2018: This Year In Lego

Welcome to the Annual Lego breakdown. Everything that happened this year, in concise bullet points.

Things of note:

The brick turned 60 years old

The Mini Figure turned 40 years old

Lego introduces the use of plant-based plastic that is more eco-friendly in it's plant componants.

A new six-leaf flower component is introduced, replacing the older four flowers on a plastic bit.

A new leaf component is introduced, featuring three leaves coming off of a single stud.

In Lego Disney:

The first Mulan Mini Doll was released, as part of 41151: Mulan's Training Day.

The Build-and-Swap idea that interlinks all of this years sets is introduced, you can now swap with ease everything from furniture to whole rooms.

In Lego Jurassic World:

Over the summer two issues of a special magazine each containing Mini Builds dedicated to this theme are released in the UK.

In Lego Elves:

This is the last year there are active releases for this theme.

This is the first year there are no summer special magazines containing mini builds, from this theme.

In Lego Friends:

This franchise is rebooted. Changed include the darkening of Olivia giving her a medium skin tone not previously available in Mini Dolls. Olivia and Andrea have different hair styles. Emma and Andrea have go from having blue and green eyes respectively to both having brown.

A racing sub-theme is introduced in the summer wave.

In Collectable Mini Figures:

The 18th season of the Collectable Mini Figures are released, with a party theme in reference to the anniversary of the brick and the Mini Figure.

A new balloon animal mold is introduced in this series - a transparent pink and green one come with a clown Mini Figure.

A New Balloon mold is introduced that features a balloon on a white stick with a handle making an L shape. This item is not well suited to Mini Dolls

The Mini Figure with the smallest distribution ratio is a "classic policeman" based off an early Mini Figure. For every box of 60 packets, just 1 is the policeman.

The Wizarding World Collectable Mini Figure series is introduced.

In Lego Brickheads:

Images of tweets circulate that appear to confirm that Lego is dialling back the distribution of this range, but not altogether discontinuing.

In Lego Wizarding World

This theme makes it's debut, with 2 from the newer Fantastic Beasts franchise and 5 from the Harry Potter series, with a focus on the earlier years.

A collectable Mini Figure series is available from August 1st including figurines from both franchises.

A pack of four Mini Figure pack for Bricktober is released exclusive to Toys'R'Us which only exists in Germany after it went into administration in multiple other countries. It is very difficult to get a hold of.

In Lego Powerpuff Girls:

Two sets are released under this theme in a relatively small run. 

If you were to get both between them you would have all three girls, Mojo Jojo and Princess Morbucks.

In Lego Unikitty:

This theme is introduced.

A collectable blind bag line is introduced: they are not technically Mini Figures because Unikitty is brick built. 

It features various versions of Unikitty and Puppycorn.

This is an unusual one because due to the lack of accessories, there is no way to tell what exact character design you have - the only real difference is between Unikitty and Puppycorn who also appears in almost equal measure.