We haven’t been short of books which delve into the history of the LEGO Group and their products. Many of those sorts of titles have come from DK Books, but there’s a new LEGO® Books publisher on the block. Until now many of Chronicle Books’ LEGO products have been puzzles, stationery or simple gift books but their latest LEGO book takes an in-depth look at the cheery little faces of the LEGO brand – the minifigure. From their simple smiley origins to becoming cultural icons. The Art of the Minifigure charts the history of those little plastic folk, including key moments from their 40 plus years of being in LEGO sets. How they are designed and created, how they changed over the years and how they went from mere accessories to the key components of a LEGO set. Here’s a closer look at Chronicle Books’ LEGO The Art of the Minifigure.
Product Description
This landmark volume explores the history, design, and cultural impact of the iconic LEGO ® minifigure. Driven by compelling essays, lush full-color photography, infographics, and never-before-seen visuals from inside LEGO archives and beyond, this book reveals why the minifigure matters – as a beloved toy and as a singular cultural icon.
- Book Title: LEGO The Art of the Minifigure
- Publisher: Chronicle Books
- Pages: 144
- RRP: £26.00/$35.00
- ISBN: 9781452182261
- Availability: All Good Book Retailers
As mentioned above there have been a few different books focused on the minifigure. Most of them briefly touch upon the subject matter. The Art of Minifigure is one of the most thorough accounts of the LEGO minifigure. Thanks to its simple shape, classic yellow head and endless expressions, the minifigure has become synonymous with the LEGO brand. But as the book details, that wasn’t always the case. Across the book’s 8 chapters you’ll learn about the rise of the minifigure and how they went from simple similar-looking accessories to iconic characters and for some, collector’s items. Things are kicked off with forewords from two very important people when it comes to minifigures. VP of Design, Matthew Ashton and Senior Design Manager, Tara Wike.
As well as focusing on certain eras and their iconic minifigures characters, one of the most interesting aspects of the book is the behind the scenes sections, these detail how a minifigure is taken from concept to the final product. It’s a complex process, with a surprising amount of steps to follow along the way. In fact, the process of crafting a new minifigure has its own ‘bible’ and this is the first book to really dig down into the design process behind a minifigure.
Although other LEGO titles from Chronicle Books have been a little light on content, they have featured some great imagery. Something which has continued in this book but there’s also plenty to read this time around as well. Author Brian Barrett has perfectly captured the balance between information many LEGO fans will already know along with plenty of things they won’t. The Art of the Minifigure is a quintessential biography of a much-loved, cultural icon and a perfect book for any LEGO fan.
LEGO The Art of the Minifigure is available now in the UK from Amazon and selected book retailers. It will be published in North America on June 14th.
