Harry Potter sets are underwhelming...

Mandalorian_Builder

Does anyone else feel as though maybe the Harry Potter sets were just kind of rushed out for profit? I don't feel as though there was a lot of love behind many of those designs, with few exceptions (Okay, the Hogwarts express is pretty bad-ass).

As a newer collector, i'm bummed that I missed some of those sets at retail, but at the same time, I do not feel compelled to shell-out the money they are worth now. I'm sure they sold well, but I think there was a missed opportunity to create really cool collector's pieces for a fan base that is on par with Star Wars and Superheroes. 

What do you guys think?

monkyby87

Well, Harry Potter died out before collectors series really came around and became a big thing like they are now.  They were still aimed at children.  There's definitely room for improvement compared to some of the sets that are coming out now.  So I don't know if I would say a missed opportunity so much as they came out during a different era of Lego.

chuxtoybox

Harry Potter and Star Wars were 2 of if not the first 2 licensed  themes LEGO ever did which is why the early sets have the yellow faces. At that time LEGO was definitely not thinking of adults when they designed the early sets. The builds were a lot simpler, surely with children in mind. A lot of the earlier sets seem a lot smaller too.

 I wish I had bought the earlier sets too but I wasn't really into Harry Potter until around the last movies and I wasn't really collecting LEGO then either. By the time I decided that I wanted to collect all of the HP LEGO, as you said, the prices were just too high. If I was a single man I would probably still have bought them all, but alas.

I think it's kind of ridiculous that a set like Freeing Dobby is going for $100 now when it was probably  originally $12.99?

Coyotelily

Love the Burrow, but we were talking the other day and said we'd love to see the sets remade with today's Lego style as they could be fantastic- one for the lego ideas forum maybe

dannyrww

I love the last couple waves of sets. Very well done. The earlier waves were more the nature of where Lego was at at the time. The last Hagrid's hutt was very well done (until my daughter's got a hold of it :) ).

LordofLego

Some were kind of small, but I thought they were okay. Too bad I didn't buy any when they were affordable.

matticus_bricks

I think what they did with the recent wave was very good for the most part. I'm more disappointed with how much they missed over the years though: Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour, Bill Weasley, updated versions of Mad Eye Moody, Sirius Black, and Professor Trelawney, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff uniforms, generic Death Eaters and snatchers for the Battle of Hogwarts, Centaurs, 12 Grimauld Place, Ministry of Magic, Hogsmeade, Godric's Hollow... I could go on. I guess we can't expect everything, it still feels like an incomplete theme, IMO, kind of like LotR. Why should Star Wars have nearly everything made several times, but no other licenses?

Mandalorian_Builder

I guess I didn't think about how different Lego is now, vs when these movies were first released. It didn't feel like that long, but it has been years. I would love Lego to reacquire the license and redo some of these sets when the new movies are released.  

BuriedinBricks

@matticus_bricks Star Wars is a completely different type of fandom. Harry Potter remains popular, but unless you grew up with the books or had kids who did, there's a pretty good chance you know very little about the franchise. Star Wars has endured for close to 40 years and has a fan base that spans generations. 

I am not saying HP sets would not sell if they were brought back onto the market. However, I'm sure LEGO has made a calculated decision that they are better served focusing on new and current IPs that have widely available current content. Those might sell "more sets" than HP, so they are where production efforts are going.

monkyby87

I too would be interested in seeing update HP sets, but as myself and others have said, it just doesn't have the longevity or interest as other themes right now.  A UCS Hogwarts or something would be amazing though, for sure.

juggles7

chuxtoybox said:

I think it's kind of ridiculous that a set like Freeing Dobby is going for $100 now when it was probably  originally $12.99?

Wrong. They're going for about $30.

chuxtoybox

I'm 99% sure that Star Wars was the first licensed  theme LEGO ever made and that it coincided with the release of Episode 1. Regardless of how bad it was, Episode 1 ushered in a new era of Star Warsdom and since then there has always been another movie or television show to keep Star Wars current.

Harry Potter started as a book that became a small phenomenon, but once the books and the movies were done, JK didn't do anything else with those characters. There could be a CGI Harry Potter TV series showing events that happened in between the events we know. 

Same thing with LOTR. Of course the books have a huge fanbase stretching back years before SW or HP. George Lucas and JK Rowling were probably inspired by Tolkien's works when they were creating theirs. But after 3 great movies and 3 bad movies, there is nothing being made in video media to keep LOTR in the mainstream.

What we need is for JK to take a page from Lucas and re-release all of the HP movies in the theater again in 3-D or with unnecessary  changes and special effects digitally added.

DreamyBongo

JK needs to rewrite HP with Jar Jar as a main character.

pharmjod

@chuxtoybox re-released in 3D would probably be sufficient honestly. Just having them in the spotlight again would be huge.

MrShinyAndNew

I thought the first wave of HP sets was pretty good for the time. Lots of castle-y elements, and I strongly approve of the way the sets were designed as little vignettes that could be combined with the larger Hogwarts Castle set to make a larger castle. Building techniques and styles have changed dramatically over the last 15 years, but all things considered the HP sets were pretty good.

SumoLego

Meesa meesa wanta Jar Jar at Helm's Deep shield surfing with Legolas.

And there is plenty of additional source material to make more LotR-world films.  The Tolkien Estate probably won't license additional franchise films...

(A Fall of Gondolin film would be fantastic.)

dannyrww

The story of Beren and Lúthien would make for a great movie...but just because I'm  hopeless romantic....maybe not such a great Lego set mind you.

MissKittyFantastico

chuxtoybox said:

What we need is for JK to take a page from Lucas and re-release all of the HP movies in the theater again in 3-D or with unnecessary  changes and special effects digitally added.

Somebody start making the 'Snape shot first' t-shirts.

LordofLego

juggles7 said:

chuxtoybox said:

I think it's kind of ridiculous that a set like Freeing Dobby is going for $100 now when it was probably  originally $12.99?

Wrong. They're going for about $30.

I've seen some for over $100. I don't know if they're selling any, but they're trying to and that's probably what he meant.

LordofLego

There's always hope that there'll be a new wave of HP sets and some Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sets next year, like LotR and The Hobbit.

EvilTwin

Mandalorian_Builder said:

(Okay, the Hogwarts express is pretty bad-ass).

I disagree with this comment. I don't think Lego have made a really good Hogwarts Express set. None of the ones that have been released look anything like the real thing or even like a half-decent steam train (the wheels rather ruin it). I bought the first one (#4708) and didn't bother with any of the newer ones as they didn't look like significant improvements over the first one.

I understand the probable reasons for this- the target age range of the theme and restrictions of the licence. But, the most recent Hogwarts Express (#4841) was released after the Emerald Night (#10194) and looks pretty poor by comparison. Also, the Toy Story train (#7597) and Lone Ranger train (#79111) have both included the big driver wheels and both look closer to their source than any of the Hogwarts Express sets.

I hope if the theme is ever rebooted that there is scope for "Creator" or "UCS" style sets and Lego release a new Hogwarts Express which is more in line with more recent train sets.

Sethro3

2010 HP sets are what brought me back into LEGO. They are all really well done, especially when looking back at what HP sets came before it. Not being a train person, I thought the Express was a great example of what it should look like. After looking at other LEGO trains, yes it could use some improvements (but all LEGO sets can), but not knowing anything about trains, I am/was quite pleased with it.

naturally I will MOC other HP sets and scenes because I doubt LEGO will give us updates to the original series if they did decide to focus on the new movies coming out.

tamamahm

I have to say also, with the last HP sets, I thought the first wave was wonderful...Hogwarts, Express, Burrow, Hagrid's, etc. There was zero question we were going to buy everything from that theme. Then came Diagon Alley. Wonderful!! Everyone here, though, was disappointed in the final sets of Night Bus, Forbidden Forest and Battle of Hogwarts. We really wanted more amazing sers, and those three just felt like a let down. I always wondered how a better second HP wave would have impacted sales. I thought they really could have milked that second wave better, while those three sets simpy did not feel necessary or substantial. We still bought those three, but they were our least favorites.

With the history Lego has with HP,  I hope at a minimum they have fantastic beast sets.

Vortex

I know this is probably not even considered a real set or talked about ,but for me this is real gem . It's like a micro scale Hogwarts with the vignettes .Who wouldn't want one . Plus There simply isn't one which attempts to give a complete Hogwarts picture , just segments of it.

Actually makes a charming lil display..  

Just finished last night 

Farmer_John

juggles7 said:

chuxtoybox said:

I think it's kind of ridiculous that a set like Freeing Dobby is going for $100 now when it was probably  originally $12.99?

Wrong. They're going for about $30.

When I saw the comment about Freeing Dobby going for $100, I started trashing my Lego room looking for sealed FD sets. :smile: 

GIR3691

I think the series was great considering the lack of variety available in the HP universe (mostly takes place in or around one castle). It is a shame there was never an Emerald Knight-like Hogwarts Express, but I think overall they really captured the source material.

People can list things online for however much they want. Doesn't mean they're worth that much. Freeing Dobby can't be worth more than $40 sealed.

dragon114

i want to try to pick up the bus for my city

chuxtoybox

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lego-Harry-Potter-Freeing-Dobby-4736-/261960278604?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item3cfe0ca24cFarmer_John said:

juggles7 said:

chuxtoybox said:

I think it's kind of ridiculous that a set like Freeing Dobby is going for $100 now when it was probably  originally $12.99?

Wrong. They're going for about $30.

When I saw the comment about Freeing Dobby going for $100, I started trashing my Lego room looking for sealed FD sets. :smile: 

The average price now does seem to be around $35 but I swear sellers were asking more not long ago. Still, the set was originally  $10.99 according to Brickset. So sellers are still asking  more than double the original price. Then you have this guy TRYING TO SELL Dobby alonehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/HP008-Lego-Harry-Potter-Freeing-Dobby-Minifigure-4736-NEW-/400855332183?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d54d6f557:

Whether they get that or not , my point is that's what SOME sellers are asking for them. Jar Jar forbid that you make a generalization. 

chuxtoybox

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LEGO-Harry-Potter-The-Knight-Bus-4866-sealed-new-in-box-/121707007021?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c564d8c2d

Original price for this set was $34.99 according to Brickset. Unless the winner of this auction didn't  pay the seller, this seller  made over double the original price of this set.

Someone out there want to correct me on this?

dragon114

chuxtoybox said:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LEGO-Harry-Potter-The-Knight-Bus-4866-sealed-new-in-box-/121707007021?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c564d8c2d

Original price for this set was $34.99 according to Brickset. Unless the winner of this auction didn't  pay the seller, this seller  made over double the original price of this set.

Someone out there want to correct me on this?

this is only $40 used on bricklink

LordofLego

chuxtoybox said:

Whether they get that or not , my point is that's what SOME sellers are asking for them. Jar Jar forbid that you make a generalization. 

Welcome to the Internet; please enjoy your stay. :)

SumoLego

Yes, everyone is expected to be an expert in everything instantaneously...

Shib

I was discussing the prospect of future Harry Potter sets with my other half (who also missed the general sales of them through dark age) yesterday and we came to the conclusion that if there is a Fantastic Beasts line - which does seem a likely licence- then some Harry Potter remakes probably would be on the cards.

The really interesting thing is when you consider the massive differences in what already exists, the differences between the first and last sets to be released is incredible. I'm of the opinion that at the very least LEGO would put out a large [email protected] exclusive Harry Potter set for each of the Fantastic Beasts films, and my money would be on Hogwarts Express being one of them.

However if they were just doing a couple of Harry Potter sets with each wave of Fantastic beasts sets they could easily do remakes of a lot of the older sets and they would look significantly different. Look at the Hungarian Horntail compared to Smaug as a good indication of how different it could be.

There is definitely still a market for Harry Potter LEGO, I get non FOL parents asking me about it all the time as their children reach an age where they get into Harry Potter. To AFOLs the limited times of licences is obvious and common knowledge, but parents don't realise it until it's explained - when you consider that there are other toy manufacturers still making Harry Potter toys, you can see why.

Aanchir

Beyond just thinking about future Harry Potter sets, I'm curious if the Harry Potter theme would see any representation in LEGO Dimensions. It's one of the major Warner Bros. licenses that isn't currently represented. Not only is it a character-driven property, but it also has some iconic vehicles like the Hogwarts Express and Knight Bus that could make cool mini-models.

xiahna

Umm, just pointing out that the HP fandom is still alive and well. JK may not have done anything with the characters after the books ended, but there are still new fanfics, RPG and forum sites operating in full swing. Not to mention the Potter Heads having families of their own to corrupt. (In a good way.) I'd like to see some sets updated, and my gosh wouldn't that annoy some re-sellers?! I know I'd probably buy at least a few.

LordofLego

SumoLego said:

Yes, everyone is expected to be an expert in everything instantaneously...

More like everyone thinks they are the leading expert in their topic and anyone who disagrees with them is an idiot... But that's off topic.

Sethro3

I am also surprised they don't have Dimensions packs. Maybe the next series?
Unfortunately they would use the main three kids. Too bad they wouldn't do a Cedric or Cho, just to finally get the other houses...Heck, even another Luna in Ravenclaw attire could work.

I would go broke buying HP sets. Outside of LOTR, it would be my favorite theme...and look, both are gone, so LEGO needs to get my money somehow.

tamamahm

^ We bought every HP set from the last time it was released. We would have bought any other set they put out. It really has been one of the only themes I have bought every set from, and would have continued to buy sets from.

monkyby87

xiahna said:

Umm, just pointing out that the HP fandom is still alive and well. JK may not have done anything with the characters after the books ended, but there are still new fanfics, RPG and forum sites operating in full swing. Not to mention the Potter Heads having families of their own to corrupt. (In a good way.) I'd like to see some sets updated, and my gosh wouldn't that annoy some re-sellers?! I know I'd probably buy at least a few.

Fandom is indeed alive and well, but probably not enough to support bringing back the line, save from perhaps a collector set.  It just doesn't have the wide presence it did to make it worthwhile.

LordofLego

JKR is kind of protective of her characters.

SumoLego

LordofLego said:

SumoLego said:

Yes, everyone is expected to be an expert in everything instantaneously...

More like everyone thinks they are the leading expert in their topic and anyone who disagrees with them is an idiot... But that's off topic.

I AM the leading expert in off-topic.  Maybe @Pitfall69 wants to have an intergalactic dance-off for forum hegemony.

I am about seven thousand posts behind the pace...

Pitfall69

I will have an intergalactic dance-off as long you don't use your pelvic sorcery on me ;)

plasmodium

Wow... Keep it PG-13, you two... ;-)

I'm a bit late to the discussion, but as for the HP sets being underwhelming, I would say (as someone who was the target age at the time) that they were the perfect balance between playability and representation of a movie scene (let's face it, they were based on the movies, not the books). The sets had enough 'masonry' to be able to tell what they represented, but they were crammed full of minifigures and play features like trap doors, etc. Plus, they all linked together. Even when the second movie came out, the sets were designed to link up with the existing Hogwarts.

sharky

I agree that a UCS Hogwarts or a Creator Expert level Hogwarts Express would be a no brainer and sell well.  The train being the set I would think more feasible from a business perspective.  You would have a lot of crossover appeal from Lego train enthusiasts as well as Harry Potter collectors.

monkyby87

plasmodium said:

Wow... Keep it PG-13, you two... ;-)

I'm a bit late to the discussion, but as for the HP sets being underwhelming, I would say (as someone who was the target age at the time) that they were the perfect balance between playability and representation of a movie scene (let's face it, they were based on the movies, not the books). The sets had enough 'masonry' to be able to tell what they represented, but they were crammed full of minifigures and play features like trap doors, etc. Plus, they all linked together. Even when the second movie came out, the sets were designed to link up with the existing Hogwarts.

Excellent point; the sets were designed well for the target audience, and most kids that enjoyed the sets didn't have collecting or displaying on their mind. 

SumoLego

Pitfall69 said:

I will have an intergalactic dance-off as long you don't use your pelvic sorcery on me ;)

We should keep this friendly.  The Power of Kevin Bacon is one of the as-yet-to-be revealed Infinity Stones and should not be triffled with so cavalierly.

(Besides, nobody can do a dance-off with a stick up their butt.)

SumoLego

There are considerably less vehicles than in the SW line, Indiana Jones line, City line, etc., and Lego has done much better recently with playset-based sets.  Vehicle-based sets have that built-in playability factor.

I'm rebuilding an older Hagrid's Hut for a display, and I think the older HP sets are more comparable to the Spongebob playsets.