Exclusive interview: LEGO Star Wars BrickHeadz 75317 The Mandalorian and The Child

It’s the LEGO set that captures the relationship between the central characters in Star Wars: The Mandalorian – BrickHeadz 75317 The Mandalorian and The Child. The designers behind the model reveal all

As well as 75292 The Razor Crest, the LEGO Star Wars team has another The Mandalorian set on the way – BrickHeadz 75317 The Mandalorian and The Child. Providing the central duo who audiences followed through the eight chapters of the series, the set evokes what made the series captivate viewers.

Design Director Jens Kronvold Frederiksen and Designer Manager Michael Lee Stockwell speak to Brick Fanatics about the upcoming set, due for release on August 1.

Had you seen Baby Yoda before the series aired?

Michael: We knew prior to the episode launch but not too long before the actual launch did we finally get final reference, up until that point it was still concept art.

Did you have a sense it would be something special?

Jens: I think when we saw it and saw the first concept art we instantly knew that this was going take everybody by storm. We could see it. I have to say it probably exceeded our expectations a little bit,  that was also when we made the final decision that we really wanted to go all in on that and why we also decided to do this, making a brick built set is a little bit easier and faster than making a new moulded element.

Michael: You also have the cuteness of the BrickHeadz along with the cuteness of the character itself, they just go hand in hand.

LEGO Star Wars 75292 The Razor Crest: Designing the Mandalorian’s ship

That BrickHeadz set illustrates how you can have an imposing character like the Mandalorian and a cute character like the Child in this unique style.

Michael: I come into a building that would probably just knock a lot of people on their seat if they were to come in, in awe of what there is around them, so you get immune to it. But every once in a while, you see something and it’s not necessarily the big UCS (Ultimate Collector Series ) amazing model, it’s often these really small builds when somebody is ingeniously putting together eighty pieces and it just comes to life – and I think that’s something that the BrickHeadz concept does well. It uses very basic bricks but generates emotion. It’s wonderful.

Was capturing the shape of the crib a challenge? It is quite different to what usually comes in a BrickHeadz box.

Jens: Easy answer there, yes it was a challenge. It was to make it buildable, to make it work with the figure, make it look right, the right size, the right design style. It was a challenge. But as far as we know it’s the only product with a Child that can actually fit in the pram. Nobody else can make it.

Michael: I haven’t seen anything either, other products from our competitors, incorporating the hoverpram like this.

Read more from Brick Fanatics at Fan Media Days 2020

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