Let's be honest, the LEGO The Hobbit license is looking pretty bad ...
After The Bridge Direct for the USA and Asia, it is Vivid Imaginations , an English toy manufacturer, that has secured The Hobbit license for Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.
The manufacturer will offer plush toys of the film's characters, board games, and minifigures. The Bridge Direct will offer action figures , Adventure Packs , Beast Packs , and detailed collectible figurines. Role-playing game accessories such as swords, battle axes, and more will also be available.
Vivid has produced toys under the LOTR license in the past and therefore knows the industry well. The product lines of the two manufacturers will be unveiled to industry professionals within a few weeks, probably at one of the first Toy Fair in February 2012.
Still no trace of LEGO in the equation, and if we admit that the partnerships are signed and announced now for the end of 2012, we can start to worry.
But let's not forget that LEGO has learned to keep its secrets before revealing them at the most opportune moment. The LEGO Super Heroes range is a fine example of controlled communication. Nothing concrete had filtered before the San Diego Comic Con in July 2011 ...
