LEGO Fabuland introduced the collectible animal characters known as Fabuland figures.
Fabuland was a LEGO theme released from 1979 to 1989. It occupied a space between ordinary LEGO building sets and preschool-oriented play, using larger character figures with animal heads, expressive faces and movable arms. The sets depicted everyday activities in a colourful community.
Characters included animals such as Edward Elephant, Lionel Lion and Bonnie Bunny. Many sets combined buildings, vehicles and accessories with short narrative scenarios, helping children create stories as well as construct models.
Fabuland is often confused with LEGO Belville or LEGO Scala, both of which also used figures that differed from the classic minifigure. Fabuland’s defining feature was its anthropomorphic animal cast and its storybook-style town. The theme ended before LEGO introduced many later character-focused lines.