Angry Lego on the Rise

A researcher in New Zealand has found that Lego figurines are becoming increasingly angrier. In a study of 3,655 figures produced between 1975 and 2010, Dr Christoph Bartneck, a robot expert at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, found that the number of happy faces of the popular toy had been decreasing since the 1990s.  Bartneck, whose study considered the range of facial expressions found on a number of Lego sets, said that the manufacturer appeared to be moving toward more conflict-based themes in its toys – such as Star Wars, pirates, or Harry Potter. Bartneck questions how the move from positive to negative faces impacts on how children play. Roar Rude Trangbæk, communications manager for Lego, said every toy developed by the manufacturer was tested by a range of expert children, while child psychiatrists, parents and teachers were also consulted. Research conducted for the company found that children, especially boys, enjoyed playing out conflicts between characters, he said. “The conflict between good and evil is nothing new,” said Trangbæk. “But the characters always have classic Lego humour – the good guys always win in the end.”  Trangbæk added that the solution for parents worried about the impact of angry Lego figure faces. “Of course, they can always just switch heads with another figure.”