Today is National Monster Day, making it the perfect time to take a fond look back at one of the LEGO Group’s most unique themes – LEGO® Mixels. The LEGO Mixels theme was launched in 2014 in association with Cartoon Network. The theme would last just over 2 years, with 81 sets released across 9 series. The Mixels made their debut at San Diego Comic-Con before being released shortly after. Each series featured three different themed tribes, with those tribes including three different characters. As the theme when on, some of the tribes were inspired by past LEGO themes including LEGO City Fire & Police, Castle and Pirates.
The theme was supported by an animated Cartoon Network series, web shorts and stop-motion animations. There were also two mobile games including Calling All Mixels and Mixels Rush, with unlockable content included in the physical sets.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Mixels was their use of parts. The brick-built creatures used LEGO elements in unique ways such as minifigures accessories to create fun details. Each of the characters from a tribe could also be combined to create a Mixels Max creature. You could also try to blend characters from different tribes, which would result in a Murp.
Although the Mixels theme didn’t last as long as it deserved to last, it’s left a lasting legacy thanks to the theme’s introduction of the mini ball joint elements. An abandoned Mixel creature design, a chocolate bar, was also featured in the second LEGO Movie. LEGO Mixels was a fantastic theme, which really showed the creativity of the LEGO Design Team and was part of a now lost era of affordable, collectable mini-sets.