LEGO Nexo Knights: A concept not so new or original as it seems ...

The LEGO Nexo Knights range joined toy store shelves in 2016 with around fifty LEGO boxes. already available or announced. And that's without counting polybags and other derivative products. The whole thing is accompanied by an animated series (3 seasons of 10 episodes) broadcast on TV and a video game on IOS and Android platforms.

Many then marveled at the creativity of LEGO during the launch of this range which combines knights, monsters and futuristic machines or vehicles. Some cried genius when others praised the ability of LEGO to develop in-house elaborate and original universes mixing references to the range Classic Castle and futuristic atmosphere ...

However, if we go back in time to 1988, we find the trace of an animated series of 13 episodes created by Hasbro, then broadcast in France in the Club Dorothée, which served as television advertising for a whole range of derivative products. marketed by the manufacturer: Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light (The Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light). This animated series has since been rebroadcast in 2001 on the AB1 channel.

In this universe, we find a band of knights in armor (Spectral knights) with powers and assisted by the magician Merklynn (Merclin). They grapple with the bad guys Lords of Darkness (Darkling lords) taken by Darkstorm, all in a world that mixes medieval looks and futuristic technologies. Does that remind you of something?

In the Nexo Knights, Prysmos becomes Knighton, the magician has become virtual, the powers based on the abilities of different animals embodied by holograms on the torso of the Knights of Prysmos become the symbols present on the torso of Axl, Aaron and their friends , the powers transmitted by the scepters of some become the Nexo Powers on the shields of others, etc ...

LEGO has obviously adapted this universe to correspond a little more to the current codes and to the cultural references of the target audience, but almost everything is there.

The similarities between these two universes are numerous and there is little doubt: LEGO was directly "inspired" by this Hasbro license which has never really met its public and which is today forgotten by all to create the Nexo Knights license. There is nothing surprising or reprehensible in this, after all, the legacy left by some makes the good days (and fills the coffers) of others.

But it is always good to give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar ...

(Thanks to Martial for the memory refresh ...)

https://youtu.be/rBoxGdz2Km4