Lego's New Star Wars Busts: Cute or Creepy?

Lego has unveiled a new series of Star Wars busts, inspired by its helmet displays and Marvel busts. The initial release features Darth Vader and Yoda, presented as small, poseable figures on display plinths. These sets include a plaque and a minifigure, a departure from previous Star Wars helmet releases.

The Darth Vader bust, comprising 349 pieces, is lauded for effectively capturing the character's likeness at a small scale and recreating the smooth lines of his helmet. The Yoda bust, with 399 pieces, features a micro lightsaber with a clever use of transparent and solid elements for its bright white core.

However, Yoda's inset, squinty eyes have drawn some criticism, with their default flat brow shape contributing to a potentially unsettling appearance. Lego's own promotional images show the eyes tilted inward, improving the look. This marks a challenge for Lego when rendering organic characters, as seen previously with a buildable Chewbacca.

The Lego Star Wars Darth Vader and Yoda busts are scheduled for release on April 26. The Darth Vader bust is priced at $50, and the Yoda bust at $40. This release precedes Lego's annual May 4 celebrations.