This is the first post in a series about the LEGO Friends Stop Motion films I had the pleasure to work on.
You can find the first film on the LEGO Kids website. Creative Club Mag, a digital magazine full of ideas and creative inspiration — available online and you can download it, too. You can also find the films in the LEGO Play App.
A new kind of challenge
This project was special for me because it’s actually the first LEGO Friends Stop-Motion film I’ve ever made.
I’ve done a lot with regular Minifigures before, but working with the Friends figures was something new — and inspiring.
At first, I wasn’t sure how their different proportions and hands would work in animation, but I quickly realised that their slightly limited movement opens new ways to think about how they act, move, and express emotions.
It’s a bit of a shift — and a really fun one.
Now, as I’m finishing the second film, I can say it’s one of those projects that quietly changes how you approach storytelling and that there is so much more to learn and explore.
The story
In the first film, Liann and Aliya are the main characters.
The title: “The Friendship Bracelet”
Aliya gives Liann a very special friendship bracelet — but, uh-oh… it suddenly disappears!
The two friends start searching for it in all kinds of places until… If you watch the movie, you’ll find out 🙂
You can watch the full video here: “The Friendship Bracelet”
Building the world
First, it was all about figuring out how the rooms and environments should look. Always with one thought in mind: there needs to be enough space for animation (meaning: room for my hands to move 😅).
Aliyas room, Lianns room, and parts of the apartment were all built with that in mind. Enough space to animate and to let all the actions unfold naturally.
Then there were the outdoor scenes with the bikes, which I really wanted to include. They turned out to be a fun little challenge. Both characters riding down the street together was such a satisfying moment to bring to life.
And then there was the laundromat. That one was a highlight for me. The rebuild and redesign of the set were so much fun, and I really liked the atmosphere in the end. Clean, but not cold; calm, organized, and clear.
What did I forget this time? Doing more behind-the-scenes shots, or even a quick time-lapse while animating. I’ll try to put that on my to-do list for the next films. 🤭
A few more thoughts:
Lighting is everything. Indirect light helps a lot with the overall look. I often use a simple white sheet of paper right in front of the figure (as long as it’s outside the camera frame). It reflects light gently onto the face and adds a neutral extra brightness without changing the colors. A small simple trick, but very effective.
I hope you’ll visit the LEGO Kids page and enjoy exploring creativity.
And, even more importantly: Have fun trying out your own LEGO Stop Motion film. Just give it a go, enjoy the process, and share it!
Thank you for reading!