After 93 years of iconic brick-building, the LEGO Group is charting a new course, diving into the world of anime with its first-ever officially licensed set inspired by Eiichiro Oda’s globally acclaimed manga and anime series, One Piece. This landmark collaboration, brought to life through a partnership with Netflix and Tomorrow Studios, marks a significant moment for both LEGO and anime fans alike. The sets will be based on the recent hit live-action adaptation of One Piece on Netflix.
A Historic Crossover: LEGO and Anime Unite
This exciting partnership signifies a historic moment as it merges the creative world of LEGO with the dynamic and imaginative universe of anime. The collaboration aims to capture the essence of the One Piece live-action series, allowing fans to recreate their favorite scenes and embark on their own adventures in LEGO form.
“This is a truly special collaboration,” stated Lena Dixen, Senior Vice President of Core Businesses at the LEGO Group. “For the first time, LEGO play and the exciting world of anime meet. Building the world of One Piece, as depicted in the Netflix live-action adaptation, in LEGO brick form has been such an exciting challenge, and I couldn’t be more excited for fans to experience the new adventures this One Piece collaboration will bring them for the first time.”
Inspired by Netflix’s Live-Action Series
The LEGO One Piece sets will draw inspiration from the highly successful live-action series that debuted on Netflix in 2023. The series quickly became one of the most-watched shows on the streaming platform, achieving the #1 spot in 46 countries during its first week, and was the most-watched show on Netflix in the second half of 2023 with 71.6 million views, surpassing other popular series. This popularity has solidified One Piece’s place in mainstream culture and made it a fitting choice for LEGO’s first foray into anime-inspired sets.
The show’s success is further evidenced by its strong demand, which was 52.8 times greater than many other streaming originals in the first 30 days of its US release, as reported by Parrot Analytics and The Wrap. This massive following has fueled anticipation for the LEGO sets.
What to Expect: Iconic Characters and Scenes
The sets will feature key characters from the show, including the main crew of the Straw Hat Pirates: Monkey D. Luffy, Nami, Roronoa Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji, as detailed by LEGO. These will be the first ever LEGO Minifigure versions of these characters. Other pirates, bounty hunters and corrupt generals may also appear, according to LEGO. Furthermore, Luffy’s minifigure will be a special creation, designed to capture his Devil Fruit powers, allowing his LEGO limbs to stretch. Luffy’s signature straw hat will also be a new mold.
The collaboration is set to bring to life iconic scenes from the East Blue saga, allowing fans to recreate their favorite moments and battles. While specific set details are still under wraps, the anticipation is high for how LEGO will capture the unique world of One Piece in its signature brick form. It is rumored that one large set will be based on the Going Merry, while a D2C (direct-to-consumer) 18+ set will be based on the Thousand Sunny.
A Dream Come True for Eiichiro Oda
The collaboration has been a long time coming. According to a post on the official One Piece X (formerly Twitter) account, Eiichiro Oda himself is “overjoyed at this long-awaited collaboration!!” The post further revealed that Oda has apparently been asking for LEGO One Piece sets since the manga started over 25 years ago. Oda says that he has “dozens of LEGO boxes piled up” and that when the One Piece sets arrive in 2025, “you can bet I’ll be building and displaying them!”
LEGO’s History and Licensing
Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen in Billund, Denmark, LEGO initially produced wooden toys. The name “LEGO” was derived from the Danish phrase “leg godt,” meaning “play well.” In 1949, the company began producing plastic bricks, which evolved into the interlocking system that is recognized today. The interlocking brick was patented in 1958 by Christiansen’s son Godtfred Kirk.
While LEGO has a history of creating original lines and sets, licensing has become a significant part of their business model since 1999, starting with a groundbreaking deal with Star Wars. This collaboration led to over 200 million Star Wars LEGO boxes being sold. Following this success, LEGO expanded its licensed properties to include Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, DC Comics, Marvel, and Disney, among others. This strategic move has significantly boosted their profits, allowing the company to become the most valuable toy maker in the world. LEGO is known for its careful selection of licensing partners, choosing brands with broad global appeal to ensure the quality of the LEGO brand is maintained.
LEGO’s previous partnerships with Netflix include Stranger Things, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous and Queer Eye.
The Impact of Anime on LEGO
While the One Piece collaboration is the first official anime/manga set, there is a growing demand for anime-themed LEGO products. Third-party sellers on platforms such as Walmart, Amazon, Etsy, and AliExpress already offer a wide array of anime-inspired building sets, including Naruto, Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, and Jujutsu Kaisen, among others. These sets are often marketed as “compatible with LEGO,” demonstrating the market’s appetite for such products. This partnership will mark a significant turning point, signaling that anime is reaching an even wider audience.
Release and Future Prospects
The official release date for the LEGO One Piece sets is still unknown. However, it is anticipated to be before or around the release of Season 2 of the Netflix live-action adaptation, slated for later in 2025. With such a massive following for both One Piece and LEGO, this collaboration is expected to be a monumental success, further cementing the popularity of anime and manga in mainstream culture.
This partnership could pave the way for more anime-inspired LEGO sets in the future.
This collaboration will likely be the start of a long and exciting adventure for LEGO and anime fans worldwide.
