Five points of interest in the 2023 LEGO Harry Potter sets

The latest round of LEGO Harry Potter sets come with a number of features that may be of great interest to Harry Potter fans.

2023 is bringing us a wide variety of new LEGO sets, and six new entries in the LEGO Harry Potter theme have recently been unveiled. These sets touch upon a mix of old and new subject matter, with some scenes from the Harry Potter universe appearing in LEGO form for the first time.

In keeping with recent releases in the Harry Potter theme, there are several intriguing features to consider. Here’s what we’ve spotted in our first look at the sets:

5 – Lenticular elements

Of all the features in the new LEGO Harry Potter sets, these seem to have particular potential. They’re designed to mimic the magical objects of the Harry Potter universe, whether they’re the moving paintings of Hogwarts or the fireplaces augmented by Floo Powder. Shifting your perspective on these elements allows different visuals to be displayed.

While this idea isn’t exactly new, it is a novelty in LEGO sets – and might prove of immense value in other LEGO themes. It could provide us with animated LEGO computer screens or even movie posters – particularly as 3D posters have become a real-life marketing tactic in recent years.

4 – A Hufflepuff common room

Hufflepuff’s common room never appeared in the original Harry Potter books or movies, although it has been depicted in some supplementary material. It’s also been absent from LEGO sets, although its fellows have all earned at least one LEGO version before now. 

As such, it appears Hufflepuff’s common room (as depicted in 76412 Hufflepuff House Banner) takes a little creative licence. However, completionists may not be too concerned by this artistic choice.

3 – a Fantastic Beasts reference

It’s fair to say that the Fantastic Beasts film series hasn’t been a particular success. The most recent film in the series stands at just 46% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the planned quintet of films has been knocked down to three. LEGO sets inspired by the movies have also proven unusually thin on the ground, although several Collectible Minifigures have been made available.

In any case, that hasn’t prevented a picture of Newt Scamander or a Niffler graphic from popping up in 76412 Hufflepuff House Banner – a reference to Newt’s time at Hogwarts itself. As such, any Fantastic Beasts fans (if any are left) may be gratified by this particular nod.

2 – Quidditch uniforms

While a full set of Quidditch uniforms have appeared across multiple LEGO sets, it’s difficult to build an actual team given their relative rarity. However, the new banner sets each include a single Quidditch uniform for their respective house – with accompanying minifigures for each one.

While you’ll still need to hunt around a bit for multiple Quidditch players (the secondary market may be your best option) it should make doing so a little easier than before.

1 – The old broom design

The last wave of LEGO Harry Potter sets introduced a new style of broom, which attached a bespoke bristle element to a standard bar element. However, 76413 Hogwarts: Room of Requirement returns to the original broomstick that’s been in use for several years.

It’s a curious move, but not unprecedented; 75218 X-Wing Starfighter, released in 2018, introduced a new, short-lived version of the Rebel pilot helmet with a moulded visor. It’s unclear why the new broom style is absent, but it may simply have been that the old style of broomstick proved perfectly adequate after all.

You can read more about the new LEGO Harry Potter sets in our initial report on the subject. They can be purchased at LEGO.com from March 1, 2023.

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