LEGO® Minifigures Series 23 (71034) brings us a new array of minifigures and from this selection the “Nutcracker” might be a suitable inclusion to your Imperial Guard or red coat army.

Inspired by the 1916 story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by Prussian author E. T. A. Hoffmann, the premise revolves around a girl’s favourite toy; a solider known as the “Nutcracker”, who magically comes alive to defeat the evil Mouse King and transports her to an enchanted kingdom populated by dolls.

While the source material may be somewhat removed from the Pirates of the Caribbean setting which LEGO Pirates draws it’s influence, the minifigure still offers a variety of elements relevant to the theme.

• Shacko
• Torso
• Epaulettes
• Legs
• Sword
• And head – if your soldier has rosy cheeks from drinking too much grog

But you may want to give him a haircut and exchange that walnut for a musket with a stock made from walnut timber.

Is this minfig an army builder? Or maybe just a higher ranking officer? Or is he not worthy of your army at all? Tell us in the LEGO Pirates Forum…

Official Statement

Here’s the complete line-up.
They’re all happy and smiling so why wouldn’t you want to collect them all?

The official LEGO Minifigure Series 23 webpage* states:

Delight a child or Minifigures fan with these LEGO® Minifigures Series 23 (71034) blind bags for ages 5+. This unique series features a great lineup of fun characters to collect and display or to take independent or group play in unexpected new directions.

Inspiring collection of fun LEGO Minifigures
Children and adult fans get to say “Hi!” to a limited-edition range of imaginative characters, including Nutcracker, Sugar Fairy, Green Dragon Costume, Snowman, Reindeer Costume, Holiday Elf, Turkey Costume, Cardboard Robot, Popcorn Costume, Wolf Costume, Ferry Captain and Knight of the Yellow Castle.

Surprise!
Each finely crafted, highly detailed LEGO minifigure comes in a sealed ‘mystery’ bag and includes a collector’s information leaflet, making a great little gift that will put a smile on anyone’s face.

When Can I Buy It?

Remember these are blind bagged so this is the packaging you need to look out for

Minifigures Series 23 will be available on LEGO.com* from September 1, 2022.

* This is an official affiliate link provided by Rakuten Advertising.

But this is NOT an Imperial Minifig!!!

The Classic Pirates have deceived me!  ARRRRRRGH!!!

Wait, no they haven’t!

“Imperial” is defined as something relating to an empire. During the period in which “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” was set, Russia did very much have an empire. To be precise, this empire lasted from November 2, 1721, when the Russian Senate conferred the title of “Emperor of all the Russias” upon Peter I, until the abdication of Nicholas II on March 15, 1917. Like most empires,  it fluctuated in size, but at the time of the Nutcracker, the Russian Empire spanned Poland, Finland and a good chunk of Transcaucasia (a region on the border of Eastern Europe and Western Asia).

Oh look! It’s a depiction of Russian Emperor, Nicholas II and his Imperial Russian forces at the time of the Napoleonic Wars

So the Nutcracker is absolutely an Imperial minifigure, but no, the Nutcracker is not intended to be an outright representation of an Imperial Guard.

The “Imperial Guards” being a fictional army invented by The LEGO Group and debuting as a sub theme of LEGO Pirates in 1992. Presumably they were inspired by the British Empire’s iconic red coat army uniform which had a considerable presence throughout the Caribbean and during the Age of Sail, the historic time period from which LEGO Pirates draws the most influence.

Despite this popularity, red coat soldier uniforms are not exclusive to the British Empire and have been used by various nations throughout the past few hundred years.

Nonetheless, the Classic Pirates have brought the Nutcracker minifigure to your attention because it includes elements relevant to Imperial Guard MOCers and army builders. With very little modification, the Nutcracker can be repurposed as an Imperial Guard or an entirely new Imperial-inspired faction.

And that’s the great thing about LEGO – it’s a medium intended to have its parts swapped and/or combined so the builder can create whatever they like, irrespective of whether the resulting creation was the intended design of the official set or minifigure.

What Do Yer Think?

Is this soldier worthy to serve in Admiral Woodhouse’s army? You decide…

Have you gone absolutely nutty for the Nutcracker? Do you think the nut has gone rotten in the shell? Or will he put a smile on your face in pure delight?

You be the judge!  Share your thoughts on this new minifigure with the Classic Pirates in LEGO Pirates Forum.