2022 Friends Rumours, Leaks, Information And Discussion

[Aanchir]

On 4/22/2022 at 9:17 AM, Lyichir said:

First picture of Andrea's Theater School (via Lego's instruction manual page). Smallish pic but it looks great!

What a brilliant set! It's very clever how they designed the curtains to open and close. The box seats, pipe organ, and wall decor add a great sense of luxury/opulence. It also looks like the whole model can fold closed for storage and/or street scene displays. Andrea's signature color scheme she's had since 2018 (Bright Reddish Violet, Flame Yellowish Orange, and Bright Bluish Green) is well-represented here, but balanced out nicely by the use of earth tones like Brick Yellow and Dark Orange.

I'm glad the designers included plenty of audience seating. While you'd need to combine the set with figures from other sets to really fill all those seats, the four mini-dolls included provide enough variety for plenty of play scenarios like auditions, stage prep, and dress rehearsals. And the ticket window is a neat detail for when "opening night" finally arrives.

The various costume accessories and props offer a wide range of different "story starters" for kids playing with the set, and the SNOTted backdrop seems very customization-friendly. I'm curious if the set will actually include an alternate backdrop (or building instructions for one), since so many of the props and costumes seem geared towards different settings than the urban backdrop shown here. It'd also be neat if the backstage area included some "behind the scenes" accessories like a paint roller for painting new backdrops.

Having taken a technical theater class in high school, I do feel a bit bummed that the spotlights are so simple compared to the speakers, and don't resemble the big cylindrical spotlights that I got to work with in that class. But I suspect that may have been a practical constraint to avoid any collisions when folding the building shut.

Looking forward to seeing it from more angles — judging from what little we can see of the sidewalk and signage on the far right, it looks like the exterior will have its fair share of detail as well!

23 minutes ago, The Brick Rat said:

According to Promobricks it's 99.99 euros, which means it should be the same in US dollars. They are also listing a June 1 release.

Just checked there and they also list a piece count of 1154 pieces. Between that and the volume of contents shown in this image, it seems like a pretty decent value to me!

I'm eager to see pictures of more of the Friends summer sets. It's very neat to me that there are so many sets focusing on educational experiences related to the interests of the five main characters — especially since so many of the sets in the first half of the year were more focused on the wider community than on the main characters as individuals. I've really developed a fondness for these characters from watching the "Girls on a Mission" animated series, so it's really heartwarming to see them taking further steps to pursue their dreams.

When I look at these sets, I can envision all sorts of stories about the girls enrolling in these various specialized programs over the summer, and then coming together again in the fall to tell each other all about the unique experiences they enjoyed while they were apart. And those groundbreaking new experiences for them also mean groundbreaking new sets like the theater school and space academy for builders like us to enjoy!

[Maple]

Thanks Brick Rat!
Looks really large, but $100 is a lot. I do like different so I give LEGO a lot of credit on that.

[Lyichir]

Videos of the theater school! Lots of fun details and easter eggs, as well as a better look at the facade with it closed up.

EDIT: More pics here as well https://www.coolshop.co.uk/product/lego-friends-andreas-theater-school-41714/23A4P7/

Edited April 25, 2022 by Lyichir

[Aanchir]

There are more pictures here as well!

Some details that caught my eye:

• The front of the building features a cylindrical marquee, plus posters for three plays — one of which features Noctura from LEGO Elves!
• There are street signs for "Brickadilly Circus" and "Builder's Place" on either side of the building.
• The front sidewalk/pavement features a red carpet, a lamppost, and a nifty cylindrical postbox.
• The stage includes a trapdoor for dramatic exits.
• Backstage areas include:
  • Prop and costume storage rooms, where the various 2x2 and 2x4 side builds from the first image we saw can be attached when the building is closed.
  • A utility closet with accessories like a broom, umbrella, and fire extinguisher.
  • A dressing room with a mirror, brush, and lipstick.
  • A bathroom
• There are two interchangeable backdrops provided: a nighttime cityscape and a daytime castle scene. The castle's yellow and red color scheme is a clear callback to the classic "Yellow Castle".
• The names of the three new characters are Prof. Adrian, Freya, and Ollie.

[TeriXeri]

Certainly a cool set, LEGO trying different things like this is nice, the outside entrance facade / backstage adds so much more then just yet another stage set.

 

 

Edited April 25, 2022 by TeriXeri

[Maple]

The theatre's exterior is amazing! Very nice work by the designers.

[RichardGoring]

The theatre is excellent! Continues to add to my opinion that Friends is the best LEGO theme. It covers everything really well.

The red curtains look like they're made of cloth, but also have a stud in the corner, which is curious.

[Lyichir]

1 hour ago, RichardGoring said:

The theatre is excellent! Continues to add to my opinion that Friends is the best LEGO theme. It covers everything really well.

The red curtains look like they're made of cloth, but also have a stud in the corner, which is curious.

It's not a stud in the corner—it's a 1x1 "nipple" plate that's presumably attached through a hole in the cloth (probably to a 1x1 plate with hole, to weigh down that corner of the curtain since a thin fabric curtain doesn't have the natural weight of a real one)

[RichardGoring]

14 minutes ago, Lyichir said:

It's not a stud in the corner—it's a 1x1 "nipple" plate that's presumably attached through a hole in the cloth (probably to a 1x1 plate with hole, to weigh down that corner of the curtain since a thin fabric curtain doesn't have the natural weight of a real one)

Ah ha! That makes sense. Thanks!

[Maple]

Without the use of the cloth piece I don't think the set would close correctly.

[Lyichir]

1 hour ago, Maple said:

Without the use of the cloth piece I don't think the set would close correctly.

Do you mean if the curtains were brick-built? The opening and closing of the curtain is one of the main features of a set like this, and for that they need to be fabric anyway.

[DragonElves]

Well, the friends theme just keeps getting better and better! Such an eclectic mix of sets for the summer, emma’s art school looks spectacular, the roller disco is fun. A great mix of mini dolls as well and I’m very happy about the new giraffe and zebra of course, I thought we might get a giraffe after the picture in the Main Street building. A special mention to the recycling truck, I don’t think they could’ve done a better job.

Edited May 1, 2022 by DragonElves
https://www.jb-spielwaren.de/lego-friends/

[TeriXeri]

Roller disco has so much transparent and neon colors 

Recycling truck just does what it says ,very good.

Art School looks like a midi Modular Building almost.

Edited May 1, 2022 by TeriXeri

[Aanchir]

Roller Disco Arcade is wonderful! All the neon colors are a delight, as is the streamlined exterior. The arcade games (a traditional arcade machine with joystick, a DDR-style dance pad game, and an air hockey board) are wonderfully varied. The bowling alley feels very authentic, right down to the removable ramp for wheelchair users like Jackson! And while the roller rink itself is small, the gear function looks like it will really bring the model to life. There are even lockers for people to stash their belongings while out on the rink. Not to mention a phone stand so you can play music to really give it that authentic roller rink feel.

The art school is gorgeous, and I love how varied the different studios/classrooms are. Looks like there's a photo studio, a ceramics studio, a fashion design studio, a 3D modelling studio (with 3D printers), and a plein air painting class. The beaux-arts architecture is really amplified by the set's gentle color scheme, and I love that signage with the giant pencil and paintbrush! LEGO has definitely gotten really good with brick-built signage in recent years across all sorts of themes. It's also neat that there are customizable mosaics on the left wall so kids playing with the set can create and display artworks of their own!

The recycling truck has a great function, and the various trash can colors we've seen in other sets this year make a lot more sense after seeing them used here for sorting purposes. I love Emma and River's high-visibility work vests too!

The Friends theme has a great track record with boat sets, and the new Sailing Adventure set is no exception. Despite being a much smaller boat than the Dolphin Cruiser or Sunshine Catamaran, it's still got an impressive amount of detail inside the cabin, and a fantastic custom hull design. It seems to have all the essential details a sailboat needs (even a rudder, which previous Friends boat sets have often gone without) and of course the color scheme is utterly gorgeous.

I wasn't sure what to expect from Mia's Animal Rescue Mission, but I sure wasn't expecting a zebra and giraffe! The color scheme definitely suits the sunny African savannah setting, and the new characters Dr. Makena and Joaquim are quite charming. The features of the rescue center itself are nothing all that different from any other veterinary clinic set, but the animals and scenery definitely deliver a very fresh sense of adventure.

There are plenty more sets I haven't commented on but in general there is SO MUCH to be excited for in this wave that I'd wear myself out trying to address all of it right now! Super excited to see the LEGO Friends continue to expand their horizons!

[Maple]

The Friends sets continue to blow all the other themes sets out of the water. Amazing. 

[danth]

What color do we think the big Roller disco windows are, transparent neon green?

[Agent 86]

That art school exterior / facade is so lovely! 

[DragonElves]

We have another set. https://www.lego.com/en-us/kids/sets/friends/horse-show-trailer-dc621e44e6b5ca4fe728d47945c83eee
I wish horse trailers were like this when you see them on the roads, however I don’t think the horses would like it! 

[TeriXeri]

11 hours ago, danth said:

What color do we think the big Roller disco windows are, transparent neon green?

Yes, windows certainly look transparent neon green to me, while the green bricks in those rainbow builds are likely transparent bright green.

Also some 1x1 studs on a white fence piece, on the right side, the windows are closer to the neon green stud in color.

I think those lightsaber blades look neon green as well.

 

However, the final parts list will decide, I remember the debate about the yellow vs orange yellow on the City Crane pictures and I won't repeat that.

Edited May 2, 2022 by TeriXeri

[Maple]

I'm really even more annoyed that Bricks and Pieces is dead. I love the coral trash cans, have two. I'd love to have a stockpile of coral and the new puke yellow trash cans.

Still, Friends is the best and us fans here have known that. 

[jonwil]

Other than the possible neon green windows (since I hate that color), I am liking the disco.

And if the Giraffe didn't look so out of place next to City animals (like last year's elephants) I would be grabbing one for my current Zoo MOC.

 

[TeriXeri]

It seems there are more sets that aren't really discussed/revealed yet.

LEGO® Friends 41721 Organic Farm is on brickmerge

Looks like a farm building with a darkblue roof and a nougat walls and pink stable doors, a hen house, a lavender tractor , tree, food stand big ladder and picnic table 4 dolls and a black horse.

https://www.brickmerge.de/41721-1

I actually love it, I like sloped roofs and darkblue is one of my favorite color for it as it fits well with many 3-in-1 sets.

 

Also there's a big horse trailer set as well : 

Big darkblue trailer, with other color accents and a multicolored SUV, 2 horses show out of the side when the trailer is closed, it's quite wide (10 studs I think)

41722 Horse Show Trailer

https://www.brickmerge.de/41722-1

also on LEGO.com info site https://www.lego.com/nl-nl/kids/sets/friends/horse-show-trailer-dc621e44e6b5ca4fe728d47945c83eee

(I don't know how official those reveals are, pictures don't say confidential, but since they aren't on brickset etc yet I'll wait)

Edited May 3, 2022 by TeriXeri

[Maple]

I like the Friends Farm. Probably won't buy it but it's really nice, looks great for children.

[jonwil]

Anyone know what color the yellow garbage can in the recycle truck is? It looks like neon yellow to me but its hard to be sure from a render...

 

[Lyichir]

3 hours ago, jonwil said:

Anyone know what color the yellow garbage can in the recycle truck is? It looks like neon yellow to me but its hard to be sure from a render...

 

Pretty sure it's neon yellow.

I love the look of the horse trailer! It seems to be absolutely packed with detail, with a bathroom, kitchen, and more all packed into the trailer! And the shaping of the exterior is extremely clean.