LEGO launches its first Dragon Ball set: Shenron and Goku with 1,764 pieces

LEGO finally enters the world of Dragon Ball. The first official set from the franchise created by Akira Toriyama is now a reality, and it's called LEGO iKON Dragon Ball Shenron & Goku. The Danish company announced its partnership with TOA Animation on October 1 to launch a product line based on this saga, and it has already unveiled the first entry: a 1,764-piece build centered on the wish-granting dragon.

The set isn't a recreation of a scene or a battle. It puts the focus on Shenron, the creature that emerges when the seven Dragon Balls are gathered. That's why the dragon dominates the composition, with its elongated body, its impossible curves, and a texture that tries to mimic the scales of the original design. Next to him is a kid Goku riding the Flying Nimbus, in minifigure form.

There's a detail worth highlighting: the Goku minifigure can be detached and repositioned. It isn't fixed to the cloud or the dragon. You can place it at different points on the set or set it aside. At the foot of the build are seven bricks representing the Dragon Balls, plus a display base and a plaque with the series' name engraved on it.

The LEGO Dragon Ball set recreates the imposing figure of Shenron, the dragon of the balls.mk.co.kr

Behind the design decisions is a name with real weight within LEGO itself. Lee Jae-won, a Korean designer based at the company's headquarters in Denmark, was involved in developing the figure. His work focused on translating the dragon's morphology and structure into the language of bricks, a bigger challenge than it seems when you consider that Shenron isn't a static creature: his body floats, slithers, and disappears among clouds.

A partnership that goes beyond a single box

The announcement makes it clear that this isn't a one-off product. LEGO's vice president of new business, Federico Begher, spoke of a long-term collaboration with TOA Animation. And TOA's CEO, Masayuki Endo, noted that this first set "commemorates the original series" and aims to become "a special, must-have piece" for those looking to complete a collection.

That approach changes expectations. We're looking at the start of a line, not a one-time tribute. If LEGO has proven anything with franchises like Star Wars or Harry Potter, it's that when it commits to a license, it goes all in. We can expect new entries in the coming months, though there are no concrete announcements of future sets yet.

The choice of Shenron as the first figure makes sense from a marketing standpoint. The dragon is one of the most recognizable designs in the entire franchise, appearing as early as the first chapters of the manga published in 1984, and it serves as a link between all the later sagas. But it also lends itself to showing off: translating his curves into bricks is a visual challenge that a simple location set doesn't offer.

The Goku on the Flying Nimbus

The inclusion of kid Goku connects directly with the earliest era of Dragon Ball. This is the Goku who met Bulma, who didn't know what a girl was, and who traveled the world in search of the balls. He's not the Super Saiyan of the later sagas, nor the adult Goku of Dragon Ball Z or Super. LEGO is betting on the nostalgia of the story's beginning.

The Flying Nimbus, moreover, is an icon in its own right. A gift from Master Roshi, it accompanies Goku through much of his early adventures. The set represents it in a simple way, fitting for a minifigure that isn't trying to compete with the dragon for the spotlight.

It also confirms what many fans had been asking for a long time: a physical, brick-built representation of Toriyama's universe. There were unofficial creations, fan builds, and compatible block companies selling similar dragons. But the LEGO stamp changes everything, both in global distribution and in design standards and quality control.

For now, there's no confirmed release date for this LEGO iKON Dragon Ball Shenron & Goku. The South Korean report doesn't clarify the price range either, a detail that often sparks debate among collectors. We'll have to wait for LEGO's official channels or TOA Animation itself to learn about regional availability.