Following last year’s teaser for a collaboration, LEGO and The Pokemon Company have today unveiled (and opened preorders for) the first LEGO Pokemon sets: Eevee, Pikachu with a Poke Ball, and a huge set with Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur.
A reveal video for the new sets takes a humorous perspective of middle-aged friends, bored with the mundanity of their adult lives, rediscovering their childhood joy of collecting Pokemon thanks to the sudden appearance of LEGO Pokemon out in the wild.
If that doesn’t give away that these are premium sets aimed at adult collectors with disposable income, the price tags certainly will. Eevee (587 pieces) is a comparatively modest NZD $109.99, but Pikachu (2050 pieces) is NZD $349.99, and the huge Kanto starters set (6838 pieces!) is NZD $1,199.99, putting it in the same ballpark as the Eiffel Tower and Titanic sets.
In addition, there’s a Kanto Region Badge Collection available as a gift with the pre-orders of the Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise set while stocks last, and LEGO Insiders can redeem points for a 233-piece Mini Pokemon Center set. All of these sets will be available from 27 February, with pre-orders open now from the LEGO Shop.
While adult-focused premium display sets was probably inevitable, it seems odd to not have anything for in a cheaper, more play-oriented bracket for kids. If last year’s Formula 1 collab could get Duplo and Lego City sets, surely Pokemon deserves similar treatment. Hopefully today’s announcement is just the first wave, and LEGO has plans for more variety and different price brackets in future.
