LEGO Pixar Lamp debuts a new element, but that won't be the last use of it

LEGO Ideas 21357 Luxo Jr. debuts a new element for its lampshade, but it's not the only set it will be useful for.

Speaking in a roundtable with LEGO Fan Media, the LEGO designer who worked on 21357 Luxo Jr., Tom Gerardin, revealed that the curved lampshade element was made especially for this set. However, it's relatively rare that a LEGO element is only planned to be used in one set forever, and the LEGO Group already has plans for future usage of the new part.

"The lamp shade we made because it's such a crazy shape in the actual lamp," explained Tom. "We did try some other ways, but we thought a new element would work better and match that iconic shape that the lamp has. I'm sure it could be used for other things too."

"It is being used for something else that you would not think it would be used for," chimed in LEGO Design Manager Jordan Scott. "That's coming in the future."

Of course, there are no further clues or confirmation as to what that part usage could be, but the LEGO Group is known for reusing parts and pieces in ingenious ways. The fact that it's got more mileage than just 21357 Luxo Jr. would likely have helped get it made, considering that LEGO designers can share 'frames' – the quota of recolours and new elements that they can get made each year – across sets when needed.

As Jordan explained in an earlier interview: “If I have five products or 10 products coming out, I need to allocate where those frames go.

“When someone puts in an order for a particular colour change, we can see it showing up in the library of digital bricks. So if NINJAGO are making something we could use, we kind of have a dialogue and say, ‘Oh, we can use this as well, that would be great, so maybe we need to get you a frame or something to share it.’”

In this case, another set, either within LEGO Ideas or somewhere else within the system, has already earmarked the lampshade for further use. Keep your eyes peeled for future sets to see where it makes its second appearance – although remember that long LEGO lead times could mean we won't see the set for a few years' yet.

LEGO Ideas 21357 Luxo Jr. is available for pre-order right now, is priced at £59.99 / $69.99 / €69.99 and launches on June 1, 2025.

Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by buying your LEGO sets using our affiliate links. Thanks!