For our final item of Pokémonth, let's look at the closest thing we'll possibly ever get to a Pokémon Lego set. This is LOZ's Mini Block Pikachu! ...Yes, the knock-off/bootleg Nanoblock company. ...Which is a lot bigger than I thought...
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Name: LOZ Ideas Creator Mini Block Pikachu
Distributor: LOZ
Model: 1209
Pcs: 438
Ho boy. Hunker down people, because I need to include a LOT more information about LOZ than I thought even existed.
So in both my general Nanoblock and Pokémon Diamond Block reviews, I said I couldn't find an actual website for LOZ and I just grouped it in with the general knock-off companies that steal designs for a quick buck. ...Well, I looked in the wrong places.
What I should have looked for was LOZTOYS, no spaces, because that brought me to the surprisingly professional looking LOZ Toys website and the company GuangDong ZhenFeng Science and Educational Toys Co., LTD. ...Just rolls right off the tongue...
According to their "About" page, the company is headquartered in Chenghai District, which is also unofficially known as "China Toys and Gifts City" due to the large amount of toy manufacturers located there, including the Square Toys company we looked at last time. They're actually a surprisingly prolific toy manufacturer and distributor in Asian and European markets, with over $10 million in annual revenue.
And while their main focus is on building brick sets, they've also produced original toys, such as these "turtles" ...where they basically tell you "we couldn't think of anything to do with them, so make something up."
And a "toilet trainer." ...Clearly the greatest children's toy ever conceived...
They are still clearly a knock-off and/or bootleg company though, as most of their products blatantly steal ideas and/or artwork from other franchises. But, surprisingly, they're not exactly "Lego" knock-offs as I originally assumed.
Instead, a lot of their products have a much more K'Nex-style to them, especially with their "Amusement Park" and "City" lines(the latter of which unsurprisingly steals artwork from Lego's City line...)
They also offer products in their "Exploiter", "Education", and "Propaganda" categories, which are just what any growing kid needs in their lives.
...Unfortunately, they're currently all empty. Guess the country's latest brainwashing hasn't worn off yet.
And, of course, they offer a wide range of Diamond Blocks in several categories, including their "series of machine" line of "iRobots."
Hey, as long as they keep post-Dark City Alex Proyas as far away as possible from it, I'm on board.
And while they're keeping their image relatively clean and not advertising the blatantly copyright infringing models on their site, there are a few that have slipped through the cracks...
Actually, here's something strange. The Diamond Blocks on the site are advertised under the name "Gift Series"
While all the boxes I've shown so far from them are called "iBlock Fun." ...Did the company actually get threatened with legal action and they had to change the name? ...Or is this a strange case of a bootleg of a bootleg of a knock-off?!
I don't know. The best possible explanations I can think of are that they either produce a lot more product than their website lists and they use another name to try to keep it quiet(even though they still use the company name and links), they recently "sanitized" their image and are no longer producing knock-offs of other franchises, or seedy underground companies are indeed using the LOZ name to push their own products and have very lazily only changed the line name while leaving the QR codes. Personally, I think the first one is the most logical, but I'll give the company the benefit of a doubt for now.
So where are LOZ's Mini Blocks in all of this? ...Well, surprisingly(or possibly not), today's line is featured NOWHERE on their site.
Instead, I had to go to their store on AliExpress to find any listings, where they proudly announce their "LOZ Mini BLock(sic) World Debut!" And this only furthers my first theory that they're producing more than they're promoting.
Though strangely, the caption underneath the company name states that they've "Specialized on(sic) Diamond Block Toys Over 15 Years." ...Seeing as how Kawada Co. has only been producing Nanoblocks since 2008, does that mean that Nanoblocks is actually a rip-off of Diamond Blocks?!
As far as I can tell, this is a brand-new venture for LOZ, first appearing possibly only around June 2016. Unsurprisingly, most of the designs are direct, but smaller, mold copies of the upcoming "BrickHeadz" sets from Lego, which they probably acquired from their debut at the San Diego Comic Con earlier this year. ...Either that, or they pulled an "SLToys Inside Out" and managed to visually copy the designs.
However, they did produce a few original sets based on other superheroes and also applied the concept to Star Wars and Transformers, among other models they sure as heck didn't have the license to produce.
And yes, they also produced today's featured set: the LOZ Mini Modular Block Pikachu.
Oh, but we're not done analyzing where this set came from yet, because not only is it part of LOZ's new "Mini Block" line, but it's also an "LOZ Ideas" product!
Unlike the Mini Blocks, I have NO zarking idea where the LOZ Ideas originated from, especially since this is also a product that doesn't appear on the LOZ Toys site. It's obviously meant to cash in on Lego Ideas, but I couldn't tell you when it started nor come up with a site that features this concept.
I can't even tell you if they're based off of another set or possibly a Lego Ideas pitch gone south. They seem original enough, save for the ones obviously stealing characters from other franchises, but I don't know if LOZ fans actually pitched these and they went through a review process to determine which sets to manufacture, or if they just designed these sets and slapped "LOZ Ideas" on them to fool customers into thinking they're supporting fan-based creations...
What I CAN tell you is that the name applies to a surprisingly large number of products so far, both in the "Mini Block" and "Diamond Block" ranges.
Most are copyrighted characters like Doraemon, Mario Bros, and the Minions
But then there are train sets, roses, and museum fossil displays. I would KILL to know where they got the inspiration for these seemingly random choices.
So yes, that means that this Pikachu set is more than likely an original construction not based on an existing set by another company nor a Lego Idea that either failed or succeeded. We are looking at originality in the bootleg market...
And now, at last, let's talk about the actual, physical set.
Unlike the "Monster Go" boxes we looked at last time, this box is interesting and really catches your eye. Practically every inch has something to look at!
I already talked about in great depth the LOZ Ideas Creator Series and the LOZ Mini Block sections, but to make their plagiarism even more obvious, LOZ copied the logo for Lego Ideas for their Mini LOZ Block logo! They didn't even stick it on the "LOZ Ideas" part of the box!
Again, the box art is mostly comprised of the completed set against a white background, but they used high quality pictures of it and even bothered to put in in various poses and angles. On the back, they even have a small gallery of its articulation, where they show that its ears, arms, and tail can all move.
But the crowning feature of the box is the sketch paper that Pikachu is standing on. The dozens of sketches just ties the idea of "Ideas" together and gives the impression that they actually designed the set from scratch. The addition of Raichu also lets me assume that they're familiar with at least Pikachu's part of the franchise and possibly that this is either a rejected first design or a future idea for a set. I don't know if this is stolen, but since this set is original, I can believe this was actually commissioned by LOZ. ...Maybe Lego Ideas needs to add something like this to their box designs of sets they approve.
However, they did add the disclaimer "Specifications and colors of contents may differ from photo" and they didn't include the box window, so maybe I'm one of the few lucky ones and everyone else gets a box of expired Moo Goo Gai Pan...
We get a bit more sketchwork underneath the flap, where they've sketched plans for their Diamond Blocks, the "Tiniest Building Blocks Ever." ...I'm impressed with just how much class a knock-off company is putting into an unlicensed product!
And, for some reason, they put the QR codes UNDER the flap, forcing you to buy the product before you can gather any information about the company... Bit of a design flaw there...
It's like the Genesis clone "Pegasus" putting their contact information on the inside flap. They give us this important information... only to hide it and hope you never find it.
And besides the standard WeChat app and Facebook-clone site QR codes, we have a new addition, which the box advertises as the "LOZ Photo."
Which, according to a badly Google Translated web page, looks like a mobile version of the social blogging site one of the QR codes led me to. Again, I'm NOT downloading this onto my phone, especially since it looks like a Chinese iTunes-exclusive app that wouldn't work on my phone anyway...
And we have the typical "0-3" on the front
But above it, "6+"
Anyone between those ages who receives this will open the box... only to find the pieces have mysteriously vanished, offended that there is one unworthy of piecing together their sacred set. So remember, parents: Unless you want a screaming 3-to-6-year-old for the rest of the day, don't buy this for them...
And before we start building, a few of you may be wondering what a "Mini Block" even is. ...Well, it's like a Lego brick. ...Only half the size...
Yes, LOZ has given us the long-awaited missing link between Nanoblocks and Lego, producing bricks sized in-between. Why? ...I dunno.
They even went full Lego rip-off and printed their company name on the studs. They're really proud of their "innovative" idea and want you to know they can print Lego bricks smaller...
And no, the bricks are not compatible with Lego
Nor with Nanoblocks. ...Which is sad, because Lego at least made sure their Duplo and Lego bricks could be used interchangeably. Missing out on market expansion here, LOZ...
Alright, we have the standard single sheet instructions and 438 pieces to put together. Let's get this trainwreck a-rollin'.
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And here we are. ...As you might have been able to tell with the video, this was a pain to put together and balance since the pieces are so small, hence why it's standing on a book and not one of the Lego tables I have lying around. So was all that pain and filming until 4 in the morning worth it for this thing? ...Actually, yes!
Since it's a figure built out of building bricks as opposed to a minifigure or Technic parts, I guess it's cashing in on the recent trend building brick companies are going through where figures are built out of standard bricks, like Mega Bloks' "Kubros" or Lego's Wall-E set.
However, as with Nanoblocks, it has the advantage of being made with smaller bricks, meaning more detail can be given to these than sets built with regular-sized bricks without breaking the bank. And since it uses a wider array of pieces than Nanoblocks, that also amplifies the level of detail.
This is the best replica of a Pikachu I've seen this month, especially when compared to its counterparts. The eyes, ears, mouth, tail, cheeks, etc. are all instantly recognizable and distinct, and it's much cuter than anything other model featured before.
The back even keeps the stripes and tail colors, as well as a tail that is the most accurately shaped as Pikachu's tail.
Unfortunately, the size of the tail makes the figure a little backheavy, making it more frustrating that, as far as I can tell, there are no base plates made for these bricks...
And I just said that I'm impressed with how well they constructed Pikachu's face, especially since they were working with more pieces than the other sets utilized, but with how they designed the face... We are working with high levels of "derp" here.
Oh, that's even better.
Not as good as it trying to find its nose though.
Or its "punched in the stomach" face.
I guess that looks normal. ...Though we now have a very sarcastic-looking Pikachu.
And now Pikachu's just seen what Professor Oak does with all those Bulbasaur that starting trainers don't take...
Eh, heck with it... Let's create a derp gif for future reviews so I don't have to steal other peoples'.
And the mouth... ...I don't know why they bothered to make an actual mouth as opposed to a small smile or something... but thank you for making it as goofy and ill-fitting as possible. I want to say it reminds me of a really early computer-animated independent short I saw one time where the characters' mouths moved in a diamond pattern, but it's not coming to mind.
Actually, is anyone else getting a Far Side feel from this? Especially with the fat kid whose mouth turns into a trumpet when he's excited? Like what Strong Sad dressed up as in that Homestar Runner cartoon? ...No? ...Just me?
The cheeks are nice, though, especially since they could afford to round these. Maybe they look a little big, but Pikachu are known for their large cheek patches that generate electricity, so I can't fault the design for that.
It even has a cute little button nose! ...Which is offset somewhat by the close-up shot of the lifeless pupils staring at me...
They built the top of the head to give it a much more spherical and natural look, so we're not dealing with the cube-heads of Nanoblocks or the creepy Ionix mask stolen from the Happy Mask Salesman.
Guess this Pikachu has avoided meeting with a terrible fate. ...Still gotta save the world from the moon, though...
However, I'm strangely put off by the shape of the ears. On the one hand, I'm glad they matched the shape of the ears so well, since Pikachu does have rod-like ears, but on the other hand, since most of the figure is so blocky, they don't quite match the design.
Maybe I wouldn't be so concerned with the design if they kept the cylindrical shape, but the little triangles on the top don't match the smoothness of the rest of the ear. Why couldn't they have used cones for the tips and kept it smooth all the way up? ...Still, it's a minor nitpick at best, one that only people with too much time on their hands would bother to point out and complain about. ...Anyway...
I LOVE the design of the arms. They're just the right shape and size and actually look like arms as opposed to claws or tiny brick mounds. I even love the little claw at the end, since that just perfectly represents how tiny Pikachu's little fingers are and just makes it all the more cute.
Not as much detail was put into the feet, but they did make them look like feet and not little blocks or The Tramp's comically oversized shoes. It would have been nice to have some semblance of toes, but they keep him standing, so can't complain.
The tail is very nicely shaped, given what they had to work with. I would have liked it if they made the tail more slanted and lightning-shaped, but I don't know how they would have pulled that off without using an excessive amount of bricks that probably would have made the design more fragile.
I especially love their use of headlight bricks to build a slant on the backside of the tail and make it look less "blocky." ...Though I'm wondering if those crevices left between the bricks can be filled in with something?
But the best part about this figure? The thing that causes it to excel far beyond anything else we've seen this month? It's articulated!
Yes, it actually has hinged arms and ears, allowing for roughly 90° of movement with the arms and 45° with the ears. Ok, it's not minifigure-level, or possibly Wall-E level, but when you have a figure built out of standard building bricks, you take what you can get. And now you can reenact that Paffendorf meme that was briefly(and I mean BRIEFLY) popular a few years ago.
Even the tail has a wide angle of movement, so you can get it to adorably wag its tail. ...It's too bad the arms don't pivot forwards, or we could get it to reenact Leek Spin in addition to Paffendorf. ...My mind's strangely centered on ancient memes today, isn't it?
And now let's look at the Pokéball that came with this figure. ...Strange that a Pikachu would be paired with a Pokéball, as anyone who's even slightly familiar with the show or game would know, but I guess if you're illegally producing knock-offs of other franchises and you don't know if you'll get away with any more, it's best to include as much as possible in your first release.
Anyway, in this case, I think I actually like the Nanoblock version better. Pikachu I think looks fine with its mixture of smooth and blocky surfaces, but the Pokéball is hurt by how un-sphere-like it looks. They actually did a better job of replicating a sphere by stacking square bricks in layers than they did with smooth bricks at their disposal!
Especially with the clasp on the front that looks more like a little nozzle with how far the bricks jut out. Was there no way to put the base bricks for this further back inside the Pokéball so the round black plate and the white peg are the only ones sticking out?
Besides that, the faux-round shape and how the red and white bricks don't properly layer on the black middle makes it look mechanical and avant garde, more like paper cutout origami than a proper ball. ...In fact, do you know what this design reminds me of?
Still, I guess it's not terrible and it's impressive they could make one with the limited amount of bricks they had. I guess we'll just pretend Giant Pikachu is so powerful, it can rip the heads off Daleks and paint them red and white.
And that's your LOZ Mini Blocks Pikachu set! A strange yet welcome addition to the new trend of creating figures out of regular building bricks. And since it's not made out of Nanoblocks, I don't have to superglue it together to keep it intact, nor spend 2 hours getting the first layer of bricks positioned. Heck, since there are more Mini Blocks in the range, I might just have to look at some more and see what this is compatible with.
And it's good we discovered this when we did, because with the emergence of Zombie Pikachu, it's reassuring to know that we can rest easy, being watched over by the ever watchful and caring eye of
GIANT PIKACHU! ...Wait, wasn't there a 6-inch behemoth here a minute ago? ...Oh...
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Quality: The quality is very high, even higher than their Nanoblock bricks since I couldn't find any "problem" bricks that were melted or molded incorrectly. The plastic quality actually feels even higher than most other mainstream companies, since they're made with that "Lego"-feeling plastic that franchises like Mega Bloks and K'Nex don't even have. The colors are vibrant and the bricks molded quite nicely, with a uniformity not many obscure building brick companies have. There were a few bricks that felt loose or didn't quite click together smoothly, as was expected with LOZ, but overall, the high quality for the relatively low price point of this item is extremely commendable.
Design: This is the best Pikachu model I've seen so far. It legitimately looks like what I'd imagine a Pikachu to look like if Lego ever decided to make a Pokémon figure in the same style as their Wall-E set. The proportions aren't perfect and it looks quite blocky in some areas, especially around the torso, but I would probably expect this of any building brick company that decided to take a stab at this character. And the fact that they made it articulated and more than just a statuette REALLY helps up the fun factor to be had with this set. I guess my only legitimate complaints are with the derpy eyes and the undetailed feet, and maybe the diamond mouth, but since they made this with standard Lego brick shapes, I'm impressed with the amount of detail they were able to accomplish. If Lego DID make this, most of the detail would have probably been through stickers, and I've already made my opinion of stickers clear in my Lite Brix review... As for the Pokéball, it's ok. It's a very bulky, strangely cubist version that looks like if Pablo Picasso was hired to design a brick set, but it's recognizable and sturdy and does fit the strangeness of the Pikachu design.
Creativity: As it's a Pikachu most likely produced without a license from The Pokémon Company, there's not much creativity in the idea of building a Pikachu or a Pokéball. However, the fact that they managed to build this out of standard brick shapes with no custom bricks is impressive, especially in areas where they flipped the bricks on their sides to give the design a bit of a slope. And again, the fact that they included articulation does make it feel like a legitimate toy and not just a model to assemble and stick on a shelf.
Readability: The instructions are done in the standard "single sheet" and "multiple steps in one" styles we've seen so far from Diamond Blocks and other Nanoblock companies. However, since these bricks are a bit bigger and there's more of a variety with the shapes, it's much easier to follow along with than regular Nanoblocks. I'm much more of a booklet-type of person, but I didn't lose my place or start on another layer before I finished the first, so it also has that going for it over Nanoblock instructions. Overall, if it was just printed in a booklet, I would have no complaints.
Packaging: I LOVE this box. It gets the product information across without seeming too cluttered or overly detailed. It's just the assembled product against a white background, but the small details they added did catch my eye and heightened my interest in the product. It's obviously trying to trick you into thinking it has something to do with Lego Ideas with its "LOZ Ideas Classic Creator Series" declaration, but it backs it up with Pikachu sitting on a piece of paper covered in sketches, which really does give it the appearance of an "indie" fan creation. And the small windows on the back featuring the figure's articulation really help to sell this item. So even though it's not the Engrishy type of box like the Jie Star boxes are, it's professionally made and slightly humorous that they're trying to pass this set off as legit.
Compatibility: It's not compatible with Lego nor Nanoblocks, and since Mini Blocks is a newer, obscure line, it's likely that all but the most dedicated of building brick collectors will probably only ever have one set anyway.
Overall:
If it was compatible with other building brick lines, it would have been a 5/5. I LOVE this figure and the packaging that came with it. It's fun, it's stylish, it's professional, and it perfectly represents the cartoony nature of Pokémon. If Lego or some other company was to include Pokémon in their line of figures built with standard bricks, LOZ has set a standard that might be tricky for them to match. If you can find this set, whether you're a huge or passive fan of Pokémon, I highly recommend it. It's truly the best building brick set featuring Pokémon I've ever seen...
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And that concludes Pokémonth and the first theme month of this blog. If you enjoyed it, then I'm pleased to say that we haven't even made a DENT in the Pokémon building brick collection I own, or the Pokémon building brick market PERIOD! We'll be looking at some more sets sporadically down the line, and we may even have ANOTHER Pokémonth sometime. Until then, I'd just like to say thanks for following along and HAPPY 20th ANNIVERSARY, Pokémon! Here's hoping for another 20 years of adventuring, catching, training, collecting, and battling! Because whether you're an obsessed fan who can name all 802 Pokémon in a single breath or a casual observer who's just amused by the cute and creative characters the franchise has given us, I think we can all agree that no matter our preference, we
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So what will the theme month be next year? ...I dunno. Probably Minecraft.
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