The Toy Box is an occasional online exclusive column where we take a look at the latest in toys and collectibles out there.

It's a piratey-kind of day at the Toy Box today, as the folks at Lego have been having pirate ships on their minds lately, thanks to the release of its One Piece playsets, and also the announcement that they will be releasing another set based on one of the most beloved pirate ships in Hollywood history.

Elsewhere, brace yourself for the onslaught of Kpop Demon Hunters collectibles, starting with an upcoming range from Funko.

One set to Go Merry on

In case you were not aware, One Piece is a long-running manga that follows the adventures of main character Monkey D. Luffy, a pirate with stretchy bendy rubber powers, who dreams of becoming the Pirate King and recovering the One Piece treasure alongside his Straw Hats pirates crew.

The manga has spawned an equally long-running anime series, and also a Netflix live-action series that will screen its second season next year.

Lego’s One Piece series is based on the Netflix series, and comprises five sets, one of which is the Straw Hat Pirates’ beloved ship, the Going Merry.

There are other four sets – Windmill Village Hut featuring Red Haired Shanks and a child Luffy; Buggy The Clown’s Circus Tent, Battle At Arlong Park, and the largest on, the Barite Floating Restaurant.

Still, If you only get, er, one One Piece set, then the Going Merry is a no brainer.

Not only is it an iconic ship, it also comes with five minifigures of the entire crew from Season One – Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Usopp and Sanji.

The Going Merry is the one set a One Piece fan would not want to miss. — Photo: Lego

While this is a more kid-centric play and build set, the details that went into it are quite impressive.

The set captures most of the iconic parts of the ship, from from a kitchen for Sanji to cook up his masterpieces (I especially love how fully stocked it looks), to Nami's tangerine trees in the back of the ship.

The ship also has two compartments for storage, and Nami’s got her own little cabinet of wonders for stashing her gems and treasures too.

I love how fully stocked Sanji's kitchen looks. — Photo: MICHAEL CHEANG/The Star

Luffy also gets to sit on his favourite spot on the ship's figurehead (below which there is a cannon as well), while Usopp can keep lookout on the crows nest.

My favourite part of the entire set, however, has to be how Lego actually custom made a new sword piece that attaches to Zoro’s neck, so it looks like he is biting it and performing his famous three-sword style stance.

Zoro can even do his trademark three-sword style thanks to a unique clip on one of his swords. — Photo: MICHAEL CHEANG/Thestar

The 1,376 piece set is a relatively easy build, with hardly any complicated moving parts to fret about.

Perhaps my only gripe is that for a set that is primarily targeted kids aged 10 and above, the playability of the set isn’t as high as say, the Arlong’s Park set, which features an entire pagoda tower that can be split open with one kick of Luffy’s Gum-gum poleaxe move.

But if you’re a One Piece fan, you’ll be unlikely to bother much about that, as this set not only gives you an iconic ship, you even get the full Straw Hat crew (so far) to go with it.

Now, bring on the Thousand Sunny!

Here be Jack Sparrow

While we’re still on the subject of Lego and pirate ships, the company also recently announced a new version of the Black Pearl from the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise, arguably one of the most iconic pirate ships in Hollywood history

While the upcoming set has been named ‘Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship’ instead, there is no doubt that this is the infamous Black Pearl.

It is a ship that has already seen one Lego release in the past, but this upcoming update of the ship in brick form is set to blow the previous one out of the water.

Reviews have shown that the new set is at least twice the size of the previous one (it has 2862 pieces in total), and with a much higher playability as well. (Obviously it comes at a higher price too – it retails at US$379.99 (RM1,604))

Still, whether you’re a fan of POTC or Lego pirate ships in general, this would be well worth a look.

Not only is it pretty much movie-accurate, it also comes with minifigures of Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Gibbs, Cotton, Anamaria, Marty, Elizabeth Swann and Hector Barbossa minifigures.

The playability is also quite high for a set aimed at adults.

There are dials that can deploy the cannons of the ship, the ship's wheel can be used to steer the rudder, and you can even open up Jack’s captain quarters, which is fully furnished with furniture, candlesticks, and even an apple for Barbossa to chew on.

Other features include “a detachable rowboat, a figurehead minifigure and a versatile stand for angled display”, according to a press release from Lego.

“Alternatively, the hull can be split at the waterline to depict the ship in sailing mode.”

Kpop Demon Hunters go Pop

It had to happen sooner or later. With Kpop Demon Hunters proving to be a worldwide phenomenon, the merchandise was bound to start pouring out. I’m just surprised it took this long.

For fans of Funko Pop figures, you’ll be glad that the company has announced that it will be releasing collectible figures based on characters from the Netflix smash hit.

Huntrix don't quit.... they Pop instead.

So far only five figures have been announced - the three members of Huntr/x, Rumi, Zooey and Mira, The demon Jinu, and Derpy the demon cat.

But if the popularity of Funko and Kpop Demon Hunters is any indication, don’t expect these to be the only ones released. After all, who wouldn’t want all five Saja Boys in their demon outfits, right?