Predictions on LEGO Disney/Pixar Sets for 2013

Modeltrainman

What Pixar sets will we see next year? More Cars? Monsters, Inc./University? Brave?

Marth

Monsters Inc would be cool imo

Steve_J_OM

I'd be surprised if Cars got another wave. Brave isn't going to happen, given that the release of the film is imminent and there hasn't been a peep about it. I think Monsters University is a possibility though, with Monsters Inc. sets included in the wave too.

caperberry

Ohhhh pleeeeease Monsters Inc! My favourite Pixar.

I doubt they'd do Brave. Perfect for LEGO, but it's not a Pixar franchise. Yet...

Ma1234

Cars is the second highest grossing toy license in the nation. Like Spongebob, it will likely keep getting annual waves.

Bustin

I thought the Ferrari was replacing Cars?

Enbric

I thought the Ferrari was replacing Cars?

Yeah they're using a lot of the parts from that line with the new mini Ferraris so I would be surprised if Cars got another wave.

But if it's still profitable anything is possible I suppose.

Modeltrainman

I want more Cars to finsh Radiator Springs...Monsters Inc./U would be good too.

pvancil27

I want a Wall-E =/

graphite

^ UCS power function Wall-E would be killer.

LegoFanTexas

I want a Wall-E =/

I would buy a UCS Wall-E in a heart beat... Same price point and part count as R2-D2, wouldn't take but 1 second to make that decision!

Ypres

*Sigh* What evidence is there at all that Lego will make a Pixar-movie Lego theme? Cars is truly an insult to Pixar, kind of like how the building sets were an insult to Lego. The first movie was fine, but Pixar seemingly got forced to poop out a sequal since Disney hates losing any cashcows. Cars is a powerful brand yes, but I've never seen the Lego sell. I have great respect for Pixar films, but for 90% of my animation needs I have anime for that.

The only plausible theme Pixar had was with Toy Story, but that has gone and past now. As for Disney, as long as they have Lego friendly movies like Prince of Persia I wouldn't mind Lego talking about License agreements again. Disney rarely throws anything interesting our way. To them, it's mostly about getting money in whatever retail formats they have (including Woody underwear!).

I'm also surprised any of you would purchase a UCS Wall-E. The movie was nothing more than "cute" and the set would only target adults if you throw in the power function. Sorry, you can't justify a thee digit pricetag on something like a Lego sculpture of Wall-E. We have MOCs for the ideas Lego can't profit on, no insult intended (I swear).

Yellowcastle

All things considered (Disney license, Skipping 'The Brave', Monsters Inc Sequel, etc), I think we're going to see a Monsters Inc theme next year.

Modeltrainman

I myself, love Pixar's films, and dream of working there after college. I would buy any Pixar set in a heartbeat!(I'm not a kid, either.)

pvancil27

I'm also surprised any of you would purchase a UCS Wall-E. The movie was nothing more than "cute" and the set would only target adults if you throw in the power function. Sorry, you can't justify a thee digit pricetag on something like a Lego sculpture of Wall-E. We have MOCs for the ideas Lego can't profit on, no insult intended (I swear).

I'm not going to get into a film debate but beyond and past the "cute" factor Wall-E is actually a pretty deep and incredibly artistically well done film. Would it have enough interest to sell a 100+ UCS type figure? Probably not. But there again 95% of what people want and wish for is far from practical too.

AFFOL_Shellz_Bellz

With Monster Fighters just out why would Lego do another Monster theme?

@Ypres What makes you say Cars is an insult to Pixar? They have made a bundle off the Cars movies. It may not be their cash-cow, so to speak, but they certainly haven't lost money on them. As for PofP, I thought the Lego sets were less than desireable, save for the one with the Ostrich, and the ostrich was the only reason to buy that.

With the Cars attraction opening in Disney's California Adventure this year I think Lego would do well to continue Cars for the immediate future. It might depend on the popularity of the attraction whether they should continue into 2013. Having said that I realize these decisions are made at least a couple years in advance, and may have been made prior to the beginning of construction of the attraction.

LegobrandonCP

There is going to be a Monsters Inc sequel? I never got a chance to watch the full length Monsters Inc movie.

LegoFanTexas

Cars is truly an insult to Pixar, kind of like how the building sets were an insult to Lego.

To each their own, the first Cars movie is a classic, a masterpiece that our kids will be showing their kids in 20-30 years time... Cars 2... less so perhaps...

I'm also surprised any of you would purchase a UCS Wall-E. The movie was nothing more than "cute" and the set would only target adults if you throw in the power function.

Wall-E remains my favorite Pixar movie, and it is a movie that I'll watch without the kids, is the only one that I'd do that...

Wall-E had such adult themes, wrapped into a kid friendly package, it has a love story, adventure, and so little actual talking, it made you think.

It is a beautiful movie, very detailed, I see something new every time we watch it.

I would spend $200 on a detailed model of Wall-E in a heartbeat, wouldn't think twice about it either...

LegobrandonCP

I have many Pixar movies to watch including, Wall-E, Monsters Inc., Bugs Life, and The Incredibles. Watched TS 1 and 2 a long, long time ago so I basically forgot everything that happened. As for my favourite, I can't decide between Up, Finding Nemo, or TS3.

Modeltrainman

It's a prequel, but yeah.

Modeltrainman

And in 2014, the Good Dinosaur'll be out...They could revive Cars and Toy Story because of the short films too. Or Cars could get more Radiator Springs sets...

LegoFanTexas

^ Up was also a masterpiece, an overlooked jewel of a movie.

Finding Nemo remains one of our family favorites... We watch it 2 or 3 times a year...

dsdg88

The point is probably moot unless they make a sequel, but I think LEGO sets for "The Incredibles" could be, well, incredible.
The [first] movie is rife with potential display sets, play sets, vehicles and droids. For example: Nomanisan Island with headquarters (lava walls, blob shooters, etc), monorail, hoverplanes, rocket, omnidroid(s), and of course all the characters as minfigs.
I love this movie.

LegobrandonCP

Up. Great plot. Beautifully animated. Will be a classic "Disney Vault" movie when I have kids. :)

Modeltrainman

@LFT, dsdg88, Brandon Thank you! Someone agrees with me! I thought I was alone in wanting Pixar sets from these movies! Also, Up's getting a 3D BD release in December. So, there is a marketing tie in. Finding Nemo is getting one too.

kuf

I thought the Ferrari was replacing Cars?

Yeah they're using a lot of the parts from that line with the new mini Ferraris so I would be surprised if Cars got another wave.

But if it's still profitable anything is possible I suppose.

What's that about new Ferrari?

mrseatle

I'd never buy the big lego R2D2, but I might buy a Wall-E. Watching that movie affected me so much i've stopped littering altogether.

caperberry

With Monster Fighters just out why would Lego do another Monster theme?

They're very different. One is based around classic gothic literary monsters and the other on modern references like The Muppets and Maurice Sendak.

Ma1234

With Monster Fighters just out why would Lego do another Monster theme?

@Ypres What makes you say Cars is an insult to Pixar? They have made a bundle off the Cars movies. It may not be their cash-cow, so to speak, but they certainly haven't lost money on them. As for PofP, I thought the Lego sets were less than desireable, save for the one with the Ostrich, and the ostrich was the only reason to buy that.

Cars is their cash cow. It's the single biggest selling Disney branded toy license in the U.S. since 2007.

Brewer51

Up. Great plot. Beautifully animated. Will be a classic "Disney Vault" movie when I have kids. :)

I would pay megabucks for a UCS type Carl's House, complete with balloons.

Enbric

Up or Wall-E both have very strong fanbases, and I think they would both do very well with a one-off product similar to how the Minecraft set was developed (be it through Cuusoo or not). I'm sure that just like Minecraft, a new buyer segment previously not interested in buying any LEGO would definitely jump for a 300 piece Wall-E or the house from Up.

Seeing as they already have the license, something like that might be very appealing when perhaps a full theme might not be able to support itself.

Bustin

With Disney re-releasing movies in 3D now and Lego's push to hit the girl market more I'm expecting Lego Beauty and the Beast, or a Lego Disney Princess line of some sort in general.

BoiseState

How about none? None of these seem Lego worthy.

BoiseState

Cars 2 was a giant flop as well..

Modeltrainman

Why? They're family movies. LEGO is family oriented.

LegoFanTexas

Cars 2 was a giant flop as well..

It did $559 Million in the box office, nearly triple what it cost to make.

In what world is that a "giant flop"?

dougts

^ I think he was referring to quality of the film, not the take.

It is rather a sad reflection on our times that some of the biggest money-making films these days are unremarkable formulaic pieces of dung.

dougts

How about none? None of these seem Lego worthy.

Why? They're family movies. LEGO is family oriented.

Because other than Brave and next year's Monsters, none of them are currently relevant. People vastly underestimate how much of an effect having a current movie tie-in has on sales of toys, and vastly overestimate the power of nostalgia or cult classics (BTTF, Up, Wall-E, etc.). While they would sell some of these to fans of course, it would be just a fraction of what they could sell by using a current license instead.

LegoFanTexas

^ Fair enough, however quality is a subjective thing, my kids prefer to watch Cars 2 over the original, while I prefer the original, so take that for whatever it is worth.

The one aspect that isn't subjective is the amount of take at the box office, when I hear "flop", I think of "John Carter" and other such movies that were a disaster at the box office.

BoiseState

http://www.slashfilm.com/cars-2-track-pixars-worst-box-office-since-1998/


Google Cars 2 flop and a hundred articles like this pop up. Pixar's worst rated movie they've ever done, and money wise it trailed off very quickly, only doing 8 million in it's 4th week.

BoiseState

Cars 2 is Pixar's second lowest grossing movie ever, behind a Bug's life.

LegoFanTexas

^ I agree with you that compared to Toy Story 3 and other movies they have done, this one did not do well.

It just doesn't fit into the commonly accepted definition of "flop" in any stretch of the word...

John Carter was a flop, Cars 2 simply did really well instead of blowing out the roof.

wertyjj

How come every on is changing there icons to faces? Where do you get those faces?

LegoFanTexas

I didn't change mine, that happened all by itself...

caperberry

Frankly I'd prefer to have Pixar LEGO over any other film franchise in LEGO, regardless of where that film falls in lists of Pixar's takings or critical acclaim!

parkerwilson

Ratatouille is a personal favorite of mine that always gets forgotten about, don't think it fits into Lego very well but still a great Pixar film I haven't seen mentioned in this thread.

Bumblepants

The biggest problem I could see with Monsters Inc/Monsters U becoming a reality is they would have to make a business case for all the new molds needed to create all the characters. I can't think of a single monster from the first film you could make using minifig parts. Maybe a Chewbacca like slip-on body could work but that is still a lot of new molds. It might also depend on how many playable sets they can come up with that would interest kids.

Yellowcastle

^ I agree but I dont think that is a dealbreaker here. I think some of the Toy Story 3 and new Ninjago molds could easily find a home in a Monsters Inc theme. The only question is whether there would be brand confusion with Monster Fighters which should still be buoyant at the time.

mathew

^ I agree but I dont think that is a dealbreaker here. I think some of the Toy Story 3 and new Ninjago molds could easily find a home in a Monsters Inc theme. The only question is whether there would be brand confusion with Monster Fighters which should still be buoyant at the time.

If they can do a Hulk or cave troll mold then they can do a Sulley. I am bewildered why so many people think it's so difficult to make a new mold. It's plastic, not a once off chiseled stone statue. Were some of you guys suckers for Franklin Mint too?

mathew

Maybe a Chewbacca like slip-on body could work but that is still a lot of new molds.

That would suck soooo bad.

madforLEGO

The line that will be made most likely will be a line that will have a movie out.. I doubt they will do anything going to DVD.. They want to sell something relevant (ie movie release) So I'm guessing it will be Monsters INC as I believe the sequel will be out next year.. I would be surprised if there is another Cars line.
I do not believe there is another PoTC movie release for next year (maybe year after) I have not been keeping up with the PoTC news so not sure if they are going to have another movie ready in time.