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Dear LEGO… my opinion on LEGO Friends

by Thita (admin) on December 19, 2011

(Written by Sarah)

Just some thoughts on the new LEGO Friends theme… When I was a little girl, I played with a variety of LEGO themes. City, Castle and Pirate, but my favorite of all was LEGO Paradisa. The soft color palette, the whimsical sets and the minifigures all appealed to me. My favorite part of any LEGO set was the minifigures. I absolutely loved mixing and matching the parts.

When I found my childhood LEGO collection, I was almost horrified at how bizarre those combinations were. My adult sensibilities were in shock at seeing a minifigure with bare legs, a suit torso, a pirate head and female hair. Once I got over my adult self, I remembered how much fun it was to let my imagination go wild. The only minifigures I had “lost” were the oversized LEGO Technic figures that weren’t compatible.

And that brings me to my point for today: the new LEGO Friends series. For many years, LEGO has been desperately trying to reach out to girls and get them interested in LEGO. I think LEGO has had some great concepts, but some bad execution – mostly revolving around the figures.

Personally, I would have bought the fairy tale LEGO Belville sets if they had been minifigure size. I feel the same way about these new LEGO Friends sets. I like the concepts of the sets. Even with the bright colors – too much pink and purple in my opinion – I would probably buy them if it weren’t for the figures. The LEGO Friends figures – other than their hair – are not compatible with normal minifigures.

I think LEGO Friends will get quite a few new young girls interested in LEGO, but that interest will wane and here’s why; as they get older and want more complex sets, they’ll look to the rest of the LEGO universe and get upset that their LEGO Friends figures don’t fit in. Some will switch to normal LEGO and leave their LEGO Friends behind. Others will lose interest altogether.

As for adult female fans, LEGO has lost most of us with the LEGO Friends sets. Sure, we’ll probably pick up a few for the parts, but throw the figures away, except the hair pieces. Much like in my childhood, one of my favorite things to do is create unique minifigures out of various minifigure parts – and female minifigures are rare. And here’s another opportunity lost since LEGO was determined to make something different for girls instead of integrating them into the normal lines. If it weren’t for the licenses, I don’t think we’d have half as many female figures as we do now.

So in the end, I’m pretty sure LEGO Friends will sell well, but it won’t last because the minifigures are not completely compatible. And that’s one of the things LEGO is most famous for – the minifigures and the fact that almost everything is interchangeable.

What do you think, dear reader? Do you agree or disagree? What’s your opinion of the new LEGO Friends series? Will you be getting them? Please post your comments below. I’d love to know how you feel about the new LEGO Friends line. 😐

Here are some other posts on the LEGO Friends line you may like:

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An awesome LEGO career opportunity!

by Thita (admin) on December 17, 2011

in Community News

A new LEGOLAND Discovery Center is scheduled to open in Atlanta, in the spring of 2012! I have been contacted by their representative to let our readers know they have an awesome LEGO career opportunity; they are looking for a LEGO Master Model Builder! 😛

I know this is a dream-job for many of you; get paid to play with LEGO bricks! If you are interested and would like to apply, here are the details: Can you build anything and everything out of LEGO bricks? If so, sign up to try out for a full-time position as the Master Model Builder at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta!

LEGO lovers who want to try their hand at becoming Atlanta’s LEGO Master Model Builder must be skilled craftsmen with a passion for the brand. This unconventional job provides an opportunity to turn a beloved childhood pastime into a dream career, and LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta looks forward to incorporating such talent and enthusiasm into its family-focused and interactive experience. The most creative candidate will be chosen as the LEGO Master Model builder to:

Help LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta develop new features
Curate special exhibitions
Build new models for the attraction
Interact with the thousands of children and families expected to visit

Candidates interested in auditioning must register in advance by visiting LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta on Facebook and filling out the online application (applicants must be 18 years or older). The deadline to submit applications is December 30. After applications are received:

Job seekers undergo creative LEGO challenges for a panel of judges on January 7 at the Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel & Conference Center
10 builders move on to the final stage of competition
The final audition on January 8 (at Phipps Plaza) culminates with the announcement of the LEGO Master Model Builder, a full-time position at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta!

Here is a short video from the LEGO Master Model Builder audition at LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Manchester. This will give you some ideas of what to expect if you are interested in this LEGO career opening.

VIDEO DESCRIPTION: Twenty hopefuls faced the most unusual job interview ever as they competed for the coveted position of a LEGO Master Model Builder at the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Manchester, March 2010. Contestants faced a tough panel made up of LEGO model builders as well as children. The auditionees were first asked to create an animal-model in just fifteen minutes. Then those who progressed to the second round were given an hour to create a famous face out of LEGO.

If you are interested in this position, but have some questions, let me know and I will get you in touch with the representative who contacted me. Otherwise you can just register here, and you will receive further details after the registration period closes. Good luck! 😉

And if you are interested in other LEGO job-listings, check here:

LEGO Career Opportunities!

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Dear LEGO… my opinion on LEGO Friends

An awesome LEGO career opportunity!

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