The official online store is transformed a little more into a clothing store with the availability of part of the collection resulting from the collaboration between the manufacturer and the HYPE brand around the Ninjago franchise. This new line of clothing therefore joins the adidas and LEVI's collections already for sale on the Shop.

LEGO a selection of models for adults and children, some of which will remain exclusive to the official online store, with prices ranging between € 28 and € 34 for a t-shirt, from € 58 to € 66 for a sweatshirt and there are also three models of backpack sold for € 41.99.

These products allow you to accumulate VIP points, that's always what it takes.

LEGO NINJAGO X HYPE ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

Today we are quickly interested in the LEGO set 71741 Ninjago City Gardens, a very large box of 5685 pieces available today at the public price of 299.99 € on the official online store and which allows to assemble a new extension of the Ninjago maxi-diorama composed so far of sets 70620 Ninjago City (2017) et 70657 Ninjago City Docks (2018)

I spent several days assembling the contents of this box and I give you some very personal impressions of this new immersion in the vertical megalopolis of Ninjago City. We remember that the other two sets already marketed were sold under the label The LEGO Ninjago Movie, the title of the animated film released in 2017 that inspired the proposed constructions.

This new box takes advantage of the 10th anniversary of the house franchise created by LEGO in 2011 and the manufacturer has therefore chosen to sell it under the title Legacy. Don't get me wrong, if the set does pay homage to some cult moments from the different seasons of the animated series, it is indeed an extension totally in the spirit of the other boxes with the same architectural bias of a Japan. fantasized that at best could be vaguely compared to old Kyoto.

As for the two previous constructions on the same subject, this new assembly is totally modular and partially modular in the sense that it is composed of separate elements to be installed on a basic structure and it can then be connected to one or the other. 'other sets 70620 Ninjago City et 70657 Ninjago City Docks. The junction with the docks is documented by LEGO on the official visuals, just extend the diorama to the right. The connection to the city of set 70620 is possible by placing on the other side of the construction and removing a piece of the cornice of the second floor which helps to ensure the visual continuity of the overall diorama. The apartment's black balcony with green walls is also removable.

LEGO presents this set as the "Ninjago City Gardens". It is undoubtedly more a reference to the name of a district than to the purely vegetal context of the area presented: It is necessary to be satisfied with a tree with relatively summary foliage and a pond covered by a few plants and other water lilies. Two base plates are provided (32x32 and 16x32), they define the space occupied by the construction which develops in height on 73 cm to end up exceeding the highest point of the set 70620 Ninjago City (63 cm) and invert the visual balance of the diorama. It's not a bad thing, but the docks in the set 70657 Ninjago City Docks will perhaps have a little trouble existing between these two constructions.

The least exciting part of the assembly comes first: it is about covering the 32x32 plate to delimit the constructible spaces of the water zone placed in the heart of the district. No tiles pad printed with pretty carp as was the case in the set 80107 Spring Lantern Festival, but it fits with the trim of the other two sets. After this somewhat boring phase, the pleasure definitely takes over and the different modules are linked. We position them on the base plate and we observe the quarter take height over the bags. As for the city of the set 70620 Ninjago City , the different levels are linked together by stairs, hatches or ladders.

If you feel like playing with the contents of this box, the designers have planned everything. Each of the interior spaces is relatively accessible and although there is little room left among the furniture and other internal decorations, the possibility is there. All modules are removable and easy to put back in place, just like a Structure classic. There is no notable functionality in this build other than the Ninja Zone door on the fourth floor, a structure placed just below the control tower, which opens with the turn of a thumbwheel. To speak of a playset accessible to the youngest as does LEGO in the official description of the product is in my opinion a little presumptuous and if the product remains easy to handle, it is also very fragile in places.

Unlike a Structure Classic which generally develops a theme and a precise architectural style, the experience here is even more fun thanks to the many variations encountered when going from one module to another. The assembly techniques are very interesting with in particular sloping side partitions, roof edging using elements that are not usually used to reproduce tiles and decorations all more creative than the others. We often pour into exaggeration and overbidding but it is also this caricatural and loaded side that makes the charm of these three sets of the Ninjago range.

My advice: If you are really planning on purchasing this box, try not to focus too much on the details when reading reviews or watch speed builds. Nothing beats the surprise effect still present when turning the pages of one of the three instruction booklets of the set and the assembly of this product does not disappoint on this point with very few repetitive sequences and many solutions aesthetics that will probably pull a smile of satisfaction from you.

Those who will only buy this box for the Asian theme and the representation of a Japan that does not yet exist in this form can be reassured: the references to the Ninjago universe are there but they are subtle enough to leave this neighborhood exist even in the eyes of one who has never watched a single episode of the animated series.

Master Chen's shop with its sign based on minifig with inverted legs but without the presence of Skylor remains a picturesque stall even for those who do not have a precise reference. The small island with its temple and statue erected in honor of Zane during the last episode of the third season of the series will also easily find its place in a diorama even if the one who aligns these sets on his shelves does not know who is the gray minifigure.

The same goes for the museum with the orange facade which occupies a large part of the surface of the third floor of the construction, the place is occupied by some more or less obvious references to the Ninjago universe depending on your affinity with the franchise. Otherwise it's just a nice museum.

Many references to the Ninjago universe are conveyed by the stickers and I have scanned the three boards delivered in this box. Aesthetic continuity with the other two sets is here also ensured with the same visual codes and the same ninja alphabet used for these new stickers. It will also be necessary to take advantage of these different stickers before sticking them, most of those which directly refer to the Ninjago universe find themselves confined in one or other of the houses or shops to be built.

The minifig endowment is substantial with 22 minifigs including 19 characters, the statue of Titanium Zane, the sign of Master Chen's Noodles and an outfit Legacy/Avatar by Jay. The minifig that collectors who do not have the means or the inclination to afford this box will seek to obtain via the secondary market is obviously that of Sensei Wu in the 10th anniversary version. This figurine with its display adorned with a pretty pad-printed piece that can also be found on the trunk of the only tree in the neighborhood is matched with those of the young ninjas in Legacy version distributed in different sets marketed since the beginning of the year.

The set allows you to accumulate some variations of the young ninjas in civilian clothes: Jay with a new torso, Cole with a torso already seen in the CITY range and Nya wearing a Perfecto already seen in other boxes are here delivered in outfits which make it possible to stage the minifigs by passing them off as lambdas inhabitants. We also get the (very) young version of Lloyd, the explorer and adventurer Clutch Powers, a character that many know thanks to the animated film released in 2010 and who reuses here the torso already seen in the pack of minifigs bearing the reference 40342 marketed in 2019, Ronin a recurring character in the series, and ninjas Kai and Zane, both in a Dragon master rather common.

We also get here a large handful of more or less known characters from the Ninjago universe and some civilians: Misako the mother of Lloyd, The Mechanic, one of the villains of the Ninjago saga who changes sides as well as his shirt here with his accomplice Cece , Kaito with Tattooga's face and ponytail from the LEGO Ideas set 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay, Eileen with her pretzel, Hai the ice cream seller, Christina who is obviously a fan of young ninjas with her Lloyd-colored sweater, Mei who takes over Okino's torso, a character delivered in 2020 in the set 71708 Gamer's Market, Tito, a young boy who walks Sensei Wu's husky and Scoop a cleaning robot who joins his colleague Sweep delivered in the set 70620 Ninjago City.

The endowment in minifigs therefore does not forget to please fans of the Ninjago universe but it also leaves a little space for civilians who are necessary to liven up the streets and shops of the city. The balance seems satisfactory to me in this box, there is something for everyone. The pad prints are generally impeccable, the absence of flesh color is undoubtedly a little for something.

Beyond what it offers in terms of construction, the strong point of the set is in my opinion its versatility: the fan of the Ninjago franchise will savor the assembly by meeting many more or less supported winks to the events of the different seasons of the animated series, the fan of Modulars which only seeks to fill the holes left empty since 2018 on the edge of the set 70657 Ninjago City Docks will finally have at its disposal something to extend its maxi-diorama, now composed of the three references available since the launch in 2017 of the set 70620 Ninjago City and he will wait patiently for LEGO to decide to extend the experience.

Those who have hesitated too long to invest in sets 70620 Ninjago City et 70657 Ninjago City Docks and who would nevertheless like to exhibit this exceptional diorama on their shelves today will no doubt find it difficult to catch up without agreeing to pay a high price for these boxes on the secondary market. Is the end result worth the effort? It's up to everyone to judge according to their affinities with the Ninjago universe and the vaguely Japanese theme of these sets which take up everything that makes the salt of the Modulars traditional and add a touch of creative madness.

To be completely honest, I have not embarked on this adventure and I do not plan to do so someday. I already have a lot to do with the different ranges that I collect, but I readily admit that this new district of Ninjago City has good arguments to make. If you can't afford it, at least try to have the opportunity to ride it with whoever is lucky enough to be able to display it at home.

Note: The set presented here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 25th January 2021 next at 23pm. "The" I try, I participate "are automatically deleted, make an effort.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

As expected, the LEGO set 71741 Ninjago City Gardens is available as a VIP preview on the official online store at the public price of 299.99 € / 319.00 CHF.

Do not forget to identify yourself on your VIP account to be able to add the set to your order.

No promotional offer dedicated to the launch of this product but you can get the set 40416 Ice Skating Rink which is automatically added to the basket as soon as the amount of 150 € is reached.

For the undecided ones who do not want to crack without delay, we will talk about this big box of 5685 pieces a little later in the day on the occasion of a "Review ".

71741 NINJAGO CITY GARDENS ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

THE SET IN BELGIUM >> THE SET IN SWITZERLAND >>

LEGO has uploaded the set 71741 Ninjago City Gardens on the official store and it is therefore the opportunity to obtain a gallery of official visuals a little more complete than the one we had so far.

As you will have understood, there will be no official announcement of the set itself and the day of January 14, 2021 will be dedicated more generally to the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Ninjago franchise created in 2011.

It is also on January 14 that will be marketed as a VIP preview this very large box of 5685 pieces at the public price of € 299.99.