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How to build your dragon: the three-part LEGO story

dinsdag, 01 augustus 2023

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I’m not going to pretend that I’m an expert on the How to Train Your Dragon-verse. Nor am I able to say that I’ve ever seen one of the movies in the series. But I do know LEGO, and I know a great collaboration when I see one. Builders Josh (lego_monkey), Nick (gecko_builds), and Charlie (choopyjups) have come together to tell the tale of Toothless and Hiccup in this delightful three-part team-up.

First we have Fury of the Skies by Josh, showcasing quite the bit of landscaping skill. Smooth rocks lead up to a cliffside shack with a roof of triangular signs. The turquoise door is a beautiful touch. Fir trees large and small dot the scene, and in the foreground is a Viking statue in keeping with the Dreamworks animation style. But Toothless is my favorite bit here, frozen in midair with such a domineering pose, looking down on Hiccup with so much night fury!

Next up, with a close-up shot, we have Nick‘s Forbidden Friend. Despite the generally low brick count, these types of photos can be difficult to pull off. Small creations leave little room for error, so it’s a good thing the black body of Toothless looks cohesive and well-formed. Minifigure posing needs to do a lot to tell the proper story, and Nick has got Hiccup conveying just the right amount of nervousness with that hesitantly-outstretched hand. Lastly, the background needs to be present, but not distract from the main scene. While we can make out the body of water and cliffside in the middle distance, it doesn’t dominate, allowing our characters to do their work unimpeded. Also of note, Nick created the cover image of all three pics.

Finally, we arrive at the most comfortable scene: Hiccup and Toothless have finally bonded in Together We Map the World by Charlie. Once again, we’re treated to some beautiful rockwork, topped with a mossy patch of green and some brilliantly-pointy trees. This is probably my favorite Toothless of the bunch, sporting those bulging lime green eyes and a comfortable, if not playful, posture. Hiccup also appears the most at-ease here, ready to take on the future with his draconic buddy!