Why Lego Won’t Be Producing Pokémon Minifigures

Pokémon nostalgia spans three decades of raising and training creatures, but we can’t overlook the significance of the human characters that animate this universe. While we have iconic figures like Pikachu, Mewtwo, and Gengar available as Lego sets, the absence of beloved characters such as Ash, Misty, and Brock raises some eyebrows. In a recent discussion, Lego representatives shared insights into the development of their new Smart Play Pokémon toys and explained the decision to exclude classic minifigures from these collections.

Siddharth Muthyala, the design director at The Lego Group, emphasized that the main goal for their interactive Pokémon sets was to encapsulate the spirit of the Pokémon themselves. To achieve this, Lego engaged with young Pokémon enthusiasts for feedback.

“Whenever we talk to kids and fans, they express a desire to be Pokémon Trainers,” Muthyala explains. “Digging deeper, being a Trainer means finding Pokémon, catching them, nurturing them, training them, and, of course, battling with them.”

The Smart Tags integrated into the Lego Pokémon sets are designed to enhance gameplay in this manner. Player movements are tracked to help level up the monsters, making them more formidable in battles as they progress. All of this information is conveyed to players through sounds and lights, eliminating the need for a screen. Additionally, players can combine elements from different sets to create unique roleplay scenarios, as many pieces are designed to interact with one another. The aim is to keep the play experience engaging and fluid, ensuring that kids remain captivated.

“The thought process is so deliberate that we chose not to include any minifigures in the lineup because the children are the Trainers,” Muthyala states. “They step into a Pokémon world where they are the humans, the Trainers who catch, bond with, and battle their Pokémon. That was a conscious decision.”

This approach makes sense, but if Lego ever decides to introduce them, fans would likely snatch up a Team Rocket minifigure set in no time.

The toys are equipped to battle, heal, and level up. Here’s how it all works.