The LEGO Studios theme was a discontinued product line from 2000 to 2003 that was based on moviemaking and special effects. It allowed builders to create their own stop-motion animations using software and webcams, and featured a tie-in with filmmaker Steven Spielberg.
Theme Overview and Storyline
The theme was a collaboration with Steven Spielberg, who was featured as a minifigure in some sets. The storyline centered on a film director, Art Director, and stunt personnel creating action-packed movies. The sets were designed to be versatile, featuring backdrops, props, and lighting elements to facilitate stop-motion animation.
Key Products and Features
Software and Webcams: The flagship product, the Steven Spielberg MovieMaker Set (set 1349), included a USB webcam and basic stop-motion animation software for Windows PCs, allowing users to film their own LEGO movies.
Sets as Movie Scenes: The sets themselves represented various movie scenes and genres:
The Jurassic Park Connection: Many sets tied into a Jurassic Park theme, featuring T-Rex dinosaurs, camera crew minifigures, and vehicles.
Action and Stunts: Sets like Stunt Team (set 1353) and Adventure Team (set 1354) included vehicles, ramps, and crash features.
Monster Scenes: Later sets in 2002-2003 shifted towards a monster movie theme with vampires, mummies, and skeletons.
Minifigures: The theme included a wide range of minifigures, including directors, camera operators, stuntmen, actors, and various monsters and animals.
Discontinuation and Legacy
The LEGO Studios theme was discontinued in 2003. The physical sets are now collector's items. The concept of using LEGO for stop-motion animation lives on through the active fan community (AFOLs), third-party software, and official LEGO-branded apps.