Brickfilm

An example of a brickfilm.

A Brickfilm is a film made using LEGO, or other similar plastic construction toys resembling LEGO toys. They are usually created with stop motion animation, though CGI, traditional animation, and live action films featuring plastic construction toys (or representations of them) are also usually considered brickfilms.^[1] The term 'brickfilm"' was coined by Jason Rowoldt, founder of Brickfilms.com.

Brickfilming history[edit]

The first known brickfilm was made between 1980 and 1989 in Perth, Western Australia by Lindsay Fleay, called The Magic Portal.^[2] It is considered the forerunner of modern brickfilms, and mixes both stop motion animation and live action. It was captured on 16 mm film and features animated LEGO, plasticine, and cardboard characters and objects.

The first DVD of the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail contained an extra in the form of a brickfilm of the "Camelot Song",^[3] produced by Spite Your Face Productions. Since then, there have been several times when brickfilms have been placed on DVDs along with the films which they emulate, such when Revenge of the Brick was featured on the second DVD volume of Star Wars: Clone Wars TV series.

Brickfilming has recently become popular because of the availability of cheap cameras and animation software, and the growth of video-sharing sites such as YouTube. The LEGO Group officially encouraged the creation of brickfilms with the release of set #1349 LEGO Studios Steven Spielberg MovieMaker Set.^[4] Though no longer in production, it introduced many LEGO fans to the concept of brickfilming.

In recent times almost all brickfilming is digital based, with the frames captured using a variety of software via webcams or digital photo cameras.

Although brickfilms featuring minifigures are still the most dominant, making brickfilms with Bionicle figures is also popular.

LEGO Group and Brickfilming[edit]

Brickfilms are often used to help the LEGO Group advertise each new themes and sets. These are normally made using CGI animation. Some examples of themes where Brickfilms were used for advertising include: Star Wars with Revenge of the Brick, Indiana Jones with Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Brick, Power Miners, Atlantis, most of Bionicle's commercials and clips, and the new Lego Prince of Persia.

Brickfilming Communities[edit]

The brickfilming hobby has led to several online communities, including Brickfilms, Bricks in Motion, and Brickfilmer's Guild . Most of the brickfilms in these communities are downloaded from other video communities, such as YouTube or Vimeo. Some brickfilming festivals are also organized.^[5] Another annual brickfilm festival called Brickflix^[6] is held as part of the Brickmagic Lego Convention in Durham, North Carolina. The brickfilming sites boast large film directories where people can view all types of animations. They also both have forums where people can ask questions and even enter competitions that are hosted there. A new site Best Brick Films has made it easier for people around the world to view the most popular and best Brick Films.

LEGO On DVD[edit]

Not much known brick films had been on DVD and sold to the public (mostly ones that hadn't are brick films on YouTube). A very well-known brickfilm that has been on DVD and sold to the public is Jericho: The Promise Fulfilled, a 30 minute long film made by Shatter Point Entertainment, and Wars Of Humanity episode I and II. The film has been awarded many times such as Best Animation by Cape Fear Independent Film Festival 2009.