For the Kinder Duplo confectionery product, see Kinder Chocolate. Duplo (trademarked as DUPLO) is a product range of the construction toy Lego, designed for children aged 1½ to 5 years old. Duplo bricks are twice the length, height and width of traditional Lego bricks, making them easier to handle and less likely to be swallowed by younger children. Despite their size, they are still compatible with traditional Lego bricks. Initially launched in 1969, the Duplo range has gone on to include sets with figures, cars, houses and trains. Duplo is manufactured in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. Duplo bricks alongside a smaller red regular-sized Lego brick Duplo and regular-sized Lego compatibility demonstrated Duplo bricks were introduced in 1969, in four colors: red, yellow, blue, and white. The following year, two more sets were added with blue and red wheel plates. In the product catalog for 1971, the sets were described as being for children from 1 to 2 years, but were still sold mixed with Lego bricks, normally designed for ages 3 to 12.
In 1972, the Duplo brick with two rows of two studs was introduced. In 1975, Duplo became its own product brand, with five sets made up exclusively of Duplo bricks. New additions included a round-topped two-by-two stud brick and a small four-wheeled wagon with two rows of six studs. With these new Duplo sets, Lego began targeting children 1½ years old with the intention that when the children became older, their Duplo bricks could be used together with regular Lego bricks. In 1977, the Duplo name was dropped in favor of Lego Preschool. Small figures the size of two-by-two bricks were introduced, made up of a cylindrical head and a tapered, limbless body, similar in design to Fisher-Price's Little People. Another new brick was a half arch. The new sets included figures, doors, and two-by-six brick wagons that could act as a car or train. The name Duplo was brought back in 1979, along with a new reworked logo. Some brick sets were sold inside a plush version of the rabbit from the logo, that zipped closed.
In 1983, other Duplo figures appeared, often called Duplo people. These figures have a moveable head, arms, and legs and look like large Lego minifigures, but cannot be taken apart, making them safer for small children. Also in 1983, set number 2700 was introduced with a model of a steam engine with two train cars. In 1986, a Duplo doll house with sliding doors was introduced. This included a Duplo people mother, father, and smaller child. In 1992, Duplo Toolo was introduced. These used internal screws to stay together. 1993 brought a grey rail train system with a stop and start track. Later, two more train systems arrived. In 2005, Lego started selling Duplo trains themed as Thomas the Tank Engine. The name Duplo was dropped again in favor of Explore in 2002. In the 2004 spring catalog, there was a reminder that Duplo was now called Explore, but that fall the well-known Duplo name was back yet again with a new rabbit logo designed to match the new elephant logo for the Lego Quatro range.
Lego have made Duplo sets licensed with Bob the Builder and Thomas & Friends characters. Those Duplo ranges have been discontinued, but Duplo sets now include farm, zoo, town, castle, and pirate lines. A doll house and princess castle are available as of 2008. Some Duplo sets have cars, trucks, and buildings which cannot be disassembled. Some DUPLO sets do not include building manuals.DUPLO is a theme and a subline which is intended for children aged 1-5 years old, and was introduced as a brand in the year of 1975, though the name and the blocks had already been around since 1969. The three forms of minifigures, or DUPLO figures are more sizable and stable, [1] and the blocks are about twice the length, width, and height of their equivalent System brick and half the length of a QUATRO brick. It can be noted that DUPLO is compatible with normal System bricks, but only with 2x2s and further because it's too big for 1x1 and 1x2x3 bricks. First bricks (1969 - 1975) The first DUPLO bricks and the name DUPLO appeared first in the year 1969.
[2] There were originally four colours: Red, Yellow, Blue, and White. They were designed to connect more with System bricks than the newer DUPLO bricks of recent years. The bricks were 18 times larger than a regular system brick. They were released in sets 510, and 511, both with System bricks. They were considered to be System-Duplo sets, aimed at younger children. This was the beginning of the LEGO Group's products for the younger market. Two more sets were introduced the next year, adding new blue and red wheel plates. The sets were designed for 1 to 2-year-olds, but were continued to be mixed with System blocks. [3] In 1972, the first 2x2 studded brick was introduced. When DUPLO/Pre-School sets were introduced in their final form in 1969, the first DUPLO sets had a green LEGO logo. This logo was short lived, and by 1971 new DUPLO sets were introduced that used the red LEGO logo, and the text 'DUPLO' in green on the box'. Start of the theme (1975-1980) In 1975 DUPLO became an independent theme, with five sets made up exclusively of DUPLO bricks.
In 1977, the decision was taken to rename DUPLO Preschool. In the Preschool range, new DUPLO bricks were introduced, including arches and the first DUPLO figures, which did not have movable limbs. In 1979, the theme was returned to the name of DUPLO, and received its logo, a rabbit designed in a style similar to PRIMO's elephant. Continuation and new ideas (1980 - 2000) In 1983, DUPLO Figures were similar to their current design, with moveable limbs. They were more like larger minifigures than their predecessor, minus the ability to be taken apart, due to their target audience being young children. It also saw the first DUPLO Trains, and the DUPLO Baby series. 1992 saw the introduction of Toolo, in which screws where used to keep pieces together. In 1993, a grey-train rail system, 4.5v arrived. Since then there have been two others. Only two motorized sets were released in the DUPLO theme. In 1995, DUPLO Primo was launched. (DUPLO Baby in America) On the first of January in 1997, Primo and DUPLO were officially renamed LEGO DUPLO and LEGO PRIMO.
1999 saw licensed sets introduced to DUPLO, with Winnie the Pooh Explore and licensed success (2000 to present) In 2001, DUPLO released Bob the Builder sets, which have since become one of the longest running licensed themes. In 2002, the name was once again dropped, and the theme combined with LEGO Baby to form Explore, which tried to encourage children to explore life. In late 2004, however, Explore ended and DUPLO was once again back. 2005 saw the introduction of Thomas and Friends DUPLO Train sets. In 2010, a deal with Disney saw the return of Disney characters in DUPLO sets, unseen since Mickey Mouse. Toy Story and Disney Cars all saw several sets released. Disney Cars has been released in DUPLO and Lego sets. Further more, in 2011, a second line of Winnie the Pooh sets was released, in 2012 Disney Princess was released, in 2013 Mickey Mouse & Friends, Planes and Jake and the Never Land Pirates were released, in 2014 DC Universe will be released.
With the success of the Friends line, DUPLO added more female characters and girl based sets in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Like System, DUPLO also has subthemes released. These are often juniorized versions of System themes, like Pirates and Castle. Dacta or Educational DUPLO sets are those released under LEGO's educational brand, Dacta. They are often designed for schools and include things like LEGO tables. DUPLO Town sets were introduced in 1978. The sets ranged from fire and police to circus and race related sets. From 2004 The LEGO Group has used the name LEGO Ville for all DUPLO Town related sets. Playhouse sets were introduced in 1979. The sets cover scenes from houses or single rooms to furniture sets for DUPLO Figures. DUPLO Train started in 1983 and is still active today. Thomas and Friends sets can be considered part of this theme. There have been three track varieties so far. Baby was a theme that produced Baby toys. In 1995 it became Primo until it became separate of the DUPLO name in 1997 .
In Toolo, the pieces where held joined together using tools, like a screwdriver. 14 sets were released. A car based version, Action Wheelers, was released after Toolo ended. DUPLO Primo was the step in-between Baby and Primo. Four of the sets released in this peroid were Stack 'n' Learn sets. DUPLO Western sets were released in 1998. Eleven sets were released in this subtheme. A prehistoric based theme, Dinosaurs ran for two years. This theme was continued as Dino ten years later. Included were Dinosaurs and Cavemen. Main article: Little Forest Friends Little Forest Friends was based on people who lived in a forest and what goes on in their lives. It contained twelve sets, including a story book. Main article: Winnie the Pooh Winnie the Pooh was the first LEGO and DUPLO licensed theme based on the Winnie the Pooh stories by AA Milne and the media based on them with figures such as Pooh , Piglet and Tigger. Action Wheelers was a construction based theme similar to Toolo, focusing on building vehicles in a similar manner.
When Explore was formed from DUPLO, it became Explore Logic. Main article: Bob the Builder One of the longest running licensed themes, Bob the Builder is based on the British children's TV show of the same name. It mainly featured the vehicles from the show. It became part of Explore when it was formed in 2002 and when DUPLO returned, Bob the Builder also returned with it. Dolls was a 2001 attempt to get into the Doll market. There were nine regular sets available. The theme of three sets, Zooters featured three named creatures. The theme only lasted a year. Castle was split into two different types. The two groups of knights similar to System Castle, and the Princess Castle sets, aimed more toward young girls. Two Ferrari DUPLO sets were released in 2004. They were similar to System releases. LEGO Ville is the DUPLO alternate to City. Prior to 2004 all police, fire, construction and other town-related sets were released as part of the DUPLO Town theme.
Farm was a theme based on farm life and animals. It was released before the City Farm sets. Main article: Thomas & Friends Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends is a theme based on the Thomas the Tank Engine books and TV show. It is closely related to Train. Four sets were released in the DUPLO equivalent of Pirates. The sets mainly contained ships. Dino was an remake of the Dinosaurs theme from ten years earlier. The theme had twenty sets featuring different types of dinosaurs and DUPLO Figures. Toy Story is one of three Disney licensed themes for 2010. The sets seem to be based more on the latest movie, Toy Story 3, then the other two. Cars is a 2010 Disney licensed theme based on the both Cars and Cars 2. Disney Princess is a Disney licensed theme based on the stories of some of the most famous princesses. Main article: Jake and the Never Land Pirates Jake and the Never Land Pirates follows Jake's pirate adventures in Neverland. Main article: Mickey Mouse & Friends