Yes, The Lego Batman Movie is considered canon to The Lego Movie because both films originate from the imagination of the same real-world character, Finn.
While the specific events and storylines of "The Lego Batman Movie" do not directly unfold within "The Lego Movie's" narrative, their shared foundational premise establishes a canonical link. Producer Chris Miller, who co-directed "The Lego Movie," confirmed that "The Lego Batman Movie" also stems from Finn's imaginative play. This means that both movies are different stories told from the same overarching, in-universe creative source.
Understanding Canon in the LEGO Universe
When discussing the canon of the LEGO cinematic universe, it's essential to distinguish between a shared story world and a shared narrative framework.
- Shared Narrative Framework: Both "The Lego Movie" and "The Lego Batman Movie" fall under this category. Their connection is rooted in the "real world" segment of "The Lego Movie," where a young boy named Finn is playing with his father's LEGO sets. Each subsequent film, including "The Lego Batman Movie," is depicted as a product of Finn's imaginative play.
- Distinct Storylines: The events within "The Lego Batman Movie" are self-contained and do not directly continue or intersect with the plot of "The Lego Movie." Batman's character arc in his solo film, for instance, is independent of the events involving Emmet, Wyldstyle, and Lord Business, although he is a character present in "The Lego Movie."
Key Aspects of Their Canonical Relationship
The canonical relationship between "The Lego Batman Movie" and "The Lego Movie" can be summarized by a few key points:
- Origin of Creation: Both narratives are presented as imaginative constructs within Finn's mind. This overarching meta-narrative ties them together.
- Producer Confirmation: Chris Miller's confirmation provides a definitive answer from a primary creative source, emphasizing that the "Finn's imagination" premise extends beyond the first film.
- Thematic Consistency: While tonally different (Batman's film being a parody of superhero tropes), they both adhere to the core idea of LEGO bricks being tools for creativity and storytelling, often influenced by real-world play.
What This Means for Viewers
For audiences, this means that while you don't need to watch "The Lego Movie" to understand "The Lego Batman Movie," knowing their shared origin enhances the overall appreciation of the LEGO film universe. It highlights a clever storytelling device that allows for diverse narratives to exist under one unifying umbrella.
- No Direct Crossover Required: You won't find Emmet making a surprise appearance to help Batman fight the Joker in "The Lego Batman Movie."
- Shared Conceptual Universe: The characters and settings, however, all derive from the same "source" within the story world – Finn's play space and imagination. This allows for characters like Batman to appear in both films, even if their specific adventures are separate.
Conclusion
In essence, "The Lego Batman Movie" is indeed canon to "The Lego Movie" not through direct plot continuation, but by sharing the fundamental premise that both stories are imaginative creations originating from the same real-world source within the films' narrative.
