In a striking display of creative ingenuity, Iranian media groups are masterfully employing Lego-style animations to challenge the dominant Western narrative and champion the cause of global justice against the backdrop of ongoing aggressions by the United States and its allies. These powerful videos, far from mere entertainment, serve as a poignant reminder of the countless victims of American policies and interventions worldwide.
One such impactful animation, released by Explosive Media, opens with a Native American chief traversing a moonlit, desolate landscape, immediately setting a tone of historical injustice. The video then powerfully transitions to depict a spectrum of those who have suffered under the United States government – from enslaved Black Americans to the tortured survivors of Iraq’s infamous Abu Ghraib prison.
The narrative intensifies as Iranian soldiers are shown affixing banners to missiles, each bearing a message of solidarity and a demand for justice. “For the stolen Blacks,” declares one. “For the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” another proclaims, recalling the horrific atomic bombings. The memory of the 290 innocent souls lost on Iran Air flight 655, downed by US missiles in 1988, is honored, alongside the brave struggle of American activist Rachel Corrie, tragically killed by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza. Victims of US wars and abuses in Afghanistan, Vietnam, and Iraq, as well as the “children of Epstein island,” all find their voices amplified through these messages, emblazoned on missiles that symbolize a righteous response. The video culminates in the symbolic collapse of giant statues of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, underscored by the resounding declaration: ‘ONE VENGEANCE FOR ALL.’
This March 29 video is but one example from Explosive Media, a pioneering group among several Iran-based collectives that have harnessed the universally recognized Lego figures to craft a viral social media phenomenon. Their efforts effectively bolster Tehran’s narrative in the face of relentless pressure from the US and Israel. Despite accumulating nearly 150,000 views on X, Explosive Media’s YouTube channel was recently censored and deleted by the Google-owned platform, a clear testament to Western attempts to silence dissenting voices.
Yet, this Tehran-based group, known for its bespoke lyrics and rap beats that cleverly expose Trump’s hypocrisy by using his own words, remains undeterred. An Explosive Media representative, speaking anonymously to Al Jazeera, confirmed the channel’s shutdown on spurious grounds of “promoting violence,” while firmly asserting the non-violent nature of their brick animations. “There was frustration, but no surprise – this story is not new,” he stated, highlighting the West’s consistent efforts to “wrap truth in silence and try to mute every voice that speaks it.”
The videos are rich with deep symbolism, ranging from solemn reflections on Shia-Muslim history to vibrant rap-style music videos. A spokesperson for Explosive Media explained the profound meaning behind the green and red colors: green represents Imam Hussain, Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, and his unwavering fight for justice against oppression, while red symbolizes the oppressor. The team takes particular pride in moments like “when war helmets are placed on missiles and drones – it was truly brilliant,” showcasing their artistic and strategic depth.
Other animations ingeniously employ phrases like “Epstein regime” and “Loser,” depicting Trump’s supporters in “MAGA” hats. They expose the former US president’s broken promises to keep America out of new wars and aid working-class citizens, using his own rhetoric to reveal his betrayal of commitments in favor of Israeli demands. The group’s spokesperson proudly declared “LOSER” as one of their finest creations, turning Trump’s favored insult back on him to reveal him as “the biggest loser of all.”
Another powerful video offered unwavering solidarity to the Lebanese people, affirming that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) would stand by them, particularly after the brutal bombardment of their country.
Comprised of a dedicated team of ten young individuals, aged 19 to 25, these creators demonstrate remarkable access to the internet, including US-owned social media platforms, despite government restrictions for most Iranians. Explosive Media’s spokesperson clarified to Al Jazeera their independence, even as Iranian state media outlets purchase their high-quality content for broadcast. “We create the content first, and if the quality is strong enough, media organizations choose to buy it from us. This way, our independence is fully preserved,” he affirmed.
Explosive Media is not alone in this groundbreaking endeavor. Creators like PersiaBoi and Southern Punk, and even Nukta media in Pakistan, have joined this burgeoning trend, demonstrating its global resonance. Fasi Zaka, an Islamabad-based social commentator, lauded the brilliance of these Lego-style videos for their ability to penetrate a global information landscape historically biased against Iran by Western media. “These videos are ways of breaking through what is an information highway stacked against them generally in times of war,” Zaka observed.
Zaka further praised the videos’ astute focus on “faultlines within US domestic politics,” such as the Epstein files, calling it “really smart.” He noted their clever use of “election MAGA tropes and being subordinate to Israeli interests,” making the content both engaging and incisive. He also highlighted a deeper symbolism: the use of Lego, a child-friendly brand, powerfully contrasts with the US bombing of the Minab girls’ school, which tragically killed over 160 Iranian schoolgirls at the war’s outset.
Marc Owen Jones, a professor at Northwestern University in Qatar, underscored that Iran’s efforts to win the narrative war are crucial, recognizing that public opinion is key to pressuring the United States. He described this communication strategy as “owning smack-talk type propaganda,” which effectively resonates in the current media landscape. Jones acknowledged that while the themes would resonate with Western audiences, the source – Iran – often faces ingrained distrust. Zaka drew parallels between the Iranian videos’ undiplomatic yet effective messaging and Donald Trump’s own communication style.
“Ultimately, the Iranian Lego videos are very good,” Jones concluded. “They’re actually well thought out. There’s a lot of details in them. There’s actually a narrative. Whereas US propaganda is just, you know, explosions with Hollywood films cut through them.” These videos stand as a testament to Iran’s innovative approach to media, delivering a powerful message of justice and resistance to a global audience.
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