Riley Murdock
(voice)
LEGO Elves: Secrets of Elvendale
2017
Ended • 1 Season • 8 Episodes
Overview
Armed with a powerful amulet, a teenage guardian is tasked with protecting her little sister -- and all of Elvendale. Based on the popular web series.
Seasons
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 8 episodes
- First aired
- Sep 1, 2017
Cast
8 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Magic in the Margins: How LEGO Elves: Secrets of Elvendale Turns a Toy Line Into a Quiet Rebellion
I’ll admit it: when I first saw the title LEGO Elves: Secrets of Elvendale pop up in my Netflix queue, I groaned. Not because I have anything against LEGO—far from it—but because I’ve seen this movie before. Or, rather, I’ve seen this kind of movie: the animated series designed to sell plastic sets, the one where the plot exists primarily to justify the existence of a dragon with detachable wings or a treehouse with a working zip line.
The kind of show that treats storytelling as an afterthought, a necessary evil on the way to the real business of getting kids to beg their parents for more bricks.
And yet. There’s something about Secrets of Elvendale that lingers. Not in the way a great film haunts you—no, this isn’t the kind of show that leaves you staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m., replaying a single devastating shot in your head.
But it does linger in the way a daydream does, the kind you half-remember from childhood, where the edges are soft and the colors are brighter than they have any right to be. It’s a show that understands something fundamental about how kids experience fantasy: not as a grand epic, but as a series of small, secret places where magic feels just within reach.
The first thing you notice about Secrets of Elvendale is how quiet it is. Not in the sense of being subdued—this is still a LEGO production, so there are plenty of crashes, zips, and zaps—but in the way it refuses to shout at its audience. The opening minutes don’t launch into a high-stakes chase or a villain’s monologue.
Instead, we meet Emily, the show’s protagonist, as she sneaks through the woods of Elvendale, her amulet glowing faintly in the dim light. The camera lingers on the texture of the leaves, the way the moonlight filters through the branches. It’s the kind of shot that would feel at home in a Studio Ghibli film, if Studio Ghibli made movies about 12-year-olds with the power to talk to dragons.
(Come to think of it, they kind of did.)
This restraint is the show’s first act of rebellion. In an era where children’s animation is often defined by its relentless pace—jokes every three seconds, cuts every two, a sensory overload designed to hold attention spans shorter than a TikTok—Secrets of Elvendale dares to let its scenes breathe. The result isn’t always successful.
Audience Opinions
Audience 5.9/10
"A charming but uneven animated series for younger audiences, with mixed reactions to its storytelling and appeal."
Viewers appreciate the vibrant animation and imaginative fantasy setting, which aligns well with the LEGO brand's creative style. However, some find the plot predictable and the humor too simplistic, making it more suited for younger children than older kids or adults. latestnetflix.com's take is that the series' short runtime per episode is noted as a positive for quick viewing but limits deeper character development.
What viewers praise
- Vibrant animation The colorful and detailed animation style is frequently praised for its creativity and alignment with LEGO's aesthetic.
- Imaginative fantasy setting The world of Elvendale is described as engaging and visually appealing for younger audiences.
- Short episode runtime The 25-minute episodes are seen as a good fit for younger viewers with shorter attention spans.
Common complaints
- Predictable storytelling Some viewers feel the plot follows familiar tropes and lacks surprises, making it less engaging for older audiences.
- Simplistic humor The humor is often described as too basic or aimed solely at very young children, limiting its broader appeal.
- Limited character depth Characters are seen as underdeveloped, with little room for growth due to the short episode format.
Recommended for
Young fantasy fans LEGO enthusiasts Children ages 6-10 Quick animated adventures
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s LEGO Elves: Secrets of Elvendale—The Short-Lived Fantasy Series That Slipped Under the Radar
LEGO Elves: Secrets of Elvendale (2017) arrived with the kind of fanfare typical of LEGO’s animated ventures—a vibrant trailer, a catchy theme song, and a cast of voice actors with pedigrees in children’s animation. Yet despite its Netflix backing and the built-in appeal of the LEGO brand, the series vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. latestnetflix.com's take is that what happened behind the scenes of this fantasy-tinged cartoon?
A Promising Premise, But a Mixed Reception
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPo0i6ZPVNE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5QCkl8eHb8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRmW8KEsRq0
The series followed Emily Jones, a human girl transported to the magical realm of Elvendale, where she teamed up with elf allies to battle dark forces. The concept blended LEGO’s signature humor with high-stakes fantasy, a formula that had worked for franchises like Ninjago and Friends. Early trailers teased lush animation, dynamic action, and a soundtrack that leaned into the whimsical tone of the LEGO Elves toy line.
However, the reception was lukewarm. On SensCritique, the series holds a modest 5.9/10 rating from 22 votes 
, suggesting it struggled to resonate even with its target audience. While no official reviews from major outlets are cited in the evidence, the low score hints at a disconnect—perhaps between the show’s ambitions and its execution. Was the writing too simplistic? Did the fantasy elements feel underdeveloped? Without deeper critiques, it’s hard to say, but the numbers don’t lie: Secrets of Elvendale didn’t leave a lasting impression.
A Star-Studded Cast—But Where Was the Buzz?
One of the series’ most intriguing aspects was its voice cast. Kathleen Barr (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic), Vincent Tong (Ninjago), and Ashleigh Ball (Care Bears: Unlock the Magic) lent their talents to the project, bringing experience from some of animation’s most enduring franchises. Yet, unlike Ninjago or Friends, Secrets of Elvendale didn’t generate the same level of fan engagement or behind-the-scenes chatter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFQKgmDPU7s
A YouTube review might shed light on why. While the snippet doesn’t provide specifics, the existence of a dedicated review video suggests some viewers were invested enough to critique it—though whether that critique was positive or negative remains unclear. What is clear is that the series didn’t spark the kind of passionate discourse that keeps a show alive in the cultural conversation.
The Netflix Factor: A One-Season Wonder?
Netflix’s involvement likely meant Secrets of Elvendale had a built-in audience, but streaming platforms are notorious for canceling shows after a single season if viewership doesn’t meet expectations. The evidence doesn’t confirm whether the series was officially canceled or simply left to fade, but its absence from later LEGO marketing pushes suggests it didn’t get a second chance.
One lingering question: Did the show’s tie-in to the LEGO Elves toy line help or hurt it? The toys, launched in 2015, had a dedicated fanbase, but by 2017, LEGO was already shifting focus to other themes. If the series was meant to revive interest in the Elves sets, it may have arrived too late—or perhaps the show’s tone didn’t align with what toy buyers wanted.
**Why Did Secrets of Elvendale Disappear?**
The evidence paints a picture of a series that had potential but failed to stand out in a crowded animation landscape. Here’s what we do know:
- Short runtime: Episodes clocked in at 25 minutes , a standard length for kids’ shows but one that may have limited narrative depth.
YTYouTube·Lego Elves: Secrets of Elvendale | Theme Song | … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUVt_TuGqyE- Limited hype: While trailers and a theme song existed, there’s no sign of major promotional campaigns or tie-in events.
- No sequel or spin-off: Unlike Ninjago or Friends, Secrets of Elvendale didn’t spawn follow-up content, suggesting LEGO moved on quickly.
Without more details—like production budgets, viewership numbers, or internal LEGO memos—the full story remains elusive. What’s certain is that Secrets of Elvendale is now a footnote in LEGO’s animated history, a show that arrived with promise but left without fanfare.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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