LEGO bricks have been a beloved part of childhood for generations, sparking creativity and imagination in kids and adults alike, but one thing you won’t find in LEGO’s catalog is military-themed sets. Here’s why LEGO keeps its creations more about creativity and less about combat.
Imagination Over Infantry
At the heart of LEGO’s philosophy is the idea of open-ended play. According to LEGO, their brand is all about sparking your imagination and letting you build whatever you dream up. Instead of focusing on military themes, LEGO says it encourages kids to create their own worlds, stories, and adventures.
Keeping It Fun and Friendly
LEGO’s brand is all about fun, positivity, and family-friendly play. The company wants every child to feel like a master builder in a world where anything is possible. Military themes, with their focus on conflict, might shift the vibe from fun to serious. By steering clear of such themes, LEGO ensures that its sets are all about joy, laughter, and creativity, not about battle lines or military tactics.
Avoiding the Drama
Let’s face it—military themes can be pretty controversial. With LEGO’s global reach, it’s important to stay away from topics that could stir up debates or make anyone uncomfortable. By focusing on non-military themes, LEGO sidesteps potential drama and keeps its toys universally appealing and respectful. Instead of armaments, LEGO offers a world of adventure where every play scenario is designed to be inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.
But there are plenty of military history buffs and even military members that love LEGO and want to make military scenes with them. So what can they do?
LEGO branded options
Colors like tan and dark tan, olive green and dark olive green, are great for building military bases and vehicles, though they can be a little harder to come by. As for military minifigures, LEGO has made some of them in the past, too. Military builders can stock up on World War 2- era German military minifigures from the Indiana Jones series. Cavalry riders were part of the Western series and the short-lived Lone Ranger series. Soldiers in Pirates and Pirates of the Caribbean sets can be used for Revolutionary War-era builds. For a fun and quirky twist, using the green toy soldiers from the Toy Story series of sets can be fun. And as long as you’re being quirky, the LEGO Ninjago movie featured some highly decorated military uniforms on Garmadon’s military officers.
Custom Options
Bricks & Minifigs carries some awesome custom military items that can make battle scenes go down in history. Battle Bricks Customs reprints very detailed minifigures and they make custom weapons. They also design sets like bunkers and tanks, using real LEGO bricks. Block Jets designs kits for several military planes, including historical planes like Mustangs and modern planes like Blue Angels. All of their kits are made with real LEGO pieces, too. BrickArms makes custom 3D printed weapon and accessory packs from specific eras and countries. Whether you’re designing intricate dioramas or recreating historical battles, custom kits enable a personalized approach to military-themed LEGO fun.
So, while LEGO’s official lineup may not include military sets, a blend of both LEGO branded pieces and minifigures, and custom items, can make a fulfilling and customizable play experience for all who choose to embark on this creative journey.