Dorayaki

Well just imagine that in 2010 you put a LotR Cuusoo project that is exactly same as our current physical sets, and you got rejected as result, because most of the parts didn't even exist during that time. The only way to make perfect Zelda sets is waiting for cooperation between Nintendo and LotR.Before that, I guess Cuusoo projects fit in those licenses that characters are just simply portrayed by normal actors, like BTTF, BigBangTheory and Doctor Who. Larger monsters like Stay Puft Marshmallow Man are not allowed, unless they can be brickbuilt. But now GB heroes have nobody to fight with (invade Monster Fighters?).

Sorry, are you sure you're talking about competitors? If not I hope you could give a different reply, because it looks like you want to go to the dream licenses thread. I guess it's not about violent content or not. Every company has their own strategy, but if no companies want to do that, then it's still a major no.

Okay, I just say please calm down and make peaceful discussion. In the same way, all minifigure witches/wizards in Lego world can be assumed to be leaders. There have been actaul male wizard leaders in Castle subthemes (at least judging from the positions in chess sets). Those armies could be private human armies or summoned monsters. However Belville seldom introduce minion characters like the Castle themes do, and it seems like that the story booklets didn't mention the minions either. We may only assume that the princess's titles are not self-called . However I remember that Vanilla's parents exist so she's not the ruler of the Cold North yet.Anyway, Madam Frost is an iconic, original Lego witch IMO. Unfortunately there is no way for Belville canons to return. Thanx for your useful and detailed sharings. Maybe you can post some of these in Brickipedia. And BTW Professor Sam is much like a protagonist in the story, even though she's not a member of salvage crew at the beginning.

Interesting. It's nice to draw some custom paints of family's minifigure version.

Well I assume you're saying action figures or brickbuilt animals (something like Chima's legendary beasts). If we're making minifigure-scale Pokemon theme, the Lego production line can't afford making tons of Pokemon molds, while normal animals are more reusable. The discontinued Megabloks Pokemon series was alittle strange. Some human characters are actual figures, but the small Pokemons are just printed on cubes. However, the playset designs (gyms and city centers) do look somewhat fresh. Mostly it's assumed that Star Wars already covers a smiliar range. Remaing as a competitor might work better for Star Trek.

Well, I agree with this and I'm sure I don't expect to see these game licenses in Lego. Sorry, I typed wrong word so I deleted that. I also believe Minecraft is famous enough to be a Lego product. The debate here would be its origin from Cuusoo project since no passed/not-passed projects have more than two sets so far.

I'm not really sure if this sensitive topic should be in general discussion or embassy board. If some think it works better there, please inform me. Well I'm still loyal to LEGO and has no product of other brands on my hand to compare the details. However, during these years as long as TLC obviously skip many choices (especially in Cuusoo) due to their own picky guidelines, some competitors have gotten these abandoned choices and begin to make some "beatbacks", though not all of them are that successful. Are there licenses that you believe TLC should have got, and are there original themes ideas that TLC could have made used of in better ways? Here I just name some examples. If you want to discuss themes I didn't include, you may mention in replies . I don't focus on obvious clone brands or Chinese brands. License conflicts might not be in the major discussion (eg, Transformers for Hasbro KRE-O). MegaBloks Many of the MB product parts are integrated and unbuildable, But still it is one of the most long-running brand. Some of the children-oriented themes heavily rely on large parts specifically created for the sets. Figures from each theme have extremely different sizes and designs, which are not compatible at all. Barbie Now due to that Mattel has bought MB, this is absolutely a license in conflict with TLC. It is also an obvious rival to Friends (But is it a threat to Friends? I don't think so.) However I would like to see Barbie the character from Toy Story be a LEGO minifigure/doll. Another good point is at least MB introduced a child type of figure that Friends doesn't have so far. Smurf Smurf is so far my favourite license among the MB ones, but still most mushroom houses in MB designs lack of buildable elements that can hardly interest me. And MB didn't make any set based on the movies even though their release time was pretty close. Hello Kitty HK and other Sanrio mascots have been a popular among many other clone brick toy brands. But in other words maybe TLC doesn't like "red ocean marketing", and we rarely see TLC make pure mascots that aren't originated from media stories (Quiky and Julius are not actual themes). HALO, Call of Duty and WarCraft Online video game licenses have been obviously out of TLC's targeted market for a long time. I guess TLC would only choose the "safe" ones such as MineCraft Spongebob, Thomas and Dora These are the reason why MB is much hated. Thomas is very uncertain since TLC have been putting less focus on trains. Is Dora discontinued in MB now? COBI COBI's figures are more different and have a standardized size, though not every figure from different themes look the same. The building designs are between Megabloks and TLC, some of the sets feature original building designs and some of them use large parts. Small Army Military has been an issue in LEGO fanbase discussion. I'm not sure if these products are outside TLC's guideline, but generally they look okay. Wild Story Like early Adventurers, this theme focuses on wild adventures and different adult animals. Now Friends introduced Jungle sets so maybe we could see TLC make their new step again. Winx Club Beside LEGO Friends and MB Barbie, it's currently another obvious girls-oriented theme and TV show license. Honestly I'm not familiar with this show (and I'm not used to their prints ). It features and combines both fantasy and modern elements to its playsets to make it different. I guess TLC isn't interested in shows that don't use English as first language? Scooby-Doo The most classic Hanna-Barbera science-fiction license. Actually, since TLC begins cooperation with WarnerBros, perhaps there is a chance for TLC in the future when SD reboots again? OYO Sportstoys OYO features brick toys based on sport themes-- including football, hockey and baseball. Their minifigures are generally the same with LEGO's, but they added bendable knees to specific positions to make minifigures more vivid. Speaking directly, they copied the commercial approach of LEGO NBA theme, but under their brand they include a much wider selection of real players with various sport goods. Beside that, OYO also introduce referees and mascots, and invent their own field boards. I'm not sure if this series is popular among sport fans (I don't really watch sports), but these do look appealing. My criticism is that the mascots should really use original head molds like the Chima's, not those ugly prints. Actaully, since TLC had mentioned NBA characters again in recent TLM, could TLC consider to make NBA theme again? Especially that it totally matches CMF series though this kind of CMF series would only target at specific customers. K'NEX Though there is no standard product scale or figure size, K'NEX provide a different selections of themes. Their recent popular products are three famous video games including Pac-Man, Super Mario and Angrybirds. Super Mario K'NEX made it differentby having two lines under this license. One is traditional Super Mario Bros platformers, the other is Kart racing. As a game player, my critism is that it doesn't provide all racing characters from the video game, resulted in being unable to appeal Mario fans. And repetitive recolor versions in character blind bags show very little sincerity. Judging from the experience of Cuusoo Zelda, TLC doesn't show too much interest in Nintendo cooperation even though the game licenses can target at younger children. Angrybirds Buildable toys are obviously suitible with AB because it allows fans to customize their own physical stages and play like they did in nonphysical game world. Again, TLC isn't interested in getting AB mostly because it is a red ocean already.

Sorry, I'm mostly with Lyichir. The brick toys were originally "neutral", but we can't deny that those pre-packaged action themes are pretty unbalanced, and this topic is mostly about the default stories. The more detailed stories help designers to focus on more detailed minifigures and parts, but pros come with cons, it restricts common consumers to make pure customization based on the presumed stories. (i.e, You want to create a Ninjago ninja girl but there are no parts of an exclusive color for you to choose, unless you recolor them.) Action theme stories are extreme examples, now back to the topic. Since TLG now tend to provide more detailed designs, visually not all pure customizations could make the best effects. If TLG is capable of making detailed female leaders, why couldn't we expect it? The only problem I can think of is that typical soldiers have been lacking ladies, and TLG doesn't have to break that typical illusion (even if you just swap his head for "hers", it still looks abit strange). Adimiral's daughter is the only feasible way to add female addition to soldiers. Or it's mostly that the army is led by female royalty. And BTW, not to talk about the upcoming new Pirate ship, CMF series have been providing many obvious female leaders and it doesn't have gender marketing issue. Sice there was a male Pirate Captain, an Admiral Lady or Pirate Villianess in future series is expectable. (Well... though TLC would likely reuse Angelica's hairpiece in hat.)

Nah, don't think about it. Sorry I'm not meant to be mean. First, the achievement of video game licenses in TLC is usually difficult (eg, SW game characters from LucasArts), Second, products or crossover adaptions need to majorly focus on original characters so you can't expect them to do the whole thing, just think about how many licensed and existed characters appear in TLM physical sets? This is why toy companies aren't active in getting this license. Third, this video game series doesn't have too much progress recently, which is a pity, or not to me . Especially in point 2, the over-focus on original story part is somewhat the major problem of KH series. Sofia and other Junior shows could be better choices in your suggestion, but they mostly end up as Duplo versions .

Alright, yours are really much smarter. Hulk and Uni-Kitty kinda remind me of Saddle Rager. It could have been nice to get a Barbie minidoll if TLG invented minidolls then. Now Barbie minidolls wouldn't likely appear in the future even if there is a TS sequel and no license problem of MB, for that her role seemed to have ended in TS3 . My own collections are dolls, which can at least include Bo Peep. Being an Asian I'm not able to understand most film/voice actor puns, but I do envy those who can.

Pretty much agree. Even though honestly the Disney princess-related stories do mostly target at girls, most Disney classics are able to target at a wider range of customers such as AFOLs and parents who have been in that era. As others said, the current problem is more like that this themes doesn't expand as quickly as Superheroes, which is an worthy opponent. TLC doesn't look very sure of what to do next. Before another wave of minidolls we can't even discuss the "villian issue".

Wow, an exellent finding. There must be many unfound mysteries in northern Europe.

Yes, I think I'm pretty confused by your definition of "leader of a sub-theme". Correct to a degree. We know we can tell the status of minifigures because there have been more and more official Lego stories that tell who the minifigures are, such as "master builders" from TLM. Sometimes even if it's not about characters, from the parts that minifigures of sets hold, we can also tell that the female one isn't the no.1. Unless you swap parts or make customizations. Recent Pirate may not be the worst gender-biased case of the bunch, at least there have been some pirate ladies and mermaids. Having a pirate queen is another story. The Admiral's Daughter (Miranda?) is an uncertain character. From the set appearances she doesn't look like a leading role, but more like a necessary damsel in distress (though it's not like a Castle Princess's most of who are prisoned far,far away). Obviously the Legoland live shows need a parody character of Elizabeth Swann. The problem of Pirates is that the army side doesn't have any lady who are active in fighting. The soldiers are all typically male.

I'd say I can randomly name anyone that won't be in Lego sets (e.g, Richard Wh..... ) there are way too many characters in the two universes. It's easier to define the range that TLC is able and willing to do. The film adaptions and stories that once appeared before the Superheroes theme can be hardly considered. My assumption is, characters that appeared in the video games have 70% more chances than those who even didn't, excluding those who are featured in upcoming films.

Yes, I didn't think about that the kings do wear big crown-helmets, which looks like the highest rank. Maybe empress's would appear when TLC come up with a new design of crown with hair for empress's?Generally since empress's have been in real world for long time, the lack of leading ladies (both in throne or in army) is still not a good thing. Well, so she's leading the story, isn't she?

Unless there is a special plan, I guess TLC is more willing to make a new subtheme rather than making classic redesigns, nominally. Just like the Lego City Space Shuttle. I guess TLC assume that kids are more interested the fighting alliens scenario rather than building realistic spaceports and spaceships. I do like to see a more sophisticated design of modern ports and ships. It's more awesome than those recurring City trucks.

41055 sarcasm time. Note Bruno and Lucifer are officially noted in the description. The Lucifer also looks nothing like himself but I don't reuse the same pun here. No, it's already been awkward in the DC Universe.

Most themes that doesn't have a media story advestising depends on whether TLG have made a clear hint in physical products. City is the most generic theme, while some other action/space themes are occasional. Their gender issue they have is the ratio of female minifigures in general. Friends and Ninjago focus on a group of team, so it's still reasonable to count them all. Olivia and Kai are the newest addtion of their own team at first in the media story. Chima's storyline clearly focuses on Laval so Eris can only be called a deuteragonist, not a leading one. Belville's story booklets featured the princesses. Yes, she is a protagonist of a story, which is pretty rare in Lego licenses even though her license is underrated. Offtopic: among the Disney ones, Rapunzel is obviously the future ruler and Cinderella leads rats, but Merida isn't ensured due to her cultural backrground? Not sure what's Princess Storm's title in her own Castle era.I'm not very familiar with Medieval elements, do most Castle themes hint that kings are the leaders and queens are their wife? Or some of the minifigures might be the empress and the prince consort?

Not really. It depends on your own way of playing but generally the current Lego canon doesn't recognize the "outdated" molds. If you're saying the elephants from Adventurers, I guess it counts one of them. Many animals introduced before 2000 aren't used anymore. The current ways to get animals are : Friends animal packs, horses, CMF mini animals, City Forest/Arctic bears and dogs and some licensed animals. The discontinued recent themes you may still get are Dino and Lego City Farm. If imaginary animals count, there have been many different dragons in Castle and action themes. Speaking of Chima, crocodiles also have been in System for long time, they just appeared in TLM. Shells are sort of creatures if starfishes are? Tons of animals from Duplo deserve a System scale, especially the adult ones.

I think we shouldn't go too far or we're just naming all female characters. Well, comparing leading a whole theme story or a faction, I guess the first one is more important in the Lego worold . Seriously. besides the girls-oriented theme (Belville, Friends and the Disney princesses), there are no actual female leading protagonists in any of the relevant Lego stories. Which is somewhat a miss to appeal a neutral market. If counting non-phisycal, Gleeson from Under Cover storyline is a mayor. Is Madam Frost a leader? I didn't have a chance to read Belville stories.

Judging from the fact Frozen, the most recent Disney animated theatrical film, wasn't promoted by TLC like what they did with previous Lone Ranger, it does look like that TLC haven't determined to make the whoe thing. The recent Simpsons theme is a similar case. It might not be due to a gender-oriented marketing strategy (I personally despise that). Most likely, TLC is waiting for a seasonal financial statement before they can design another wave. Regardless of that, the subcharacter issue and some other details mean that these sets could have been better. I believe Disney is powerful enough to be sold to the general markets that include adults and families.

Why not? I don't think any license fan would reject this. Only three or four based on the movie is enough. But this is still a sensitive issue. Suppose that LEGO PotC must return in 2016, maybe this possible Pirates wave would be just like the previous temporary Castle waves that only last one year. Well judging from that Sea Cow we know TLC doesn't mind to make some generic sets to fill the vacancy of time, but lets hope that the general Pirate line won't be discontinued for good.

I also want villains but let's be honest. Based on the fact there are not too many sets, large scenes and stories in the first wave, it's hard to discuss. Only a sceond wave can bring more comparisons. It's like complaining no Green Latern in any Superhero set. For now the problem you talked about might only happen in the two largest ones since both only have two figures despite their product size. The only villian that was really missing from the scenes seems to be Gothel. The castle one doesn't really need villians (Cinderella's family), but Godmother and her animal friends are nice additions to this. The Friends animals are just totally confusing additions.

Uh, the theme is a licensed one, its just that you're sticking to the theme, or you're just using the materials for an original project. To me yours might be similar with Oky's Racing Cars even though they didn't actually appear in the stories. It's a pretty decent adaption and perhaps a good modern British royalty car (feels like the Queen from Cars).