Why no variation in animal prints?

[A2L]

Here's another question from me concerning animals. I have already discussed how TLG releases very few animals every year and put them in expensive sets. But I cannot understand why they don't release different prints of the same animals across different sets in the same series or over successive years? Thats sure to increase the sales.

For example the goat can come in different prints in diffetent sets. Same with the cow (thankfully already in 2 variants, but room for many more) and the pig (in 2 variants over differenr years). They have tried it once in a while, like the hen, but this has not been the norm, rather an exception. I feel there is lot more potential. A case in point is the horse. And cost wise this is more efficient as the decision involves only the print, the mold is already there. And this also fits TLG's philosophy (if any in reality, but apparent from set releases) not to recycle animals like dolphin, manta ray, octopus etc., over successive years.

Hopefully the upcoming release of the dolphin in Friends in two variants become the norm.

Does anyone know if TLG has just overlooked it, did not try it out yet or have taken a position on this?

Sorry for the typo in title, just realized (and read policy) that I cannot edit it! have to be more careful.

Edited March 12, 2013 by A2L

[Gorelaxx]

I know there are a few horse prints. Aside from the black, brown and white standards, with varying bridle and mane colours. There is the shire horse pattern from the Mill Village Raid 7189, a Fully harnessed patterned one from King's Carriage Ambush 7188, and one from a POP set with a carpet over it. Plus a couple of native american horse prints from the western sets.

Although it would be nice to have more cows and pigs, TLG could do all sorts of different breeds, it'd be quite a farm if they did.

[TheLegoDr]

That would make the most sense to get a lot of mileage/money out of a single animal mold. I think only recently they changed some of the dog mold and then also new printing with the Dalmation. I'd love to have more cows, goats, chickens, bears...whatever they can throw out there. I'd think more than one set could benefit from it across certain themes. I don't know their policy or reasoning, but I'd think to get as much use out of a mold the better.

[ManInATopHat]

I know that the horse mold was also changed, much more realistic and modern. Looks very nice, I got one from the Winter Sleigh. I have a feeling they're going to be making more variation with this mold.

[A2L]

Yes, horse seems to be the only animal that gets such treatment, be it the older one or the newer one with movable legs. Maybe because horses are a necessity across different themes, and TLG can't give the same prints forever. Of course TLG doesn't go purely by necessities. If I remember correctly goats and chickens came in Mill Village Raid, not in any farm sets, where they would have been major elements. I am not complaining though, let them give wherever they want as long they keep on coming.

Hopefully in the next few years when the farm theme comes back, we may see new cow prints again..

[mostlytechnic]

I think for the target lego audience (ie KIDS), they don't really care if all their cows or dogs look alike. They likely don't have more than 1 or 2 anyway. So the cost of changing the print (which I'm sure is more than we'd think, since they'd have to make new stamps (or whatever the printing plate itself is called for this), test them, etc. And only the AFOLs would ever notice or care.

[A2L]

I think for the target lego audience (ie KIDS), they don't really care if all their cows or dogs look alike. They likely don't have more than 1 or 2 anyway. So the cost of changing the print (which I'm sure is more than we'd think, since they'd have to make new stamps (or whatever the printing plate itself is called for this), test them, etc. And only the AFOLs would ever notice or care.

Or they do care, provided someone gives them the option. Friends did happen after all and how! As I said with all due respect instead of putting my wishlist of 10 prints per animal or contradicting other esteemed memebr's views I'll be happy to know TLG's position on this from anyone in the know of things.

[Aanchir]

Or they do care, provided someone gives them the option. Friends did happen after all and how! As I said with all due respect instead of putting my wishlist of 10 prints per animal or contradicting other esteemed memebr's views I'll be happy to know TLG's position on this from anyone in the know of things.

The real issue is that it's not a choice between "spend additional money on new animal prints" and "don't spend additional money at all". Rather, money spent on new animal prints probably has to be be part of the budget for new parts and decorations in a particular product line. Now, tell me, which would a kid rather have: a new decoration on an existing animal mold, which will probably not open up many brand-new uses for that mold, or a new decoration for a minifigure or building element, which increases options for customization of figures and models?

Now, in some cases, we do see new animal prints, particularly for horses. And one reason for this is that horses tend to be very distinctive, whether because of breed alone or because they are practically characters themselves. If Shadowfax were in a LotR set and used the same white horse print as in the Lone Ranger sets, with a conspicuous bridle, it wouldn't be remotely authentic. But for the most part, if a set has to have a dog there's no good reason why an already existing decoration won't be sufficient, unless the dog is meant to be a different breed-- and unlike horses, dog breeds often require more than just a change in color and pattern to look authentic. The dalmatian in this year's Fire sets is treading a fine line, since technically a dalmatian should have floppy ears, not pointed ears like the "German Shepherd" mold that's being used currently.

Why does LEGO Friends get so many new animal decorations and molds? Because they are some of the main selling points for many of the sets they come in, and as such distinctiveness is as important as it would be for minifigure faces. As such, they get the part of the budget that would otherwise be spent on other new elements.

On another note, introducing a new decoration is technically introducing a new element, and TLG likes to keep the number of elements in production at any given time in check (they have to; they can't just add new machines to the production floor willy-nilly). So if an animal decoration is already in production, or has been produced in copious supply, then reusing that same decoration is more economical than introducing a new one. It's the same reason any element would be reused: there has to be a substantial justification for why a new one would be more effective than an existing one for it to be worth shuffling production around.

Edited March 22, 2013 by Aanchir

[A2L]

Thanks Aanchir for your detailed reply.

The dalmatian in this year's Fire sets is treading a fine line, since technically a dalmatian should have floppy ears, not pointed ears like the "German Shepherd" mold that's being used currently.

Totally agree, a very fine line.

[A2L]

Thanks TLG, finally for giving the pooch with a different print (a bow instead of a collar), not just different color, in a separate Friends animal series. I hope this carries over to other animals and other themes.

[Lordofdragonss]

I only Hope we will see more Cows and other already presented farm animals in the future.

Thanks again for great explanation Aanchir!

[Hrw-Amen]

Maybe we will get many more animals from the Friends line, maybe even farm animals as the mini-dolls seem to get up to all sort of horse related things. Maybe it is not too much a stretch to have a Heartlake Farm of some sort, then we could get all manner of animals in different shapes etc? My CITY is already benefiting from a giant brown squirrel hoping down the street! Just what do they feed those animals on?