Episode I holds the sets from The Phantom Menace. They were part of the very first year of LEGO Star Wars in 1999, which was also the first time LEGO made a theme under licence from a film. The sets reached shops a couple of weeks ahead of the film, so builders had the podracers, the Naboo fighter and the Gungan sub before most had seen them on screen.
1999 LEGO Sets
1999 was a landmark year with the launch of LEGO Star Wars, the company’s first licensed theme, debuting alongside The Phantom Menace. This partnership with Lucasfilm transformed LEGO’s strategy and ushered in the era of licensed themes. New original lines included Rock Raiders, Slizers (Throwbots), and Adventurers: Jungle, while LEGO Education was formally established from LEGO Dacta. Several older themes—Cyberslam, TechPlay, UFO, Insectoids, Znap, and Model Team—were retired, marking a clear generational shift toward modern play concepts and digital engagement.