Minifigure Design Milestone Firsts

plasmodium · November 2016

Tom79 said:

I meant to say: #6073 Knight's Castle also had this cape in black and red
And I don't have permission to edit my post?

There's a six-minute edit window. After that you can't edit any more. Not sure why.

BlockedUp · November 2016

Great Find Tom79! Now to try and figure out what set was released first. I have bought many figures thinking one set was the first, then learning something new. I think that is why this thread is crucial...one example is my Medicine Man (Indians Theme)...I spent $10.00 on a complete figure thinking he was the first released figure. Then in our research I find that they all were released at the same time, so now I want to make sure I have them all...Just to say (when I show my collection) I have all of the first Minifigures of Ethnicity...lol. Some first are easier than others to collect.

GallardoLU · November 2016

Another milestone we may have overlooked, First Minifigure Footwear: Ice Skater (2011 CMF) there may be something that predated that but it was the first I could think of. also could consider the old surfboard which appeared in 1992 #6351 Surf N' Sail Camper.

LEGO_Dad77 · November 2016

^Haha, only for the 6 minute window immediately after posting. ;) You'll get used to it.

datsunrobbie · November 2016

Might want a few categories for footwear
#aqu006a Aquashark1 has flippers, released in 1995
#arc006 Arctic guy has snowshoes, released in 2000

GallardoLU · November 2016

OH DUH, forgot about ice planet Skis (how could I forget those trans Orange Skis!) 1993 for those. set #6814.

BlockedUp · November 2016

Updated List...

Pre Cursors

1974 – 1978 - Precursor to the modern day minifigure - No Face, Hands in Pockets and a Hat – Zero Points of Articulation

Modern Minifigures

1978 - First issued Modern minifigure - Police Officer - Sticker on torso. First Issued Set #600

1978 - First Female Minifigure – Female – House with Garden - First Issued Set #376

1978 - First Minifigure with Hair – Female – House with Garden - First Issued Set #376

1979 - First Screen Printed Torso – Classic Space Astronaut – White and Red - Set #928

1979 - First Male Minifigure with Hair – Garage - Set #361

1979 - First Minifigure Chef – First Iconic Chef Hat - Snack Bar – First Issued Set #675

1984 - First Minifigures with First Cape - Knights – Castle Theme - Set #6080

1984 - First Minifigure with Apron - Black Smith (Apron) - First Issued Set #6040

1985 - First Minifigure with Jet Pack – Space – White Astronaut/Blue Jet Pack - First Issued Set #6952

1989 - First Minifigure with a Different Face – Face other than simple two black dots for eyes, and a black curved smile - Pirate - Set #6235

1989 - First Minifigures Given Names - Pirates – Bo’Sun Will, Set #6235 – Governor Boardside, Set #6274 – (Named in 1989 UK Large Catalog page 12) - Captain Redbeard, Set #6270 (Named in 1989 Medium US Catalog, Page 6)

1989 - First Minifigure Monkey - Spinoza the Monkey – Has 4 Minifigure Arms and Hands - Set #6235

1989 - First Minifigure with Different Hands/Legs – Pirate – Pirate Captain (Later Named Captain Redbeard) - Set #6251

1990 - First Specialized Minifigure – Ghost (1x2 brick legs) – First Issued Set #6034

1990 - First Skirted Female Minifigure – King’s Mountain Fortress – Maiden - First Issued Set #6081 – CAS097

1992 - First Minifigure with Freckles – Sand Dollar Café – Paradisa Male Three – Palm Tree Torso - First Issued Set #6411 – PAR021

1993 - First Minifigure Helmet with Print – (2) Stunt Pilots - First Issued Set #6345

1993 - First Minifigure with Cloth Cape – Dragon Master – Castle Theme - Set #6076

1993 - First Minifigure with a Beard - “Majisto” - Set #6048 - Known as Merlin in UK Catalog

1993 - First Minifigure with Name on a Set - “Majisto” - Set #6048 - Known as Merlin in UK Catalog

1993 - First Minifigure with Footwear – Ice Planet Theme – Skis - Set #6898

1993 – First Female Minifigure in Space – Ice Planet Theme – Space Babe - Set #6973

1994 – First Minifigure with non-yellow printed head – Spyrius Droid - Set #6705

1994 – First Minifigure with Printed Legs – Spyrius Droid - Set #6705

1994 –First Minifigure Droid/Robot – Spyrius Droid - Set #6705

1995 - First Minifigure Skeleton – Set #6036 (Lego doesn’t recognize this as a minifigure but collectors do)

1995 - First Minifigure with Crown – Sir Richard the Lion Heart - Set #62896008

1996 - First Minifigure with Tattoo – 2 Pirates – First Issued Set #6289

1996 - First Minifigure with a Nose – Flatfoot Thompson – Western Theme - Bandit – Coyote Gang Member - Set #6769 or Tim – Time Traveler Assistant of Dr. Cyber – Set #6492. *Both Sets Were Available in August 1996. Flatfoot Thompson Appeared 2 Pages Before Tim in 1996 UK Catalog.

1997 - First Minifigure of ethnicity or Specific Race - “Indians”/ “Native Americans” - Set #6718

1997 - First Minifigure with Printed Skirt – Willa the Witch – First Set #6037

1999 - First Licensed Minifigure Character – Star Wars – *Darth Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn - Set #7101 - *No Specific Character Can Be Confirmed

1999 - First Molded Head - Opposed to Traditional Cylinder - Jar Jar Binks - Set #7121

1999 – First “BigFig” Minifigure – Rock Monster – Rock Raiders Theme – Set #4950

2000 - First Minifigure with Torso Covered by Head – Chewbacca – Set #3342

2000 – First Non-Fictional Specific Person – *Steven Spielberg - First Issued Set #1349 - *No Confirmation That This is Steven Spielberg.

2001 - First Giant “Oversized” Minifigure – Hagrid – First Issued Set #4707

2001 - First Minifigure with 2 Faces Printed on head – Professor Quirrell – First Issued Set #4702

2001 - First Minifigure with Glow in the Dark Head – Professor Snape – Set #4705

2002 - First Minifigure with Short Legs – Master Yoda – Set #7103 / TRN079 – Boy on Platform - First Issued Set # 4534 - *Cannot determine which Character was first released

2003 - First Minifigure with Natural Skin Tone - opposed too yellow- NBA - Set #3500

2003 - First Minifigure with Arm Printing – Boba Fett – First Issued Set #10123

2003 - First Minifigure with Belly Button (Fat) – Jabba the Hut – First Issued Set #4480

2003 - First Spring Loaded Hips and Longer Arms– NBA Players - Set #3432

2005 - First Minifigure Light Up Component – Light Sabre - Set #7257

2005 - First Minifigure with a Magnetic Hand – Harry Potter – First Issued Set #4767

2005 - First Minifigure with Mermaid Tail – Harry Potter Theme – First Issued Set #4762

2006 - First Minifigure with Printed Hair Piece– Two Face - First Issued Set #7781

2006 - First Minifigure with Block Head (Sandwich Board) – SpongeBob Square Pants- Set #3825

2007 - First Minifigure with Transparent/Glow in the dark Body – Alien – Mars Mission Theme - Set #7690

2007 - First Minifigure with Soft Plastic Head – Kit Fisto – First Issued Set #7661

2009- First Micro-Figure - Board game figures Red, Blue, White and yellow - First Issued Set #3838 Lava Dragon

2010 - First Minifigure with Long Legs–Woody – Three Holes on Back of legs - Set #7590

2010 – First Nano-Figure – Karate Master Series 2 Minifigure - (trophy)

2010 – First Minifigure with Tentacles – Squid Warrior – Atlantis Theme – Set #8061

2010 – First Minifigure with Side-Printed Legs – Can’t Confirm Figure

2016 - First Wheel Chair Minifigure - First Issued Set #60134

*Where denoted “First Issued Set” = Actual First Set

* Where denoted “Set” = No Verification on Actual First Set #.

1.Gives an Example of Figure.

2. Gives Example of Figures in Theme.

3. Gives Example of Minifigure. Same Minifigure That Was Released at the Same Time in different Sets, No Real First Set, But This is the Minifigure.

4. First Set Can Not Be Confirmed.

Aanchir · November 2016

BlockedUp said:

Updated List...

Pre Cursors

1974 – 1978 - Precursor to the modern day minifigure - No Face, Hands in Pockets and a Hat – Zero Points of Articulation

Shouldn't that be "one point of articulation"? Their heads could turn, after all. But then again since they didn't have faces I guess the direction of the hat/hair mattered more than the direction of the head.

Istokg · November 2016

I would like to suggest that we come up with a name for what some here call "Pre-Cursors". That name doesn't quite provide any "connectivity" to LEGO figures.

The modern figs are called Minifigs
The "Building Sets with People"/Homemaker figs are called Maxifigs.

What many old time collectors call the 1975-83 proto-figures... is "Minifig Stiffs"... (also the name I use in my collectors guide)... since they have no moveable parts.

Open to other suggestions if there are any... but we should use a common nomenclature for these early items. :-)

BlockedUp · November 2016

Istokg said:

What many old time collectors call the 1975-83 proto-figures... is "Minifig Stiffs"... (also the name I use in my collectors guide)... since they have no moveable parts.

Proto-figures sounds cool...

BlockedUp · November 2016

Updated List:

Pre Cursors

1974 – 1978 - Precursor to the modern day minifigure - No Face, Hands in Pockets and a Hat – Zero Points of Articulation

Modern Minifigures

1978-1985

1978 - First issued Modern minifigure - Police Officer - Sticker on torso. First Issued Set #600

1978 - First Female Minifigure – Female – Nurse - First Issued Set #606

1978 - First Minifigure with Hair – Female – Nurse - First Issued Set #606

1978 - First Minifigure Marketed as a Villain – Black Calvary Knight – First Issued Set #375

1979 - First Screen Printed Torso – Train Conductor – First Issued Set #167

1979 - First Male Minifigure with Hair – Garage - Set #361

1979 - First Minifigure Chef – First Iconic Chef Hat - Snack Bar – First Issued Set #675

1982 - First Mail Carrier Minifigure – Mail Man - First Issued Set #66362

1984 - First Minifigures with First Cape - Knights – Castle Theme - Set #6080

1984 - First Minifigure with Apron - Black Smith (Apron) - First Issued Set #6040

1985 - First Minifigure with Jet Pack – Space – White Astronaut/Blue Jet Pack - First Issued Set #6952

1986-1998

1989 - First Minifigure with a Different Face – Face other than simple two black dots for eyes, and a black curved smile - Pirate - Set #6235

1989 - First Female Face Minifigure - Pirate - Set #6285