Is dislike for fleshies only because of compatibility issues?

[TeufelHund]

Looking around the forums I see an almost overwhelming preference for figures with the traditional yellow flesh tones here. Is that solely due to the difficulty of "mixing and matching" these with licensed fleshie minifigs?

For my part, I think generally the flesh-coloured minfigs look better than the yellow skined ones. The POTC cannibals for instance, look about a million times better than the old Pirates islanders, mainly due to the yellow skin on the islanders IMO.

[purpleparadox]

I don't know if I'm the only one, but I like both colours. And I'll use both in a creation, and have no problems with it. It looks fine to me. Just like there's different colours of humans, there's different colours of minifigs. In my LEGO world, they both live in harmony.

[Brickdoctor]

I believe that for many (and for myself), the fleshies simply don't look like the classic, iconic LEGO minifig. You'll hear a lot of people saying that they don't like how the detailing in minifigs (especially Star Wars ones) is becoming more and more like action figures, as opposed to the simple printing and coloring that was effective for many older minifigs.

[CorneliusMurdock]

So the answer to your question is no, it's not only about compatibility, though that is a large part of it for me. I also like the yellow faces better because they are less detailed and more toy-like. It really is all personal opinion as to what looks better.

I do believe this topic has been done to death and there is almost definitely an existing discussion thread somewhere that covers it.

[Piranha]

So the answer to your question is no, it's not only about compatibility, though that is a large part of it for me. I also like the yellow faces better because they are less detailed and more toy-like. It really is all personal opinion as to what looks better.

I do believe this topic has been done to death and there is almost definitely an existing discussion thread somewhere that covers it.

Indeed but not recently at least. Myself personally, I do wish that they should have kept them all yellow forever.

[Legogal]

I prefer the flesh color minifies because they look more lifelike to me. I don't know of anyone with that color of yellow skin.

I change out most of the yellow figs adding flesh heads and arms when possible. It is great that the DC figures are flesh providing many more options for changing heads and arms.

I also build all shades of brown figs; that adds some needed variety to the skin color game.

And the printed faces are wonderful! This is the main way to differentiate females from males, and adds much more interest to the fig. Without printed faces, figs look too plain to me.

It is fine if others prefer the classic plain, yellow faces....that keeps the prices on the flesh faces lower for me!

[brickmack]

Compatibility issues for me mostly. I bought those figs in a set, I should be able to use them. I normally only use them for aliens in space stuff.

[Aanchir]

There are a couple reasons some people dislike fleshies. Incompatibility is of course a big factor, but another factor is tradition. Additionally, while some people do like the presence of multiple skin tones among fleshies, the lack of diversity of faces in skin tones other than the typical Light Nougat (Bricklink's Light Flesh) poses a real problem for some builders-- especially since even some darker-skinned actors and characters tend toward lighter skin as minifigures (just compare the swarthy, suntanned look of some of the PotC characters with their pasty-faced minifigures). So all in all, there are quite a few factors that lead people to prefer yellow-skinned minifigures. That doesn't mean there aren't factors that cause others to prefer fleshies, though.

[General Magma]

People seem to like the more classic approach of the yellow skin-tones, not just because of compatibility issues, but also because of the LEGO feel and tradition,

or so they would think about it. I myself prefer the flesh figures by far. To me the flesh color makes figures look far better and makes them seem realer.

Of course, flesh should stay with licensed products and yellow with the normal themes, but I can honestly say I wouldn't mind if they made it all-flesh

for more variety along with what we have from licensed sets so far, but many people would hate that idea.

~ General Magma

Edited March 26, 2012 by General Magma

[badboytje88]

There have to be at least 2 or 3 topics about this already... Lets search:

flesh or yellow

Why flesh heads (and hands) for minifigs?

Which are better, light flesh minifigs, or yellow ones?

Mix, yellow or flesh

Yellow or Flesh Minifigures?

Edited March 26, 2012 by badboytje88

[TheLegoDr]

There have been lots of topics, but none lately. The most recent is almost a year old. Yes, this topic has been done to death, but at the same time, there are a lot of new members on here that don't want to necro-post (as I've seen stated before). Even I have been yelled at for bringing back a dead topic, so starting a new one isn't as bad as one might think.

As far as the topic goes, I like both, but not together. I agree that both should be able to live in harmony, but I can't make it happen. Yes there is a variety of skin tone in real life, but if you are making it realistic, I would tend to agree that yellow people to this degree do not exist, unless severely jaundiced.

I look at the licensed sets and see the "flesh" skin tone and it looks great, then I look at the Modular sets and see the classic yellow smiley and think this is Lego and love them. I look at the un-licensed sets/collectible minifigures and like the detailing of the yellow torsos/heads, but then I look back at the yellow Licensed figures and do not like them at all.

I definitely like the variety in skin tone (like the zombies in POTC and the cannibal type in both POTC and Indiana Jones, not to mention the new Lando coming out. I do think we need some more variety in that respect since most of the different skin tones I listed can't be used for every day society.

I think this debate will last forever with no definitive winner. Both have pros and cons and both will probably be around for quite some time with the success of both un-licensed and licensed themes. One thing TLG can do is continue to make torsos that don't have either skin tone on it and allow people to swap out as they please.

[badboytje88]

I wasn't judging, I was just pointing out

[Rook]

Yeah you’ll have waves of topics with different twists. Lego should have stayed yellow. However once you’ve gone fleshy you can never go back.

Maybe a MOD can merge the topics.

Edited March 26, 2012 by Rook

[Haltiamieli]

I personally am a traditionalist and like my minifigs yellow, but in the coming summer LotR, the first licensed theme that interests me, will put my faith on test. I have even already collected together all the flesh parts that I've accumulated from bricklinked torsos or licensed sets I've bought for parts, in anticipation of the theme's release. There's too many fleshy torsos that I could really change all the LotR people to yellows, so I will have to tolerate fleshies when it comes to LotR. I just hope I will otherwise stay true to yellow.

Apart from tradition and non-interest in past and current licenced themes, I think (though this might be because of my opinion, not vice versa) that Lego's usual flesh colour does make the minifigures look a bit lifeless and deadish.

One thing TLG can do is continue to make torsos that don't have either skin tone on it and allow people to swap out as they please.

Amen to that.

[Hrw-Amen]

I have to say that I prefer yellow, but I am sure that is simply because the mini-figs were yellow when they were first introduced when I was a kid. If they had been fleshy from the outset it would not be a problem. But, they were not and so generally I go for yellow all the time.

I have a bunch of fleshy heads and hands that I've swapped out just sitting there.

However, like others I am looking forwards to LOtR so maybe I will have to accept flesh coloured ones for that, we will see.

But mostly it is about what feels like LEGO to me.

[caperberry]

I prefer the flesh color minifies because they look more lifelike to me. I don't know of anyone with that color of yellow skin.

I don't know anyone with C-shaped hands and fixed elbows. God forbid if LEGO try to make the classic minifig any more realistic.

Oh crap! *Friends*

[Jedi master Brick]

I like fleshes but only in lcience themes. Traditional Lego themes. Should be yellow as it has always been case. With lcience the minifigures are representing real people so it should be a fleshie

[Lyichir]

To some extent, I view fleshies as a necessary evil brought on by licensed themes. It all started with Lando Calrissian back in the original Cloud City set, where the dark-skinned Calrissian appeared alongside other yellow-skinned characters. This faux-pas could well have undermined the status of the traditional yellow-skinned minifig as racially neutral. Yet I'd be the first to say that a yellow-skinned Lando wouldn't look any better. LEGO eventually reconciled this, starting with the NBA sets and making its way to licensed themes, by using semi-realistic skin tones for all figs based on real people or actors.

But in the end, flesh-toned figs don't affect me much. LEGO has progressed to a point where there is enough variation in both fleshies and non-fleshies that a MOCist can stick to the type of their preference. Still, I can see where the fleshies can interfere with LEGO collectors' plans, such as a Castle builder who wants to use Legolas's hair to add to their non-fleshie elf army. As for me, I rarely do much fig-customizing anyway, preferring to build within themes that already have established characters. I don't need to worry about fleshies polluting my Ninjago MOCs, nor do I need to worry about non-fleshies polluting my Star Wars MOCs. It's a win-win.

[TeufelHund]

I wonder if TLG have ever considered including both yellow and flesh coloured heads/hands in a set? It would cost a bit more but there would be a lot of happy AFOLs.

Of course, I've probably answered my own question as the kids probably don't care either way and they're still 90+% of the market.

[Lyichir]

I wonder if TLG have ever considered including both yellow and flesh coloured heads/hands in a set? It would cost a bit more but there would be a lot of happy AFOLs.

Of course, I've probably answered my own question as the kids probably don't care either way and they're still 90+% of the market.

Minifig hands are not intended to be removed, so no. You'd have to include the entire torso, and that translates to a significant extra expense.

[Vindicare]

I don't mind fleshies, nor do I really prefer yellow. I grew up on everyone having bright, smiley faces whether male or female. I would be perfectly fine if they were kept that way, like modulars.

[dr_spock]

I am old school yellow. I decapitate my fleshies and replace with standard grin no. 1 yellow heads if I put them in my town.

[Brickity]

When the fleshies first came out, I hated them.. I had this horrible feeling against them. Just a few months ago I started getting really fond of them, they seem so realistic and nice to me (they're even more detailed) So, I LOVE both colors. The problem comes in the "mix and match" part, that's the only thing I hate But there's nothing I can do.. I don't want to color my fleshies with a yellow sharpie.

By the way, why did TLG start producing flesh minifigs for licensed themes? I heard it was just to make them more "lifelike" but I don't find any sense in that, they could've just stayed yellow...did they decide to introduce the peach color just because they started using the brown for skin? Oh come on, those old basketball minifigs looked fine, yellow could've stayed as the neutral white and brown just dark skinned.

Edited March 27, 2012 by Otherworld

[Aanchir]

When the fleshies first came out, I hated them.. I had this horrible feeling against them. Just a few months ago I started getting really fond of them, they seem so realistic and nice to me (they're even more detailed) So, I LOVE both colors. The problem comes in the "mix and match" part, that's the only thing I hate But there's nothing I can do.. I don't want to color my fleshies with a yellow sharpie.

By the way, why did TLG start producing flesh minifigs for licensed themes? I heard it was just to make them more "lifelike" but I don't find any sense in that, they could've just stayed yellow...did they decide to introduce the peach color just because they started using the brown for skin? Oh come on, those old basketball minifigs looked fine, yellow could've stayed as the neutral white and brown just dark skinned.

Yeah, it was largely because of the introduction of darker skin tones. They decided that if they were going to do realistic skin tones, they might as well go all the way rather than labeling all their earlier yellow-skinned minifigures (including the Islanders from the Pirates theme and the Indians from the Western theme) as "white". It's clear to me based on those themes (as compared to the Red Indians) that TLG decided early on that the yellow-skinned minifigure would be racially neutral, and I don't think licensed themes should have been enough to go back on that decision.

Granted, they didn't come to the decision to use fleshies for all races immediately. Originally, the Cloud City set did treat yellow skin as "white" and gave Lando Calrissian brown skin. To be perfectly honest, I don't like the implications of that one bit. I think fleshies are a small sacrifice on the whole compared to that kind of inconsistency. If your black-skinned licensed minifigures are going to be inconsistent with the rest of your collection, why shouldn't your white-skinned licensed figs be just as inconsistent (other than the tragic disparity in the representation of different races in licensed themes)?

As for today's non-licensed themes, I think TLG does a good job representing various races without separate skin colors. The Tribal Hunter and Tribal Chief from the Collectible Minifigures both look sufficiently Native American without needing darker skin or the horrendous racial-caricature appearances of the Indians from the classic Western theme (with their completely unnecessary sclerae and noses). The same is true of the Pharaoh, the Maraca Man, etc.-- characters whom you might associate with darker-skinned races but who look quite natural as classic yellow-skinned minifigures.

[Hrw-Amen]

I don't think representing ethnic groups would be a real problem with keeping yellow heads/hands for most mini-figs. I mean they are doing OK in the custome minifig range, they don't look out of place. So if there is a reason to have a brown, white or whatever colour face/hands then that is fine, I have no problem, but I do think generic yellow which is so classic to the LEGO Mini-fig should be used for everything else. However as I said before I am not that bothered by it and if some people prefer fleshies, then that is OK.