By now, fans of both classic TV animation and LEGO are busy poring over the images of the LEGO Ideas set for “The Flintstones” (21316) that were released in the lead-up towards the New York Toy Fair this past weekend. It and another set, Treehouse, were the two selected product ideas from the First 2018 Review Stage, with the former expected to arrive this March.
Amid the discussion regarding the quality of the final Ideas product (21316) with the original creation of Andrew Clark, the LEGO Ideas Review Panel is continuing its massive backlog of examining 10-K submissions on their online platform. This Monday they finally publicized their choices from the Second 2018 Review Stage, over four months after the First 2018 Review Stage results.
Interestingly, both these new, official and upcoming LEGO Ideas sets have some pretty familiar tunes attached to them. First we have Steamboat Willie from Máté Szabó (Ideas username szabomate90). He worked on this build to commemorate Mickey Mouse’s 90th anniversary, though it’ll be coming late to the party. As for the familiar tune, Mickey’s whistling is sampled in the logo for Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Next, we have Aymeric Fievet/Mric76’s splendid recreation of the Central Perk Café, a prominent gathering place and interior location setting for NBC’s iconic sitcom “Friends.” The set itself is quite wide and roomy, allowing for seven minifigures of the show’s main characters to hang out and have lots of fun. Oh, and you’re probably hearing The Remembrandts’ “I’ll Be There for You” in your heads as you read this blurb.
We’re going to look forward to seeing these licensed-property LEGO Ideas sets being revealed sometime this year, if the gap between the Ideas Flintstones (21316) announcement and official unveiling is any indication. Now, the ball’s in the Third 2018 Review Stage, the five finalists of which were announced last month.