Does the world really need separate LEGO sets for boys and girls? Certainly not the mystical world of LEGO Elves.
In March of this year LEGO introduced a new line of construction sets featuring unique colours, gorgeous design elements and a theme that any fantasy fiction fan could get behind. Why stop at Tolkien when you can go full-on elf, right?
The only problem with this new LEGO Elves line is that it’s an offshoot of the LEGO Friends line, which are the pink-boxed sets that never seem to make it into the same aisle at department stores as LEGO Creator, LEGO City, LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Chima and the rest of the standard sets. These are LEGO sets marketed towards girls.
Now I have no problem with tossing a little pink on a box in order to trick parents into purchasing a toy that’s traditionally thought of as a boy thing for their girl things. LEGO is a toy for everyone with an imagination, and if it takes trickery to get it into the hands of some of those imaginations, then so be it.
What I do have a problem with is this:
These are not LEGO minifigures. These are tiny dolls that are keeping my bustling elven kingdom from merging with my modern LEGO city.
Poor tiny Chris Pratt (one of three tiny official LEGO Chris Pratts, along with Star Lord and Raptor Biker Bro). He knows this is not right. What’s with the waists? The round feet? The slightly defined breasts? Who are these mutants, and what have they done with his squat little friends?
I’ve bought each set in the LEGO Elves line, from the $US14.99 Adventure Hollow to the $US49.99 Elves’ Treetop Hideaway, and I’ve been impressed with nearly every aspect of each, save the one. The colours are vibrant and spectacular. The designs are imaginative and exotic while affecting a uniform atmosphere.
My personal favourite — the set that started me on the path to comprehensive elf ownership — is Naida’s Epic Adventure Ship. I love the purple and light blue, and the gold accents make the whole thing pop. The build was quite fun, coming together quickly and quite nicely. The cloth sail is an excellent touch.
I just can’t stand Naida. Sometimes, when no one is looking, I like to pose Transformers looming over her threateningly.
Obviously I enjoy the LEGO Elves set. Hell, I spent $US10 on the cardboard mat LEGO sells for display purposes. All I really want is an easy way to exchange these twisted tiny plastic dolls into a more appealing form. I could go the custom route, but it would be lovely if each LEGO Elves set — or each LEGO Friends set (especially the Disney ones) — came with a mail-in card to purchase traditional minifig versions of the characters.
That way we can all hang out together and be buddies.
Comments
4 responses to “The Only Thing Wrong With LEGO Elves Is The Elves Themselves”
Here’s what I wanna know: Do they have holes in their feet so you can plug them into other Lego sets?
yes, they do.
I think this fits into the author not being part of the target audience, and trying to impose his views on LEGO sets targeted to a different demographic.
My manager’s daughter (6 years old) collects the LEGO sets targeted to her and she absolutely loves them. Since she is the targeted demographic I’d say her opinion holds higher. Get thee behind me, Grumpy Old Man and let the girls play with their Elves!
I gotta say I agree with you here. Whilst these are not my 31-year-old cup of tea, they might well have tickled my fancy as a six year old, as well as a pirate-themed LEGO set.
If left to children alone, without any input from parents, the Internet, society, et al, little boys and little girls will just pick up and play with whatever takes their interest, whether it’s marketed for boys or girls. I was hanging out with my four year old (male) cousin the other day who was wearing girls’ bracelets and necklaces and hairbands and rings, but was playing with trains. He just plays with what he likes.
The packaging should be less skewed towards boys or girls, but the content of this seems fine, if simply not traditional LEGO style.
You had me at “defined breasts”
Lego has tried normal Minifigs with a splash of pink in the past and it didn’t take off. Neither did the god awful large posable figures with actual clothes. In between there have been many attempts to engage more girls and women in building Lego.
I really like some of the sets, and wish regular lego had some of this flair. Like Fahey I don’t like the different figures but not for the same reason.
The Friends heads and hair are compatible with other figs, what I dislike is that they could have designed the friends figures to also use standard arms too (they are unusually straight, without twisting wrists).
Most importantly and a mistake in my book is that the figures can’t ‘sit’ there aren’t any studs on the back of the legs. meaning when they drive a car or plane the figure is tossed around the cabin.
For ‘girls’ Lego I give friends a 9/10 it is the best design I’ve seen for this market. I hope they expand the line with more than just shopping malls, kitchens, and pet stores. Women do much more and while friends delve into camping and exploring, I’d like to see engineering, science, teaching, and more of what little girls can imagine as they build, create, and play.