When you think of space and Lego these days, you’d be forgiven for immediately going to one of the most important and influential lines in the toymaker’s vast arsenal: Star Wars. But although Lego and the galaxy far, far away are celebrating 25 years of brick-building partnership this year, Lego’s fascination with the stars goes well beyond licensed sci-fi.
Space has shaped Lego’s ambitions as its transformed into one of the biggest toys on the planet—from its early days, to the formation of the iconic Space sub theme in the 1980s, and beyond into the ‘90s diversification and the theme’s quiet withdrawal as Star Wars inspired Lego’s branding rush. But in recent years Space has crept back into Lego in fits and starts—and is maybe ready for a resurgence it hasn’t had in a long time.
All images via Brickset.
