Building Fairy Tales: An Interview with a Disney-Loving AFOL
LEGO’s Disney product line is a popular theme, and in recent years the theme has offered some remarkable models. With sets ranging from mosaics to elaborate castles, LEGO has definitely gone beyond building vignettes of scenes from Disney movies. It’s no wonder that AFOLs are drawn to the theme and have come up with some amazingly cute MOCs.
One such AFOL is my friend Tamami Takado from Japan (@lego_nano_1 on Instagram). I met Tamami at Japan BrickFest in 2023, and we’ve kept in touch since then. As a “Disnerd” myself, I was drawn to Tamami’s builds. I was happy that Tamami’s work was chosen to be displayed at the LEGO House Masterpiece Gallery from 2024 to 2025! Her two models, a Habitat stack based on Beauty and the Beast, and the Disney Christmas Parade represent Tamami’s work: cute, charming, and capturing our love for all things Disney+LEGO!
Tamami at the LEGO House with her builds. All photos from Tamami Takado.
I had a quick interview with Tamami about her builds, her experience of displaying at the LEGO House, and her AFOL journey.
Inez: Hi Tamami! Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. Can you tell me about yourself and your LEGO journey? How did you become an Adult Fan of LEGO?
Tamami: Hi Inez! Ten years ago, when my daughter was a little girl, we used to build and play with Disney LEGO sets together. Four years ago, I started arranging LEGO sets and making my own creations while staying home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic prevented me from going to my favorite Tokyo Disneyland, and I wanted to build a Disneyland at home with LEGO.
in celebration of Disney’s 100 years of wonder, tamami built this mosaic of 143 disney icons. How many can you identify?
Inez: No wonder your builds are often Disney-inspired, including the ones currently on display at the LEGO House! Can you describe those builds? What inspired you to make them?
Tamami: One of my builds is the Beauty and the Beast habitats. I made a 10-habitat stack of my favorite Disney movie, Beauty and the Beast. I also made some scenes in the village (like the fountain and bookstore), but for this exhibition, I only used the scenes in the castle. The other is the Disney Christmas Parade. The Disney Christmas Stories has been a beloved parade at Tokyo Disneyland for 10 years. I have many fond memories of this parade. I used the LEGO train system and rotated it like a real parade. Due to space limitations, six of the seven floats are on display. You can see details of the builds in this reel.
tamami’s Beauty and the beast habitat stack and disney Christmas parade, on display now at the lego house.
Inez: Can you describe the experience of displaying at the LEGO house? Was it difficult transporting your builds and setting them up?
Tamami: Each of my builds was small, so I put them in individual cases and packed them in my suitcase. I was worried about losing my luggage in the plane transfer, but it was safe. All I had to do was stack the habitats and line up the parade float, so the setup took only a short time. The LEGO House staff was cheerful and kind to us!
Inez: Of all your creations, which is your favorite? Why is it your favorite?
Tamami: My favorite is the Beauty and the Beast Habitat on display at the LEGO House. It was the first Habitat I built, and I collected many of my favorite scenes.
Details of the Beauty and the Beast Habitat stack, tamami’s favorite build. now on display at the masterpiece gallery.
Inez: Your builds are so detailed, despite their size! How do you plan your builds? Do you use the computer first, or do you build freestyle?
Tamami: Thank you so much! I do not use a computer but assemble in a freestyle. My style is to design in my mind, assemble it roughly, and then take pictures to check the balance before refining the details.
Inez: How would you describe your building style in three words?
Tamami: Small, cute and delicate.
These disney micro castles are definitely small, cute, and delicate!
Inez: Do you have a favorite LEGO element?
Tamami: My favorite element is the Plant Plate (Round 1 x 1 with 3 Leaves). I use this element to decorate various pieces. I love the pearl gold—it’s gorgeous.
Inez: It is indeed useful! What would be your dream or ultimate Disney LEGO set?
Tamami: It is Beauty and the Beast castle. I have made two of my own creations, one large and one small—and finally the LEGO set version will be released next month!
Inez: Looking ahead, what are your future LEGO goals? Are there any specific themes or projects you’re excited to tackle, and how do you see yourself contributing to the AFOL community in the future?
Tamami: I would like to continue creating Disney MOCs and exhibiting my work twice a year. I would like to continue to contribute by staffing exhibitions and introducing LEGO events on Instagram to my LEGO friends in Japan. My next work will be Spring Habitats!
snow white and the seven dwarves habitat stack by tamami.
Inez: Lastly, do you have any advice for those starting LEGO, especially those who want to exhibit at LEGO House someday?
Tamami: I believe that if you start with your favorite LEGO set and expand it by changing the colors and parts, you will naturally be able to create your own unique creations. I feel that many of the exhibits in the LEGO House Masterpiece Gallery are unique. I think it would be wonderful if you could create your own imaginative works of art rather than imitating those of others.
The lit up magical hair adds a nice touch to this tangled inspired habitat stack.
Inez: Thank you so much, Tamami! We are looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future!
What do you think of Disney sets and MOCs? Do you have any favorites? Share them in the comments below!
Do you want to help BrickNerd continue publishing articles like this one? Become a top patron like Marc & Liz Puleo, Paige Mueller, Rob Klingberg from Brickstuff, John & Joshua Hanlon from Beyond the Brick, Megan Lum, Andy Price, Lukas Kurth from StoneWars, Wayne Tyler, Dan Church, and Roxanne Baxter to show your support, get early access, exclusive swag and more.
