Skeleton with Evil Face and Standard Arms
gen001 / gen001a · Castle / Pirates / Fantasy Era
Generic / Universal NPC · 1995 (Original), with the specific evil face variant appearing prominently around 2007-2009 in Fantasy Era Castle sets.
Figure ID
gen001 / gen001a
Theme
Castle / Pirates / Fantasy Era
Year Released
1995 (Original), with the specific evil face variant appearing prominently around 2007-2009 in Fantasy Era Castle sets.
Rarity
Common. This figure was mass-produced across dozens of sets for over a decade. It is a fundamental 'army builder' figure.
Head
White minifigure head with 'Evil Face' printing: black sunken eyes, nasal cavity, and a bared-teeth grin. It does not feature dual-sided printing.
Torso
Skeleton Torso with exposed rib cage design. Features drop-down thin vertical spine connection. Arms are attached via ball-and-socket style friction pins.
Legs
Skeleton legs with square feet and ball-joint hips. They are non-articulating at the knees or ankles, designed only to pivot at the hip.
Accessories
The image shows the figure on a green 1x2 rounded baseplate (not a standard minifigure part, likely from a keychain or board game). Standard set versions usually included swords, scimitars, or shields.
Color Scheme
Primary: White. Accents: Black printing on the skull. The white plastic can vary slightly in 'warmth' depending on the production year.
Printing Details
Simple pad printing on the head only. The torso and legs are unprinted, relying on the unique mold to convey skeletal detail.
Variants
Variants include the 'Classic' smiling skeleton (gen001), the Ninjago skeleton variants with specialized armor, and the 'Fantasy Era' skeletons with floppy arms (gen019).
Condition Notes
The ball joints on the arms and legs are prone to losing friction ('floppy limbs'). The thin plastic of the rib cage and the clips on the hands are susceptible to stress marks or snapping.
Estimated Value
Used: $1.50 - $3.00 USD. New: $4.00 - $6.00 USD. Because they were so common, they maintain a low but stable price point.
Price (New)
N/A - Usually bundled in sets ranging from $10.00 to $100.00. Value-per-figure was historically very low due to their inclusion as 'extra' enemies.
Compatible Sets
7090 Skeleton Attack, 7091 Knight's Horse Carriage, 7093 Skeleton Tower, and various Pirates-themed sets.
Character Background
Generally serves as a nameless henchman or environmental hazard in LEGO themes. They are the standard undead antagonist in the LEGO Castle 'Fantasy Era' storyline.
Design Notes
The skeleton was LEGO's first major departure from the standard blocky minifigure torso, introducing thin, specialized limbs to capture the anatomical look of bones.
Similar Minifigures
Classic Skeleton (gen001), Skeleton with Floppy Arms (gen019), Ninjago Frakjaw, and Minecraft Skeleton.
Collectibility
High volume/Low value. Collectors often buy these in bulk for dioramas (MOCs), but they are rarely considered 'grail' or high-investment pieces.
History
First introduced in 1995 Pirates sets, the skeleton mold has seen several revisions, most notably changing the arm type from a swinging 'floppy' arm to the standard rigid arm shown here.
Interesting Facts
Early versions of the skeleton had arms that would swing freely (designed for 'spooky' movement), but LEGO switched to these friction-pin arms so the figure could actually hold weapons in a pose.
Display Suggestions
Best displayed in large groups. Looks excellent in dungeon scenes or graveyard vignettes. Use UV-protected cases to prevent the white plastic from yellowing over time.
Modification Potential
Excellent. Parts are interchangeable with standard minifigures for 'zombie' or 'undead' customs. Often used in stop-motion (Brickfilms) due to the simplicity of the design.
Overall Assessment
A quintessential LEGO icon. While not valuable individually, it is a design masterpiece of the 90s/2000s era. Rating: 7/10 for utility and classic status.