LEGO Systems Unveils Value Packed Product Line at 2009 American International Toy Fair

-Premier construction brand inspires children to become the builders of tomorrow with all-new sets of the toy that's new every day-

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American International Toy Fair - The LEGO Group, the world's leading construction toy company, continues its legacy of inspiring children's creativity through play by unveiling 145 new products for builders of all ages at the annual American International Toy Fair in New York City. The 2009 line inspires children to sail the high seas, tunnel underground, cross outer space, wind through busy downtown streets and go anywhere else their imaginations can take them. Value-minded parents will appreciate that LEGO building gives children everything they need to create a new toy every day. New products will be on display at Booth #1363 in the Jacob Javits Convention Center, February 15-18.

"Our 2009 product line brings a balanced mix of new worlds, classic themes and licensed properties, all of which allow children to unleash their inner creators and build fantastic adventures every time they play," said Soren Torp Laursen, president, LEGO North America. "The incredible momentum we achieved in 2008 will continue thanks to new homegrown properties, such as Power Miners and Space Police, that inspire young builders to explore creative universes where they have never been, while our licensed properties help bring favorite characters and themes to life."

The 2009 LEGO portfolio will inspire the builder inside children of all ages:

LEGO(R) Themes (ages 5+)

Building and role play fun sets sail for high seas adventure with LEGO PIRATES. Treasures and maps start the story as the pirates seek to get past the soldiers to find the gold.

LEGO POWER MINERS sends a team of scientists underground to explore mysterious rumblings, armed with an amazing fleet of authentic, fully-functional mining vehicles. Little do they know that they are about to discover a world full of unusual crystals and Rock Monsters.

Space criminals meet their match when the LEGO SPACE POLICE are deployed. Detailed vehicles and exciting out-of-this world villains create a cops and robbers chase of intergalactic proportion.

Proven evergreen themes continue with new characters and storylines. LEGO AGENTS 2.0 builds new missions, complete with villains and spy gadgets. Medieval castle grounds play host to a new battle to help rescue the princess and the golden king in LEGO CASTLE.

Classic LEGO build-and-play gets even better as LEGO CITY prepares for a makeover. The construction team rolls in with all of their equipment to build a new section of the city before the residents move in, get settled and start making their way around town. Three new fold-out racetracks, six new pull-back jumping racers, two new Ferrari sets, a Lamborghini display model and an RC car make it hard for car buffs and LEGO lovers to resist the high-speed building fun of the new LEGO RACERS fleet.

Classic LEGO(R) Building (ages 4+)

Open-ended LEGO Bricks & More boxes, buckets and tubs feature a collection of basic LEGO bricks and elements to set imaginations in motion, providing building instructions and photo inspiration for a variety of different models to build and explore.

Families can get their LEGO fun on by taking creativity and imagination way beyond what's in the box with the BUILDERS OF TOMORROW(TM) box. A versatile collection of basic bricks in a variety of colors and sizes can be used for family building fun all year long thanks to a linked Web site offering free building instructions every month (including seasonal models!), tips and tricks, inspiration for games and activities incorporating LEGO bricks.

For children who like to build and re-build, new LEGO CREATOR(TM) kits offer 3-in-1 building instructions for multiple models from the same kit in cool themes like vehicles, houses and animals. Skilled builders rise to the test of new LEGO TECHNIC(R) kits that replicate real-life machinery. The Hauler includes the LEGO Power Function System, bringing the model to life.

Licensed Building Fun (ages 6+)

LEGO STAR WARS(TM), the first licensed property for the LEGO Group in 1999, marks its 10th anniversary this year. Models from the classic episodes, as well as new favorites from the animated series STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS(TM) will provide fans of all ages hours of building fun.

LEGO INDIANA JONES(TM) adventures continue with iconic scenes from all four movies coming to life in LEGO form. LEGO SpongeBob SquarePants is back for more zany adventures as Nickelodeon celebrates SpongeBob's 10th birthday this year. To mark the occasion, kids can take SpongeBob on classic adventures at Bikini Bottom or the Krusty Krab.

BIONICLE(R) Ages 7+

A new chapter in the BIONICLE legend is about to begin. New Agori, Glatorian and Glatorian Legends help bring the story's action to life for builders. In the Fall, an exciting BIONICLE direct-to-video feature will be released, taking the story to surprising heights.

MINDSTORMS(R) Ages 10+

Building and programming a robot is a snap with LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0. The award-winning, best-selling robotics toolkit is revamped with a new light and color sensor, as well as upgraded software, making it easier to master any robot a child can imagine.

Building fun for preschoolers (ages 1 1/2 +)

Youngsters looking to explore their inner creator will have no problem finding the right fit! New LEGOVille classic themes of Fire and City Life will help bring out the hero in all children. For young train enthusiasts, three new LEGO DUPLO Thomas & Friends(TM) sets allow for easy role play fun.

LEGO Systems, Inc. is the North American division of The LEGO Group, a privately-held, family-owned company based in Billund, Denmark, one of the world's leading manufacturers of creatively educational play materials for children. The company is committed to the development of children's creative and imaginative abilities, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: "Only the best is good enough." Visit the virtual LEGO world at www.LEGO.com

LEGO, the LEGO logo, DUPLO, MINDSTORMS, BIONICLE and TECHNIC are trademarks of the LEGO Group. (C) 2008 The LEGO Group.

Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends(R) Based on The Railway Series by The Reverend W. Awdry

STAR WARS, INDIANA JONES, THE CLONE WARS and related character names are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & (C) Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

(C) 2000 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

NICKELODEON SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Created by Stephen Hillenburg.

    MEDIA CONTACTS:
    Julie Stern, LEGO Systems, Inc.
    860-805-4988 / julie.stern@lego.com
    Karen Lynch, Flashpoint PR
    650-490-0608 / lynch@flashpointpr.com

SOURCE The LEGO Group

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