Meet The Hobbit Artists

Meet several of the artists who worked on The Hobbit and learn more about what they’re up to, along with several other talented folks at Weta, including Greg Broadmore and the comedic antics of Daniel Falconer! [Happy Hobbit Goes to SDCC: Meet the Hobbit Artists]

Collectibles

Meet the lads! From Bridge Direct Toys to our very own Elessar and Weta’s Senior Model Maker David Tremont, learn a bit more about collecting and miniature-making… and have plenty of laughs along the way. These guys are a kick! Read David Tremont’s story of creating Barad-Dur here: http://www.wetanz.com/the-making-of-barad-dur-article-series-by-david-tremont/  [Happy Hobbit Goes to SDCC: Collectibles]

Badali Jewelry

Check out Badali’s latest Lord of the Rings/Hobbit jewelery and find out more about the stories behind each piece! [Happy Hobbit Goes to SDCC: Badali Jewelry]

The Hobbit Extended Edition

Hear a little bit about the upcoming DVD/Blu ray of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and glimpse what Comic-Con is like long after the crowds have departed! [Happy Hobbit Goes to SDCC: Extended Edition Teaser and Farewell]

Meeting Evangeline Lilly

And of course, the completion of “Hobbitception!” [Hobbitception: Meeting Evangeline Lilly]

You can join in the fun at the Happy Hobbit Facebook page!

Join Kili, Fili, and several surprise guests to learn how to camp like a Dwarf! [Happy Hobbit: Dwarven Camping Tips - Episode 21]

Tolkien wrote a few times about his character, especially in letters to those who asked. In one such letter to Peter Hastings he says in part,

“I don’t think Tom needs philosophizing about, and is not improved by it. But many have found him an odd or indeed discordant ingredient. In historical fact I put him in because I had already ‘invented’ him independently (he first appeared in the Oxford Magazine) and wanted an ‘adventure’ on the way. But I kept him in, and as he was, because he represents certain things otherwise left out. I do not mean him to be an allegory – or I should not have given him so particular, individual, and ridiculous a name – but ‘allegory’ is the only mode of exhibiting certain functions: he is then an ‘allegory’, or an exemplar, a particular embodying of pure (real) natural science: the spirit that desires knowledge of other things, their history and nature, because they are ‘other’ and wholly independent of the enquiring mind, a spirit coeval with the rational mind, and entirely unconcerned with ‘doing’ anything with the knowledge: Zoology and Botany not Cattle-breeding or Agriculture . Even the Elves hardly show this : they are primarily artists. Also T.B. exhibits another point in his attitude to the Ring, and its failure to affect him. You must concentrate on some pan, probably relatively small, of the World (Universe), whether to tell a tale, however long, or to learn anything however fundamental – and therefore much will from that ‘point of view’ be left out, distorted on the circumference, or seem a discordant oddity. The power of the Ring over all concerned, even the Wizards or Emissaries, is not a delusion – but it is not the whole picture, even of the then state and content of that pan of the Universe.”

To those wishing to read further, we recommend the “Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien”. Also, check out some great LOTR LEGO sets. A couple of our favorites are The Mines of Moria and The Battle For Helm’s Deep.

The Bridge Direct fresh off the success of their line of figures for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey are releasing some information regarding when we might see wave two. This wave will commence under The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug which hit store shelves October 15th. This wave will have the same style of figures that we saw in wave one but we will see characters we did not see as well as new characters. The Bridge Direct also announced they will once again have an exclusive figure at Comic-Con in July of this year.

Update: We just received some awesome pictures of a few of the upcoming items. So a gallery has been added to this post.

Per the info we know so far for Wave Two:

3.75” SCALE ACTION FIGURES

o    New assortment includes Radagast, Thranduil, Azog, Beorn and Gandalf

o    Each figure features 12 points of articulation and replicates the authentic facial features, clothing, weapons and accessories of the character in painstaking detail.

o    SRP $7.99 each

3.75” SCALE ACTION FIGURE BOX SETS - Three New Packs!

• Mirkwood Pack: Legolas, Tauriel, Thranduil, Fili and Kili
• Thorin Oakenshield Adventure Pack: Nori, Ori, Dori, Gloin and Thorin
• Bilbo Baggins Burglar Pack: Bifur, Bombur, Bofur, Oin and Exclusive 3.75″ Invisible Bilbo
• SRP $29.99 each

6” SCALE COLLECTOR FIGURES

• New assortment includes Radagast, Azog and Legolas
• Each collector figure features intricate details replicating the character’s facial features, clothing, weapons and accessories.
• SRP $14.99 each

Full review after the break.

Attention all hobbits, dwarves, elves, men, women, goblins, orcs, and so on, here is a review on the figures released for The Hobbit; An Unexpected Journey, via The Bridge Direct. They contain a high level of detail and the articulation is similar for almost every figure: ball joints at the neck, shoulders, elbows, legs, and knees, along with swivel waists, hips, and wrists. Please assume this is the case unless otherwise noted.

First, we’ll take a look at the Goblin King and Thorin Oakenshield. The Goblin King is massive and quite heavy even in comparison to the 6” figure line. However, this is appropriate as he is one of the larger goblins. Plus, he’s the king! Varying from most of the other figures in the 3.75” line, the Goblin King has hinge joints at the legs and chest as opposed to the hips. The Goblin King comes with a staff that appears to be made out of the bones of what was once an animal that resembled a ram. There is also a crown with a spoke in the center that fits fairly well onto the King’s head. The dress piece is not removable.

Thorin has the basic articulation described above. He comes with a cool Dwarven sword, the famous Orcrist, and his oak shield. There is a sheath for the Dwarven sword on Thorin’s waist. Orcrist has a fancy sheath that attaches to Thorin’s back via a pin and hole. This sword comes complete with Elvish markings. The oak shield also fits with pin and hole. However, it is rather loose. I would suggest leaving the rubber wrap on to hold it in place. The leader of the Company is even has some grey hairs, which I thought was a rather nice touch.

“Mr. Baggins, I could see that you enjoy food as much as we do!” The star of our journey, Bilbo Baggins, comes equipped a satchel, binoculars, Sting with Elvish markings, a sheath, hairy feet, and a protruding tummy. Rightfully so on the last item! The likeness of the figure, while not dead on, bears enough of a resemblance to Martin Freeman that it’s worth a buy. Gollum, so much younger, but more immobile? The former Smeagol has maintained his creepiness. Gollum has standard articulation at the neck, shoulders, legs, and stomach. The biggest issue with this figure is the lack of articulation, and a lack of accessories. I know he’s practically naked, but it would have been cool if Gollum had a ring, his boat, or even a small dagger.

Fimbul, the great hunter. This orc is one mean looking mamma jamma! He comes with a wild spear, mace, and a dagger that kind of looks like the one Shakru used in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. I give The Bridge Direct credit for that idea. Fimbul comes with a mangled cape that is removable. There are a few downsides to the hunter. For one, he has nowhere to store all of his weapons. I had him carry the dagger and mace while the Warg held on to the spear. That would be an interesting game of fetch! Remember, he’s a Warg rider. Yet, his skirt mail makes it very complex to get Fimbul on the Warg. You have to bend the rubber or cut it off to keep him on there. The Warg is fierce and if you work for the postal service, this is not the animal you want chasing you. There is articulation at the ankles, neck, stomach, tail, and the jaw opens and closes, which was a nice touch. Besides the fur being frayed, there are some blotches of blood on the coat. The coloring is perfect and I was very pleased with this beast.

The Grey Pilgrim rides again! Gandalf styles his usual attire and comes with his sword, staff, a sheath, and removable hat. His robe limits his movement, but why does a wizard need to do flips anyway? His face is a bit dirty, which adds to naturalization of the character. After reading the tale, we’d all be surprised if Gandalf made it out without a scratch. Bolg is a very interesting character. The son of Azog is ridiculously intimidating. Some of his armor is made from the bones of fallen enemies. I don’t even want to imagine what this fellow would use for a tie! The armor at the shoulders does limit his movement, but it’s not too bad. The detail on the face is pretty accurate. His beard appears as though it was the color of fire itself. This reminds me of an eye that we are all very familiar with… He rocks a HUGE mace and 2 swords that resemble scimitars. These items seem very fitting. Though, like Fimbul, this goblin has nowhere to store his weapons. That may be the biggest issue with any of these figures is storage space

Orlando Bloom is back as our Elf of the Wood. His robe limits his Elf-like abilities, but he still looks pretty cool. He comes with a bow with Elvish markings, and daggers with Elvish markings that all fit nicely into the quiver on his back thanks to the pin and hole. However, the arrows are all bunched together and cannot be separated. The bow does lack string which could be an issue shooting arrows. Tauriel has the same robe limitations. Like Legolas, her bow and daggers have Elvish markings. However, her quiver has no room for her daggers. Where are these blades of fury supposed to go while she’s shooting the evil forces down? Her hair also covers the quiver a bit. Finally, it is difficult to get her to stand while holding her weapons. We all know how annoying that can be. So a little work is required to get that to work

“Fili and Kili, at your service!” The youngest Dwarven members of Thorin and Company are ready for adventure! Fili comes with a nice Dwarven hammer, twin blades that look like machetes, and a sheath on his back that holds the blades nicely. He has the handles of knives sticking out of his forearm armor. Yes, those are just handles. The blades do not come out. He also has throwing axes laced into his boots. They look great, but they are apparently just for show which knocked down my rating of the figure a bit. Kili comes with a quiver that holds his bow, arrows, and sword on his back. Like Fili, he has a knife attached to his quiver that is just for show. The sleeves of his coat make it difficult to get his elbows to bend so there may be some fidgeting with them in order to achieve this. His boots are dirty, which does give the figure some additional character. Both of these figures suffer from the shirt mail getting in the way of their leg mobility.

Balin, nice beard! The Lord of Moria comes with a mace and short sword. I say short only because it is smaller than everyone else’s. Unfortunately, this figure also has a tough time finding where to put all of his weapons. The detail is amazing and he totally rocks the pointy shoes! Dwalin, the bruiser, comes equipped with a full arsenal! He has a TREMENDOUS battle hammer, his 2 axes (Grasper and Keeper), sheaths on his back to hold both axes, and a knife and sheath that stand their ground via pin and hole. Unlike Kili and Fili, this knife actually comes out. Anyway, the detail on this figure might be the best in the group. He has cuts along his forearms. No doubt, these were from epic battles. He also has the tattoos on his head. I believe this may be an up and coming trend of fans. His boots are a tad faded and he even has armor on his hands to resemble the character in the film. In my opinion, Dwalin is a must have in the 3.75” line. I hope The Bridge Direct will  eventually  make a 6” likeness as well.

Speaking of 6” figures, I also want to review the 6” version of Thorin Oakenshield. He has articulation includes all of the basic spots along with the ankles. The detail on this figure is immaculate! From the random strands of grey hair, to the fur coat, and all the way down to the mud covered boots, this Thorin does Richard Armitage proud.  He comes with the same accessories as the 3.75” Thorin. The enlarged pieces are more in depth. The legs are slightly restricted by the shirt mail. The oak shield is less of a pain to keep on the toy and has more of a real feeling than the 3.75” Thorin. The other 6” figures are similar to their 3.75” figures the same as Thorin with improved likenesses, accessories, and great paint. As of right now the 6” range consist of Thorin, Gandalf, Bilbo, Legolas, and Tauriel.

Elessar: One of the none action figures that The Bridge Direct is making for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is Bilbo’s trusty sword Sting. This mini-sword for kids to play with and have their own adventures isn’t just for kids. I can’t deny that I have also enjoyed playing with my own sword and one of my puppies have enjoyed joining me on my own adventures. Sting has the same detail that you would see in a metal replica only in plastic. It also has a button that when you push will turn the sword blue allowing you to know if Orcs are near. When swinging Sting you also get some awesome sword sounds. Sting isn’t the only item you get when you purchase this as you also get your own One Ring.

Overall, The Hobbit figures from The Bridge Direct have their ups and downs, but I feel that they are a good collection to have for any fan of Middle-earth.

Each week, TORn poster DanielLB collects links to the hottest subjects on The Hobbit Discussion Board.  If you don’t have time to search through that fast-moving and action-packed Board, just check out DanielLB’s Want Hobbit Movie News? Hobbit Headlines of the Week!

The TORn Discussion Boards celebrated World Hobbit Day with a fun collection of games, fanfic, and much more.  Even after the day was over, the party continued.  Check the list of activities here.

Here is one more tidbit that has The Hobbit Board buzzing with the latest poster shot of the entire Company: Gandalf, Bilbo and a baker’s dozen of Dwarves.  Here’s a peek.

We’ll share more topics next week and hope you can join in on the conversation!  Don’t forget, TheOneRing.net’s Message Boards have over 8,200 registered Tolkien fans, just like you.  Let your voice be heard!

The figures in The Bridge Direct’s range will vary in scale from 3.75″ figures to 6″ figures, and come in two-packs, battle packs, and deluxe figures. Check out Amazon.Com, ToysRUS.com, and EntertainmentEarth.com to get your online orders in now.

Brick and Mortar stores will be have these awesome figures starting in October.

3.75” ACTION FIGURE BOX SET – SRP $29.99
Join Bilbo and four members of the Company of Dwarves from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey with this special box set for the avid collector. Each 3.75” scale figure features up to 12 points of articulation and replicates the facial features and clothing of the character in painstaking detail. Also includes 3-5 weapons/accessories for each figure for posing and battling action.

3.75” ACTION FIGURE 2-PACKS – SRP $14.99
These pairings of 3.75″ scale action figures feature key characters in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Each figure contains up to 12 points of articulation and replicates the facial features and clothing of the character in painstaking detail. Also includes weapons and accessories for each figure. Choose from 3 styles: Bilbo & Gollum, Balin & Dwalin, or Kili & Fili. NOTE: Balin is available EXCLUSIVELY in this item in Series 1 of the 3.75” scale collection.

BILBO BAGGINS™ ACTION FIGURES – SRPs $7.99 (3.75”) and $14.99 (6”)
Available in both 3.75″ and 6” scale, The Bridge Direct’s Bilbo Baggins action figures feature authentic details and styling that capture the title character from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Bilbo figures include Sting, scabbard, travel pack and canteen accessories.

GANDALF™ THE GREY ACTION FIGURES – SRPs $7.99 (3.75”) and $14.99 (6”)
Available in both 3.75″ and 6” scale, The Bridge Direct’s Gandalf the Grey action figures feature authentic details and styling that capture the wise Wizard from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Lord of the Rings films. Each Gandalf figure includes sword, scabbard, staff and hat accessories.

THORIN OAKENSHIELD™ ACTION FIGURES – SRPs $7.99 (3.75”) and $14.99 (6”)
Available in both 3.75″ and 6” scale, The Bridge Direct’s Thorin Oakenshield action figures feature authentic details and styling that capture the lead Dwarf from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Each Thorin figure includes 2 swords with sheaths, and arm guard accessories.

Now, TORn, as part of our super-secret project, wants to showcase you and your collection!

Starting today, through to next Wednesday, we here at TORn will be collecting submissions in search of Ringer Super Collectors at large. What we need are three to four good pictures of you and your collection, along with a brief write-up about why you are a super collector (write-ups must be 500 words or less).

Email your pictures and write-up to Elessar@theonering.net. We’ll start going through the submissions and you never know — you just might see you and your collection posted soon!

At the end of the second week in September a cart came in through Bywater from the direction of Brandywine Bridge in broad daylight.  An old man was driving it all alone.  He wore a tall pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, and a silver scarf. He had a long white beard and bushy eyebrows that stuck out beyond the brim of his hat. Small hobbit-children ran after the cart all through Hobbiton and right up the hill.  It had a cargo of fireworks, as they rightly guessed. — From A Long-Expected Party, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

In Peter Jackson’s LOTR film, the first moment of Gandalf arriving in Hobbiton and finding Frodo waiting on the trail were critical because it established two essential characters and the setting of Hobbiton. It also introduced audiences to the scale of Hobbits with human-sized characters including forced perspective of Frodo riding in Gandalf’s cart.

The meeting serves as the entry point for Lord of the Rings LEGO as well with set 9469 introducing important characters in an easy-to-build kit that is also easy to afford at $12.99 retail in the U.S. It will likely find itself as birthday present to and from friends many times over. Because it is recommended for ages eight to 14, I enlisted Logan (8) and Dresden (10), to assist with the build of the kit.

OVERVIEW

To be transparent, it was also my first ever LEGO kit. Even as a kid, while I probably played with the bricks here and there, I never had one set of my own to start and finish on my own. The instructions are visual, not written, serving the several languages the sets are sold to. LEGO vets will be used to that but it was new to me and probably a lot of other potential builders as well.

I didn’t know what to expect so I took the instruction booklet’s visual advice and put everything on a table to start. The set came together quickly as my two child testers and I took turns completing one page each at a time and then observing until it was our turn again. Things fell into place nicely and with such a small kit it was easy to see immediately where things were going.

By far the most interesting bits were crafting characters together and I was stuck with the horse while Gandalf and Frodo were battled over. I realize there may be expert LEGO craftsman out there reviewing kits and finding nits to pick, I confess to not only not being aware of what others have written about the set but carefully avoiding any opinions so as not to cloud my own.

PACKAGING: 5/5

The box is modest sized, easily fitting in one hand, clearly labeled as a Lord of the Rings set in three languages on the side with a clear picture of what is actually found inside on the cover. The branding is clear and pleasing with the appropriate logo and the finger of the book’s title character wearing the One Ring.

The nice matte painting in the background of the set on the cover isn’t inside of course. The back of the box showcases some of the play scenes you can expect to re-create. It also teases to the LOTR LEGO video game, something I am quite looking forward to. The bricks come in separate plastic bags and like my colleague Chris in his review of the Shelob Attacks set, I expected the items to be organized per bag as they would be needed to build. Not so. I found it easiest to just open everything as construction starts and set everything out flat to unhide it all.

The booklet’s visuals were clear and easy and I loved the last couple of marketing pages that showed the Mines of Moria kit (also reviewed by TheOneRing.net) and then a two-page spread of many of the characters available in the various LOTR sets on the market.

FIGURES (Gandalf, Frodo, horse): 5/5

Without a doubt, the highlight of this kit, maybe of all LOTR kits are the characters. LEGO wisely puts them in pieces, asking the user to build. This allows for mix-and-match parts, something funny and easy in the series of LEGO video games and a bit of a chuckle to try in hands-on play as well.

The articulation is minimal but the characters, particularly Gandalf, are fun. Our team was surprised how un-wizard like he looked until he put his beard on. The hat helped but the long gray whiskers were the ultimate transformation tool. However the hat mostly covers his detailed brow while the beard covers his mouth, leaving only his eyes. Gandalf has a single expression, fine since it is hidden anyway. Frodo is displayable with his whimsical half smile or with his worried expression. I suspect nearly everybody will prefer the humorous version but it is nice to have choices here. His hair also made us laugh for it evokes a 70′s disco feeling and yet is correct for Frodo. I wish they had included character cards, probably something LEGO has never done, but I wanted anyway. On one side would be my figure, one for each in the box, and on the back would be a LOTR figure checklist with character names and the set number where they can be found. (LEGO marketing, I am available, give me a call anytime.) My only criticism, and it is so minor I hesitated to mention it, is not being able to see Gandalf’s face better. It just got lost between his low hat and high beard.

THE WAGON: 4/5

The bulk of the kit is the wagon. It builds quickly and intuitively but it isn’t overly simple. It has hinges and wheels with axles and it holds barrels, mail and a rider. Both young testers had no trouble at all following the build and easily accomplishing what is asked of them on their turn. It looks good with layered colored bricks, making it feel both film and LEGO appropriate. It hitches nicely to the horse and displays well.

My inexperienced LEGO team did have trouble with Gandalf and the cart. He is shown sitting on the box and we found that a little challenging to make look good and to make stable. His long staff and long cloak made that a challenge. We ended up just standing him up in the cart, easier all around but not film accurate. We didn’t mind.

ACCESSORIES: 5/5

The details really make this all work and LEGO included several great ones. The existence of fireworks here not only is fun and appropriate, it creates an instant longing for Merry and Pippin with soot blackened faces. The great dragon firework is prominent with two other generic ones. Also present is a gigantic book for Frodo that may indeed double as a shield to stop arrows. A carrot and a letter round out the items to fill the cart with and each is as adorable as the next and the combination of all adds the finishing touches that push the set into the must-own zone.

SUMMARY: 5/5

This is an entry level set both in difficulty and price point. It was easy for my child test subjects but also so quick that it didn’t come close to taxing their attention span. (Something I cannot say for the Battle of Helm’s Deep set, review pending.) As I am sure it is designed to do, it offers a way to inexpensively sample the LOTR LEGO world.

The figures are great and the wagon is probably routine for experienced builders but it simply got me interested in finding something more challenging. I would be surprised if the LEGO-building teens didn’t find this too simple but the cost is right and for those collecting LOTR figures and sets, getting Gandalf and Frodo together is fun. It also displays nicely. Gandalf will likely be immediately on loan to other sets and would fit nicely in the Mines of Moria kit.

So, really, this thing’s cuteness meter is so high it will burn your eyes like an onion. Why are toys made from LOTR movies adorable? I don’t know. But they are!

While this has been out in retail for a couple of months, I know many people consider LEGO sets for events and holidays such as Christmas. Those of you who have this set please leave further feedback on our message boards. If you are thinking about a purchse, please do so below so LEGO knows we sent you.

Coming soon: Our mammoth review of the mammoth The Battle of Helms Deep set review and gallery.

Here is the official LEGO info:
Gandalf™ Arrives
Item: 9469
Pieces: 83
Join Gandalf the Grey as he travels to the Shire to celebrate the 111th birthday of his old friend Bilbo Baggins and relive the opening scene of The Fellowship of the Ring! As Gandalf makes his way through the Shire on his horse and cart, he meets an excited young hobbit, Frodo Baggins. This is where the legendary adventure of The Lord of the Rings begins! Includes 2 minifigures: Gandalf the Grey and Frodo Baggins.

Purchase: Gandalf Arrives

Click the pictures below for much larger versions.

MrCere is Larry D. Curtis, a Senior Staff member for TheOneRing.net. He is a writer, photographer, traveler, social media manager, journalist, content manager and this review and his opinions are his own and do not officially represent TheOneRing.net. You can reach him at MrCere@TheOneRing.net with questions, comments or on other matters. He generally likes email. Twitter: @MrLDC