Lego Friends is a product range of the Lego construction toys designed primarily for girls. Introduced in 2012, the theme introduced the "mini-doll" figures, which are about the same size as the traditional minifigures but are more detailed and realistic. The sets include pieces in many color schemes such as orange and green or pink and purple, and depict scenes from suburban life set in the fictional town of Heartlake City. The main characters, one of which appears in every set, are Andrea, Emma, Mia, Olivia and Stephanie. The sets are usually named after them. In 2018, Lego revamped the minidolls and gave them new looks. The Friends product range replaced Lego's previous female-oriented theme Lego Belville, which had been in production since 1994, and featured dolls that were much larger than both the mini-dolls and minifigures. Other related product ranges have included Homemaker, Paradisa and Scala.
Release history
Lego Friends was launched in January 2012 in North America, with 14 sets being released. Overall the first wave included 23 sets and features five core characters, named Andrea, Emma, Mia, Olivia and Stephanie, in suburban settings. In the initial release the larger sets include bricks that can build a veterinary clinic, a malt-style café, a beauty salon and a suburban house; smaller sets included a "cool convertible," a design studio, an inventor's workshop and a swimming pool. Subsequent waves were released in future years, expanding on various interests of the characters and their friends. Specific themes have ranged from various vocational, recreational and academic interests to agriculture, equestrianism, wildlife animal rescue and rehabilitation, and pop stardom, all complementing suburbia-themed sets, as well as an Amusement park and skiing theme. The largest sets since the original wave have included Summer Riding Camp, Heartlake Shopping Mall and Heartlake Grand Hotel. Lego has also released accompanying products branded under the Friends theme. These include a picture frame which includes 49 Lego elements which is available from Lego brand stores and a display stand which includes 17 elements that was released as a promotional polybag. Amy Corbett was involved in Lego Friends from the beginning, and Bas Brederode has designed many Lego Friends sets and parts. In 2018, the LEGO Friends line released minor changes to the main characters. Mia's eyes changed from brown to green while her hair was changed from an actual red to true orange-based red, Emma and Andrea's eyes changed from green to brown and Andrea's got earrings, Olivia's skin became slightly darker and she got glasses and also now wore her hair up in a ponytailbraid, and Stephanie's smile was made a little bigger, and hair a lighter shade of blond, as it was dark blond in the original series. In 4th June 2019, it was announced that more sets were be released in 1st July 2019. This includes a set inspired by marine biologists.
Sales
According to NPR, Lego Friends are "one of the biggest successes in Lego's history... The line doubled sales expectations in 2012, the year it launched. Sales to girls tripled in just that year." The success has caused other construction-set companies such as Mega Blocks to introduce girl dolls.
Books
In June 2012, two books based on the Friends theme were released. Lego Friends: Welcome to Heartlake City and Lego Friends: Perfect Pet Show were released on June 18, 2012 by DK Publishing. Both books consist of 48 pages and are published in paperback. DK Publishing have also released a Lego Brickmaster book based on the Friends theme on September 17, 2012.
Animated series
Friends of Heartlake City
This series premiered in 2014. Season 1 Episodes :
Friends: The Power of Friendship
Another series titled Lego Friends: The Power of Friendship aired on Netflix on March 4, 2016. Episodes:
