LEGO NINJAGO designer explains differences between 2021 sets and TV show

The designer behind two of this summer’s LEGO NINJAGO sets has explained why the physical models don’t necessarily match up with the theme’s animated TV series.

Niek van Slagmaat – who was responsible for the Seabound subtheme’s flagship set, 71756 Hydro Bountytweeted in response to fans calling out the newly-revealed NINJAGO sets for not lining up with the series’ 15th season, which aired last month.

“We design the sets together with the rough outlines for the episodes,” Niek explained. “Sometimes things in the show change afterwards. I hope that clears things up.”

As the designer clarified in a subsequent tweet, however, the pendulum can swing both ways: just as the sets may sometimes omit characters or features included in the show, so too can they incorporate functions that you won’t see used on-screen – but have been built into the physical set in respect of its primary purpose as a plaything.

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“As toy designers, the play and the build is the most important feature of the sets,” Niek elaborated. “That is why there are plenty of features in the Hydro Bounty, for instance, that were not used in the TV show.”

You’ll be able to discover those play features for yourself when 71756 Hydro Bounty – and the rest of the Seabound subtheme – launches this summer. While an official release date has yet to be confirmed, it seems likely that all five Seabound sets will arrive in tandem with the next wave of NINJAGO Legacy models on June 1.

Keep track of all this year’s May the Fourth offers with our dedicated page, and support the work that Brick Fanatics does by purchasing your LEGO Star Wars sets through one of our affiliate links.

Author Profile

Chris Wharfe
I like to think of myself as a journalist first, LEGO fan second, but we all know that’s not really the case. Journalism does run through my veins, though, like some kind of weird literary blood – the sort that will no doubt one day lead to a stress-induced heart malfunction. It’s like smoking, only worse. Thankfully, I get to write about LEGO until then.

Chris Wharfe

I like to think of myself as a journalist first, LEGO fan second, but we all know that’s not really the case. Journalism does run through my veins, though, like some kind of weird literary blood – the sort that will no doubt one day lead to a stress-induced heart malfunction. It’s like smoking, only worse. Thankfully, I get to write about LEGO until then.

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