On May 1, LEGO will release a series of Muppet Minifigures depicting Jim Henson's most iconic creations: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Rowlf the Dog, Gonzo the Great, Animal, Janice, Swedish Chef, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Statler, and Waldorf. LEGO sent IGN a preview set of all 12 minifigures, and we took a few photos (see below) to show off their details.

To acquire a LEGO minifigure, one typically purchases an entire building set. A spaceship, for example, would include several accompanying astronauts. But in 2010, the LEGO Group began selling dynamic, idiosyncratic minifigures via a branded 'Minifigures' line. Some of the more recent ones include a Beekeeper, an Alien, a Violinist, and a Breakdancer. LEGO designs these minifigures with collectors in mind, and even sells display cases in its stores.

There is no way to buy a complete set of these Minifigures for a single, flat rate, nor purchase a specific figure. Instead, each minifigure comes in an individual, opaque "blind bag" that retails for $4.99. So while it's never a total loss–you'll always get something for your money–you might not end up with exactly what you want.

There are unofficial ways around this, however. If you're super-motivated, you could go to the store in-person and try to "feel things out" – there's entire instructional guides on YouTube, dedicated to the fine art of sussing out the difference between the Forest Elf and the Figure Skater–or in this case, between Statler and the Swedish Chef.

What can be said, however, is that regardless of what you get, the detail and spirit of every figure is on-point. Part of what makes the Muppets lovable is their scruffiness; they're cute, but not cloying in appearance or mannerism. And LEGO captures this quality by customizing each head distinctively–to be rounded, or conical, or exaggerated as need be.

Gonzo's nose is huge. Beaker's head is narrow. Honeydew's eyes are non-existent. The Muppets are not subsumed by the LEGO aesthetic; if anything, LEGO compromised its design boundaries to ensure these figures retained that intangible 'Muppet-ness' they all possess.

Each figure's accessories are correspondingly themed. Animal obviously has his drumsticks; Kemit, his banjo; Swedish Chef, his whisk. Gonzo has his girlfriend, Camilla the Chicken. Some of the other accessories are more obscure. Miss Piggy has a magazine cover bearing her face. Statler has a laptop that's streaming a live Zoom of Scooter. It seems out of character, but it's actually a direct reference to the 2020 Disney+ show Muppets Now.

Taken as a group, what stands out about these LEGO Muppets minifigures is how visually distinct they are from one another–this chaotic, motley crew of oddballs and weirdos. And there's still room to grow the lineup and make it even more varied! What about a minifigure of Uncle Deadly? Or Sam Eagle? Or Scooter? One hopes that if this first series is successful, we might get a second.