Minifigure

A minifigure, or minifig, is a small, poseable figure designed for use with LEGO bricks. About 4 cm tall, it consists of a head, torso, and legs joined to allow independent movement of the limbs. The figure is intended to interact with bricks, accessories, and other minifigures, with hands that grip studs and tools, and with removable hair or headgear to create a wide range of characters.

The head is typically molded with facial features printed on; many have interchangeable heads or expressions. The torso and legs are compatible pieces, allowing swapping of outfits and roles by exchanging just the printed parts. The standard neck connection lets the head turn while the arms and legs rotate at their joints. A vast catalog of color schemes and prints supports diverse representations.

Minifigures were introduced by LEGO in 1978 as yellow figures; along with new skin tones and printing appeared in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The range expanded to licensed characters (such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel) and to theme-specific lines. In 2010 LEGO began the Collectible Minifigures (CMF) line, a series of randomly distributed characters with unique outfits and accessories. Numerous variants and limited editions have followed.

Minifigures are produced from ABS plastic, with printing applied to heads, torsos, and legs. They are a core component of LEGO's play experience and have become a focal point of LEGO fan culture, stop-motion filmmaking, and display collections.