Building Sets are the plain DUPLO brick sets, buckets and boxes of bricks without a story. DUPLO started in 1969, and the name comes from the Latin word for double, because each brick is twice as long, wide and high as a LEGO brick. The studs are made to fit, so DUPLO and LEGO bricks lock together and a builder can move from one to the other. For years the plastic bucket was the usual way to sell them, from the 1980s through the early 2000s, often shaped or printed as an animal, a farm or a circus, and some came as anniversary editions. Later sets switched to cardboard brick boxes with ideas for what to build on the side.
2014 LEGO Sets
2014 brought The LEGO Movie to theaters, propelling LEGO to unprecedented mainstream success and spawning its own theme. LEGO Star Wars celebrated 15 years, while Ninjago—originally planned for retirement—was extended following strong sales and a hit TV series. The first minifigure-scale Minecraft sets appeared, and LEGO The Simpsons launched with The Simpsons House and a dedicated minifigure series. Other additions included LEGO Juniors and the digital-physical LEGO Fusion, while a fan-designed Ghostbusters Ecto-1 commemorated the film’s 30th anniversary. Galaxy Squad, The Lone Ranger, and The Lord of the Rings ended during this period.