LEGO Friends line

[Bruce N H]

Hey all,

I know, the 'official' launch date is in a few days, but with sets appearing on store shelves and a full writeup in BusinessWeek, this can't be considered a leak anymore. Anyway, LEGO's new line aimed at girls, Friends, is coming to a store near you very soon.



The hair, at least, is cross-compatible with figs, but apparently the neck is a slightly different diameter, according to Daoudbazaar's review on Eurobricks (and some of these are his pictures). That's too bad, as head cross-compatibility might make for some humorous hybrid figs.




There's a pretty broad range of sets:



That picture shows 9 sets, but the BoingBoing article refers to 23 'products' (maybe that includes some gear). The BusinessWeek article notes that these are rolling out today in France, on the 26th in Britain, and January 1 in the US. I'm hoping we see some of these on the shelves sooner than that, as I'd love to get some of these as a Christmas gift for my daughter (earlier rollout is possible - the SuperHeroes sets were supposed to come out in January, but I saw four of them at TRU yesterday, but no Friends). The BusinessWeek article notes 5 main characters with storylines, and another 24 figs as supporting characters. Settings include "a salon, a horse academy, a veterinary clinic, and a café." Those seem to be sets 3187, 3188, not sure, and 3061 from the picture - we also see in the picture a pet show (3942) and a doghouse (3934), so maybe one of those is what they were referring to. We also see in the picture a car, a treehouse, a girls room, and a big house. We also see lots of less-common colors (more 'girly' colors, I suppose), and lots of new animal molds.

So, what do you think? Exciting development to attract more GFOLs? Condescending to girls, implying they don't build like boys? Who cares about the sociology, parts is parts and every new line gives us something new? Personally I think my little girl (age 4) will adore these, and she's just at the point where I'm starting to get her System LEGO, so I'm happy with these, but I'd love to hear what others say.

Bruce

[Tedward]

My nine-year-old daughter likes some of the sets but has been brainwa...err... educated by me so she is not impressed with the doll-figs or the more girly sets. She wants the cool new elements.

[Memsochet]

I was at TRU doing Christmas shopping today for my nephews & nieces. For my oldest brother's kids(2 boys & a girl) I always try to get stuff I would want(ie Lego & video games) because when I come down to visit I like to play with them. And I've gotten my niece the "pink bucket" before, but have not found much else(she loved the pink bucket & the girl collectable figs I sent with it) that I think she'd like in the way of Lego. I don't know if I'll end up getting her these or if she'll even like it. I wish they would have left the doll-figs out of it, and stayed with minifigs.

[Quickblade22]

Who cares about the sociology, parts is parts and every new line gives us something new?

This pretty much sums up most of it. Glad to see the hair looks compatible and it comes off in a regular way. I'll be keeping an eye out for how they look on female minifigs and checking Bricklink for some good pieces in the future. I think they should have kept the minifigs the same as the system minifigs. At least the Friends minifigs can be taken apart so the target audience can experience some of the things we love about our minifigs.....mixing and matching.

[Tower of Iron Will]

Who cares about the sociology, parts is parts and every new line gives us something new?

This pretty much sums up most of it. Glad to see the hair looks compatible and it comes off in a regular way. I'll be keeping an eye out for how they look on female minifigs and checking Bricklink for some good pieces in the future. I think they should have kept the minifigs the same as the system minifigs. At least the Friends minifigs can be taken apart so the target audience can experience some of the things we love about our minifigs.....mixing and matching.

I'll second this opinion by Quickblade, parts is parts and I'll look for them on Bricklink eventually.
-Tower

[RichardAM]

The new selection of purples, limes and medium blues are nice, but as my GF agreed- the sets would've been so much better with actual minifigs. I don't think the maxifigs really add anything truly unique?

[Ashkestral]

I would LOVE to get these for my nieces - but I feel I need to replace the figures with cute girl mini-figs.

I understand they are trying to reach a market of "girls who don't like lego" - but don't forget the girls who do like lego!

[Karalora]

Actually, this seems like a good compromise between Paradisa and Belville. The figures look like toys that non-LEGO fan girls might already be used to playing with while still being semi-compatible with System and the regular minifigs. It might do a better job than Belville of getting girls to make the leap.

[Bruce N H]

Actually, this seems like a good compromise between Paradisa and Belville. The figures look like toys that non-LEGO fan girls might already be used to playing with while still being semi-compatible with System and the regular minifigs.

I definitely agree. Compare:



Also, I've seen some more set pictures here. These include a singer (with stage and piano), a clothing designer (I need that printed ruler tile), and, most exciting to me as it plays against traditional girl stereotypes, a scientist/engineer (complete with a tiny version of a NXT robot, btw).

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/brick ... entist.jpg

BTW, every girl in the world named Andrea is going to get the singer set, at the very least for the printed 2x4 tile with their name.

Bruce

[Karalora]

That science lab set is extremely cool. I also like the show ribbons on the doghouse--if I'm not mistaken, it looks like they're attached to 1x1 SNOT bricks. We Castle fans could probably use those to spruce up our fairs and tournaments!

[Kosh]

I would LOVE to get these for my nieces - but I feel I need to replace the figures with cute girl mini-figs.

I understand they are trying to reach a market of "girls who don't like lego" - but don't forget the girls who do like lego!

I see the new "Friend's 'Figs" (I am reluctant to call them MaxiFigs as they don't quite fall into that definition for me) as an EXPANSION of 'fig types, not a 'down with the Minifig' type thing. By having a size somewhat bigger than a Minifig it makes it a bit more doll like, even if it's a PollyPocket or Bellville or even Fabuland scale for the 'fig. If the scale really bugs someone they CAN just some MiniFig's and replace the new style ones.

I am interested in getting some of these sets due to the very interesting expand color selection it provides. Very much in the vein of Joe Meno's quote at the end of the BusinessWeek article 'For all teh wrong reasons' (unless I am mis-remembering it).
Minifigs will be alright and live on, we will have all the new ones that LOTR must be coming forth with in addition to the other traditional and licensed themes.

[annie2200]

I actually think that a whole line fashioned towards girls like this disappoints me and I find it rude. Lego is about FUN for children of all ages. Why promote segregation of fans?



Plus these figures are tacky and I'm sure girls would prefer just more female minifigs.

[Bluesecrets]

I actually think that a whole line fashioned towards girls like this disappoints me and I find it rude. Lego is about FUN for children of all ages. Why promote segregation of fans?



Plus these figures are tacky and I'm sure girls would prefer just more female minifigs.

TLG in an international business. They have put four years into developing these sets and lines. As businesses do, they have researched, run focus groups and lots of product testing. This line is for girls from ages 5 and up. Apparently, girls LIKE these sets and lines. It is very keeping in with the toys of that age group.

With this line, you see TLG trying to incorporate the system bricks in with the girls line. This was not so with Belville, which had a lot of huge pieces that were not really “building” nor part of the system.

If you do not like the line and sets, do not buy them.

[Quickblade22]

1992 - 1997 Paradisa. Knock yourself out. The look of the Friends sets are way more compatible than Belville was. I think they did a good job at providing a better crossover line then they had in the past. I'm sure if they would have went the route of reintroducing the Paradisa line, there would be some fragile minds out there crying about "pink" being the predominate color. Can't please everybody.

[annie2200]

With this line, you see TLG trying to incorporate the system bricks in with the girls line. This was not so with Belville, which had a lot of huge pieces that were not really “building” nor part of the system.

That is a very good point, at which case I am glad it is not a continuation of Belville.

I love Paradisa, and own every set. Not for it's pink or girlishness, but for it's cool surfer dude outlook and the horses.

I was just disappointed is all, and this is all just my $0.02 as a female AFOL.