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Class 4 article


Ninja is a LEGO theme based around the Samurai and Ninjas of feudal Japan. It ran from 1998 to 1999, with additional figures created for the Mini Heroes Collection one year later, in 2000.

It is frequently considered to be a subtheme of Castle, as the traditional European-style medieval sets were discontinued the year prior, and the Ninja packaging sports the same shade of orange as the Castle boxes throughout the 1990s. Ninja accessories were also included in 10066 Castle Accessories released in 2002. However, the line was never explicitly advertised as a Castle theme by LEGO.

Design[]

The Ninja line draws visual inspiration from feudal Japan and oriental architecture in general. However, the presence of firearms (flintlocks, muskets and cannons) sets the line in a somewhat amorphous historical period. Interesting new elements for the Ninja line include samurai helmets and armour, ninja hoods, katana swords, and ornamental fish statues. (Possibly from the senguko jeidi)

Story[]

United States[]

NinjaStoryMania1

1998[]

Shogun Gi-Dan l(play on words from senguko jeidi) eads the Shogun's Defense to protect his treasure. Among his allies is Grey Ninja Ito. The Shogun is threatened by Bandit Chief Kendo and his band of Robbers, aided by Dark Ninja Bonsai.

1999[]

From LEGO MANIA Magazine:

An evil emperor invades the land of the ninja. He robs from the rich. He robs from the poor. He even robs from the Shogun. This evil emperor keeps the treasure hidden in a super stronghold. Dangerous traps, secret entrances, and a booming cannon protect the castle. No one has tried to stop him - until now.

From a secret fire fortress, the mysterious Ninja Princess leads a brave band of red ninjas against the emperor. Trained by the wise Ninja Master, the red ninjas are the sneakiest ninjas around. The Ninja Princess plans to invade the emperor's castle and return the treasure to her people.

Notably, this story does not seem to match the actual models, where the red ninja are clearly shown serving the evil emperor - for example, they man his boat in 3050 Shanghai Surprise. Their home base, 3052 Ninja's Fire Fortress, is also emblazoned with the emperor's symbol.

United Kingdom[]

The story is laid out in the January/Febuary 1999 issue of Bricks n' Pieces Magazine:

For years, peace has reigned across the land thanks to the wisdom and power of Shogun Gi-Dan. He has ruled with an iron fist - helped by his loyal Samurai warriors, the trusted and noble Grey Ninjas.

They have fought to keep the unruly bands of robbers at bay by threatening war if they dare steal the Shogun's treasure.

But now the Bandits have a new leader - the cunning and dangerous Chief Kendo, who will stop at nothing to get his hands on the precious loot!

The 1999 Ninja launch in the UK was in fact the same product line that had debuted in 1998 in the US, and it appears the UK marketing team borrowed heavily from the US story. Names and roles are copied over, with only the sillier elements of the US character descriptions being omitted (pizza-slinging shogun, we hardly knew ye). Even the LEGO Maniac comic featuring Ninja is copied over into the Jan/Feb issue of Bricks n' Pieces - although this was common practice at the time.

Japan[]

NinjaStoryWC1

In a 1999 commercial, the red ninja army, the white ninja, the emperor from the 1999 wave, and the shogun from the 1998 wave are all shown to be allied against the robbers, who are led by the robber figure wearing a black samurai helmet.

Germany[]

The May/June 1999 issue of World Club Magazine includes a story that details some of the names and roles of the Ninja characters in Germany. The shogun character is known as The Old Shogun. He is accompanied by a bodyguard, the 'Ninja Shogun.' The leader of the robbers, as in Japan, is the helmeted robber figure, going by the title of 'Ninja Bandit.'

Sets[]

Four Ninja mini-sets were available around 1998. They were each sold under more than one stock number, and the only set to be named was the small catapult wagon 1099 Ninja Blaster, which also used the numbers 1184 and 3016. The other three sets included a ninja raft 1185/3017, a sword cart 1186/3018, and a bat-winged hang glider 1187/3019, each with a Ninja minifigure.

Four (circa) 1999 Ninja mini-sets were available, sold as promotions from Kabaya, a Japanese candy company. This the sets in this group had two different stock numbers.

Image#SetNumber of piecesMinifiguresPriceRelease
1099 Box1099Ninja Blaster23Robber Chief$2.001999
118411184Ninja Blaster24Robber Chief$1.991999
1185 Mini-River Ninja1185Mini River Ninja24Bonsai$2.001999
11871187Glider22Ito$2.001999
1269-11269White Ninja22White Ninja Princess$2.991999
30503050Shanghai Surprise104Samurai Lord , Red Ninja (2)$10.001999
30513051Blaze Attack143Red Ninja (2)$14.991999
3052-1-13052Ninja's Fire Fortress167Red Ninja Master, Red Ninja, Red Ninja$30.001999
3053-1-13053Emperor's Stronghold328Samurai Lord, White Ninja Princess, Red Ninja, Red Ninja$40.001999
4805 Box4805Ninja Knights31Bonsai, Ito, Robber Chief, Kata, Gi-Dan$3.991999
6013-16013Samurai Swordsman13Samurai 1998
6033 Box6033Treasure Transport81Ito, Robber Chief, Chief Kendo$5.991998
6045-16045Ninja Surprise109Bonsai, Chief Kendo, Robber Chief$13.001998
6083-26083Samurai Stronghold272Bonsai, Kata, Gi-Dan$20.00 
6088-16088Robber's Retreat2734$30.001998
6089 Box6089Stone Tower Bridge402Bonsai, Ito, Gi-Dan, Kata, Robber Chief$50.001998
6093-1-16093Flying Ninja Fortress6879$90.001998

Mini Heroes Collection[]

In 2000, after the main Ninja line had been retired, LEGO produced three packs of Ninja figures as part of the Mini Heroes Collection. These introduced a new Shogun Warrior character in red (set 3344), as well as two matching samurai (Old Samurai and Young Samurai) for him to lead (set 3346). Two Green Ninja accompanied the emperor minifigure from the 1999 wave in set 3346. Here, the 'emperor' is described on his card as a "fair and righteous" Samurai Lord.

Image#SetNumber of piecesMinifiguresPriceRelease
33443344Ninja 19Shogun Warlord$4.992000
3345 Box3345Black Ninja and 2 Robbers19Bonsai, Young Samurai, Old Samurai 2000
33463346Green Ninja & Samurai Lord23Samurai Lord, Green Ninja, Green Ninja$5.002000

Polybag[]

Image#SetNumber of piecesMinifiguresPriceRelease
3017 Package3017Mini River Ninja24Bonsai$2.001998

Kabaya[]

Image#SetNumber of piecesMinifiguresPriceRelease
3016 Box3016Ninja Blaster23Robber Chief 1998
3018 Box3018Mini Siege-Cart Ninja25Gi-Dan 1998
3019 Ninpo Bat Attack3019Gray Ninja22Ito$1.991998
30743074Red Ninja's Dragon Glider20Red Ninja 1999
3075 Ninja Master's Boat3075Ninja Master's Boat21Red Ninja Master 1999
Display113076White Ninja's Attack Cart23White Ninja Princess 1999
3077 Ninja Shoguns Small Fort3077Ninja Shogun's Small Fort16Samurai Lord 1999


Minifigures[]

Other[]

Collectibles and Merchandise[]

Image#SetNumber of piecesMinifiguresPriceRelease
Ninja PuzzleRoseArtNinja Puzzle   


Patch & Pin[]

Image#SetNumber of piecesMinifiguresPriceRelease
Pin24-NinjaPin24Ninja1 1998


Notes[]

Gallery[]

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