2013 Friends Sets - Rumours and Discussion

[Aanchir]

The ball in the Swimming pool looked more like a 20 sided dice from Dungeons and Dragons, but the pictures sometimes also looked more like computer animations, the other ball I can't remember, but I think it would be logical Lego use the old football for that.

Interesting... normally this wouldn't tell us anything, but actually LDD does in fact have a part matching the description you have for the ball that comes in the swimming pool. It's Design ID 72824. A quick check on a LEGO Sports set inventory in the instruction manual gives me the Element ID 4119224 for the classic soccer ball, and cross-referencing that with the service.LEGO.com parts database confirms that the Design ID for that part IS in fact 72824. In other words, the LDD render is just an inaccurate one, and if the preliminary image for that set does in fact use the same part render then that just about confirms that the ball in that image is meant to be the LEGO soccer ball.

Might be a bit early for Great Ball Contraption builders to rejoice, since things could change from the preliminary image, but right now it's looking pretty bright for them. If only the people at Brickfair had known how soon their wish might be a reality!

[AndyC]

It'd be a cunning move by TLG to bring that part back in a Friends set, as it could well encourage the sale of a lot of sets to people who might otherwise ignore the theme entirely.

[purpleparadox]

Coming from a male AFOL who doesn't really love minidolls - I'm more excited for 2013's Friends sets than the ones for City!

The City sets seem like the same old stuff we get every year, but Friends is introducing new and exciting ideas. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing how the collectible animal sets turn out.

[just2good]

{list}

Hey Fluttershy 'Wout' (sorry, I had to make that joke again ), did you see any male figures in the sets?

1500 post! Half way there!

Edited September 17, 2012 by just2good

[The Blue Brick]

Coming from a male AFOL who doesn't really love minidolls - I'm more excited for 2013's Friends sets than the ones for City!

The City sets seem like the same old stuff we get every year, but Friends is introducing new and exciting ideas. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing how the collectible animal sets turn out.

This is how I feel also. I love the friends line for their new ideas that I love which involve more leisure activities and fun civilian style buildings.

[YangHao6998]

Hmm...the only thing that interest me is the swimming pool set.

[Wout]

@ Just2good: No male figs seen.

Maybe I must change my avatar for Big Macintosh, then I only have to write "Eyup!" or "Enope!"

[Oky]

This has been added as a promotional item on Brickset. It seems to be a DVD with that animated Friends special. I wonder where it will be available.

[CM4Sci]

I know this is slightly off topic, but has a release date been announced for that DSi/3DS Friends game?

-Sci

[Trijntje]

This has been added as a promotional item on Brickset. It seems to be a DVD with that animated Friends special. I wonder where it will be available.

This DVD is a short Friends movie, I believe 22 minutes long.

In the Netherlands it was send with the Lego Club magazine to the clubmembers.

Just not every member received one(don't ask me why). In my family my daughter and one of my two sons received one.

The DVD can be played in several languages.

It is a really Friendly movie, very very Friendly....

(the kids like it)

Edited September 21, 2012 by Ricecracker
Please do not quote images

[Oky]

I know this is slightly off topic, but has a release date been announced for that DSi/3DS Friends game?

I didn't know there was one coming out. Can't find any info on it. Where did you hear about this?

This DVD is a short Friends movie, I believe 22 minutes long.

In the Netherlands it was send with the Lego Club magazine to the clubmembers.

Just not every member received one(don't ask me why). In my family my daughter and one of my two sons received one.

The DVD can be played in several languages.

It is a really Friendly movie, very very Friendly....

(the kids like it)

Ah, thanks for the info! I wonder if other countries got it too? Would make sense since it's in different languages.

[CM4Sci]

I didn't know there was one coming out. Can't find any info on it. Where did you hear about this?

Ah, thanks for the info! I wonder if other countries got it too? Would make sense since it's in different languages.

An advert that was where we first saw the Summer sets. On Amazon Japan or something.

-Sci

[purpleparadox]

I know this is slightly off topic, but has a release date been announced for that DSi/3DS Friends game?

-Sci

Interesting! I didn't know we were getting one. I wonder if it'll hold up to the high standards set by the previous LEGO games and the Friends sets.

[Leela]

This has been added as a promotional item on Brickset. It seems to be a DVD with that animated Friends special.

That was available in June In Poland as a freebie with "Winx" magazine. 22 minutes long, mine is in Hungarian, Czech and Polish, and with a different cover. I haven't really watched it yet but from what I remember there'a guy there that Olivia has a crush on I really hoped that it means we're going to get some male minidolls :(

[Legobrandon]

Photos leaked on some German website:

*links courtesy of Anak on Brickset.*

Edited October 20, 2012 by Rick
Embedded images

[Kristel]

It's official ... Friends and ninja swords do go together. And a medium lavender tote!

[lightningtiger]

The only set I'll buy is the pet grooming shop , though the magic show is funky but someone should teach Lego how to make better speaker boxes.

[Blue Wren]

Wow, thanks for the pics Legobrandon. I don't think I've seen the gold stars before (set 41001), and it looks like there's going to be a new electric guitar colour (light aqua?) (set 41004). I'm not a huge fan of Friends, but some of these new sets will definitely be on my shopping list.

[jonwil]

That magic show is awesome, I want it.

[Sandy]

I agree, the Pet Salon looks the best out of the bunch - it even contains a new hairpiece and a poodle! The lack of male Friends still bothers me, though. The world of the theme seems incomplete with just one male figure in it...

[Kai NRG]

That Karate set looks pretty cool. . . and maybe the soccer one too? I really want a ball (somehow useing a basketball for everything just doesn't seem to cut it. . . )

[Pandora]

Thanks for sharing those pics Legobrandon- I've put them in the first post and in the Friends Hub for easy reference.

There are lots of interesting parts here, for instance the recurrence of the playing cards tile, a basket ball hoop, the medium lavender basket, the slide and trans dark-blue slopes. The last, larger set is very reminiscent of Paradisa to me, but I'm also glad to have some non-stereotypically girly pastimes for the Friends.

It's nice to see some new Friends in Isabella and Joanna, but I agree, there do really need to be more boys/ male characters.

[Peppermint_M]

This is just too cool! I am buying Friends and Chima... That's going to be fun at the checkout isn't it. "Oh no, these are for me..."

[Hrw-Amen]

Is that a magic show, I thought it looked more like ballet and gambling in those two sets? Maybe a girly casino?

Edited October 20, 2012 by Hrw-Amen

[Aanchir]

Photos leaked on some German website:

Thanks for the pics! My thoughts:

41000 Watercrafting Fun: The jetski and dock are very simple, as is expected in such a small set, but the fig has a new bikini. Note also that there's a new graphic of the five friends on the top banner of the box.

41001 Mia's Magic Tricks: The bunny hardly fits in that hat, but it's still a brilliant way to use the bunny mold in a new way. The cards tile is new, as is the tuxedo (fitted to a girl, of course). The stars are also new AFAIK. Fabulous purple curtains.

41002 Emma's Karate Class: Great new gi for the girls. The little bonsai is perhaps a bit too large but a nice touch. Great reuse of the printed rice-paper window from Ninjago. The kendo helmet also appears, this time without printing. The trophy case includes a classic goblet (if only it had the one from the Minifigures Series 8 American Football Player or the fig-shaped trophy from various sports figs), but also the ring element from LotR.

41003 Olivia's Newborn Foal: Olivia's a weird choice to put in this set IMO. But there's a nice outfit, a nice tree, and a nice water trough, all of which will be great additions to the Riding School or Stables. The foal is too small for a Friends fig to ride, but thankfully has a stud on top for attaching a bird, bunny, or whatever else you have in mind.

41007 Heartlake Pet Salon: Nice architecture (will fit great in Heartlake City layouts) and nice Bright Reddish Violet (Magenta) parts. Jeanna has a hip new hairpiece. Lots of shelves of products. The new poodle is amazing, and the inherent "poofiness" of a poodle means AFOLs might feel fewer reservations about using this with standard minifigs than they would have with many of the other Friends animals. Haven't seen that sign element in quite a while.

41008 Heartlake City Pool: I can't say I've ever seen a pool with speakers hanging over the water like that. Seems hazardous. With that said, the slide is nice and there's a nice new basketball hoop. I can't tell if the basketball is the same size as the classic one, though... looks more Zamor-Sphere-sized. I was honestly expecting the hoop to be brickbuilt with those new 4x4 round plates with 2x2 cutout from the Hobbit sets. Nice snack shack, nice to see the palm leaves return, and the showers/changing room are a great detail. More swimsuits.

41011 Stephanie's Soccer Practice: Great soccer uniform. Again I'm having trouble judging the size of the ball-- here, it seems like a Zamor Sphere would be bigger. The water cooler and healthy snack are nice (here in the US, at least where I live, orange slices are a more traditional soccer-practice snack).

Overall there's some amazing variety in these sets and I can't see any way people could construe them as stereotypical this time around. Even the pet salon keeps the purple and pink somewhat low-key (as does Olivia's Newborn Foal, in which the water trough has a BROWN roof). I look forward to seeing more of the sets, but it seems apparent to me that Friends is going strong. And we can likely expect another substantial summer wave given the gaps in the numbering. Nice to see that the Friends design team isn't about to disappoint!