[12]

Video games[]

Main articles: Lego City Undercover and Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins

A video game developed by TT Fusion called Lego City Undercover was released for the Wii U on March 18, 2013; a port of the game was released April 4, 2017 on Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. A prequel to the game was also released for the Nintendo 3DS on April 21, 2013.[14] Lego City content, based on Lego City Undercover, was added to the toys-to-life video game Lego Dimensions on May 9, 2017, via a "fun pack" containing a Chase McCain minifigure and a constructible Police Helicopter.

Web shorts[]

In 2011, two to five minute short films produced by M2 Films and were aired on Cartoon Network and released on the Lego website. New films have since been released every year.

Television series[]

SeriesSeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast releasedNetwork
Lego City Adventures120June 22, 2019 (2019-06-22)December 8, 2020 (2020-12-08)Nickelodeon
220March 8, 2006 (2006-03-08)December 12, 2006 (2006-12-12)

In 2019, Nickelodeon premiered a new series in June of that year, based on the Lego City theme. The series, titled Lego City Adventures features the newly introduced named characters from the brand as they do their daily jobs in the fictional metropolis.

Theme park attractions[]

Lego City 4D - Officer in Pursuit was released in Legoland California Resort on 12 April 2019 and then rolled out to other Legoland Parks and Legoland Discovery Centres in 2019.[15][16][17][18] It is currently located in all Legoland parks and Legoland Discovery Centres and is available at scheduled times alongside other short films, including The Lego Movie: 4D – A New Adventure and Lego Ninjago: Master of the 4th Dimension.

In November 2021, Lego City themed land was announced for the upcoming launch of Legoland Shanghai Resort in 2024.[19][20]

Reception[]

In September 2016, The Lego Group reported that the Lego City, Lego Star Wars, Lego Ninjago and Lego Nexo Knights themes had delivered a turnover of DKK 15,692 million in the first half of 2016, a sales increase of 10 per cent compared with the same period in the previous year.[21]

Awards and nominations[]

In 2008, Lego City was awarded "Toy of the Year" and also "Activity Toy of the Year" by the Toy Association.[22]

In 2020, Deep Space Rocket and Launch Control (set number: 60228) was awarded "Toy of the Year" and also "Construction Toy of the Year" by the Toy Association.[23]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Herman, Sarah (2012-07-09). Building a History: The Lego Group. Grub Street Publishers. pp. 72–121. ISBN 978-1-78340-804-7.
  2. ^ Rossiter, Marie (2020-06-08). "Lego Temporarily Stopped Marketing For Police-Themed Sets And Donated $4 Million To 'Support Black Children'". Simplemost. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  3. ^ Miss2Bees (2020-06-08). "LEGO Pulls Ads for Police Toys, Donate $4M to Social Justice". The Source. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  4. ^ Hibberd, James (June 4, 2020). "Lego pulls ads for cop-related toys in wake of George Floyd's death". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  5. ^ "Youtube:LEGO road plate harmony! Quick, easy, cheap fixes & integrations". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  6. ^ "Youtube:LEGO® macht einen unglaublichen Fehler mit dem neuen City-Straßensystem 60304". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  7. ^ "Brickset: World City". Brickset. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Lego Systems, Inc. Introduces Hundreds Of New Building Sets To Inspire Creativity In Children Of All Ages". PR Newswire. February 16, 2018.
  9. ^ Lego Group (24 August 2021). "Soar through new action-packed adventures with LEGO® City Stuntz". Lego.com. Lego. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Sets with "Octan" in the title". Brickset: LEGO Guide and Database. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  11. ^ a b c "Sets tagged with "Octan"". Brickset: LEGO Guide and Database. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Lego ends Shell partnership following Greenpeace campaign". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  13. ^ "Lego City Undercover on Nintendo.co.uk".
  14. ^ "New LEGOLAND California LEGO City 4D – Officer in Pursuit! Movie". The Brick Fan. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  15. ^ "New 4D Movie: "LEGO City 4D: Officer in Pursuit" Premieres in LEGOLAND California". The Brickshow. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  16. ^ "LEGO City 4D movie coming to LEGOLAND Windsor Resort". Brick Fanatics. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  17. ^ "LEGO City 4D coming to LEGO Studios at LEGOLAND Windsor". Theme Parks UK. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  18. ^ "CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON LEGOLAND® SHANGHAI RESORT AS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY TAKES PLACE". Merlin Entertainments. 2021-11-17.
  19. ^ "Monkie Kid Set To Swing Into LEGOLAND Shanghai". Bricksfanz.com. 2021-11-17.
  20. ^ "LEGO sales up 10% in first half of 2016". ToyNews. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  21. ^ "2008 TOTY Winners". The Toy Association. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  22. ^ "2020 TOTY Winners". The Toy Association.

Bibliography[]

  • Lego City: Calling All Cars! (Level 1). Authored by Sonia Sander. Published by Scholastic US, 2010. ISBN 0-54515-523-1
  • LEGO City: Emergency Rescue Activity Book with LEGO Minifigure. Published by Penguin Random House Children's UK, 2011. ISBN 1-40930-885-5
  • LEGO City: Fight this Fire (8x8). Authored by Anthony Michael Steele and Chuck Primeau. Published by Scholastic US, 2011. ISBN 0-54531-759-2
  • LEGO City: Spot the Crook: A Search and Find Book. Published by Penguin Books Ltd., 2011. ISBN 1-40930-884-7
  • LEGO CITY: Space Mission Activity Book with Minifigure. Published by Penguin Books Ltd., 2011. ISBN 1-40931-036-1
  • LEGO City Brickmaster. Published by Penguin Books Ltd, 2011. ISBN 1-40535-623-5
  • LEGO CITY: Police on Alert! Storybook with Minifigures and Accessories. Published by Penguin Random House Children's UK, 2012. ISBN 1-40930-931-2
  • LEGO CITY: Fire Team Adventure! Storybook with Minifigures and Accessories. Published by Penguin Random House Children's UK, 2012. ISBN 1-40930-932-0
  • Lego City: Merry Christmas Lego City. Published by Scholastic US, 2012. ISBN 0-54542-396-1
  • Lego City Sticker Storybook: Escape from Lego City. Authored by Wade Wallace. Published by Scholastic US, 2012. ISBN 0-54528-095-8
  • Lego City: Save This Christmas. Authored by Rebecca McCarthy and J Jason May. Published by Scholastic US, 2012. ISBN 0-54545-727-0
  • Lego City Space Escape!. Authored by Rafat Kotsut. Published by Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 0-54552-947-6
  • LEGO City: Detective Chase McCain: Stop That Heist! Level 2 Reader. Authored by Trey King and Kenny Kiernan. Published by Scholastic US, 2013. ISBN 0-54549-596-2
  • LEGO City: Fix That Truck (8x8). Authored by Anthony Michael Steele. Published by Scholastic US, 2013. ISBN 0-54547-061-7
  • Lego City: Where's the Pizza Boy?. Published by Scholastic Inc., 2013. ISBN 0-54560-805-8
  • LEGO CITY: Build and Find with Minifigure. Published by Penguin Random House Children's UK, 2014. ISBN 0-72329-774-6
  • Lego City: Mystery on the Lego Express. Authored by Trey King and Sean Wang. Published by Scholastic US, 2014. ISBN 0-54560-366-8
  • SAVE THAT CARGO. Authored by Trey King and Chuck Primeau. Published by Scholastic US, 2014. ISBN 0-54551-573-4
  • LEGO CITY: ADVENTURES IN LEGO CITY (READER BOXED SET). Published by Scholastic US, 2015. ISBN 0-54580-861-8
  • Lego City: 3, 2, 1 Liftoff!. Authored by Sonia Sander. Published by Scholastic US, 2016. ISBN 0-54533-167-6
  • Lego City: Build This City!. Published by Scholastic US, 2016. ISBN 0-54517-765-0
  • Lego City: Catch That Crook!. Authored by Michael Anthony Steele. Published by Scholastic US, 2016. ISBN 0-54536-991-6
  • Jungle Chase! (Lego City). Authored by Ace Landers and Paul Lee. Published by Scholastic US, 2017. ISBN 1-33817-320-0

External links[]

Retrieved from ""