Enter a beautiful, animated world, filled with emotion and heart! THE_IRON_GIANT_IN_THE_FOREST by hachiroku24 brings the charismatic central character to life in LEGO bricks, so show your support in the comment section.
ABOUT YOURSELF
What is your name?
My name is Chema.
Where are you from?
I’m from Sevilla, Spain.
Have you created any LEGO MOCs (my own creations) that you’re particularly proud of? What is it, why are you proud of it and do you have a photo of it?
I’m now working on a series of short videos, recreating movie scenes using only LEGO bricks and Minifigures. I enjoy movies and the process of filmmaking, so this also works as a study of how scenes are shot, with the color, lighting, framing, etc. I’ve learned a lot from doing these! They are also very popular on Instagram, with the velociraptor video gaining over a million views.
How and when did your interest in LEGO products come about?
I became a LEGO fan when I was seven years old and got my first set, Crane Truck (6446). I was amazed by the idea of a toy that allowed me to create my own toys! Then I got into the Orient Expedition and Adventurers sets.
What does the LEGO hobby mean to you?
It became a full-time job! Thankfully, my family and friends enjoy LEGO building too, so I can share this with them. I enjoy pretty much every side of the hobby, from MOCs, to podcasts, to playing the videogames, etc.
What is your favorite LEGO theme (current or past)?
Creator 3-in-1, always! I think it’s the perfect LEGO theme. Everything can be a LEGO set! I love the new animal sets, like the fox, the rabbit and the parrot. I also like cars, so Speed Champions has been a favorite of mine since 2015, because they always have new parts, and amazing designs and building techniques.
What is your favorite official LEGO set ever?
My favorite set has always been the Sopwith Camel (10226). It’s been over a decade since it was released, and I’m still impressed by the working flying stick. But in the last couple of years, they have released even more impressive sets, like Rivendell and the UCS AT-AT. I also like the Horizon Tallneck, which I used as inspiration when creating this project.
What is your favorite LEGO element?
The 1x2 rounded plate with holes on the studs (35480). It’s very fun to build with it, and you can create pretty much any shape with them. This year, I made a sandworm from DUNE using that element!
Is there a LEGO designer (official LEGO designer or fan designer) who you are inspired by and look up to?
There are a lot of designers and creators that I look up to, both official and fan designers. TD Bricks, JK Brickworks, Brotherhood Workshop, Mike Psiaki… I love what Antica Bracanov did with the Barad-Dûr set, using different colors to create the lighting of the lava. That was great!
Is there one or more particular LEGO websites (not official LEGO websites) that you visit often and/or are inspired by?
I think Brickset is the LEGO website I use most. They do everything! Reviews, the database, articles… I also follow Instagram accounts like The Brothers Brick, New Elementary, and Tips&Bricks. I also visit the Brickshelf website, and follow reviewers on YouTube, like Tiago Catarino, MandR, and just2good.
ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
I love movies, and especially animated movies. It’s my favorite way to tell a story (as well as with LEGO bricks, obviously). The Iron Giant has been one of my favorite movies since I was kid. It connected with me, and shaped the way I think about certain things, like war, weapons, life or death.
I love the Iron Giant design! It was designed by Joe Johnston, who also designed Boba Fett’s armor, and directed the Rocketeer movie. I think it’s one of the best designs of a sci-fi robot ever. Even if the movie wasn’t a big success back then, it has become very iconic after 25 years.
How long did the process of making the project take and what did you have to research? What kind of prep, research and design phases did you go through to produce your creation?
I’ve been working on this project since 2018, when I submitted it for the first time. Every change or update I’ve made was to that first project. I have no idea how much time I spent on it, but I loved every minute! My research was watching the movie over and over again. I also watched a documentary about the making of the Iron Giant.
What special challenges did you face creating the model?
I had a lot of problems with the legs. For this final version, I’ve completely removed any point of articulation in the legs and the hips. I don’t think they were necessary, and they made the model very unstable. I’ve made a new waist and hips, removing the articulation there too, and they’re more detailed and closer to the movie design. Also, the first forearms I made didn’t look right, so I made new ones. It was very hard to recreate that shape, and do it as symmetrically as possible.
If you could talk to yourself before you started on this project, what would you tell him/her? What do you know now that you wish you knew then?
I’d probably show to myself this final version before submitting it, because of the new chest build. I think the model looks much better with it, and is more eye-catching, so would probably have reached 10K even faster. But, just like the last time, the small updates helped me to keep creating content and promoting it.
How long did it take to complete the model and for your Product Idea to reach 10,000 supporters?
At this point, after so many years spent working on this model, I have no idea! Even after reaching 10K this time, I’m still changing stuff. The digital model I made has some small changes, and now I’ve started to work on a bigger version of this Iron Giant too. It’s around 33% bigger. I don’t know if I’ll finish it, but since I solved the stability issues, I thought it would be fun to do a bigger one! I used all the updates and changes to promote it, so completing the model and promoting it were part of the same process.
How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes?
I couldn’t believe it! I submitted it previously in the summer of 2022, and it reached the 10K in March of 2023, so then it took seven months. This time, it took less than five months! Because I was resubmitting it, I was very worried. I thought that people wouldn’t support it again, or that it would take more time to reach 10K. But I never imagined it would do it even faster!
Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
I used 1,260 bricks, plus the minifigure.
What is your favorite building technique or part/section that you’ve incorporated into your Product Idea?
My favorite part is the chest. I used two 4x6 modified plates, but in my last update to the project, I made two more elaborate parts using tiles and wedges. I think they look very close to the original. Another change I made was to the eyes. Previously, I used two transparent, round tiles, but now they are light yellow. They work very well and make the LEGO Iron Giant’s face more cartoonish and more relatable.
If you built your model digitally, what software did you use to build and render your model?
Both. I made the physical model first, and then after reaching 10K, I also made a digital model using Stud.io.
ABOUT LEGO IDEAS
Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas Product Idea?
I think the best advice is to have in mind your objective as a fan designer. To create a concept or sketch which is aesthetically good enough to make people support it and to find the best ways to promote it. To do this, you need to love what you do! You need to know your subject very well, so you can design and show your project properly. It isn’t about the building techniques or the bricks you use, it’s about how you show it to the world!
What (if any) methods did you use to advertise and attract support to your Product Idea?
I used Instagram mostly, and my YouTube channel. In April I posted a video on Instagram, and it reached over 1.8 million views! Every time I’ve created content about this project, it has been very popular.
What is your favorite LEGO Ideas Product Idea (besides your own of course)? Are there any Product Ideas you think have been overlooked?
It probably wouldn’t be polite if I say my Insect Collection, but I really like how it looks! I think my favorite LEGO set ever will always be Barracuda Bay (21322), because I love pirates, ships, and pirate bays. I can’t wait to see the Jaws set. I love that movie, and I’m sure I will like that set, too.
What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?
It’s the chance of designing of a real set. LEGO Ideas is the only way to make it happen (that or working as a LEGO designer!). I also enjoy the challenge of reaching the 10K supporters.
I think it’s very important to make sure your model is engaging enough visually to make people support it. I think the main picture of your project can decide if it reaches 10K supporters or not.
Do you have plans to submit any other Product Ideas in the future? If yes, can you give us a hint what that might be?
I submitted a Final Fantasy VII project a couple of months ago. I will start promoting it now. I haven’t even shown it on my social media yet! I don’t have any new projects in sight.
