Lego BrickHeadz
Lego BrickHeadz is a Lego theme of buildable figurines that can be recognized by their oversized, cube-like heads. Many, but not all, are reimaginings of existing characters from properties like DC, Marvel Comics, Star Wars, and Disney. The theme was first introduced in 2016.
Overview
The BrickHeadz line focuses on buildable characters. Each set measures over tall. The legs are 4 Lego plates tall and are usually constructed from four 1-stud-by-2-stud plates. The torso is usually constructed on a square 4-stud plate, and is two Lego bricks and one plate high. The arms are usually formed around a square two-stud plate, and use 1-by-2-stud plates with a clip for the hands. Though the head is the most distinctive part, the core of it is the simplest. Twelve 2-brick-tall pieces with studs on one side are mounted on a 4-stud square plate or equivalent. The included baseplates, on which the characters stand, measure over 4 cm square and under 1 cm high.BrickHeadz sets were designed primarily for children with an age rating of 10+ or above.
In 2020, Lego Masters USA judge and Lego design lead Amy Corbett recreated her outfits from the show using BrickHeadz models.
Development
Upon launch, Lego BrickHeadz was a new line of collectible figures. BrickHeadz is designed for kids interested in Lego but without the time to spend building: each collectible figure takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to create. Michael McNally, senior director of brand relations for Lego, explained, "This sort of one-size-fits-all approach is not as appealing as it used to be," and continued, "The onus then is really on brands to diversify their offerings so that there is something for everyone. We'll always have free-form, open-ended building opportunities, but we're always looking for surgical ways we can manipulate the Lego system in a way that might grab the attention of a completely different kid who needs a different solution."Marcos Bessa discussed the development process of BrickHeadz and explained, "First and foremost we explore what characters we want to do. For series1, we started with some safe bets but also some strong line ups to attract attention and create a culture around what we believe will be strong long lasting series. We have a very important mission at Lego with this product line which is that we want to engage kids that are not into roleplaying any more because they feel that Lego is a 'toy' and that they are too old for it. We want to offer something that allows them to create something interesting with characters they can relate to and also give them a nice classic building experience. The purpose of the line is to reach out to those who are not so much into Lego because they don't know Lego beyond that of a toy. This offers that extra layer of collectibility which they could easily put on their computer or next to their television."
BrickHeadz designer Austin Carlson discussed designing a BrickHeadz model and explained, "The start is a lot like a Lego Minifigure where I note the most important icons of the character and start from there. So for example, the startup for the Comic Con Joker BrickHead was intended to be more 'classic' Joker so we wanted a tuxedo suit feel and a more slick back pointy hair for him. And the Joker is always known for his smile so we knew we needed that and Nic Groves added his big flower to him to capture his tricky clown nature. The same could be said with Superman's traditional curly-Q hair and how we captured that through a Unikitty tail".
During the Lego Fan Media Days in 2017, Carlson and Bessa discussed how they came about and what the future held for the series. Austin Carlson explained, "In the earliest stages things did change around. If you look at the original elephant , you can see there is a lack of real hands, and the base was slightly different. Then we needed them to be able to hold accessories; we needed printed eyes, decoration, things like that. So there was an evolution of the design, and as it became more defined we developed a set style guide." and continued, "Specifically, it defined the height of the body, the legs, the arms. Where we start to play around a little bit is usually with accessories and the hair, what's iconic to the character. The one that I keep referencing is Black Widow, because of the amount of detail in the hair. But it makes a silhouette of the character that’s easily recognisable; it's the same thing with Batman and the pointy ears. So when it comes to head accessories and items, stuff like that, we need to make sure it's included, but at the same time we still have to meet our own style guide, much like how every minifigure is designed." Bessa explained, "The more characters we create and bring to the family, the more questions it raises . There are characters that make an exception to what we created as a core, and then we have to figure out how we represent this thing, this detail. So it's always interesting to have these challenges".
Carlson discussed his role as graphic designer and his input to the collectable minifigure series, saying, "My involvement on BrickHeadz has been completely handed over to Marcos now. I was originally hired as a graphic designer, that's my job title, so for the first series of BrickHeadz I was juggling building and doing graphic design at the same time. It was a difficult task because I had to balance them, but now all the responsibility for BrickHeadz has been handed over, I can go back to focusing completely on the collectable minifigure series, and other graphic design related work."
Bessa discussed ideas for characters that end up not fitting the BrickHeadz style: "We've had a couple that turned out to be a bit more challenging in execution, that we have paused and might then revisit to see if we find new solutions. Maybe in the future a new part gets developed that suddenly triggers that solution that we haven't come up with. But there are also certain characters that just completely challenge the form, because BrickHeadz is primarily a small little square body with a huge head, and if you look at something like Blue, the raptor from Jurassic World, it challenges the whole form. That was a particularly hard one to execute. But we feel that we still managed to get a pretty recognisable and cool model that stays true to what the reference is, but also stays true to what BrickHeadz are.
Bessa also discussed the two new types of glasses from the Go Brick Me set a set which allows builders to create their own custom BrickHeadz figures and explained, "The brief for the BrickHeadz line actually came with a request to do something like this. The idea for the Go Brick Me set came very early, in early 2017, so the brand was just about to come out officially on the market. We were already planning what to do for 2018 and so the importance of customisation, allowing people to represent their features was of key importance for this. So we immediately started looking into what that would mean in terms of new elements – how to make glasses, do we need something new? I started exploring and came up with a whole lot of variations of new elements that we could make, trying to come up with something that would work and fulfil the brief for this purpose, but become a versatile enough element that it could become interesting for other uses. And I think we ended up finding something that is pretty cool for what we do in the set, but also offers a lot of other opportunities, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes out of it."
Launch
The Lego BrickHeadz theme was officially launched at San Diego Comic-Con in 2017. Convention-exclusive two-packs were only available at the Lego booth, with characters based on DC and Marvel properties including Captain America, Wonder Woman, and The Joker.In 2019, Lego design manager Marcos Bessa announced the BrickHeadz theme would continue into 2020 and expand with more licensed characters.
Sub-themes
According to BrickLink, the Lego Group has released 168 playsets as part of the BrickHeadz theme as of March 2025. These sets contain a total of 263 numbered figures.IP-based
''Avatar''
In 2022, the Lego Group revealed at San Diego Comic-Con a brand new set named Jake Sully & his Avatar, based on James Cameron's Avatar film series. The set went on sale on 1October 2022 and consists of 246 pieces and a baseplate. The set includes two versions of Jake Sully, one in his human form with a wheelchair and the other in his Avatar form with a spear.''Back to the Future''
& Doc Brown was released on 18April 2018 and is based on the film Back to the Future. The set consists of 240 pieces and two baseplates, and includes a detachable accessories: a DeLorean time machine controller for Brown and a camcorder for McFly.DC
In 2016, several exclusive BrickHeadz sets were only available at San Diego Comic-Con: Superman & Wonder Woman ; Batman & The Joker ; and Supergirl & Martian Manhunter.Several Lego DC characters based on the movie Justice League were released as BrickHeadz sets. A range of DC BrickHeadz was announced in January 2018, which included The Flash, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg, and Tactical Batman & Superman.
Disney
In 2017, two sets based on the animated film Beauty and the Beast Belle and Beast were released on 1March. Later, Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Armando Salazar were released on 2April 2017, based on the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.Mr.Incredible & Frozone was released in April 2018, based on Incredibles 2. Elsa and Anna & Olaf from Frozen were released in July 2018. Ariel & Ursula was released in July 2018 and is based on The Little Mermaid. From The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jack Skellington & Sally was released in October 2018.
Disney characters Donald Duck and Goofy & Pluto were released in February 2020. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse were released as separate sets in August 2020.
Daisy Duck and Scrooge McDuck, Huey, Dewey & Louie were released in June 2021. In December 2021, the Lego Group revealed two new sets: Buzz Lightyear and Woody & Bo Peep, released in February 2022 and based on Toy Story.
A kit of the animated characters Chip & Dale was released on 1March 2022, based on the show Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers.
Disney 100th Celebration was released on 1February 2023 and includes the characters Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Mickey Mouse, Snow White, and Tinker Bell. In addition, EVE & WALL•E, Cruella & Maleficent, and Moana & Merida were released on 1March 2023.