Normally when one mentions sculptures being built on a LEGOLAND theme park somewhere in the world, the immediate assumption is that it’s a brand new multi-brick model or edifice designed by that park’s master builders and put together with high ladders and even cranes. It’s a LEGO park after all. Well, with the UK now getting started with their summer season, LEGOLAND Windsor is joining the fun by introducing a new sculpture to advertise the park’s Summer of Fun beach-party themed event period. But rather than splurge on more bricks to assemble, this build is a sand sculpture like you would find on a beach.
Guests to LEGOLAND Windsor will most definitely appreciate the sight of giant LEGO minifigures sitting on lounge chairs at the beach, all rendered in nicely-packed sand. This is the handiwork of professional sand sculptor Raymond Wirick, hired by LEGOLAND Windsor to illustrate “Summer of Fun”.
LEGOLAND Windsor Senior PR Manager Lauren Moss is well aware that most occasions when celebrated by the park and resort is celebrated by a new build, but they wanted to try something new by getting Wirick to make a sand sculpture for their summer event, which will last two months.
Aside from the minifigure sculpts, the main attraction of LEGOLAND Windsor’s “Summer of Fun” event is a “pop-up beach” featuring sand, pails, shovels and deck chairs for resort guests to build sand-castles and more to their hearts’ content. This will be around in LEGOLAND Windsor from July until September 2.
It’s hard to miss the fact that LEGO is heavily invested on other forms of media and communication well outside its core offering of toys and educational children’s products. Films and TV shows? They’re covered. How about videogames? LEGO has them too, from console titles to some fun mobile apps. And it’s incredible how many LEGO mobile apps they’re developing concurrently. Aside from baseline LEGO builds rendered in AR, and the app controls for the new LEGO Batmobile (76112), there’s a new app launched that’s based on the popular BrickHeadz line of cute brick-built figures. It’s called (simply) BrickHeadz Builder.
If you have seen LEGO Studio-AR in action then you have an idea how LEGO BrickHeadz Builder works: access to and manipulation of virtual copies of official LEGO sets to build and place on an AR environment in your phone or tablet. The primary focus however is the assembly and editing of a BrickHeadz figure serving as your player avatar.
Once your BrickHeadz is complete, you can participate in challenges and mini-games to unlock more stuff and BrickHeadz characters, build other LEGO sets, place sets and BrickHeadz to make your own vignettes to save in photo or video, and even set AI patterns to your BrickHeadz and let them do their own thing on-screen.
LEGO Group VP for Digital Games and Apps Sean McEvoy has great hopes for LEGO BrickHeadz Builder to become a hit with mobile gaming and LEGO fans. “We hope this new digital experience will inspire children to continue exploring their creativity and imagination in the physical brick world, where building possibilities are endless,” he said.
For the moment, LEGO BrickHeadz Builder is only available for Android devices, and can be downloaded from Google Play Store. It’s completely free and features no in-app purchases at all.
This could well be the ultimate AFOL dream. The LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Manchester, UK is looking for a new Master Model Builder and the job description is to build and play with LEGO every day (for 5 working days that is). It is expected to draw thousands of applications worldwide considering the fact that the position is so rare that one has even a higher chance of being an astronaut! As mentioned on the LEGOLAND Manchester’s recruitment page, the unique position is one of only 23 in the world, less than a fifth of the number of trained astronauts. Currently the LEGOLAND branch has Alex Bidolak as its resident Master Builder, and soon he will be joined by the successful applicant.
Alex Bidolak is LEGOLAND Discovery Center Manchester’s resident Master Builder.
Qualified applicants will go through a series of paces headed none other than by the theme park’s ‘toughest’ panel of judges – LEGOLAND’s Creative Crew made up of children ages 6 to 10.
The most rigorous panel of LEGO judges – the LEGOLAND Creative Crew.
The kids panel will challenge applicants to come up with their own series of creative builds, giving them the chance to show off if they have the bricks for the position. As far as LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Manchester is concerned, this is the very first time that they followed this recruitment strategy, giving it a fun, LEGO twist. After all, the spirit of LEGO is all about playing well.
According to Jenn McDonough, General Manager of Manchester Cluster, Merlin Entertainments, “This is a hugely exciting time at Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester. Such is the success of our popular family attraction, that we now need a second master model builder to join the fast-paced and brilliantly creative team here, to provide guests with an even more memorable and fun experience whilst visiting the attraction.”
Alex Bidolak at work and at play at LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Manchester, UK.
So if you think that you have what it takes to be the next Master Model Builder of the planet, then be sure to submit your intention right here. Afterwards, check your email to confirm your interest and wait for your next big, brick-building adventure.
If you are attending San Diego Comic Con next week, chances are you’re their not just for the panel interviews and events, but also for the LEGO SDCC exclusive items that will be out for grabs. These items are treated as gold in these fan conventions, with aftermarket prices (shame to those scalpers) that can soar to ridiculous heights especially at eBay. To address the situation and to ensure fairness in the distribution of these limited, ultra rare LEGO items , SDCC organizers have set up an online, electronic lottery system to determine qualifying attendees.
Though the SDCC Exclusives Portal has already been closed at 12PM (PDT) today following the deadline for submission of interest, for those who are fortunate enough to make it on time, the SDCC website announced that the Exclusives Portal random selection process will take place on or around July 13, 2018.
For a quick recap, here are the LEGO SDCC exclusive minifigures that will be given away during specific days at this year’s San Diego Comic Con.
Keep your fingers crossed and let us know in the comments below if you’re attending this year’s SDCC and if you made the cut in having these LEGO SDCC exclusive minifigures.
The recent introduction of the LEGO Plants from Plants (40320), a collection of botanical-themed building elements advertised as being the first set wholly manufactured using plant-based plastics, is the first big step by the company towards the use of sustainable materials for its products; the promotional push speaks for itself. In fact, there’s going to be a LEGO event for UK fans happening on the first weekend of next month, and it will be in association with a celebrated institution, the London Natural History Museum. Themed after one of LEGO’s ongoing promotions for the Plants from Plants (40320) set, participating children at the Natural History Museum will come up with their own sustainable superhero figure made of building elements from LEGO’s Plants from Plants (40320). They’ll do this by checking out museum exhibits to learn about nature and environment together with LEGO’s first botanical superhero, Plantus Maximus.
Taking only an hour long per session per day, the “Quest with Plantus Maximus” will have groups of five participants per session (3 children, 2 adults), and their sustainable superhero creations will get to join LEGO’s original character Plantus Maximus (made of the Plants from Plants parts) in a conceptual wildlife-friendly city of their own design.
The flyer that comes inside the box of the Plants from Plants (40320) set. Image courtesy of Hoth Bricks.
Do note that while the London Natural History Museum LEGO event is free, interested builders in the area must book to join online at the museum’s official website. Said online booking for “Quest with Plantus Maximus” should open before the event period running August 3-5.
LEGO’s sustainable “Plants from Plants” set will have an official launch this coming August 1.
Starting this Thursday is one of the major LEGO conventions to be held annually on the West Coast. The Bricks by the Bay is a big gathering of LEGO builders and fans around northern California, and an epic showcase of the best latest MOCs from creators in the area.
Running from July 12 to 15, Bricks by the Bay will be composed of two facets: the full four-day convention itself for participating LEGO builders with MOCs to display, and the two-day exposition of said MOCs on Saturday and Sunday (July-14-15) for general public admission and fun.
For those who are interested to attend the entire four-day convention, the only registration possible for joining the Bricks by the Bay 2018 will be at the door of the venue of the Santa Clara Convention Center. It’s $105 per late participant, and though they may no longer receive event souvenirs or exclusive freebies and there might be no guarantee that any MOC they brought could make the judging, still, attending the workshops and listening to master builders are all worth it. On the other hand, for those who are interested only to attend the 2-day public expo, you may click here to purchase tickets.
Once you’re registered however, it’s all LEGO-building paradise and camaraderie with workshops, games, panel speakers, meet-and-greets with famous MOC builders and more, especially considering the general theme of this con is Animation. Later guests who will arrive for the public exhibit are sure to find some mind-blowing MOCs in that theme (Saturday 11AM-3PM; Sunday 10AM-4PM).
In addition, there will be vendors on site for any exhibit viewer who has been inspired by what they see to purchase a LEGO set or two, plus various accessories. It’s a building bonanza from Thursday all the way to the start of next week with the Santa Clara Bricks by the Bay LEGO convention.
It seems that we have our final LEGO SDCC 2018 minifigure reveal. After the official announcement of the this year’s LEGO SDCC Sheriff Deadpool and Black Lightning, LEGO once more took to Twitter to unveil its next (and most probably last) exclusive LEGO SDCC 2018 minifig – from LEGO Movie 2’s Apocalypseburg Unikitty.
As you can see from the above image, this version of the herald of positivity is now far different from what she used to be from the first LEGO Movie. Personally, I’m not really a fan of the Unikitty series, but I have to say that like Sheriff Deadpool, this Apocalypseburg Unikitty minifig is beautifully detailed. It has two interchangeable expressions: Rage Kitty and Angry Kitty. It even features a unique unicorn tail piece with pointed scales – which makes this kitty quite intimidating actually. It also has a side-mounted rocket launcher in reference to how Unikitty looks like in the LEGO Movie 2 trailer.
I have to admit that though this Unikitty SDCC 2018 exclusive is excellently crafted, I couldn’t help but to be a bit disappointed on LEGO’s choice of candidate. We already have a handful of Unikitty figures since the launch of her theme, so having another one somehow dampens the excitement. Love it or hate it, this Apocalypseburg Unikitty will surely be a hit to a particular section of LEGO fandom.
This LEGO Movie 2 minifigure exclusive Apocalypseburg Unikitty will be available to attendees via a lottery system on July 22 at the LEGO Booth from 10AM to 12NN.
I’ve been featuring numerous LEGO-themed books here in the blogsite for quite some time already – ranging from simple activity books intended for younger LEGO fans, to inventories and LEGO MOC building tips and design for older, fully engaged fans of the brick. Most of these books simply cater to the common interest that most of us have: a new LEGO set or subtheme that is set to be the most recent craze, new milestones about the LEGO Group, or simply for the sake of that exclusive minifigure or special LEGO parts that come along with the book. However, this recent book entitled The Ideal Order by seasoned writer and LEGO fan Dr. Christoph Bartneck is kind of difficult to categorize because it is a class on its own. So if you think you have seen and known what all those LEGO books out there has to offer, then you may want to read on for the next few minutes and see what The Ideal Order has in store.
The Ideal Order is not entirely much about the LEGO brick itself, but our relationship towards it as a fan and devotee of this ubiquitous toy. It deals with issues that almost all AFOLs like us can relate to – dealing with the ups and downs of life and making sense out of it through the help of our common interest towards LEGO. Often times when I work with a certain LEGO set, or just simply trying to put order in that chaotic pile of LEGO pieces, is in itself already therapeutic. I liken it to a form of positive escape from the crazy humdrum of day-to-day activities. In a way, The Ideal Order perfectly captures that feeling of working with LEGO pieces while at the same time, learning to deal with some of life’s most difficult issues. The story of Dr. Park’s life and the struggles that he faced, echoes what most of us have silently faced for some time already. If you consider yourself to be a true fan of the LEGO brick then reading this book is a must.
Here’s a brief summary of Dr. Bartneck’s The Ideal Order.
Dr. Rob Park’s life is out of order. His estranged wife is leaving him, the relationship to his daughters is strained and his academic career is at a dead end. He escapes into the cult of LEGO and the study of classification systems. By sorting his collection of LEGO bricks he reconnects to his daughters and he maintains his sobriety while maneuvering in the bizarre world of academia. Prof. Dr. Smith and his newly found Adult Fans Of LEGO help him to find a new structure for himself, his brick collection and his family.
Dr. Bartneck’s goal in writing this book is to ultimately help AFOLs go through that rough patch in their lives by trying to connect our passion for the LEGO brick to a renewed sense of our selves, and appreciation to those who really matter to us. He is even kind enough to offer a FREE copy of The Ideal Order to anyone interested by simply visiting his site and downloading a copy of his book either in PDF or ePub formats.
As part of his efforts to reach more AFOLs, Dr. Bartneck also offers a radio play version of his book which will be available across multiple media platforms such as Apple iTunes, Google Music, Stitcher, and TuneIn. He also plans to offer this radio play version as a podcast feed, with 12, 30-minute episodes all in all, with each episode to be released every Friday starting tomorrow. Here’s a teaser on what to expect in the podcast.
If you wish to support Dr. Bartneck’s work and his other publications, please do him a favor by visiting his website, and check out the other books that he has written.
Here’s another LEGO DK book to add to any LEGO fan’s library. Following the announcement of an updated LEGO Star Wars Visual Dictionary, DK has announced another LEGO-themed book that offers a fresh, new perspective on everything that we love about the LEGO brick. The LEGO Book New Edition explores the story of the LEGO Group and its iconic products, just in time with the patented LEGO brick’s 60th anniversary, and the 40th year of the LEGO minifigure. As an added bonus, LEGO and DK publishing is including an exclusive, printed LEGO brick that goes with the book.
Celebrate and explore the incredible story of the LEGO Group and its much-loved bricks, sets, minifigures, movies, games, and more with this updated and expanded edition.
Take a dazzling visual tour through all the groundbreaking moments in LEGO® history, from the company’s humble beginnings in a carpenter’s workshop to the invention of the iconic LEGO brick and LEGO minifigure, through to the stunning toys, video games and movies of today, including LEGO® Star Wars™, THE LEGO® NINJAGO® MOVIE™, and LEGO® Dimensions. This special edition of The LEGO® Book has been fully updated and expanded with the latest LEGO sets and fascinating facts to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the LEGO brick and the 40th anniversary of the minifigure. Go behind the scenes to learn how LEGO bricks are made; find out how amazing fan creations become real-life LEGO sets, and marvel at how LEGO bricks made it to the computer screen and the big screen. Created in full collaboration with the LEGO Group, The LEGO® Book is a treasure trove for LEGO fans of all ages.
Though the image posted in Amazon seems to be a prelim and does not show how this exclusive LEGO brick looks like, I hope it is something different from the 2×4 60th year commemorative plate that LEGO has released with the Build Bigger Thinking sets. I reckon that this exclusive brick may somehow be similar to the commemorative 3M beam that was released together with 2017’s LEGO Technic sets.
The LEGO Book New Edition is now available for pre-order via Amazon, retailing for $25. It is scheduled for release on October 2, 2018.
It looks like the most suave galactic gambler in this side of the galaxy will have more LEGO minifigs under his belt. Thanks to a confirmed report from The Hollywood Reporter, it was reported earlier this week that veteran actor Billy Dee Williams will be reprising his role as Lando Calrissian for the yet to be titled, Star Wars: Episode IX.
According to THR, Billy Dee Williams is reported to return to his most famous role that etched the name of Lando in the hearts of any true-blue Star Wars fan. Williams’ return to the big screen is a sort of a refresher, considering how the first two films from the modern trilogy, The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, practically ended the Skywalker’s saga with the death of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker respectively. Coupled with the untimely death of Carrie Fisher who played the role of Princess Leia, Lando’s return to this post-Skywalker Star Wars era is like a breath of fresh, nostalgic air.
Undoubtedly, LEGO already has worked out several upcoming LEGO Star Wars Episode IX sets that are due for release in time of the film’s debut on December 20, 2019. And it’s no speculation to consider that a Star Wars character as famous as Lando Calrissian will once more have the LEGO minifigure treatment. If you recall, LEGO opted to include two LEGO Star Wars sets that include Han Solo during his twilight years in The Force Awakens. Specifically, the Millennium Falcon (75105) and Rathtar Escape (75180) sets both included an aged Han Solo as we see him before his death in TFA. It is not a longshot to consider that somewhere along the LEGO pipeline, LEGO also has something in the works that will include 1 or 2 sets highlighting the seasoned Lando.
As of to date, the latest LEGO Star Wars set to include Lando as a minifigure is the Han Solo set Kessel Run Millennium Falcon (75212) released earlier this year. There is also a rumored re-release of the LEGO Star Wars Cloud City set which might also include another Lando Calrissian minifigure, though LEGO is still yet to confirm this.
The LEGO Star Wars Cloud City (10123) set from 2003.
We still have no idea what Star Wars Episode IX has in store, and we have to leave it to our imaginations to consider what LEGO has in the works for any tie-in sets. For now, since more and more news of the film’s cast is being revealed and Billy Dee Williams is sure to return as Lando, the LEGO Star Wars landscape is sure to be better. Star Wars: Episode IX is scheduled to be released on December 20, 2019. For the latest LEGO Star Wars sets out there, be sure to check shop.LEGO.com.
