Jay's Brick Blog

A blog about LEGO bricks

  • Home
  • About Me
  • LEGO Reviews
  • News
  • SW Advent Calendar
  • HP Advent Calendar

Review: LEGO Ninjago – Secret World of the Ninja

August 11, 2015 By Jay Leave a Comment

I hope you’ve been enjoying some of my previous DK LEGO Book reviews as I’ve been sent some of the newer books to feature! The first of which is the new LEGO Ninjago Secret World of the Ninja title, a fun little compendium that sheds a bit more insight into the Ninjago universe.

Thanks once again to DK Australia for sending me the review copy!

You can purchase Secret World of the Ninja from Penguin Australia’s online store for $24.99.

Ninjago Secret World of the Ninja - Cover

Here’s a look at the cover of Secret World of the Ninja. Like most DK LEGO books, you get a really large hard cover book featuring the main characters fronted by Zane the Titanium Ninja. 

For LEGO Ninjago fans, one of the biggest draws of the book is the exclusive Sensei Wu minifigure which you can get a really good look of in the plastic window embedded into the cover. We’ll take a closer look at Sensei Wu in just a moment.

I have to admit that Ninjago is one of the LEGO themes that I am most unfamiliar with. Ninjago is not high on my priority list of sets to buy (I probably have more Chima sets) and the last set that I can remember building and reviewing is last year’s Thunder Raider. So yeah, it’s been awhile!

Ninjago Secret World of the Ninja - Ninja Fashion

Despite my relative ignorance, I did enjoy flipping through the book. Ninjago is a hit theme with LEGO’s core demographic of boys the age of 8 and this book is suitably geared towards the younger crowd. Secret World of the Ninja gives readers a very light hearted take of the characters in the Ninjago universe.

Ninjago Secret World of the Ninja - Ninja Quiz

There are a few activity sections which Ninjago fans will no doubt enjoy but I couldn’t really get into the slightly juvenile part. For parents of young Ninjago fans, there’s plenty to like in the book, as you’re equipped with plenty of storytelling tools to flesh out the characters and settings of the World of the Ninja.

LEGO sets tend to be quite scant when it comes to characterisation, so think of this book as a handy compendium which helps bring the characters and their distinct personalities to life.

Ninjago Secret World of the Ninja - Master Chen

While I’m not a fan of Ninjago, I did have fun taking in all the interesting  bits of trivia about the characters (both friend and foe). Case in point, this section on one of the newest Ninjago baddis – Master Chen who apparently moonlights as a Noodle Restaurateur? Sinister indeed!

Like most DK LEGO books, the photography of the LEGO sets and minifigs are top notch and they serve as very appealing advertisements for the actual sets themselves. I’m hoping to find some of the newer Ninjago sets on clearance soon – some of them are designed really nicely and contain some fantastic new elements.

Ninjago Secret World of the Ninja - Jay

Obligatory section of my favourite Ninjago – Jay, the Blue Ninja of Lightning. Turns out we have a lot in common such as our penchant for witty one liners and our mutual dislike for bad hair days!

The tone of the book is much younger and “kiddy” compared to DK’s other character encyclopedias, which is quite understandable since Ninjago doesn’t seem to have a lot of appeal among Adult LEGO fans.

Ninjago Secret World of the Ninja - Sensei Wu Exclusive Minifig

One of the standout features of DK books are the exclusive minifigures included. The Secret World of the Ninja comes with a very snazzy looking Sensei Wu who has a brilliantly designed torso and legs that is exclusive to this book. Ninjago collectors take note, you won’t want to miss out on him!

The venerable and wise Sensei Wu has a pearl gold sugegasa (Asian conical hat) that is traditionally worn by rice farmers. He comes with a staff and his trademark looking white beard piece.

Ninjago Secret World of the Ninja - Sensei Wu without beard

Removing his beard reveals the excellent print on his torso. His outfit looks suitably regal with the gold trimmings as well as his ornate looking belt which bears a striking similarity to Japan’s Imperial Seal. The alignment of the seal on his belt buckle is a little off center but you won’t really notice unless you stare closely at it.

Ninjago Secret World of the Ninja - Sensei Wu Minifig Back Printing

Sensei Wu also has back printing in the form of an enlarged seal and some very nice looking fabric detail.

Overall, Sensei Wu’s minifigure is a great addition to any Ninjago fan’s collection. If you’re a purist collector, you’re going to want to add him to your roster of characters. While I may not be the biggest fan of Ninjago, he still has a very versatile oriental and Japanese look that could be very useful for certain MOCs or scenes.

Ninjago Secret World of the Ninja

Final thoughts: Like most character encyclopedias and supplementary books published by DK, you will most likely only appreciate the Secret World of the Ninja if you’re a fan of Ninjago. As a neutral, I didn’t enjoy it as much but I could still appreciate the book as a LEGO fan.

I suspect that younger kids will be delighted to read the book and have fun with all the fun activities and character profiles in it. Looking back and thinking as a 6 year old boy, I would have loved to have gotten a book like this and re-read it over and over again till I was confident that I had memorized every single bit of information about all the Ninjas and their enemies.

This book will make a great gift for any young Ninjago fan, so if you’re a parent or thinking of buying a young Ninjago-obsessed kid a present, the Secret World of the Ninja would make an ideal gift.

To purchase the Ninjago Secret World of the Ninja book, you can visit the Penguin Australia online store or your nearest bookstore. The RRP for the book is $24.99 and you can often get these on sale if retailers discount them in catalogues. Always helps to keep an eye out for any promotions!

Rating: 4/5

Special thanks to DK Australia for providing me with a review copy of the Secret World of the Ninja

Filed Under: LEGO Books, LEGO Reviews Tagged With: 2015, dk, dorling kindersley, LEGO books, ninjago, review, sensei wu

« Official LEGO Minifigures Series 14 images!
New LEGO City, Ninjago, Star Wars and Minecraft sets available at Kmart Australia »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to Jay's Brick Blog. In here, you'll find independent LEGO set reviews, commentary on LEGO trends & news, bargain hunting tips and an inside look into the life of an average LEGO fan. Find out more about me here

Subscribe for updates

Enter your email address here to receive updates about new posts from Jay's Brick Blog - straight to your inbox!

Join 1,782 other subscribers

Like my page on Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget

Buy LEGO

Buy LEGO

jayong28

Jay Ong | Jay's Brick Blog
Today is "Chap Goh Meh" or the Lantern Festival, t Today is "Chap Goh Meh" or the Lantern Festival, the final day of Chinese New Year. 🏮

It's a bit of a strange one this year, with the pandemic throwing plans into disarray, and my family being further away than usual, so celebrations were a little different in 2021.

Thank you @LEGO for an excellent range of Chinese Traditional Festival sets. 🙏

@little.ong (and myself) really loved the Duplo Happy Childhood Moments set, and I especially enjoyed the new dumplings element! 🥟

Spring Lantern Festival is one of the best LEGO sets I've had the pleasure of building, and I also appreciated the foray into the mythological origins of Lunar New Year with Story of Nian. 🧨🧧🎆

More sets that celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the world, please! 🌏
More photos of the upcoming #LEGO Amelia Earhart T More photos of the upcoming #LEGO Amelia Earhart Tribute are now available!

Coming March 2021 globally, but if you're in Australia, it's available from today onwards from @legocertifiedstores_anz!
Very impressed by the minifigure designs of Chief Very impressed by the minifigure designs of Chief Mammatus and Thunder Keeper from the new #LEGONinjago 71747 The Keeper's Village.

Love the Polynesian influences that have inspired #ninjagoseason14 - The Island!
Hey @lego, I think i understand what #vidiyo is al Hey @lego, I think i understand what #vidiyo is all about now.

Step aside @musicbyllama!
Really enjoyed building and reviewing the new #LEG Really enjoyed building and reviewing the new #LEGONinjago 71747 The Keeper's Village from Season 14 - The Island 

Hit the link in bio to read the full review

For #Ninjago fans, it doesn’t get much better than this. 71747 The Keeper’s Village is packed with value and is a great centerpiece to Season 14 – The Island.

I have a soft spot for location, or structure-based Ninjago builds, so The Keeper’s Village strikes that itch in the best of ways.

The jungle lair sets the scene and provides a rich backdrop that works really well as a small playset and display piece.

Combined with a very generous helping of 5 minifigures, there’s a ton of value and playability built into the set, especially the stone pillar which works remarkably well as a “big enemy” for the Ninjas to deal with – it very much gives off a “mini-boss in a video game vibe”.

The highlights for me would be Chief Mammatus and Thunder Keeper’s designs. As a big fan of the Islanders theme, I love that #LEGO could callback to those designs in a fresh new way, utilising the tech and innovation that’s now possible through minifigure design.

Whether you’re an adult fan looking for a set that’s a bit more kiddy, outlandish and fun, or you’re planning to buy this for a young child who wants an engaging playset, I can highly recommend 71747 The Keeper’s Village.

Rating and score: 4/5 ★★★★✰
Thanks @lego for sending over the new #LEGONinjago Thanks @lego for sending over the new #LEGONinjago Season 14 sets ahead of their March release!

My first review of 71747 The Keeper's Village is already live on the blog! Speed build is live on YouTube as well! 

@justhypeofficial Kai Plushie just chilling as he's now a regular fixture on all #ninjago videos!
Happy Valentine's Day to this 10/10 stunner. 🌹 Happy Valentine's Day to this 10/10 stunner. 🌹 

Sharing photos from Japan because we miss travelling (and food!) but being in lockdown with you for 5 days isn't too shabby of an alternative.
Happy "Niu" Year! 🐮 May your hongbaos be fat, Happy "Niu" Year! 🐮

May your hongbaos be fat, cookies be crunchy, and mandarins juicy 🍊💦
Swipe to check out @LEGO's Lunar New Year sets!

恭喜發財 

Just missing the Dragon Dance and Dragon Boat Race as they're in storage!
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • LEGO 40450 Amelia Earhart Tribute Gift with Purchase revealed!
  • Review: LEGO Brickheadz Pets German Shepherd, Shorthair Cats, Goldfish & Budgie (40440, 40441, 40442, 40443)
  • Is LEGO planning to announce a NASA Mars Perseverance Rover?
  • LEGO Fan Media sites caught up in Australian Facebook News Blockade
  • First look at all the new LEGO Vidiyo sets – Beatboxes and Bandmates!
  • Review: LEGO Ninjago 71747 The Keeper’s Village
  • Review: LEGO Duplo 10943 Happy Childhood Moments

LEGO Reviews

Review: Legoland Malaysia Water Park

Review: Lego 41005 – Heartlake High

Review: LEGO x IKEA BYGGLEK Boxes

Review: 9473 – Lord of the Rings – Mines of Moria

Review: LEGO 75941 Indominus Rex vs Ankylosaurus

Review: LEGO 75956 Quidditch Match

Review: DK LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes Character Encyclopedia

Categories

Archives

Jay

Jay is passionate about LEGO and the endless creative adventures made possible by this complex interlocking brick system.
Learn more →

Popular Posts

Copyright © 2021 · WordPress · Log in We may earn a commission when you use one of our offers/links to make a purchase.