Lego Stranger Things Explained

Lego Stranger Things
Subject:	Stranger Things
Characters:	Barbara "Barb" Holland, Eleven / Jane Hopper, Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, Joyce Byers, Chief Jim Hopper and the Demogorgon
From:	2019
To:	2022
Sets:	2
Website:	https://www.lego.com/en-my/themes/stranger-things

Lego Stranger Things (stylized as LEGO Stranger Things) was a Lego theme based on the 2016 Netflix sci-fi horror series of the same name created by the Duffer Brothers. It was licensed from Netflix. The theme was first introduced in May 2019^{[1] [2]} and was discontinued in December 2022.

Overview

Lego Stranger Things was based on the Stranger Things 2016 Netflix sci-fi horror series, which focuses on the investigation into the disappearance of a young boy (Will Byers) amid supernatural events occurring around the town, including the appearance of a girl with psychokinetic abilities (Eleven). Lego Stranger Things aimed to recreate the main characters in Lego form, including Barbara "Barb" Holland, Eleven / Jane Hopper, Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, Joyce Byers, Chief Jim Hopper and the Demogorgon.^{[3] [4]}

Development

Lego senior model designer Justin Ramsden said he worked closely with Netflix to design The Upside Down set: "they gave us loads of behind the scenes images and plans."^[5] He said, "We also got the chance to create three new elements for the set as well, they are headgear for the Demogorgon, a hair piece for Dustin and also the hair for Will."^[6] He further explained, "With the Stranger Things set, we started off with a concept sketch. There was an elite team of LEGO designers that joined together to discuss what this model could be. From that meetings, one of the concept designers drew a quick sketch and that became the basis for what the model could look like. We followed the sketch and had a close dialogue with Netflix. There was some back and forth with them, and we did iterations that made the set more stable, more playable and with more functions."^[7]

Launch

In 2019, Lego Stranger Things theme was launched at The LEGO Store in Flatiron District, New York.^[8] Later, it also launched in the UK at Lego Store Leicester Square, London.^[9] As part of the marketing campaign, The Lego Group released The Upside Down (set number: 75810) based on a version of the Byers' home.^[10]

Characters

• Barbara "Barb" Holland: An introvert and best friend of Nancy Wheeler. She is concerned that her friendship with Nancy may be threatened by Nancy's relationship with Steve. Barb is one of the first victims of the Demogorgon.
• Eleven / Jane Hopper: A young girl with telepathic and psychokinetic abilities and a limited vocabulary. Her real name is Jane, and she is the biological daughter of Terry Ives.
• Mike Wheeler: A middle child of Karen and Ted Wheeler, brother of Nancy and Holly, and one of three friends of Will Byers. He is an intelligent and conscientious student and is committed to his friends. He develops romantic feelings for Eleven.
• Lucas Sinclair: One of Will's friends. He is wary of Eleven but later becomes friends with her.
• Dustin Henderson: One of Will Byers' friends. His cleidocranial dysplasia causes him to lisp.
• Will Byers: The son of Joyce Byers and younger brother of Jonathan Byers. He is captured by a monster from the "Upside Down", an alternate dimension discovered by Hawkins Laboratory scientists.
• Joyce Byers: The mother of Will and Jonathan Byers. She is divorced from Lonnie Byers.
• Chief Jim Hopper: Chief of Hawkins Police Department. After his young daughter Sara died of cancer, Hopper divorced and lapsed into alcoholism. Eventually he grows to be more responsible, saving Joyce's son as well as taking Eleven as his adopted daughter. It is revealed that he and Joyce have feelings for each other.
• Demogorgon: Predatory creatures from the Upside Down that serve as the Mind Flayer's initial invasion force, murderous and violent with limited intelligence. Demogorgons start off as slug-like creatures that are incubated in a victim's body, growing into a tadpole-like creature and gradually molting into an adolescent form called a "Demodog" before fully maturing.

Toy line

Construction sets

According to BrickLink, The Lego Group released two Lego sets as part of Lego Stranger Things theme.^[11] The product line was eventually discontinued by the end of December 2022.^[12]

In 2019, The Lego Group had a partnership with Netflix. The Lego Group introduced a Stranger Things set called The Upside Down (set number: 75810), based on a version of the Byers' home and its replica in the Upside Down was released in May 2019.^{[13] [14]} The largest set consists of 2287 pieces with 8 minifigures. The Byers' house had 4 rooms including a front porch with furniture, living room, dining room and Will's bedroom. It also included Chief Jim Hopper's police truck and variety of accessories. The set included Lego minifigures of Eleven, Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, Joyce Byers, Chief Jim Hopper and the Demogorgon. The sets were designed primarily for adults with an age rating of 16+ or above. The set was designed by Lego Senior Model Designer Justin Ramsden.^{[15] [16] [17]} In 2021, The Lego Group announced The Upside Down (set number: 75810) was retired on 31 December 2021.^{[18] [19] [20] [21]}

In July 2019, San Diego Comic-Con had announced that an exclusive Barb minifigure would be given away to the winners.^[22]

In February 2022, a Demogorgon minifigure Keyring was released^[23] and was retired in August 2022.

Lego BrickHeadz sets

On 1 February 2022, a set named Demogorgon and Eleven (set number: 40549) were released as part of the Lego BrickHeadz theme. The set consists of 192 pieces and 2 baseplates.^{[24] [25] [26]} The set was retired in December 2022.^[27]

Web shorts

The product line was accompanied by a series of animated short films that was released on YouTube.

• Welcome to The Upside Down was an official web short was released on YouTube on 15 May 2019 that inspired by both The Upside Down (set number: 75810) as well as the Stranger Things 2016 Netflix sci-fi horror series.^[28]
• The Upside Down 75810 Collector’s Item was an official web short was released on YouTube on 1 June 2019 that inspired by both The Upside Down (set number: 75810) as well as the Stranger Things 2016 Netflix sci-fi horror series. It features Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Mike Wheeler, Eleven, Joyce Byers and Chief Hopper are ready to banish the Demogorgon from the Byers’ home.^{[29] [30]}

Awards and nominations

In 2020, The Upside Down (set number: 75810) was awarded "Toy of the Year" and also "Specialty Toy of the Year" by the Toy Association.^{[31] [32]}

See also

• Lego Monster Fighters
• Lego Ghostbusters
• Lego Scooby-Doo
• Lego Hidden Side
• Lego BrickHeadz

External links

• Official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: First Look At The New 75810 Stranger Things LEGO Set . Geekculture.co . 11 May 2019 . 11 May 2019.
2. Web site: 'Stranger Things' Gets An Official LEGO Set With Innovative 'Upside Down' Style . . 14 May 2019.
3. Web site: LEGO Stranger Things 75810 The Upside Down minifigure spotlight . Brick Fanatics . 15 May 2019.
4. Book: Farshtey. Gregory. LEGO Minifigure A Visual History New Edition. Lipkowitz. Daniel. Hugo. Simon. 2020-10-01. Dorling Kindersley Limited. 978-0-241-50202-0. 233. en.
5. Web site: Inside LEGO Stranger Things 75810 The Upside Down with Model Designer Justin Ramsden . Brick Fanatics . 15 May 2019.
6. Web site: Designing LEGO Stranger Things 75810 The Upside Down: Exclusive Brick Fanatics interview . Brick Fanatics . 16 May 2019.
7. Web site: 2019-06-04. LEGO designer Justin Ramsden on giving Stranger Things the brick treatment. 2021-04-15. Mojo Nation. en-GB.
8. Web site: LEGO Stranger Things US launch at LEGO Store New York tonight . Brick Fanatics . 14 May 2019.
9. Web site: LEGO Stranger Things UK launch at LEGO Store Leicester Square tonight . Brick Fanatics . 14 May 2019.
10. Web site: D'Souza . Danica . Lego's 'Stranger Things' set recreates The Upside Down . . February 18, 2021 . May 17, 2019.
11. Web site: BrickLink Reference Catalog - Sets - Category Lego Stranger Things. 2021-04-12. www.bricklink.com.
12. Web site: Stranger Things LEGO Sets. 17 January 2023. BrickEconomy. en.
13. Web site: Kit. Borys. 2015-01-23. 'Stranger Things' Lego Set Goes Upside Down. 2019-05-14. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US.
14. LEGO Stranger Things - Behind the Brick Designer Video 75810. May 17, 2019. YouTube.
15. Web site: Todd Spangler . 'Stranger Things' Lego Playset Flips Into the Upside Down . . 14 May 2019.
16. Web site: Stranger Things' amazing Lego set takes the Upside Down literally . Sean . Hollister . May 14, 2019 . May 14, 2019 . . May 15, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190515013148/https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/14/18623977/stranger-things-amazing-lego-set-takes-the-upside-down-literally . live .
17. Web site: Something strange is going on... - as the town of Hawkins, Indiana arrives in LEGO brick form . Lego Group . May 15, 2019 . Lego.com . Lego . May 15, 2019 . June 26, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200626093520/https://www.lego.com/en-my/aboutus/news/2019/may/something-strange-is-going-on-as-the-town-of-hawkins-indiana-arrives-in-lego-brick-form . live .
18. Web site: LEGO Stranger Things set is being retired soon . . 15 May 2019.
19. Web site: LEGO Stranger Things 75810 The Upside Down due to retire in 2021 . Brick Fanatics . 11 May 2021.
20. Web site: Retiring LEGO Stranger Things 75810 The Upside Down is back in stock . Brick Fanatics . 30 November 2021.
21. Web site: Every LEGO Stranger Things set ever released . Brick Fanatics . 6 November 2022.
22. Web site: LEGO Stranger Things exclusive Barb minifigure for San Diego Comic Con . Brick Fanatics . 11 July 2019.
23. Web site: LEGO Star Wars, Stranger Things and Sesame Street keychains coming next month . Brick Fanatics . 5 January 2022.
24. Web site: LEGO Stranger Things BrickHeadz 40549 Demogorgon & Eleven revealed . Brick Fanatics . 4 January 2022.
25. Web site: LEGO BrickHeadz 2022 release date and prices revealed, including Stranger Things and Looney Tunes . Brick Fanatics . 4 January 2022.
26. Web site: New LEGO Stranger Things BrickHeadz have launched on LEGO.com . Brick Fanatics . 1 February 2022.
27. Web site: Every LEGO set retiring in 2022 – September update . Brick Fanatics . 6 September 2022.
28. Welcome to The Upside Down – Lego Stranger Things. May 15, 2019. YouTube.
29. Web site: Animated clip brings LEGO Stranger Things 75810 The Upside Down to life . Brick Fanatics . 2 May 2019.
30. The Upside Down 75810 Collector’s Item - LEGO Stranger Things. June 1, 2019. YouTube.
31. Web site: L.O.L. Surprise! by MGA Entertainment Snags Prestigious "Toy of the Year" Award for Third Straight Year . . 2020-02-21.
32. Web site: 2020 TOTY Winners. The Toy Association.